Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten years ago

April 17, 2012

The production of “The Pied Piper” by Pomeroy School District and Missoula Children’s Theatre entertained the community last week Friday in the elementary school gym. A grant from the Harold and Helen Shepherd Foundation provides for the annual week-long residency by a director team from MCT, this year by Chris Kelly and Kari Gatlin Kelly.

Garfield County Fair Board president Linda McKeirnan said organizers have received notice that funding for fairs will remain at last year’s level. Linda called the news “a major relief compared to the proposal of no funding”. She thanked residents who expressed support for fair funding, as well as the district’s legislators who worked on behalf of the fairs. The Fair board has started working on the premium book for the 2012 Fair, which has the theme of “Sow It, Grow It, and Show It”.

Twenty-five years ago

April 16, 1997

Alvin Landkammer has set up collection barrels at his residence in Pomeroy for depositing Pepsi and Coke products plastic containers for recycling. Landkammer said 20 oz. and one liter plastic bottles for Pepsi products including Squirt, Mt. Dew and Canada Dry, as well as Coke products including 7-Up and Dr. Pepper can be deposited in the collection barrels, or left in plastic sacks at his residence. Landkammer redeems the containers at recycling centers for 5 cents each. The money is donated to the Holy Rosary Catholic Church CCD education classes. Landkammer also collects aluminum cans which are currently being redeemed at 45 cents per pound.

Pomeroy High School sophomore Jesse Trushenski spent the last week in March at Sea World of Texas’ Advanced Careers Camp in San Antonio, the only marine sciences education program of its kind for high school students. Jesse has been interested in marine sciences since her parents, Larry and Julie Trushenski of Pomeroy, took her on a Southern California vacation that included Sea World. From then on, she’s been reading voraciously on the subject.

Fifty years ago

April 20, 1972

Spokesman at Lower Granite Dam had no comment on Wednesday morning on the wildcat strike which began Monday morning and spread to Dworshak Tuesday. About 100 of the nearly 1,000 employed at Lower Granite left their jobs Monday morning and the project was shut down Monday evening, according to the Lewiston Tribune. Reports were that meetings were going on Wednesday morning.

Home Mart Inc. was the name selected Wednesday morning by Loren Porter and Wendy Pederson in their renaming contest to rename Obenland’s Inc. Porter and Pederson said some 235 suggested names made the decision a very difficult task. Mrs. Marion Beale suggested the new name and wins a $25 gift certificate. The contest was held during Obenland’s annual anniversary sale, during which customers were able to view the recent refurbishing of the appliance department at the store.

Seventy-five years ago

April 17, 1947

Garfield County products values at more than $700,000, consisting of 173 carloads of wheat, three carloads of canned peas and two carloads of lumber have been shipped out of the local station of the Union Pacific railroad since the first of April, reports R.F. Scott, the U.P. agent. Mr. Scott stated that this is the heaviest tonnage to pass over the Pomeroy-Starbuck rails of the Union Pacific in a like period in over two years. It is estimated that about 400 more carloads of wheat are stored in the elevators in Garfield County, practically all of which is sold, awaiting shipping orders and cars to move it to market.

Plans for the spring rodeo to be held at the fairgrounds May 10-11 are rapidly taking shape. Workmen have been busy the past week painting chutes and leveling the arena. Everything promises to be in top shape by the time the actual event rolls around.

One hundred years ago

April 15, 1922

A definite time for letting the contract for the construction of the Central ferry bridge has been set. According to word coming from Olympia, James Allen, supervisor of highways has announced the contract will be awarded June 1. Construction is to begin in July and the bridge is to be ready for service in September next year. The estimated cost is $300,000, half state and half federal aid. The structure will be 1,600 feet long, having a concrete deck, steel spans and eight piers, according to the supervisor.

Garfield County roads have improved considerably in the past two weeks and travel is fairly constant from all directions, except south, where there is considerable snow yet. The Lewiston road is easily made and one can use the new highway to Silcott though it is not all surfaced.

The road over the hill from Silcott is much better than ever as a new grade has been made and there are no real stiff grades like there was formerly.