100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Aug. 3, 1924

Wind Carries Flame Beyond Trenches, Nears City

Whipped over trenches by a strong north wind, fire in Brooks-Scanlon timber in the Arnold ice cave country broke away from the patrols Monday afternoon and raced for approximately four miles over a narrow strip through the forest of valuable yellow pine, incurring a loss that will run into thousands of dollars.

So serious was the fire menace when the wind continued to lash the flames through the forest late Monday that both units of the Brooks-Scanlon mill in Bend were closed down and the night crews were rushed to the Arnold cave country on a special train. At least 150 men were on the extensive fire lines when the blaze was placed under control late in the evening.

The flames were driven south by the high wind, but the massive banks of smoke, drifting into the upper currents of air, floated back over the forest furnace and were clearly visible form Bend before sunset last night. A total of 45 fires in the Deschutes national forest have been reported this season to the central platting station in Bend.

Grangers’ Picnic Attracts hundreds

The annual Crook County grange picnic was held Saturday in the Rasmussen grove on the old Shaniko-Prineville stage road, 10 miles north of Prineville, with the four grange organizations of that county assembling together for the festivities. George W. Wells, master of the Powell Butte grange, was master of ceremonies. The program consisting of a number of musical numbers, readings and recitations and concluding with a talk by George Palmiter of Hood River, master of the state grange.

Preceding the program a picnic lunch was enjoyed, the 400 people attending pooling their lunches and coffee, cream and sugar being served by the organization. After the platform program a baseball game was played, races were run and several bucking contests were put on.

Give Contract To Local Man

E.P. Brosterhous will be awarded the contract for construction of the new union high school district building. It was decided by the directors of the district when bids were opened. Which of the three bids submitted by Brosterhous will be accepted, however, has not been decided, and will not be until the board meets again at 5:30 o’clock this afternoon.

The successful contractor’s three bids are $$157,620, $153,920 and $154,536, depending on the quality of brick used.

Brosterhous was not the low bidder, but the margin of difference between his figures and those of outside competitors was small enough so that the board believed that he, as a local man, should receive the contract.

No More Smoking On Forest; Fire Hazards Are Reduced

Deschutes national forest officials and employees — those of them who are nicotine addicts — got out their “eatin’ terbacker” today and prepared to go smokeless for the rest of the season.

Private citizens will be wise to follow their example, too, says Supervisor H.L. Plumb, for the forest is closed to smoking, and violation of the closing order means a trial in federal court with a probable jail sentence.

The forest service doesn’t mean to be hard about it, Plumb explains, but the critically dry condition of the forest, and the frequency with which costly fires are breaking out, has dictated the move. He recommend a “no smoking” order this morning, and this afternoon the desired rule was promulgated by District Forester Cecil.

The rule will remain in effect as long as the danger from forest fire continues.

75 YEARS AGOFor the week ending

Aug. 3, 1949

Six Reasons Why Bend Pool Is Popular

Bend’s five-person safety corps owes much of its efficiency to the training given by Ed Haffey, Red Cross field representative, since July 1. Haffey instructed pool personnel daily in plain and fancy methods of teaching swimming, and lifesaving. Yesterday, satisfied his job is done, he left for other assignments. “The program’s off to a flying start,” he commented. Completing the course were manager Darrell Hawes, Denny Sullivan, lifeguard, Jean Raddatz, Frances Brooks, Anthea Snyder, and Patt Blakely.

Higher education as well as high water skills are represented. Sullivan will return in September for his junior year at University of Oregon at Eugene; Miss Raddatz has finished Oregon State college and will teach; Frances Brooks will enter her second year at University of Oregon; Anthea Snyder will enter Reed college in Portland; Patt Blakely will enter Lewis and Clark college in Portland, and Darrell Hawes, after staying out a year to work, expects to return to University of Oregon for his third term in 1950. Miss Snyder, a copy-girl for the Oregonian, is a visiting swim expert. She volunteered her services because of record-breaking registration of youngsters for swim instruction. An estimated 500 youngsters will have learned to swim, or will have had their swimming greatly improved, by September.

Four New Rental Homes Projected

Four two-bedroom homes, estimated to cost approximately $3,000 each, will be built in Deschutes Park addition by grocer partners, Joseph Peterson and R. “Red” Wenettal for rental, at approximately $50 a month, according to Peterson this morning at P and W market.

Construction on the first house was begun today and completion is expected about September 10. All four should be ready for occupancy by January 1.

The houses will be 24-feet by 30-feet, located on lots 55-feet by 130-feet, on a 12-acre tract owned by the men on Cleveland near Hill street. Of frame construction, they will have neither basements nor fireplace. Heat will be furnished by oil floor furnaces, and the builders may landscape.

Ed Warner has been given the plumbing contract, and Hugh Amsberry the electric wiring work. The remainder of the work will be done on a day laborer basis.

Future of Mirror Pond Uncertain

Expenses involved in presenting Bend 1949 Mirror pond pageant and Fourth of July show this year exceeded revenue by some $1,100, federal taxes not included, and as a result the future of the local river fete is uncertain. Expenses aggregated $16,600 and income about $15,500.

This information highlighted a special meeting of the Bend Stampede and Water Pageant association last night, in the Rixe real estate office. W.J. Baer, president of the association, was in charge. This year’s deficit coupled with that of last year approximates $4,000. When federal taxes on this year’s show are computed, the 1949 deficit may go over the $2,000 mark. However, committeemen said this total will be pared if promised contributions are received. But partly offsetting the expected revenues are bills that are still coming in.

