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

100 years ago

For the week ending

Oct. 28, 1917

Rabbit hides wanted in east

Fifty thousand rabbit hides, at eight cents each, are wanted for Central Oregon’s initial shipment to eastern hatters. This was the announcement this noon of R.A. Ward, county agriculturist at the weekly meeting of the Bend Commercial club at the Pilot Butte Inn. Mr. Ward will ship the hides either from Bend or Redmond but does not wish to bother with lots of less than 50. Pelts must be taken off flat, not “jacketed” and well dried before shipment. Inferior hides, Mr. Ward states, will sell at five cents.

Sheriff makes raid on booze

Two surprise parties were carried out last night by Sheriff Roberts, who found plenty of liquid refreshments on hand, at least at one of the places visited. Accompanied by District Attorney H.H. De Armond, Chief of Police Nixon and a search warrant, he made a visit at Heath’s second hand store and obtained from it five quarts of whiskey in addition to several empty bottles. The other raid led to no discoveries of the contraband goods.

The sheriff has been watching Heath’s store for some time and had become thoroughly convinced that it harbored a stock of liquor. About 8:30 last evening he entered the establishment and searched it from top to bottom. In the basement, concealed under a heap of junk, he found the bottles, which it is believed were brought into town during the last few days.

No arrests have been made yet but it is understood that warrants will be issued immediately. This is the first raid which has brought sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution of those suspected of connection with the wet goods. The sheriff expects to renew his campaign against the booze smugglers and is planning a number of similar visitations.

Elihm Heath, proprietor of the store involved in last night’s raid, made no objections to the search and stated that if any liquor were found he was not aware of its existence.

75 Years ago

For the week ending

Oct. 28, 1942

Halloween listed as casualty of war; no treats available

Halloween appeared today to be a definite war casualty.

Sugar rationing will make it next to impossible for Mrs. Jones to make a batch of cookies on the morning of Oct. 31 to fill the needs of the hordes of “trick-or-treaters” who have become the scourge of modern Halloweens. It will not be possible to dip into the family sugar for candy or other sweets.

As for vandalism, young Johnny McGillicuddy, the village urchin, is throttled by patriotism. He realizes that he can’t go around this Halloween cutting his neighbors’ irreplaceable garden hoses and clothes lines. Letting the air out of Mr. Jones’ tires was a bad thing to do in peacetime, but it’s worse when it might ruin Mr. Jones’ tires and put the car in the garage for the rest of the war.

And Mr. Jones won’t even have time to re-pile the wood (if he has any) because he spends two or three evenings a week with the state guard and other evenings at defense classes.

Yes, young Johnny McGillicuddy, who saw his older brother march off to the army or the navy, who helped his school mates pick up scrap iron and who got eight cents from the service station on the corner last summer for rubber, knows this is a wartime Halloween and he won’t just be good for “good’s sake.”

In larger cities and near war industries, authorities have frowned on the use of masks in the Halloween season, probably in the fear that the wearing of a mask might shield some unwanted persons in the area.

‘Scrap or stamp’

A growing army of children with the slogan “monkey business is sabotage” planned a prank-less Halloween in cities across the nation today while police warned adults to avoid wearing masks or risk arrest on suspicion of being saboteurs.

Youngsters responded enthusiastically to appeals from police to refrain from their usual pranks and include a scrap iron salvage campaign on beggar’s night for the usual “tricks or treats.”

The children decided to ring doorbells and ask for scrap and if the householder didn’t have any, to ask him to buy a war stamp.

50 Years ago

For the week ending

Oct. 28, 1967

“Punk” Hunnell receives honors from BHS students

A queen was crowned, the marching band marched, the drill team drilled and a long-time Bend High School booster was cited for his contributions to the school.

Al “Punk” Hunnell was given a life membership Saturday in the Bend High School student body and was given a life pass to all high school athletic functions.

Hunnell, who has been active in American Legion Baseball, and hardly ever misses a football practice, was to be the grand marshal of the homecoming parade.

Jim Bishop, Bend High School student body president, introduced Hunnell by saying, “Whenever the high school needed help in raising money to send its team, band, drill team or any other organization somewhere, Punk Hunnell was always there to lend a helping hand.

“He worked hard. in helping to send the Bend Drill Team to the State-Metro Shrine game in Portland and is currently helping the drive to send the drill team to the East-West Shrine game in San Francisco early in 1968.”

“Punk Hunnell has attended every Bend athletic event for years,” Bishop added, “and he usually never misses a practice.”

Hunnell was given his plaque by homecoming queen Cathy Susac.

Boys have a farm 
of their own

Boys taking vocational agriculture classes at Bend High School have their own farm this year, one on which they can turn into practical experience what they have learned from their teachers and textbooks.

The 15-acre farm, located about a mile northeast of Bend on Wells Acres Road, is being leased from Larry Gassner, who moved recently to Madras.

Wright Noel, vocational agriculture teacher who sold the plan to directors of the school district, said this week that although the program is less than two months old, “the boys are already very enthusiastic.”

Noel refers to the farm as a “land laboratory.” He feels it will give many boys an opportunity to receive farm experience they would not otherwise get. The farm, he said, is being fitted into the school program in a variety of ways, with all of the 110 boys enrolled in agriculture classes spending some time on it during the year.

Helping supervise operation of the farm is Ralph Netter, a second vocational agriculture teacher added to the BHS staff this year. He and his family are living on the farm.

25 Years ago

For the week ending

Oct. 28, 1992

Redmond ready 
to sign caves pact

The city is prepared to sign an agreement with the Bureau of Land Management regarding future development of the Redmond Caves site.

The 40-acre site, which features six underground lava tubes among the unimproved desert landscape between U.S. Highway 97 and the Redmond Municipal Airport, has been damaged by vandals in recent years. The city wants to use the agreement with the BLM to preserve the caves’ historical, archaeological and geological significance.

While the agreement stops short of turning the site over to the city, it transfers management and planning to joint efforts or the sole responsibility of the city.

It calls upon the city to develop a master plan for the caves, handle development and maintenance, pursue grants and donations to develop and reserve the site, coordinate volunteer efforts to provide interpretive programs, seek a zone change and provide police patrols.

Redmond city manager Joe Hannan said, “I think the agreement says we were willing to be a partner, now let’s figure out what our needs are.”

He said the agreement will lead to a work plan and a strategy for funding improvements called for in the plan. Hannan said he plans to present a funding package but that such things such as fencing to keep out trespassers might need to come from contingency funds or other sources during the current fiscal year.

In addition to interpretive displays, the city also has considered building a trail around the site and possibly a campground. Events at the site could include actual archaeological exploration, a possibility that intrigues Hannan.

“I want to do that myself,” he said.