100 Years Ago

Feb. 22, 1923 — Does most everything but suck eggs

We happened by the Bank Billiards Parlor last Monday afternoon, and saw W.C. Leavitt pre-ordering at the big electric popping machine which this firm keeps working overtime at their place of business. It appeared to us as if he was trying to see if he could pop all the corn in the universe at one setting.

He had several flower sacks stacked up and seemed to show no inclination to stop. On inquiry we learned that he was just filling an order for popcorn for the Knights of Pythias.

75 Years Ago

Feb. 26, 1948 — Kilgore’s offers homogenized milk

The first homogenized milk is being offered to Redmond this week by Kilgore’s dairy, which is putting a new homogenization plant into operation.

Principal advantages of milk processed in this way, according to Manager Dan Kilgore, are that the keeping qualities are improved and the milk is more easily digested by children. Under the process the milk is subjected to a pressure of 2,500 pounds. This breaks up the globules and prevents the milk from separating into its various parts.

The process will provide the dairy with two new products for general sale — homogenized milk, and a special coffee cream containing 10 per cent butterfat. Regular milk products will also be sold as in the past.

50 Years Ago

Feb. 21, 1973 — Burglars hit local stores

Two break-ins within the past week kept regular police busy, with investigations continuing.

Redmond Drug, located at 453 S. Sixth St., was entered sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning by cutting a hole in the roof.

Owner J. “Duff” McAndie, who discovered the break-in Sunday morning, told police the culprits had taken $75 in cash from the cash register, three antique guns and a quantity of miscellaneous pills. Barbiturates were among the pills missing.

Earlier in the week Scotty’s Feed Store was burglarized. Entry was gained by squeezing under the corner of the large sliding door on the east side of the building, located along the railroad tracks just south of Airport Road. Ken Johnson, owner, reported three buggy whips and five halters missing.

25 Years Ago

Feb. 25, 1998 — Redmond cuts dropout rate in half

The numbers are in and things look good for Redmond High School.

The state department of education released the figures for the 1996-97 high school dropout rate Tuesday. Redmond cut its rates in half, dropping from 9.29 percent for 1995-96 to 4.68 per cent for 1996-97.

Eight Oregon high schools, including Redmond, succeeded in reducing their dropout rates by at least four percent.

Redmond High School Principal Dan Purple said the figures were a bit surprising.

“We thought it would be closer to six when we sent it in a year ago, but we had an unusually large number of students return to school to finish up, Purple said.

Last year, counselors at Redmond began calling students who had dropped out, inviting them to return to school. Purple said these efforts, along with a variety of programs addressing at-risk students, helped bring the rate down.

Jerry Colonna, Redmond School District superintendent, said the numbers are encouraging, but the time has not come to declare victory.

“I do not want it to be a one-year commitment,” Colonna said.

“What we need to demonstrate to our community is that this rate will stay low and maybe even get even better. If even one child drops out, that’s too many.

Another factor influencing this year’s dropout rate is a change in the dropout definition. Previously, dropouts included students who had obtained a GED certificate. However, the 1997 Legislature changed the definition.

“Now, if a kid drops out of school and completes a GED, he’s off your list,” Purple said.