DAYS OF YORE: Week of January 11, 2024

10 years ago—

Two local education administrators have been invited to present at an international conference in Sydney, Australia on a school model they designed. Steve Boynton, superintendent at Arlington Community School, and Rinda Montgomery Conwell, assistant superintendent at North Central Education Service District, designed the Pathways to Proficiency Project which has been implemented in Arlington the last four years. In 2010 Arlington ranked 260th in the state’s district performance rankings. In 2013 Arlington ranked 8th.

At the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association’s annual awards conference held at the Riverhouse Hotel in Bend, three men were among those receiving awards. The three, including Dennis Gronquist of Arlington, saved 60-year-old Ketsy Roeder of Kennewick whose car had rolled over and Roeder was unconscious. The three righted the car and pulled Roeder from the car.

25 years ago—

The Condon Reading Club met at the home of Anne Hardie and Margaret Bennett reported on the book Stories I Couldn’t Tell When I was a Pastor. The book was alternately funny and tender and the report was enjoyed by all.

Mitchell Madness by 5th and 6th graders: Shelly Brooks gave Tiffany Johnson’s family a puppy so that their other dog doesn’t get lonely!

Anita Cody of Spray won the comforter that was donated by the Spray General Store for the Wheeler Point Fire Association as a fundraiser. The association is very important to this area of Wheeler County and provides the only fire protection some rural residents have.

50 years ago—

Wheeler County residents, as well as residents of the area around Shaniko and Antelope, are invited to “Comet Watch” at OMSI’s Camp Hancock near Clarno. The evenings of January 18 and 19 are expected to be top viewing times for Comet Kahoutek. This event is a way of saying “thanks” to the friendly and helpful neighbors of Camp Hancock.

News, as such, is a mighty scarce item in Kinzua these days. With temperatures below zero every night and not much higher during the day, residents are staying home keeping a running battle with frozen pipes and cars that are hard to start. Hopefully, it will all break soon.

Effective Monday, January 14, the last number of vehicle license plates will determine when gas may be purchased at service stations.

75 years ago—

With young Mr. New Year’s feet firmly planted on 1949’s threshold and our innumerable resolutions made – and cozily pigeon-holed – one may relax from the holiday bustle and catch up on the Spray news. Franklin Adams suffered a fractured ankle when he fell while playing football. The injured member was placed in a cast and Franklin was able to attend school with the aid of crutches.

The Arlington Garage on the lower end of Main Street lost its gas pumps one day last week as a truck failed to make the turn in the highway and tore them out. This has happened many times before. Drivers often under-estimate the sharpness of the 90 degree turn and are unable to make the corner.

Mrs. Vance Shearer invited friends in to help Vance celebrate his birthday anniversary. The cake bearing the correct number of candles, was presented to the honored guest for cutting. His age, he says, is a secret which will not be divulged by the guests who were bribed by huge portions to keep his secret.

100 years ago—

The Arlington school board has forbidden the use of city water from the school house water supply, and pupils have to carry their supply of drinking water from their homes – if they wish to drink during school hours. Arlington people have been advised that water should be boiled before using – as typhoid is still prevalent in that city.

Some of those so-called classical dances remind one of trying to get into a union suit in an upper berth.

James Walker, Sr. is most susceptible to music. A new record induced a desire to dance the Highland Fling, which in turn produced an attack of lumbago. Dancing alone in the kitchen can be dangerous.

From the Condon Times Dec. 1908—Jan. 1909

An event happened at Salem when the Oregon Legislature convened for a 40-day session that caused all the voters of Gilliam, Wheeler and Sherman counties to feel proud. Senator Jay Bowerman was elected as President of the Senate. In addition, Condon’s R.R. Butler was chosen to carry Oregon’s vote for President to Washington, D.C.

T.D. Sweeten, marshall at Arlington, altho a terror to evil doers has a good heart in his anatomy. He purchased a ticket for a hobo and sent him to The Dalles Hospital. The poor man was kicked off the train at Heppner Junction and compelled to walk to Arlington, getting both his feet frozen on the way.

W.A. Campbell has proved up on his timber claim and will build a log cabin thereon where he intends to spend the summer amongst the whispering pines. Sandy will invite his friends up there and have them amuse themselves making cordwood for the wiley one to burn on his ranch next winter.

 

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