Yesteryears: Pro-Am Speed Slalom opens with a ‘swoosh’ in 1985

1925 — 90 years ago

Tonight at the local Elks temple, a class of 60 will be initiated. This will be the first time the charter members of the new lodge will put on the work, but several declare they will be able to make it interesting for the new candidates. On Saturday, the membership of the new lodge will number 290.

Twenty-five men and six women qualified for the annual club championship tournament of the Hood River Golf Club last Sunday. N.P. Mears and Dr. C.W. Hamilton, each with a model score of 79, led the field for the men, while Mrs. C.W. Hamilton turned in a fine 87 for the women, with Mrs. H.T. DeWitt second with 91.

Mid-Columbia talent will be selected Friday night for performances in the Hood River County Fair as preparations for the three-day event became more hectic this week.

Tryouts for the local talent show are scheduled for July 9, Friday, at 8 p.m. at the Pine Grove Grange. Mrs. Ike Murphy is in charge of the annual event, which is slated for the first night of the fair this year, , Aug. 5.

Entrants will compete in four categories with cash prizes to go to the winners in each group.

Fair manager Percy Jensen pointed out two time changes from those listed in the premium book. On page 5 of the fair premium book, under general rules, number 2, the time for all open class exhibits must be in place should read 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4.

This is true of all open class exhibits except for flowers, fruits and vegetables, which must be in place by 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, not 11 p.m.

Jensen also announced with regret that the Ink Spots, previously booked for the fair, will not appear. The fair board was informed of the action last week.

— Hood River News, July 8, 1965

1935 — 80 years ago

The Fourth at Parkdale was one of the best. The big crowd was orderly and considerate. Very little signs of drinking were visible and everybody enjoyed themselves. The Grange had charge of the concessions and a splendid dinner was served at noon. More than 150 ate in the hall, taxing the resources of the ladies to fill the hungry holiday makers.

According to Prince Koberg, head instructor at the free swimming school at Koberg beach, promoted by the American Legion and the Red Cross, the course opened with but small attendance, and he urges parents of all sections of the county to make it possible for their boys and girls to undertake this valuable course. The poor attendance on opening day was undoubtedly due to the frigid weather, and the thought that the water of the Columbia River must be as cold as the air.

1945 — 70 years ago

The Green Point site of Camp Yallani will be open this summer for the first time in three years, sponsored by the Camp Fire Girls, who are making the two one-week sessions available to all girls in the community, ages 8 to 18. Registration can be made at the Baldwin Insurance Agency, Medical Building, between July 9 and 14.

With the object of providing additional and more convenient bus service between Hood River and Portland, the Union Pacific States announces that, starting today, a stage, westbound, will leave Hood River at 7 a.m. each day, and will arrive at the Portland depot at 9:40 a.m. The same stage will leave Portland at 4:30 p.m. and arrive at Hood River at 7:10 p.m.

1955 — 60 years ago

Six queen contestants are entered in the six annual fly-in celebration at Cascade Locks under the sponsorship of the Locks and Stevenson Lions clubs. The celebration is scheduled for July 22-24. Locks contestants are Myrna Embree, Lorraine Irving and Gayle Rosenbeck. Stevenson candidates are Judie Contant, Julie Ann Foss and Sandra West.

Damage is approximated at $15,000 after a fire destroyed a warehouse on the Lyle McIsaac ranch early Tuesday morning, one and a half miles west of Parkdale. Firemen received the call at 4 a.m. and the roof of the frame structure caved in as two trucks arrived from the Parkdale department. Firemen estimate the fire started at 3 a.m. and due to the location away from the road and the McIsaac residence, the fire was not discovered sooner.

1965 — 50 years ago

A four-engine alarm clock swept over the lower valley early Tuesday, spreading death to mosquitos as it hedgehopped the community about 6:30 a.m. It was curious to watch, because the plane that was used was a venerable B-17, a famous “Flying Fortress” from World War II days.

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 program.

1975 — 40 years ago

A fire broke out about 4:30 p.m. on July 2 on the Mosier Creek. Mosier city and rural fire trucks responded in addition to crews and equipment from State Forestry in Parkdale and The Dalles. Landing in the old Mosier cemetery, a helicopter dropped the state forestry crews before picking up a large bucket used to carry water to drop on the flames. The fire was declared under control about 10:30 p.m.

Ruthton Park was dedicated July 4 as the newest county park. Dedication of the tiny park will give the county, and travelers, a scenic spot where they can unfold picnic lunches and enjoy the spectacular Gorge scenery.

1985 — 30 years ago

After some nervous, windless moments on opening competition day, the ’85 Columbia Gorge Pro-Am Speed Slalom was off with a “swoosh” here Saturday. There was plenty of wind Friday for registration and preliminaries, but an edgy group of race arrangers had to wait on the beach Saturday from the 10:30 a.m. scheduled start until 2:30 p.m. for the wind to come up. It was dead calm in the morning but the day was saved by rising winds on a hot July afternoon.

1995 — 20 years ago

Despite an ongoing Senate investigation into sexual misconduct charges, Sen. Bob Packwood’s visit to Hood River Thursday were more about economics than ethics. Except for a handful of women who protested his visit outside the Columbia Gorge Hotel where we spoke to the Hood River Rotary, there was little fanfare for the United States senator and the controversy that surrounds him.

There is HOPE for more affordable housing in Hood River. As HOPE (HOusing for PEople) shepherds its new Bella Vista development to completion, it is already planning to double its size for a total of 28 units. In addition, it is just breaking ground on a 26-unit low income housing project, The Riverside, near the State Office Building off Pacific Avenue on the Heights.

2005 — 10 years ago

Two of the public agencies that serve Cascade Locks view the siting of a gambling casino in the industrial park as the “light at the end of the tunnel.” Both the City of Cascade Locks and the Port of Cascade Locks have managed to minimize their expenditures for another year. But City Administrator Robert Willoughby doesn’t expect to hold off cuts to essential services indefinitely. “We’re hanging on in anticipation. I think Cascade Locks has always been pretty resilient and had a can-do attitude — and that’s what gets us by,” said Willoughby.

June’s above-average rainfall, fire forecasters say, has sprouted a thicker-than-normal layer of grass, which the summer heat will inevitably dry out and turn into what these forecasters call “fine fuels.” This scenario could help accelerate a flame into a forest fire.

— Compiled by Trisha Walker, news staff writer