It is expected that a decision will be reached at the September meeting as to whether a pageant will be held in 1950. Some members last night expressed a belief that if “frills” such as the aquatic show, are eliminated the pageant will pay its own way. Construction costs, are excessive. It was also pointed out that the “take” from seats is small, after construction costs and amusement taxes are paid.

50 YEARS AGOFor the week ending

Aug. 3, 1974

New moving radar moves in on speeders

“Beep, beep, beep,” goes the insistent signal on the new radar unit. “73, 73, 73” flashes on the small viewing screen.

“Va-a-aroom!” The Oregon State Police souped-up Plymouth charges after the violator. And another Central Oregon speeder bites the dust.

The new radar unit is being tried out in the state’s four state police districts. The novel thing about the system is that officers can detect speeds of cars in front and behind them (within one per cent accuracy) while the patrol car is moving. Formerly, police could use radar only while parked, in order to get a bead on passing cars.

The “MR7 Moving Radar” is calibrated to the speed of the patrol car. It sends out signals in a corkscrew pattern, clashes back to the patrol car from oncoming traffic and records the oncoming car’s speed. (It can do the same for traffic in the rear, if pointed that way.)

The trooper can set it for a certain speed. Any car exceeding that speed activates the beeper and locks in the speed of the violator on the screen.

Yesterday Trooper George Roshak and Lieutenant Ken Lamkin went out on patrol with the new unit. The unit’s governor was set at 65 miles per hour.

The patrol car eased out of the state police lot, and was about two miles north on Highway 97 when the unit started beeping and flashing. A blue Datsun sports car, just coming over a rise, was going 68, the unit said.

Roshak turned around on the highway and pulled over Shirley Elizabeth Starkel, Bend, who thought she had been going “about 60.”

“Roshak explained the new radar unit. “I think it’s a good idea — unfortunately,” the chagrined driver said. Then she asked: “Hey, is it true that if you put tinfoil on your hubcaps you can foul up the radar?”

Roshak smiled and said tinfoil would have no effect on the unit. Off she went, ticket in hand.

The patrol car started up again. A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Patrol car buzzed by at 68. He got away with it, because he could have been on a mission or after another violator himself, Lamkin said.

Near Deschutes Junction, a Monte Carlo set off the machine, recording and locking in 73 miles per hour. Roshak pulled him over. A discussion ensued — Thomas James Such, Bend, evidently couldn’t believe he was going that fast.

Roshak brought him over to the patrol car and Such took a look at “73” flashing on the screen. The expression on his face read: “Well, I’ll be damned.”

Next, two out-of-state cars, coming up from behind at about 70 miles per hour, were stopped at the same time. Both drivers were ticketed.

The vast majority of the drivers on the highway were going under 55. The radar is quick and sensitive — you can tell exactly when a driver takes his foot off the gas when he spots the police, whether he’s speeding or not.

The unit is “very, very effective” on secondary highways, Lamkin said, where most fatalities occur in Central Oregon. It’s not as good on freeways because police can’t turn around with such facility. It also will have an effect on drunk drivers, who are prone to going either too fast or too slow.

The unit costs about $1,200. Citations for speeding “are up considerably” since the unit went into use here July 19, Lamkin said. There are just four of the units in Oregon now, but “I’m looking forward to the day when we have one in every station,” Lamkin said.

25 YEARS AGOFor the week ending

Aug. 3, 1999

Visitors warm to fair’s new home

REDMOND — Even temperatures hovering in the 90s did not deter about 300 people from pouring into the is year’s Deschutes County Fair when the gates opened Tuesday afternoon.

Most liked what they saw at the first fair on the new site.

Temporary, white sandwich board signs helped direct fairgoers to buildings and events. “We’ve been able to find everything,” said George Alder of Redmond. “Them signs are nice.” Leasa Winger praised the large tent in the center-circle park. “It’s nice to have a tent for shade,” she said. “At the old fairgrounds they didn’t do that, and you were always looking for a tree.”

Mark Winger applauded the location for its easy access to Bend and Prineville residents.

But some found the distances, and the prices, daunting.

“It’s too big,” said 14-year-old Rachel Jondahl. “It took us 10 minutes to find the food, and everything’s more expensive.”

Most carnival customers were teens, but 73-year-old Charlie O’Neal of Crescent put his cane down long enough to ride the Zipper, which turns its passengers upside down on a regular basis, with grandson Jay Wilson, of Gresham.

Over at the animal barn the new spacious quarters provided cooler homes for the farm critters. “It’s a lot better for the rabbits,” said Andrea Sunday, a veteran 4-Her with six years experience showing rabbits. “The air circulation is much better.”

Stories about the size of the fairgrounds convinced many 4-Hers they could bring motorhomes and cars for almost every family member. Parking was tight behind the barns, and there was a problem with power hookups across the fair grounds. While plenty of electricity was available, there were some mismatched plugs and power needs.

“We’re going to do a lot better with (power) distribution next year,” promised Elton Gregory, project manager and fair association president.

But as the 1999 fair wound up to full speed, Deschutes County Commissioner Linda Swearingen seemed to put the crowd’s feelings into words when she said, “Let the party begin!”