125 years ago

Jan. 27, 1893

For the information of the Vidette we will state that the “purported discovery” of the iron mine in this locality is being developed as rapidly as the season of the year will permit. Our charming contemporary must not be surprised if, upon visiting the county fair next fall, the erection of huge reduction works be found under way.

The above item appeared in the last issue of the Chronicle. We thank the Chronicle for its information, which is none the less appreciated because it was not sought. Our reference to “purported discoveries,” would apply to this iron mine just as much as the word “harmony” would to the present democratic central committee. A mine, such as the one near Elma, and to which we have frequently referred as a valuable and important discovery, does not come under the class of “purported discoveries,” but of actual facts.

•••

The senate did little business except appointing committees. In the house a resolution was introduced asking that the salaries of state officers be reduced one-half, and that the number of supreme judges be reduced to three.

100 years ago

Jan. 25, 1918

Letters received here Tuesday from a foreign destination testified to the fact that Company G of the 161st American expeditionary unit had reached the other side of the Atlantic safely, but whether the boys were in France or England was not stated. In fact the four letters received here were all written on board the transport and the boys had not had an opportunity to write after they reached their destination. As the letters were mailed upon the docking of the ship, there is no question of the safe arrival of the company to some foreign port. A letter from Lynn Kemerlin to his parents is herewith reproduced and includes the Christmas day menu on board the ship. No lack of good things for Co. G.

•••

Grays Harbor county was never so well off financially as today. The county could pay off every warrant against its current expense fund, and have enough left to pay off every bond it owes and money left in the treasury.

The county has more money in the general school fund than it had prepared to raise by taxation— that is, if it was not to collect any school money this year at all it would have enough to meet estimated expenses.

It has half as much money in the general road and bridge fund as it had planned to raise by general taxation. It has balances in every road district fund — in some of them almost as much as was estimated for the 1918 needs.

75 years ago

Jan. 28, 1943

Pvt. Herman Walser, stationed with the army in North Africa, wrote his parents here, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Walser, New Year’s day and they received the letter Jan, 25. He is well and wondered if his folks could send a camera; but one was not to be found on merchants’ shelves here according to the senior Walser.

•••

A decision of the state supreme court ruled that the Grays Harbor county board of commissioners could authorize any county official to rent offices in localities other than Montesano, according to reports late Wednesday.

The matter was passed on as the outcome of the dispute between Stanley Krause former prosecuting attorney and now in the army, and Mrs. Lota King Wiley, county auditor, which was carried to the state court as a test case.

50 years ago

Jan. 25, 1968

Someone with a yen for a flashing red light has stolen one from the Chehalis river, according to the commanding officer of the Coast Guard station at Westport. Reported missing to Sheriff A. M. ‘Pat’ Gallagher, is a flashing red navigational light, presumed taken on Sunday. It was mounted on a 14-foot piling. The battery that powers the light was left behind. Replacement cost of the light is estimated at $250.

•••

An eight-man auxiliary police force will require an expenditure of $1,000, Councilman Robert Winiecki, police committee chairman, reported to the city council Tuesday night.

Activation of such a force has been urged by Mayor Stephen Lewis who, on Tuesday, also declared himself in favor of a three-man police force. The present police force is understaffed, he said.

Winiecki said the city lacks money to finance the auxiliary police and said the proposal would have to be deferred unless some other source of funds can be found. He said that auxiliary members could furnish their own sidearms, but Councilman Lloyd Metke objected to arming such a force.

25 years ago

Jan. 28, 1993

The Inaugural Day windstorm on Wednesday, January 20, was disastrous for Melissa Brown and her teenage son at their home at 509 W. McBryde in Montesano when a giant fir west of the house was felled by wind gust of up to 70 mph during the storm that doused lights in the city for two-plus hours that day. Over 750,000 businesses and homes in the Puget Sound area were without power for days and five people died from storm related injuries.

Luck did smile on the Brown family as the two occupants of the house were in school at 9:30 a.m. when the tree fell. Mrs. Brown, a third grade teacher at Simpson Avenue School said that several branches on the tree came through the roof of the house and one of them pierced a recliner chair in the living room. Damage to the house has been estimated to be in the neighborhood of $35,000.

10 years ago

Jan. 24, 2008

If planning for the new Simpson School in Montesano were to appear on television, you might see it featured on the home improvement show “Design on a Dime.”

The budget is fixed, costs are rising and yet the challenge is to design a durable, functional, and ultimately beautiful school.

… Last April, voters approved a $16.13 million bond issue to build a new Simpson School for grades 4-6, modernize Beacon School for grades K-3 and complete a laundry list of upgrades at the junior/senior high school, including a new roof.

•••

Trying desperately to keep its ambulance service afloat, Grays Harbor Fire District 5 commissioners explored a number of options at a special meeting last Monday, then voted 2-1 to lay off two of the eight paramedics Feb. 15.

Eric Patton’s “no” vote was outnumbered by the affirmative votes of the districts two new commissioners, Jerry Bailey and Matt Howarth.

Other options including laying off as many as four paramedics. Last October, the district laid off its chief, Randy Coggan, as a cost-saving measure.