100 years ago

Oct. 12, 1916 — The first big step toward the reclamation of nearly 35,000 acres of land by irrigation has just been completed by R. W. Rea, project engineer of the Ochoco Irrigation district. The final survey for Reservoir sites was completed ten days ago and the necessary plans and surveys were filed with the state engineer for approval. An election for the purpose of bonding the district will be held within the next 60 days and as soon as the issue is approved the work of construction of reservoirs will start. The district embraces about 35,000 acres of almost non-productive land that with water on it will make the finest farming in the Northwest. The cost of irrigation to the land owner will be in the neighborhood of $45 and acre, but the fact that the land is now only worth $30 to $40 without water will be worth from $65 to $80 and acre with water, makes the cost of irrigation comparatively small. The actual cost of irrigation and the value of the land is a very small item compared ti the productive value of the soil when irrigated. The water rights of land owners at the present time are far from sufficient for the farmers of this vast area of land, as it only supplies water to the last of May or the for part of June, when the creeks are most likely to dry up, thereby preventing the farmer from raising more than one crop if he is able to get water enough for that.

75 years ago

Oct. 9, 1941 — Redmond Union High School will be closed all next week to enable students to held with potato harvest, announces Principal Edgar R. Means. About 200 of the school’s 300 students, Means said, have registered for work on the potato farms or have already definitely located their jobs. Students living in town as well as the surrounding area are signing on for work, Means said. Meanwhile the Oregon employment service, operating from the county agent’s office in Redmond under E. Ross Mencklem, and from the Bend office under Russell Davis, district manager, has managed thus far to provide farmers with all of the potato help they have called for. Davis, however, said today that there is considerable uncertainty as to just how the situation will shape up next week when the harvest gets underway in full swing.

50 years ago

Oct. 13, 1966 — Traffic signals at Fifth and Sixth Streets and more recreation for teenagers are the things most needed to make Redmond a better community according to citizens polled in the community attitude survey. Jaycees are conducting the survey to determine what improvements are needed in the area in facilities, services, recreational opportunities, schools and job opportunities. Between 450 — 475 completed forms have been returned Jaycees expect to collect 600-650 by the time they finish this week. “The people have been most cooperative,” said Joe Antrim, chairman. Twelve Jaycees have been distributing the forms and returning an hour later to pick them up. Results will be computed at the University of Oregon, and should be known in about two weeks.

25 years ago

Oct. 9, 1991 — The city of Redmond has a need for “specialized housing,” the Redmond City Council learned Tuesday. Although housing isn’t on the Redmond City Council’s biennial list of goals, the city solicited — and Tuesday received — on Redmond’s affordable housing needs. Cyndy Leighton, executive director of Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority, told the council that the city’s primary housing need “is the more silent need” being felt by the elderly and people with disabilities. However, later in the meeting the council approved a pre-application to the state for $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to help fund street improvements for Dry Canyon Apartments (formerly Juniper Gardens), a 179-unit “affordable housing” complex.