Compiled by Don Hoiness from archived copies of The Bulletin at Deschutes County Historical Society.

100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 14, 1918

Germans again launch futile attacks against the allies

French and Americans Holding Them Back at All Points. Yanks Annihilate Entire German Battalion.

German casualties in the new drive have already reached 100,000 and no objectives yet gained.

Germans have been swept back by Yanks more than two miles on four-mile front.

LONDON — The Franco-American troops, counter attacking on a four-mile front this afternoon in the region south of Dormans, swept the Germans back nearly two miles, bringing the enemy brigades across the river under the allied artillery fire. The new line is still being held. The Franco-Americans have captured 30,000 Germans.

Two Yank divisions are with French in great offensive

WASHINGTON — The Rainbow and New England divisions are the complete American divisions now battling the Germans in the great Franco-American offensive, Chief of Staff Peyton March told the house military committee today.

Parts of eight American divisions were engaged early in the week, checking the Germans on the Marne while there are still many other American units brigaded with the French in this offensive.

March stated that there were now nearly 1.2 million Americans in France or on the way.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 14, 1943

Repair of pool receives study

Byron Lee, Dechutes County’s new juvenile officer, proposed that some group take over operation of the swimming pool which belongs to Cyrus C, Kirtsis of the Bend Auto Park.

Lee said that the owner would lease the pool, the second largest in the state, on any terms desired, including free rent.

Lee said it was found with repairs the pool would pass all regulations. Repairs estimated to be about $2,000, which would include complete renovation of the tank and the rebuilding of the bath houses. The pool also has toilet facilities, he pointed out.

New Harmon playfield pool draws 225 swimmers in 1 day

There were more than 225 swimmers at Harmon playfield yesterday afternoon, Rev. R.H. Prentice, recreation committee chairman, told the city commission in making a report on the start of the joint city-school recreation program.

The morning hours found more than 70 children using the field under the direction of Claude Cook and Mildred Nielson, supervisors.

A number of minor improvements were asked by the committee, including filling of the wading pool, construction of a lifeguard’s tower, shortening of the swimming pool by 60 or 70 feet, signs to keep cars from parking on the field and to stop swimming except at times when an attendant is at the pool.

Arrangements for a shallow pool for young non-swimmers and construction of a crib or fence on the north boom, under which the current of the river flows out of the pool, were also suggested.

The commissioned complimented the recreation committee on the selection of Cook and Miss Nielson as supervisors of the program.

Floating rocks cover Mirror Pond

The floating rocks (pumice) which moved through Bend yesterday came from the C.O.I. canal break two miles upstream, but they were held up in the Shevlin-Hixon mill pond by the boom until they were released when the men returned from their weeks vacation.

The biggest part of the buoyant rock was moved out of the pond and down the river yesterday and most of the remainder will be out by this evening.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 14, 1968

Crews continue mop-up after Awbrey Heights fire

A roaring timber and brush fire swept across Bend’s Awbrey Heights Saturday afternoon in the most spectacular blaze in the city’s history.

The blackened remains of pine and juniper within a mere 100 feet of some west hills homes stand today as testimony to the near disaster potential of the blaze.

Bend Fire Marshal Ron Van De Zande said today will be the turning point in the fire. Although technically in control and in the mop up stages, firefighters fear high temperatures, low humidity and a stiff breeze could fan smoldering brush and smoking logs back into flames.

A crew of regular firemen and volunteers are fighting spot fires and checking for ‘sleepers’ today, hoping to squelch further fire danger by tonight.

Apparently ignited directly behind homes on West Hills Avenue, the flames swept in a crescent just above residential areas of the heights.

Van De Zande pointed to a charred grass heap behind a West Hills Avenue home as the probable starting point of the blaze. Bend Fire Chief Vern Carlon said the origin of the fire was “surely man-caused,” but added he could not determine the specific way in which it started. Calls began to pour into the fire station shortly after 1 p.m.

The fire was extinguished at its origin within 15 minutes but leaped across an unpaved portion of West 12th Street and raged northward through an unprotected juniper stand.

Aided by prevailing winds, the flames surged over the crest of the butte and moved northward, leaving charred juniper, pine and acres of burned sagebrush in its path.

Several hundred townspeople joined all available Fire Department regulars and volunteers in battling the blaze. To some the ready participation of private citizens was the most thrilling moment of the day.

Chief Carlton called it “the finest cooperation from the people of Bend that I have ever seen anywhere at anytime.”

Meanwhile a major traffic jam formed on Pilot Butte as the curious lined up to view the conflagration Saturday afternoon.

Maximum manpower assistance on the ground accompanied by a shifting wind driving flames back over previously burned ground allowed firefighters to contain the blaze late Saturday.

Immense forest fires throughout the Central Oregon area kept additional men and equipment on fire lines outside of Bend during the weekend.

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 14, 1993

North Korea warned

On the eve of a trip into the tense Demilitarized Zone, President Bill Clinton sternly warned North Korea on Saturday to stay out of the nuclear weapons business to avoid a major confrontation with the West.

“We cannot let the expanding threat of these deadly weapons replace the Cold War nightmare of nuclear annihilation,” Clinton said. “And today, that possibility is too real.”

If North Korea persists, Clinton said, “We are resolute to take additional steps.” Administration officials said he was talking about seeking U.N. economic sanctions.

The president issued his warning before flying deep into the heavily fortified DMZ separating the two Koreas today to visit front-line troops on the last frontier of the Cold War.

The trip was taking him closer than any American president has come to the doorstep of rigidly communist North Korea. The symbolic journey underscored the United States commitment to maintaining peace on the troubled Korean peninsula.

Time travelers

One hundred and fifty years after pioneers struggled to cross the Ochoco country, covered wagons and livestock last week again made measured strides through a landscape distinguished by tall pines, softened with green grasses and divided by splashing streams of bubbling mountain water.

Hundreds of Oregon Trail sesquicentennial celebrants from all over the Northwest donned settler-era clothing and made their way by wagon and horse on a three-day, 35-mile recreation of the 1845 Meek party journey through Central Oregon. The group descended from the Ochoco Mountains to Prineville late last week.

A flower-filled meadow drenched with late evening sunshine was an ideal spot for the wagontrain’s camp after the first day on the trail.

Will Otto, 7, was dressed for the Old West while he spent part of an evening whittling.

National Guard 1st Lt. Daniel J. Moyer and Staff Sgt. Mack McMullen looked sharp in cavalry uniforms.