75 years ago: Sept. 29, 1949
Sweet Home’s long discussed city mail delivery proposal may become a reality after a survey was completed showing favorable consideration for the service. With the support of business and civic leaders, the postmaster has been working hard to gain approval for a mail delivery service. It must now be approved by Washington, D.C.
Foster resident Mrs. N.E. Shepherd learned this week that the mother and brother she thought had died in a fire 45 years ago are actually alive. She had been rescued from the fire – of which there is no revealing information – but the mother and brother believed she was the one killed in the blaze. The two are living in Texas.
Locations for 11 more street lights in residential sections will be selected by members of City Council and city employees. They will inspect proposed locations before deciding where to place them. The installation will complete the placing of 44 additional lights during the past summer.
Delivery of milk to pupils of the local grade schools will start this week under the auspices of the Parent-Teacher Association. Parents have been notified with the details of the plan under which pupils are provided with 20 half-pint bottles of milk at a cost of $1.10.
50 years ago: Sept. 26, 1974
City Council approved the next fiscal year’s budget, but not before Councilman Doyle Johnson words in on what he called the council’s “misplaced priorities” and its lack of homework. His concerns included the amount of money allocated for drainage and street improvements (more than one-half of the $96,413 budget), the amount of money not budgeted for city parks, the lack of citizen input, and the “ignoring” of input received from the parks board and some citizens. He also opposed a proposed connector on 15th Avenue between Main and Long streets.
Farmer’s Insurance opened their new office building at 3035 Main St., next to Hoy’s Hardware. The cinder block building will house the insurance agency in one end, and the other end will be available for rent as an office or business.
25 years ago: Sept. 29, 1999
A new 32-unit low-income housing development was dedicated this week. The Ames Creek Court senior housing project already has residents as old as 95 years old and younger who are saying the house sizes are “just right.” The $2.4 million construction project limits residents whose income is $15,000 or less per year and at least 55 years old. Monthly rent is $308 and includes water and sewer.
A recent cost estimate for the new police department shows costs are going to be more than originally estimated. The first estimate was $1.5 million, but it now may be about $2.2 million. The original estimate came after the city received a $950,000 approved bond levy applied to the building when plans were to build it on city property with a smaller land purchase. When the land became unavailable, the city instead purchased land next to McDonald’s for the station. Discussions are being had about moving the court into the station to save costs.