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Down the Decades

February 16, 2021 Edition

Compiled by Lee Hermann, Muse, & Ruth Huggler
Posted 2/15/21

140 Years Ago - 1881

A Port Jervis butcher was in town Wednesday and bought three yoke of oxen of Charley Scheidell.

There is much talk again of an acid factory at Long Eddy.

It is said that …

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Down the Decades

February 16, 2021 Edition

Posted

140 Years Ago - 1881

A Port Jervis butcher was in town Wednesday and bought three yoke of oxen of Charley Scheidell.

There is much talk again of an acid factory at Long Eddy.

It is said that there are more loggings lying on the banks of the Delaware this winter than there were last winter.

A Fastnacht Ball is to be held at Robisch's Hotel in Hortonville on March 1, and will afford pleasure seekers an opportunity to indulge their propensity for fun.

Michael Grady of Cochecton “took in” a stranger the other night, giving him food and lodging and was in turn “taken in” to the tune of $130, which the stranger left with some time during the night.

A backwoods young man stopped in the local barbershop last week and when asked how short he wanted his hair, fondled some change in his pocket and replied, “I reckon you can cut me off about three nickels worth.”

On Monday Eugene Hinsman of Pike Pond caught a pickerel in Moulthrop Pond that weighed five and a half pounds.

Mr. Frank McDermott, brother of John McDermott here, was recently presented a fine gold medal by Thorne, MacFarlane and Co., as a token of the esteem in which he is held by his company.

130 years ago - 1891

The citizens of Mongaup are about to erect a suspension bridge across the Delaware. It's to be built of wire.

John W. Frazer, a son of Ruben Frazer of Bethel, died January 17 in the Wilkes-Barre, PA. hospital from injuries received in a run-away accident in that city.

Delaware County bluestone­­men met at Hancock last week to organize a “combine: to secure higher prices for their flags. But will they pay higher wages? We doubt it.

There will be considerable building done in Jeff this spring.

The Kickapoo Indian medicine company which furnished so much amusement for this village several years ago, are holding their free entertainment at Deposit this week.

The well being put down at Long Eddy for oil or gas is down 800 feet but nothing but water as yet.

A large lamp exploded in Alley's bar room at Kenoza Lake one day last week, and came very near burning down the house. It is estimated that during 1890 about $60 million was invested in the electrical industry in the U.S.

Charles Kautz of Hortonville died on February 8, at Hortonville, aged 65 years.

Some of the news stories in this issue are headed, “Orphans Burned to Death,” “Flood, Famine and Fire,” “Murder, Then Suicide,” etc.

120 years ago - 1901

Margaret Botz, widow of the late Esquire John C. Mall, died at the home of her son-in-law, Henry Treyz, at Cooks Falls on February 7, aged nearly 82 years. Ever since her arrival in this community, 52 years ago, having been born in Wurtembuerg, Germany, and married in New York City, she resided on the Mall homestead in Beechwoods, with the exception of the last three years when she lived with her son-in-law in Cooks Falls. Her husband died in November 1890. She is survived by her children, Louis Mall of Jeffersonville, August and Henry Mall of New York, Gottfried Mall of California, Louise Treyz of Cooks Falls, Caroline Boss of Humboldt, Neb., and John Mall of Wellsville.

Mary G. Graby, 84, of North Branch, died on February 8. She was born in Hanover, Germany. Her husband died 17 years ago. Three sons and four daughters survive.

The burial of Philip Erdman Sr. took place Friday in the Catholic Cemetery instead of the Dutch Reformed. Rev. William Meyer of the M.E. Church conducted the services at the house.

Some of the users of the village water system are having their annual trouble over the freezing up of their pipes. J.S. Diehl, Conrad Metzger, William Bernhardt and Jacob Hey are among the afflicted.

The Jeffersonville fire commissioners have bought 400 feet of new cotton and rubber fire hose at 50 cents a foot through Henry Krenrick. The engine is now housed in the new building. The Presbyterian Church has been selected as the official fire alarm for the village. Fred C. Ranft and John C. Beck were appointed a committee to attend to the ringing when the occasion demands it.

Miss Lillian Welch, the 18-year-old daughter of Joseph Welch of Kenoza Lake, returned home last week from the Post Graduate Hospital in New York where she has been under treatment for three months. She is now able to walk again, having suffered paralysis of the spine, following an attack of measles five years ago.

