THE TIME MACHINE

From past files of The Star News

10 YEARS AGO

March 25, 2010

Medford aldermen want to look out for the comfort of future pedestrians when the north end of Hwy 13 is rebuilt through the city in 2011.

Aldermen met as a committee of the whole Tuesday night and recommended a three-tier approach including benches and shelters as part of the plan on how to spend the approximately $79,000 in community sensitive design money (CSD) allotted to the project. CSD money is included with state road projects to cover the cost of upgrades for things such as decorative lighting or other common beautification elements.

The first tier is to use some of the money to pay for flag holders — but not flower basket holders — on the light poles to match those already in place on the southern half of the highway. This was already part of the design of the project and was accounted for in the city’s portion of the lighting expense.

25 YEARS AGO

March 29, 1995

Kindergartners in the Medford Area School District will attend school only half-days next year. The only exception will be a few low-scoring students in a remedial extended day kindergarten. The 4-year-old kindergarten program (where low scoring 4-year-olds are integrated with the special education early childhood classes) will also be allowed to continue.

That followed a 5-4 vote by the school board last Thursday evening with the motion by George Southworth and seconded by Gene Wirz.

That takes the school district back two or three years in the direction it was taking toward full day kindergarten.

50 YEARS AGO

March 26, 1970

Taylor County property holders had paid more than two million dollars in real estate and personal property taxes as of the final March settlement.

The actual settlement figured at $2,191,542.31, leaving an unpaid balance of $443,959.68. The tax balance represents delinquent property taxes, taxes being paid on an installment basis, special assessments, taxes on bees and mink and forest crops.

75 YEARS AGO

March 22, 1945

Taylor county will observe its 70th birthday Sunday, March 25.

The first officers of the county were appointed by Governor Taylor in accordance with the act creating the county, March 25, 1875 as follows: E. R. Prink, county judge; J. K. Parish, district attorney; E. C. Thomas, sheriff; W. E. Lockerby, clerk of circuit court; Alfred Dodge, county clerk; W. B. Jeffers, register of deeds; F. A. Healy, treasurer; Enoch Honeywell, coroner; and O. N. Lee, school superintendent.

The first town organization was that of Medford, which is supposed to have been named in honor of a thriving town on Massachusetts, near Boston.

100 YEARS AGO

March 24, 1920

The firemen were called out Thursday evening because of a bad chimney fire at the Baird residence on Clark Street. The woodwork caught fire several times, but it was put out immediately and no serious damage was done.

The Women Suffrage leaders have their eyes turned to Washington and Delaware just now. Thirty-four states have ratified the amendment and if these two states pass it, it will give them the right to vote. They expect the cast their first ballot April 6th if the 36 states pass it.

Remember When — 2003

125 YEARS AGO

March 23, 1995

While the propulsion of boats by jets of water thrown from them to the rear or to the front may not be economical under ordinary condition, it has proved decidedly satisfactory in lifeboat service, where screw propellers and paddle wheels are alike inadmissible. The first boat of this sort has been in service at Harwich, Eng., for three years, and during that time she has been out twenty-eight times, and has saved fifty-one lives. Her success had led to the construction of a second boat of the same general style, for which plans were prepared by the eminent yacht designer, C. L. Watson, who is trying to lay down lines for a cutter to take back the Queen’s cup to England.