The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

August 11, 2011

Mead is wine made from honey instead of grapes. A new winery, Mace Meadworks, featuring the buzzing bee’s nectar in its wine is opening on Main Street in Dayton soon.

[Photo caption] Waitsburg resident Gary Hofer and a bronze statue of his great grandfather, Sen. George Norris, in McCook Nebraska. Norris, whose efforts were instrumental in pushing through the Rural Electrification Act 75 years ago, was born 150 years ago himself.

Before William Shakespeare became a well-known playwright, he was an actor with Pembroke’s Men about a decade before the end of the 16th century. Perhaps more than anyone, the English bard knew that actors feed off their audience. A responsive crowd can inspire actors and lift their performance. Thanks to the new Powerhouse Theater in Walla Walla, local theater-goers can have what wealthy Elizabethans had: interaction.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 27, 1995

Waitsburg ambulance service is short-handed and is looking for a few good men and women to become emergency medical technicians. Ambulance officials say that for various reasons, four out of 11 members of the all-volunteer ambulance service have not renewed their certifications as EMTs and therefore cannot serve in that capacity.

He started playing classical violin at age seven and now he’s an up-and-coming fiddler. Jedd Oakley, son of John and Jean Oakley of Dayton, is only 14, but already he is a fiddler to be reckoned with.

The Gardena Alfalfa Seed Growers’ Association, Inc. will hold a lunch on Thursday, August 3, at the Lion’s Hall south of Touchet. Speakers will cover alfalfa seed insects.

Fifty Years Ago

August 6, 1970

[Headline] Wheat yields here; excellent

Touchet Valley Grain Growers Manager John Egli reported this week that wheat harvest in this area is at mid-point and that all indications point to one of the very best crops in recent years. Sales this week of 100,000 tons to Korea and 100,000 to India should help the situation, Egli said.

Compliments cost little and yet produce excellent returns anywhere.

Miss Julie Stonecipher was honored at a prenuptial shower at the Bill Payne home with Ann Payne and Sherri Donnelly as hostesses.

“I’ve never seen such a boy for asking questions,” the father cried impatiently to his young son. “I wonder what would have happened if I had asked as many questions when I was your age.” “Maybe,” suggested the lad, “you’d be able to answer some of my questions now.”

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 10, 1945

With harvest nearing the end of the season, it appears that the crops are probably averaging 30 bushels to the acre which is 10 to 20 percent less than last year’s yield.

About seventy miles from Waitsburg, the biggest secret of the war has been the process of manufacture of the past two years of the new atomic bomb used against Japan on Monday, August 7.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 13, 1920

The most disastrous grain fire so far this season occurred on the John Kinder ranch six miles north of Prescott Friday afternoon when more than 300 acres of 30-bushel wheat was burned.

Fifteen smut fans are now in use in threshing outfits in the county and farmers are rapidly beginning to appreciate their value, says County Agent W. Talley.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 16, 1895

Prairie chickens are said by local sportsmen to be more plentiful this season than for the past several years.Their favorite resting places are in the numerous cornfields.

Many farmers have finished harvesting and are now merely waiting for wheat to go up to $1.00 a bushel.

There will be a grand three days picnic in Mullinix’ grove, this city, on September 5, 6, and 7. There will also be able speakers in attendance to address the people on the political and social issues of the day.