From the Oak Harbor News 100 years ago, in 1917:
n Mrs. Zink donated an aluminum dipper to the hot lunch committee for the public school, alleviating the need for soup to be served with small sauce pans as ladles.
n The public roared in protest against the Oak Harbor City Council’s majority vote to repeal Ordinance No. 15, which had banned minors under the age of 21 from pool-hall patronage between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily.
n Carl De Boer slipped and fell between the wheels of his wagon as he tried to load slabs on it at the Beachview farm. The horses spooked and ran the wagon over him, which resulted in a broken collar bone and suspected internal injuries.
n An ad, titled “Wizardry of the Morning Cup,” priced Crescent Cream coffee at 40 cents a pound and 99 Coffee at a quarter a pound.
From the Island County Farm Bureau News 75 years ago, in 1942:
n Despite proficient telephone operators, “doing the best they can, but at inadequate facilities,” the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce urged “West Coast Telephone Company to provide better service in the local office.”
n The townsfolk looked on in amazement as the developments on the Whidbey rearming base made swift progress laying out the bulkhead, erecting bunkhouses, constructing an administration building and beginning preliminary dredging operations. The base projects employed 175 men.
n After James F. Collins of Bremerton and George F. Doyle of San Francisco — both officials with the Farm Security Administration — inspected the region known as waterfront playground, the Oak Harbor City Council voted unanimously to let the FSA build 100 trailer camp units on the property “between the grandstand and the slough.”
n Columbia Valley Lumber Co. requested the customers let it “help you with your plans” to buy a small home for as little as $16.39 per month.
From the Whidbey News-Times 50 years ago, in 1967:
n Ted Christensen, Whidbey Island health commissioner, said the $429,994 of federal funds allocated to the hospital project in Coupeville would account for approximately 40 percent of the planned $1 million construction.
n While the State Pollution Control Commission asserted that Oak Harbor needed a second treatment plant, Mayor R.O. Ellis detailed reasons why the city only needed the existing plant on City Beach at a public hearing in Mount Vernon.
n After four cases of auto theft in Washington state and two in California, Island County Sheriff’s Department alleged that it caught the two men responsible.
n Whidbey Drillers advertised well drilling and repairing services for nothing down and $20 a month.
From the Whidbey News-Times 25 years ago, in 1992:
n After Island Transit pressured Dan Snow to vacate the position of executive director nearly five months prior, the organization moved Martha Rose –– formerly operations manager — into the role.
n Commercial harvesting of seaweed on the island reached dangerous levels, causing marine biologist Keith Ludeman to insist that the practice was “destroying important habitats.” He proposed that a bill be brought to the Legislator that would limit such harvesting.
n Island County sent 51,000 tax statements to county taxpayers by Valentine’s Day. The “average tax bill jumped from about $568 in 1991 to $658.59” in 1992. The increase was largely due to higher home and property assessments throughout the county.
