This Week in History

25 years ago (1999)

State races to avert catastrophe at Beverly Beach

The potential exists for what the state called a catastrophe failure of the Spencer Creek Bridge north of Newport, the Oregon Department of Transportation said Thursday.

And if the bridge fails, few alternative routes exist for vehicles traveling Highway 101 across the bridge near Beverly Beach.

Crews are inspecting the structure daily. Heavy trucks, those in excess of 80,000 pounds, are not allowed to cross the rapidly deteriorating structure.

Division of State Lands proposes regulations for undersea cables

The Division of State Lands has proposed a set of draft rules for fiber optic telecommunication cables that pass over state-owned submerged lands within the first three miles of water off the coast.

The rules are intended to encourage communications between the fishermen, the cable companies and regulatory agencies.

Providence bid for hospital favored

An offer by Providence Hospital of Portland to take over North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City appears to be the most favorable of the two proposals submitted so far.

North Lincoln Health District board members contemplated how to proceed with responses from potential affiliates during their board development meeting held on June 16.

Aquarium starting volunteer program for youth

For the first time, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is offering a summer volunteer program exclusively for ages 15 to 17.

Students will spend two days, July 8 and July 16, receiving instruction on marine mammals and invertebrates, ocean, environmental issues, and the workings of an aquarium. Once training is complete, the youth will have a volunteer schedule of two half-days a week for six weeks, during which time they will share all they have learned with aquarium visitors.

50 years ago (1974)

Two-day operation launches largest boat built locally

What started as a day-long operation turned into a two-day ordeal over the weekend, but it culminated in the launching of the largest boat ever built in this area.

The “Buccaneer,” a 78-foot-long steel crab fishing boat, was successfully launched in Yaquina Bay Sunday afternoon at Bayside Machine Works, Inc., where it was constructed.

The boat was built for Ted Painter, Sr., and his son, Ted Painter Jr., both of Newport and Kodiak, Alaska.

101 crash kills horse

A horse was killed and a 19-year-old Gleneden Beach woman injured following an accident June 26 on Highway 101 at Depoe Bay.

The horse was standing in the middle of the highway when Julia Thomson struck it with her car about 2:20 a.m., state police said. She was taken to North Lincoln Hospital. The horse belonged to Jean Ford of Boiler Bay.

Animal cemetery considered in area

The county planning commission gets all kinds of projects to review, but June 24 they heard about a new one.

Jack Postle, a director of the newly formed humane society, indicated that the society may be applying for permission to establish a cemetery for animals.

A cemetery is considered a conditional use in all zones in the county, and approval must be given by the planning commission, Zoning Administrator Paul Brookhyser explained.

Conservationists urge logging ban at Cascade Head

The Wilderness Society Monday joined with Oregon citizen groups in support of bills introduced by Sen. Bob Packwood (R-Oregon) and Rep. Wendell Wyatt (R-Oregon) for establishing the Cascade Scenic Research Area.

The bills would create a scenic research area on about 8,500 acres there and designate four sub-areas with specific management goals for each.

75 years ago (1949)

City outlaws gas ‘clippers’

Big “clipper” gasoline trucks will no longer serve Newport service stations in competition with local bulk distributors, and there won’t be any self-service gas stations in the town, either.

Quietly, and before out-of-town oil interests were alerted and given a chance to organize to fight the restricting ordinance — such as has happened in other towns — the city council Monday passed a measure outlawing the tankers and self-service retail stations.

Officers to fight for blood bank

A wrestling match will be held this Friday at the fairgrounds for the benefit of the Lincoln County Blood Bank program.

Featured wrestlers will be Dubs Mulky, an ex-professional boxer who is a sergeant in the state police force and the blood bank chairman, and Newport Chief of Police Ed Tatum, who is an ex-professional wrestler.

Both men are rigorously training to get themselves in shape for the match.

Blaze destroys Nashville mill

Fire destroyed the mill in Nashville, owned by Ted Harmson.

The blaze, which started Friday night, completely destroyed the buildings and put Nashville men out of work.

Phone company work praised

Mrs. Christine Jacobson and her switchboard operators at the telephone company performed “a splendid piece of cooperation” in aiding the telephone campaign for passage of the school bond election, it was reported today by Jim Howes.

“During one hour Monday, the switchboard handled 800 calls,” according to Howes, chairman of the telephone subcommittee of the group campaigning for passage of the school bond school measure.

Every listed number in the telephone book was called, he said, and the answering party was urged to vote.

100 years ago (1924)

Dairies are great asset in keeping soil in condition

Lincoln County is fortunate in having a type of agriculture that is such as will never deplete the land of its original fertility.

Dairying is the outstanding form of enterprise. There may be some wonder as to what this has to do with a never depleting fertility. As compared to farming enterprises, which sell their crops from the farm instead of feeding to stock, only a very slight amount of plant food is removed from the dairy farm.

Toledo stores will be closed from 10 to 4 on July 4

Owing to the fact that a great crowd of people will be here on July Fourth, it is deemed necessary that Toledo business houses, especially grocery stores, remain open at least a part of the day on July Fourth.

It was therefore decided at the Business Men’s League meeting Tuesday evening that the stores open in the morning until 10 a.m. when they will close and remain closed to 4 p.m.

All stores will be open all day July 5.

Truck crowds auto; occupants escape serious injuries

E. C. Roush, one of the proprietors of the Peoples Meat market here, had a hair-raising experience Sunday while out motoring with his family and several friends.

A large truck owned by the Portland Fish Company is alleged to have deliberately “hogged” the road, running into his car and causing it to go over an embankment at the side of the road. Had it not been that the car caught against a post, it would likely have turned over several times and have crushed to death all its occupants, as they were thrown out directly in the path of the car.

After pulling themselves together and finding that none of the party had been killed, Mr. Roush got into the car and endeavored to overtake the truck driver, who failed to stop after knocking the car from the road.