Items from the Past

75 YEARS AGO

December 3 – 10, 1937: 1938 vehicle license plates will be available beginning Dec. 1, at the county auditor’s office. Obtaining the 1938 plates is a simple process. There are only two things necessary – one, the registration the event that vehicle owner’s certificate and two, the certificate of title and enough money to cover the cost of plates and to pay the state excise tax for the type of automobile being driven. The registration certificate, in case there is any doubt, is the white card which is supposed to be carried on the vehicle, usually on the steering post. In the event that vehicle owners have lost their white certificate, they must apply for a duplicate before they can obtain the new plates. The junior class presents its play this evening, Dec. 3, in the grade school auditorium, at 8 o’clock. In this play, “A Good Egg,” the spirit of youth struggles with its own problems at home and in school. You will recognize many familiar situations in this comedy which Dr. Clayton (Bob George) has high ambitions for his son, Junior (Rex Harden), to follow in his footsteps. Others taking parts are: Ralph Brumbaugh, (Bumps); Dorthea Gocke, (Jean); Carl Holden, (Jimmie); Helen Fleming, (Laura); Grace Barnes, (Miss Maynard); Junior’s English teacher Thelma Mann, (Pert) and James Neher, (Gillespie). With 16 ambitious aspirants for positions on the 1937-38 Oroville basketball quintet reporting for practice. The squad has settled down to steady training for the first game of the season at Oroville on Saturday, December 4. The student’s team is made up with Gene Cooksey, guard; Orval Woodard, forward; Joe Pickle, center; Carl Holden, forward; Del Pickle, forward, Orvan Pickle, guard; Bob Irwin, forward; Len Morley, guard; Ernest Thornton, forward. Others on the squad are: Rex Harden, Dale Bartell, Dan Hayden, Marvin Forney, Clint McMann, Bruce Stell and Ormand Reed. Counting of the last ballots Tuesday night, closed one of the hottest city elections for several years. Paul Loudon, L & L Meats owner, was the winner for the mayor for the next two years. Council members elected were: W. H. Neller, W. A. Hinton, Roscoe Smith and Ike Ramsey with I. J. Doerr as Treasurer. Expenses for the fall jury term were unusually low, costing the county but $515.80. The biggest share of the cost was jurors, $357.00, bailiffs, $13.20, witnesses, $106.50, board bills, $15.40 and attorney’s fees, $20.00.

50 YEARS AGO

November 29 – December 6, 1962: A pre-dawn fire Thursday, Nov. 18, completely destroyed the Ed Hickey Generator shop and residence in Loomis shortly before 5 a.m. The fire department answered the call and after pumping but for a short time, the truck ran out of gas which was evidently drained from the tank since it was last checked on Sunday. Every day it seems we receive word that the price of something goes up. Our first reaction is ‘where is it going to stop or will it?’ We have seen our dollar buy less and less and this is true in everything we purchase. And as much as we hate to say it, we feel we are going to have to follow suit. Beginning January 1, 1963, the subscription rate will be raised for the Gazette from $3.00 per year to $3.50. However, we are offering to take new and renewal subs until the first of the year at the old rate. Coral Junior Women report good response to their efforts to collect television dues from resident of this area with television sets. The Television Board asked the women’s group to help with the collection as money is needed to help pay for the new equipment installed last year. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Lawson entertained Tuesday evening in honor of their daughter, Mrs. Ailene Loney’s birthday. Temperatures for the past week are as follows: Nov. 21, 53 maximum and 30 minimum; Nov. 22, 44 and 25; Nov. 23, 40 and 22; Nov. 24, 45 and 31; Nov. 25, 56 and 39; Nov. 26, 56 and 42 and Nov. 27, 48 and 24. The 25th saw .13 of an inch rainfall and .02 on Nov. 27. Grocery prices:1 qt salad dressing, $.39; cake mixes, 3 for $.89; large AA eggs, $.53 per dz.; ground round, $.69 per lb.; Center cut Pork Chops, $49 per lb.; 20 lbs. No. 1 potatoes, $.59. Award winners at the annual Kiwanis sponsored football banquet were presented to the players by Coach Ed Tingstad. Winners were: Rick Anderson, best blocker; Jim Gates, best defensive; Jerry Gates, Inspirational award and Brad Thayer, honorary captain. When Lloyd Emry dug carrots in his garden the first of last week, he brought two of several to the Gazette because of their size. The carrots each measured 12½ inches long and weighed 2½ pounds each. Real Estate: Stock Ranch in Chesaw area with 1675 acres plus 200 acres leased; nice house, good condition and good outbuildings, $60,000. Groceries: 15 pink grapefruits, large size, $1.00; 3 lb. peanut butter in a freezer jar, $.89; 2 lb. bags popcorn, 4 for $1.00. Oroville Cleaners: Ladies plain skirts, slacks, sweaters, lightweight jackets and blouses, 2 for $1.00; Men’s pants, sweaters, shirts and laminated jackets, 2 for $1.00.

25 YEARS AGO

November 26 – December 3, 1987: A Civil Service hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, November 24 concerning last October’s termination of officer David Rotter from the employment of the Tonasket Police Department, but now has been granted a continuance until a later date by Superior Court Judge, James Thomas. Oroville Mayor, Ed King accepts a check by Mick Munson from the ICOC (International Cup Organization Committee) in the amount of $2,235.88 at the last Oroville Chamber of Commerce meeting. This fulfills the promise made last year by ICOC to give half of the net proceeds to be used for improvements at the Deep Bay, which was the location of the boat races last summer. Local inventor, Roy Cockle, has thought up and built a new product for local consumption. It is a transport for moving bins, either full or empty, and construction of them may prove to be a new light industry for Oroville. This trailer-like attachment connects to the front of a 4-wheel ATV and can move a full bin or several empties. The forks on the transport use a frictionless electric and hydraulic lift system that can be controlled from the ATV. The Oroville Community lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on December 10 at the Mini Park and the Civic League. December 10 was chosen as the date to light the community Christmas tree and the Civic League because it is the birthday of Art Blackler. Blackler was the man who platted the Oroville Township site. On Tuesday, November 17, the Oroville Yellowjackets (7th grade) were challenged here by the Okanogan Bulldogs. The young Yellowjackets were able to utilize good teamwork with nine players scoring and hustle to defeat Okanogan 37-12. The high scorer for the Jackets was Brian Thornton with 9 points, followed by Justin Haney with 8. Jeff Miller and Justin Scott, 4 each, Steve Young, Derek Leavell and Kermit Hancock each with 2, Ryan Bailey, 5 and Brendan Biele, 1.