2001: February means prep for Little League season

25 years ago Feb. 8, 2001 There were 20 teams with 230 youngsters preparing for the South Placer Little League baseball tryouts. League President Steve Schmidt said, "I am really excited about our teams. We're looking forward to this fifth year." Penny Schmidt and Patricia Green signed in players, followed by team manager Mark Camillucci and Bill Benson checking the players' performances. Captain Karl Fowler of the Loomis Fire Protection District thanked the community and Raley's for the "Fill the Boot" fundraiser. Competing for the Loomis District Wrestling Team, Josh Summers of Franklin School placed first in the 108-pound class at the Lyman Gilmore Invitational. Del Oro High School wrestlers notching victories in the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships were Zack Sanchez, Matt Spencer, Gabe Ruhkala, Derek Eilmas and Eric Fernandez. The team upset Los Banos before losing to Ponderosa in the final. Noted artist and teacher Marie Bowden would be offering painting with acrylic at the L.I.F.E. Senior Center meeting at the First United Methodist Church of Loomis. There were 41 committees putting final touches to the 47th Oriental Food Bazaar, sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Loomis. Pastor Pam Cummings said, "The first year, the bazaar raised a whopping $556.15." Some 3,300 chickens will be barbecued at Del Oro the day of the event. Recollections of the Loomis Fruit Sheds: Howard Noy worked as a fruit inspector for the state in almost all of the Loomis fruit sheds from 1947 to 1980. His son, Tom, worked at the Blue Anchor shed from 1963-65. Another son, Gary, also worked in the Blue Anchor shed from 1969-71 on the loading crew and then from 1972-81 as a fruit inspector at the Loomis Fruit Growers and Blue Anchor sheds. A nightly sight was the "Ranch Pack" trucks delivering their plum crates to the main fruit shed to be loaded into railroad cars and shipped back east. The plums had been packed back at the ranches. Among the many workers loading pear cars were Jim Struble, Elmer Oseto and Tad Yego. 50 years ago Feb. 5, 1976 Del Oro High School student Irene Fetz was selected as the 1976 winner of the Youth Citizenship Award by the Soroptimist International of Rocklin-Loomis. Preparing for Oriental Food Bazaar sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Loomis were co-chairs Shig Kajimura, Bob Smith, Joe Kageta and Carrol Reyman. Ernie Dokimos, Tom Bautista and Hank Richman helped prepare for the Rocklin Lions Valentine Dance. Two attorneys, Jack Willoughby and Jerry Rowley, were candidates to run for the Loomis Justice Court, a seat vacated by Cosma Sakamoto. As a result of legislation known as the Gordon decision, which provided that only attorneys may sit as judges, Cosma was ineligible to seek re-election. Nancy Okey wore her lucky hat to all of Del Oro's basketball games except one, the only game the Golden Eagles lost to date. The top three winners had happy faces at the Cub Scout Pack 15 Pinewood Derby. They were Jeff Gray, David McDaniel and Brett Francis. The Best Car design went to Steve Crowley. Penryn School's spanking policy (physical correction) required parental permission before a student spanking. History of local citrus fruit: By 1887, Placer County was the scene of a land boom. Most of us were under the impression the English settlers formed the Placer County citrus colony. The colony was actually established by a group of Americans as a corporation registered with the state. The original plan was probably conceived by Joel Parker Whitney, the largest shareholder in the corporation. Boulder Ridge, sometimes called Clover Ridge due to its proximity to Clover Valley, as the north and west boundary of the colony while the Central Pacific Railroad tracks bounded it to the south and east. The land was divided into lots and the Birdsall irrigation ditch ran through the colony. Many of the early sales of the colony were by English settlers, Captain J. Booth Clarkson being the first. The ranch home of Phineas W. Butler was almost the geographical center of the colony lands. 75 years ago September 1949 It was sad to report that 18-month-old Robert Koso Nakashima, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nakashima of Penryn, drowned in an irrigation ditch. Linda Susan Cater, 10-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Cater of Loomis, won a baby contest and was entered in a state side contest. America's oil worries were over. Some experts claimed the country would have all the oil it would need for centuries to come. The answer was shale oil with possibly 20 to 40 times more recoverable oil than all proven petroleum reserves in the country. Pheasant hunters would have more state-raised game birds to shoot in 1949. F.A. Kramer, hunting with his son Fritz, shot a 4-point buck near Tule Lake. Other local hunters getting their deer were Fred Karacus, with son Ted, Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Bush and Sleeta Coburn. Playing at the State in Auburn was "The Red Menace," filmed in secrecy in Hollywood Republic Studios. Why editors skip town: The judge exacted from the husband a promise that he would kill his wife every morning before leaving for work. FFA and 4-H calf roping competition took place at the fair in Auburn. Earning awards included John Braswell of Ophir (Greased Pigs); Dale Reese and Helen Rogers of Lincoln, Clay Carter of Penryn, and Jo Ann Nute of Loomis (Potato Races); Robert Turner of Loomis, Carl Bahrs of Penryn and Wayne Vineyard of Lincoln (Musical Chairs.) Standing guard - oral histories: Sam and Sally Ikeda built a successful business in Auburn, Ikeda's California Country Market, with a loyal clientele enjoying the food and some of best peaches anywhere. Sally was 12 years old and Sam 14 when their families were forced to evacuate in 1942. After internment, Sam began farming. Local farmers shipped their bounty by rail to the Eastern market, but Sam Ikeda had a different vision. (continued)