Looking Back

100 years ago

Sprague pioneer Matthew Brislawn died of cancer at 73 years old. He was the first man to get a threshing machine in the Sprague region.

Former Harrington mayor S.P. Swenson, a pioneer resident of Lincoln County, died at his home of illness. He immigrated to the United States from Sweden in 1887 to Ritzville before moving to Harrington.

An epidemic of smallpox forced the Sprague school board to close local schools indefinitely.

75 years ago

Former state senator Charles E. Myers recounted 58 years of hunting experience in an 85,000-word memoir. Hunters mentioned in the memoir included Judge Pettijohn, Jim Goodwin, Vern Holderby and Ken Furgeson.

Lincoln County residents were urged to voluntarily conserve power usage by authorities concerned about power shortages.

First-year 4-H leaders were named, including Pete Brommer and Charles Hein of Reardan, Gordon Axtell, Raymond Johnson and Rolf Jurgensen of Wilbur, Arlie Lindgren of Lincoln, Wilma Dory of Harrington, Dorothy Teel of Davenport, Louis Sheffels of Govan and Mrs. Lawrence Peterson of Edwall.

50 years ago

Acting county engineer Don Brown said current vandalism of county road signs was a needless cost to local taxpayers.

Davenport city councilmen adopted a $327,396 annual budget.

4,095 votes were cast in the general election in Lincoln County, a turnout elections deputy Patricia Christman called “excellent” while noting 6,257 residents were registered to vote.

25 years ago

A record 1.5 million people visited Lake Roosevelt during the summer and spring months.

17-year-old Nathan Klein of Edwall was awarded a Bronze Congressional Award by Congressman George Nethercutt for outstanding initiative, achievement and excellence.

Jeff Logan of Wyatt Engineering reported to Harrington city council that the damaged sidewalk at the Harrington Machinery building on Third Street would be replaced at no cost to the city as part of a sewer line replacement project.

10 years ago

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies managed to diffuse a situation involving a suicidal man holed up in and firing gunshots from a residence off State Highway 231 north of Reardan.

Student body and class officers at Davenport High and Middle Schools collected roughly 1,000 items to donate to U.S. military troops.

The Reardan-Edwall Communities Alliance for Prevention was presented a state award for being “exemplary.” The award was presented to members Darren Mattozzi and Craig Madsen by Lt. Gov. Brad Owen.