The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

September 2, 2004

The Waitsburg High School Cheer Squad participated in a cheer camp in early July, winning a pair of trophies. Attending were Danielle Lehr, Jamie Winnett, Ashleigh Bertsch, Krystal Abernathy and Coach Betsy Lindsey.

Maureen Walsh was Representative Dave Mastin's legislative assistant for 12 years and she feels qualified to run for the seat in the House of Representatives that Mastin will retire from at the end of this term.

Twenty-five Years Ago

August 31, 1989

Waitsburg Cardinal head football coach Jeff White and Assistant Coach Mel McWhorter have 21 aspiring players to work with for the 1989 season which will begin September 8. This will be the first time in several seasons that the Cardinals have fielded a Waitsburg team, following the dissolution of the Prescott-Waitsburg Vandal Co-op. Seniors on this year's team are Paul Adams, "Bubba" Gales, Jason Payne, and Josh Wood.

Marshal Tom Longo this week contacted The Times with a request to local citizens to keep their homes secure. Tom said that there have been several burglaries of fishing equipment and tools, mostly from storage areas that have traditionally been unlocked. He said he has observed some people wandering about at night, and suspects they are looking for an unlocked house with no one at home.

A three-way contest for Prescott School Director will be on the primary ballot on September 19. In the contest, incumbent Jerri G. Potts will be challenged by contenders Theresa Libby and Sally Wright.

Fifty Years Ago

August 28, 1964

The success of the annual Commercial Club Salmon Barbecue comes as a result of many hours of skilled food preparation. Shown above is Roy Reed, Waitsburg Gourmet, whose specialty is shredding green peppers. So adept did Roy become at this art that he could even glance away from his work without causing himself bodily injury, as this photo from last year's kitchen session clearly shows. All the skill, finesse, and capability that Mr. Reed has at his command will once again be put into use this year, as the Club's annual Barbecue is set for Wednesday, September 16 at 8:00. A planning session for the picnic will be held at 8:00 p.m. in City Hall on Friday, August 28. Committee members are Ernest Mikkelsen, chairman, J. V. Glover, Carl Fisher, John Appleton, Kenneth Zuger, J. A. Stonecipher, Harold Roberts, and Francis Wood.

Marie and Margaret Zuger returned last week from Mackinac Island, Mich., where they have spent the summer attending two sessions of the "Conference on Tomorrow's America" sponsored by the Committee on Moral Re-Armament. The conference confronted the youth of America with problems facing the adult world of today.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

September 1, 1939

School opened at McKay Monday with Mrs. Brooksbanks at teacher and Earl Pettichord as the faithful bus driver.

In the South Touchet, Elmer Elkins filed on another homestead adjoining Lloyd Southerworth's that Joe Bride had vacated then took a wagon load of fence wire to where stockmen were fencing the cattle pastures, with Harry Rainwater driving the mule team. Harry said any man could make a fortune if he worked 20 hours a day 7 days a week, but Elmer had doubts.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 28, 1914

Earl or "Rusty" Smith, as he used to be known here when he was a by, arrived Sunday with his family of wife and young son on a few days visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Smith. Oh, yes, he brought along Pat, too. Waitsburg people will remember "Pat, the Educated Horse." Rusty has traveled with Pat all over California, Nevada dn Utah during the past few years and he has done very well on the vaudeville circuit.

The estimated total expenditures of the Waitsburg schools for the coming year is $19,524.26, according to clerk Mary Dixon.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 30, 1889

A strange appearing man rode through our streets this morning on a mule with a fur coat and a straw hat on.

Perhaps there is not another town in the northwest the size of Waitsburg where educational interests are so carefully looked after s here, and no further proof of the broad liberal policy of the public spirited people of this city is necessary than the existence of this laudable state of affairs.

The population of Waitsburg is given at 1,000 and of the county directly tributary about 2,800. A population of 10,000 people could easily find support in this part of Walla Walla county.