STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
A plan to develop Sunbeam Lake into a larger and more attractive water resort will be presented to the Board of County Supervisors when they meet Monday.
The plan, as devised by Supervisors Tom Boley of Imperial and Charles Kilgore of El Centro, would take advantage of the forthcoming need for more freeway earthfill to greatly enlarge the present lake and permit the use of powerboats and water skiing.
The idea to enlarge Sunbeam has been in the minds of the supervisors for a long time. What has prevented the project from being pursued has been the estimated cost to the county.
40 years ago
“It is lucky I like to drive,” said Dan R. Canady.
Canady, a public relations officer for the San Diego Gas & Electric Co., was in one of his frequent missions to sell Imperial County on the proposed SunDesert nuclear plant.
He said he had not gone to bed in San Diego until 3 a.m. Now five hours later he nosed his black Maverick into Brawley, then out Highway 78 to Palo Verde.
Recent events have not been good to SDG&E. First, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted to support the energy plant, then it withdrew its support but indicated it would be neutral.
Now the board has announced it will actively oppose the plant.
Palo Verde is the last outpost of Imperial County.
It boats a population of 600 in the winter and 20 in the summer.
The proposed power plant is six miles by road or a little over two miles “as the crow flies” from Palo Verde. The site lies across the line in Riverside County.
30 years ago
With the stroke of a pen Tuesday afternoon, the Imperial Irrigation District agreed to pay the El Paso Electric Co. about $506 million over the next 16 years to secure a long-term supply of electricity that will prevent any electricity rate increases for at least two years, according to district officials.
The contract signed Tuesday, which is the product of nine months of negotiations and legal battles stemming from El Paso’s attempt to raise its rates, will also ensure that the district can meet its customers’ power needs through 1995, district General Manager Charles Shreves said.
20 years ago
IMPERIAL — Two adults and their grandchildren were taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center after a fire broke out in the home this morning.
Joaquin Aguilar, 64, the only person actually burned in the blaze, was treated at the scene for first and second degree burns to his face and hands by Gold Cross paramedics John Bisi and emergency medical technician Alex Balbastros before being transported to El Centro Regional.
“Mr. Aguilar was in more need of medical attention because of his burns, but Mrs. Aguilar and their grandchildren were treated for smoke inhalation,” said Balbastros.