1949: Theft of snakeskin purse yields 19 cents

25 years ago July 5, 2001 A memorial service was held for Derek Rayburn Hawley, 24, a native of Scottsdale, Arizona, and a resident of Placer County for more than eight years. Derek worked as an audio cable technician. The Pineview School in Newcastle served students with profound multiple disabilities. The fourth annual Indian Creek Men's Club golf tournament will raise funds for the school. Four area juveniles were arrested for armed robbery of the Beacon Station in Loomis and a Chevron Station in Roseville. Placer County Sheriff's Detective Angela DeWolf helped coordinated the investigation leading to the capture of the suspects. The Loomis Basin Dolphins swim team defeated the Highlander Dolphins 608-284. The top individual swimmers were J. Burke (age 10), Ryan Toohey (14) Jessica Carroll (16) and Chris Inouye (18). The top swimmers in the 17-18 age group were Chris Inouye, Sara Christensen, Tony Black and Bethie Seymour. Diane Ruhkala Bell's "Imagination in Ink: Mixed Media and Monotypes" will be on display in the Tower Theater Lobby Gallery in Roseville. The Five Cities Minor All-Star team earned second place at the Foothill Jamboree softball tourney. Players were Hali Coppin, Sami Gray, Mary Lovell, Kelly Allendale, Kristina Pagluica, Stephanie Konen, Megan Pierce, Gina Payne, Jocey Cartright, Kathryn Lohr, Alyssa Pingree and Tara Green. The rookie all-stars will be a formidable foe in the tournament with a record of 16-0. Celebrating the Fourth of July was all about the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, for 13 colonies. The committee to prepare the declaration were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. 50 years ago July 1, 1976 Funeral services were held for Zonya Mary Lincoln, 78, a native of Ord, Nebraska. She came to Fresno in 1908 and to the Loomis area in 1932. A fire broke out on the Peris family property on Rancho Verde Lane in Loomis. The only structure destroyed was a mailbox after the volunteer firemen put out the fire. The 30-acre Lincoln landfill site off of Virginiatown Road was sold to Clay City. Proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase a more suitable regional site to serve Western Placer County. The Lincoln site was purchased by the county to replace the county-operated landfill in Loomis, which currently is being used by Lincoln to dispose of its solid waste material. The worst California wildfire season in 50 years was possible this summer because "tinderbox" conditions exist. The year's drought was the worst since the 1923-24 fire season. Rossi's Pizza, the delicious Italian food restaurant in Loomis, was looking for a new location. Papa Rossi (Giovanni Siviglia) closed his shop recently. Summer school at the new Loomis campus was filled with a variety of interesting course offerings for the students such as edible art, taught by Carmen Fernandez. Other classes included tennis, Tied Up In Knots (macrame), guitar and horse husbandry. Three teachers – Kathy Boles, Pat Raner and Carleen Schuneman, along with parent Mary Lou McCann – were working through the summer creating math games and learning tools to improve the district's mathematics. Local cyclist Mike Cagel placed third at Cycleland Speedway in Chico. He raced in the mini-class (80cc) division. The old two-room Lincoln School, built 86 years ago, was being restored on the Glen Edwards School grounds on the corner of First and L streets. The Old School Project began with a class from CSU Sacramento and continued with a group of local people, including David Tucker, Zenith Radovich, Paul Sisk, Richard Wyatt, Nancy Sisk and Bertha Newcomb. 75 years ago December 1949 Mrs. R.B. Ferguson started a project a year ago to help others in the area. It was so successful residents have been dropping off toys at Fergie's Shoe Repair in Loomis for children to make their Christmas a bit cheery. Members of the Loomis Fruit Growers Association held their 49th annual dinner and business meeting in the basement of the Congregational Church. A turkey dinner was served by Dorothy Oakes and Belle Ferguson. Administrators of the elementary schools of Penryn, Eureka Union, Rocklin, Newcastle and Loomis met to discuss the increased student attendance. Looked like someone needed a bit more cash to do some Christmas shopping. A snakeskin purse belonging to Thelma Rapp was taken from under the counter in the Loomis Variety & Clothing Store. It would have been interesting to see the look on the vandal's face when opening the purse to find only 19 cents. The Christmas program at Loomis Union Elementary School included the orchestra, tonette band and Glee Club, directed by Mrs. Breeze Newcomer and Miss Dorothy Watson. Clay Carter, reporter for the Loomis 4-H Club, said a motion was made to donate $5 for the Placer County TB Drive. "We are sorry we could not give more," he said. Playing in theatres was "Tuna Clipper" with Roddy McDowell. Some 100 years ago on Dec. 23, 1849, the first elected governor of California, Peter H. Burnett, led the grand march to open the Inaugural Ball. Citizens of the pueblo of San Jose arranged the event in honor of the first legislative assembly for the newly formed state. Standing guard - oral histories: Tamotsu "Tom" Matsuda was born in Penryn in 1926. His family lived on a 48 acre farm, which they owned and operated. After WWII started, Tom and family were sent to the Arboga Assembly Center near Marysville before being moved to Tule Lake War Relocation Center. While in camp, Tom participated in Japanese Language School, Boy Scouts and playing the violin. He and his sister, Grace, played in a camp orchestra, made up of about 48 musicians. Tom was also in the first graduating class of Tule Lake High School. (continued)