This Week in History

25 years ago (1999)

North county fire district holds first tsunami evacuation drill

Fire and rescue rigs rolled in Lincoln City on Monday, with three-person crews covering low-lying areas in nine marked zones to take stock of homes, businesses and motels.

It was all part of the first tsunami evacuation drill for the North Lincoln Fire & Rescue District #1.

Highway 20 gets safety corridor designation

Nearly five months after the Nov. 28 deadly crash on Highway 20 between a truck carrying frozen fish and a car with two adults and their 22-month-old son, the Oregon Department of Transportation has declared 15 miles of the winding road as a safety corridor. In addition, ODOT has carried out at least seven improvements on the highway.

Inmate found dead at county jail

A 35-year-old Washington man involved in a high-speed chase and crash last week in Newport was found dead in his jail cell early Sunday, according to authorities.

The man apparently died from the injuries he had suffered in the crash of his 1998 Honda Civic.

Football field construction underway

Work has started at Toledo High School in preparation for construction of a new football facility for that school. Trees and brush are being cleared in an area where new grandstands will be built.

Lincoln County School District officials are hoping to have the football field ready for play by the start of the season next fall.

50 years ago (1974)

Newport vote scheduled on water bonds

It’s definite now. Newport voters will be asked to approve a $450,000 bond issue at the May 28 primary election for expansion of the city’s reservoir at Big Creek.

The water is needed primarily to serve fish processing plants on the Bayfront, which plan to install shrimp processing machines, each of which requires about 100 gallons of water per minute.

Corps awards contract for study of D River and Devils Lake problems

A study of alternative solutions to the problems of debris and flooding in Devils Lake and the D River began this week in the Lincoln City area by a consulting engineering firm under contract with the Portland Army Engineer District.

Results of the firm’s preliminary studies will be presented at a public meeting to be held in about six weeks.

Toledo, Seal Rock open water sale negotiation

Negotiations should begin soon on the proposed sale of water from Toledo to the Seal Rock Water District.

The final public hearing on the proposal was held Monday night by the Toledo City Council. No one voiced objections to the plan.

Seal Rock Water District would purchase the treated water at a rate yet to be determined by both communities.

Judge sentenced to driving school

Newport Municipal Judge William A. Barton was ordered to attend defensive driving school when he appeared before District Court Judge A.R. McMullen on four traffic charges.

75 years ago (1949)

Severe earthquake felt here

“Earthquake” was still the main conversation topic today.

The severe shock a few minutes before noon yesterday was the first earthquake felt in many years and the heaviest in the memory of old-timers.

This area apparently suffered no damage — not even a cracked wall was reported. Buildings shook, however, and there were rattling windows and panes, swinging chandeliers and boxes falling from shelves.

Unhappiest were the persons who didn’t feel the shock. They had no story to tell about what they were doing when the quake came.

Committees still after new schools

Defeated by a scant 53 votes of 4,207 polled, proponents of better schools for Lincoln County were already formulating plans this week for a new method to bring the district’s buildings to the state standard.

New fire alarm installation underway

A new fire alarm system for the Taft-Nelscott-Delake Rural Fire Protection District, utilizing fire alarm boxes instead of the present telephone warning system, is now being installed, and completion is expected within a few weeks.

It is expected that the new system, when completed, will be one of the first of its kind on the coast, as well as the best operated by any rural fire protection district in the state, according to Bob Ballard, fire chief.

Depoe Bay boat sunk Thursday

An accident that caused a broken rudder resulted in the sinking of the 26-foot troller Dale D off Tillamook last Thursday.

It would have cost the lives of two Depoe Bay men had it not been for the skipper of the fishing boat Nor-by-East coming to the rescue.

100 years ago (1924)

Little girl has narrow escape when run down by car

Margaret, the 5-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Horning, was the victim of a painful accident Tuesday afternoon when a car ran over her leg, shattering the joint and breaking the bones above and below the joint.

The seriousness of the injury was found as the result of an X-ray picture. Time alone will tell whether the joint will be permanently stiff.

Cheese factories on Siletz River are now operating

A cheese factory at Munos Landing is operating with Jack Pennock of Toledo in charge of the manufacture. Last Friday, there was well over 1,220 pounds of milk, and the quality is going up daily.

Wesley Bones near Taft has run his factory all winter long. Tom Hill near Devils Lake expected to start his factory this week.

It should be gratifying to the people of the county that the dairymen of the Siletz country are operating three cheese factories, as this is destined to be the greatest industry of Lincoln County. They are deserving of support.

Bosler gets heavy fine when caught possessing still

Deputy sheriffs Daniel and McBride are at it again. They seem to persist with almost bulldog tenacity in making it hot for those who cannot resist the temptation of manufacturing moonshine.

A. J. Bosler is the latest victim of these law-enforcing gentleman. Mr. Bosler was caught with the goods at his home on the lower Siletz Tuesday. When the officers arrived on the scene, it appeared that Bosler had been tipped off as he had just returned to the house from hiding his still in the brush.

New drinking fountain installed by Lincoln County Bank

A beautiful new public drinking fountain has recently been installed on Hill Street by the Lincoln County Bank, and it’s located directly in front of the building.