90 YEARS AGO

Dec. 29, 1921

Several days before the time expected the new plant of the electric company was put into service last Thursday afternoon, and the valley now has all the current it can use. … The plant generates a maximum of about 1500 horse power, against some 400 in the old plant, making the “juice” nearly four times what formerly was produced.

Holiday time brought another roundup of moonshiners. Last Friday J.T. Sutton was raided in his cabin above Wallowa Lake, where the sheriff for some time had believed booze was made. Sheriff F.D. Rinehart and Deputy H.H. Nottingham dropped in on Sutton unexpectedly and found a still operation with 60 gallons of mash on hand.

R.H. Harper of the forest service will be at the home of Jesse Zumwalt in the Zumwalt district next Tuesday, Jan. 3, to mark timber for settlers. Those who contemplate using national forest timber should meet him at the time and place designated.

A Christmas Eve party was enjoyed by neighbors and friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Homan on Alder Slope. Dancing was indulged in. New Years eve a masquerade dance will be given at the hall of W.R. Stein in the same neighborhood.

70 YEARS AGO

Jan. 1, 1942

Wallowa County will have its first trial blackout under the direction of Jack Hogan, chairman of the Wallowa County civilian defense council, and his deputies, from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4. … The purpose is to acquaint the citizens with the operation of a blackout that may be ordered by the U.S. Army when the army deems necessary.

A contract for the re-surfacing of the seven and one-half miles of highway running north from Enterprise was awarded Saturday to Rogers Brothers Construction …. The job will cost approximately twice the annual budget for all county roads.

Enterprise water receipts for 1941 were $9,784 as against collections of $9,720 in 1940. … With the installation of the new water mains which have been ordered, the amount of trouble with the city’s water system will be reduced to a minimum. There are approximately 600 water users within the city and along the supply main.

TROY – Mr. and Mrs. Buck Mallory of Bartlett entertained a number at dinner Thursday and that evening invited the neighborhood in for an evening of dancing.

50 YEARS AGO

Dec. 28, 1961

Ben Weathers, poet laureate of Wallowa County and the oldest businessman in Enterprise in years, announced that he will retire the first of the year from the insurance business after 28 years. Ben will soon be 80 and has been actively and continuously engaged in business in Enterprise for over 60 years.

Rep. Al Ullman said last week at Bethesda Hospital in Washington, D.C., that the loss of part of his left leg won’t alter his intention to run for re-election in his eastern Oregon district. … Ullman is recuperating from the auto accident that resulted in amputation just below the knee of his left leg.

A delivery crew composed of members of the Elks lodge set out Saturday with 78 Christmas baskets to be given to needy families. This was a record number of baskets in this annual Christmas project spearheaded by the Elks.

EDITORIAL – Some day, a hundred years or so hence, when historians write their appraisal of U.S. policies in the middle of the 20th century, they will probably express amazement and bitter indignation over the manner “surplus” agriculture products was handled. With two-thirds of the world revolting against conditions which kept them in a semi-starving condition, this country continued spending most of its resources on armaments and fought over how to cut production of food and hold up prices.

25 YEARS AGO

Jan. 1, 1987

Wallowa County once again has an operational dog pound after being without one for over a year-and-a-half. County animal control officer Mary Pillar was told by public works director Verne Russell, who supervised construction, that the facility was usable last week.

For the past three years Pat Werr, 29, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wise who attended Enterprise High School, has been working as a reporter for the largest daily newspaper in the Arab world, the Arab News, a 35,000 circulation daily written in English.

Circuit court judge William Jackson of Baker signed a temporary restraining order to allow two Wallowa County Clerk’s Office employees to stay on the job past Dec. 31, when a mandatory retirement policy for county employees past 70 goes into effect.

Students named to the fall term scholastic honor roll by Oregon State University: Timothy J. Preso, Enterprise (straight-A); Gregory Snook, Joseph; and Duane Olson and Lindsay Slater, both of Wallowa.