Cars driven by Redmond High School students Miranda Snyder (front) and Kristy Fanelli (behind, right) motor around the PGE Electron Run course in 1996 in the RHS parking lot. High school students built their battery powered cars to compete in a series of statewide competitions. The car making the most laps in an hour won. Snyder finished seventh and Fanelli 12th. 

100 years ago

May 5, 1921 — Farm Bureau’s Buys Declared to Be Unfair

Figures on sulphur costs from the office of Mrs. B.H. McMickle of the Redmond Lumber and Produce company, were given a committee of Bend and Redmond business men not to insinuate any graft in the office of the county agent, but simply to prove a contention that sulphur advertised by the farm bureau to be sold at cost for $60, did not cost that amount of money.

Mrs. McMickle gave this statement to the Spokesman Tuesday morning after the activity of some business firms in the matter had been construed to be an attempt to prove graft, and a committee from the farm bureau, appointed to determine at once if there was any basis for such a charge, had brought in a report showing Jamison’s records in the sulphur shipments to be clear in every detail.

The fact that sulphur did not cost $60 per ton, although advertised as selling at a cost price, was cited, Mrs. McMickle said, to show an instance of the unfairness of cooperative buying through the county agent, insofar as local merchants are concerned.

The report of the committee appointed by the farm bureau was printed in full last week by the Spokesman and showed that a rebate had been made from the $60 selling price, a commission had gone into a bureau sinking fund, and a payment had been made from the receipts on a shipment of goods last fall, upon which the bureau did not get its cost price. This, together with freight rates not correctly figured and a merchant’s discount, accounted for the apparent discrepancy between the farm bureau’s advertised price and the actual cost price to Mrs. McMickle’s firm.

75 years ago

May 9, 1946 — State Unemployed Use Up Benefits

About 18,000 of Oregon’s unemployed probably will have exhausted their 1946 benefit rights by the end of May, according to results of a special study just completed by the State Unemployed Compensation commission.

Nearly five-sixths of those claimants live in the metropolitan area, declared Chairman T. Morris Dunne, in making public the figures, and 70 per cent working in the shipyards last year. In the Portland district 80 per cent had principal earnings in war industries.

Out of about 58,000 Oregon residents who have valid claims against unemployment commission this year, nearly half are drawing checks each week. In addition to the 2,500 who have already reached their maximum 1946 benefits, at least 15,000 will draw their last check this month, 5,000 in June, 4,000 in July and probably 5000 more by the first of October, the commission estimates.

The study, which did not extend to out-of-state claimants or to those drawing readjustment allowances under the GI bill of rights, also showed about 37 per cent of all groups were women. Of the Portland war workers, over five per cent were colored, while among others in the metropolitan area only 2.5 per cent were of other races.

About 69 per cent of the male claimants are past 45 years of age, while among war workers the proportion runs still higher.

Scouts Select Permanent Site Near Cline Falls

Redmond’s Boy Scouts have selected a permanent camp site, the spot chosen being near the Cline Falls pumping station on the Deschutes river west of Redmond, says Scoutmaster Gordon Stromberg.

The site will be improved and will be available at all times to the Scouts for day hikes or overnight trips.

Troop 26 is planning an extensive camping season this summer. Ernest M. Wilson, who has been appointed camping and activities chairman for the district, will assist the Scouts in arranging the trips.

The Redmond troop will join other central Oregon Scouts in taking part in the Madras celebration May 18, Stromberg says. The boys will establish their camp Friday night, will set up a first aid station and will assist in parking cars the day of the big affair.

50 years ago

May 5, 1971 — Personnel ordinance initiated by city

For the first time, effective May 27, the City of Redmond will have a personnel ordinance of a position classification and compensation plan, adoption of employee rules and regulations, and specification of employee benefits.

The ordinance, adopted at last week’s meeting of City Council, will be supplemented by detailed rules and regulations, including the establishment of the classification plan, according to City Administrator Ed English.

The ordinance, which will provide stability, and the rules and regulations, offering flexibility, is being developed to insure that the city’s employee policies are equitable and fair, and to attract and maintain the best quality employees, according to English.

Under the new ordinance, all city offices and positions will be placed within classified service except for elected officials; members of citizens’ boards, committees and commissions; the city administrator, city attorney, municipal judge, and volunteers within the volunteer fire department.

The city administrator will be responsible for personnel administration, including appointment, removal and discipline of employees unless he delegates such authority to department heads, and establishment of the number of employees within various departments subject to the approval of council and budget limitations.

Personnel rules to be adopted will cover classification and compensation plans; qualifications for job applicants; promotions, transfers, reinstatements and terminations, hours of work and attendance and leave regulations; development of employee morale, welfare and training; rules for outside employment; use of required forms and records and uniform grievance procedures.

Initially, on the effective date of the new pay plan, employees receiving less than minimum rate for their class will be increased to the minimum rate of the range; those receiving more than the maximum rate of their class will remain at the same rate.

Anti-nepotism provisions specify that when another equally qualified person is available, no spouse, child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister or spouses of above relatives will be hired, except by waiver of the city administrator.

25 years ago

May 8, 1996 — Fairgrounds move up for September vote

Supporters of a $25.3 million bond issue to construct a new fairgrounds facility face a big selling job.

Last week the Deschutes County Commission approved placement of the county-wide bond issue on the Sept. 17 mail-in ballot.

The cost to taxpayers is estimated at $22 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home. The figure could be lower, however, if the Deschutes County Fair Association decides to make the bond issue run for 30 years, instead of 20.

Plans call for construction of a 9,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, rodeo arena and livestock complex with 3,000-seat indoor arena, an RV park and 2,900 parking spaces on a 90-acre site south of Redmond Airport.

The facility would replace the current 33-acre fairgrounds near downtown Redmond. Costs to move the fairgrounds are estimated at $28 million, with sale of the current property to a large retailer making up the $2.7 million difference.

Fred Meyer Stores has shown an interest in the property, but no deal has been signed.

In addition to the facilities proposed for construction with funds from the bond measure, additional facilities, such as a race track, convention center and ice rink, could be built by private investors.

The new facility would allow Central Oregon to play host to major shows and conventions that are now turned away for lack of seating, fair officials say.

In addition, the Deschutes County Fair could increase the number of exhibits and attractions, and provide plenty of parking for exhibitors and fair visitors. With the added space, the fair could become the state’s largest county fair, officials have said.