100 Years Ago

Jan. 15, 1925 — D.G. Burdick made speaker

When the 1925 legislature assembled and called to order in both the upper and lower house the candidates for leaders were unanimously chosen. Denton G. Burdick, representative from Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Klamath and Lake counties, and a Redmond resident, was chosen as speaker.

Mr. Burdick has done a lot for his district in the time he has represented it at Salem. This session is his fifth consecutive session and finds him advanced to the highest post in the assembly.

75 Years Ago

Jan. 12, 1950 — New Hatchery To Open Here

Mr. and Mrs. George Gillmouth, who purchased the A. L. Chaplin farm last December, will open a hatchery there soon, they announced this week.

The Gillmouths operated a hatchery in McMinnville for 15 years, coming here after it was destroyed by fire last spring. They will specialize in New Hampshire chickens, but also will handle a number of other breeds. Next year they plan to add turkeys.

The hatchery will be on their farm, which is two miles north of Redmond on the old highway. Incubators are to arrive Friday from Denver and other equipment already is on hand, having been bought last spring.

By March 1 the hatchery will be running at capacity, according to present plans, although some operations are to get under way before that time.

Martini Purchases Garbage Interest

Charles Martini of Portland has purchased and will operate a half interest in Henry Walker’s garbage collection service in Redmond.

Martini and Walker are friends of long standing, according to Mrs. Henry Walker, and the Portland man has operated a garbage business in that city for a number of years.

He has purchased the Horn home south of the city in the Forked Horn butte area, and he and his wife and family will live there.

The Martinis have two children, a boy and a girl.

50 Years Ago

Jan. 15, 1975 — Airport activity booms

Greatly increased activity in passengers served, air freight, mail and baggage occurred during 1974 at Roberts Field, it was reported to Redmond Airport Commission Monday evening by Leslie Hart, manager for Hughes Airwest.

Passengers enplaned during 1974 numbered 7,629, an increase of 56.1 per cent over 1973’s total of 4,888. Those deplaned in 1974 were 8,873, a gain of 62 per cent over the previous year’s 5,477.

Air freight loaded in 1974 was 17.97 tons, up 349.3 per cent over 1973’s four tons. Unloaded was 47.64 tons, up 50.5 per cent from 1973’s 26.4 tons.

Mail loaded in 1974 totaled 35.43 tons, a gain of 38.8 from the previous year’s 25.9 tons. Unloaded mail was 59.46 tons, up 134.1 per cent from 1973’s 25.4 tons.

Baggage loaded in 1974 was 122.23 tons, a gain of 56.8 per cent from 1973’s 77.96 tons. Unloaded baggage last year was 148.1 tons, an increase of 62.3 per cent from the previous year’s 91.27 tons.

Express loaded last year was .38 ton, a loss of .03 per cent from 1973’s 39. Unloaded express in 1974 was 2.81 tons, a decrease of 22 per cent from the previous year’s 3.6 tons.

Redmond flight service responsibility enlarged

The Federal Aviation Administration facility at Roberts Field has assumed flight plan responsibility for John Day from Baker.

The Flight Service Station at Redmond also has established commerce line numbers with John Day and Burns to enable pilots from those areas to file flight plans or obtain weather briefings from Roberts Field without cost.

Redmond FSS chief Mike Hammer said both changes were effective Jan. 6.

25 Years Ago

Jan. 12, 2000 — Hospitals swamped with flu-like cases

Hospitals and clinics in Central Oregon continue to be flooded with patients complaining of flu-like symptoms. At the same time, doctors are trying to identify a virus making its way around Oregon that may be a new strain of influenza.

Although local hospitals say they’re not to the point of turning patients away, the high patient count may mean small inconveniences such as longer waiting lines and rooms filled to capacity.

The influx has remained so heavy, Central Oregon District Hospital has been put on standby several times this year to receive overflow patients from St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

Although the 30-bed CODH usually averages 12 to 14 full beds this time of the year, it is averaging 16 to 18 beds, said Pam Steinke, director of patient services.

She said the hospital filled to capacity for several days around Christmas, and its intensive care unit filled to capacity last week. CODH did not have to turn patients away, she stressed.

“The last six weeks we have seen a real peak,” she said. “It’s hitting everybody. We even have employees getting sick now.”

Steinke said one reason for the heavy patient load is a new strain of the flu doctors have yet to identify. She also said there’s simply more residents living in Redmond this year.

Although more people are complaining of the flu, no cases of actual influenza have been reported in Central Oregon this year, said state Health Division spokeswoman Laurie Hubbard.

She said there have been only 14 confirmed cases of influenza in the state this year and none in Deschutes County.

“There are lots of other viruses in circulation right now and a lot of people sick, but it’s the flu. It just looks like the flu,” Hubbard said.

At the Northside Health Care clinic more patients than in recent memory are complaining of the flu, whether it actually is influenza or another virus, according to Family Nurse Practitioner Ruth Herbert.

“Normal colds and upper respiratory problems we are seeing a lot of viruses right now,” she said. She said now is still a good time to get a flu shot for those who haven’t come down with the illness.

“It does take about two to three weeks to develop immunity, but who knows how long this will last,” she said.

Flu shots are particularly important for people suffering from asthma, existing lung problems and the elderly, she said.