Take a trip through our area’s rich history for April 3

Enjoy these snapshots of articles written in past issues of the Nisqually Valley News from 45, 35, 25 and 15 years ago, respectively.

A look back at this week, 45 years ago
• Delbert D. Woodruff, 41, was pinned in his upside-down auto for 30 minutes after an attempt to evade Yelm police ended when Woodruff’s vehicle spun, flipped and landed on its top. Woodruff was taken to the hospital for treatment. He was later released from custody after posting $2,500 bail.
• Yelm resident Mary Johnson celebrated her 95th birthday on March 20, 1980, at the Royal Care Convalescent Home. She was joined for the occasion by friends and family.
• Danette Longnecker, a 1979 Yelm High School graduate, received orders to attend boot camp in Orlando, Florida. Longnecker was to leave for camp April 10, and planned to receive her corpsman certificate and continue her nursing education.
• ShopRite Food Centers advertised T-bone steaks for $2.99 a pound, boneless hams for $1.48 a pound, Hawaiian pineapple for 29 cents a pound, and one dozen Grade AA, medium eggs for 65 cents.

A look back at this week, 35 years ago
• An Easter egg hunt was scheduled for Sunday, April 15, 1990, at the Yelm Community Park. The Yelm Lions Club were hosting the event, offering special eggs and prizes for three age divisions.
• The Yelm School Board hired Dr. Thomas Vitale as its new principal for Fort Stevens Elementary School on March 28. At the time, Vitale was principal of Pine Trail Elementary in Ormond Beach, Florida. Vitale planned to visit the Yelm area April 12.
• Prairie Security Bank announced construction for a new building at 103rd Yelm Avenue, site of the former Seventh Day Adventist Church. Construction of the 5,000-square-foot bank was scheduled to begin in May or early June and be completed before year’s end.
• Yelm High School students Tom Arnold, Roxanna Laughlin, Brian Sheetz and Andy Wilcox were recognized as Tandy Technology Scholars. The program, funded by Tandy Corporations and administered by Texas Christian University, was designed to recognize excellence in mathematics, science and computer science.

A look back at this week, 25 years ago
• Preston Endert, a 1999 graduate of Yelm High School, was scheduled to travel to Antarctica after completing his Coast Guard basic training this past winter. His first mission: transport scientists to the frozen continent aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star.
• The Washington State Elementary Chess Club planned to hold a Washington state tournament on Saturday, April 8, 2000, at the St. Martin’s Pavilion in Lacey. Over 700 children throughout the state qualified for the event.
• Rainier High School baseball head coach Bill Miller was confident his team would rebound after a 32-0 home loss to Toledo last Friday. Rainier’s defense committed 14 errors in the contest.
• Mexican restaurant Puerto Vallarta intended to complete its expansion in the coming months; the restaurant was adding 2,300 square feet to its dining room.

A look back at this week, 15 years ago
• Sheron Creed, 50, was arrested Friday evening and charged with second-degree malicious mischief domestic violence, felony harassment domestic violence and drive-by shooting. The victim, Creed’s ex-girlfriend, locked herself in an upstairs room and waited for police to arrive while Creed allegedly fired a shotgun from outside the house.
• Rainier City Engineer Jon Hinton said 35 percent of the water produced from local wells was not accounted for by consumption or water meter readings. Hinton believed the discrepancy was partially related to the Rainier School District’s practice of billing based on student population, not meters.
• Rainier’s 11th annual Auction for Education raised $47,000 on Saturday, including a $5,000 grant from the Nisqually Indian Tribe. Most of the proceeds went to Rainier High School seniors through college scholarships.
• Yelm junior Dylan Hyder placed fifth in the 119-pound division during last week’s Junior National Wrestling Championship in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hyder won his first four matches, lost his next two, then finished with a win in his final match.