Out of the Past: 02/04/2026

100 Years Ago—

Voters of Colville School District No. 5 will vote today on the question of issuing $55,000 in bonds for the purpose of erecting a new school building.

Bids for the building of the new Hunters High School were opened Monday by the high school board which met for that purpose. The lowest bid was by W.L. Weld of Spokane whose bid was $14,975 for a building of brick with a 10-inch wall containing a 2-inch air space.

The Old Timers Dance Club is giving a gingham and overall dance at the Old Fellows Hall tonight. Admission is by invitation only.

75 Years Ago—

Capt. Gilbert I. Lane of Colville, son of Warren Lane, was given the bronze star medal by Brig. Gen. Leroy H. Watson, post commander of Fort Lewis, in ceremonies at the Fort last Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Warren Lane were in attendance to see Capt. Lane receive the medal for gallant service during WWII. The medal was awarded for contributing to a marked degree in the capture of the Munda Airfield in the South Pacific during the summer of 1943.

Clarence Hill, Stevens County’s champion cherry pie baker, will head for Seattle this week to try for state championship pie baking honors in a contest there.

50 Years Ago—

“Hatfields & McCoys” – There was only one McCoy in Colville and no Hatfields. But last week that changed when two Hatfields moved to town. And more surprising is their similarity. Both families are from the Midwest; both bought homes from Otto Rainer; both homes are next to each other; both went the same day and purchased carpeting from Egger Furniture for their new home; both are of similar age and both have children of similar age. Mr. and Mrs. Eric Hatfield are from Newburg, Ind. Dr. and Mrs. Lon Hatfield will be opening a general family practice here this spring. For the incoming Hatfields, Colville’s only McCoys, Mr. and Mrs. Bob McCoy, live in the Park Village Apartments, owned by Otto Rainer.

25 Years Ago—

In an effort to align the state boundaries of Washington less arbitrarily, State Senator (R) Bob Morton, Orient, and Sen. Bob McClaslin, (R) Spokane, both from eastern Washington, are proposing legislation to split the state of Washington into eastern and western halves.

Following a public hearing and testimony from Colville residents last Tuesday, the Colville city council approved a new contract with Waste Management, a national company contracted by the city for solid waste disposal.

10 Years Ago—

Local mountain snowpack measurements have been released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Colville Field Office for the Feb. 1 reporting date. Snow water content in the mountain snowpack ranged from slightly below average to above average. Compared to last year, the snowpack is in much better condition. 

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is seeking input on the draft Black Locust Removal Action Plan concerning the removal and control of black locust trees from within the park.