1976: Del Oro's 'Golden' Eagle QB named to Optimist team

25 years ago March 1, 2001 The Placer County Sheriff Department's second Community Awareness Academy's goal was to give citizens a greater understanding of law enforcement's role in the community. Wrestlers Matt Lantz and Brandon Banks will represent Del Oro High School in the State Championships. Matt won the 154-pound. class at the Sac-Joaquin Section Championship, the first crown claimed by Del Oro in the past five years. The 47th Oriental Food Bazaar sponsored by the First United Methodist Church of Loomis would be held rain or shine. Making preparations included Tom Trauba slicing celery for the chow mein, Betty Jabusch and Marlene Winger making sweet and sour sauce, and John Nitta preparing the chickens. Fifteen students from Matsudo International High School in Japan will attend Del Oro for three weeks to learn about American culture. Placer County Sheriff's Deputies David Erikson and Van Bogardus arrived aboard the department's helicopter to speak to the sixth-grade class at Franklin Elementary School. The deputies would be speaking at the graduation ceremony for D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). Del Oro High School brothers Kyle and Danien McDaniel, along with friend Zachary Marks from Jesuit High School, organized a project to provide senior citizens and low-income families with fresh produce. Members of the Placer County 4-H, the boys would coordinate the picking of excess fruits and vegetables from local gardens, pack them in boxes and deliver them to the Auburn Interfaith Food Closet and Senior Nutrition Center. Recollections of the Loomis fruit sheds: Norm Cook used to work for George Coleman at the California Fruit Exchange from 1956-58. He operated a lidding machine during the days when the plum line was operating. After 5 p.m., he and others stayed and loaded railroad boxcars. Norm said, "The plum packing line was fun because, even though the work was hard, people were social and enjoyed themselves." Among the workers were Josephine Gamboa, R.T. Newman, Burke Townsend, Jim Takuma, Ron Yelm and Esteban Cruz. 50 years ago Feb. 26, 1976 Funeral services were held for James Alexander Sykes, 55, a native of Bessemer, Alabama, and a resident of Loomis for seven years. A U.S. Air Force veteran of WWI, he was an electrical engineer for the state. As part of the Loomis Lions Club Flag Day, Placer Elementary School Principal Al Schweigert handed out flags to the students. Lions Club members Oliver Grey and Jim Makimoto explained the history of the American flag. A shed was partially destroyed by fire on the Hayashida property off Nute Road in Loomis. Del Oro High School students found themselves without brunch, vending machines and music in the cafeteria as a result of poor behavior on the part of some students. Maria Baracat of Sao Paulo was in Loomis on a three-month stay through the International Fellowship Incorporated. She was staying with the Hannickel family. Maria's great interest was in acting and performed in several productions in Brazil. Mr. and Mrs. Ira T. Allen of Rocklin celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Del Oro students were honored to attend the 1976 Northern California Honor Band. They were Denise Matsuda and Antoinette Gaubert, who each placed first in their section. Other honored musicians were Barbara Lewis, Tony Hill, Becky Lewis, Lori Guilen, Craig Jones, Mark Andrews, Mel Makita and Curtis Dowling. Del Oro's star QB Sam Golden was honored to be chosen to play in the 1976 Optimist All-Star Football Game. Sam would be joined by Golden Eagle teammates Brian Cruse, Butch Enkoji, Dennis McLin and Rob Bonner. The game pitted a Sacramento all-star team against the Superior California squad of the Sierra Foothill League players. 75 years ago October 1949 Assemblyman Francis Lindsay said the Central Valley needs and must have water. The right to water is his opinion was simply "The Area of Origin" was entitled to a fair share of the water originating there. The Pomona Grange, comprising the entire Placer County district, will host the State Grange Officers for the conference of the Sixth Degree of the Patrons of Husbandry. Barbara Stanwyck starred in "The Lady Gambles," playing in theaters. At an agricultural roundtable, local farmers learned of a new material promised to protect fruit trees from browsing deer. Someone entered the office of Dr. P.D. Barnes and helped themselves to medicine and a purse belonging to Elinor. One of the social highlights of Roseville was the annual Fall Fashion Show sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church. A family stopped at the local Penn Motel in Loomis driving a 1911 Pope. The car was made by the Pope Mfg Co. of Hartford, Conn., and still in excellent condition. It was equipped with gas and kerosene lights, air horn, and with the top up measured eight feet high. For sale: 36-acre fruit ranch near Loomis with a 5-room house, 4-room tenant house, barn and a packing shed - $12,000. Rev. Harry Martynse, assisted by Chorister Ival Brown and Organist Ola Beckett, led the Congregational Church in Loomis. Rev. Isaac Inouye conducted services at the Loomis Methodist Church. Standing guard - oral histories: Grant and Stuart Kageta were grateful for the way their parents, Frank and Florence, responded to their removal and incarceration during WWII. "I don't think Mom and Dad ever showed that they were bitter about their experiences," Grant said. "What I got from them was a work ethic. I saw how hard they worked at whatever they did, and I think they always wanted to show they were as good as anybody else," Stu added.