Memory Lane 013125

A look back at Yamhill County news

10 years ago

n Brandon Bowdle, a 17-year veteran of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Department, has been promoted from sergeant to captain. He will serve as head of the operations division, the post Sheriff Tim Svenson held before being elected to the top job. He will be sworn in Sunday. Svenson named his 2014 election rival, Sgt. Joe Shipley, to head the Yamhill County Interagency Narcotics Team, formerly head by Sgt. Chris Ray.

n The McMinnville City Council unanimously voted to reject a $15,000 gift from Waste Management Inc., offered to cities in Yamhill County, as the company continues to pursue a 37-acre Riverbend landfill the city opposes.

The council’s newest member, winemaker Remy Drabkin, asked why the company had decided to route the money through the cities rather than offer it directly to businesses and nonprofits, “where it is destined to end up.” County Commissioner Allen Springer denied the company was trying to influence him or his colleagues or the council in offering the grants.

25 Years Ago

n Willamina High School received an “unacceptable” rating on the first Oregon school report cards, issued this morning.

It was the only one of the 33 public schools operating in Yamhill County during the 1998-99 school year to receive an unacceptable rating, lowest of five on the state scale.

The school report cards assess each school based on academic performance as measured on the Oregon Statewide Assessment tests. Attendance, dropout rates and other factors came into play.

“The district is committed to reversing the situation,” said interim superintendent Roger Sauer, who expressed “deep disappointment” in the rating.

n Backed up by a chorus of students, Portland Opera Works singers perform “The Night Harry Stopped Smoking” at Carlton Elementary School. The anti-smoking musical, supported by the American Cancer Society and Oregon Health Division, is an effort to help keep young people from being addicted to tobacco. The performers also sang at Yamhill Grade School.

50 Years Ago

n A group of state legislators, including Rep. Stan Bunn (R-Dayton), have introduced a bill that will, if passed, eliminate the ban on open field burning in Oregon. Though the legislation proposed elimination of the Jan. 1, 1975, deadline for open burning, it will place stricter controls over burning by the state Department of Environmental Quality. The bill also raises the fees charged farmers by the state to burn their fields, from $1 to $1.75 per acre,

n Effects of marijuana smoking on humans will be the topic of the Linfield Research Institute Colloquium at Graf Hall on Linfield campus. Speaker will be Dr. Hardin B. Jones, a research biologist specializing in medical sciences. He has studied cardiovascular disease, cancer treatments and aging as well as the effects of such environmental agents as tobacco, alcohol, radiation and various illegal drugs.

n County Assessor Kim Worrell was installed as president of the Yamhill County United Good Neighbors Fund at a well-attended banquet held at the McMinnville Elks Club Tuesday night. The UGN this year raised $74,640, according to campaign chairman Hunt Compton. The largest supporters were A-Dec, Hewlett-Packard, Willamina Lumber and Publishers Paper.