May 23, 1973
Gas stations are facing gas shortages and rising prices.
O.K. Gas has run out of fuel.
Bowman’s Shell was asked to ration gas at 10 gallons per customer and Keeney’s Arco is following that plan to keep functioning through the end of the month.
Foster Union Station needs 20,000 gallons a month to keep up with demand, but is only allotted 8,000.
Del Ripley’s Standard, Cheap Charlie and Glen’s Triangle plan to close on weekends to conserve supply. Gas prices rose 1% this week and dealers expect to see prices reach 40.9 cents per gallon before the shortage is eased.
But one dealer noted prices were 35.9 cents in 1955 and 36.9 cents when the shortage hit this year, adding that gas prices would’ve been 65 cents per gallon if it stayed at inflation rates.
Linn County Health Dept. declared a moratorium on issuing septic tank permits in the Foster-Midway area after a recent survey indicated the possibility of a health hazard exists.
The purpose of the moratorium is to allow time for a more detailed study of the area and determine ways to correct any hazards.
City Manager Mike Gleason feels confident Sweet Home will receive a $920,000 federal grant to help fund a $1,245,000 sewage plant project.
The city had to resubmit the grant application three times and put on “an intensive effort” to work itself into the priority list and get assurance they’d receive the funds in two installments.
Police Chief Chuck Smith presented a film on shoplifting to 24 merchandise employees during the Sweet Home Credit Assn. meeting at Mollie’s’ Bakery. The film emphasized the importance of staff supervision of the entire store and various ways to prevent shoplifting.
Smith said local shoplifters range in age from 4 years to 72 years old, and that one out of every 60 shoppers in a store is potentially a shoplifter.
May 27, 1998
The DEQ and City of Sweet Home plan to reach a long-term solution to groundwater contamination in the Midway area, which has been under investigation since 1994 after solvents were detected in area ground water in 1992.
The DEQ will complete a water supply well survey and install water treatment systems where solvents are detected. Goals include looking for other sources of contamination.
Kirk Allen Bjornsen died of chemical burns following an anhydrous ammonia leak at Oregon Freeze Dry in Albany.
The company uses ammonia for industrial freezing of food.
A hazardous materials response team was employed after the anhydrous ammonia was released with a vapor cloud.
Steven Drury, 13, placed first in the junior bowlers state tournament, division four. He also placed in doubles, teams and all events at the tournament held in Salem. In all nine of his games, Drury bowled over his average of 88, and bowed 787 in his singles series.