The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

August 27, 2009

[Photo caption] John Hockersmith (second from the left) and fellow Troublemakers, from left Zach Beasley, Mariah Barthlow and Austin Beasley during a Christmas performance at the Liberty Theater in Dayton.

Members of the Waitsburg Lions Club issued a collective sigh of relief late last week when club funds were returned by the family of Don Johnson, the former treasurer who has reportedly admitted embezzling them. Shaken by the episode, the club wisely made immediate changes to its fiscal management, putting safeguards in place against future fraud.

[Photo caption] Dressed as a turn-of-the-century school girl, Dayton’s Ally Chapman sits back after introducing Mike Ferrians and fellow musicians at Saturday’s fundraiser for the Smith Hollow School restoration and relocation project.

Former Bluewood skier Brandenburg makes US Olympic Team. Bluewood Alpine Race Team (BART) program director George Struthers recalls Will Brandenburg as a fearless eight-year-old.

Three players on the 2009 Cardinals’ football team made All State, according to coaches and other polls released late last month.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 26, 1995

[Photo caption] The family of Anatoily Dudenkov at their home. The immigrants from Russia are the first to settle in Dayton. From left, are daughter Lyudmila, 14, Anatoliy, 36, his wife Rimma, and daughters Tat’yana, 16, and Irina, 10. Children attend Dayton schools. They arrived in September.

Waitsburg leaders took the first step to annex the land from the eastern city limits to the Columbia County line, including DeWitt Road, a move pushed by City Councilman John R. Carpenter.

All we know is that Pomeroy won but the score is anybody’s guess. Pomeroy High School came into Waitsburg and defeated the Cardinals varsity boys basketball team on Jan. 14. A couple days later Pomeroy athletic officials were asked for the final score of the game. They said it was 74-59. Waitsburg statistic-keepers listed the score at 73-54. After the game, area newspapers reported the score at 73-54, deferring to the home number-keepers. In our hearts, we’ll always believe that the Cardinals scored five more than even they will take credit for.

[Photo caption] Diane Royce riding her thoroughbred mare “Huh?” during a dressage competition. Royce recently received a silver medal in dressage.

Fifty Years Ago

January 29, 1970

A contract for resurfacing of the highway between Starbuck and McAdams was awarded Thursday by the Washington State Highways Department. The contract is for surfacing, ditching and shaping 15 miles of State Highway 261 between McAdams in Franklin County and Starbuck in Columbia County.

H.V. “Bill” Zuger of Waitsburg was named Vice-President of the Touchet Valley Irrigation Board this week. He has served several years as secretary of the group.

Waitsburg Commercial Club Tuesday night voted to contribute $100 to the newly-formed Waitsburg Ambulance Service.

Larry Broom reported that the Scout-Campfire drive is about to be wrapped up with $480.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 2, 1945

Mayor R. D. Roberts wishes to thank all of those who assisted with the waste paper drive last week which netted about 7 tons.

John Fleming finished wrecking the old barn on the Tommy Davidson place at Huntsville and has begun construction of a smaller and more convenient building on the old foundation.

Miss Mary Linville was honored at a formal birthday dinner Thursday evening at the Gene Ray home. The guests were Misses Ruth Wolfe, Donna Jeremiah, Joanne Williamson, Janice Roberts, Jacqueline Alexander, Betty Baim and Elizabeth Bishop.

One Hundred Years Ago

February 6, 1920

A very pretty wedding took place at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Chas James on Preston Ave. Tuesday evening when Emerson Woods and Miss Mildred Tabor were united in marriage by the Rev. John Garver of the Methodist Church.

Cases of smallpox are reported at the homes of Eli Glover, R. G. Elchelberger and Harvey Barnes. The other cases in town which were in a light form, have about recovered.

Mrs. Lee Mantz and little son of Dayton, have been visiting relatives for several days.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 1, 1895

A host of the friends of little Clara Jessup gave her a complete surprise party on Tuesday night, and never did a lot of “kids” have a more delightful time.

Ten thousand bushels of wheat were sold in Dayton last Saturday at 24 cents per bushel.

Another crop of ice was harvested this week. This is great country for second crops—and sometimes there are three crops in one year.

Chinese New Year was a rather tame affair this year, owing to the “stringency.” There is consolation in that these hard times effect all—none escape.