2001: Loomis women rock

25 years ago Feb. 15, 2001 Memorial services were held for Freda Marie Sargent, 79, a native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and a resident of Loomis for 40 years. She worked as librarian at Placer Elementary School. Freda was a published poet, composed music and was an accomplished artist. Services were held for Anna Barton, 85, a native of Lakewood, Washington. A resident of Loomis for 37 years, Anna was a homemaker. Melissa Sowers of Loomis was named to the "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." She was a Nursing major at Asuza Pacific University. The Penryn, Newcastle and Loomis school bands along with the Del Oro High School Concert Ensemble would perform in a combined concert at the high school. Peter Ucovich, a 1999 graduate of Rocklin High School, was named to the Dean's List at CSU Sacramento. He was majoring in Political Science. After a grueling day of testing, the Granite Bay High School Academic Decathlon team arose victorious for the third year in a row. They secured the win after defeating second-place Woodcreek. It was the 15th annual Placer County Academic Decathlon. Rose Takemoto and Helen Florance were honored as "Women Who Rock the World" by the Loomis Basin Congregation United Church of Christ. Rose, with her late husband "Doc" Takemoto, founded the Main Drug Store in Loomis, where she continued to work. Helen had been known for her volunteer work in the community. "Gung Hay Fat Choy" (Happy Birthday) was heard throughout the day in first- and second-grade classes at Franklin Elementary School as they celebrated the Chinese New Year. The students were also rewarded once a week with a special guest, a "Royal Reader." One of those was parent Susan Duke bringing books alive by reading to a class. Her son Michael was in that class. 50 years ago Feb. 12, 1976 A young Penryn man, Thomas Herbert Couey, was killed in a train collision at the Main Street crossing in Newcastle. Masonic funeral services were conducted for Alfred Larsen, 82, a native of San Francisco and a resident of Loomis since 1901. A retired fruit rancher, he was a senior Past Master of Penrhyn Lodge No. 258 F&AM and senior Past Patron of Penrhyn Chapter No. 259 OES. Alfred served in the U.S. Navy during WWI and was a member of the WWI barracks of Auburn. Funeral services were held for Shizuko Nimura, 74, a native of Japan and a Placer County resident for 45 years. Newly elected officers at Loomis School were Audrey Brown, Deanie Fayad, Scott Vanderhamm, Laurie Adamson and Julie Nakata. Del Oro High School sophomore Wyndell Sidebottom will be the speaker during the International Youth Week at the Rocklin Church of God of Prophecy. Loomis Judge Cosma Sakamoto filed for re-election after the door opened for non-attorneys to run for a justice court. Other candidates for the Loomis Justice Court were Jack Willoughby, Jerry Rowley and Nicholas Bailey Jr. Playing at the Roseville Tower was "Let's Do It Again," starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. A colorful map of the U.S. was painted on the playground at Loomis School. Teacher Jim Fanning observed the progress from somewhere in Kansas. Raven Richardson would undertake a bike marathon to benefit the Placer Nevada Easter Seal Society. He was partially disabled by cerebral palsy and attended the Newcastle Physically Handicapped School and Del Oro High School. "Easter Seals helped me," he said. "They provided me with crutches, a wheelchair, and they have just always been there when I needed them." 75 years ago September 1949 Funeral services were held for little Carole Diane Collins, age 5 months, 16 days. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Collins, it was sad to report that young Carole died of pneumonia. Mr. Collins was employed at the Ships Bell Restaurant in Loomis. The Garden Section of the Loomis Womens Club opened the fall session with Madame Isaac Inouye speaking on Flower Arranging. P.G.&E. built a modern $350,000 domestic water treatment plant that would provide Auburn with pure, clear water until 1970. Three other water treatment plants were about to be put into service: Rocklin, Loomis and Newcastle. Farm fires strike nine times when they were invited and only once because they were unavoidable. Farmers needed to be aware of potential hazards. Miss Ernestine Prather, Supervisor of Music in the Roseville City Schools, conducted an evening class for anyone who enjoys singing. Mr. and Mrs. Angelo Dolce hunted at Sierraville with Angelo bagging a 2-pointer buck. Their son Raymond and family, along with Mrs. Belle Ferguson also spent a week hunting at the government camp. All Belle got was a chipmunk. Some 80 miles NE of Medford, Oregon, is the deepest lake in the western hemisphere, Crater Lake. Standing Guard - oral histories: Sam Ikeda operated a farm in Auburn only a mile from his future store, Ikeda's California Country Market. On his farm he focused on peaches, specifically the strawberry nectar white and Gene Elverta. (The Gene Elverta was developed at the Fowler Nurseries.) Sam was not going to ship his peaches by rail to the eastern markets. He wanted to see first hand who purchased his fruit. Customers, including wealthy families driving to their Lake Tahoe retreats, discovered the rare quality of his produce. In the 1970s, Sam and a partner Everett Gibson, opened Ikeda's along Hwy. 80.