1925 — 100 years ago
He was a wayside traveler, picturesquely attired in remnants of several suits of clothes which looked as though they might have been pilfered from a scarecrow. Over his shoulder was slung the usual blanket roll of the itinerant worker. Slowly he toiled his way up the Rowena loops. It was a hot day. Perspiration dripped from his forehead. Each time the hum of a motor was heard he would turn and glance hopefully at the driver. One by one the cars passed him up. Then came a kind hearted motorist, who also realized that the day was hot.
— The Dalles Chronicle
Drinking to the health of his bride-to-be too many times before the ceremony resulted in Claude Jensen, the well-known movie magnate of Portland’s appearance before Justice Blagg on Wednesday. Jensen appeared at the local county court with the bride-to-be to secure a license, but his boisterous actions led Sheriff Edick to suspect that jubilation at the prospect of being the husband of a beautiful bride was not wholly responsible for the marked hilarity of Jensen. A subtle odor, to, confirmed the suspicions of the sheriff, who called Marshal Hart to confirm his suspicions. So when Jensen and his bride-to-be left the courthouse and proceeded to the Jensen car, two pairs of eyes watched the expectant bridegroom’s step, and further evidence confirmed the officers’ suspicions.
— Hood River News
1945 — 80 years ago
Mrs. Enenora Gard, ... received notification from the war department yesterday that her son, Major Dwight E. Gard, is a prisoner of war at the Fukuoka prison camp on the island of Honshu, Japan. Mrs. Gard had not heard from her son since last December, when she heard that he was being moved from a prison camp in the Philippines to the Japanese islands.
— The Dalles Chronicle
Pfc. Edward A. Niemela arrived home Monday from Germany on a furlough visit with his mother, Mrs. George Morris, and other relatives. He went overseas last March.
Niemela, a veteran of most of the fighting in Europe, is a member of the famous 86th Infantry division. Known by their moniker the “Blackhawk” division, the 86th made a name for itself going through Germany, having fought through Frankfurt, Wurtzberg and Nuremburg which were the very centers of the Nazi life. Niemela will report back to Oklahoma for jungle training as his outfit is one of many slated for the Pacific front.
— White Salmon Enterprise
For the second time within a few months, J. B. Edington, owner of the plumbing and electric shop on the Heights, purchased the downtown business building on the corner of Second and Oak streets, now occupied by Vincent & Shanke, last Monday. The first purchase was made at about the time it was announced the local branch of the First National Bank of Portland was to ask all occupants of stores in the bank.
— Hood River News
1964 — 60 years ago
Eight trucks of the Golden Grain Trucking Co. of Pasco, all filled with wheat from this area, moved during the night into Portland after they had drawn pickets here in the west part of The Dalles, where the drivers have been housed at a motel. The pickets were withdrawn. The picketing here and at the trucking firm’s main shops in Pasco got underway at 5 a.m. Tuesday with pickets from Teamsters Unions 883 of The Dalles and 8839 in Pasco.
— The Dalles Chronicle
June continued its merry way to a record of car accidents around Klickitat county — this week the sheriff’s office reported two accidents, one a mile north of Goldendale, the other on the Maryhill grade. In the first accident which occurred on June 26 was a one car affair a mile north of Goldendale, happened at 6:45 a.m. Lee R. Layman of Naches, Washington was driving a 1965 Comet station wagon and it received about $300 damage when Layman slowed to miss one deer when a second deer jumped into the path of the car. The other accident also invlolving one car was reported by an unknown party. The driver Myron B. Garlet, 35, of Centerville, Washington, occurred when Garlet’s car rolled over at 10 p.m. The 1955 Plymouth was hauled in to Goldenfale by Shorty’s Wrecking Services. There were no injuries.
— White Salmon Enterprise
Operators of Mt. View cemetery on Tucker Road have broken ground on a $50,000 improvement that will add new roads, a mausoleum, and new markers. Bernard McManus has moved from Tillamook to Hood River to manage the cemetery. He said improvements will include construction of a 50-crypt mausoleum at the cemetery across from Tucker store.
— Hood River News
1985 — 40 years ago
A bill forcing the Reagan administration to justify closure of some Social Security offices including the one in The Dalles passed the House by voice vote Monday.
A Supreme Court ruling on the incorporation of Rajneeshpuram was described Tuesday as a mixed bag that leaves unresolved the legal status of the four-year-old Wasco County religious community ...
Claiming they are the tragic victims of the Rajneeshees’ takeover of their town, former civic leaders of Antelope Monday joined with a number of supporters in announcing formation of the Antelope Defense Fund.
— The Dalles Chronicle
As of Tuesday morning, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services Division of Health had additional information regarding pesticide contamination of watermelons.
Based on that information, the following is effective immediately — all watermelons produced in California are considered adulterated and therefore must be destroyed by retail as well as wholesale distributors ... Recommended method of destruction of adulterated watermelons is disposal in an approved sanitary landfill. For advice and assistance in destruction, contact the Southwest Washington Health District 206-699-8423...Investigators are pointing their fingers at aldicarb, a toxic systemic insecticide, as the suspected culprit responsible for the contamination ...
— White Salmon Enterprise
If the warnings of state, city, and rural fire officials about the severity of this extremely dry fire season needed any underlining, local events during the past week have done it. The Fourth of July holiday, and accompanying fireworks-caused fires, taxed fire fighting resources to the limit, and continuing dry conditions have caused a suspension of open burning throughout the valley.
— Hood River News
Commented