100 YEARS AGO

June 26, 1924

Traffic officer Moss Swan chased Delber K. Mitchell of Springfield from the foot of Wallowa Lake to the head of the lake, but was unable to catch him. In crossing the bridge at the head of the lake, Mitchell was going so fast that the car tore one of the planks off the bridge. The traffic officer crashed into this and nearly wrecked.

Swan was unable to find Mitchell at the lake but left a card on the windshield of his car notifying him to appear before Justice A.B. Conaway. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Delber K. Mitchell of Springfield on charges of speeding. In place of answering the summons, Mitchell left for Springfield the next day.

75 YEARS AGO

June 30, 1949

A charge of illegal possession of beaver pelts against Alfred Zollman was dismissed by Justice Davie Couch.

Zollman, who was arrested a few weeks after circulating a petition against the action of the Game Commission in opening a season on cow elk in the Chesnimnus area, claimed he was being prosecuted for political and personal reasons. He has trapped beaver for years under state regulations and the pelts in question, though not marked or tagged in accordance with regulations, had been publicly exhibited in the Chief Joseph Days parade and had been handled in the same manner as others over a period of years, according to some of the local authorities.

• Four 7- and 8-year-old boys and girls who have admitted breaking many of the windows and light fixtures in the Joseph school building have been questioned by police officers. The youngsters, all residents of Joseph, have implicated at least two other older youths. Damage to the Joseph school was estimated at almost $2,000 with 64 windows, six large electric light fixtures and several electric clocks broken. The loss was covered by insurance.

• Approximately 100 businessmen from Joseph, Enterprise, Lostine and Wallowa were guests of the Forest Service at Sled Springs, where final classes were held at the annual school for fire guards and lookouts. The men met the new forest employees, played horseshoes, volleyball and softball and enjoyed a log-sawing contest and stories around a huge bonfire.

50 YEARS AGO

June 27, 1974

A Bell B-2 helicopter spraying DDT in an area south of Clarkston burst into flames in midair and crashed when the vehicle struck a snag, tearing loose the fuel lines. Ted Grote of Joseph was observing the spraying operation when the crash occurred. Mike Bucove, a helicopter pilot from Seattle, escaped from the crash with only a small cut on his nose. Grote saw the crash, sent out a distress call and went to pick up the slightly injured pilot.

The crash started a small forest fire which was contained by a crew from Pomeroy Ranger District.

25 YEARS AGO

July 1, 1999

Rico and Maricely Garcia of Tigard spent a cold night on the top of Mount Howard after missing the last tram down the mountain. Tram employees searched the trails before concluding that they had missed two tickets in their count.

While walking around the top of the mountain, Garcia said the couple, on a belated honeymoon, somehow wandered off the 2½-mile trail system. By the time they reached the tram station, they found it abandoned. The couple protected themselves from 28-degree weather by wrapping themselves in two floor mats. The Garcias received a full refund.