E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the Columbia Basin Herald on July 10, 1952:

Some of the physical features of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project changed names over time. One was the Equalizing Reservoir, which become Banks Lake. Another was South Dam, which became … well read on.

From Coulee City

Chamber of Commerce hears that U.S. Senate has passed a bill changing the name of South Dam to Dry Falls Dam.

Fire destroys $25,000 in hay

Nearly 100 tons of baled hay went up in flames at the H.O. Williams farm north of Moses Lake July 1. The crop was valued at $25,000.

City, Peninsula and Cascade Valley fire crews took the 4 a.m. call and reported the fire was by spontaneous combustion.

Soap Lake man to head new judges’ group

Justice of the Peace Pat O’Brien of Soap Lake was elected first president of the new Magistrates’ Association of Eastern Washington recently. His district includes Spokane and six additional counties.

The state-wide organization includes justices of peace, police judges and magistrates, O’Brien said, and is being formed as a result of a JP conference at the University of Washington in March. It will try to improve and clarify court procedures and ask changes in state law.

First meeting for the district group will be held this summer.

Friday Bridge Club

Mrs. Clyde Brown entertained the Friday Bridge Club in her Ephrata home June 27. Winning high honors were Mrs. Frank T. Bell, Mrs. Vic Bell and Mrs. David Cox. Others attending were Mrs. E.A. Rudloff, Mrs. Gene VcVay, Mrs. O.A. Guffin and Mrs. V.E. Reed.

Bid date set for Base work

Bids will be opened at Walla Walla Aug. 12 for changes and additions to the new enlisted men’s barracks at Larson Air Force Base, army engineers have announced. Included are 48 additional fire escapes and minor alterations to the heating system. Coffee urns in six locations are to be rotated 180 degrees and piping altered.

The brass did it

A commissioner, the chief, the assistant chief, the secretary and just one ordinary member of Grant County Fire District No. 5 went to a fire last week and got it out on schedule. Frank Tompson, of Company 1, was the only man there without a title.

Osborn to run for justice job

Omer H. Osborn announced his candidacy for Justice of the Peace this week and will seek election at the November general election. A Moses Lake pioneer and former owner of a second hand store on Division Street, he held the post for six years and resigned two years ago when moving to the coast.

Ben I. Peterson was appointed to serve out the unexpired term, but Peterson himself moved out of the precinct this spring and will stand for election from his new precinct. The office carries no salary, only fees paid for services and magistrate’s work.

Block 40 to picnic

Block 40 settlers are invited to a picnic Sunday at Sun Lakes State Park, beginning at noon.