20 years ago – 1996
Twelve years is a long time to fight any battle, but that’s how long Bobbie Miller and her associates have been fighting their property rights battle in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Years before the scenic area legislation was passed, the current president of Columbia Gorge United, the watchdog group focusing on the Gorge Commission and Friends of the Gorge, was among the people opposing increased government control in the gorge. Ten years after the legislation passed, Miller and friends are still committed to this effort, despite a decade of limited success.
Former The Dalles resident Shannon Anderson will perform with the Waverly Consort on National Public Radio on July 4. Anderson will appear on “Performance Today,” at 9 a.m., hosted by Michael Goldsmith.
40 years ago – 1976
Celebration of the nation’s Bicentennial Fourth of July got off to an active start this morning with a parade despite overcast skies. Activities continue through the afternoon with official ceremonies at city hall ending formal programs until Saturday.
By United Press International – The 78-hour Bicentennial Independence Day weekend is on and safety experts fear far more Americans will die on the roads than were killed, wounded or captured in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The National Safety Council estimated between 530 and 930 persons could be killed in traffic accidents during the holiday period between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Monday. Between 25,000 and 30,000 disabling injuries were also estimated. In contrast, historians figure 450 Americans were killed, wounded or captured in the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill. The British fared worse – 1,054 killed or wounded.
60 years ago – 1956
The Fourth of July? It ain’t what it used to be! That’s the way many old timers describe present-day Independence Day celebrations compared with “a good old-fashioned” one. The sporadic popping of firecrackers throughout The Dalles during the day and the “whoosh” of roman candles from front porches of various residences is a big contrast to the present statewide safe and sane Fourth. Brought about, of course, by too many missing fingers and severe powder burns. Local law enforcement officers reminded all citizens today that firecrackers and fireworks of any kind are still forbidden in Oregon. This does not include sparklers and toy cap pistols. The law defines fireworks as “any combustible or explosive composition, blank cartridges, toy cannons, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs, rockets, wheels, colored fires, fountains, mines, or serpents.”
Carl John Ewald Jr. and Jay V. Irwin, both of Portland, pleaded innocent in Circuit Court today to charges of stealing 800 pounds of copper wire from Union Pacific railroad here May 1. At the request of defense attorney Sam Van Vactor, separate trials will be held with the first slated Sept. 4. Van Vactor today tried unsuccessfully to get the indictment thrown out of court on grounds it does not include the word “willfully.” Two other men, who have pleaded guilty to charges in the same case, are also being held in county jail awaiting trial.
GRANTS PASS (UP) – An injured timber faller, both legs crushed by a falling tree, yesterday used his own power saw to cut himself free before rescuers arrived to aid him. Forty-year-old James Fairchild, working on the Frank McTousic operation on Elk mountain northeast of here, was cutting a tree which fell prematurely and dropped across his legs as he ran.
80 years ago – 1936
GENEVA, July 3. (UP) – Shouting “it is the last blow; this is the death of the League of Nations,” Stefan Lux, Czechoslovak journalist-photographer, shot himself in the assembly hall today while delegates were burying the Italo-Ethiopian dispute. Found in Lux’s pockets were letters to King Edward VIII, British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden, the Manchester (Eng.) guardian and Joseph A. C. Avenol, league secretary general. He shouted Avenol’s name as he was carried to a hospital, a severe wound in his chest. “I did it as a gesture,” he sobbed. Lux has been in poor health, which may have been a factor in causing him to shoot himself. The letters were turned over to Avenol and Belgian Premier Paul Van Zeeland, president of the assembly. Police said he had also written to the Times of London.
Darrell Dalrymple, former employe of the Granada theater, was held to action to the county grand jury on charges that he participated in the theft of more than $400 of the theater’s funds last November, following a preliminary hearing in justice court before Judge H. G. Meredith yesterday afternoon. Testimony of Guy E. Mathews, owner of the theater, and George Rosenbacker, companion of Dalrymple, who has confessed to executing the theft, disclosed sufficient evidence to hold Dalrymple for grand jury action, Judge Meredith decided.
100 years ago – 1916
Professional cabaret entertainers arrived from Portland today and will appear tonight on “The Main Drag” as a feature of the Fourth of July celebration. The artists will entertain tonight in the tea room on “the Drag” and will also give several stunts in the “gambling hall.” No admission fee will be charged for admittance to “the Drag” so all persons will be privileged to participate in the fun-making tonight.
NEW YORK, July 3. – Mrs. Hetty Green, known as the richest woman in the world, died at her home here today. She was 83 years old. A week ago it was reported Mrs. Green was suffering from a stroke of apoplexy which came upon her in March. Her physicians said this was a slight illness and that she was doing well. During the past few weeks trained nurses attended Mrs. Green, disguised as seamstresses, at the instance of her son, Colonel Green. Mrs. Green’s fortune exceeded $100,000,000. She made $90,000,000 herself, starting with $20,000,000 her parents left her.
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