Looking back, Jan. 25, and History Mystery

Some 30 parents have asked the school board here not to renew the contracts of school superintendent and principal. A document mailed anonymously to the Chronicle, and confirmed as accurate by parent Marilyn Sawyer, provides a list of complaints aired at a January 3 meeting of parents. Describing a school system adrift, parents listed administrative unresponsiveness and arbitrary discipline as problems in the district.

Former Mayor Milt Skov, Northwest Aluminum Personnel Director Les Dewey and Police Chief Darrell Hill will help The Dalles City Council in selecting a new city manager. The three men will join five councilors and Mayor Dave Beckley on the nine-member City Manager Selection Committee established last night by The Dalles City Council.

40 Years Ago-1975

Wahtonka High School newspaper editor Pat Rice says the journalism class will walk to Astoria for as little as two cents a mile to raise $700 to buy camera equipment. “Anything we earn over that will go into the school tennis court fund,” he said. The idea arose, said Rice, after the class requested $500 in the school budget, but the figure didn’t make it through budget sessions. The class offers free ads in its “Courier Press” student newspaper if businessmen contribute to the walk. The 175 mile trip would cost $3.50 at two cents a mile, he said.

School employees and board member negotiating teams are meeting to develop agreements on working conditions and salary arrangements in Wasco County. The two big districts, Chenoweth (District 9) and The Dalles (District 12) have had preliminary meetings and will continue sessions for several more meetings.

60 Years Ago-1955

The shattered remains of a safe that once contained $3,500 in cash and checks stolen from the Lyle Mercantile store were discovered at Dallesport yesterday, the Klickitat county sheriff’s office reported today. Some papers in the safe were found, but he $1,000 in cash plus checks were missing. The safe, found behind Basil’s Court at Dallesport, was stolen Jan. 11 from the store owned by E. E. Kitchen of Lyle. A torch was used to burn the front of the safe open, then the separate compartments were smashed to obtain the contents. The pieces of the 1,600 pound safe were taken to Goldendale for detailed study by authorities.

A March of Dimes dance, with all proceeds going to fight polio, will be held at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Auditorium. The Music Masters, led by George DeJarnatt, will furnish music. Door prizes, donated by A. M. Williams Company and Monahan’s Jewelry store, will be provided for both men and women, according to Clyde Poole, chairman of the city March of Dimes Campaign.

80 Years Ago-1935

New methods of insect and disease control developed during the last two years for application to fruit trees will be described to local orchardists tomorrow at a meeting that will be held in the city council chambers. O. T. McWhorter, extension horticulturist from Oregon State College, will start the program with a discussion of spraying for peach twig blight, affecting both peaches and apricots, according to arrangements announced by W. Wray Lawrence, Wasco County agricultural agent.

Tax collections in Wasco County during 1934 exceeded those of the previous year by $211,571.45, according to a statement issued today by J. R. Johnson, county treasurer. Johnson’s statement gave the total 1934 collections as $698, 347.60, representing $240, 875. 65 in delinquent taxes, $451, 652. 59 in current taxes and $5, 819.36 in the three per cent discount allowed for advance payments.

100 Years Ago-1915

Commencing next Saturday, the Chronicle will run a social department which will be edited by Miss Gladys Canter. All social affairs of the preceding week will be placed under the head of “social news.” The editor will be pleased to receive accounts of events of a social nature, which may either be brought to this office or telephoned to main 111.

The Dalles High School basketball team defeated the Ione town team Friday night in the eastern Oregon city by a score of 27 to 18. The locals played a tie game with Heppner the following night.

“The game at Ione was one of the best exhibitions of good clean basketball I have ever seen.” Said Coach Lester, who accompanied the boys, today. “There were 200 spectators at the contest. Considering the fact that we were weakened by the absence of Huntington and Youdavitch, our boys put up a good game.”