From the Dayton Chronicle archives

Ten Years Ago

August 7, 2013

Wheat, The Economic lifeblood of Columbia County Agribusiness. Our rural population is currently in harvest, bringing in cereal grains to the local elevators. The largest variety grown in the area is soft white winter/spring wheat with a production of millions of bushels, with the acreage runs with 75% fall planted winter wheat and 25% spring planed wheat. Additional crops are hard red winter wheat, dark northern spring wheat, barley, garbanzos beans and dry peas.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 5, 1998

A Starbuck man, Michael Edward Thornton, who was arrested in Dayton by Columbia County Sheriff's Department, faces an additional murder charge after a Kennewick man died of his injuries. A second-degree murder charge was filed for the alleged beating of Willard "Sonny" Beggs. Officials believe the beating was connected to the slaying of Victor Ralston, 19, also of Kennewick.

After a week of searching for Bob Lindesmith, the sheriff's department called off the search. When Jim McClenny heard they had called off the search "it ticked him off." So, he loaded up his two horses, Brandy and Jazz, and took off for Griffin Peak where Lindsmith's Ford Astro van had been found. After searching every old shack and barn with no sign of anyone, the horses started acting funny, after McClenny rounded a bend at the bottom of Griffin Fork, saw Lindesmith walking down the road.

Fifty Years Ago

August 9, 1973

The fourth Annual All Girl ride from the Tucannon River to Joseph, Ore., got under way. The ride was started four years ago by Pam and Lisa Russell, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Russell of Pomeroy. This took the route their Grandfather, Jack Russell, used to take through the Blue Mountains when he was a Forest Ranger in the early part of the century.

The local Eagles Lodge has acquired a gambling license from the State of Washington under the provisions of the newly enacted state gambling statute, with only members of the Lodge permitted to play.

Construction of the Power's bridge will begin, after the Columbia County Commissioners signed a covenant with the Federal government assuring them the bridge would be for public use for the next 20 years, with no discrimination of any kind shown in connection with the Power's Bridge.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 5, 1948

All phones in Starbuck and vicinity will change over to the dial system, manager W. O. Wildes Jr. for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph for the Walla Walla district, announced.

The installation of temporary lighting at the swimming pool has allowed the extension of the evening swim session.

The Installation of a new leg and pit for the handling of Austrian peas was completed on the Fullerton Elevator and Feed Mill at Huntsville. This type of pea is grown as a fertilizer crop and the seed peas are hard, black and inedible.

Loggers are bringing logs into the pond at Scott's mill, operations of the mill may get into operation by the middle of the month. The last "big" run was in 1945 and the final operation in 1946. Recently a new boiler replaced the old steam boiler at the mill, which had been condemned by state authorities, and a supply of timber has been found on the Holtry holdings on Eckler Mountain to restart the mill.

The Forest Service has completed details preparatory to extending a forest service road from the county road on North Touchet. A contract has been made between the forest service and Harvey Fletcher and Mrs. Laura Fletcher for a right of way through their properties lying between the county road and the forest boundary. The construction of the road will be completed as far as the old Scott logging chance.

One Hundred Years Ago

August, 1923

No copies available.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 5, 1898

Mr. Brown, who runs a large ranch in Coombs Canyon, near Pendleton, lost eight horses by poison. He led the animals to water at a trough and every one that drank died soon afterward. There is no clue to the person who put the poison in the water.