OUT OF THE PAST: 1.13.11

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Jan. 13, 1921

Two Wallowa County live wires, Wade Siler and Frank A. Clark, appeared before the finance committee of the U.S. Senate the first of the week and gave first-hand advice on how to run the government, particularly with regards to marketing the wool and grain crops. A telegram from Washington, D.C., was received on Tuesday telling the bare facts that the two men had been before the senate committee.

For two weeks past, the north road has been filled with sleds of farmers bringing produce to market, mostly wheat but also a carload of hogs. The large number of teams more than taxes the capacity of the one livery stable in town.

By a unanimous vote of members of the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce at Tuesday evenings meeting, the school board was asked to remodel the heating plant at the school. A hearing concern representative from Salt Lake City said the cost of installing his system would be about $10,500.

An informal dance and entertainment will be given in the opera house Monday evening by the Branch Line Club to BPOE members and families, all of whom are cordially invited to attend. Haines orchestra will furnish the music. At the recent annual meeting of the club, these officers were elected: Wade Siler, president; Dr. C.T. Hockett, vice-president; A.R. Thompson, secretary; and board of directors, S.L. Burnaugh, H.D. Goodfellow, Ben Weathers and J.F. Farrell.

Jan. 16, 1941

A camp has been set up on the north side of the Grande Ronde River by contractor Henry Hagman, who has begun work on the new bridge on the Lewiston-Enterprise highway. Then the state of Washington will have about four miles of road to build up Buford gulch to the Oregon line and Oregon will have 4,500 feet to build to the state line.

A.B. Stockdale has bought Cole Masdens interest in the Ford agency and garage, and will continue the business as sole proprietor under the name Stockdale Motor Co. It occupies the Main Street corner south of the Caton Hotel and also the garage building to the south, the latter being used chiefly for car storage.

The Joseph Commercial Club met Monday at the Smith Inn. New officers are Carlisle Roundy, president; Cub Begley, vice president; and Keith Wilson, secretary-treasurer.

LOSTINE Warner Crow departed Monday for Vancouver for his final exam prepatory to entering the army air corps. The flu cases are improving. Those who remain very ill are Mrs. Dale, mother of Chas. Wolfer, Mr. Frazier and the Farris children.

Jan. 12, 1961

The supervisors of the Wallowa County Soil Conservation went over its plans for 1961 at a meeting Monday night. Malcolm Dawson, chairman, reported that in the 12 years the district has been in operation, 242 farmer cooperators had signed up for some phase of the soil conservation program and 130 farm plans based on surveys had been drawn up.

The 9406th Air Reserve Squadron will activate a flight unit here on Jan. 20, according to Bill Barnett, who will be in command of the unit. Approximately 20 young men have already enlisted. All men with six months or more of prior military experience, in any branch, are eligible.

George and Pearl Justice, owners of the Western Auto store here, were presented with a plaque last week by Keith Wilson, Western Auto representative, in recognition of 10 years of service to your community and Western Auto.

In the interest of economy and better customer service, West Coast Telephone Co. announced this week that the Enterprise office of the company will be closed for the interaction of office business after tomorrow. This means customers will pay their bills or at First National Bank of Oregon in the future.

Jan. 15, 1986

Oregon Senator Bob Packwood on Monday announced that he will put his proposed Hells Canyon wilderness bill on hold in light of erroneous statements he made in public appearances in Enterprise and La Grande last week. Figures presented by Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce manager Gerald Perren, called lies by Packwood were later verified as factual in a statement released by Wallowa-Whitman Forest Supervisor Jerry G. Allen.

While Wallowa Countys Ant Flat landfill received a clean bill of health from DEQ last week, ills about operation of the countys solid waste program surfaced during a county court meeting. Through the first six months of the fiscal year, the program is operating at a near $6,000 deficit.

After 32 years of fighting fires, maintaining buildings and campgrounds, and running from bears, Art Keener will be calling it quits when he retires from the Forest Service Jan. 31. His varied career started in 1954 when he was 18 and hired by the Joseph Ranger District to be Coverdale recreation guard on the Imnaha River.