LOOKING BACK From our archives; compiled by Howard Stitt

10 Years Ago April 18, 2013 Lois V. Bohn died at age 79. She grew up in Menlo Park during the height of the Depression. Bohn and her two brothers shared a tiny one-bedroom home. Bohn taught school in East Palo Alto and Cupertino before moving to Loomis in 1990. At his Newcastle nursery, Hiro Matsuda is a master of the art form of bonsai. For more than three decades, he has been forming thousands of trees into bonsai. Starting from a seedling, it takes many years for a tree or bush to develop into maturity and a lot of patience from Matsuda. Del Oro High School softball player Morgan Moore signed a letter of intent to play for York College in York, Nebraska. Former Del Oro softball standout Ciera Clark is swinging a big bat for Felician College in Lyndhurst, New York. Featured quilter Kathy Beam displays one of her handmade quilts to be shown during the Loomis Quilt and Fiber Guild Show. Quilts have come a long way since the pioneers brought the patchwork blankets out West in covered wagons. Although most people think a quilt is made by piecing many scraps of fabric together, the term "quilting" actually refers to the technique of stitching multiple layers of fabric together to make a thicker material. Ophir Elementary School students can become part of a charter school. At least 50 percent of the teachers must support the change before the board of trustees will take any action on the matter. Three people were killed and 140 injured during the Boston Marathon bombing. A matter of minutes saved some local runners and their supporters. Jenny Winger of Loomis ran her first Boston marathon and traveled to Boston with her mother, Ahgie Boyd of Rocklin. Winger was getting water and heard the booms. She saw what looked like debris being thrown into the streets. Retired Del Oro High School teacher and coach Steve March and his wife, Nancy, were in Boston for the marathon. Nancy Winger ran in the race and was about 15 minutes away from the finish. Both Nancy and Steve Winger were OK. 25 Years Ago April 16, 1998 Memorial services were held for Chisako Yamane, 93, a Japan native. She had been a Placer County resident for 74 years. Former Del Oro High School basketball star Bill Naylor, son of Wes and Mildred Naylor of Loomis, was honored as "Coach of the Year" in the state of Hawaii. Naylor led his Maui High School Sabers to the island's championship. Eric and Maren Lombardi tossed the pizzas as their Pizza Factory Restaurant sponsored the Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce mixer. Among those enjoying the pizza and socializing were Jim Struble, Howard Mehl, Larry Spencer and Jenny Knisley. Thaya Craig and Hiroshi Matsuda are helping prepare for the Japanese American Citizens League "Kids Day." The event will be held at Matsuda's Nursery and will include Taiko drumming and origami. Harpist Elizabeth Haneline performs at social functions, school assemblies and provides harp instruction. She won an award for effectively marketing her Loomis-based business, Harp and Voice. Placer County 4-H members raised money as they participated in Lily Day to support Easter Seals, which provides therapy, referral and equipment for area residents needing assistance with physical disabilities. The Loomis Basin Heritage Group has been very active as one of their main goals is to preserve, manage and enhance the "Blue Anchor" facilities and the Southern Pacific Depot. Loomis Mayor Rhonda Morillas explained the importance of updating the town's Comprehensive General Plan. "Things in and around Loomis have changed," Morillas said. "Neighboring communities are growing at a rapid pace. This growth has an impact on our town." It was high noon and the siren was sounded for youngsters to race for the Easter eggs at the Loomis Community Park. The egg hunt was the result of the Friends of Loomis, Soroptimist International of Rocklin/Loomis, along with churches, businesses, other community groups and volunteers. Among the youngsters enjoying the hunt were Dillon with parents, Michaela and Gary Huntzinger; Hannah with her mother, Lorilee Manes; 7-year old Cameron with his father, Russell Sonneborn; and little Kevin with sister, Jamie Hight, and friend, Rebecca Knight. Del Oro High School student Courtney Jones played the role of the Easter Bunny. 50 Years Ago April 12, 1973 Army Specialist 5 James Powers, son of Mrs. Dorothy Ferguson of Rocklin, is serving as a mechanic with the 13th Support Group Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas and he recently re-enlisted in the Army. Marine Private First Class Vern Thomas, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Thomas of Rocklin, reported for duty at Camp Pendleton, California. The Weimar Joint Sanatorium began its operations in 1919 under the direction of Dr. William Whittington to help patients deal with tuberculosis. Before retiring, Whittington was proud of the building's archway at the grounds' entrance. However, the powers of the state chose to move the highway several hundred feet to the east and the familiar structure was a casualty of the construction of I-80. As a result of strong winds, individual burn piles got out of control during the first part of April, creating a challenge for local fire departments. The combined bands of Weimar Hills and the Loomis School District, under the direction of John Gouvea and Ardis Whitehead, earned a superior rating at the Northern Sacramento Valley Musical Festival. A 200-pound pig, donated by David Thomas of Loomis, will be raffled to support the Five-Cities Softball League. Three board members must be elected for the Rocklin School District. Filing for trustee are C.W. "Chuck" Stone, Matthew Vuletich and Robert "Bob" Lyman, Jr. In the Loomis Unified School District, the candidates are Lois Johnson, Oliver Sassy and Cynthia Vollmar. The Loomis School was inspected by a structural engineer on Feb. 26, 1968 and found to be unsafe. It did not meet the Field Act, referring to buildings that are not capable of withstanding an earthquake. Voters will be asked to approve a bond issue to help pay for replacing the brick building. Mr. Robert Lasely, a math and physics teacher, has seen Del Oro High School grow from 350 students to somewhat over 1,000 during the last 13 years. Lasely said the major change that growth has caused was the close knit student-faculty relationship, which he felt was quite important. Lasely also said the mathematics department did a very good job in preparing students for the future. That was supported by the fact that more students had gone into engineering than any other profession. 75 Years Ago November 1947 Nov. 11 is the 29th anniversary of Armistice Day. That date in 1918 marked a time of great promise, a promise that wasn't fulfilled as it was to be "the war to end war." It was followed by a restless peace that eventually erupted in another and bigger conflict. The Roseville American Legion planned an Armistice Dance at the Eagles Hall only to find out the building was condemned. They were fortunate to get the Odd Fellows Hall in town instead. Articles donated to the Placer County Museum included a set of ebony checkers, hand-carved by early Chinese miners, and a metal collar that was padlocked onto the Chinese when they were let down into the gold mines. Men in the community are invited to come to the ballpark at Loomis School to work on the ground previously occupied by the grandstand (deceased). Playing at the State in Auburn is "Wyoming," starring Gabby Hayes and William Elliot. Because of the importance of water to the Placer County economy, local farmers are invited to hear a discussion on the sale of irrigation water in the Central Valley project. The Rev. Nicola is a pioneer in some of the most primitive parts of Africa. He ate grasshoppers, ants, snails and monkey meat in order to carry the Gospel to the people of Africa. He had been speared by natives and poisoned three times. Rev. Nicola is the guest speaker at the Rocklin Pilgrim Church. The eighth-grade class at Loomis School sold magazines to earn money to help cover graduation expenses. The class project was chaired by Tom Warren, Donna Morgan, Marlene Lawson, Johnny Rodriquez and Jim Court. The girls turned out to be better at selling magazines. As a reward, they will be treated with extreme courtesy on the part of the boys for one day.