25 YEARS AGO

Dec. 10, 1996

The Campbell Motors car dealership had a lighting unit collapse, caused by a sonic boom from a California aircraft.

Sonic booms happen when an object moves faster than sound, creating a noise similar to thunder. Well, the SR-71s travel at speeds over 2,000 mph — more than three times the speed of sound. According to 1st Lt. Wilson Camelo, chief of media relations at Beale Air Force Base in California, pilots are working on requalifying to fly SR-71s after a six-month break due to a lack of federal funding.

The route used, the “Emily Tract,” begins in Southern California, passes over Nevada, turns around near Seattle, and then flies over Eastern Washington and Oregon on its way back. In addition to varying flight tracts, they aim to limit sonic booms by maintaining an altitude of at least 30,000 feet, avoid flying over Indian burial grounds, highly populated areas, and national monuments.

However, there are still cases like Campbell Motors. Still, Larry Campbell said, they’re “pretty darn good to work with.” The dealership will be reimbursed the $1,000 in damage caused by the sonic boom.

50 YEARS AGO

Dec. 9, 1971

After three years of planning, the Hermiston Kiwanis Club created a charter for the Key Club of Hermiston High School. The only Key Club chartered in the Pacific Northwest this year, it will provide high school boys with community leadership activities organized in a fashion similar to the Kiwanis structure.

The Key Club officers and their duties are as follows: Martin Davis, president; Bob Shannon, vice president; Jerry Walter, secretary; George Maffio, lieutenant governor; and Jack Naff, chairman. The Key Club directors consist of Hermiston High School senior, Jeff Jenkins; junior, Terry Watson; and sophomore, Mark Shannon.

• It seems there’s a bit of conflict over the security of the McNary Dam, stemming from disagreements between the city of Umatilla and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Umatilla Mayor A. L. Draper claims the McNary Dam and adjoining property have been insufficiently guarded by failure to replace retiring security personnel, which also is leaving city and state police to do corps security work. Col. Richard M. Connell, Walla Walla District engineer, sent a letter to Oregon Republican Sen. Bob Packwood addressing the issue and they’re hoping to figure out a compromise in the near future.

75 YEARS AGO

Dec. 12, 1946

Military recruiting programs are present at just about every school, and in 1946, in the midst of World War II, they were quite prominent.

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and a similar naval air college program are being advertised at Hermiston High School. These programs make it possible to take a full college course, by having tuition, fees and textbooks paid by the government. Necessary uniforms will also be provided, and students will receive retainer pay for other expenses during college at the rate of $600 per year — approximately worth $8,500 in today’s money.

To receive all these benefits, though, students must take a course for a bachelor’s degree or higher and 24 hours of naval science per semester. Those wanting to enroll in the program just need to be between 17 and 21 years of age and have graduated high school. For individuals seeking a higher form of education and willing to contribute to protecting their country, these programs are quite the opportunity.

100 YEARS AGO

Dec. 8, 1921

One of the favorite parts of Christmas time are the recitals, concerts, and plays performed after months of preparation. Well, the Hermiston High School senior class will be doing just that — and the expectation for the audience matches the title of their play, “The Time of His Life.”

Directed by Mrs. Roberta Gunn, the play will be performed at the high school auditorium. The cast includes, Harold Waterman as Tom Carter, Doris Swayze as Mrs. Bob Grey, Paul Stockard as Mr. Bob Grey, May Rogers as Dorothy Landon, Dewey Payno as Mr. James Landon, Aloha Hammer as Mrs. Peter Wycombe, Frederic Hesser as Mr. Peter Wycombe, Hollis Gordon as Uncle Tom and James Hall as Officer Hogan.

The play will begin at 8 p.m. on Dec. 16 and is estimated to run about two hours long. The high school orchestra also will help out, playing selections between the three acts.

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