The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

July 1, 2004

Curiosity got the best of Carol Mae Hodgins, proprietor of the Bullseye Gar-NGrill, when a locked safe came up on the block at Classic Auction in Waitsburg earlier this year. The safe cost $825, Hodgins said, and belonged to a Walla Walla attorney named Ringhoffer, who died a number of years ago. . . Inside Hodgins found several itesm include a ¾-carat diamong ring, a Euopean-cut diamond Masonic Lodge ring, a diamond stickpin, a Hamilton watch, some old ledgers, and two deeds for property in Dayton from 1892.

This isn't what they taught in Traffic Safety Education classes. Sixteen-year-old Patrick Bly of Waitsburg, who has had his drivers' license less than a year, has recently taken up a new and exciting hobby. He not only competed in his first two demolition derbies last week, but he brought home a trophy.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

June 29, 1989

One of the more interesting tales I picked up on my travels this week was the use of water jugs to keep dogs away. Wanda Cobb of the Dixie Grocery asked me if I heard about the success of this venture. She said a friend in Walla Walla with a corner lot had lots of neighboring pooches who liked to use the soft grass to deposit their little mess-ages. He filled some plastic milk jugs with water and placed them on the corners of his lot, and, voila!, the hounds declinded to honor him with any more canine manure.

Fifty Years Ago

June 26, 1964

Howard Packer was undismayed by all the comments and furor about the new topless bathing suits. He isn't stocking any in his store, but said last Tuesday that he would sell any venturesome lady swimmer a full-length suit and a pair of sharp scissors and call it a "do-it-yourself" topless kit. That's Yankee ingenuity!

Cline Smith, Dick Greenville, Paul Hofer and Allen Hoffman flew to Clinton, B.C. for chartering of a new Lions Club Saturday evening, June 20. District Governor Richard Greenville presented the American Flag on behalf of the Prescott Lions Club.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

June 30, 1939

Pete Hermanns is quite sick with the measles.

Harold Meinberg received severe chest injury when kicked by a horse last Wednesday morning.

Dorrel Jones narrowly escaped serious injury when pinned against a wall by a tank this week at the Welding Works.

John White, our local historian and photographer, has some fine photos of the entrance to the tunnel of the city's new water works.

The softball league opened Monday evening on the Community Athletic Field with Hamilton's and the Waitsburg Cleaners at play. Mayor E. J. Call officially opened the season by tossing the first ball.

Operating on the first case of its kind in this district for several years, Federal Agents early Tuesday morning arrested Ray Tucker, 60, in the mountains about 15 miles east of Dayton on charges of violating the Internal Revenue Act by manufacturing intoxicating liquor.

One Hundred Years Ago

July 3, 1904

Mrs. John Meinberg, a prominent resident of this city is confined to her home with numerous bruises as the result of a mix-up between a buggy and an automobile Sunday morning about 11:30.

Waitsburg's first electric sign was put in position Monday on the Perrine-Jonas building at the corner of Main and Second streets. It is thought that there will be several more signs in place along the street by fall. Lawrence Weller, Merrill Cox and Wayne Harper returned home Sunday from a very successful fishing trip well up the Tucannon. They were telling some big fish stories, but brought back the fish to prove them.

Mrs. Blanche Sprague, wife of C. A. Sprague, Assistant State Superintendent of Schools, was here several days this week from Olympia, the guest of her aunt and uncle, Dr. and Mrs. R. E. Butler.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 5, 1889

City Marshal Rinehart is making grand improvement to Main Street by removing the large boulders and putting on a coat of dirt.

Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Davies royally entertained a few invited guests at the palatial residence on Fourth Street on Friday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Davies have a rare faculty of making their guests comfortable - of making them feel at home and welcome. The evening was spent in music, games and social converse. Ice cream and cake were served.