1925 — 100 years ago

The Oregon Lumber Co. has been granted a non-suit in the case in which it was sued by Harry E. Brady for damages totaling $25,000 for loss of both feet during the big storm in November, 1921. In his reasons for the decision, Circuit Judge Wilson says: “At the time in question the camp was a safe place. Outside a storm was raging. The plaintiff was welcome to stay in the camp until readjustment could be made and a safe course of action decided upon. There was no compulsion upon the plaintiff to go at the time he did and the fact adduced by testimony that other men remained in the camp until weather conditions had modified so that they could go out safely shows that this course was open to plaintiff. When the plaintiff chose to go he set in motion the causes which led to his terrible injuries.”

— Hood River News

 

1945 — 80 years ago

Two local wives of absent soldiers, one of the latter now under treatment for wounds in hospital overseas, charged with lewd cohabitation, after entering pleas of guilty, were given limit sentences, of six months in the county jail. What action is to be taken concerning two soldiers from Rufus, who were involved, is not yet decided. Justice of the peace Those. F. Johnson, in whose court hearings were held, promises that he will mete out similar sentences to wives of absent soldiers and sailors, and men involved with that, who are guilty of this “mean type of cheating,” and who are brought into his court.

— Hood River News

 

The $3000 in road warrants held up following a controversy between John. A. Miller, county auditor and August Hanson, county engineer, were issued last week. The warrants were issued after the commissioners of Klickitat county made satisfactory arrangements with the prosecuting attorney. Though the details of the problem are still being worked out, the order was given to issue the warrants so the men could receive their pay for work already performed. A question was raised between the two offices as to whether the county auditor or county enginer [sic] was to certify the claims, and this coupled with other disagreements led to the warrants being held up for 17 days.

— White Salmon Enterprise

 

1965 — 60 years ago

Regional Forester J. Herbert Stone has announced the Forest Service rejected an application by Bonneville Aerial Tramway, Inc., to build a tramway to Munra Point. Stone said the rejection came after “an intensive study of the entire scope of recreation planning in the Columbia Gorge which was begun last April.” Backers of the tramway had hoped to attract some of the many visitors who travel to Bonneville dam each year, but the Forest Service ruled for several reasons that the tramway to the point above the dam was not desirable.

— Hood River News

 

Water and plastic bags may be used to harvest apples and pears in Hood River County if an experiment conducted by growers proves successful. A plan developed by Hood River Taffic Association, a grower group, calls for the employment of water and a plastic bag, large enough to envelop a tree … Water would enter the plastic hood by means of a large hose at the rate of 2,500 gallons a minute. The volume of water entering the bag could cause agitation, and it is hoped this will lift and twist the stem of the fruit, separating it from the branch. As the water is released through another hose to the main source of supply (a tank) the fruit is lowered to the base of the tree. A collar would be placed around the bag to prevent water from escaping while the water-harvesting is in progress. The method may be used on two or more trees simultaneously.

— White Salmon Enterprise

 

1985 — 40 years ago

A fruit industry study committee has recommended a “new direction” for the Hood River Grower Shipper Association which would dictate that it “take a more aggressively involved role in the Mid-Columbia fruit industry.” With grower approval, it would expand the budget to include a full-time administration, a new central office more accessible to growers, and possibly a full-time secretary to help handle the expanded duties of the association. Tentatively, it would involved about a 60 percent increase in the budget, and a corresponding increase in the tonnage assessment levied on members.

— Hood River News

 

Two local residents were arrested in Oregon last week on Umatilla County warrants stemming from an aggravated murder charge there. The two men – Gary R. Mills, 34, Lyle, and Steven H. Vorce, 28, Bingen – were arrested in Oregon following a stakeout by a Washington State Patrol SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team from Olympia, Oregon State Patrol officers and Klickitat County Sheriff’s deputies in Lyle Feb. 26. Mills was captured hitchhiking in Hood River County and Vorce was picked up on the Oregon side of The Dalles Bridge. “The stakeout was instrumental in the eventual capture of the men,” said KCSO Sheriff John Anderson, noting it involved close scrutiny of a residence near the Klickitat River Bridge west of Lyle. 

— White Salmon Enterprise