75 years ago
October 17, 1944
A large eight-foot cross, flaming with 68 lighted candles, honored members of Our Saviour’s Lutheran church in the armed forces at an impressive candle-lighting prayer service Sunday night at the church.
As each name was read a white candle was lighted on the cross and the congregation united in prayer. The lights in the church were dimmed for the ceremony. The five sons of the Jens K. Klock family of Hoquiam were included in the list of members of the congregation. One large candle on a separate pedestal was lighted to represent any one omitted and for all other men of the armed forces.
October 18, 1944
A five-fold increase in the size of the Hoquiam Boeing branch plant was announced by Wesley Hohlbein, manager of the Aberdeen-Hoquiam branches. Under the expansion program, the present staff of 100 workers will be increased to almost 500. “We need more workers and need them badly.” Hohlbein said. “Men are desired as work on the B-29s is considerably heavier than for the B-17s but here are many jobs for women.”
50 years ago
October 17, 1969
Dick McGovern’s winless South Bend Indians, who rolled into Elma with an illustrious record that included ties with Moclips and Valley, scared the pants off highly regarded Elma last night.
“They really surprised us,” readily admitted Coach Bob Lambert after his Eagles came from behind to pull out a 16-12 victory over the fired-up Pacific County club. “Frankly,” he added, “we didn’t expect this.
Senior fullback Bill Rattie scored both Elma TDs and burly Ray McMaster anchored the Eagles line an an outstanding second half defensive effort that saw the Indians limited to only three yards net rushing.
October 18, 1969
Saturday, no newspaper published
25 years ago
October 17, 1994
An Aberdeen man feared lost at sea is alive and well.
Stanley Blunt, 51, skipper of the sloop Rupi, was spotted Saturday off the central Oregon coast.
The Coast Guard cutter Storis happened upon Blunt’s 26-foot vessel during patrol. “He and the boat were fine,” reported the Coast Guard, “and he had five days’ store of food.”
Blunt said he had been delayed by poor weather.
Blunt’s wife, Kunchalee, was contacted soon after her husband was located. “His is usually very good (about being on time.) It was scary for us. We will be very happy to see him when he gets back.”
October 18, 1994
The captain of a tuna boat that sank mysteriously Friday night fears investigators will find the bodies of his two crewmen when the Breneva is raised today.
“I think they were down below asleep. I think they’re on there,” Skipper David Brown said of the two men who haven’t been seen since the boat sank in 22 feet of water at the Westport Marina. “If not, they had something to do with it, and I can’t see that.”
Investigators won’t know if there was a malfunction or if the Breneva was sabotaged until they can examine the wreckage.
Brown, who lives in San Diego and is staying at a Westport motel, said the boat was keeling over when he awoke Friday night. He had just enough time to jump off before it sank.
“I yelled down below,” he said. “I didn’t have time to go there.”
