LOOKING BACK From our archives; compiled by Howard Stitt

10 Years Ago March 1, 2012 Services were planned for Edwin "Pete" Johnson, 100, a Lincoln resident since 1953. Johnson began his career in the newspaper business while in his 20s and retired from the Sacramento Bee in 1973. Assemblywoman Beth Gaines introduced two measures to curtail "frivolous" Americans With Disabilities Act lawsuits. Local businesses have been hit with lawsuits by a disabled attorney that cost them thousands of dollars in settlement fees, even after making the changes. Local students earning a spot on the Dean's List at their respective colleges include Kelsey Glover at Loyola Marymount University, Nicolas Consulo at University of Wyoming, Sarah Kendall at Creighton University and Kristen Borel Paull at Dickinson College. Air Force Airman Everette Montoya, the son of Teresa Dean of Newcastle, graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is a 2007 Del Oro High School graduate. Austin Branum and Dylan Kainrath, Del Oro wrestlers, advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Wrestling Tournament. Del Oro students were not required to attend a particular program but 800 participated in "Breaking Down the Walls," a nationwide program that helps students understand their peers. It teaches students to not judge others before knowing them. Quilting Blessings, founded by Sharon Havranek and based at the Loomis Basin Congregational United Church of Christ, made and donated quilts for those in need. In 2008, a fire at the church destroyed eight quilts and all their fabric. Upon hearing about the fire, Judith Mryrick donated fabric and ended up joining the group. Marlene Claiborne of Granite Bay, who manages local distribution of the quilts, said her most memorable moment was at a dinner for the Placer County Children's Receiving Home. A teenage girl received one of the quilts. "I'll never forget what she said," Claiborne recalled. "No one can take this away from me." Jill Thomas, a retired pediatric nurse, took more than 50 quilts to the Children's First Organization in Kisumu, Kenya for an orphanage there. 25 Years Ago Feb. 27, 1997 Sushi chefs Jim and Betty Makimoto, along with Rusty Uratsu, helped prepare for the 43rd annual Oriental Food Bazaar sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Loomis. The event started in 1954 with the Nisei (second-generation Americans of Japanese ancestry) members of the church, who wanted to share their cultural heritage with the wider community. If voters in the Placer Union High School district approve a bond measure, Foresthill High School will be built and the Loomis community will have a performing arts facility at Del Oro High School, along with many improvements for the three high schools. When a huge landslide plugged the Bear River, PG&E canal damage continued to affect Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) customers. Almost all the water supplied by the Placer County Water Agency in western Placer County is purchased from PG&E and delivered through the Bear River system. The Placer Elementary School Cheer Squad placed first at the NCA Regional Competition. The cheer members included Brandee Winslow, Abby Ebinger, Natassia Craig, Tiffany Tory, Sheiva Hamidi, Brieanne Boroja, Abby Anwal, Ashley Jakobsen, Melissa Trowbridge, Ashley Trimm, Sherry and Melanie Mortensen. Rosa Lopez, Debbie Vill and Bob Gieck are helping organize the Del Oro High School Class of 1972 reunion. Top honors in the D.A.R.E. graduation for Loomis School were Monica Rosas, Billy Schwenk, Eric Fernandez, Kelleigh Gonzalez, Bryan Ryerson-Bisig and Crystal Waldie. More than 75 area teams participated in the "Odyssey of the Mind," a national program that teaches through the experience of working on a team. Placer School's fourth- fifth-grade team earned second-place. Team members are Joe Cabodi, Dana Lovisolo, Valerie Middleton, Caroline Nelson and J.P. Newsom with coaches Brenda Newsom and Talitha Cabodi. The team was required to present a humorous performance that included a character that had an out-of-proportion characteristic. "The Long Tailed Cat With a Long Tale to Tell" performed by the team was about cats and mice on opposing soccer teams. 50 Years Ago March 2, 1972 Services were conducted for Richard Ralph Matzat, 74, a retired ranch employee of Edward W. Horton of Loomis for 14 years. He made his home on the Boyington ranch. Army Private First Class David Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Scott of Loomis, was assigned to the 1st Cavalry division (Airmobile) at Bien Hoa Army Base, Vietnam. His wife, Kathryn, is a 1965 Del Oro High School graduate. Marine Private Michael R. Dequine, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Dequine of Loomis, graduated from basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Army First Class William D. Clary, son of Mr. and Mrs. Erny Bilyer of Loomis, is a helicopter mechanic with the 147th Assault Helicopter Company near Can Tho, Vietnam. He is a 1971 Del Oro High School graduate. Three vacancies from the Second Congregational District of California exist for the U.S. Military Academy. Two of the 30 nominees are local young men, Lyle Gates, Jr. and Michael McDole. Local residents interested in genealogy or local history are invited to become charter members of the Genealogy Club of America. The nonprofit educational club helps promote amateur genealogy and preserve local history. The Del Oro High School seniors earning "grand slam" all A's were Rhonda Andrews, Diana Bailey, Annette Doughty, John Ferguson, Gabriele Gut, Linda Hurliman, Jean Mulder, Susan Myron and Leslie Taglio. President Richard Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China helped dissolve hostilities between the two nations by meeting with communist leaders. He also visited landmarks, such as the Great Wall. He traveled with his wife, Thelma, who earned the nickname "Pat" for being born near St. Patrick's Day. 75 Years Ago September 1946 Albert A. Loomis of Roseville passed away in the Southern Pacific Hospital in San Francisco. He was employed as an engineer with the railroad. Culling poultry was not just a matter of two birds: the good one and the bad one. There was a third one, the in-between bird. The good one was returned to the laying house and the bad one goes to the butcher. The in-between bird may go to either place, depending on the poultryman. John Law Ferguson and bride were given a "Welcome Home" at the Holly Glen ranch in Loomis, the home of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Ferguson. A stray bullet hit the Richfield Service Station in Loomis. No real damage was done but that bullet could have "made somebody awful mad." It was unknown where the lead messenger came from. For Sale: a 70-acre dairy with a barn and 3 good houses with bathrooms - $21,000. Residents put in their orders as a car of coal was on its way to Loomis Lumber Company. Assemblyman Allen G. (Scoop) Thurman of the 6th District represents 10 mountain counties since he was first elected in 1938 and now includes Placer County. He is also editor and publisher of two newspapers, The Placer Herald and The Colfax Record. Loomis Electric & Appliance offers a large assortment of toys and games. Martha Takahashi, Loomis School seventh-grader, is shut in with rheumatic fever. Her teacher, Mrs. Frances Morgan, calls upon her often to help keep her up with school work. Loomis School Principal Richard Brown surveyed the parents as to which organization should be formed at his school, the Parent Teachers Association, a national organization, or the Mothers Club, a strictly local group. He also noted that some class sizes were large with over 40 pupils, including the classes of Mrs. Brace, Miss Nassi, Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Walker.