125 years ago
April 7, 1893
H.C. Minkler received a handsome birthday present from his grandmother, who lives in Iowa, a few days ago. It was a gold headed cane, presented to his grandfather on the occasion of his golden wedding in 1877. The grandparents above referred to visited this place about two years ago, making the trip without difficulty, although both were more than eighty years of age.
100 years ago
April 5, 1918
A hurry up call to one of the Simpson Logging Camps in the north end of the county Friday brought visions of fresh murders and wild men to Sheriff Jeff Bartell, but the prisoner they brought back was much more inoffensive than he looked when waving an old fashioned, long barreled Colt’s revolver of 1871 vintage at the camp.
According to the story of the men at the camp John Murphy was insane. He had been poking some of the men in the pit of their stomachs with the revolver and threatening he was going to shoot holes clean through them.
At the hearing John told a different story. He said some of the men at the camp were I.W.W. wabblies and that they spent their time telling him if he didn’t take out a card and join their ranks they would make him sorry. So old John got out his little cannon and decided to do a little bluffing himself. He admitted he might have poked some of them and that certainly he did tell them if they did not leave him alone and mind their own business, their wabbly cards would be of no possible use to them, where he was going to send them.
75 years ago
April 8, 1943
City and county defense officials expressed keen anxiety and disappointment early this Thursday at the small turn-out of air raid wardens of the Montesano city defense set-up when they were called for a special meeting Wednesday evening. County Coordinator Bruce Hood gave a thorough analysis of the present situation and explained in detail a number of measures which must be taken against possible gas and incendiary raids here. Of over 60 air raid wardens who are supposed to be active, one in each block section of the city, only 22 attended the meeting.
” … and that is a dangerous indication of the neglect which is apparent through the Montesano city defense set-up,” stressed Hood. “We are in one of the most dangerous periods of the war. Enemy attack indications are now in the North Pacific area, and we have reason to know that they may quite suddenly attempt a diversion attack here.”
50 years ago
April 4, 1968
An unofficial meeting of the Montesano City Council was held Tuesday evening, at which time the council attempted to explore possible avenues where they might employ an additional police officer and fireman. The problem of parking Main Street was also touched on during the one hour meeting.
Mayor Lewis cited the fact that when a public body “tables” a problem, that question usually dies a normal death from inactivity. Mayor Lewis had reference to the last City Council meeting when he was asked by several citizens to explain the “tabling” action of the Council in regard to the parking problem.
According to Title Nine of the Montesano Municipal Code Section 16.010, diagonal parking is permitted on Main Street from Wynooche to Broad Street (which is Broadway). This ordinance was passed November 6, 1923. However, on July 6, 1937, ordinance #614 was passed which indicated that parking on Main Street between Pioneer and Marcy Streets would be parallel with the curbing of the streets and the right hand wheel of the vehicle would not be more than one foot from the curb. There is not an ordinance in effect that supersedes the one passed in 1937.
•••
Officer Charles Mero attended a special seminar in Seattle recently entitled ‘Dangerous Drugs.’ The lecture, dealing with the increased use of danger drugs, was sponsored by the Seattle Police Department and the FBI. More than 200 police officers from Western Washington attended the one day meet.
Highlight of the session was the fact that officers seemed to think the use of dangerous drugs will increase in the future, rather than decline. It was noted that in the Seattle area, the use of narcotics had increased 187% between 1966 and 1967.
25 years ago
April 8, 1993
Shipments of finished lumber have been improving over the past few months and 1993 could become a record for the Port if exports continue through the year as they have during the first three months. The ‘Hoegh Minerva’ was on berth Tuesday and Wednesday, the say she departed, loading some 2.7 million board feet of lumber and about 1,500 tons of aluminum ingots. The vessel will off-load at two Japanese ports, Nagoya and Osaka. The “Hoegh’ class vessels are regular visitors to the Port and have been for the past two or three years.
10 years ago
April 3, 2008
Citing a desire to spend more time with family and the demands of a growing law practice, Montesano councilwoman Vini Samuel is resigning effective after the next council meeting Tuesday, April 8.
In a letter that was being submitted this week, she said the remaining six council members comprise a strong governing body and that it has been her privilege to have worked on city business over the past eight years “with so many dedicated city council members and staff.”
It’s a cliché to say she’s stepping down to spend more time with family, Samuel said. In her view, the cliché is backwards.
“You don’t go into public service to spend less time with your husband and child. You serve on the city council — or the school board or the fire district — for the sake of your family because, you want your town, your home, to be a better place for them. You want to make a difference.”
