Days of Yore: January 23, 2025

Days of Yore for January 23, 2025

10 years ago—

The passing of Dave Jones of Condon, long-time friend and health provider in the Condon and Fossil communities, was memorialized by the Royal Condon Highland Guard, featuring Bill Shelton and Rock McCaul on the Great Highland Pipes, respectfully intoning “Amazing Grace”.

Arlington Booster Club members, under the leadership of Leslie Walborn, are busy preparing for their 14th annual Crab Feed and Auction on Valentine’s Day. Dinner will be served in the grade school gymnasium with the huge auction to follow.

Two fifth grade students from Arlington, Suzie Newton and Wyatt Wilson, were chosen to perform at the All-State Elementary Choir in Eugene. Music teacher Danita Pappas says, “Opportunities like All-State are wonderful for all musicians, but especially for those from small schools.”

25 years ago—

Severe road conditions apparently accounted for a multi-vehicle traffic mishap on Highway 97 near Grass Valley last Thursday, and several were injured. The Sherman County Sheriff’s Department had responded to a 3-vehicle accident north of Grass Valley. During the course of the investigation, a semi-truck and trailer collided with a car that had been involved in the initial crash. The trailer of the semi then struck the ambulance from Moro, forcing it into a tow truck.

From Mitchell Madness: Nathaniel Valles broke his leg Jan. 16 trying to cross from the washing machine to the dryer. He opened the washing machine lid and slipped and broke his leg. Andy Ehmer took Nathaniel and his mother, Miranda, to the Prineville hospital. Nathaniel got a hard cast and will be back in kindergarten soon.

50 years ago—

Dangerous drugs, the deadly variety, were stolen from the Wheeler County Medical Clinic sometime between 8 and midnight January 7. According to Anne Coiner, Nurse Practitioner, the drugs taken are deadly, and there are no antidotes. Coiner says that if she or Eloise Asher are contacted by the thief and the pills returned, no charges will be filed. Safety is the top priority.

During a special meeting of the Condon School board, the members accepted the resignation of Joi Buell, music instructor in both schools. At the next meeting, 23 people attended who were interested in the music program. Those speaking emphatically requested the rehiring of Norman Cox, music instructor from 1972-1974.

Ranching isn’t the only industry in Wheeler County that is suffering through the recession. Kinzua Corporation has been forced to shut down the Kinzua mill for a six-week period. The mill is now on a four-day week schedule.

75 years ago—

Toots Montague, pilot, and Leonard Craft, deckhand, operating the tub Switzler at Maryhill ferry, were marooned in their tug from Friday morning until Saturday night with only a candy bar and an apple to eat. The tug was grounded on a reef and because of the ice in the river rescue attempts were unsuccessful.

And the news was snow…The Olex teacher, Mrs. Dorothy Edelman, is staying at the Donald Potter home, as she is snowed out of her ranch home.

Electricity is rapidly coming to the front at Lonerock. Blanche Davis found one of her new-born calves nearly frozen to death in a snow bank. However, she soon had it thawed out by means of an electric heater.

100 years ago—

The Caledonian Club held their annual general meeting Friday, when it was unanimously agreed to discontinue the club for one year, owing to lack of enthusiasm of members.

J.H. Huddleston, a sheepman of Lonerock, Oregon, is looking around Portland for a few days, says the Oregonian. He went to Heppner in 1903 as agent for the railroad, following the Heppner disaster, and from railroading he drifted into the sheep business, which is more profitable, if not so exciting.

The town was “infested” with road contractors last week. They were here to look over the ground preparatory to submitting a bid for the reconstruction of the Condon-Thirty-Mile section of the John Day highway.

From the Condon Times 1898—

Two bits from Lone Rock Rumblings: Jim Bennett is crippled with the rheumatism, which causes him to travel sidewise like a raccoon.

The weather this past week has taken quite a caper. First it blew and “snew”, and then it freezed and then it “thew”.