100 years ago

James Hill, no member of the late railroad magnate’s family, but Umatilla county’s own Jim, has gone into movies. He posed yesterday and never went to California to do the stunt either. The taking of Jim’s picture for preservation on the celluloid strip was done by Montana State college men here on a trip through the Northwest to collect pictures and other data on tillage methods and farm implements to be used in extension work in Montana.

In Montana the outside strip of wheat is not cut for hay, so on the Hill ranch a picture of Mr. Hill was taken as he ran the binder that is used to cut the hay strip. Pictures were also taken on the Hill place of men operating bladers made by Penland Bros.

On Ike Christopher’s place a picture of one man driving 12 head of horses on a home-made rodder was secured. Good pictures of several operations on the Peringer ranch in which a number of mules are handled by one man was secured.

50 years ago

John eases into the driver’s seat. Becky faints. Larry slashes with his brush. Rose takes a fall.

The events are indirectly related; they’re all part of the summer classes offered by the Pendleton school system.

John is one of 60 students enrolled in driver education. The six-week class provides six hours behind the wheel and 30 hours’ classroom instruction.

“We don’t pass them or fail them,” explains Don Requa, one of the two instructors. The other is Gary Yates. When they do take their tests for a drivers’ license, most of them pass.

Requa, who has been a driver education instructor for several years, says none of the students has been involved in an accident during his time behind the wheel. “But there have been some close ones,” he adds with a smile.

Becky’s faint was a put-on, but a good one. She’s among approximately 25 enrolled in the six-week summer theater class directed by Bob Carlson.

25 years ago

The duckling wandered into the barn off of Tubbs Ranch Road and met Spotty. A snapshot of the duo earned the Best of Show award in the Oregon Humane Society’s eight annual “What a Pretty Kitty Contest.”

In conjunction with Adopt a Cat Month, the Humane Society reviewed more than 50 entries picturing all kinds of cats from all over the state.

“We wanted to help honor cats during Adopt a Cat Month,” explained Kathy Neely of the Oregon Humane Society in Portland. “They’re the most known pet, being in over 68 million households in the United States. But they still have a rough plate.”

In Hillary Reese’s household in Adams, cats have always been a part of the family and her life.

“All my cats leave and come back,” the Pendleton High School senior said. “One time I had a little over 30 cats all at once.”

Before he disappeared about a month ago, Spotty had a special job.

“It was his job to greet me at the door when I came home,” she said. “He was always curious and had his nose into everything.” Which is why when he found the duckling in the barn, he had to take a closer look, she said. Spotty got a good look but didn’t harm the duckling.