Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten years ago

February 15, 2012

Jay Takemura, representing Puget Sound Energy Foundation, presented a check for $2,500 to Rod Kimble and Claudia Spacek of Garfield Food Bank. The foundation’s contribution will go to the food bank’s roof replacement fund. The food bank has also received money for the new roof from the Shepherd Foundation, Lutheran Women’s Mission, and local individuals.

Undersheriff Drew Hyer and 911 Public Education Coordinator Melody Hirsch visited Wednesday Preschool, taught by Anne Ginerich. Undersheriff Hyer brought his new partner, K9 Bear. Bear is a shortened version of his name, Gummy Bear, that the undersheriff uses when K9 misbehaves. He is a Rottweiler-Akita mix and loves children, the undersheriff said.

Twenty-five years ago

February 19, 1997

Airman Caleb A. Cox, a 1995 graduate of Pomeroy High School, received the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor in a ceremony Jan. 31, at Hill Air Force Base in Utah by distinguishing himself by an act of courage when he teamed up with fellow 34th Fighter Squadron members to perform a search of a bombed-out building.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials encourage both public and private landowners who expect to do in-stream work to protect or repair property from impending floods to get permits now to avoid delays. Abundant snow throughout eastern Washington means high spring run-off is likely to result in flooding anytime.

Fifty years ago

February 17, 1972

A farmer-rancher known for his conservation work and who is not afraid to ranch a little differently – Glen Tetrick – is Garfield County Cattleman of the Year. Tetrick and his wife Marjorie make their home at the top of Wawawai Grade 23 miles north of Pomeroy and have lived there since 1952, when the present operation began.

Seventy-five years ago

February 20, 1947

A local farmer has the whole east side of his barn covered with figures. He has been trying to figure out how much he would have at a truck driver’s wages if he had worked only forty hours a week since he began his farming operations and had received time and a half for overtime, and portal-to-portal pay. He says that he is going to have to cover the west side of the barn with figures when it comes to figuring out what his income tax would have been.

The Washington state development board has approved a $33,000 grant to the county for the construction of a two-story 40x60 addition to the county courthouse to cost $66,000. Garfield county’s portion of the money is now on hand; was set aside during the war years as a post-war project, for enlarging the courthouse.

One hundred years ago

February 18, 1922

J.E. Starr was here from Waitsburg to put in a branding chute for Herman Baden. Mr. Starr says he has installed 100 of these on Columbia county farms.

Portland citizens awake during the early hours were amazed when the faithful old clock which has adorned the tower of the county courthouse since 1888 tolled out 12 o’clock. Investigation revealed that a bird had perched on one of the hands at midnight and that the clock was unable to record the hours until the interloper had departed.