110 years ago - 1911

The horse of W.L. Tyler of Cochecton was struck and cut in two by a westbound train, Estra 77, at Page's Crossing near the pump station below Cochecton early Tuesday morning.

A movement is on foot to start another national bank in Liberty with a capital of $50,000. B.F. Green, Sherman Ernhout, D.S. Hill, Isaac Post and E.W. Grant are the prime movers in the matter.

Wm. Kashel of Jeffersonville exhibited yesterday a Plymouth Rock egg weighing 4 1/2 oz. and measuring 7 by 8 1/2 inches.

A son was born on Saturday night to Mr. and Mrs. George W. Baumgardt.

On February 5, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Kratz of Beechwoods.

The Youngsville bowling team, composed of Guischard, Hogencamp, Boband, Spielman, Smith and Bryon, lost two games straight at the Eagle Alleys on Saturday to the Jeffersonville team of Jacobs, Huff, Lixfield, Bollenbach, Homer and Hubert. Next Saturday night the Jeff Colts will run up against a team known as the Kohlertown Carpenters, composed of Huff, Miller, Schwartz, Schmidt, Bollenbach and Wagner.

The businessmen of Liberty have organized a businessmen's association; Monticello is organizing a board of trade and will take up the matter of building a new hotel.

A dramatic society of 10 members has been organized at Livingston Manor with J.D. Rasmussen, president; Albert Krum, vice president; Edith Dubois, secretary; and Margaret Case, treasurer.

The new board of directors of the Callicoon National Bank met Monday and reorganized for the year. The old officers were re-elected: Anthony Manny, president; Chas. A. Thorwelle, vice-president; and W.L. Dodge, cashier.

Hugh Pillion of Roscoe has sold his Crystal Spring farm and boarding house near that place to Frederick A. Swick of New York. Mr. Pillion has been running the Faubel House for the last couple of years.

100 years ago - 1921

Charles Robisch, new Master, has resigned as trustee of the Jeffersonville Grange, and A.J. Bossley has been elected in his place.

Officers of the Sullivan County Farmers Cooperative Assn. were elected at a meeting held in Liberty Saturday night. They are: D.H. Clements of Liberty, chairman; Frank Lorenz of Stevens­ville, president; William Crary of Liberty, vice-president; Joseph Ulrich of Stevensville, secretary; A.D. Leroy of Bradley, treasurer; and D.R. Bonnell, purchasing agent.

Joseph Alpy, a former garage­man in Callicoon and Jeffersonville, and for the past few years in New York, will shortly take over the repair department at the Howland Garage in Callicoon. He is a son-in-law of Mrs. M. Muery of Hortonville.

Joseph Bauernfeind bought the Aston farm in Fremont, and he and his wife, the former Margaret Weber, will move there in the spring.

George Matthues has sold his farm and boarding house near Youngsville.

A number of Free Masons attended a meeting of the order at Livingston Manor Thursday evening. Eighty-one petitioners signed a dispensation to form a chapter of Royal Arch Masons to be known as Beaverkill Chapter. J. Wm. Davis was elected high priest; Frank W. Laidlaw of Hurleyville, king; E.C. Darbee of Roscoe, scribe; J.M. Decker of Livingston Manor, secretary; and John R. Baldwin, treasurer.

George Wood, 84, is critically ill of pneumonia, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Hubert of Jeffersonville, and all the children have been summoned. Mr. Wood was living with his son, Matthew, at Callicoon, and was brought to Jeffersonville last Thursday. Robert Wood is here from Livingston Manor, Edward from Napanoch, Clarence from Middletown, and Mrs. Chas. Wohltjen from Brooklyn.

90 years ago - 1931

Justice Staley of Albany has dismissed the writ of certiorari issued by Justice Foster of Sullivan County calling for a review of the action of the State Commissioner of Education in ousting the trustees of the Fremont Center School District for refusing to provide transportation for pupils from that district to a high school. Justice Staley held the Commissioner was within his rights and no jurisdiction existed for reviewing his acts. Ellsworth Banker of Monticello, attorney for the trustees, may appeal the decision to the Appellate Division.

East Branch trustees who took a similar position to the Fremont Center School trust­ees have, on the advice of counsel, decided to abandon the fight and to furnish transportation to the high school.

