100 YEARS AGO

April 29, 1915

Two homestead contests were heard in the court house this week and last, and more are scheduled for the future. The prices that have been paid of late for relinquishments establish a value for a homestead not thought of in years past. As a consequence, it behooves any entryman who wants to hold his land to comply with the requirements, or face the probability of a contest.

As a result of the initiative of Wallowa county sheepmen, the Columbia River Wool Warehouse company was organized a few days ago with headquarters in Portland. Jay H. Dobbin is president and E.W. Rumble general manager of the company. The list of stockholders includes Mr. Dobbin, Mr. Rumble, Fred W. Falconer and Robert N. Stanfield, sheep and wool growers, and many of the leading bankers of Portland.

While riding in a hack from Joseph to Enterprise, Lee Brown died Tuesday evening. A coroner’s jury which investigated the case yesterday morning returned a verdict that death was due to unknown causes and came while Mr. Brown was under the influence of alcoholic liquor. There is no evidence of any violence, or that any other person had contributed in any way to Brown’s death. Since the middle of the winter Brown had been trapping and hunting on the Imnaha, camping at the ranger station part of the time, and later staying on Albert Morghan’s ranch.

70 YEARS AGO

April 26, 1945

Second Lt. Herbert Don Fleming, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Fleming, was killed in the crash of a C-46 transport plane Wednesday night near Burnett, Texas. The plane, on a routine night flight from Bergstrom Field at Austin, Texas, to Mason, Texas, crashed with four crew members aboard. All were killed instantly and the plane burned. … Don was born June 12, 1921, attended the Enterprise school and graduated from the local high school in 1939.

T-Sgt. Marion L. Fiesterman, 23, son of Edward Fiesterman, Wallowa, was recently awarded his fourth Oak Leaf cluster to the air medal by Brig. Gen. Jarred V. Crabb of the Fifth Air Force for “meritorious achievement while in aerial flight” … Radio operator and gunner on a B-24, he was a member of the Fifth Air force’s colorful and leading Liberator outfit, the Jolly Rogers. The sergeant has flown 48 missions in the Pacific skies to complete 450 combat hours. … Sgt. Fiesterman’s plane has accounted for three enemy aircraft to help Jolly Rogers boast the record score of 404 (Japanese) aircraft shot down.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Zollman received a letter Monday from their son, Pvt. Mervin W. Zollman, who had been reported on Feb. 10 by the war department as missing in action in France since Jan. 18. Pvt. Zollman’s letter was written in his own handwriting on a German printed combination letterhead and envelope form and was dated Feb. 12, 1945. The letter obviously came from a German prison camp although nothing was said in the letter about where he was. In the letter Pvt. Zollman stated that he was well and asked that a Red Cross package be sent to him with whatever contents were permitted.

50 YEARS AGO

April 29, 1965

Two local men were killed Sunday afternoon about 5:20 when their pickup went off the highway about half a mile southeast of Lostine. … The (traffic) fatalities were the first in Wallowa county in several years. … Shortly after coming through the rocky cut on Highway 82 at the edge of Lostine the pickup apparently went out of control and began a gradual drift across the highway to the left. … State police said that it was 168 feet from the point where the (1950 Chevrolet) pickup went over the bank to the point where it came to a stop. The pavement at the scene was wet.

Approximately 200 people attended a testimonial dinner Saturday night at the Joseph Civic Center honoring former County Judge Fred Himelwright for his distinguished public services. The dinner was sponsored by the Joseph Chamber of Commerce. Murph Blankinship, president of the Joseph Chamber, welcomed the group and spoke of the high regard in which Himelwright is held by many friends throughout Wallowa County. … Letters from many people who could not attend, but sent their good wishes, were read.

25 YEARS AGO

April 26, 1990

Mary Goebel Grote, candidate for Wallowa County District Attorney, is currently appealing the results of the Oregon State Bar exam she took in February. “I only missed it (passing) by one point,” she said, explaining that when the results are close, bar candidates have the option of asking for a review of the test, which contains many questions. Grote is hoping for a favorable ruling by the review board before the May 15 primary, in which she is running against incumbent District Attorney William Reynolds.

PHOTO CAPTION: A stock pond in the Zumwalt area east of Enterprise last week was the focal point of Earth Day activities which included representatives of the Wallowa County Stockgrowers, Wallowa County Cattle Women, Oregon Department of Wildlife, and other conservation-minded individuals. One end of the pond was fenced off and transformed into a “demonstration plot,” designed to enhance wildlife habitat. Above, Van Van Blaricom and Cathy Sterbentz prepare to plant a long line of trees which will provide cover for songbirds.