75 years ago
December 28, 1944
Some kind of a naval record has been set by Howard B. Grigsby, ship’s cook second class, who arrived Saturday from the Admiralty islands to spend a 30-day leave with his mother, Mrs. Mae Grigsby, 118 W. Market street in Aberdeen.
This 26-year-old sailor is home for the first time since he entered the navy, Dec. 8, 1941, and since he went overseas in May, 1942, has had four liberties, each one 12 hours long, all in Sydney, Australia.
He has been on an auxiliary repair ship, that has followed invasion fleets to keep the naval vessels in operating conditions.
“Sort of a first-aid for boats unit,” Howard explained. “We just made emergency repairs when ships were hit. It was to keep them afloat until they could make port for complete reconstruction jobs.”
December 29, 1944
It recently was called to the attention of Aberdeen city officials that the low man on the totem pole adorning the city hall is becoming somewhat decayed in the vicinity of his feet, or roots, and more recently passersby have commented that his condition appears to be weakening.
Officials say that corrective action will be taken in conjunction with a general repair program now in progress at the city hall.
The totem pole was presented to the city some years ago by Circus Jimmy, Taholah Indian, who has since joined his ancestors, some of whom may or may not be symbolized on the totem.
50 years ago
December 28, 1969
The Canadian barge which spent much of Christmas week on the beach at Taholah is on its way under tow to Vancouver, B.C., where it was bound when its voyage was interrupted during a storm Tuesday morning.
The Salvage Chief, the workhorse of Fred Devine’s salvage firm based in Portland, pulled the 235-foot crane barge off the beach at about 1.45 p.m. Friday, one half hour after the afternoon’s high tide.
Meanwhile the attorneys for the Quinault Indian tribe and the Vancouver Tug Co. will work out an arrangement for paying the tribe for its salvage rights and tribe members for the man-hours they spent assisting in the salvage effort.
December 29, 1969
Two GIs who asked ITT Rayonier for a few seedlings to spruce up their outfit’s operations building in Vietnam received 250 nursery-size evergreens with the company’s Christmas compliments.
The seedlings were requested by David L. Peterson of Humptulips, an aviation storekeeper first class, and Air Controlman Kelsey Lantz of Centralia. Both are stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Facility, Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.
The seedlings included 100 southern pine, 50 Douglas fir, 50 Sitka spruce and 50 hemlock.
25 years ago
December 28, 1994
Work to repair the storm-related erosion at Half Moon Bay should begin within two weeks, thanks, in part, to $300,000 from the state.
City administrators have been working feverishly with the state Department of Ecology and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to devise a short-term solution to the erosion problems.
The immediate plans include adding to the pile of rocks covering the city’s sewage discharge pipe to hold it in place. The pipe broke apart in the surf at Half Moon Bay earlier this month when sand eroded beneath it during a winter storm. Although repaired, the pipe is still in danger because beach material continues to erode. In addition, the city is hopeful the Corps will soon begin trucking in sand to build up the dunes at Half Moon Bay. The barrier was virtually wiped out during last week’s storm, and it served as the city’s main line of defense against flooding in the downtown area.
December 29, 1994
Aberdeen went to its ace in the hole to earn a title shot in the R.A. Long/Video Warehouse boys’ basketball tournament.
Anthony Mizin scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to give the Bobcats a 72-70 win over the host Lumberjacks Wednesday night in Longview. Beau Beck scored 15 points while Kyle Fuhrer had 11. Coach Brad Fuhrer cited the play of reserves Nick Chicano, Jesse Parbon and Justin Hill.
Compiled from the archives of The Daily World by Karen Barkstrom.