W.G. Bowers is now trustee in the Lakewood school district, town of Fremont, in place of his son, Arthur Bowers, who resigned in order to legalize his wife's contract for transporting pupils to the Roscoe High School. Supt. of Schools, Chas. S. Hick, held that Mrs. Bowers' contract was illegal while her husband was trustee.

District school superintendents are to be chosen again this coming spring for another five year term. There are three districts in Sullivan County, the superintendents of which are Mrs. Emma Chase of Monticello, for the first district, embracing the towns of Fallsburg, Forestburgh, Mamakating, and Thompson; Charles S. Hick of Jeffersonville, for the second district, embracing the towns of Callicoon, Delaware, Fremont, Neversink and Rockland; and Frederick J. Lewis of Barryville for the third district, covering the towns of Bethel, Cochecton, Highland, Liberty, Lumberland and Tusten.

In one of the largest conflagrations in the history of Hancock, the modern lumber mills and yards of Harry Kraft, formerly of Callicoon Center, were completely destroyed by fire on Saturday evening together with a storehouse with cement, material belonging to others, some small shops of the Erie Railroad and a building housing the Western Union telegraph officer. The loss is estimated at $50,000 to $75,000.

Mrs. Anna Cassidy of Jersey City, widow of Chas. P. Cassidy, who made a fortune in the hay and grain business, died on January 13 leaving an estate of more than $2 million dollars. Half of the residue is left to St. Joseph's Seraphic Seminary at Callicoon, and it is estimated it will amount to a million dollars. The seminary's share is to be used for the education of young priests of the Franciscan Order.

The Lutheran Ladies Aid Society will celebrate the 26th anniversary of the society on February 4th with a covered dish supper. In the evening, the Brotherhood will entertain.

Herman Behnken lost a finger on his left hand as a result of a wood chopping accident Monday morning.

The commissioner of Education has granted an appeal, taken by the pupils, with Wm. Deckelman as their attorney, directing the trustees of the East Branch School District to provide transportation for pupils to high schools in Hancock, Roscoe and Downsville. This reversed a vote of a special school district meeting on September 22, refusing to provide such transportation.

80 Years Ago - 1941

Benjamin Yaeger of the Sullivan County Oil Co., Liberty, accompanied by his wife and daughter, Florence, is going to Lakeland, Fla., to spend five weeks on a dude ranch, $8 each per day.

Clifton Mathern, son of Harry P., will leave February 18 for a year of military training. Earl Kohler has been rejected because of dental defects. Edward L. Peters of Briscoe will leave today in a group of 12. Ernest George Schaefer of Livingston Manor is listed as an alternate in the military draft.

Elliott Morgan is harvesting ice 14 inches thick on Lake Jefferson. The cakes are hauled into the ice house by gas engine power. Henry Townsend is hauling his supply of ice from Hust's Pond, Kenoza Lake.

Philip Peter Justin, aged 91, died on February 10th at a nursing home in Seacliff, L.I., where he has been confined since he fell and broke his pelvis a year ago. He was born in Beechwoods, December 14, 1849, a son of Fred Justin and Mary Corell, natives of Germany. He succeeded to the homestead. On July 12, 1887, he was married to Elizabeth H. Schaefer of Beechwoods, at the home of her parents, John Philip Schaefer and Elizabeth Hasenpflue. For many years they conducted a farm and summer boarding house, known as Justin Grange, which is now the property of the Soloways, in upper Beechwoods. They sold the place in 1919 and went to Seacliff to live with their son, Joseph. Mrs. Justin died on January 5, 1926, at the age of 66. An elder brother, Fred, died in the Beechwoods about 11 years ago.

Christopher H. Portz, 79, died at Binghamton on February 9th. Born at Sand Pond, he left there as a young man.

Lewis N. Raymond, a student at Bloomfield Seminary, who's been supplying a Newark church, will arrive at the Presbyterian parsonage in Jeffersonville Friday, with his wife and baby daughter. He will supply the local churches while completing his studies at the seminary.

