100 years ago

Feb. 1, 1917 — In so far as legislative sanction can go, Deschutes county is now an established fact, the senate yesterday passing the measure by an unanimous vote, and whether absolutely legal or not, we are forced to the conclusion that the present organization will stand. The Spokesman made an honorable fight against county division because it felt that such a step was premature; that the country was not in the proper financial condition to warrant the expense of maintaining an extra county government. We still think that a large majority of out people would have been better off without a new county, but we recognize the wisdom of majority rule and those of us who opposed the movement will be no worse off than those residents outside of Bend who favored it. Bend will profit of course, and that is why her people lent their most energies to the attainment of division. For this they not altogether to be censured. We are all more or less selfish. Some there are, who still have faith that the courts will sustain the pending action in quo warranto and override even legislative action. There is a bare possibility this might happen. If it should not we shall soon find a united people of Deschutes county working for its growth and up-building and an economic administration at all times.

75 years ago

Jan. 29, 1942 — Sixty-five boys are enrolled in the Emergency Fire Corps classes being conducted every Tuesday morning at Redmond Union High School by Harry Nyberg, forest ranger in charge of the Sisters station. Classes started this week, one being held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and the other from 10:30 a.m. until noon. The classes will last 12 weeks and will include instruction in map reading, field markings, compass, pacing, field problems, lookout work, communication, fire prevention, safety, small fire suppression, large fire suppression and care of quarters and clothing. The Emergency Fire Corps. is being organized in the high school of the Deschutes area from Madras to Gilchrist. Those who successfully complete the course will be awarded a card indicating their qualification as an emergency guard or firefighter.

50 years ago

Feb. 2. 1967 — A special election will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Terrebonne School, at which time qualified voters of Terrebonne School District No. 5 will decide whether or not they want to merge with Redmond Elementary School District No. 2J. Voters will have an opportunity to make known their wishes and ask any questions they may have concerning the proposed merger at an 8 p.m. public hearing Thursday, Feb. 2, in the Terrebonne School cafeteria. Only Terrebonne voters will participate in the election. It was necessitated by a remonstrance petition filed the first week of January to the Intermediate Education District boundary board’s unanimous decision approving consolidation. A “yes” vote would bring about merger, said Dean Nichols, IED superintendent. Under the proposal, all lands in the two districts would be merged and the resulting unified district would assume all debts and assets. The boundaries of the new district would be the same as for Redmond Union High School District. All elementary schools and the high school would come under the jurisdiction of the present RUHS board until the next school election.

25 years ago

Jan. 29, 1992 — Is multiple use of public lands becoming “multiple abuse?” Determining how public lands can accommodate an increasing number of people interested in activities will keep planners of the Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District busy for the next several months. BLM employees were in Redmond last week collecting input from citizens about issues involving public lands. An overflow crowd of about 250 people, many of them concerned about an application for a shooting range on Barr Road, turned out for a meeting at Nendels New Redmond Hotel. The citizens voiced numerous concerns about the use and abuse of the BLM lands surrounding Redmond, Bend and Sisters. The BLM district will try to incorporate the concerns and proposed solutions in an update of its Brothers-LaPine Resource Management Plan.