Good old days - Feb. 4, 2010

125 years ago

February 6, 1885

Since writing an article on the question of school tax last week the editor for the Gazette has conversed on the subject with prominent citizens from different parts of the county and was agreeably surprised to find that, not withstanding the stringency of the times, the majority of the taxpayers are willing that the rate of taxation for school purposes should be raised to the highest figures allowed by law – six mills on the dollar. We cannot be too liberal in supplying the rising generation with schooling facilities, and it is gratifying to notice the commendable disposition of taxpayers in their willingness to bear increased taxation during such times as these.

The commissioners have rented City Hall for court purposes at a rental of three hundred and fifty dollars per annum. Messrs. Livingsone and Kuhn have agreed to build on grand and petit jury rooms.

100 years ago

February 4, 1910

The new high school building will be ready for occupancy by the first of March. The heating plant has been thoroughly tested and is a great success.

C.A. Brown, the pioneer brick manufacturer of Palouse, has secured the new government building at Moscow. The contract calls for 1,200,000 bricks, all of which are to be made by hand. This contract alone will keep a force of men at work in the brick yard all of next summer. Samples of brick from five yards were sent to Washington D.C., to be examined by experts, the sample furnished by Mr. Brown being considered the best.

75 years ago

February 1, 1935

Alleged to have had in their possession 30 stolen sacks of wheat which came from the cooperative warehouse at the McCoy siding, between Rosalia and Oakesdale, Herman Stairet and Robert Ballard were arrested in Spokane at 3 a.m. Sunday by prowl car officers.

Never were crowds so large at the Rose theatre as those that his week saw Shirley Temple in “Bright Eyes.” And never were crowds more pleased, for not a word of criticism of the picture was made to manager LaVance Weskil.

Electricians were here Tuesday to rewire the Great Northern depot so that A.J. Paysee, agent, can move his office to what was formerly the ladies’ waiting room, a change for which he has been waiting four years.

50 years ago

February 4, 1960

Sen. John Kennedy, fore-running candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, will speak at Brayan Hall on the WSU campus next Thursday, the Gazette was informed yesterday. Rodney Ochs of Colfax, president of the WSU Young Democrats, said Senator Kennedy is flying to Pullman to address students and the public in the college auditorium.

Long-promised overnight mail service between the Palouse country and all other points in the state of Washington will come closer to reality with sweeping changes beginning April 1. The post office will make greater use of air lines, fast cross-state passenger trains and light trucks to speed the flow of mail from one side of the state to the other, J.B. Arnsberger of the postal transportation department, Seattle, told the Gazette yesterday.

The intersection of the St. John and Spokane highways at Steptoe is now brilliantly lighted, thanks to recent installation of two high-powered lights over the highway.

25 years ago

January 31, 1985

Palouse Empire Fair directors Monday night decided to drop the fair’s traditional grand parade and also approved a “one ticket pays all” policy for admissions.

Albion Community club held a hobo party last Thursday in the basement of the community building with 13 members wearing costumes and eating from an imitation camp fire complete with tripod and black kettle. Hobo music and stories were provided by Clarence Howard.

10 years ago

February 3, 2000

A 17-year-old burglary suspect who has been charged with stealing guns from a Colton area residence in December will be automatically prosecuted as an adult in Whitman County. This marks the first time the county has used the 1997 law that allows minors to be prosecuted as adults without a judge’s ruling.

The county auditor’s office has refused to pay $336,000 in claims approved by county commissioners Monday. Auditor Dave Repp, who was in Olympia attending an auditors’ conference, called the commissioners office and said his office would not be paying the claims because a quorum was not present at the commissioners’ meeting that morning, and that they would not be processed until they had two valid signatures done in a n open public meeting. The meeting was attended by Les Wigen, chairman of the board. Nora Mae Keifer approved the claims via conference call from her home. Hollis Jamison is on vacation this week in McCall.