The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

December 14, 2006

Bob Danforth was honored by York Rite Masons and Knights Templar for 50 years of membership at the Past Masters Night held at the Masonic Hall in Waitsburg Monday.

Twelve Odako members met at the home of Ruth Peterson on December 7. Patty Froke filled in for her mother, Donna Keeney, as co-hostess. A very short business meeting was held.

Commercial Club met December 5, 2006 at Ye Towne Hall. Thirty-nine people attended for dinner, a business meeting and program. There is $6,644.67 in the club’s bank account. Claire Johnston-German of AMO Galleries gave the program.

For some, memories of past Christmases aren’t simply candy canes and Santa Claus. Some Christmases were spent thousands of miles from home and hearth in bitter cold, amid flying bullets and with no respite from exhaustion. Dick Ferguson of Huntsville spent such a Christmas during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 as a sergeant in the 7th Army, 3789th Truck Co., in charge of 20 trucks and 40 men hauling gasoline to General George Patton.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 12, 1991

If Mayor Leid’s “mail bag” is any indication, the city’s possible hiring of convict labor for city projects is going to stay behind bars as just another idea. “I had several calls on this prisoner deal,” Leid said at the recent City Council meeting. “There are some unhappy people.”

A minor earthquake tow weeks ago may have shaken Preston Hall enough to cause two large pillars at the front of the 78-year-old building to move forward about an inch, school officials said Monday. As a result, the school district, which owns the former school on Main Street, put a fence around the front yard and shut the building because of potential danger.

Waitsburg merchants will say thank you to the public on Dec. 20, when they hold their annual Tom and Jerry night at the American Legion banquet rooms on Main Street. The time of the popular event is 6 to 8 p.m. This year’s organizer (and last year’s ) Dan Cole said finger foods like sliced turkey and ham and small rolls will be provided at the free event, open to people at least 21 years of age.

Fifty Years Ago

December 8, 1966

The annual winter concert of the Waitsburg bands and chorus under the direction of Duane French will be held Friday evening, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

The annual FFA Harevest Ball was held in the Cage on Nov 5. The highlight of the dance was the crowning, at intermission, of the FFA Chapter Sweetheart. Candidates for the honor were Tracey Harper, freshman; Karen Cullison, sophomore, Gwyn Ferguson, junior; Sandy Lambert and Karen Hansen, seniors. Miss Hansen won the honor after milking the most milk into a pop bottle.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

December 12, 1941

The United States is now at war with Japan, Germany and Italy.

Blackout instructions have been issued to all Waitsburg residents.

At a meeting held in the City Council Chambers on Tuesday evening, Dec. 9, a representative group of citizens gathered to set up a home defense organization as requested by the War Department. The meeting was presided over by V. T. Hirsch.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Clodius entertained at dinner Friday evening honoring Miss Laura Land and Jack Penner whose wedding date is set for Dec. 25. All were seated at a large lace-covered table, centered with Christmas motif. Pinochle was enjoyed with Mrs. Albert Land and Gail Talbott winning prizes. The couple were presented a lovely gift.

One Hundred Years Ago

December 15, 1916

Miss Lottie Child of Walla Walla and Guy Loundagin of this city were married at Dayton Tuesday evening.

The local high school debating team will hold the first of a series in Preston Hall this week when they meet Pasco. The team of Roberta Houtchens, Freda Hosley and Cecil Arnold under the coaching of Miss Hougen, have been working hard and have their material well in hand, and with the experience and training acquired in the debate already held with Colfax, they should make a good showing.

Byron Neace was out visiting the Denney’s last week.

Some of the farmers are repairing and oiling their harness for spring work

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 18, 1891

Mr. and Mrs. George Rice were in the city this week purchasing the necessary et ceteras for a grand Christmas tree which the good people of the Dry Hollow neighborhood will enjoy next Thursday night.

Gum McKinney has been in town from Okanogan county this week.

The reason they never build mills on the banks of the Mississippi is because, dam it, they can’t.

Last Friday night our townsman, N.B. Denney heard a conversation among his chickens, and on going to the chicken house discovered that some of his chickens were missing. He also found a rubber shoe of man’s size of which he would like to find the owner.