Flashback: Former resident wants copy of Spokesman in 1924; Hospital after outside money in 1949; Shirley Fraley issues urgent appeal for blood in 1974

Published 2:00 am Thursday, August 15, 2024

100 Years Ago

Aug. 21, 1924 — Former resident wants copy of Spokesman

A request was received this week to send a few copies of the Spokesman to M.C. Muethe, who is a resident of California now, but who was one of the first settlers in this section. He still has business connections here and many of his friends have hopes that he will again take up his residence here. Mr. Muethe was among the first to build permanent homes in Redmond, and he had the distinction of having installed the first bathtub in town.

75 Years Ago

Aug. 18, 1949 — Hospital after outside money

Large firms serving Redmond to be asked

The job of soliciting funds for the hospital from all large corporations with branches in Redmond, and also from all outside firms regularly doing business in this area, has been given to a committee headed by C. E. Thompson, according to announcement from the Central Oregon Memorial hospital board of directors.

“We will ask all outside corporations and firms to assist in making the hospital possible,” Thompson said, “because these organizations do business in this area, the same as our local merchants. We believe that all concerns engaged in business in this section of central Oregon will aid in securing better hospital protection for their patrons and employes.”

All local firms, Thompson said, are requested to send to the hospital campaign headquarters the names and addresses of outside firms and corporations from whom they purchase supplies and services.

He emphasized the point that industrial firms, farm organizations, labor unions and business people in general regard adequate hospital accommodations as a must.

50 Years Ago

Aug. 21, 1974 — Shirley Fraley issues urgent appeal for blood

With current needs for blood running above supply and the Labor Day weekend approaching, Shirley Fraley issues an urgent appeal for donors to participate in the American Red Cross Bloodmobile drawing scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27.

The Redmond bloodmobile chairman said the unit will be stationed at Westminster hall as usual. Replacement blood is needed for Dorothy Abruzzo, who recently had heart surgery at the University of Oregon Medical School. Recent recipients at Central Oregon District Hospital include Jasper Myers, Roy Wiles and Eunita Fleishauer.

Mrs. Fraley points out that the region-wide blood shortage has been so acute that during one recent three-day period in Portland the Red Cross blood program needed 625 more donors than were scheduled for drawing. Even though July collections of 8,500 were 1,000 more than the same month last year, they were short of actual requirements in Portland.

The increasing need for blood there is attributed, in part, to the growth in open heart surgery performed there. Officials estimate that more than 400 pints of blood are needed daily to supply requirements of the 87 hospitals served by the Pacific North west Red Cross Blood Program.

Persons between 17 and 65 years of age (17 year olds must have written parental consent) in good health who weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate.

25 Years Ago

Aug. 18, 1999 — Study suggests longer hours at airport tower

A recent air traffic count at Roberts Field could qualify the airport to extend its tower operations by two hours per day, however local officials don’t know yet whether money for that will be available.

The tower now operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., when most of the commercial and private operations are conducted. However, both Horizon and United Express airlines have flights before and after those times.

The airport met federal criteria for opening the tower and hour earlier and closing it an hour later. But it is up to the Federal Aviation Administration whether to fund the extra time, according to Airport Manager Carrie Novick.

She said she may get a decision from the FAA within a month.

With traffic at the airport increasing, Novick believes having the control tower open longer is important for safety.

“We’re going to keep at it. Traffic is growing,” she said.

Air traffic controllers in the tower conducted a study in which they counted takeoffs and landings from 6-7 a.m. and from 7-10 p.m. The counts were done during three weeks in a 90-day period from April through June.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s criteria for manning a tower require at least four operations per hour, either landings or takeoffs. A tower is not mandatory if those minimum requirements are met.

What the study found, Novick said, is the criteria was met during from 6-7 a.m. and from 7-8 p.m., but not in the later hours.

When the tower is not operating, Roberts Field becomes a uncontrolled airport in which pilots are responsible for announcing their positions and avoiding other aircraft.