January 12
20 Years Ago-1994
A Tualatin firm was awarded a $2 million construction contract at District 9 schools. The bid of $2,046,000, well below school projections, was awarded to Todd Construction by the Chenowith School Board Jan. 5. That company submitted the lowest of six bids in December; all of them came from out of town companies. The work will see construction of a new gym, music room, enlarged media center and five classrooms at Chenowith elementary school; a graphics art building at Wahtonka High and a new gym at Chenowith Middle school.
Scheduling at The Dalles High School may undergo a drastic shakeup this fall if the District 12 school board decides to implement block scheduling. Instead of the current schedule of seven, 50 minute periods a day, the new system would impose four 90 minute periods during the day. Each period would include instruction in at least three areas. The new scheduling system was explained to the board last night by High School Principal Dave Beasely and high school teachers Tom Ames and Jary Snodgrass.
40 Years Ago-1974
Personnel from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be in The Dalles nearly every Monday from now till April to help homeowners and renters complete their claim forms for the 1973 property tax refunds programs. The department said this is a part of a statewide effort to provide convenient assistance to taxpayers who are entitled to the refunds.
Parents of elementary school children who walk to school in District 12 have the option of keeping their youngsters home in the morning until daybreak, the school board has announced. As the result of discussion at Thursday’s board meeting the district administrators said notes would be sent home to parents telling them it is all right, as far as school people are concerned, for the children to miss the first part of the school day. This policy declaration was made in response to phone calls received from various parents who said they do not want their children walking to school while it is still dark. Since the start of daylight saving time, children have been arriving at school well before dawn.
60 Years Ago-1954
The Dalles had a record-breaking construction boom in 1953, a compilation by the city engineer’s office disclosed Saturday. The 290 building permits issued last year had a listed value of $1,913,579. As listed valuation does not represent the full cost, actual construction is considered to have passed the $2,000,000 mark for the first time in the city’s history. In contrast, the 367 permits issued in 1952 totaled $1,436,098, nearly a half million dollars less. For the past several years annual building permits have been totaling between $1 million and $1½ million.
A three-pronged attack against the contractors seeking additional compensation for construction of the West Park sanitary sewer was filed in Circuit Court today by Dalles City. Melvin A. Erland and Joe Blickle are asking $22,175.87 more than the $38,722.50 contract price received for the sewer project. A demurrer objecting to the complaint on the ground it “does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action” was the first of the three papers filed this morning.
80 Years Ago-1934
The Dalles High School basketball team with Coach Burr E. Tatro left today for Walla Walla, where it will meet the Walla Walla high school team in the first hard game of the season tomorrow night. The Walla Walla team is credited with being one of the strongest quintets in southeastern Washington this year. The Walla Walla boys carried off the state championship last year. The Dalles aggregation is expecting to put up a good fight, however. Those who are making the trip are: Ronald Van Orman, Henry Cramer, Wesley Altermatt, Graydon Calbreath, Kenneth Cook, Wilbur Stadelman and Guy Phetteplace.
The police were searching the “jungles” below First Street today for a thief with a stomach ache. Four cans of sardines which had swelled with a poisonous gas and which had been laid aside in the E.C. Pease warehouse behind the department store were stolen during the night.
Approval of the bonds of the board of directors of the North Dalles Irrigation district and setting of a date for confirmation proceedings, occupied the superior court of Klickitat County yesterday, according to word brought back to this city by S.E. Van Vactor, attorney for the district.
100 Years Ago-1914
The sixtieth anniversary of the creation of Wasco as a county was celebrated yesterday afternoon at the city hall, which stands on the site of the first Wasco County Court House. The meeting, which was also in commemoration of Orland Humason, the founder of this County, had been arranged by the Old Fort Dalles Historical society, which presented a splendid program, rich in interesting and instructive historical lore. Ivan Humason of Portland, son of Orlando Humason, and Elisha Humason of Spokane, brother of Wasco’s founder, was the guest of honor yesterday. Members of the local historical society occupied seats of honor in the council chambers.
The mayor put one over on the council this afternoon when he vetoed the resolution which was passed by the council Thursday night. The resolution stated that anyone who attempted to act as chief of police without confirmation by the council, would do so at his own risk, and without right or title to the office. It forbade police officers to recognize such person as chief, and announced that he would receive no pay from the city.
Looking Back is compiled by CeCe Fix.
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