The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago January 23, 2003

Guy and Lynn McCaw will receive their new Stratford system built home January 24. The building will be deliv­ered from Stratford's production warehouse in Rathdrum, Idaho and "Set" on its foundation, at the building site just off Bolles Road by an assembly crew beginning at about 8 a.m. Mountain Lakes construction of Post Falls will be set­ting the home on its foundation, with the finishing work to be completed by Dan Cole of Cole Construction. The home site overlooks the Touchet Valley near the Junction of Bolles Road and the McKay-Alto Road. The public are invited to witness this new building process. Mark Michalak, president of Mountain Lakes will be there to answer questions and provide additional information. Parking at the construction site is limited. People are encouraged to park on Bolles Road or view events from McKay-Alto Road. Located in North­ern Idaho, Stratford Building Corporation opened its doors in 1994, and has been a leader in system built home in the Northwest ever since. SBC homes are energy efficient, and are constructed in a controlled atmosphere. Homes are built on a custom basis, as well as from a portfolio of standard models. Systems built homes have emerged as a rising trend among custom homebuyers. According to the National As­sociation of Homebuilders, system built homes account for 7% of the housing starts nationwide.

Twenty-Five Years Ago January 21, 1988

Property tax exemptions for Senior Citizens have been re­vised according to larry Shelley, County Assessor. The 1987 Washington State Legislature expanded the benefits begin­ning with the tax year 1989. This revision represents the first adjustment to the program in three years. All seniors pres­ently receiving the tax benefit, will be required to file a new application with the County Assessor's office before July 1, 1988. In order to qualify for the exemption, the claimant must be 61 years of age or older on or before January 1 of the year the claim is filed, have occupied the dwelling as the principal place of residence as of January 1st, must own the property as fee owner or contract purchaser, and total income cannot exceed $18,000 for the previous year. The final amount of exemption depends upon the appropriate income category. All claimants with combined income of $18,000 or less are exempted from 100% of excess levies. In addition claimants with combined income of $12,001 and $14,000 will receive a reduction of not less than $24,000 or 30% of the assessed valuation not to exceed the maximum $40,000 value. The Assessor's office will be mailing renewal applications to all citizens currently on the program. First time applicants may obtain additional information and application forms at the County Assessor's Office, County Courthouse in Walla Walla.

Fifty Years Ago January 25, 1963

The mystery pond between Attalia and Two Rivers has seeped under the railroad fill and is making its way to Lake Wallula. St. Ignatious Catholic Church in Portland was scene of the 3 o'clock wedding January 6, of Miss Linda Ann Har­ris and William Dean Stonecipher. Operation of the local TV cable to the Lewis & Clark trail State Park has been com­pleted and placed in operation. The extension is three miles in length and will serve about 60 homes in that area including those previously served by the Huntsville television reflector. The new gym will be open from 3 to 5 o'clock Sunday after­noon for family recreation.

Seventy-Five Years Ago January 28, 1938

Gail Talbott, Clifford Leid and Wayne Fullerton ac­companied by Mrs. Rena Martin and daughter, Marguerite, arrived home Sunday from a visit to Southern California. Mrs. Iva Baxter, Mrs. Dewey Danielson, Mrs. John Kinder and Mrs. Andrew Hermanns were among Waitsburg women who attended the big party at the Mrs. Alberta Dooley home near Precott Tuesday. The gathering of ladies honored Mrs. Dewey Stovall, a recent bride. The attractive new building on Main Street being erected by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Kison is now just about completed and will be ready for occupancy early next week.

One Hundred Years Ago January 24, 1913

Morris Woods, who owns 600 fertile acres South of Waits­burg, was in Pomeroy this week to buy mules but made no deal. He wants teams weighing from 2400 to 2600 pounds and found none for sale that were heavy enough. Lewis Winnett of Whiskey Creek and A.S. Hollowell of Wilson Hollow were in Dayton Wednesday on a deal for a Pride of Washington steam threshing outfit. W.L. Dunlap of Hogeye was interested in the outfit. They will buy a 32-inch machine and a 25-horse power engine. The Evergreen has added an electric stove to their many conveniences and is now serving hot lunches, A.J. Woodworth, prop.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago January 27, 1888

Hon. T. H. Brents and Col. F.J. Parker had a little un­pleasantness over the action of Hon. W.M. Clark a few days ago. After a number of sharp words, the antagonists came to blows, then compromised, took a drink together and decided not to let it get into the papers. So please don't say anything about it, and for goodness sake don't say I told you. The sud­den conversion of the snow by a warm wind and a gentle rain last Tuesday gave us a little more water than was needed even in a prohibition town. It came down Main Street as if that thoroughfare had been built for that purpose. Several wells and cellars were completely filled and considerable damage done. Frank Parton is often attacked with "enlargement of liberality." He recently offered to donate a hole into which to put the post onto which is put the lamp from which the front entrance to the M.E. Church is lighted.