Looking back, June 23

Choice Hotels International today announced that The Tillicum Inn in The Dalles has joined the Choice Hotels International franchise system and is not the Quality Inn, The Dalles. The Tillicum Inn and adjoining Cousins’ Restaurant & Saloon have “built a reputation on quality and service, by providing quests with clean comfortable accommodations and delicious food at affordable prices,” officials from Choice Hotels International said in a prepared press release. “As host to families, travelers, tour groups, business meeting and banquets, the new Quality Inn will continue the same traditions.

The Dalles State Farm agent Doug Sawyer was recently awarded one of the company’s highest honors, the Bronze Tablet award. According to regional vice-president Gary Methner, “Doug’s accomplishments show an outstanding commitment to excellent customer service for policy holders and the company.” The Bronze Tablet award recognizes agents who have been recipients of the company’s prestigious Legion of Honor Award for five consecutive years. The Legion of Honor Award is earned by agents who write and maintain a high quality book of business. Sawyer is one of only 29 agents in the state to earn this distinction.

40 Years Ago-1973

Merchandise worth several hundred dollars is missing from the Maupin Drug Store following a burglary that took place late Thursday or early Friday. State police and the Wasco County sheriff’s department investigated the break-in Friday. Entry into the building was achieved by breaking glass in two doors at the side of the building. Articles listed as taken are a portable color TV set valued at $370, two floor speakers, other audio equipment, a skillet and cover, binoculars, electric razor, assorted wristwatches and a variety of other merchandize.

This year’s Wasco County Wilderness Hike-out group will walk around a portion of Mt. Hood not covered by the three previous hiking groups. The hike by 10 youths and two adults will start at Tilly Jane campground on the northeast side of the mountain on July 8 and proceed around the east face, reaching the Pacific Crest trail in the area below timberline Lodge. The young hikers are boys who are considered likely to benefit from the project in various ways. Jack Linderman of the city police will again make the hike.

60 Years Ago-1953

Archaeological excavations on the Oregon side of the Columbia near Big Eddy will start soon, according to The Dalles Chamber of Commerce. W.S. Nelson, chamber manager, reported today that Dr. L. S. Cressman, director of the Museum of Natural History at the University of Oregon, with a staff of six men was scheduled to arrive today preparatory to beginning the excavations. The party will make its camp in the vicinity of Big Eddy at a site provided by the Corps of Engineers. Excavations will be made on land which will be flooded upon completion of The Dalles dam. The Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Dalles City Wasco county Museum commission, headed by V.B. Kenworthy and Russell Hudson as secretary, will give a dinner for the group July 1 at Hotel Dalles. Archaeologists conducting similar excavations of the Washington side of the river from the University of Washington also have been invited to attend the dinner.

State Policemen Bernard Ross of The Dalles and Anton Krivak of Hood River were at home today to continue their recovery from wounds received Friday in an exchange of gunfire which killed a 63-year old Portland berry picker. Both officers were released from the Hood River hospital yesterday. They were reported to be recovering satisfactorily and are expected to be back on duty in a month or six weeks. Seattle relatives of the dead man, Elmer R. Jennings, 63, have claimed his body at Hood River. He was shot after he opened fire on the two officers as they sought to question him at his cabin south of Hood River.

80 Years Ago-1933

Dalles growers continued to pour Royal Anne cherries into the Dalles Cooperative Growers’ association today, where barreling was being handled at the rate of 12 tons an hour, while Ray Maling cannery buyers established a market price of 21 cents a pound, orchard run suitable for canning purposes. The establishment of the Anne market at the 21 cent figure, which ordinarily would be a severe blow to the growers, was softened by the announcement from H.G. Miller that the cooperative association would accept cherries to the capacity limit. Two crews of workmen were rushing today barreling at the rate of 100 barrels an hour while plans were being made to start a third crew within the next few days to handle the crop at its peak.

Another applicant for the office of city recorder was added to the list today when Chester L. Fritz made known his desire to succeed Judd S. fish, whose resignation has been given to the council. According to the charter, it is the duty of the mayor to appoint the city recorder, which appointment must be ratified by a majority of the council. In the present emergency, with Mayor Thompson confined to his bed with an injury, and members of the council attempting to assist with the city’s affairs, there has sprung up a number of applicants for the office of city recorder.

100 Years Ago-1913

It has been erroneously, and quite generally, reported that the heavy rains of Saturday and Sunday, seriously damaged the cherry crop. Such a condition does not exist. Some ripe cherries on the trees have been damaged, having been cracked. It was reported that half of the cherries in this vicinity had been ruined. True reports from different ranches indicate that the average of damaged cherries will not be more than one in 15. The moisture which was received during the last two days, amounting to eighty-three hundredths of an inch, has been of general benefit to all forms of vegetation, especially spring grain and potatoes.

Four people narrowly escaped serious injury or death yesterday morning when C. C. Cook of Arlington lost control of his automobile just after leaving the Brewery Grade on the Seufert road and drove over the banks, only the greatest luck preventing fearful accident. The direct cause of the accident was the slick road, together with the sharp turn in the thoroughfare at the scene of the accident. When Mr. Cook attempted to make the turn the front wheels failed to take hold and the car was headed into the bank. The driver swung sharply to the left to avoid hitting the bank and the wheels suddenly caught and threw the machine across the rod and over the bank before the driver could regain control.