Yesteryears: Feud over future of Wells Island continues in 1985

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1925 — 90 years ago

At 8 p.m. next Tuesday, March 31, a mass meeting is to be held in the High School auditorium in town and all who are interested in any angles of the projected union high school are requested to attend to give their own views on the matter and listen to those of others. Efforts are to be made to secure full information on all phases of the questions, so that voters who attend this meeting may be fully informed before casting their vote, for or against.

With the opening of spring every effort is being made to get the Country Cub in fine shape, especially for the golfers, and already local players are singing their praise for the fine condition of the links. With a professional available at the Club, provision is made for the beginners, and nobody is justified in feeling the lack of knowledge of golf is a bar to membership. A low special initiation rate of $38.50 has been established.

1935 — 80 years ago

More than twelve thousand were in attendance at 687 separate classes taught in the Emergency Education program during March by 503 previously unemployed teachers, according to Dr. C.A. Howard, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who has joint supervision over this program with the State Relief Administration. For the week ending March 14, Hood River County had four teachers conducting four adult classes, according to the weekly reports from county and city school superintendents who are in charge of the classes in their respective school districts.

Many housewives were attracted to the Parkdale Quilt Show, which was held March 16, and some of the quilts exhibited were marvels of beautiful and intricate work. Judges were Mrs. Ola M. Bell and Mrs. Jennie Hunt, of Hood River. Best quilt in show went to Mrs. M.S. Walton.

1945 — 70 years ago

It was announced last week by Ray Yasui who, with his uncle, was here, that the Yasui business block at the end of Oak Street had been sold to Ray Downing. The property includes two stores and apartments overhead and the adjoining Texaco station, which is operated under lease. The store building and apartments have long remained empty.

All through the recent raining period, snow has been falling in the higher hills and mountains, which is good news for fruitgrowers and farmers of the Hood River Valley, who are going to need all the irrigation water available this coming summer, it is stated. This news means much to fruitgrowers of the Oak Grove area, who are dependent upon the high-line ditches.

1955 — 60 years ago

Status of the wrestling matches being held at the Japanese-American hall on West Sherman Avenue remains unchanged this week. The city, which has requested that the matches not be held in the hall since it is located in a residential district, has withheld any legal action against the VFW sponsoring organization in hopes that a settlement may be reached and a “friendly” sprit may prevail between both groups. The third wrestling match was scheduled for last night (Thursday).

Last night was John N. Mohr night at the Elks Lodge. An honorary life membership card and pin were to have been presented to Mohr by the local lodge. He was exalted ruler in 1940-41, district deputy during 1952-53, president of the state Elks association in 1948-49 and during the past two years has been presiding justice of the sub-ordinate forum.

1965 — 50 years ago

“Tetanus kills on-half its victims” — a shocking fact for Hood River County residents who are reflecting about immunizations. If you haven’t had booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria and small pox within the last 4 to 5 years, it is time for boosters, according to Bev Manley, county health nurse.

These immunizations as well as polio vaccine will be available at the Immunization Clinic being cosponsored by Home Extension, Public Health and Civil Defense, April 3.

Cascade Locks — “Various objections” will be aired when the Corps of Engineers holds a hearing at 1:30 p.m. April 1 in city hall on changing the old locks channel to accommodate an 80-100 boat basin. Specifically, some sports fishermen who have cast their lines in the abandoned locks area for years don’t like the idea of changing their favorite fishing spot.

1975 — 40 years ago

“Ruthton” will be the name of the new county park perched on a ledge of the Columbia River Gorge a mile west of Hood River. The park on Westcliff Drive was named from two persons who submitted identical entries in the “name the park” contest by the County Park Committee. Because it will be a family spot, the park naming quest was designed with that in mind. Winners are Mary Jane Young, 11, and Mrs. A.J. Brunquist, formerly of Parkdale.

Mrs. Brunquist have a brief historical sketch of why she suggested the name for the acre and a half picnic spot. “This small family picnic site located on a bluff above the Columbia River Gorge offers a perfect view of the well-known Morton farm, also known as ‘Riverside Ranch.’ Soon after the Columbia River Highway was constructed, someone named the section which intersected the Morton farm ‘Ruthton Hill,’ by which it is still known. Ruth Morton is the eldest daughter of the family who owned the property from the late 1890s.”

1985 — 30 years ago

The feud over who will determine the future of Wells Island goes on. City counselors hesitantly passed an ordinance adopting background information and implementing language and map amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance conserving Wells Island, but it didn’t go over unanimously. The council voted on the ordinance at Monday’s noon meeting, and passed it 5-2.

Pro wrestling fans packed into Hood River Valley High gymnasium last week as the best of Portland wrestling visited Hood River for a double tag team card. The night’s big one was Bobby Jaggers and Billy Jack verses Karl Steiner and Mean Mike Miller. It ended in a free-for-all outside the ring, giving fans their money’s worth.

1995 — 20 years ago

Seven years ago, Hood River County Commissioners at first rejected support of a plan to establish a Multnomah County Corrections facility at Wyeth in Hood River County. Then cautiously, after a thorough review, they reversed themselves. Monday, a report by Gerald Welch, Multnomah County Department of Community Corrections, reinforced data showing the final decision was beneficial for both counties. The site is a former residence between what was formerly known as the “chicken ranch” at Wyeth and Cascade Locks, which was converted to accommodate up to 28 beds.

If the rest of the season goes like Friday for the Hood River Valley softball team, then watch out for the Eagles. The Eagles opened their season with a 1-0 nonleague victory over Pendleton at Westside Field. That one, scored in the third inning, was more than enough because freshman pitcher Crystal Draper didn’t let Pendleton have any offense. She threw a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts, facing 22 batters — one over the minimum.

2005 — 10 years ago

Like a Michael Jordan comeback, Mt. Hood Meadows announced Tuesday its second weather-induced closure was over and that it would resume operations of the three chairlifts starting on March 22. Buttercup, Easy Ride and Vista Express will operate daily and will allow Meadows to put an additional 20 seasonal employees back to work.

Silently, with smiles, the Sign Language class applauded Sue Hukari in the way she had taught them. Hukari, an HRMS teacher for the past 12 years, had just told her students about receiving the Dave Putnam Award for Excellence in middle school education at the Oregon Middle Level Conference in Portland March 11. “It was a true honor for me to receive it,” Hukari said.

— Compiled by Trisha Walker, News staff writer