100 Years Ago

Jan. 8, 1925 — Famous pictures are coming to Redmond

Mr. Kelley has just announced the signing of contracts for the “Famous Forty” Paramount pictures. This includes the best line-up this big company has ever released. A few of the outstanding pictures are “The Covered Wagon,” well known as the most popular picture ever made; “The Alaskan” with Thomas Meighan from the great novel by James Oliver Curwood; “North of 36,” “Manhandled,” “Feet of Clay,” “The Wanderer of the Wasteland,” the first picture to be made entirely in natural colors from the story by Zane Grey; “The Border Legion,” also by Zane Grey; “A Sainted Devil,” with Rudolph Valentino; “Peter Pan,” “Merton of the Movies,” “Without Warning,” which is the winning title chosen for “The Story without a Name.” There are many others which will be announced later.

75 Years Ago

Jan. 5, 1950 — Red Tape Cut in GI Flying; Vets May Sign

Most veterans now can qualify for government-paid flight training, the program having been stabilized and enrollment made much easier, it is announced by Tilse-Bowman Air service, operators at Roberts field.

The red tape which slowed down GI flying for about a year and a half has been cut down to a great extent, said Al Tilse and Ollie Bowman.

With Elmer Mulkins as chief pilot, Tilse-Bowman offers private and commercial courses and multi-engine and flight instructor ratings under the GI program.

The schools are CAA-approved and comply with all regulations.

Interested veterans who have eligibility for government-paid training may get details of the new, easier enrollment at the airport office.

A number of airplanes are available, including Piper Cubs, an Aeronca, Ercoupe, Fairchild, new Piper Clipper and Stinson. For multi-engine training, Tilse-Bowman has a twin-engine Cessna.

50 Years Ago

Jan. 8, 1975 — Jail standards tough to meet

“We’ve got a giant headache” is how Deschutes County Commissioner Abe Young assesses the county’s current jail situation.

Although the county has received an indefinite extension beyond the original Jan. 2 deadline for correcting major deficiencies in the current jail facility atop the courthouse in Bend, the state still is pressing for a new facility.

On a long-term basis, local officials met yesterday afternoon with a representative of the National Clearinghouse of Criminal Justice Planning and Architecture from Chicago to discuss upgrading of jail facilities within the county and Central Oregon.

Meanwhile the county is accepting bids (two had been received yesterday) on particles of combustion detectors to be installed in each detention area of the county jail. They would trigger an alarm to warn of fire.

An extension was granted by the state fire marshal until the weather warms on a requirement that a second exit be constructed from the jail. “The prisoners would freeze to if we cut a hole in the wall now,” commented Young Currently one exit leads from the jail to the roof of the courthouse. The elevator is not considered an an exit.

Monday Young was joined by the two new county commissioners, Bob Montgomery and Donald Grubb, in a tour of the courthouse to determine how wet standpipes could be located to provide the required coverage of the facility with fire hoses. A dry standpipe currently runs the height of the building on the outside. But to keep water in the pipes at all times, they would would have to be installed inside to prevent winter freezing.

Young was not alone in its jail commented wryly that problems. Of the 36 counties in Oregon, only 15 could claim jails that met state standards as of Jan. 1. One of those is the facility in Prineville, where Deschutes already incarcerates some of its prisoners. Should Deschutes abandon its own jail facilities, the cost of boarding them out to Prineville has been estimated at $151,662 annually.

25 Years Ago

Jan. 5, 2000 — Teachers raise concerns about evaluation system

A misunderstanding about the method of evaluating teachers has some teachers worried that a single poor performance rating could jeopardize their jobs.

Redmond Education Association representative Ken Steiger told school board members Tuesday teachers need more opportunity to fix deficiencies before they’re forced into a corrective program they feel is the first step to losing their jobs.

As board policy stands now, teachers are placed into an assistance for improvement program when deficiencies are noted on their annual evaluation.

The problem, Steiger said, is teachers must also be issued a non-renewal of contract notice when they’re placed in the improvement program.

“There should be an opportunity for the district to identify performance problems and address them without the teacher being in fear of losing their jobs,” Steiger said.

But school administrators say the improvement program is designed to allow teachers time to fix noted deficiencies, not threaten their jobs.

“The evaluations are not intended to be punitive,” said Superintendent Jerry Colonna. “It’s not a job jeopardy situation. If there are deficiencies the administrator feels need to be worked out, that’s what the process is for.”

The current policy was passed as a result of a collective bargaining agreement between teachers and the district last year.

Five teachers are in improvement programs, Steiger said.

One of the five has brought a grievance against the district arguing she wasn’t given time to address noted deficiencies before being placed in the program.