LOOKING BACK From our archives; compiled by Howard Stitt

10 Years Ago Aug. 2, 2012 Although 6-year old Rhea Varnes of Loomis has only been ice skating for a year, she has become an accomplished skater. Her mother, Meetra Varnes said, "We tried ice skating on her fifth birthday. It took her 30 minutes to get around the rink the first time and I never thought she would become such a natural at this young age." The annual Obon Odori Festival at the Placer Buddhist Church in Penryn honors the spirits of ancestors. The award-winning band, The Stardust Cowboys, will perform at the First United Methodist Church of Loomis. A team of local enthusiasts are constructing a streamline racer designed nearly 50 years ago. Their goal is to break the land-speed record of 417 MPH at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The team of Bud Stark, Richard Richmond, Travis Travnikar and Vic Williams work on the 34-foot-long car with two 1,100 horsepower engines. Gordon Robbins and Arietta Balestreri of Penryn are among residents informing people of why they are against the Orchard at Penryn 150-unit apartment complex approved by the Placer County Planning Commission. William Jessup University cross country runner Chadd Baltzley, a 2008 Del Oro High School graduate, is the California Pacific Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. Master Gardener Laurie Meyerpeter of Luke's Nursery in Newcastle tends dozens of varieties of bamboo. "Locally, one of the most popular is black bamboo. It's very important to choose the type that works best for your situation. Clumping bamboo is not invasive. Running bamboo is another matter," Meyerpeter said. The Gathering Inn announced its homeless shelter in Roseville will close and stay shut until enough money is raised to reopen. "The organization hopes to reopen the shelter or the local homeless will be left to fend for themselves," said executive director Suzi deFosset. 25 Years Ago July 31, 1997 Local historian Olive "Pat" Jones, 76, died. A Fresno native, she and her husband, Buck, along with their four children moved to Chicago Park in 1959. She published four books: "Colfax Connection," "Chicago Park Connection," "The USS Astoria and the Men Who Sailed Her," (a book for the ship's 50th reunion), and "The Lint Baler" subtitled "Mama Counts to 10 Then Panics." Jones had once remarked that years ago, writers did much of their creating in cafes. Jack London hung around the First and Last Chance establishment on the Oakland waterfront. Now the area around that colorful spot is called Jack London Square. In a hit-and-run accident, a 16-year-old Del Oro High School student was struck while jogging on Rippey Road. Two local students named to the academic Dean's List at the University of Oregon are Ahsan Ali Awan of Granite Bay and John David Sanders of Loomis. The Loomis Basin Dolphins Swim Team consists of about 195 swimmers ages 4 to 18 from south Placer County. Among those swimming in the league championships are Russell Bettencourt, Madison Dominguez, Shawna Davis. Kayla Kurtzman, Caitlyn Bettencourt, Ryan Harold, Ryan Dominguez, Kirk Koester, Michele Patton, Ross Harold, Bethie Seymore and Robin Harold. A medical transport van crashed into a tree, injuring the sole occupant. Aid was offered quickly as the tree is located right in front of the downtown Loomis Fire Station. Placer County Sheriff's Department Community Services Officer Sharon Roloff said residents of Myrtle Drive, Mareta Lane and Shelter Cove in Loomis will observe "National Night Out." A large marijuana crop of 100 plants was found in Loomis by the Placer County Sheriff's Special Operations members. An open house was held for retiring Diana Madoshi, owner of Loomis Desktop Services. 50 Years Ago Aug. 10, 1972 Services were held at the Loomis LDS Church for young Carol Ann Mullen, 6. Sadly, she died when her bicycle crashed into a logging truck at the intersection of Sierra College Boulevard and King Road. A Rosary was recited for Luiza Emelia Ferry, 96, a the Azore Islands native and a Newcastle area resident for the past 77 years. She was a member of the U.P.P.E.C. and S.P.R.S.I. Lodges of Newcastle. Luiza was the widow of Joseph S. Ferry, a prominent local orchardist. Ensign William R. Phillips, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. William Phillips of Loomis, is serving on the Coast Guard Cutter Chase, which completed a three-week cruise to European waters. The new Philip Morris Research Center will emphasize development on new processes to improve the company's varied tobacco products. At the Auburn District Fair, the Judy Lynn Show will headline the grandstand finale. Her entire orchestra will fly in from New York. Volunteer 4-H leaders "learn by doing" in a training course called "Your Sewing Machine," sponsored by The Singer Company. The two-day course has been offered for the past 17 years. A massive program to eliminate virtually all smoke emissions from many of the jets operated by the airlines is nearly complete. The engine, JT8-D, powers the Boeing 727 and 737 along with the McDonnell Douglas DC-9. Don McLean's "American Pie" is as much a pop quiz as it is a pop song. There are veiled references to kings (Elvis?), queens, and court jesters (Bob Dylan?). There are also possible allusions to bands (the Byrds and the Rolling Stones). The song's refrain-"the day the music died" points to the 1959 plane crash that took the lives of entertainers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. 75 Years Ago February 1947 Services were held for Ichizo and Wai Sakata, man and wife, who were killed when their pickup truck collided with an oil truck. The accident happened between Rocklin and Roseville. The couple is survived by seven children. Ed Corrigan, 50, whose body was found in a tunnel near Newcastle, died of a bullet wound. He had worked on the R.L. Tudsbury ranch. Loomis nightwatchman Pat O'Brien heard a noise at the Standard Chevron station and located a carload of young fellows attempting to rob the business. They fled but not before they knocked the top off of the coke machine at the station. Floyd Shupe, Sr. heads up the local Red Cross Drive. Alumni of Stanford University living in Placer County are invited to a Stanford Founders' Day dinner. Mr. M.G. Larkins loaned the paper an original front page copy depicting the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The April 15, 1865 copy of the New York Herald is carefully preserved between two pieces of glass and on display at The Loomis News office. Mrs. Ival Brown is the new teacher for a combined 2nd-3rd grade class to be held in a bungalow behind the main Loomis School building. Former Loomis resident Mrs. Muriel Conner is the new music instructor for the school. She replaces Mrs. Beryl Calhoun, who resigned due to illness. For Sale: Blue Fryer Cafe in Loomis. See John Montero. Hosting the Rocklin Mothers Club are Mesdames Ruby Goldberry, Lena Brashear and Marg Christensen. A motion was passed by the Placer County Board of Supervisors to investigate the gambling and slot machines in the county after 7 slot machines were found at Rainbow Lodge near Big Bend. Members present are Paolini, Boyington, Haines, Geisendorfer and McFadden. It was also moved that Colfax and Loomis receive the first allocations of money for Memorial Halls.