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110 years ago 1914
The south side grocer was robbed of a large quantity of canned goods. According to reports, the theft was done by hoboes “looking for a feast.”
Newport’s general school fund allowed for a principal’s salary of $350 and $900 for operating expenses. The total budget was$13,000.
A 30-day drought came to an end in Newport in the form of thunder showers and severe winds.
100 years ago 1924
Newport was experiencing an acute housing shortage as people headed to town for the winter so their children could go to school.
The Community Grocery store advertised two pounds of Sun Maid Raisins for 25 cents.
90 years ago 1934
The state Game Department announced bird season and bag limits for Pend Oreille County. Bag limits included three birds per day for grouse and three birds, not to exceed two hens, for Chinese pheasant.
Pend Oreille and Bonner counties were in the midst of an infantile paralysis epidemic. The Pend Oreille County Fair was canceled, and theaters and dances were closed to help stop the spread.
80 years ago 1944
Chicken thieves were reportedly operating in Newport. Ten hens were taken from one town resident, while seven hens and a rooster were taken from another.
A low flying airplane took out power lines serving the Diamond Lake area. The pilot was uninjured, but power was out for almost three hours.
70 years ago 1954
The Polar Club softball team of Oldtown earned a spot in a state softball tournament by defeating a Kellogg team in a doubleheader in Sandpoint.
Camille Chrysler of Newport returned from two months of dance study in California and New York. She taught dance lessons in Newport, Cusick and Sandpoint.
60 years ago 1964
A late night fire destroyed the Priest River Lumber Co. sawmill, better known as the Doolittle mill. Estimated damage of the blaze was between $90,000 and $100,000.
The Hard Hat Days celebration in Metaline Falls was gearing up for its three-day run. Events included a carnival, bingo and a street dance for teenagers.
50 years ago 1974
A new shake mill was starting up in Usk. Dave Rengli was operating the mill on the ranch he and his father owned on Flowery Trail Road. The Pend Oreille County Commissioners voted to increase their salaries by 30% from $6,500 to $8,500 a year. Another provision allowed commissioners to raise their salaries by an additional $1,000 Jan. 1, 1976.
The Furport area was visited by a cougar. Chester Gregg reported the cat had been seen roaming along the Pend Oreille River.
40 years ago 1984
The city council approved the Newport School District’s plan to purchase roughly three acres of land from the city for the $48,000 the city owed the district for sewer and water lines.
The Newport and Priest River train depots lost their battles with the computer age as Burlington Northern Railroad closed both depots effective Aug. 15, 1984.
30 years ago 1994
Newport was named one of the 10 best “retirement spots in the Northwest” by Northwest Travel magazine in its September/October 1994 issue. The magazine came out the day after The Wall Street Journal had listed the Priest River area on its top 10 list.
The weather cooperated for Waterfest, held over the weekend on the Pend Oreille River near the Oldtown bridge.
20 years ago 2004
Two informants who allegedly intentionally gave the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office incorrect information could be facing charges. The information led to a raid on a residence where no drug activity was occurring.
After four months of recruitment by Rural Resources Northeast Washington Early Childhood program to find children for the Selkirk Head Start Center, the decision was made to close the center because there were not enough income eligible preschoolers in the area.
10 years ago 2014
The Newport boys basketball team was busy over the summer, playing 30 games and capping it with a 53-46 win over Lind-Ritzville-Sprague to win the Eastern Washington Tournament and the championship.
The 2014 Newport Music Festival, the finale of the bluegrass festival season, was scheduled for Newport the first weekend of September at Newport City Park.
