The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

August 22, 2013

For those who are familiar with Markeeta Little Wolf’s unique personal style, the way she views her garden should come as no surprise. “It’s like the way I dress,” she said during a recent interview at her home on Fourth Street. “Cowboy boots and a silk dress. Not everyone would dress like that. But I know what looks good on me.” As part of their monthly meeting Saturday, 20 members of the Waitsburg Garden Club toured the former entertainer’s lush landscape a few doors down from the Bruce Mansion and feasted their eyes on the hidden botanical beauty that was a mere rumor to some before. They found it exactly the extension of Little Wolf’s eclectic and outgoing taste, laid out in sections before them like a never-ending string of beads, each with their own rich display of flowers and foliage. “This is fantastic,” said Terry Hofer, a longtime Waitsburg resident who is an avid gardener himself. “You can’t drive anywhere to find something like this.”

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 27, 1998

[Photo Caption] The Waitsburg Grade School children who will be at the cross walks during the coming school year underwent orientation and training last week. Members of the school patrol are front row: Nichole Nelson, Jesse Meier, Laisha Archer, Emily Hogan, Marci Jo Lanning, Trey Cole. Back row: Lindsay Auchterlonie, Jill Bickelhaupt, Chris Dessert, Matt Baker, Brad Huffman, Ashley Bruner. Not pictured: Gabe Kiefel. Advisor for the group is Pam Conover.

Fifty Years Ago

August 23, 1973

An explosion of undetermined origin destroyed a pleasure boat owned by H. V. “Bill” Zuger of Waitsburg in a Sunday evening mishap at Lake Pend Orielle in Idaho. Fortunately, no one was injured. Bill was preparing to take his son Greg water skiing. Five young people were on the boat which had not been started. David Smith, son of Rev. and Mrs. Vernon Smith, was helping to get the water ski cord in place when the explosion occurred. He was thrown by the force of the blast into the lake, but aside from some initial shock was not injured. Bill made sure that all the people were off the boat, as well as the family dog, then he pushed the burning craft into the lake so that the blaze would not start any fires on shore. Mrs. Zuger told “The Times” that the Coast Guard had checked the entire boat for safety just prior to the explosion, and how the event happened is still a mystery. She also noted that all that is left is some melted metal and fiberglass, and that the totalled hull was floating in the lake when last she saw it.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 27, 1948

The word “new” in wheat delivery was the 1948 version of transferring wheat from the Paul Hofer elevator at Clyde last Friday when four new box cars, being pulled by the new diesel locomotive in this area delivered new Elgin wheat to the Preston-Shaffer Milling Co.

Miss Betty Jo Hanger of Dayton will become the bride of Bernard J. Donnelly on Sunday afternoon, August 29.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 31, 1923

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wise of Mason, Iowa has been visiting Mr. and Mrs. Riley Wise.

Wm. Wardrip, proprietor of the Wardrip truck line between this city and Walla Walla, has accepted a contract to haul lumber between Gurdane, Oregon and Pilot Rock. The job will last about two months.

Misses Gladys and Ruth Eaton, Isla Hales, and Naomi Danielson have returned from a few days camping trip.

Oscar Abbey and family and Mrs. R. O. Sanders left by auto early Thursday morning for several days outing in the Wallowa Valley.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 2, 1898

Mrs. Maude Lyons arrived in the city this week from Raymond, South Dakota. Mrs. Lyons holds a position as a teacher in our public school this year.

Parents should remember that our public school commences a week from next Monday, Sept. 12, and that the children should be ready to start on the first day.

Peter Ludwig, a son of C. P. Ludwig of this city, arrived on Sunday night from Mt. Cary, Iowa, after an absence of nearly four years. Peter has concluded that there is no country quite so good as Washington.