75 years ago

April 7, 1943

Aberdeen’s wave of vandalism received an abrupt setback yesterday when four boys, 13 to 16 years of age, were turned over to juvenile authorities by police after confessing to criminal trespass in three Aberdeen churches, Police Chief W. Brice Shaw said today.

Although four boys were implicated in the desecration of the four churches, and admittedly were frightened away from St. Mary’s Catholic Church where they planned a similar raid, two of them were responsible for most of the damage, their confessions indicated. Both of these boys are from suburban districts.

April 8, 1943

Bruce Hood, county co-ordinator of civilian defense, told air raid wardens who met at the Montesano city hall of the imminent danger of a gas attack on this area by Japanese carrier based planes. Hood described the newest type of mustard gas, the treatment for its burns and the latest methods of combating incendiary bombs.

Chief Warden Kenneth McNeill instructed zone leaders in the importance of obtaining a warden for every block who is thoroughly schooled in steps to be taken in an emergency due to enemy action. He said that more and more women will be called upon to replace the men who have been absorbed by war industries and the armed services.

50 years ago

April 7, 1968

Sunday, no newspaper published

April 8, 1968

Eulogized as a “prophet to white Americans and a sane champion for black America,” the Rev. Martin Luther King received a final homage from about 150 Harborites who attended memorial services Sunday afternoon in Aberdeen’s First Baptist Church.

Last night, some 75 attended another service at Hoquiam’s First Presbyterian Church.

“I know that men like me, formerly uninvolved,” said The Rev. Donald Miller, rector at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church as part of the eulogy, “are going to have to get involved to take up the battle for peace and justice in a violent, confused nation.”

25 years ago

April 7, 1993

• Nick Greeley, 19, a 1992 graduate of Aberdeen High School, is in “good” condition after falling 150 feet while hiking in Squaw Peak near Phoenix, Ariz.

The Arizona media is calling his survival a “miracle.”

He is in intensive care at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with several broken bones, a crushed forehead, nose and skull fractures. However, family members say despite a blood clot in his brain, which doctors are keeping an eye on, Nick doesn’t have any brain damage.

Mike Greeley said his son will have more surgery in a couple of days to set some of the fractures in his skull. “He’s very beat up looking, but his spirits are excellent,” said dad.

• Port of Grays Harbor officials are flying high. They landed a three-year deal Tuesday that calls for commuter air service to begin May 17 at Bowerman Field in Hoquiam.

Port Commissioners approved a contract with Empire Airlines. Four flights daily are planned from Hoquiam to SeaTac and Portland International Airports.

April 8, 1993

An anonymous tip from a drug hotline led authorities to what is believed to be one of the largest indoor marijuana grow operations in Aberdeen.

Some 200 marijuana plants valued at some $200,000 were found Wednesday in the basement of a rental house in the 700 block of Duffy Street, according to Sgt. Dallas Hensley, County Drug Task Force supervisor.

The 45-year-old man and 50-year-old woman who lived at the house were arrested for the manufacture of marijuana, according to Hensley.

Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom