LOOKING BACK From our archives; compiled by Howard Stitt

10 Years Ago Sept. 17, 2009 Services were planned for Marie Spencer, 81, a native of Sacramento and a Loomis resident since 1959. She was a loan officer and head teller at Bank of America in Loomis until 1975. Spencer was well-known for being a great Italian cook. Granite Bay residents responded to the question, "What possession would you never put in a yard sale? Jacob Woliver - "My football. My life has been based around football since I was 5." David Beseler - "My mountain bike." Sandra Beseler - "A Gary Pruner painting of a merganser duck." Mason Beseler - "None of my books, except maybe some of the Magic Tree House series." Homewood Lumber had to jump two more hurdles before they could begin grading on its 8.84-acre property at the corner of Sierra College Boulevard and Brace Road. "We are fighting a very difficult economy. We need to get this project going," explained Adam Noorani, son of Homewood principal Hamid Noorani. Clara Hada, a longtime fixture at the soda fountain in Main Drug Store along with Amy Takemoto, serves the "regulars." Among those on a recent afternoon was Lorene Owen, a lifelong resident of Loomis. The drug store is a mainstay for 65 years, started by Hiroshi "Doc" and and his wife, Tsugie "Rose," along with Doc's mother Kikuyo. They opened the store in 1945 after their release from Rohwer Internment Camp in Arkansas. They were among the 120,000 Japanese and Americans of Japanese ancestry who were removed from their homes in 1942. Gordon Takemoto joined his father as pharmacist in 1968 and continued to run the family business. "I enjoy what I'm doing. We have good people in the community," Gordon Takemoto said. 25 Years Ago Sept. 15, 1994 Loomis resident Tommie Moller was elected president of the Sierra College Patrons Club for 1994 to 1995. A graduate magna cum laude from California State University at Sacramento with a major in art, Moller is a well-known painter and sculptor. She organized the Patron's American Indian Cultural Celebration last year. The Patrons donated $50,000 to the college through fundraising. Funds raised have repaired the fountain and the carpeting at the Dietrich Theatre. Emu burgers are to be served at a luncheon held at the Headquarter House Restaurant in Auburn for residents to learn more about and tasting emu. Manning the Loomis Grange Hamburger booth at the Gold Country Fair in Auburn were Sally Ridgeway, Roger Bryant, Kathy Stanley, Jill Ricci with daughter, Kaila, and Don and Alice Sharp. Emu burgers were not on the menu. Since 1990, state funding for schools has been cut drastically. As a result, many programs need to be supported by fundraising. One of these efforts is "Save Our Sports" (SOS) at Del Oro High School. Cow Chip Bingo is the main event to raise funds for the school. The lucky winner holding the deed (ticket) where a cow deposits her chip will win $5,000. With soccer season kicking off, the Loomis Bobcats edged the Rocklin Magic 3-1 with goals by Michael Roser and Matt Bonner with assists from Casey Granados, Michael Brown and David Licciardello. Also playing great were Matt Trigger, Paul Neveadomi, Brian Deen and Craig Keller. Dr. Ken Kizer of Rocklin, recently appointed to head up the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C., presented a check for $14,000 to benefit the "Save the Del Oro Pool Fund" from the California Wellness Foundation. The Sogetsu flower arrangements will be on display during the 30th annual Chicken Teriyaki Food Festival at the Placer Buddhist Church in Penryn. Chairman Tom Miyamoto reminded the public that they can secure chicken teriyaki dinner tickets at Main Drug Store in Loomis or Tsuda Grocery in Auburn. 50 Years Ago Sept. 11, 1969 Airman Kathy Young of RT. 1, Loomis was among thousands of personnel from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi assisting in the effort to help nearby communities recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Camille. The Folsom Lake Bridge Authority has plans in place for a toll bridge crossing the North Fork of the American River above Folsom Lake. The bridge is a very necessary link between Placer and El Dorado counties. Plans are also formulated for a new scenic highway connecting the American River Parkway in Sacramento County and winding 40 miles along Folsom Lake and the Auburn Reservoir and ending near Colfax. Loomis 4-H members selling their lambs at the Junior Livestock Sale at the Gold Country Fair were Geri Taylor to Adams Logging, Mark Taylor to Bank of America, David Brown to Placer Farm Supply and Tena Brown to Bank of America. The Del Oro High School patio will be "exotic," decorated in an oriental theme by Joyce Gates and her committee, for a sukiyaki dinner prepared by George Makimoto and crew. Parents, grandparents and friends, along with the faculty and their families, are invited to the dinner. Bob Gade is setting up for 400 guests. The 78th annual Celebration of the Fiestas Patrias will be held at Royer Park in Roseville. The Placer County Mexican American Community Center will sponsor a youth class to learn Mexican folklore dances. With an enrollment high at 920 students, Del Oro has standing room only. Bruce Barnes' U.S. History class is the largest with 72 students. On September 15, 1969, Penryn and Loomis will have a permanent street address system to replace the outmoded route and box number system. One advantage for residents of the new system is for out-of-area friends being able to find them. Loomis Postmaster Wes Barnes provided free delivery service for information on the system to the local residents. 75 Years Ago September 1944 John Benitez of Rocklin was home on furlough from Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. By September, the Western Allies liberated most of the German-occupied areas in Western Europe, except the Netherlands and scattered regions of Belgium and France. Mussolini tried to escape with a German convoy but was captured by a band of Communists and brutally murdered. A month later, Allied troops marched triumphantly into Rome. Loomis led the county in carlot fruit shipments with more than 100 with Newcastle shipping less than 800 train cars. The grape crop was the latest moving to market with prices up to $100 per ton. More than $300,000 had been paid from insurance policies to Placer County fruit men for losses to cherries, plums and pears, due to hail damage. C.C, Harris almost burned his home down as the rubbish he was burning ignited two palm trees. The Loomis Fire Department brought the blazing trees under control. An Army deserter from Camp Beale punched a Mexican National in a local drinking establishment. His Army uniform was found in a cabin in Loomis owned by Bart Smyth and occupied by Sheron Sing. A young woman claiming to be the deserter's wife appeared at Judge Doty's home and tried in vain to get the man's release. The Military Police took him instead. Over the past three years, 1,000 cork oak trees were planted by local farmers. Tests indicated that cork from the California trees was equal to the best from the Mediterranean countries. A demonstration on how to strip the cork from mature trees was held between the packing house and cannery just south of Lincoln on U.S. 99. Jane and Lou of the Blue Fryer in Loomis were closing the cafe for a needed rest. (The Blue Fryer became Paul Yokote's home on Taylor Road.) Red and Blue Stamps A8-28 are good indefinitely. George Neufeld is moving his vehicle repair equipment to his ranch, two miles east of Penryn on the Alabama Mine Road.