75 YEARS AGO:

May 28 – June 4, 1937

Red Neal, while flying over Oroville Tuesday afternoon in his plane, was compelled to make a forced landing in Morris Rumsey field on the southeast of town. It is reported that the only damage sustained by the plane was the loss of its propeller. Previous to landing, Neal had circled several times close over town. The Oroville Sportsman Club and others are anxious to get Palmer Lake and Osoyoos Lake on the federal and state fish program. This year, 30,000 rainbow trout have been planted in Lake Osoyoos and we believe this is a small allotment for such a large body of water. The small plantings made in the past have done wonderfully well and we believe that these lakes, well stocked, would be a paradise for fishermen and an asset to all of us. John Renn, had a narrow escape while hauling logs down the long grade into Tonasket Thursday afternoon. When Renn reached the cement bridge on the hill east of Tonasket, he stepped on the brakes and found that he didn’t have any. Keeping the truck in third gear, he roared down the hill with his horn blowing full blast. Rounding the corner at the foot of the grade, the truck and trailer both rolled over just before he reached Carl Ridge’s Ford garage. Renn escaped with only a scratch on his elbow despite the fact that he stayed with the load until it stopped rolling. The work of remodeling the former Peerless Confectionery into a coffee shop, which will be run in connection with the Peerless Hotel, is being rapidly completed. Inlaid linoleum coves the entire floor and entrance. Deep mahogany fixtures, blending in with the color scheme, are soon to be installed. Will Richards, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has announced that since the American Legion is holding Memorial Services at the Civic League grounds on Sunday, they are asking the Sunday School people to meet at the church at 9:45 a.m. for a brief service, then go to the Legion service. Refrigerated Locker Boxes are ready at the Ben Prince Store, for only $6 per year for a 10 cubic foot box. The Quality Market has specials on Choice Loin Beefsteaks, $.20 per lb.; Picnic Hams, $.19 lb.; Fresh Salmon, $.25 lb. Final settlement of the affairs of the Old Bank of Oroville will be made this week, according to work given out by C. R. Fray, Special Deputy Supervisor of Banking, liquidating the assets of the bank. The final dividend checks to all former depositors of the bank at the time it was closed in 1931. The final dividend will be for four and a half per cent. The Oroville Baseball Team bested the Okanogan Team with a score of 6 to 1, which redeemed them from their previous loss to Okanogan. The members of the Hodges Post #84 went over the top at their last meeting, when it was voted to provide new uniforms for the Legion Junior baseball team. It was the general opinion that since the post was sponsoring the team, they were obligated to provide the uniforms.

50 YEARS AGO:

May 31-June 7, 1962:

Four Seniors are the last to Graduate from Molson: Graduation exercises, which in all probability will be the last to be held at theMolson High School, was held Saturday, May 28, in the Molson Grange Hall. The last senior class to graduate had a class roll of four. Mary Ellen Leslie, Richard Cockle, Garold Cockle and Steve Leslie. Superintendent James Nelson presented the graduates to Molson School Board member, Everett Turner, who in turn presented the graduates with their diplomas. The opening of the new school term next fall will see grades 7-12 attending the Junior-Senior High School in Oroville. Work will begin on the Oroville-Molson-Chesaw Road as soon as the school buses are through making their regular runs over the road on June 8. With the advent of Molson students attending the Oroville School next fall, the citizens of the Molson-Chesaw-Knob Hill areas have asked that the road be improved. Commissioner Walter Turner stated that the two corners at the top of the first grade would be improved this summer. An important message to telephone customers here will arrive with June bills. A special bill insert will contain four stickers bearing the words “Area Code 509″and an explanation of the importance of the area code. The instructions pointed out that the area codes make each telephone customer’s number “nationwide and personal” unduplicated among more than 80,000,000 telephones in the U.S. Sunday, June 10, the Cariboo Motel, will hold the Grand Opening of their new 10-unit addition, which has been under construction for the past three months. This addition to their existing 14 units are a welcome sight for our town to be able to accommodate the growing tourist trade. Forty three members of the 1962 football squad were introduced to their coaches, Ed Tingstad and Bill Grunst, at a special meeting at the high school Thursday. Coach Tingstad emphasized the fact that size is not the important thing in becoming a good football player. “Hard work and heat are the important things”. Mary Zosel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Zosel, was named Valedictorian with a grade point of 3.95, and Tracy Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Scott, was Salutatorian, with a grade point of 3.77, at the graduation exercises on May 25, 1962.

25 YEARS AGO:

May 28 – June 4, 1987

The 1987 Tonasket class of 80, will hold their graduation program on June 1, 1987, in the Tonasket High School Gym. Their motto is “We came together as strangers. We part as eternal friends.” The class flower, White Rose, colors, Royal Blue and Silver, class officers; Wendy Larson, President, Shawn Mosley, Vice President, Jackie Caddy, Secretary and Shari Cooksey, Treasurer. The 1987 Oroville Seniors class of 43, will hold their Commencement Exercises in the Coulton Auditorium on June 5, 1987. The class motto is “We dare to be ourselves, and trust ourselves, to be all that we dare,” class colors, Navy Blue and Ice Blue, class flower, White Rose, Class officers, John Kowatsch, President, Tanya Kenner, Vice President, Leslie Roberts, Secretary/Treasurer and Darrin Cockle, Sgt. Of Arms; Class Advisors, Mr. Ricevuto, Mr. Root and Mr. Lindauer. Harold Weirth of Bremerton, Wash. was a happy, richer fisherman on Sunday, May 24^, as he reeled in a 3½ lb. Rainbow Trout at Wannacut Lake. The fish had a green tipped nylon tag whose number matched the one recorded by the Tonasket Chamber of Commerce derby chairman, Don Glovich. The trout had been planted on April 23 at 2 lbs. 10 oz. It had gained 10 ozs. in just 31 days and had traveled 3½ miles. Tonasket’s Powerlifting coach, Jeff Gavin, is anticipating strong performances from four Tonasket High School students who will be competing June 6 in the State Powerlifting Meet. Those students participating are: Craig Farley, Stay Gage, Brian Rhodes and Chris Bayley. The students riding Oroville’s bus #9, were treated to a “bus party” by driver Len Firpo. Firpo used this method to thank his riders for keeping the bus very clean throughout the year and for answering his challenge to beat their second quarter of 90 “A’s.” The challenge was met with third quarter “A’s” totaling 134 for an average of 3.3 “A’s” per student. Real Estate Listings: Newer 2 BR home on 9.9 acres, secluded, $29,500.00 w/terms; 39 acres with 600 feet of fishing creek near power, closing costs down, $19,750.00; 18 acres, home, power, phone and view, $39,500.00. The Town of Oroville, like many other small towns, has volunteers that assist in time of need. The city council presented Community Service Awards to four men in Oroville, who are recognized for their contributions of time and equipment to help with fires or protect the public without being asked. The awards were presented to Charles (Junior) Eder and LaMarr, Vern and Gordon Wolley.