Out of the Past: 03/18/2026

100 Years Ago—

A barium prospect has been opened across the river west of Northport by Fred Martin, Howard Featherkile, and Arthur W. Featherkile. Barium sulphate and carbonate are disclosed in large bodies in a vein 6 feet wide, at a depth of 15 feet. Three claims have been located and the surrounding lands have been staked by other parties since the discovery. The barium is 89.4% pure. Barium is worth about $40 a ton on board cars. It is used in the manufacture of drugs, paints, paper and tempering steel.

Bids were opened Thursday afternoon by the school board for the new school building.  Eleven bids were received ranging from $39,950 to $50,750. The architect’s estimate was $39,897.

75 Years Ago—

County commissioners banned trucks and school buses from county roads Wednesday, and schools throughout the north half of the county closed at least until the weekend. Colville, Kettle Falls, Hunters, and Marcus schools closed down completely until at least Monday.

The Mt. Carmel Hospital drive, after a winter months lull, is due to get underway again this coming week, according to Charles Graham, chairman. The drive, which reached the halfway mark in attaining the $60,000 goal, began last December and, in a matter of 30 days, secured an average of $1,000 a day toward the construction of the new hospital.

The regional office of price stabilization this week appealed to Pacific Northwest car dealers to “strictly conform” to price regulations on new and used cars.

50 Years Ago—

“What can I do to help?” This is the big question being asked by many about Colville’s forthcoming Colville Valley Bicentennial Pageant week June 13-20.

Dave Weaver of Weaver’s Garage has been accepted to enter his 1968 NASCAR Legal Late Model Sportsman Chevy in the Spokane Auto Show which will be held in Spokane March 24-28.  Dave has been racing for eight years and said he will be traveling all over the northwest racing the car in all major NASCAR Races.

Michael C. Horan, state director, Farmers Home Administration, Wenatchee, announced recently that approval has been received from the Office of Operations, USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), Washington, D.C., of an Agricultural Service Center for Stevens County.

25 Years Ago—

After weeks of operating with six, then five members, the Colville City Council is again a seven-member council. Following public interviews of four candidates, council members selected Patrick Eslick and Marilyn Haney to represent Ward Two, positions three and five.

A majority of the state’s rivers, including the Columbia River (Lake Roosevelt), remain just above half their normal levels.

The Kettle River Players and the Kettle River Grange are busy putting the finishing touches on their annual spring play. This year’s play is Off the Track! by Felicia Metcalfe.

10 Years Ago—

KETTLE FALLS – The grand opening of the Kettle Falls Public Library on March 14 was dedicated to Joan “Jo” Nullet and honored Betty Staehly as a dedicated Friend of the Kettle Falls Library.

Some areas of the Colville National Forest that burned last summer in one of the worst fire seasons on the Inland Northwest record books will remain closed.

April Fool’s is a day where people trick the people they love. This year, call a truce and laugh together at a special stand-up comedy event hosted by Burdick’s Night Club in Colville.