March 16, 1950
Trilbylee Langmack, 16, returned from a trip to Havana, Cuba after being selected as one of four women pilots to participate in the annual air tour. R.S. Langmack and other locals accompanied her on the flight in Langmack’s Beachcraft Bonanza. She said the city was colorful, friendly and noisy with all-night summer fiesta celebrations, but she wasn’t too fond of the food.
Attorney Laurence Morley, representing theater owner George Gessler, told City Council a lawsuit might be coming after they passed a new amusement ordinance that will require license fees for every game, device and amusement operated within the city. Previously it only taxed pinball machines and music boxes. Amendments to the bill included cutting in half the fee at bowling alleys to $5 a year, and doubling the fee on picture theaters to $50 a year. Gessler argues the tax discriminates against him by singling out a business that is no different from any other.
March 13, 1975
The city was granted $12,210 to hire five temporary employees under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act. The funding is for only three months. City Manager Dave Crutcher will begin interviews for utility maintenance positions. They will work on three projects: construction of a new dog pound, construction of a concrete ramp and fencing at the waste transfer site, and drawing a utility locator map showing locations of valves, manholes and catchbasins.
Residents are upset with the State Highway Division over its recommendations to barricade Maple Lane at Hwy. 20 west of the VFW Hall in conjunction with the widening of Hwy. 20. A representative said the closure of the diagonal section is necessary for traffic safety. The Division also wants to remove the medians. The city and chamber are polling residents for their input.
The school board pulled $14,000 from its contingency fund to purchase musical instruments, a new 33-passenger bus and the new Forest Products building at the high school. The board granted the pupil personnel director authority to seek a $10,000 grant to hire an additional speech therapist and purchase equipment for the hard of hearing.
March 15, 2000
Navigant Consulting recommended a 62% sewer rate increase with an allowance of 400 cubic feet of usage included in the base rate. For most residents the rate is currently $15.50 per month. This would be the largest increase in rates since the late 1980s, but Navigant explained this is happening in every Oregon city. In Sweet Home, deferred maintenance caused a worn system that leaks in more rainwater, and DEQ is forcing the city to do something about it.
Orville and Dorothy Nichol won a net $64,000 from Powerball purchased from Circle K. Orville said his first purchase will be a new recliner, but he has no plans for the rest of the money.
The Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for siting of the rodeo grounds on Long Street. The city is negotiating a 20-year lease with the property owners for land use of the property across from Duck Hollow Manufactured Home Park. Moving the rodeo there allows for the growth the event has been experiencing.
Students Jennifer Blankenship and Zack Swindall signed up to participate in the first Explorer Program initiated through the Sweet Home Police Department under Community Services Officer Kim Hyde. The program functions as part of the Boys Scouts and provides a glimpse into a law enforcement for those who are considering the career.