From the Dayton Chronicle archives

Ten Years Ago

December 5, 2012

Helping people fulfills a desire. Last spring, Judi Brooks and Margaret Huwe, both employed by Bank of America in Dayton, had a desire to reach out and help people. They read in the Dayton Chronicle the senior meal program was going to lose one meal a month, so together and friends Lisa Caldwell and Bill Peters, decided to "Cook a Meal."

Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 3, 1997

Patit Valley Grange No. 1039 members Barbara Gibson, Lee Carlson, Neita Stearns, Adena Avery and Leo Peterson displayed one of three benches donated to the Dayton City Park by the Grange. The benches, made by the Washington State Penitentiary Inmate Work Force, form a triangle facing the park's playground.

With a little help from El Niño, 20 rocketry enthusiasts of the The Blue Mountain Rocketeers were able to conduct their first October Launch in three years.

Roger Trump, representing the Columbia County Solid Waste Advisory Board, requested that the Columbia County Commissioners approve the purchase of a cardboard compactor to be laced at the county transfer station.

Fifty Years Ago

December 7, 1972

Bert Kerckhof and Charles Mead III were welcomed as honorary chapter farmers and chapter members received a number of awards during the 26th annual banquet of Dayton Chapter of the Future Farmers of America.

Mrs. Jerry Doctor, operator and administrator of Robison Nursing home since September, 1968, has sold the nursing home business to Roy McDonald of Colfax. Mrs. Doctor, who took over operation of the nursing home following the death of her mother in 1968.

South 3rd Street Building Planned. The first project of Columbia County Development Corporation, a 4,210 square foot medical-dental center was announced by L.C. "Mike Floyd, president of the local corporation.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

December 4, 1947

After hearing County Agent Bob Williams talk on weed control, the executive board of the Farm Bureau adopted it as one of their projects for the coming year. A committee for this work will be elected at the forthcoming meeting in mid-January.

A Call For Youngsters Wirth Colts, Horses. A meeting of those boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 21 interested in organizing a 4-H colt or horse club are invited to attend a meeting being called at the Columbia county courthouse 10:30 Saturday morning.

Boxing Season Opens-Bulldog Maulers In Road Work. December 1 leather will start to fly in most of the larger high schools of the Blue Mountain and Palouse district getting ready for the fistic meets which open on December 19 when Wa-Hi meets Dayton. Coach Wiegand has 18 boys signed up, the veterans are Jim Hoon, Truman Winnett, Wilbur Startin, Duane McGee, Dick Winnett, and Ronney Kenney, beginners and those with less experience include Allan Knox, Glen Mings, Gale Davis, Darrold McGee, Clayton Bledsoe, Norman Eaton, Lee Hall, Jackie Fine, Harvey Shale, Bern Larson and Frank Rodrick.

One Hundred Years Ago

December 6, 1922

South Touchet News: The bands of cattle have been taken out of the mountains later than usual this season, and John Tate and others are hunting up the strays left in there.

Fred Monroe of Waitsburg, brother of Mrs. Louie Hunt, has been hauling wood on his truck from Louie's place to Waitsburg.

About 3 o'clock Monday afternoon, a lone bandit held up the Starbuck Bank. Mr. Zintheo noticed a man looking through the window at several different times. At closing time the bandit entered the bank, demanding the money from Assistant Cashier Victor Thompson, who handed over a sack containing $395 and said "That's all of it."

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 4, 1897

The Whitman Monument did not arrive in time for the exercises, but has since arrived and will be put up at once. The exercises were perhaps none the less impressive, but no doubt the delay of the monument caused alterations in the original orations.