100 years ago

Aug. 12, 1920 — Redmond Fishermen Discover Unknown Lake in Cascades

An unmapped lake in the Cascades within a day’s journey from Redmond was discovered last week by a party of Redmond fishermen consisting of Max A. Cunning, J.F. Van Allen, James Lennon and Paul Van Allen. The lake was named “Lennon Lake,” after one of the members in the party and a small sign was put up to tell visitors the name of the place should they wander there.

But it is unlikely that anyone shall see the sign except those who were in the original party of explorers for they refuse to tell the location of the “new” lake. They prefer that it should be known as the “Lake of Doubt,” after Roosevelt’s “River of Doubt,” rather than to tell other its location that it can be mapped and opened to those of the public who care to take a good stiff day’s walk through the Cascades from Blue lake in order to enjoy it.

The reason for reticence, according to Cunning is not that the lake is not there, as it might be supposed, but that the fishing is so good that it is preferred that it remains as a sort of private fishing pond for Cunning, Lennon and the Van Allens.

From indications, the lake has not been fished nor is there any evidence that anyone has been there for years, if ever. The lake, however, appears to have been stocked with trout about seven or eight years ago, with the result that trout fishing is the best that could be imagined. The party caught all the fish they could use in short order, supplied a sheepherder in return for a side of mutton and then caught fish and put them back in the lake in order to finish out the day.

The nearest intimation of the lake’s location was given by Cunning when he said that by leaving it at four o’clock a.m. the party reached Blue lake at 2 p.m. in time to make the trip by automobile on to Redmond the same day.

The location of “Lennon lake” will be made public when the fish are pretty well fished out, it is promised, but until then — well, it’s a long walk and the discovering party will probably not find it convenient to make trips often enough to fish it out for some time.

After accidentally finding the lake, the party continued on to Eight Lake basin, Cunning said, but returned soon as the fishing there could not compare with that of “Lennon lake.”

75 years ago

Aug. 16, 1945 — Town Cheers News of Peace: Impromptu Parade Forms as Citizens Celebrate Victory; Accident Mars Occasion; Motorists Buy Gas Freely

Peace! The Japs have surrendered! Within a minute after President Truman had announced officially that the war was at an end, Redmond joined the rest of America in cheering for joy and in giving thanks that no more lives need be lost in battle.

Redmond businesses closed a few moments after 4 o’clock Tuesday afternoon and observed Wednesday as a holiday so that all might celebrate the return of peace.

An impromptu parade formed on Sixth street and streams of automobiles began driving back and forth, while citizens of the town began celebrating victory.

The president’s announcement ended the long period of tense waiting since Friday, when Japan had made its offer to accept the Potsdam terms.

An auto mishap marred the early hours of the celebration when a car owned by W.H. Jordan and driven by his son, Ray, collided with one operated by D.L. Penhollow. Rev. Penhollow was driving to the city center on B, a through street, and young Jordan pulled away from his home on Tenth. Aura Lee Chase, 13, who was in the Jordan car, was taken to the Medical Dental hospital to be treated for injuries, but her condition was not serious. Mike, two-year-old son of the Penhollows, suffered a black eye, but Bill Penhollow, who also was with his father, was uninjured.

When the OPA flashed the news that gas rationing was a thing of the past, Redmond motorists began lining up at the few service stations which were open. Wednesday morning one operator opened for a few minutes to pump gas for a motorist whose tank was dry — and it was three hours before he could get away from the line-up.

Redmond grocers gleefully threw away blue stamps, when it was learned that all canned vegetables and fruits were off rationing. However, red points still are necessary for meats and fats, and sugar will continue to be scarce for some time.

50 years ago

Aug. 12, 1970 — Wife suffers heart attack; Slater contacted by radio

When Mrs. Keith Slater suffered a heart attack Sunday, the services of Charles Barnhart, ham radio operator, were used to get in touch with her husband, who was on a hunting trip some distance from Fairbanks, Alaska.

Fayette Scoggin, a friend of the Slaters, asked Barnhart’s help after conferring with Mrs. Slater’s physician. Barnhart contacted a ham operator he knew in Sitka, giving him the name of Slater’s bush pilot, which was known. The Sitka man at his own expense telephoned the pilot in Fairbanks, who then flew over the camp and dropped a note to Slater, telling him to come to a nearby landing strip.

Slater took the plane from Fairbanks to Seattle and drove his car home from there, arriving Tuesday.

Barnhart, who has a powerful radio, uses it to help many persons. He has sent an unknown number of messages to servicemen in Vietnam, for instance.

The Slaters, who own Hiland Coin-Op Laundry, formerly lived in Alaska.

25 years ago

Aug. 16, 1995 — Bee populations dropping

Where, oh where, have all the bees gone?

If it seems like there are fewer honey bees around this year, you’re not mistaken. Bee populations are decreasing, and that means that pollination isn’t occurring as easily as it once was.

Parasitic mites are taking their toll on bee colonies, OSU Extension Service horticulture agent Michael Bauer confirmed on Monday.

The mites, Acarapis and Varroa, affect bees’ breathing vents. The result is loss of bee colonies throughout the Northwest.

Managed honey bee colonies have seen a 22 percent drop over the past six years, Bauer said. Last year’s loss was greater than 25 percent of all colonies in Oregon and Washington.

The wild hive population, which most home gardeners rely on for pollination of fruit and vegetables, has been reduced by as much as 80 percent or more, mostly due to Varroa.

The bottom line, Bauer said, is that “if we don’t maintain some type of control, our colonies are going to die.”

The drop in wild honey bees has an effect on the fruit production of plants that have separate male and female flowers either on the same plant or on different plants.

Central Oregon’s seed production industry hasn’t felt the impact as much because bee colonies are brought in for pollination purposes, Bauer pointed out.

But home gardeners need the wild honey bees and other native insects for pollination of vine crops, tree fruits and other crops. Bauer suggests home gardeners encourage local pollinators or learn to hand pollinate crops.

Gardeners should avoid spraying materials such as insecticides Sevin, diazinon or malathion on blooming crops to protect what bees do exist, Bauer said. And herbicides such as 2, 4-D, fusillade or Sevin should only be sprayed during the late evening or morning hours, he said.

Gardeners should try to attract bees and butterflies by planting flowering trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, Bauer said.

Information on pollinators and planting that attract bees is available from Bauer at the Extension office in Redmond.