1924 — 100 years ago
Mr. and Mrs. W. P Anderson, ranchers, of Husum, left their home on Saturday evening to go into Husum to attend the dance. They took a short cut over a trail and carried a gasoline lantern to lighten their journey. As they rounded a turn in the trail they came face to face with a big bear and a cub. While Mr. Anderson is not versed in bear language, he presumed, from what the bear had to say, that the two animals reserved for themselves the right of way over the trail. Mr Anderson waved the gasoline lantern above his head and “shoo-ed” the angry bear, but with the only apparent result that the bear was determined to stand upon what it regarded as its rights. — Hood River News
For the first time County Traffic Officer Hans Blaser yesterday met a speeding automobile which he could not overtake. The car, an eight-cylinder affair, was driven by C. C. Perringer of Pendleton. According to Blaser, he started in pursuit of the speeding automobile west of the Country club riding his specially designed speed motorcycle. Although the traffic officer was traveling between 65 and 70 miles an hour, Perringer simply “walked away” from him on the straight stretch coming into The Dalles, Blaser said. Perringer was arrested when he stopped his car in The Dalles, and said that had simply been in a “hurry,” and didn’t even realize that a speed cop was behind him. He was cited to appear in the local justice court. — The Dalles Chronicle
The school officials wish to urge upon all voters the importance of turning out to the bond election next Tuesday. This election is merely a repetition of the one that was held on June 21st, the attorney general having ruled that the election was illegal because the notices were not properly posted. One of the reasons given at Olympia for turning down the bonds previously voted was the extremely light vote east, even though there were no votes against the issuance of the bonds. Work on the new building will not be hampered by this ruling, as the contractors have voiced a willingness to continue regardless of the delay in floating the bonds. — White Salmon Enterprise
1944 — 80 years ago
Chico Salzar, 220-pound wrestling champion of Mexico is scheduled for a mat tangle with Jack Ross, 225 pounds, Portland, at Krieg hall on August 22, according to Promoter Max Glover. Eyewitness reports say Salzar is fast and plenty good, having a record of all wins in Portland so far. — Hood River News
Another power shovel, a power saw and an electric compressor arrived at the Kaiser company industrial site here today, to speed development of the site for use as a sub-assembly plant, it was reported by E. V. Mitchelsen, superintendent. Drilling of rocky points was continuing, with additional blasts scheduled as a means of providing material for the extensive fill being made at the site. — The Dalles Chronicle
The White Salmon district got some publicity last Sunday when the Oregonian published a picture of a bunch of Lambert cherries held by Carol Reiser sent in from the William L. Balsiger orchard at White Salmon. There were 163 cherries on the 17-inch branch. The write-up below the picture added, “When Balsiger first moved to this 20-acre place 30 years ago, he began removing the apple trees and replacing them with Lambert and Royal Ann cherry trees." — White Salmon Enterprise
1964 — 60 years ago
The newest addition to the Hood River business community, The 88 Center, holds its Grand Opening Friday and Saturday. Located at 202 Cascade, across the street from Safeway, the former Apple City Motors building has undergone extensive remodeling and renovating the past two months in preparation for the attractive new store. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Streff of The Dalles are owners. They said the new store will have approximate 5,000 feet of sales space. — Hood River News
Pickings may be a bit slim until the Labor Day weekend for those who go to the mountains for huckleberries. Reports from forest ranger stations in this area indicate the season is late for huckleberries, as it has been for all other products of the land. Some observers say the season is as much as three weeks behind normal. — The Dalles Chronicle
1984 — 40 years ago
A 52-year-old woman was cited here Monday afternoon on a charge of cultivating marijuana. Cited to appear in Hood River County District Court on Wednesday morning. Local authorities followed a tip from an informant in learning of the marijuana. Police secured a search warrant Monday and subsequently charged them with cultivating marijuana. On searching the property officers located and seized 17 marijuana plants, ranging in height from two to three feet. — Hood River News
A former New Yorker who became a disciple of Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh prowled New York City’s subways Wednesday, seeking up to 2,000 homeless people to come live — for free — in the guru’s central Oregon city. — The Dalles Chronicle
A decision rejecting petitions seeking to get an independent candidate for county commissioner on the November ballot is being challenged by an attorney from Rajneeshpuram. — The Dalles Chronicle
Oregon State Police raided 13 marijuana plots on Fivemile Road and confiscated what they said was a crop with a million dollar street value. No arrest have been made. — The Dalles Chronicle
2004 — 20 years ago
The valley’s newest group of female athletes got together again this week at Hood River Middle School for a three-day lacrosse clinic, led by former West Ling High school player Kristina Nance. A group of five returning players and one newcomer (Boo Lucas) showed up to HRMS to learn all the basics of stick-handling, shooting, passing and moving to the open space. Nance and her mom, Sybil, organized the clinic, which was designed to introduce middle-school-age girls to one of the fastest-growing team sport in the nation. — Hood River News
Suspended upon billowy kites by long ropes, about a dozen sun-bronzed adrenalin junkies are launching themselves as much as 40 feet above the Columbia River, looping and spiraling in aerial dances so anarchic that you half expect these kiteboarders to crash into one another in one spectacular disaster. Amazingly, they don’t. — The Dalles Chronicle
“VisonQuest” was both insignia and guiding purpose of a wagon train which rolled into Bingen Monday afternoon. The Tucson, Ariz. – based wagon train was in continuous operation, driving through state after state to “provide safe, secure limits and boundaries” for juneniles, who are generally referred from the criminal justice or mental health systems.
“We started in February, and we’re going to the Canadian border before turning back,” said one wagon train participant Monday. “The Kids go to wilderness camp first, to learn about respect, survival and about themselves. They learn more about themselves than anything.
“Essentially, VisionQuest’s goal is to prepare these youths to re-enter their homes and communities by providing services that promote self-respect and social survival skills, while redirecting self destructive behavior and anti-social behavior,” said information which accompanied the train … The VisonQuest wagon train stayed overnight in Bingen and left Tuesday morning, eastbound along SR 13. Their route will take them up Highway 97 to Yakima, and from there they will continue to the Canadian border. — White Salmon Enterprise
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