70 years ago - 1951

At a ceremony solemnized at the Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville on Sunday, Miss June Phyllis Mootz, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Mootz of Callicoon Center, became the bride of Rudolph Henry Noetzel, young­est son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Noetzel of North Branch. The double-ring ceremony was performed by Rev. Joseph C. Kovach. A reception followed at Tumble Inn. Both are graduates of JCS, Class of 1949. Mr. Noetzel attended Delhi Ag. Mrs. Noetzel is employed by Mootz and Steinhauser in Callicoon Center.

Marilyn Cox of Liberty and Lee Cole of Swan Lake were married February 10 at the bride's home. Rev. Gilmore officiated. They were attended by Butch and Charlotte Steele Augustine.

60 years ago - 1961

The more than 12 inches of snow which fell in Sullivan County areas caused immobilization and accidents reminiscent of the snows of 1958 in which a state of emergency was declared in Sullivan County. A coal truck of Walter Scardefield upset at Kennedy's Korners, Lake Huntington, on Saturday when the driver was unable to see the highway in the drifting snow and the vehicle dropped into the ditch and eased over. Several dairymen were unable to get their milk to the creamery and many others were left waiting at the creamery because tankers didn't arrive to take their product away. By Sunday evening, all local roads were open. Thursday was the coldest day of the year with a recording of 15 below, according to William George, Liberty weather observer. The Lake Huntington firemen extinguished a blaze in the egg room of Osmer Geib at Fosterdale last Thursday morning. Mr. Geib is glad it happened before the big storm. Eight hundred chickens were lost and the top floor and roof of the Charles Massopust chicken coop at White Sulphur Springs. Firemen were able to save some of the coop and some chickens.

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Blau of Carl's Inn in Hankins were feted Sunday for their 25th wedding anniversary.

Principal Charles E. Lewis of Delaware Valley Central School revealed preliminary plans for a proposed eight-room addition to the present school building at a combined meeting of the school board and the executive board of the DVCS Parent-Teachers Association on Wednesday evening.

The Solemn Investiture of Rt. Rev. Msgr. William F. Wilkins of Woodbourne as a Domestic Prelate took place Sunday afternoon at the Immaculate Conception Church. Father Wilkins is chaplain of Woodbourne Institute and president of the Catholic correctional Chaplains Association. He is one of the most widely known clergymen in the county.

50 years ago - 1971

Bro. Bruno Joyal, OFM, loved by all who knew him and a great friend of the children, died Sunday after serving at St. Joseph's Seminary for 46 years. He was the oldest friar at the seminary and was 83 years of age.

Joseph and Cecilia Meehan of Callicoon announce the birth of twins, Seth Joseph and Rose Cecilia, born January 10 at the Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, Pa. . . . Mr. and Mrs. George Kwoka of Mountaindale became the parents of twin sons, Adam John and Christopher George, on January 16 at the Community General Hospital in Harris.

Improved railway passenger service to the Sullivan area was recommended in a resolution unanimously a­dopted at the Friday supervisors, meeting. It was over the signature of Delaware's John Eschenberg.

The Town of Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps has just finished its first year of service to the area.

Douglas Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith, Callicoon, was honored for receiving 11 Merit Badges and was advanced to the rank of Star Scout at ceremonies on February 3.

Liberty School Board Trustee Richard Steenrod was badly shaken when he was attacked near his home following the board meeting of February 2nd during an assault which saw a file folder containing school papers taken from his person. The papers have not been recovered.

A salute of congratulations was extended to the Liberty Police Department on the observance of their 100th anniversary.

America's Brave 52, as they have come to be known, spent their first day back in New York's West Point. Mark Pearlman of Monticello visited the Point on Tuesday to photograph the first official press conference granted by the freed Americans. In the meantime, Mayor Lou Harmin of Monticello cut the yellow ribbon from a tree symbolizing the return of the hostages from Iran. The entire county was preoccupied most of the week with television and radio coverage of the hostages' return to West Point in neighboring Orange County.

40 years ago - 1981

Thomas L. Nealon Jr., principal of the Liberty Elementary School, died January 24, at his home, at the age of 42. He was married to the former Edwina Nugent who survives together with four children.

George Neuhaus, supervisor of the Town of Bethel, said Wednesday that he would “appeal to the state legislature for funding of Lake Superior Park,” which is located on Dr. Duggan Road in Bethel. In a letter to the Board of Supervisors, the state division of the budget said the park would not receive funding in Governor Carey's 1981 budget.

