90 YEARS AGO

Oct. 13, 1921

Cougar Creek won the great relay race and Chris (“Doc”) Tippett captured the prize saddle and bridle in the bucking and other cowboy contests in last week’s county fair.

With the 1921 county fair fresh in everyone’s mind, the directors of the fair association hope to hold a meeting at an early date to make plans for next year. … The fair of last week was a record breaker in several ways. In attendance and receipts it far exceeded any previous year.

In the presence of a large gathering, the body of Chief Phillip McFarland, leader of the Nez Perce Indians, was laid to rest at the foot of Wallowa Lake, between the graves of two sons who were buried three years ago.

Joe Marks of Imnaha had the misfortune to break his leg last Sunday when the wagon went over the grade. Mr. Marks jumped to save himself and he landed on a pile of rocks and sustained a badly fractured ankle.

70 YEARS AGO

Oct.16, 1941

George P. Cheney, owner and publisher for almost 30 years, has sold the paper to Gwen T. Coffin of Downers Grove, Ill., and is retiring from the business. His retirement has been prompted by a number of considerations, including illness and a desire to be relieved of some of the heavy responsibility and work which invariably falls on the shoulders of a country newspaper editor.

JOSEPH – Norman McFetridge and Norval Bennett were Joseph visitors since Friday, home on furlough from San Diego, where they are in the Navy. … Mr. and Mrs. Roy Daggett gave a farewell party Thursday evening honoring Dan DeBoie, who left Monday for the army camp at Camp Lewis.

After a partnership of many years, Louis Audet and Baptiste Lombard have concluded to separate. Audet has bought out his partner’s share of the ranch and will continue the business. The property includes the Lower Prairie Creek farm with fine improvements, which is the home of Audet.

50 YEARS AGO

Oct. 12, 1961

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Peal are in Arlington, Va., where Ben, a wheelchair patient since a logging accident in 1956, is undergoing diagnostic treatment without charge at the National Orthopaedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Center. Friends of Ben are contributing money to send to pay travel expenses and to help with her expenses while she is at Arlington.

The Jo-Hi student body pep rally was held Friday evening, as enthusiasm for the homecoming game with Enterprise mounted. … Miss Penny Harritt, a senior, ruled as homecoming queen. Her princesses were Elizabeth Dawson, junior; Joan Waters, sophomore; and Strickland, freshman. Other candidates for queen, both seniors, were Beverly Skaggs and Mary Dawson.

Three Enterprise FFA chapter boys in Kansas City this week at the national convention are Richard Stein, Dwight Yokum, Jr., and Chuck Wilcox. Also attending from Enterprise are Keith Simmons and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kelsie Simmons. Keith will be receiving the American Farmer award and is running for national FFA office.

EDITORIAL – One of the strange phenomena of the annual big game hunting season is the sudden transformation of well-groomed men into a bum-like appearance characteristic of inhabitants of Skid Row. The situation has now progressed so far that no red-blooded hunter would be caught dead on a deer or elk safari without a heavy growth of beard, a battered hat, flopping shirt, beat-up pants and a ditch digger’s shoes.

25 YEARS AGO

Oct. 16, 1986

The prospect of siting a destination resort has changed Wallowa County’s airport needs, Paul E. Burket, administrator of the Oregon Aeronautics Division, was told Tuesday evening. … The decision to hold off which site to recommend be included in the national airport plan came only minutes after airport consultant Robert O. Brown told local officials and pilots that Joseph State Airport was the site recommended in his study.

The Joseph City Council decided not to rush to apply for government funds to upgrade the city’s water system this year, but to allow time to carefully consider project alternatives over the next few months.

Senior Ann-Charolette Graverson, a Rotary exchange student from Denmark, was chosen homecoming queen at Wallowa High School last week. With her and her escort, Jerry Wood, on the court were freshmen Linda Waters and Shawn Creswell, sophomores Kellie Starner and Willie Love and juniors Audra Stover and Gabe Love.

Samantha Hansen was crowned homecoming queen in a regal ceremony during halftime of the Grant Union-Enterprise football game Friday night; her escort was Rob Petty. Other court members and their escorts were Jodi Coggins and Rick Stein, and April Bazan and Kurt Kooch.