100 YEARS AGO

Sept. 11, 1913

Excavation for the Carnegie library was finished by contractor John Oberg early this week and the foundation is being put in. The upper structure will begin to rise in a few days. The library board received bids for heating and plumbing, and gave the contract to G.H. Sutherland of Walla Walla. His bid was $700.

Scores of residents of the eastern part of the county are gathering Imnaha fruit these days. A visitor to the river early this week counted more than 20 wagons driving along the canyon, each containing a family or part of one, bent on the double errand of fruit gathering and a holiday trip.

Saloon licenses will be an issue at the November election in Wallowa and Lostine. Petitions asking that the question be submitted to the voters were filed with county clerk Bilyeau and came before the county court at its sessions last week.

A far better program than ever will be at the Wallowa County Fair this fall (Sept. 29-Oct. 4). The new grandstand is going up rapidly and this will add largely to the pleasure of patrons, as it will ensure them comfortable seats from which to watch the races and many other events.

70 YEARS AGO

Sept. 9, 1943

Unofficial word received last week that Corporal Merl Thomason, 24, of the U.S. Army, stationed in the South Pacific, had been killed in action, was officially confirmed by a telegram received by his mother, Mrs. R.R. (Bud) Jones. This is Wallowas first officially reported casualty of the war.

Myron Fleser will hereafter be storekeeper at Minam, succeeding his grandfather, the late. S.C. Goff. Myrons father, Wm. Fleser, was long associated with Cortes Goff in the store and service station.

EDITORIAL Political analysts are falling all over one another these days trying to dope out the 1944 presidential election. One fact, however, looms up rather predominately in the picture, and that is the almost unanimous opinion that Roosevelt is the only Democrat that can win, and that if he chooses to run he can have the nomination and almost certainly the election if the war is still on.

Rangers Wade Hall and Keith McCool, assisted by Roy Schaeffer of Lapover, expect to remove the old logging splash dam some 25 miles up the Minam. The dam was constructed in order to dam up enough water to float logs down to the mill formerly operated out of Minam. It has long been out of use but constitutes a fish barrier preventing fish from going up the river to spawn.

50 YEARS AGO

Sept. 12, 1963

The Enterprise City Council rejected Monday night a proposal instigated by the Oregon State Highway Department to change the route of Highway 82 through Enterprise.

After hearing arguments for and against the proposal by several local residents, a motion by Frank Hays and Dave Rich was given unanimous approval by the members of the council to the proposed change of route.

Dr. B.R. Sharff, health officer for Wallowa County, reported Wednesday that he received confirmation of the presence of rabies in a bat sent into the state for analysis. As an added safeguard against the spread of the disease, hunters are urged to kill all skunks. Skunks are increasing in population in the county and are among the most likely carriers of rabies.

IMNAHA The Bridge district had several high school students entering Donald Marks and David Lovell; George Waer and Michael Burcham, in Enterprise. Orla Mae and Gail Teel and Berna Jacobs enrolled at Joseph.

25 YEARS AGO

Sept. 8, 1988

The 14-day old Tepee Butte fire in northeastern Wallowa County was contained at 59,860 acres Monday evening, but strong winds Tuesday caused additional problems, including the destruction of the Cherry Creek Ranch. The winds, with gusts up to 20 miles per hour, also caused a flare-up of the 7,700-acre Ward Canyon-Troy blaze.

After almost six years as Wallowa County District Attorney, D. Rahn Hostetter, 35, announced his resignation, effective Nov. 1. He said that Union County District Attorney Russ West has agreed to fill the gap by taking cases that require continuity until the governor has appointed a new district attorney.

Enterprise will become temporary mule capital of the West again this Saturday and Sunday as it celebrates the 8th annual Hells Canyon Mule Days.

Hells Canyon Mule Days grand marshals this year are Mary Marks of Upper Imnaha and Joe McClaran, 94. Ive packed em all my life, Mary Marks said when asked what she knows about mules. . Mules proved the only means of packing in supplies for almost 40 years to Joe McClarans isolated Lightning Creek ranch in the rugged Lower Imnaha River country.