Here’s what was happening in the news this week:

100 years ago

The petition for the establishment of Diking District No. 3 of Island County came up for hearing in the Superior Court at Coupeville. Only two landowners objected to the establishment of the district, contending that the diking of Dugualla Bay would deprive them of the harbor and water frontage. The court dismissed these objections and the establishment of the district was approved. Five-hundred acres of tidelands were to be reclaimed for cultivation.

Due to the cancellation of that year’s Island County Agricultural Fair, a one-day County School Fair was to be held. Community fairs were to be held in Freeland, Maxwelton, Deer Lake, Langley, Greenbank and Oak Harbor. Prize-winners from those fairs were to present at the central fair in Coupeville, expected to be held in late September.

75 years ago

Between two and three thousand people attended the eleventh annual “Indian Water Festival” in Coupeville. For the first time in festival history, a parade was staged consisting of all Native American participants, including members of the Yakima and Valdez tribes. There were also two other parades, including a children’s parade and a “grand parade” featuring representatives of community businesses and service groups.

The government food stamp program was underway in Island County. On the first day of operation, $250 worth of food stamps were sold through the auditor’s office. Approximately 20 percent of Island County residents were eligible to take part in the plan; and about 75 percent of those eligible were expected to take advantage of the stamps.

Ten aspirants sought to fill the two vacancies on the board of Island County Commissioners. The primary election was to take place in September.

50 years ago

The House of Representatives passed and sent on to the Senate a bill authorizing military construction appropriations for 1966 in order to expand facilities at NAS Whidbey. The bill contained $3,754,000 for a project expected to be underway before the end of 1965. Included in the construction plans were the establishment of an aircraft systems training building and the completion of a Brunswick-type hangar.

Oak Harbor Mayor R.O. Ellis set the first street sign in place to begin the program to put new street signs on all intersections in town. City crews were set to erect 804 signs.

During the 1965 Coupeville Festival, artists planned to present live demonstrations of their work on site, a new feature of the event. Artists of various media were expected to be present, including members of the Lummi tribe, who would demonstrate weaving on looms and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moth, who would demonstrate their work on the pottery wheel.

25 years ago

Members of the Coupeville Town Council passed an emergency ordinance making it illegal to disrupt public meetings or performances. The new law carried a penalty of $250 and a maximum of 90 days in Island County Jail. The ordinance was mainly the result of an on-going problem between people attending Concerts on the Cove and Ed Stromberg, who lived directly across from the park in which performances occurred. Stromberg had disrupted at least two of the concerts, mowing his lawn or cutting wood with a chainsaw during the shows, saying it was his form of protest against the noise and disruptive nature of the concerts.

Half of the staff at the Oak Harbor Naval Hospital joined the nationwide military exodus respon-ding to the Middle East crisis, forcing the hospital to temporarily suspend outpatient services for retirees and their families. In an unexpected second call for medical staff, the hospital lost at least half of its 178-member crew to other hospitals or medical ships. The hospital limited services to active duty personnel and temporarily suspended all orthopedic and general surgeries, referring those surgeries to other hospitals.