This week 60 years ago: City Council plans annexation, Rollins postmaster retires, Republican score in county election

The Flathead Courier, November 10, 1966

City Council plans new eastward annexation move 

Polson's City Council dealt with a variety of subjects at its first November meeting Monday night. The council ordered City Attorney Cal Christian to prepare a new resolution of intent to annex the area east of the village to Burgerville along the south side of the highway.

Creation of a special improvement district for sewer construction in the newly annexed area east of the city was discussed with a Morrison and Meierle, consultant. The council was advised that the preliminary plan would cost about $1,000. It was reported that federal funds for planning are not readily available at this time without a long waiting period. 

Construction grants are available, however, through the OEO. Lakeshore homes would receive about one-third of their federal funds from funds providing for water pollution control and the balance from OEO funds. No definite action was taken on contracting for planning, Monday. 

The city accepted a donation of three 25-ft. lots from the A. M. Snyder estate for us as a baseball park. The lots are on Fourth Street East near the existing diamonds. The $16 property tax will be paid by the Polson Baseball Association. 

Les Baldwin met with the council and urged their support of the name Pend d'Oreille for the new bridge. He also suggested that a picture of David Polson be placed in the city council chambers.

Dick Christopher's application for a water hookup on Hillcrest Drive was approved. 

Also approved was an insurance settlement for $280 covering damage caused by a furnace mishap at the library. The water standpipe near the Tower and Robinson garage will be moved by the city to First Street East, just south of Mahugh Implement, according to a council directive.

The council authorized the temporary closing of the Riverside Park access. At least one car became stuck last week in the new roadways under construction.

Permission was granted to Flathead Lake Cable TV, Inc. to use certain city poles to extend cable TV coverage in the city.

Faith M. Uhde retires after nearly 30 years as Rollins community postmaster

Mrs. Faith M. Uhde retired on Monday, Oct. 31st, 1966, as postmaster of the Rollins post office.

Raymond Piedler, Inspector from Long View, Wash., spent Sunday and Monday at the office and, after completing his work checking out Mrs. Faith M. Uhde, installed the new acting Postmaster, Mrs. Mary E. Uhde.

The retiring Postmaster was appointed in December 1936, while James E. Farley was U.S. Postmaster General, on the recommendation of Congressman Joseph Monaghan of Butte. She lacked only about six weeks of service to reach 30 years before her retirement.

Rollins was among the first to have a U.S. post office in what is now part of Lake County. It is said that the office was established near the turn of the century and that the first postmaster appointed was the late R. A. Rollins, for whom the community was named.

He was followed by O. T. Baker, who, like Mr. Rollins, was a Civil War veteran. Baker was followed by Andrew Wilhelm, who was the father of William and Matt Wilhelm of Proctor. William's wife is the present Postmaster at Elmo.

Following the resignation of Wilhelm, the late L. D. Lockwood was appointed, and he held office until World War I was under way, when Fred S. Odle received the appointment.

The late Joseph L. Grice served as Postmaster during the first half of the thirties.

Mrs. Uhde has the distinction not only of having served nearly 30 years, nearly as long as all her predecessors combined, but also that she has been the only woman Postmaster for the Rollins office … 

Republicans score sweep of Lake County offices; Turnage, Phillips, Christian win

The majority of Lake County's voters Tuesday went Republican all the way — including state and local contests. 

Riding the GOP tide to victory in their contests were J. A. Turnage, who outpointed Leland Schoonover 3,140 to 2,498, to gain a second term as state senator; W. A. (Bill) Phillips of Ronan, who outpointed Archie Coulter 2,961 to 2,675 for sheriff; and Cal Christian of Polson, who downed Richard P. Heinz, 3,352 to 2,217 for the county attorney post.

Other contested positions Republicans won included clerk and recorder, where Ethel M. Harding defeated Doreen Alexander, 3,325 to 2,193; treasurer, where Mazel Benson outpointed Marjorie Knaus, 2,849 to 2,668; and public administrator, where N. B. Coppedge was elected over Esther Hutchison, 3,339 to 2,103.

On the state level, Lake County bucked the trend, which found Metcalf, Olsen and Boedecker winning. Babcock outpolled Metcalf in Lake County, 3,116 to 2,538; Smiley beat Olsen, 3,424 to 2,255; Garrett downed Boedecker, 2,975 to 2,493.

Lake County came back to the trend favoring Steel over Cannon, 3,322 to 2,157, for the two-year term on the PSC; Harrison downed McCarvel, 3,132 to 1,611.

Unopposed candidates re-elected were Millo Jensen, 4,127, and Ray Loman, 3,925, state representatives; Charles Reynolds, 4,592, assessor; Clyde Carpenter, 4,365, Superintendent of Schools; Bob Upham, 4,345, and Bill Burley, 4,139, for county commissioners.

In the county, the constitutional amendment on continuity of government passed, 2,919 to 1,369; the reapportionment amendment failed in the county from 1961 to 1983 but carried in the state; and the cigarette tax carried, 2,531 to 1,850 …