100 Years Ago

April 23, 1925 — Police force greatly increased

… the clean-up campaign inaugurated by Mayor Smith was given its first boost toward success by the offer of the Boy Scouts to give their services in any way to help in the campaign.

… A plan was finally worked out whereby the Mayor on Wednesday deputized five Boy Scouts as deputy marshals to act as inspectors. These deputies will call at all the backyards and out of the way places, and if they are not clean and sweet, a nice little note will be handed the property owner by these young deputy-policemen. This will be intended to jog the property owner into doing something. If Mr. Citizen does not react, other measures are contemplated, although what their nature is, we do not know. Anyhow everyone should help the boys make good as policemen.

75 Years Ago

April 20, 1950 — Redmond Starts Pair to Hawaii

On their way to Honolulu to represent Redmond Saddle club and the state of Oregon at the first mounted “Salute to Heroes of the Pacific, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hutcheson of Mill City were honored at a bon voyage parade in Redmond Sunday morning.”

Riders from central Oregon saddle clubs gathered early for the parade, which passed down Sixth street shortly after 11 o’clock.

The Hutchesons were mounted on the horses they will ride as they head three parades in Honolulu April 28, 29 and 30. They are making the trip to the islands with their friends, members of the famous Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Posse of California.

When they were invited to join in the first reverent mounted tribute to heroes of world war II, the Hutchesons expressed their desire to carry the colors of the Redmond club and the state of Oregon.

Mayor Marion Cayner extended Redmond’s good wishes to the Hutchesons, speaking over the public address system set up in front of Redmond hotel. Tommy Thompson, representing the chamber of commerce, praised the saddle club and the Hutchesons for the project to give publicity to Redmond. Bud Adams was announcer, and Kessler Cannon was in charge of broadcasting the event over KBND. Hutcheson was interviewed by Cannon for the radio station. …

Morris Buys Out Cliff Nelson

Jack Morris has purchased Cliff Nelson’s interest in the Morris-Nelson company, the deal having been closed Saturday.

Morris now is sole owner of the business, which has the dealerships for Pontiac cars and International trucks.

The firm was formed and began operations here three years ago, on March 7, 1947. Morris said the business will continue to be known as Morris-Nelson company.

Nelson has not yet announced his plans for the future.

50 Years Ago

April 23, 1975 — Spokesman earns awards

The Redmond Spokesman captured five first place prizes in the state communications contest sponsored annually by Oregon Press Women. The awards were announced at the group’s spring conference over the weekend in Newport.

June S. Brothers, editor, received firsts for news story, editorial, series of historical articles and publication regularly edited by a woman.

Martha Stranahan, a regular contributor to The Spokesman, took a first for her interview of Dorothy McCall.

The winning news story concerned the child, missing overnight, who was found last spring by a wrangler in the corrals of the horse slaughtering plant south of Redmond.

The editorial took to task persons who had written letters to employers seeking to have transferred from Redmond certain individuals who had been critical of the local school administration.

The historical series covered the 25 years of Central Oregon Community College’s existence. Total publication judging was based on critique of three issues.

Lucille Jordan, Redmond, received two first place awards. One was for an interview of Rodger Hall, Sisters minister and ex-convict, that appeared in The Oregonian. The other was an interview of Joe and Alma McClay on the occasion of their 65th wedding anniversary that ran in the Central Oregon Rancher.

District projects lowest tax rate in seven years

Redmond School District business manager Walt Weber has computed a rough estimate of the tax rate which would result from the local property tax levy of $3,127,288 to support the proposed 1975-76 operating budget.”

The estimate of $16.61 per thousand true cash value is based upon a projected 12 per cent increase in assessed valuation of property within the school district.

Also included in this projection are unconfirmed estimates of other revenues, such as the Intermediate Education District levy revenues, the tax monies paid to the district by Jefferson County for that portion of properties that is in the Redmond School District, mobile home tax revenues and the timber severance revenues.

The actual figures of increases in assessed valuation will not be available until June. Figuring a 10 per cent increase in assessed valuation, the rate would be $16.92 per thousand.

The 1975-76 estimated tax rate of $16.61 is the lowest projected rate in the last seven years. In 1973, the rate jumped from $17.75 early in the year to $23.01 later the same year. Last year’s proposed tax rate was $20.45.

25 Years Ago

April 19, 2000 — Redmond and Bend hospices talking merger

The boards of Hospice of Redmond Sisters and Grant County and of Hospice of Bend and La Pine will meet in May to consider a possible merger.

The two non-profit agencies have been talking informally for several months about cost-saving efforts that could range from joint purchasing of supplies to a complete merger, according to officials from both organizations.

Hospices provide medical care and emotional support for terminally ill people and their families.

Rising costs and declining patient stays, which means less income, has made some type of joint venture attractive to both organizations.

“We’re both doing well, but we don’t know for how long,” said Priscilla Bigler, executive director for the Redmond hospice.

“I think we need to get a lot more efficient,” said Sharon Stroocker, Bigler’s counterpart with the Bend hospice. “At this point, everything is duplicated.”

In February, the boards of both hospices agreed to hire a consultant to look at the possibility of a merger. On May 5, the boards will hold a joint meeting with the consultant to see what options are available.

Both sides say it is too early to say what the agreement might look like.

“Merger, I don’t think is the right word,” Bigler said.

Greg Hendrix, chairman of Hospice of Bend-La Pine board, is more comfortable with that concept, however. His board voted unanimously to explore the possibility of a merger. However, he cautioned it is not a takeover.

“This isn’t like BMW buying Ford,” he said. “If Redmond doesn’t want to merge, we won’t merge.

The main advantages of an alliance between the organizations include reduced administrative costs, the ability to share nurses and to lower supply by buying such things as medical supplies in bulk. Officials from both hospices say savings in these areas could translate into expanded services for patients.

Concerns about maintaining local identity and support has been one of the impediments.

“I know Redmond wants to stay in Redmond, and Bend wants to stay in Bend,” said Sharon Carol, chairwoman of the Redmond board.