East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

Ten Years Ago

September 14, 2011

This year’s fair will feature a sanctioned regional competition of Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association members in the rodeo arena. The meet is the result of efforts by Ed and Debbie Bishop, members of the High Lonesome .45s chapter in Lewiston. Competitors are required to wear authentic appearing western clothing, although the firearms are shooting blanks.

The Inland Northwest Region Porsche Club of America’s first Fall Show ‘n’ Shine will be in Pomeroy at the city park on Saturday with 50 or more cars expected.

A crowd of about 20 people watched as the 56,000 lb. concrete restroom for Pioneer Plaza on Main St. arrived and was set into place by a crane.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 18, 1996

Some of the largest crowd in recent memory to attend a Pomeroy City Council meeting last Tuesday heard accusations reminiscent of meetings in neighboring cities. Only some of the crowd saw the faces or heard the harsh words since half the crowd of about 40 persons weren’t able to get into the chambers and had to make do outside the building and in the street. Mayor Don Stellwagen was told that residents want the city government to operate “as a democracy, not a dictatorship.” Many questioned why the whole council was not brought into the decision-making before moving the police department out of the courthouse.

A one-week substitution stint that turned into a 10-year career for East Washingtonian senior activities correspondent Rowena Bell finally came to a conclusion last week.

Fifty Years Ago

September 16, 1971

The public log-rolling contests at the fair already have drawn wide interest. Some of the scheduled matches are between Darrel Bartels and Rod Kimble, and between Jim Storey and Ray Mooney. The new assistant football coach, Gerry Loader, has challenged the football squad and the cheerleaders.

School enrollment now totals 840, an unexpected few more than last year. Kindergarten 31, grade school 353, junior high 145 and high school 311. Much of the increase is in the high school.

Sunday is declared as “Pioneer Day” at the fair, yet Saturday is advertised as the day all persons 70 and over will be admitted free, courtesy of the Garfield County Fair.

Demonstration of a helicopter water drop technique used to fight fires will also be given by the Forest Service as part of the arena show.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

September 12, 1946

Everything is in readiness for the first year for the livestock show and rodeo in its new home. Bleachers, secured from the State College of Washington, are erected and will make seating comfortable for the crowd. Several of the participating cowboys state the corrals and rodeo chutes are the best set in the Pacific Northwest. Buses will operate every 20 minutes from the Emerson-Hull corner to the fairgrounds. The George Hanna string of rodeo stock is one of the roughest and toughest in the rodeo business. Points won at the rodeo will count toward the world’s championship which several top cowhands are contesting for at the present.

A sharp tremor of the earth felt by Pomeroy residents and believed by many to have been an earthquake shock was actually the aftermath of a dynamite blast set off in the city rock quarry. In the shot was 3,500 pounds of dynamite that loosened a large area of rock sufficient to keep the city crusher supplied for some time to come. The blast was set off by Chief of Police Tom Bunch, who described the results as a “dandy.”

At the close of business Tuesday evening, the Pomeroy branch of the Old National Bank had on deposit $5,047,843.42, the largest sum ever on deposit within the history of the county.

Merle Hooshagen, state predatory animal hunter, during September destroyed 81 coyotes and eight bobcats in this immediate area.

One Hundred Years Ago

September 17, 1921

Pomeroy again wins from Dayton in a year-long hunt for predatory birds and animals. According to the scores reported, Pomeroy has 546,405 points and Dayton 324,270.

Dr. C.G. Black sent word back from Portland that the road is open all the way down the river now. The drive can easily be made in a day by starting at 5:30 or 6 o’clock, and that the road over the Marengo hill is the best for Pomeroy people to travel.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

September, 1896

Mr. E.V. Kuykendall and Miss Marguerite Scully were married recently at the home of the bride’s parents, on Lewiston Flat. The bride is one of the teachers in our public school. She is a young lady of many graces and accomplishments and highly respected by all who know her. Elgin, as our readers all know, is a young man of excellent business ability and irreproachable character. These young folks are the scions of highly esteemed and worthy families and all who know them will join with the Washingtonian in extending best wished for their future welfare and happiness.