Father Peter Jacobsen, pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church in Monticello and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in South Fallsburg for the past 13 years, has assumed new pastoral work in St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Flint, Mich… The Kenoza Lake Charge of the West Sullivan United Parish welcomed the Rev. Roger Riley and his wife, Adelia, as their new pastor.

Officers of council 550 Knights of Columbus of Monticello celebrated the 80th anniversary of their founding on Saturday night with a dinner at the Chateau Restaurant in Monticello.

Reginald Fant, organizer for Local 1199 of the National Hospital and Health Care Union, said late Monday afternoon that the strikers, who have refused to accept a settlement with the Community General Hospital which their own union leaders in New York recommended they accept, are “going ahead” with economic pressure on the hospital, and are “headed to Albany” to try to bring force to bear on the unresolved situation from there.

Equinunk (Pa.) Fire Department firefighters answered two calls this past weekend. They were called out late Saturday afternoon to the home of Walter Williams in Galilee where a kitchen fire had quickly spread throughout the house, damaging an upstairs bedroom and causing extensive smoke and water damage. Later the same night, they were called to the home of Fred Bennett, also of Galilee. No one was home and the fire was reported by neighbors. The house was completely involved in flames when the firemen arrived. Thirty-five men and three trucks were at the alarm, assisted by Callicoon Fire Company. The house was a total loss.

Several months ago the insurance company said it was time for William Weiss, operator of the Town of Bethel Landfill, to retire. The work included operating a bulldozer. Mr. Weiss was honored at his retirement with a birthday cake to honor his 87th birthday. “If anybody knows of any good jobs, I hope they let me know,” he said before blowing out the candles on his cake.

Tina Marie Ardizzone, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ardizzone of Jeffersonville, and Randy Lee Gorr, son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gorr of Youngsville, were married at a double-ring ceremony at St. Peter's Catholic Church.

Residents of Port Jervis were awakened at 5 a.m. Thursday by the noise of fire trucks in the street sounding their horns when the waters of the Delaware River overflowed their banks, caused by warm weather and rain which caused the ice in the Delaware to break up. A jam behind the Delaware Valley (Pa.) Joint High School caused the Dela­ware to back up over its banks and up the Neversink River.

Sophie Morris, the first postmaster of Neversink, died in Liberty February 9. She was 100 years old. Mrs. Morris was born in Neversink and her family feted her with a large 100th birthday celebration in June.

30 Years ago - 1991

Justin Dexheimer from Grahamsville caught the largest pickerel, 22 1/4 inches long, in an ice-fishing contest held at Camp Ranachqua, Town of Tusten. He is a member of Pack 87 of Grahamsville who participated in the overnight campout and fishing weekend by Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Sullivan County. Justin is a fourth generation scout and a direct descendant of Harold Dexheimer, a member of the Brigade Boys which became the first boy scout troop in Sullivan County in 1911. In a picture in the Democrat, Justin was wearing the same scout shirt that his father, Tim, wore when he was Justin's age. Other Cub Scout winners were: Most Fish, total 33, Adam Cross, Pack 88, Fallsburg; largest perch, 10 1/4 inches, Josh Moore, Pack 88, Fallsburg; Most fish by pack, Pack 88, Fallsburg, first; second, Pack 87 of Grahamsville, and third, Pack 95 of Liberty. In the same outing, Tim Ward, Troop 97 of Neversink, caught a total of 15 perch; largest perch was 10 1/8 inches and was caught by Ben McBride of Troop 112 in Monticello. Boy Scout Troop 97 of Neversink caught the most fish with Troop 187 of Grahamsville, second, and Troop 112 of Monticello, third. Shawn McCullough caught 22 pickerel.

A memorial service will be held Saturday for the Guthrie One 4-member crew that were killed late Saturday as the critical care helicopter crashed on its return to Sayre, Pa., following a transport to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.

The Sullivan County Board of Supervisors is considering a $15M plan to renovate the jail. Faced with rapidly escalating costs of building a new jail to satisfy the demands of the state commission on Corrections and a tight budget in 1991, the board had asked Commissioner of Public Works Roger Wehr to recommend improvements to its present jail. Tuesday, he told the Physical Services Committee that detailed plans drafted by MRB Group of Rochester, the county's jail consultant, would be ready for their review in the next few weeks.

