STORIES FROM THE PAST

50 years ago

Sheriff’s deputies and state Narcotic Bureau agents raided a teen-age drinking party near Imperial last Friday night.

Ninety-one boys and girls ranging in age from 15 to 20 were caught, their names taken, and then sent home. Their parents were notified.

Not one word of the raid is on the records of the sheriff’s office.

The raided house belongs to Deputy Sheriff that lives in Imperial.

This morning Sheriff Rowe confirmed that the raid had taken place. He said that the action had not been made public because there may be future raids.

40 years ago

HOLTVILLE — Arson is suspected in a fire Sunday that damaged the band and shop building at Holtville Junior High School.

Fire Chief Leslie Rubin said he believes the blaze started in the office of music director Jack Kelly.

Rubin said he has called the state fire marshal’s office to investigate the possibility of arson.

Principal Elmer Magin said a door, usually locked with a special padlock, was open when firemen first arrived.

Kelly, who lost a 30-year collection of musical recordings said the door was locked Saturday.

The door faced the rear of the concrete block building that was built in 1969 to replace another building destroyed in 1963 by a fire.

No estimate has been set yet on the damage caused by the fire.

Most of the school’s musical instruments were saved by teachers, firemen and students who passed them hand-to-hand out of the burning building.

30 years ago

When Sun Seed Co. of Hollister purchased Arco Seed Co. in January, it meant the loss of jobs for a good portion of the Arco employees.

About 100 workers have been laid off since the transition. The reduction was part of a “slim down” process to make the new company more financially efficient.