125 years ago

June 3, 1892

So long as the people treasure in their memories hallowed thoughts of the brave men who gave up their lives in defense of the union; and so long as with unanimous consent one day is set apart each year to honor these fallen heroes, there need be no questions as to the patriotism of the American citizen.

In nearly every village and city in the union appropriate services were held, and in Montesano there was no exception to the custom. Indeed, the day seemed to be more generally observed than usual. The exercises were in charge of Garfield Post No. 13, G. A. R.

On Sunday, memorial services were held in the M. E. church, which the G. A R. Post attended in a body. The discourse was delivered by Rev. E. V. Claypool, and was pronounced an able effort.

The regular program for decoration day was carried out Monday. The literary exercises were held in the rink, and were attended by a large number of citizens. The hall was profusely decorated with flowers, and on the stage was placed a large floral motto: “In Memory of Unknown Graves.”

100 years ago

June 1, 1917

The annual exhibit of the work of the pupils of the grades of the local public school is arranged for today, when each grade will have on display samples of work done during the year.

As in years past this display will be routine lessons of the year and will not be specially prepared copies for exhibit purposes. A visit to the school this afternoon or evening will enable the patrons to determine the class of instruction their children are receiving and they will be better able to realize the high plane upon which our local school stands.

During the afternoon the children of the lower grades will give a very pretty entertainment of drills, folk dances, songs and reading in the gymnasium and light refreshments will be served to all visitors. The program will cover most of the period from 2 until 4 o’clock.

The school during the past year has made good progress in all departments. In the way of adding to the art exhibits for the walls of the various rooms and corridors much has been accomplished. More than fifty dollars worth of fine pictures have been purchases for the grades, the money being derived from school entertainments. The finest work of art secured this year is a splendid frieze for the stage of the high school auditorium.

75 years ago

June 4, 1942

Montesano’s civilian defense demonstration last Saturday afternoon, witnessed by one of this city’s largest outdoor crowds, had a climax unknown to the audience.

Just as preparations for the incendiary bomb demonstration were under way, word came that, a “blue” air raid warning had been received through the Seattle air raid warning headquarters. A “blue” warning is second in intensity, and comes just before a “red” warning, which means a general alert and blackout.

But, fortunately, this climax didn’t develop further. Within a few minutes, the “all clear” came through. Meanwhile, however, the auxiliary police, which had just paraded before the crowd, were organizing for real service, and preparations were under way to direct people to go to their homes.

This was the second air raid alert ordered in this area during the week. On Friday, the eastern part of the county had been given an official “yellow” warning, which put all civilian defense heads on the alert.

But going back to Saturday’s program, it proved to be one of intense interest from first to last. The large new grandstand, housing its first crowd, was well filled, despite the fact that hundreds of Montesanans were taking part in the program itself.

50 years ago

June 1, 1967

A brave 32-year-old Montesanan, who decided last year it was more important to return to the conflict in Viet Nam than to accept a safer Army assignment elsewhere, has suffered severe burns in an aircraft crash.

Capt. Paul C. Fournier, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul B. Fournier, 517 Broadway West, was seriously injured May 22 when the plane he was piloting crashed after take-off from a Viet Nam base. According to official information, he sustained second and third degree burns over 50 per cent of his body.

The senior Fourniers learned of their son’s accident early May 24. A telegram from the Secretary of the Army got them out of bed with the bad news. It stated that Capt. Fournier already had been evacuated to the 106th General Hospital in Yokahama, Japan, adding that his “condition” is of such severity that there is cause for concern.

An overseas telephone call to the hospital late that night eased the Fourniers’ fears somewhat, for they were told that their son was responding to treatment and was progressing nicely through the 72-hour “critical” period.

After long days of praying and hoping, in which they were joined by countless Monte friends, the Fourniers received encouraging news Monday morning. The Army pilot was being evacuated to Ft. Sam Houston, near San Antonio, where physicians specialize in burn injuries at Brooke General Hospital.

25 years ago

May 28, 1992

A festival aimed at supporting families is set to take place in McCleary this Saturday, May 30 at the City Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

McCleary Action Committee chairman Candy Curl said her group applied for a grant from the Community Mobilization Against Substance Abuse for the festival.

The theme for the festival is to “create strong families to prevent future drug and alcohol abuse.”

Curl said once they started organizing with the $500 grant money, some 30 to 40 businesses and organizations began to chip in and they have collected more private money that the original grant amount.

As a result, everything will be free. Treats will include hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and pop.

Among the activities for the “old time social” are a pie eating contest, family T-ball games, the Trout Unlimited fishing tank and a ropes course. Local artist Steve Willis will draw caricatures and kids can blow bubbles at the bubble tubs while older folks play checkers.

Organizers are also requesting that people bring canned good donations for the food bank.

10 years ago

May 31, 2007

A “crisis” in professional relationships has rendered Elma High School “strategically dysfunctional,” and the school is “critically at risk” because of the longstanding negativity, according to a report completed in April.

The 30-page study of the emotional “climate” at the school was initiated by Superintendent Howard King.

“This is my first year in Elma, and I was getting people coming to me with concerns, and in order for me to have an accurate assessment on how things are, I wanted to base it on what people were thinking instead of a handful of people who had the opportunity of coming to me,” King says.

There, indeed, were problems between staff members, and the school is “critically at risk,” the study concluded.

The risks involve the possibilities of the school losing its principal and creating “a revolving door of principal turnover,” losing excellent teachers who are “disaffected by the extremely negative and unhealthy interpersonal climate,” being unable to recruit or retain qualified new staff members and the support of parents and “further dividing parents and students into ‘camps’ that correspond to faculty divisions.”

The “crisis” in relationships among staff members and between some staff and Principal Deborah Parriott has “rendered the school strategically dysfunctional,” the report says, and unless something changes, the negative condition of staff relationships could “render Elma High School operationally dysfunctional, as well.”