125 years ago
August 14, 1891
This paper took occasion a few weeks since, to urge upon the city council to pass an ordinance requiring that cows which run at large, should be dehorned. What might have proved a serious accident yesterday morning would indicate that some action should be taken in this matter. The little son of Chas. Sparks, who was playing near the house, was attacked by a cow, and tossed into the air. Had it not been for some men who were near and ran to the rescue, the child would no doubt have been seriously injured — probably killed. This is not the first instance to which our attention has been called.
100 years ago
August 18, 1916
Cheese factory at Oakville
With the organization of a co-operative cheese factory, for which articles of incorporation were drawn up and signed last Saturday, Oakville enters the dairy products market of the county and will make a bid for the output of the rich dairy farms in its district. A meeting of farmers of the vicinity of Oakville was held Saturday and all final arrangements made to launch the new project. Work on the plant will begin at once and will be rushed to early completion.
The organization was financed by the “loaned credit plan,” similar to that of the Satsop cheese factory. The dairymen interested each signing up one-hundred dollar notes to be used as collateral by the corporation with which to secure the necessary funds to construct the plant and supply working capital.
The citizens of Oakville will furnish a free site for the factory. W.E. Johnson and E.L. Brewer, of the Satsop company, were present and aided with their advice in the formation of the organization. A Mr. Gibson, of the State College, was also present and advised materially on the technical points that were encountered.
Satsop and Oakville will co-operate in the marketing of their output.
Oakville is located in the center of a very fine farming community and many good dairy farms are found within a few miles of that little city. The new plant will afford a home market and will no doubt draw the bulk of the milk from the surrounding country.
75 years ago
August 21, 1941
Increased gas sales aid budget
An increased income to Grays Harbor county of an estimated $27,425.63 from a sharp rise in gasoline sales was the source of a supplemental budget adopted by the county commissioners last Monday, according to County Auditor Lotta King Wiley.
The new funds will permit the county to take care of $9,873.23 in new construction on county roads, develop maintenance work to $15,084.10 more than was provided for in the 1941 budget, and pay $2,468.30 more for overhead needed for the additional work.
The work will be apportioned throughout the county as needed.
50 years ago
August 18, 1966
Grays Harbor 1966 Fair, with a more elaborate schedule than any of its predecessors, came off with nary a noticeable hitch and, according to its customers as well as its backers, proved “a real gasser.”
Splendid, sunny weather set the keynote for last week’s four-day extravaganza. It, coupled with so many crowd-attracting events, brought out a total of 24,231 fairgoers — 6,533 above the 1965 figure.
Breaking down these vital statistics, Mrs. Arlene McNutt, fair manager, noted that almost 6,000 were on hand last Thursday, the traditional opening Kids’ Day, followed by close to 4,500 Friday, 6,600-plus Saturday and over 7,000 on Sunday.
Probably the most popular of many pleasing features on the jam-packed program were the stock car races held the afternoon of closing day. They drew an SRO throng into the Elma Fairgrounds grandstand to witness the antics of modified hardtops, jalopies and semi-modifieds.
Other particularly well-attended events were the motorcycle show Saturday afternoon and the rodeo Friday and Saturday evenings. The rodeo performances were aided by the exciting Grays Harbor Cattlemen’s Association-sponsored calf scramble, which this year included some of the wildest scrambling ever.
Fairgoers came away thrilled by the excellent 4-H, FFA and Grange displays, plus the livestock exhibits and a newcomer, the Grays Harbor Geological and Gem Society show. New, dizzying carnival rides also proved highly popular.
25 years ago
August 15, 1991
Union stakes new job
A decision to create a new position in the county Human Services department was put off Monday after a union official protested the exempt status of the job.
Human services director Rodney Herling asked the commissioners to create the position of RSN manager for the social services division. The salary range would be between $2,930 to $3,501.
The resolution calls for the position to be “exempt,” that is, an administrative position not covered by the union contract.
Trina Dempsey, president of the Washington Council of County and City Employees Local 275, said the union supported creation of the job but “we request this be a union position.”
In a letter, Herling who was not at the meeting, said the job should be non-union because “the person filling this position will be in a supervisory role.” He said the salary range is equivalent to other non-union positions.
Moreover, as the mental health budget for 1991-93 will exceed $1.8 million, Herling wrote he foresees “a big increase in the administrative responsibilities at the county level.” He said the workload needed to meet state requirements is “already difficult to manage in the mental health area.”
The commissioners agreed to put the decision off for one week.
10 years ago
August 17, 2006
Fair manager has same goal for next year — 60,000
One of the fair’s goals will have to wait until next year.
Debbie Adolphsen, the manager of the Grays Harbor County Fair, said Tuesday morning she’s pleased with just about everything that went on at the 2006 fair, which was last weekend (Aug. 9-13).
She’s not disappointed that the official attendance was “only” 59,670, breaking the previous record.
Just 330 people more on Sunday and the fair would have met her prediction, and goal, of 60,000.
On Sunday, there were 10,589 on the fairgrounds at one time or another.
That’s down a bit from last year, but Adolphsen is wondering if the 2005 Sunday attendance was off.
“Maybe we counted wrong,” she said, adding that “it felt the same (attendance) and the gate money is up.”
The official attendance includes everyone who came early on Sunday to take advantage of the free admission, a promotional idea sponsored by Comcast, the cable company.
The 60,000 attendance goal is just that said Adolphsen. “It’s just the next level that we want to get to.”
She said the fair staff was back at work Monday, the day after the fair ended.
She planned to take a day off Wednesday.
“There’s too much to do the day after,” she said.
