Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten years ago

May 2, 2012

Voters will decide on three positions in the Aug. 7 primary election. County Auditor Donna deal said Commissioner District 1 and District 2 positions will be on the ballot, as well as the county assessor position. District 1 commissioner position is presently held by Bob Johnson, and District 2 position is held by Wynne McCabe. The election for these two positions is for a 4-year term. Laura Smith presently holds the assessor position and the election is for a two-year unexpired term. Smith was appointed to the position in January 2012 to serve until the general election and the position is now up for election for the remainder of retired Assessor Colleen Ledgerwood’s term.

Twenty-five years ago

April 30, 1997

Eight Pomeroy FFA members have qualified to represent the District VI FFA at the Sub-State Leadership Career Development Events (CDE) May 15-18, to be held at the Washington State FFA Convention in the WSU campus in Pullman. Danika Gwinn, in Prepared Public Speaking, and the Freshman Ritual team of Andy Keatts, Mandy McKinley, Martha Slaybaugh, Joe Cox, Todd Herres, Jessica Young, and Michelle Morgan will represent the local chapter after winning their respective events at the District CDE.

Tara Utke, a freshman at Pomeroy High School, is seeking sponsorships from individuals and businesses to help with the cost of competing in an international basketball tournament in the Netherlands this summer. Tara was recently selected to represent the U.S. at the Holland International Cup for boys and girls age 15 to 18.

Fifty years ago

April 27, 1972

Pomeroy FFA livestock judging team took its first first place of the year Saturday at Columbia County Fairgrounds, Dayton. They competed against 17 other teams to capture the banner. Pomeroy’s team included Don Killingsworth, third high judger, Ken Gingerich, 9th high and Steve Brown, all sophomores.

Warm, sunny weather in Southeast Washington – despite gloomy forecasts for the weekend – led to a fine fishing opener, and one of the most successful opening days on record.

Seventy-five years ago

May 1, 1947

Officials of the Garfield County Fair Association promise that everything will be in readiness for the two-day spring rodeo to be staged at its newly completed rodeo arena and race track near Pomeroy on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 10 and 11. The rodeo manager reports they have signed up some of the best riders and performers to be found in the rodeo profession today and will feature top cowboys whose homes are located in various sections of the United States and Canada.

Four teen-age youths who stole eight automobiles from Monday to Wednesday in which they traveled across the state of Washington into Idaho, were arrested at Grangeville, Idaho, Wednesday, riding in a 1947 Oldsmobile car belonging to Harry Linden, a prominent Garfield County farmer of Central Ferry. Arrested were: Berwin Carver, 18; Nelson Ong, 17; Donald Cornett, 17; and John Renfro, 14. Cornett confessed to officers that he had served two terms in the Washington state reform school for car theft.

One hundred years ago

April 29, 1922

John Quincy Adams – who disclaims kinship with that illustrious American who once graced the presidential chair, but declares himself just a plain Irishman – addressed a meeting of farmers in Pomeroy last night. Mr. Adams is president of the state farmers union. He will speak tonight at Grange hall, Mayview. He emphasized the good work the grain growers’ association is doing, holding that it has passed beyond the experimental stage and is on the highway to assured success. Mr. Adams was introduced by James Oliver, president of the local union. He will return to Pomeroy on the 27th of May on which date the tri-county meeting will be held here.

Arrangements were made to observe a Garfield County “Swimming Pool Day,” sometime next week, at the meeting of the Commercial Club held at the Revere Hotel Monday. On this day the concrete is to be poured at the pool and as this is to be a one-piece job, a large force of men will be required to do the work. There are to be four or five concrete mixers in operation and enough men will be needed to handle the output. The stores will be closed between 11 and 2 o’clock and a basket lunch will be served in the park.