American flags flying on Main Street from one end of Sullivan County to the other. Children tying yellow ribbons on trees in front of their homes in support of loved ones, neighbors and relatives serving in Operation Desert Storm. School buses flying yellow ribbons as they make their way from home to school and back again. Billboards expressing their support for servicemen fighting in the Persian Gulf war. Throughout the county, families are acknowledging the nearly two-week old war - the war they watched the start of on their television day after day - in the only way they can. News reports and defense experts speak of the war theater. Their stage is the Persian Gulf, the Kuwaiti desert or Baghdad. On Saturday, protesters against the war created a theater for peace. Their stage was Broadway, Monticello.

Ironically, it was Monticello's Liberty Street that formed the dividing line between two groups of demonstrators Saturday morning. In front of St Peter's Church on Broadway, some 50 demonstrators against the Persian Gulf war had gathered. Slogans like “Cease Fire!” and “Stop the War” appeared on their poster board signs. Across the roadway in front of the post office, about 25 people had formed a counter demonstration in support of the American-led war effort against Iraq. A pair of men stretched a large American flag in front of the whole group - this, they said, was their sign. Many other flags were held by others in the group. There were no physical clashes during the two-hour demonstration.

The Upper Delaware Council will sponsor its third awards banquet on March 9 at Woodloch Pines in Lackawaxen Township, Pa. The awards are made to recognize and honor those communities, groups and individuals who have undertaken forward-looking programs, events and individual actions during 1990 to conserve our section of the Delaware River.

Gregory Goldstein has bought the Farrell Insurance Agency in Livingston Manor from previous owners, James Farrell and Martin Schwartz, effective January 1. Goldstein also owns Misner Insurance Agency in Woodbourne.

20 Years Ago - 2001

Hortonville and Callioon firefighters had their hands full with two separate motor vehicle accidents this past Friday afternoon. According to Hortonville Chief Tim Hornicek the first accident occurred sometime after 3 p.m. when a log truck driven by John Dumond of Lake Huntington was climbing the steep hill going out of Hortonville on Beechwoods Road.

“As the truck reached the top of the hill, the engine just quit,” explained Hornicek. “As a result the truck lost its brakes and the driver couldn't stop it from rolling backwards. Rather than keep going down the hill or off the embankment on the other side of the road he steered the truck into the ditch where it overturned.” Dumond was uninjured as a result of the incident and actually went to get help at Hofer's Sawmill just up the road.

While Hortonville firefighters were standing by waiting for another logging vehicle to arrive on the scene and remove the logs from the stricken vehicle, this alarm sounded shortly after 4 p.m. Dispatchers directed firefighters and equipment to respond to a second motor vehicle accident just off of Route 17B on County Route 121. Arriving at the second call firefighters found a two-car motor vehicle accident involving a pickup truck, which had sideswiped a passenger car. Although no one involved in the crash seemed to be seriously injured, Callicoon firefighters performed medical assessments and one of the drivers was transported to Grover Hermann Hospital where he was treated and released.

Evelyn Kohler Robisch of Jeffersonville, 93, died Friday, February 9, 2001 at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. The daughter of the late William and Mary Krantz Kohler, she was born August 24, 1907 in Kohlertown. She was the widow of David Laverty and Irving Robisch.

10 Years Ago - 2011

The Wurtsboro Board of Trade's Winterfest held in downtown Wurtsboro benefitted from the colder temperatures the day brought. The Ice Sculpture contest decorated the sidewalks as many competed for the cash prize. First-place winner Chris Uyehara grabbed the $500 prize, while second-place winner Jerry Perrin earned $300, and third-place winners Gabrielle Hatch and Zack Bowersock split $200.

The Parksville Priorities Committee plans to take advantage of the new bypass for Route 17/I-86 relocation. While the new bypass' three miles were acquired by the state around the time the four-lane version of 17 burrowed through the county in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, the highway was instead routed through the heart of Parksville, creating the infamous four-way intersection, complete with full-fledged traffic light and its accompanying high accident rates. The coming conversion of 17 to an interstate prompted the state to resurrect the bypass plans, which were initally met with concern by locals. But faced with a decimated downtown business district, Parksville native and engineer Wes Illing decided to form the PPC to take advantage of the hamlet's shiny new exit/entrance ramps, which will open this year or next.

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