75 years ago: Oct. 13, 1949
City Council discussed a proposed sidewalk project on K Street as a means of eliminating a traffic hazard in the vicinity of the intersection of 8th Street. The danger to pedestrians, especially school children, was pointed out and the city manager was asked to prepare a cost estimate for consideration at the next meeting.
Thieves victimized the Santiam Feed Store for a second time as they robbed the firm of between $25 and $50. Two weeks earlier, more than $350 in cash was taken from the store during a sneak noon-time theft. It was a passerby who saw two men inside the store after closing and called the police, but the suspects had already fled.
50 years ago: Oct. 10, 1974
City Council gave its city manager authority to spend additional funds toward a rehabilitation project of a former handball court. The concrete block structure with four walls, no roof and no door located next to the tennis courts at Northside Park is decorated inside with crude remarks painted on the walls. Council expects the facility to be usable once again by next month, and the are considering users pay a fee to access the locked court.
Despite apprehensions and protests of some neighbors, retired Rev. RW Steingrandt will get his new home, located about one-third of a mile north of Liberty School. He originally asked to build a six bedroom house on the property to replace a trailer house and a “termite shack,” but the request was denied due to the septic tank. The new plan is to either move a four bedroom mobile or build a four bedroom house on the property, but neighbors fear the original two structures will not be removed.
25 years ago: Oct. 13, 1999
Sweet Home Sanitation was sold to Waste Connections Inc. of California. Lester Weld founded the business in 1947, and the one-man show flourished for 52 more years through three generations of the Weld family. Waste Connections was founded two years ago and has grown to $250 million and 30-40 acquisitions per year.
The school district faces $600,000 in budget cuts this year based on a decrease in enrollment, which is down 71 students. The figure is about 120 less than projected based on housing starts.