The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

February 9, 2006

Fifty-Five Plus Club will meet for a noon potluck this Friday, February 10 at Ye Towne Hall. Hostesses are Kay Pettichord and Janice Wills.

[Photo caption] Waitsburg Hardware and Mercantile co-owner John Stellwagen tends to business with the help of “Cougar,” a tawny feline who has become a mascot at the establishment. Stellwagen and his wife Marilyn took in the cat, who love attention and is vociferous if none is received. Regulars around the pot-bellied stove at the long-time store also take their turns giving Cougar love and attention. Near the old brass cash register it’s coffee, cookies and Cougar, but not necessarily in that order. Coincidentally, exactly 10 years ago The Times sported a real cougar on its front page.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 7, 1991

Waitsburg Marshal Tom Longo called this week to say he plans to recognize Deputy Rick Ferguson for his life-saving response to a critical situation in town this past weekend.

Roy Leid, Morris Kurth and Bernard Donnelly attended the Blue Mountain Sportsmen Council meeting in Dayton recently, and received approval on their letter to the State Game Commission by an 88-0 vote.

“Waitsburg Pacific Power customers enjoy electric prices that are among the lowest of all investor owned utility companies in the United States,” reported Bud Prince, Pacific Power’s area manager.

Fifty Years Ago

February 10, 1966

Mrs. Glen Hofer was elected chairman of the Weller Library Board at their regular meeting in January. Mrs. Jack Wright is vice-chairman; Mrs. Vaughn Hubbard, sec’y; Mrs. Art Combs, treas.; Mrs. Kenneth Zuger, publicity and new member to replace Mrs. Larry Broom who had completed her term.

Dee Barnett’s junkyard which added local color to the foreground of the Centennial Postcard, is no more. The property was purchased by the County Commissioners from Dee, and the County Crew held a real “barn burner” there last Monday morning. The multitude of items which Dee had added to his expanding collection included a couple of old tombstones, refrigerators, old-fashioned muffin tins – in fact, you name it, it probably was there. Buried, we might add, under about four feet of floor mud. The land, which adjoins the Touchet river, will be added to the County lot which is now occupied by a building used to house maintenance equipment.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 14, 1941

Will F. Hawks has let the contract to William Vogt of this city, for the erection of a modern farm home on the farm recently purchased from the Minnick Estate.

The Commercial Club will sponsor its second annual Basket Social in the Club rooms, Tuesday night, Feb. 18 at 6:30 o’clock.

Mrs. Rufus Veatch entertained the Sorotus Club Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Donald Harris presented a paper “5000 Years of Toys.”

Robert Segraves, while working with R. R. Johnson and crew in pulling trees in the Moore Orchard, was struck in the right eye by a limb of a falling tree on Tuesday.

Mrs. W. C. Atkins left Sunday night for Grass Valley, Calif. where she will visit relatives and old friends for several weeks. In the meantime “W.C.” the genial Northern Pacific agent, will appreciate an extra pie occasionally.

One Hundred Years Ago

February 18, 1916

This valley had over three feet of snow, breaking all records for snow on the ground at one time for past 30 years.

Friday night at the Preston Hall will be staged the big game with Prosser. Seats are being put in to accommodate the crowd.

The Bruce and Houtchens Grocery has been more than tearing things up at their store during the past week. This grocery promises to be one of the brightest and cleanest grocery stores in this part of the country when the remodeling is completed.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 13, 1891

No danger of the Mongolidians of this city being disturbed now. They gave a fine dinner to a large number of their Waitsburg friends on Monday.

Wanted – A hand to do general work on a small farm, by the month. “Going wages” will be paid and the job will last as long as harmony exists between employed and employee, or until the money runs out. Inquire at this office.

Miss Bertie Cos last Wednesday morning rose early, went to Walla Walla, a distance of thirty miles reaching there a few minutes after eight o’clock, went to the land office and filed on a quarter section of land and was home again in time to get dinner that same day. Think of it! Sixty miles of travel and a quarter section of land in less than half a day. That’s the kind of girls we have in Waitsburg.