Compiled by Marilyn Bardin
20 years ago — February 10, 1994
40 years ago – February 14, 1974
Bright meteor drops into Methow Valley – by Jack Stoner
About 7:40 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, rancher Ray Walsh coaxed his car westward up a snow-packed hill near his Methow Valley home. Suddenly, a blinding white light soared over him, streaking west toward Foggy Dew.
“I didn’t hear it coming because the car’s heater fan was running and the engine was straining to pull the hill,” Walsh said. “Everything happened so fast. The mass of brilliant white light startled me and then it turned into a huge blue ball of light before disappearing.”
Walsh at first believed an aircraft had exploded, then realized that he had witnessed a meteor falling. The area where the meteor fell is in the snowbound rugged Okanogan National Forest on the North Fork of Gold Creek. Walsh is convinced the meteor disintegrated near Foggy Dew campground because when the blue flash occurred he could clearly see the mountain ridge looming above it.
Walsh reported his experience to the Methow Valley News Thursday and by Saturday a search for the meteor had been organized. Our good friend and pilot Corky Scharf agreed to take this reporter, and young son Jeff Stoner, along with Ray Walsh into the skies over the Gold Creek area.
Apparently the Gold Creek meteor burned up only split seconds before hitting Methow Valley soil. The strange “blue flash” that Ray Walsh saw remains a mystery. In our research we were unable to find mention of this as a characteristic of meteors. Perhaps this was a truly unusual phenomenon. Those of us who took to the skies in search of the meteorite hope secretly to one day find some fragments, even if only pebble-size, to possibly learn the identity of the flashing light.
60 years ago – February 11 , 1954
The Yello Jacket: First and Second Grades
We have new furniture. We like our new furniture. We made log cabins. We put some on the cork board. We are going to put one out in our grass.
We have a pretty valentine box.
Donna Woodkey and Leah Duffy brought pussy willows. They make us think of spring.
School Contribution
A check in the amount of $83.27 was recently presented to Jim Parrish as the student contribution to the March of Dimes campaign. All grades took part in the drive and collections included money contributed by those attending the Tonasket basketball game.
The eighth grade sponsored a candy sale the final day of the campaign to augment the contributions from their room.
80 years ago – February 9 , 1934
Again, we eat
“Following a custom of the earlier days, when we pioneers were made happy by dividing up what we had with our neighbors,” said an esteemed pioneer who yesterday brought to the News force a boxed parcel, “the pleasure is all mine in bringing to you this mystery box.” Then Mr. R. T. Prewitt hurried on his way.
We will admit we were perplexed, but our confidence in the man we have esteemed some thirty years easily induced us to investigate.
The first peep into the box convinced us that our visitor knew we liked good things to eat, for nicely tucked into the parcel were some mighty fine cuts of new pork spare ribs, and everything. A fine quality of pork it is that Mr. Prewitt knows how to raise, we can affirm.
Gee, who wouldn’t be a pioneer.
Thanks, friend. We are enthused to “hit the ball” with renewed courage, and firmer than ever in the belief that there are a lot of mighty fine folks hereabouts.
And, incidentally, we’re going to eat.
100 years ago – February 13, 1914
Local
The ice harvest has been on this week in full blast, and a fine large crop laid away for summer use. The ice is twelve inches thick, and clear and solid, and people are generally well pleased with the recent cool snap that manufactured the real article.
A pleasant surprise was given the Pythian Sisters following their regular session Tuesday evening, when it was announced that luncheon was spread in the dining room. The ladies were completely surprised, upon entering the room to see the tables spread and one of the finest lunches ever, just aching to be eaten. In the meantime, E.A. Harriman and C.K. Mullen got wise and both “went to lodge”. A social evening that will long be remembered was passed, and it was late when the merrymakers dispersed. Mesdames W.L. Singer and Geo. W. Sprouse are credited with the affair.
