PIONEER PORTRAITS

Fifteen Years Ago

August 25, 2011

It was never Wyatt Withers' sole inspiration for going in the Navy, but once he had decided to join it certainly helped having a grandfather who had served in the same branch many decades ago. Choosing to be "seasick over digging a fox hole," longtime local farmer Jack McCaw went to amphibian training school in preparation of the Allied invasion of Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Withers' mission will be much different. He always wanted to become a chemical engineer, but figured as a nuclear engineer in the Navy, he'd get his way paid through training and college.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 23, 2001

The Washington State Patrol presented Pat Mohney of Waitsburg with an Award of Merit Tuesday in Walla Walla. Recognizing him for his role in fending of dogs attacking three-year-old Alexis Nordman and her mother Terrie outside of Waitsburg last April. Mohney was presented an Award of Merit in a ceremony at the Department of Transportation facility in Walla Walla. Present was the newly appointed Chief of the Washington State Patrol, Ronal W. Serpas, District 3 Captain David J. Karnitz, Sgt. Wendell Prins of Walla Walla Detachment, and other troopers, including Ron Nordman, Alexis' father. "It was a real nice deal, a real honor," Mohney said. "I got to see Alexis and she's doing real good."

Fifty Years Ago

August 19, 1976

[Photo Caption] Emmett Fields, extension field agent, rides this miniature combine which is used in the test plots to cut grain grown with different combinations of fertilizers and chemicals. The work was taking place last week on the Don Abbey Ranch north and west of Waitsburg.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 24, 1951

Jacqueline Alexander, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Alexander will leave Sept. 15 for Anchorage, Alaska where she will serve as an airline stewardess for Northern Pacific Airlines.

Miss Zola McDougall of Bend, Ore. visited Mr. and Mrs. Will Vollmer Friday. Miss McDougall was a former mathematics teacher here.

Dick Brunton left Saturday morning with three Scouts of Pasco and the Pasco Scout leader for a ten day camping trip into Canada.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 27, 1926

Mr. and Mrs. Will Vollmer and children Charles, Billy and Henrietta; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Vollmer and daughter, Fredia; Mr. and Mrs. Will Harris, and daughter Dorothy and two sons Gussie and Freddie, left Sunday morning for a week's outing at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Ira Bloor and son Harold, W. E. McKinney and Craig and Ned Vining are over on the Wenaha River in the Umatilla Forest this week on a fishing trip. They packed in from Thayer's Mill on the South Touchet.

Miss Isla Hales had as her guest last week a sorority sister, Miss Margurite Miller of Spokane.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 30, 1901

The Clodius header and thresher crew finished their season run Saturday evening and tapped the keg of beer that has been the principal topic of discussion for the past two weeks. They had a very steady and profitable run.

Miss Adeline Walker and Mr. Arthur Kennedy, both of Coppei were united in marriage by the Rev. Lee Johnson in Walla Walla Sunday evening.

Mrs. Maggie Perrin this week purchased a brand new piano for her daughters Misses Cassie and Flossie.