The Tooele Transcript Bulletin has published Tooele County news since 1894. Here is a flashback of local front-page news from 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago that occurred during the second week of March.
March 10-12, 1998
Snow covered the ground Saturday, March 8, but the sun shone brightly on the Grantsville 114th Old Folks Sociable.
“Be our guest, be our guest,” entertainers sang as the talent program got into full swing.
Singing and dancing was entertaining as over 70 performers thrilled the audience with their talents. The program, chaired by Carol Jefferies, with Bobbie Hutchins as co-chairman, spanned many decades.
The 114th Sociable paid tribute to Grantsville’s Old Opera House, as well as the resurrection of musicals performed in town in more recent years.
Later in the week, a group of nuclear waste protesters made a final stop in Skull Valley on a month-long tour protesting the planned shipment of nuclear waste through four states.
WCANT (Western Communities Against Nuclear Transport) was a multi-state alliance of citizen, labor, tribal, environmental and peace organizations opposed to the Department of Energy’s plan to ship research reactor spent nuclear fuel through California, Nevada, Utah and Idaho.
“WCANT is dedicated to protecting our communities and future generations from the risks of deadly radioactive waste material upon the earth’s land, rails, and waterways,” according to the group’s mission statement.
March 6-9, 1973
Three young adults and five juveniles suspected of possessing marijuana were apprehended by police at a Tooele residence late Saturday night, March 4.
Charges of possession of a controlled substance and illegal possession of alcohol were made against all of the parties involved while an additional charge of contributing to the delinquency of minors was made against three young men over 18.
Police were alerted that something was going on at a residence on Third Street. Their subsequent investigation led to the arrests.
Later in the week, Tooele County’s summer water outlook promised no shortages with snowpack much greater than normal in the nearby canyons.
Morris Lewis, District Conservationist Soil Conservation Service, reported that the snow in Middle Canyon totalled 53.6 inches with 19 inches of water. This was 190 percent of the longtime average of 10 inches of moisture for March.
The previous year at this time, Middle Canyon had 35 inches of snow with a water content of 12.5 inches.
March 9-12, 1948
Tooele’s new municipal golf course should prove a profitable investment for the city, once it is well established, according to Jay B Baldwin.
Municipal courses in Salt Lake City had shown a consistent profit during the past two years, according to budgets set up to operate the three city-owned courses. The courses charged 50 cents for nine holes.
The Salt Lake City courses were Nibley Golf Course, Bonneville Golf Course and Forest Dale.
Later in the week, Tooele had its coldest March night in local weather history when the temperature hit 9 above zero on Wednesday, March 10.
There had been .72 of an inch of moisture thus far in March, according to Amos Bevan, official observer. This made over 9 inches of moisture since the beginning of the weather year last October 1st, which was considered ahead of normal.
March 9, 1923
There was very little improvement in the rabid dog situation in the County except where the new quarantine law was being strictly enforced.
Five dogs had been killed during the week in Grantsville with what was believed to be rabies, and Tooele officers had killed a number of dogs thought to be affected.
Special Policeman Peter Shields killed one dog Wednesday afternoon in front of the post office. He had wounded it and had to chase it there. This dog was showing signs of rabies. A large crowd was on the street at the time.
There are some localities in Tooele County which are not obeying the quarantine order, but the local officers and Sheriff are determined that the law will be enforced.
Correspondent Mark Watson compiled this report