75 years ago

December 3, 1944

Sunday, no newspaper published

December 4, 1944

Nine eggs fried with potatoes, four slices of bread and butter, a glass of milk and a piece of apple pie served in a bowl with cream isn’t an ordinary breakfast for Loranna (Red) Stoip, Union service station grease monkey and mechanic.

“Sometimes I just have four eggs,” she grinned. “But a girl has to keep her figure when she is doing work like this.”

Loranna is no novice as a mechanic. She took a streamlined nine-day course at Tacoma two years ago and has been in the business every since. She can spot a wet magneto at 60 paces, and uses terms like “transmission” and “differential” in a very professional manner. “When I started out I didn’t even know where to look for the oil gauge,” she admits. “Now I do everything. Fix tires, wash cars, lubricate, pack front wheels.”

50 years ago

December 3, 1969

William “Bill” Anthony, Hoquiam logger, was chosen “Man of the Year” by Henry L. Robb Post No. 1135 Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was introduced at the annual membership and awards banquet at the VFW Hall last Saturday.

Since its inception in 1954, the award has been made to a Hoquiam citizen, not eligible for membership in the VFW who has “contributed to the betterment of the community in the best traditions of the VFW.” Anthony was presented with a plaque on which the inscription read in part, “for outstanding service in the organization and promotion of Loggers Playday.”

December 4, 1969

“I looked on Newell Banks back in 1924 like kids today might look on Joe Namath,” said Kenneth Grover.

Who is Newell Banks? He is an 82-year-old Detroiter who had held the 11-man Ballot World Championship in checkers since 1916.

Who is Kenneth Grover? He is a 61-year-old from Taholah who ended Banks’ championship reign after 53 years.

Grover defeated Banks 3-2 to take the title in Detroit.

“All my bill collectors are calling me know,” joked Grover, who won $900 along with the title.

Eleven-man ballot checkers differs from regular checkers in that one “man” or piece is removed and one of the remaining pieces is moved before play begins. Grover said this allows for 25,000 opening moves.

25 years ago

December 3, 1994

They might not sleep on downtown streets or under park benches, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t homeless people on Grays Harbor.

They’re living in tents, cars and trailers and doubling up with families and friends in cramped quarters, a report says.

“People are really out and about and tucked away,” said Valerie Arnold, Head Start Director at the Coastal Community Action Program.

The report prepared for CCAP estimates at least 200 families with children are living in extreme poverty without a stable residence.

The majority of the homeless are single mothers, the report says. Many are on public assistance and many are considered “working poor,” those who hold jobs but don’t earn enough to make ends meet.

December 4, 1994

For half a game it was a Royal stunner — from Montesano’s standpoint a Royal bummer.

But that second half was downright majestic.

Montesano’s Bulldogs led for just 35 seconds of their Kingbowl joust with the Royal Knights Saturday for the state class A grid crown.

“But it was the right 35 seconds,” Monte assistant Tim Bates grinned in the Kingdome locker room, after the Dogs’ tingling, come-from-behind 27-21 victory.

A 32-yard touchdown pass from Bryan Talley to Ryan Wilson broke a 21-21 tie just 35 seconds from the finish of a game they’ll be re-playing in Montesano into the next century.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom