25 YEARS AGO

Sept. 24, 1996

“If Amtrak is to be a national rail system, it cannot ignore the western states.”

That’s what Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, and other western senators, have argued to Amtrak. Due to low passenger counts and financial cutbacks (because of less federal funding), Amtrak’s planning to cut its train service along the Pioneer route (which goes from Chicago to Seattle and passes through Denver, Boise, Eastern Oregon and Portland) in 90 days.

A letter sent to Amtrak officials, signed by senators Wyden, Alan Simpson and Craig Thomas, both of Wyoming, and Larry Craig of Idaho, argued that the Pioneer route should be kept open for at least another year. They claimed that this delay would give the government time to find funding for the line, since most of the affected states don’t even meet until January. Wyden also stated that it would be unfair to western state citizens to continue subsidizing the train company with their tax dollars while receiving less service. Passionate about this rail route, Eastern Oregon officials have even gone as far as the nation’s capital to argue their case; Baker City Mayor Larry Griffith testified before the transportation committee earlier this month, stressing the need for rail transportation in Eastern Oregon — especially as winter draws nearer.

50 YEARS AGO

Sept. 23, 1971

Hermiston High School senior Victoria M. Bunsen has become a semifinalist in the 1971-72 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The program examines high school grades, accomplishments, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) scores to determine recipients of the annually-given scholarships. The test was taken by more than 655,000 students last February in about 16,000 schools nationwide, and those who pass (the semifinalists) constitute less than 1% of graduating secondary school seniors in the United States.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bunsen, Victoria will be competing against approximately 15,000 other semifinalists for one of 3,000 scholarships given. To become a finalist, she’ll need to receive the endorsement of her school, sustain her high NMSQT performance on a second examination, and provide information about her achievements and interests.

75 YEARS AGO

Sept. 26, 1946

As power demands increase, several dams have been forced to generate more energy than their rated capacity until additional generators are installed.

Several northwest substations have already done so this year; Chehalis, Washington, has delivered 103,000 kw with a rated capacity of 10,000 kw; Salem 45,000 with 40,000; and Walla Walla 12,000 with 10,000.

Several possible solutions include raising the Bonneville pool from 72 to 78 feet, increasing generating capacity at Rock Island Dam near Wenatchee, Washington, and utilizing steam plants in Seattle and Tacoma that were built during World War II but never used. One thing that will definitely help supply the growing power demand, though, is a sixth Grand Coulee generator that will be back in service Oct. 15 after needing repairs.

100 YEARS AGO

Sept. 22, 1921

Oregon’s famous Cleanup Squad, which is touring the states at the insistence of the United States government, will be in Hermiston Wednesday Sept. 28.

Every ex-serviceman who has a claim of any kind against the government should not fail to take advantage of the visit, which has been authorized by the Veterans Bureau to assist all ex-servicemen in the state with their claims and to expedite them.

U.S. Representative Wm. P. Wise, advance agent for the squad, was in Hermiston this week to confer with Carl Voyen, Floyd Ames, E.J. Kingsley and other members of the Legion regarding arrangements for the meeting.

“This is a golden opportunity for every ex-serviceman in the vicinity to carefully consider whether or not he has any matter to discuss with Uncle Sam concerning his service in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps, said Mr. Wise.

The visit means that the U.S. government is coming to Hermiston to enable ex-servicemen to straighten out any old claims or file new ones. The scope of their work includes claims for compensation, vocational training, insurance, allotments, back pay, liberty bonds, victory medals, etc. Every report sent in will be marked “Cleanup Squad” and will be given right of way when it reaches the district office in Seattle or the central office in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Morse of Seattle is the physician traveling with the squad. He will be prepared to conduct examinations while in Hermiston.

The idea of sending the government to the ex-servicemen instead of having the ex-servicemen hunt up the government is a favorite one with Colonel Forbes, newly appointed head of the Veterans Bureau.

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McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at Echo High School, searched Hermiston Herald archives to compile these article summaries.