75 years ago
August 17, 1942
As quietly as though he had been Joe Doakes, film star Clark Gable arrived in Miami Beach today as a United States army private.
At the army air force technical training command, the 41-year-old was put through the routine of being weighed, measured for a uniform and given the usual immunization injections. As a concession to public interest, army officials permitted photographers to record these activities.
But they made it clear that, henceforth, Gable would enjoy the privacy and anonymity of the average soldier.
August 18, 1942
Aberdeen city police cannot take outside jobs, Chief A.M. “Pat” Gallagher said today.
Several officers have recently been offered off-hour jobs, and had hoped to take them to supplement their city salaries. Gallagher said, however, that police particularly during emergencies such as war, may have to be called out any time to prevent disorders, guard property or help in air raids, and that “second jobs” in off-hours would impair the efficiency of the force.
50 years ago
August 17, 1967
The Aberdeen City Council last night approved the signing of a contract providing for construction by the Army Corps of Engineers of a water source dam on the Wynooche River, with Aberdeen paying about 78 percent of the estimated $16,000,000.
Before a motion was carried out to approve the contract, councilmen had to troop across the street to the temporary city hall. They had planned to hold the meeting in the soon-to-be dedicated structure, but city attorney Jack Burtch pointed out that legally the building was not yet city hall. “If you stay here, your actions may have no validity,” Burtch pointed out.
August 18, 1967
A veteran’s memorial inscribed with the names of Aberdonians who died fighting in this country’s uniform, now stands in front of the new Aberdeen city hall after it was moved from Zelasko Park this week. The memorial is kitty-corner from its old location on the grounds of the old city library. It was moved to the park while the city built a new library and city hall.
25 years ago
August 17, 1992
Eleven-year-old Alex Bland of South Bend is here to prove it is possible pick up a surfboard for the first time and three days later walk away with a prize.
The young man earned sixth place in the junior division at the 5th Annual Longboard Classic at Westhaven State Park this weekend, according to Tom Decker, a prominent member of the surfing community at Westport. “He’s running around just stoked!” Decker said of the young convert to surfing.
Other local winners include Abner Agee, Hana Perlee and her brother Dane.
August 18, 1992
• The City of Hoquiam is getting ready to go for an estimated $200,000 federal grant to renovate the old train depot.
Part of the plan calls for relocating the local licensing agency to the former Burlington Northern station on 8th Street.
But some members of the city-appointed Train Board are concerned that the automotive and truck licensing agency doesn’t fit in with their dreams for the building.
There was general agreement that the depot should eventually be home to a working museum, shops, dining car restaurant and possible even an excursion railroad.
• For at least two weeks, the Moclips River has flowed through a car that had been abandoned in an unsuccessful attempt to cross.
As oil and gas from the car seeped into the river, a series of agencies, including the Taholah Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the state Department of Fisheries, the State Patrol, and the County Sheriff’s Office, had brushes with the car but it remained stuck in the sand.
Last night, the river-bound car caught on fire.
Robbin Rhoades, Taholah’s police chief, was unavailable for comment this morning but a Taholah officer said his colleagues were out trying to remove the car from the river.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom
