Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten years ago

January 4, 2012

Pomeroy’s FFA chapter held a Toy & Canned Food drive during the month of December. Advisor Robert Matthews said members raised over $125, brought in “nearly 150 lbs. of food, and a large load of toys.” Proceeds went to the Garfield County Food Bank to keep efforts local, Robert said. Chapter members thanked the staff and students who donated to help the community.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Stewardship Service (NRCS) has announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

Twenty-five years ago

January 8, 2012

Water, water, everywhere. Anybody giving voice to that line New Year’s Day around 10th and Main in Pomeroy was probably risking bodily injury by the dozen or so workers fighting the storm drain flooding. Though Garfield County might not have had the damage of neighboring Asotin County to the east, there was still flooding from Pataha Creek rising, collapsed roofs from weight of snow, and water from a clogged storm drain getting into a basement.

Garfield County residents will take part in a health practices survey by the county’s health district between Jan. 6 and Feb. 28. The survey will be conducted by phone by Gilmore Research Group of Seattle and should take about 20 minutes to complete.

Fifty years ago

January 6, 1971

With skiing gaining converts at between 15 and 20 per cent a year, promoters of Skyline Basin the the Blue Mountains south of Dayton are most optimistic over prospects, Terry Godbout, general manager of the developing project recently said. Operations are scheduled to begin in all aspects next November, Godbout said. The U. S. Forest Service, on whose land the facility is located, require that there be a complete setup before the area can be opened to the public.

Pomeroy had three mayors in one night Tuesday night as outgoing Mayor Dr. Charles Shumaker swore in Mayor-elect W.A. McRae, who later in the meeting resigned and swore in Gib Damron, elected by the council to fill the vacancy.

Seventy-five years ago

January 9, 1947

Marine Capt. R.A. McCabe was reunited with his wife, Geraldine, and one-year-old daughter, Mary Margaret, recently when the navy transport Gen. Mann arrived in Pearl Harbor. The family, who have been separated for the past seven months will make their home in Honolulu.

Don Fitzgerald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herald Fitzgerald, left Friday for Chicago, Illinois, to enter the University of Chicago where he will major in nuclear physics. Don is a graduate of the Pomeroy high school and attended Washington State college for two years before entering the armed forces. He served his country for four years and at the end of the war was stationed in South America. He enters the University of Chicago under the GI bill of rights and hopes to complete his course in four years.

Donald Bartlow, a war veteran, brought to town Monday an implement of war, known as a field welding truck, that he purchased from the war assets administration at Pasco. It is on display at the Barlow Auto & Implement company show room and is attracting an unusual amount of attention.

One hundred years ago

January 7, 1921

The estates of R.A. and G.F. Jackson and the executors of these estates are names as plaintiffs in a suit which is being brought by the property owners along the Pataha creek to restrain the city from taking out any of the waters of the Bihlmaier springs. The system recently completed for securing part of this water for use in Pomeroy cost about $45,000.

Another resolution passed by the game association at the annual meeting held last week, is one recommending to the game commission that the open season for deer be shortened, so as to include the month of October only. At present the season beings October 1 and lasts until the 15 of November.

When on her way to present a hot pumpkin pie to Mrs. Ben Olsen, Mrs. Della Howe fell and the pie was scattered over her right hand, burning it severely.