Jan. 2, 2020

Jan. 2, 2020

Liz Writes Life

Happy New Year and I hope we all get used to writing 2020 as soon as possible! Habit is a hard thing to break, especially after 10 years of the 2010s.

1982-1983

Well, I won’t go back as far as I did last week reporting on the 1922 “Orchard and Farm” section of the “San Francisco Examiner,” but when going through a bunch of photos, I found a “Pioneer Press” newspaper dated Jan. 5, 1983. It was owned and published, at the time, by Gary Mortenson, who also founded the paper on Nov. 16, 1972, in Fort Jones, CA.

Unfortunately, only the first, second, ninth and tenth pages were found. The innards were gone. But, this is still a pretty good “blast from the past” with reporter Sue Davenport providing an overview of the previous 12 months.

Etna’s George Thackeray had been elected for his first term as Dist. 5 Supervisor for Siskiyou Co. – our district – and sworn-in on Monday, Jan. 3, 1983 by Superior Court Judge James Kleaver. Roger Zwanzinger was also sworn-in, from Dist. 3, for his first term on the board. Other board members were: The 1983 Chairman Norma Frey, from Tulelake, Dist. 1; Phil Mattos, from Dist. 2; and Vice Chairman, Jim Steinhaus, Dist. 4.

Susan Reather was the newly-elected tax collector-treasurer and Charles Slote was the newly-elected district attorney. Sheriff L.E. “Bud” Taylor had been re-elected as county sheriff.

Nominations were being sought for the 1983 Scott Valley Citizen of the Year, sponsored by Scott Valley Chamber of Commerce. Previous winners included: Rusty Coleman, 1982; Dr. David Wilson, 1981; Gene Selby, 1980; Ernest Hayden, 1979 (a past dist. 5 county supervisor); Dotty Olson, 1978; Burton Booth, 1977; Frederick Bennett, 1976; and Steve Levulett, 1975. A banquet was being planned for the event.

One news article said that business in Scott Valley “may have enjoyed its best business year in history during 1982,” which was in the face of national economic downturn. The Scott Valley communities surpassed $1 million in sales during the second quarter and the summer months showed sales of $997,000, according to stats from state government in Sacramento.

A series of informational meetings were being organized to acquaint the public with the new Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and accompanying environmental impact statement being distributed by the Klamath National Forest. KNF Supervisor, Bob Rice, said, “The public definitely has an important role in this and we’re hoping people will both tell us what they like and do not like about our forest plan.” Parts of the plan were expected to direct the agency for the next 50 years.

Hum, I wonder just how extensively that 1983 plan has been changed over the years? Or, do I want to stay out of that yellow jacket nest!

Buzz Helm was writing his “once over lightly” humorous column written mostly from the view of his Etna Barber Shop. Gotta love Buzz – at least I did! Gail Jenner was writing a weekly column called “The Parents Corner” and Joe “Jose” Pimentel sketched a brand new 1983 cartoon showing the old cowboy and freezing horse about to go through the corral gate. The subtitle explained: -- le’s git the ol’ job done one more time! He did a good job describing Scott Valley through his depictions each week.

Fort Jones still had a high school. I couldn’t recall when Fort Jones and Etna schools combined, but one of the Letters to the Editor was by Cathy Bogue, President of the Fort Jones High School FFA.

In Davenport’s article, she mentioned Scott Valley 4-H and FFA youth won 11 of the top 14 market animals during the 1982 Siskiyou Golden Fair. Yep, that was pretty cool. And we might even have still said the explanation “pretty cool” back then. I don’t remember ‘cuz I’ve never stopped saying it.

The ads are always fun. I remember shopping at the short-lived Food For Less on Fairlane Road in Yreka. Advertisements included: 16 oz. Shedd’s Churn Gold Soft Margarine for 49 cents; a gallon of Clorox Bleach was 99 cents; Del Monte 29 oz. yellow cling Peach Halves were 69 cents. Four rolls of Aurora toilet tissue slated 99 cents; and Miller High Life Beer – 12 pack -- was $3.99. (Don’t think we were charged for the aluminum cans!) It cost 49 cents for ten pounds of potatoes. Five pounds of oranges claimed $1. And Chiquita Bananas were 29 cents per pound. I didn’t see any organic produce!

Real Estate businesses were Norm Malmberg, Century 21, Tankersley-Ballow, Scott Valley Realtys, Stroud Realty and Mt. Shasta Title & Escrow Co. also advertised. There were a variety of listings. One Quartz Valley three bedroom home with pasture, corral, stable and almost four acres was listed for $99,900. Another place that was listed up Shell Gulch had 10-plus acres on level to gentle slope with 10 by 55 foot mobil (that’s the way it was spelled) home, barn, trees, well and septic for $45,000 and less for all cash.

Other tidbits include: Nine days of consecutive snowfall in late March into April and earlier in the winter flooding on Kidder Creek; Etna’s Vernon VanSickle won the All-Around Champion Cowboy at the 35th Annual Pleasure Park Rodeo in May and Scott Valley schools showed continued growth with 1,002 student enrollments in September.

Well, I guess you get the idea about life and prices back in 1982-1983. Yep, things have changed and, then, some haven’t as much. Just gotta take your pick!

Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past year can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.

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