This Week in History

25 years ago (1999)

Bones on beach not human, says medical examiner

Bones discovered on the beach in the Roads End area on Sunday, June 6, were not human, as they were originally thought to be.

According to the police report, the remains had been described as a fused, lower leg bone, possibly belonging to a child.

“They are not human bones,“ said Lt. Dennis Dotson of the Oregon State Police. “They turned out to be something like a bear. “

Dotson said Dr. Richard Beemer, the county medical examiner, spent Monday morning examining the bones and came to the conclusion they were not human.

Yaquina Bay breakwater dedicated

The new breakwater in Yaquina Bay was dedicated Wednesday during a celebration held by the Port of Newport and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The 180-foot-long aquamarine-painted structure is located on the north side of Yaquina Bay and is designed to protect fishing boats and docks in the bay.

Newport Mayor Mark Jones, speaking during the dedication ceremony, said, “The breakwater means a lot to us for the commercial fishermen and recreational fishermen. It was a long time coming.”

Beachcomber Parade is Saturday at noon

The 1999 Waldport Beachcomber Days mark the 43rd anniversary of the festival.

This year’s parade will be held Saturday at noon. The theme is “Beachcombers 99: A Gate to 2000.”

A big time at the circus

Barbara, an African elephant, entertained circus goers at the Culpepper & Meriwether Circus Friday, June 4, at the Taft High School grounds in Lincoln City.

Barbara helped put up the big top and provided rides for those brave enough to take them. The circus appearance was sponsored by Lincoln City Kiwanis.

50 years ago (1974)

Hotel, homes found on county road

County commissioners have received a report from County Surveyor John Hanna indicating that 19 residences, as well as the Adobe Motel, are located in the right-of-way for County Road 804 in the Yachats area.

Property owners are seeking to have the road vacated, while others in the area have objected to the vacation, saying that the right-of-way is used as a beach access.

Police probe Ward’s burglary

Nearly $275 worth of items were taken from the Montgomery Ward store at 834 SE Lee St. in Newport June 7, police said.

Entry was made by force.

An eight-track stereo, speakers, watches, headphones, tapes, clocks, shock absorbers, and towels were taken.

McCall approves Beaver Creek removal job

Gov. Tom McCall has recommended to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that a permit be granted to remove material from the mouth of Beaver Creek to allow flooded pasturelands to drain.

The governor’s action came Tuesday afternoon following a meeting with State Rep. Gordon Macpherson last Friday. However, the corps still has to complete an environmental evaluation of the project before the permit will be granted.

Services held for 12-year-old accident victim

Funeral services for 12-year-old Bobbie Ekblad, of Newport, were held June 8.

Bobbie was killed June 5 when he fell from his bike under the rear wheels of a tanker truck at Highway 101 and Northeast Fourth Street.

Police said witnesses reported the northbound truck was turning right onto Fourth Street, with the signal going, and at a slow rate of speed when Bobbie, who was also northbound on Highway 101, tried to stop and slid under the rear wheels of the truck. He was dead on arrival at Pacific Communities Hospital,

The driver of the truck was not cited.

75 years ago (1949)

Electric clock erected at Millers

An attractive electric clock with colored neon lights has been installed in front of Miller Bros. jewelry store on Main Street in Toledo.

The clock will remain lighted during the night so that it can be read from any point on the street.

Pick your boat; place your bet

Get out your bettin’ money, there’s going to be a tug-of-war between boats.

Seems there’s been some argument among local Coast Guardsmen about which is the most powerful, the station’s new 113-horsepower lifeboat, or the old 75-horsepower model.

Chief Boatswain F. E. Barnett, station commander, decided to settle it.

The contest will be run off, probably next week, in the bay off the Coast Guard dock. A line will be run between the two vessels from stern to stern, and at a signal, they’ll pull against each other.

Renewed service by Pacific Coast believed in the offing

Pacific Coast Line, which started direct bus service between Salem and Newport via Lincoln City in late May, then suspended operations in a few days, will probably resume schedules in the near future. At least that was the opinion expressed by a member of the public utilities commission office in Salem Wednesday.

It was explained that John Ratzlaff, owner of the line, was forced to suspend his operation due to the inability to secure a second bus.

House-to-house delivery of milk to be suspended

Lakeview Dairy will discontinue home delivery of milk in north Lincoln County on June 15, according to Duane Church, owner and operator of the local dairy.

The dairy has given home delivery service for the past two years, but the service has definitely not been a paying proposition, according to Church.

One of the main reasons for discontinuing this home service is the poor condition of most of the roads in this area, particularly in winter, it was pointed out.

100 years ago (1924)

Effort being made to build hospital in city of Toledo

There has been considerable talk at Toledo and in Lincoln County on the hospital question. It is an evident fact to all who have thought about the matter that Toledo and Lincoln County need a hospital very badly. The county’s opening up, new people moving in, many concerns are now employing numbers of men, all of which points to the need of a local hospital.

In the past, the sick and injured people have been compelled to take a ride of some 60 miles before receiving hospital treatment, oftentimes to the great harm of the patient.

Turner man wants flax introduced in Lincoln County

The flax industry is the coming industry of the state of Oregon, according to P. E. Thompson of Turner, Ore., who was a Toledo visitor Monday.

Mr. Thompson says that the farmers of his county have simply “gone nuts” over the proposition as they have in the past few years raised themselves out of financial ruts into a community of prosperity.

Mr. Thompson is very anxious that flax be given a tryout here as he says the climate is ideal.

Jimmy Boyd skips out, ‘friends’ hold sack

If cussing would do any good, the air in Toledo would have been blue for the past few days.

One Jimmy Boyd, proprietor of the Boyd’s Lunchroom, skipped town last week and left bills in the neighborhood of $1,500 owed to merchants, milkman and others.

“Jimmy” is a bad egg, and it is thought he headed south from Toledo in company with his wife.

He had plenty of money to pay his bills because he had been doing a good business, and it was found after he had left town that he hadn’t paid any bills for a considerable spell.