DAYS OF YORE: May 23, 2024

Days of Yore for May 23, 2024

10 years ago—

The Ford Family Foundation has selected 104 students from Oregon as new Ford Scholars. This year’s Oregon Scholars were chosen from 5,202 applicants. The Foundation and the Arlington School District have announced that Efren Zuniga is a recipient of the 2014 Ford Family Scholarship.

The Condon/Wheeler Lady Knights have successfully defended their Class 1A state championship track and field title by earning another one last week at Hayward Field in Eugene. The C/W team accumulated 65.5 points to take the title. Sherman’s Lady Huskies finished 10th with 24 points.

James Burgett is the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office marine deputy. Deputy Burgett has over 10 years of law enforcement experience and has just completed the marine academy. Mentoring Deputy Burgett will be retired marine deputy Cliff Jett, who will begin patrolling the waters starting Memorial Day weekend.

25 years ago—

Jared Lathrop, a senior at Condon High School, was among five students named by the Oregon Association of Student Councils as a 1999 Community Leader of the Year. He was honored at a leadership conference held in Portland April 30.

Frank Bettencourt, reacting to the notice in ‘Days of Yore’ that he was one of the winners in a VFW-sponsored marble contest 50 years ago, has issued a challenge to area residents. His tournament success, 50 years ago, he says, has never been challenged. Frank says he still has ‘some’ of his marbles. Marble players might want to give Frank a call.

50 years ago—

The “Meanest Person in Town Award” should go to the person or persons who dug up plants one night this week at the Condon Nursing Home. The plants were placed around the nursing home for the enjoyment of the patients, but they won’t enjoy the large holes that were left by the vandals. Mr. and Mrs. Selwyn Simons, who have worked so hard to beautify the grounds, said they would be glad to give plants to anyone asking for them, if it would bring more joy to their life than it does to the patients.

A 1949 graduate of Condon High School, Henry Jaeger, has retired from the Air Force as a Major, after more than 20 years of military service. Major Jaeger, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Art Jaeger of Woodburn and formerly of Condon, and a brother of Bill Jaeger of Condon, received the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal during his retirement ceremony. He was decorated for meritorious service.

75 years ago—

Last Friday at the Condon Grade School gymnasium, a boxing elimination tournament was held, and the winners advanced to the finals. Twelve bouts of three two-minute rounds kept the air full of leather, as the young scrappers came to triumph or defeat. The evening began with a free-for-all in which eight blindfolded second and third graders, using only one glove, stumbled and fell over each other, held the crowd in suspense and constant laughter. When the smoke of battle had cleared away, Mike Tierney was declared the winner and won the baseball bat prize.

Herb Brown, who recently changed his address from “the city of wind and wheat” (Condon) to “the city of just wind” (Hermiston), spent several days in Condon visiting with old friends. He was a guest at the home of Asher Montague and was a visitor to Spray where he looked after his cattle interests.

100 years ago—

Dorin Wilburn, Melvin Hunt, and Danny Walters have returned from an outing on Deep Creek, above Mitchell. They caught some nice trout, but spent most of their time in the open in pure vacation style – nothing to do, and lots of help doing it.

Last week a man claiming to be a geologist in the employ of the Standard Oil Co., arrived at Kent and arranged for board and rooms for himself and two assistants while he was prospecting for oil along the John Day River. He had an excellent line of talk and soon got the confidence of his host. He secured three good meals and a bed Saturday night and Sunday disappeared.

Bids for the construction of the new Fossil school building were opened last week and ranged from $32,000 to $40,000. Ten bids were first submitted, all being higher than the amount of funds available, hence all bids were rejected. The school board then modified the plans by cutting out much of the basement work, after which a contract was let to William Hilton of Portland for $26,000. The building will be completed in 100 days.

From the Condon Times 1909 —

Bill Parks and his crew of shearers left for Josephine, Oregon, on Saturday to shear for Michael Olds and other sheep men. Bill ordered the Times sent after him hot foot.

J.H. Parks, 80 years old, applied for a fishing license at the office of County Clerk Horner this week. Mr. Parks has been fishing in Oregon for 70 years and this is his first license.

We heard S.B. Barker remark to L.D. Bosworth to ride “Old Grizzly” out to the sheep camp. We thought it might have been a bear but it was only a horse S.B. has been using to round his sheep camps for several years, and known to all the world except ourselves as “Old Grizzly” because he kicked the daylights out of a bear over on the head of Thirtymile one frosty October morning some 20 years ago.

 

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