Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten years ago

June 13, 2012

The 2012 Wine, Stein & Shine Car Show winners were: Jerry Clark’s 1933 Ford coupe-Best of Show; Butch Klaveano’s 1930 Chevrolet-Pioneer Award for antique vehicles; Mike Gwinn’s 1953 Ford F-100 pickup-People’s Choice trophy; Bert Obenland’s 1967 Chevelle SS-Best Car; John Henry’s 2006 Honda GL 1800 Trike-Best Motorcycle.

Pomeroy School District superintendent Kim Spacek will lead the final community tour of the high school modernization project Wednesday, June 20. Mr. Spacek said parts of the building that will be viewed will be “finished to look similar to areas completed at this stage of the project.” As with past tours, this next walk-through is open to non-students older than 18 years of age. The tour will start at the District Office, where a hard hat will be provided. Residents who show up and find the office is closed should wait for a few minutes, because there may have to be more than one flight to get people through, the superintendent said.

Twenty-five years ago

June 18, 1997

The Pomeroy Farmer’s Market will open Saturday, June 28, in the City Park. The market will continue Saturdays to Sept. 27. According to coordinator Sue Peters, the concept of the market is to provide residents with the opportunity to sell home-grown or home-made items. Fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers, and arts and crafts items are welcome. The market will have added allure this year, Peters said. Demonstrations will be given on composting, canning, and planting. “We also plan to have a Children’s Market later in the season,” she said. Children are encouraged to participate in the regular market, accompanied by an adult if under age 14.

The truck is the same but the Pacific Power lineman driving it is different. Ron Stollar (rhymes with dollar) is the new lineman stationed in Pomeroy, taking the place of Jerry “Obie” Obermeyer, who retired at the end of March. Obermeyer will remain a Pomeroy resident.

Fifty years ago

June 15, 1972

Former residents from all over the country joined Garfield County Pioneer Association meeting last Saturday, June 10, at Jaycee Hall. Over 200 people attended the morning and afternoon sessions. Pioneer chairs were awarded to Oscar Bartlow and Mrs. Maude Graham. New officers for the coming club year are Jim Ruark, President; Don Stallcop, vice president; Mrs. Marion Beale, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. Ervin Bott, historian; and Mrs. Ella Davis, publicity chairman.

Paul Guenther, new sanitarian for Garfield and Asotin counties, says that interest in the environment has broadened the role of the sanitarian to include planning and education of the public. Sanitarians used to just inspect. Now it’s their job to help in health planning and health education, and also to give assistance to people and firms who request it. He said that his title is actually Environmental Health Specialist, according to new state job description.

Seventy-five years ago

June 19, 1947

Judge E.V. Kuykendall who has his left hand swathed in a bandage told an inquisitive reporter that the moral behind that sterilized cotton was a warning to all men “not to do the cooking at home.” As Mrs. Kuykendall was slightly indisposed on Father’s Day, Judge Kuykendall decided that it would be a fine gesture on his part to prepare the Sunday morning breakfast. And a good breakfast it was so, said Mrs. Kuykendall. Everything was ready for the table as the judge attempted to pour the hot bacon grease into a container, the handle of the receptacle broke, spilling the hot drippings over his left hand and burning it painfully.

Wages are not increased if they result in an increase in the cost of goods. A dollar is worth only what it will buy of food, clothing and the things one needs. When wage increases begin to beat down the amount of food, clothing and the things one can use a dollar will buy, then they cease to be increases. They become inflation.

One hundred years ago

June 17, 1922

Deputy Sheriff E.E. Powell and Special Deputy Len Jennings made a good haul on Friday night of last week, when they brought in from a thicket in the Dresser gulch, a large still and the man charged with operating it, Dan McGowen. The still is copper and of 20 gallon capacity. There are also a two-burner oil stove and 15 feet of coil, the biggest outfit ever seized here. The officers had been investigating clues leading to the illicit making of booze in that neighborhood for several months, but the operators had been doing business in such a clever way and with their still so well hidden that the problem proved to be difficult. McGowen lived in the old Dresser house and operated his still about a mile away, up a steep gorge, accessible by trail only. Thirty gallons of mash were seized.

Committees of the Pomeroy and Lewiston commercial clubs for several months have been considering designs for a suitable memorial to Chief Timothy. The towns of Asotin, Clarkston, Pullman, Rosalia, Dayton and Walla Walla have been asked to send representatives to the Alpowa meeting which will be held on the Charles Davis place, near Timothy’s grave, the exact location of which is yet to be determined.