The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago August 7, 2003

Weller Library is proceeding with plans to have its col- lection and patrons managed by a Library Tracker Catalog and Circulation system. The software has been installed, networked and library personnel are beginning to add pa- trons and books to the system. Once the library's collection has been input, Weller Library will have a working catalog of its books, videos and audio tapes. In the meantime, additional labeling materials are being purchased using the Blue Mountain Community Foundation Grant funding to complete the changeover. Ken Beasley has been very generous in giving his time and expertise to networking the computers and getting this running smoothly.

Twenty-Five Years Ago August 4, 1988

The 1988 harvest is turning out to be an average crop, says Bob Abbey, manager of the Touchet Valley Grain Growers. Some isolated spots have reported lower than average yields. Yields in the Waitsburg area have hovered around 65-70 bushels per acre, he said, and are in the 50- 55 range in the Prescott area, where yields are traditionally lower. Grain cutting is around 55-60 percent complete, which means about a week or ten days of harvest remains, Abbey said. Wednesday morning prices were $3.77 for wheat, and $96 per ton for barley.

Fifty Years Ago August 9, 1963

Waitsburg's outstanding and undefeated Boys' Medley team joined forces with the Prescott Swimming Team to prepare for the upcoming meet at Kennewick on August 10 and 11. The four boys on the medley team are: David Hevel, Joe Gullekson, Robert Maib, and Jim Langdon. Also joining the Prescott team are Jack Gullekson (Freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke) and Andy Maib (Freestyle). The combined Prescott-Waitsburg team has a meet next Tuesday, August 13 at Milton-Freewater. It will start at 7:00 p.m. Pending the outcome of the Kennewick meet, the team will look forward to going on to the regional meet in Pasco later this month.

One Hundred Years Ago August 12, 1938

Clarence N. Eaton, well-known farmer of this com- munity and formerly a county commissioner, has filed his candidacy for re-election as state representative from the eleventh district on the Republican ticket. Mr. Eaton has made an enviable record during his past tenure of office.

The city council has at last received official approval of a WPA project to assist in replacing a mile of pipe in the flow line near Guntle Springs. It is known as Waitsburg Waterworks Project 5623.

Mrs. Maude Pettyjohn writes from South Touchet that the winter of 1914-15 was the longest and hardest winter in many years with 15 feet of snowfall according to the weather bureau station on Jasper Mountain.

One of the old pioneers, Bud Pettyjohn, who came from Missouri in 1871, recalled the story of Joe Summers hunting on Spackman mountain, a former severe winter and slipping on the snow crust, slid down the hillside in a sitting position, with his rifle sliding on the crust ahead of him just out of reach, with the muzzle pointing in his direction while Joe grabbed at bushes and brakes in desperation, expecting any moment the trigger would catch on something and go off and kill him.

One Hundred Years Ago August 15, 1913

Henry Hinchliffe is ill with the measles. They cannot keep a good man down and Henry will soon be up again.

Robert Lee who lives on Whiskey Creek, was return- ing home Wednesday in his auto, when he was struck by the N.P. train at the Preston Avenue crossing.

Mrs. Frank Robison of Walla Walla spent several days this week visiting at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Morgan.

Arthur Yeend of Walla Walla visited relatives and friends in Waitsburg Saturday and Sunday.

E. L. Wheeler, editor of the Waitsburg Times, is spend- ing a couple of weeks with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Wheeler at Olalla, Wash.

Dr. and Mrs. R. E. Butler returned Sunday from a ten day's outing at Tumalum Park on the Tucannon.

The Zuger threshing outfit finished Wednesday after a run of about 27 days.

J. W. Morgan, J. L. Harper, H. P. Petersen and F. A. Jo- nas were in Walla Walla Tuesday looking after Waitsburg's interest in the Walla Walla-Waitsburg road.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago August 18, 1888

Territorial officers are C. S. Voorhee, Rep. in Congress; Eugene Semple Governor; N. H. Owings, Secretary; T. J. Hamilton, Marshal; W. H. White, U.S. Attorney; J. M. Mur- phy, Treasurer; T. M. Reed, Auditor; J. H. Morgan, Supt. Of Public Instruction.

The harvest season will last a month yet, and the threshing season much longer.

The weather got the upper hand of the thermometer and it is much cooler now.

W. J. Loundagin has our thanks for a sack of delicious peaches. He received six boxes from our former resident, A. Beattie, now in Santa Rosa, Calif. The cost of the peaches there was 50 cents a box, and there you are!

Newcomers continue to arrive by nearly every train.

J. H. Morrow will leave for Chicago and New York early next week to purchase an immense stock of fall and winter goods for his store.