A party of local men in two cars made the journey to Goldendale on Tuesday of this week with the object of getting acquainted with the roads which lie between this city and the Klickitat county seat. At Goldendale they ate lunch with members of the Commercial club of that city. Talks were given by Judge Brooks, president of the Goldendale chamber, F. S. Steele, president of the Hood River Chamber, C. H. Castner, who paid a tribute to former state senator John Crawford, and E. M. Chandler, president of the Oregon-Washington Bridge Co., who outlined the advantages and value of the bridge to the mid-Columbia region and the states of Oregon and Washington.
— Hood River News
First strawberries of the season are expected at the Libbey-McNeill and Libby cannery here next Thursday, it was learned this morning. The cannery is being prepared for the berry season, which will be in full swing by the end of another week. After strawberries will come raspberries, loganberries and other varieties and these will be followed shortly after June 1 by the cherries.
— The Dalles Chronicle
1945 — 80 years ago
With the object of carrying to News’ readers the message that every effort is being made to fill the 7th War Loan quota within the next few days, a large percentage of available space has been alloted to this most urgent objective this week. Working as the News is under definite paper restrictions, many news’ items, including considerable country correspondence had to be held over until the next issue. Readers will, we are sure, realize the situation, which is unavoidable.
— Hood River News
When he was taken prison by the Japanese after the fall of Manila, Gus Walther weighted 148 pounds. When he was rescued, along with other American civilians held prisoners at Santo Tomas university, last February 3 he weighed 102 pounds. Walther, who came to The Dalles Saturday to spend Mother’s Day with his mother, ... arrived in Los Angeles May 2 from the Philippines with his wife, who also was a prisoner of the Japanese at Santo Thomas. ... “We had 37 months of starvation diet at Santo Thomas,” Walther said today ... “We were fed nothing but rice, salt and water — 200 grams of rice daily.”
— The Dalles Chronicle
The town of White Salmon is calling for bids on 6000 feet of six-inch standard galvanized pipe which is to be installed from White Salmon to Bingen to provide more adequate fire protection to the manufacturing plants at Bingen. This was the result of action taken at Wednesday’s council meeting when Superintendent Chas. W. Moar and Ben Andrews, of the tent pole factory, accompanied by an army-major from Washington, D. C., brought up before the council the dire need of better fire protection for the new tent pole factory as well as all the other plans. The council’s decision to install the large pipe at once will also enable the plants to secure better insurance rates. It is understood that White Salmon will cooperate with Bingen in the purchase of a ditch digging machine so that the job of installing the larger main can be complete within a week or ten days.
— White Salmon Enterprise
1965 — 60 years ago
Footings have been poured for a 90,000 box addition to Lage Orchards, Inc., cold storage at Pine Grove, and completion target date is in August, according to E. Riddell Lage, corporation president. The new addition will double the plant’s cold storage, he said. When the first storage unit was constructed in 1960, Lage said the new addition was anticipated. “But we didn’t anticipate it quite this quickly,” he said. Cost has been estimated at $90,000.
— Hood River News
Identification of one of the two men killed Friday when hit by a westbout [sic] Union Pacific Domeliner six miles east of here and recovery of the body of one his two companions from the Columbia River marked the investigation of the double fatality by state police and the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.
— The Dalles Chronicle
White Salmon police Saturday night placed a shoplifting charge against one Dick Beard, 53, White Salmon, charged on a complaint from Dick Crothers of Town and Country Market. Beard posted $100 bail money said police. Beard had picked up according to Crothers, 2 air-vent bandaid [sic] packages, some Adorn hair spray and other items. During the past week Town & Country apprehended 7 youngsters shoplifting at the store. All were turned over by police to their parents. As in the past some were second offenders. Town and Country has been hit by a series of shoplifting events, mostly teenagers, the total now hitting close to the 100 mark.
— White Salmon Enterprise
1985 — 40 years ago
A public discussion of maps which would outline a proposed scenic area for the Columbia Groge [sic] is scheduled Monday by the The Dalles Chamber of Commerce. ... Local governments, especially deep within the Gorge, argue that the federal intervention will stagnate the area, present [sic] even normal use of land, allow the government to purchase private land and in general be a Big Brother land grab.
— The Dalles Chronicle
The first – and one of the biggest – community events of the season comes to Bingen – White Salmon this weekend. It’s May Fest 1985, and several months of careful preparation will all come together starting Friday. “At this point, everything looks very good,” said Polly Dickinson, who co-chairs the event this year with Riverview Savings & Loan Manager Dale Connell. “There are lots of food and crafts, and the work crews are setting up and getting hand. All we need now is good weather” … This will be the second year a mass band performance will be slated … and there will be polka dancing, the traditional Maypole dance, and a variety of music, arts, crafts, food and fun.
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