STORIES FROM THE PAST

50 years ago

Imperial school board officials today said they feel assured now of their district’s boundary status after unanimous state approval was given late last week on a proposed Imperial unification plan.

Trustee James Huston said this morning the plan’s approval including the Westside area, seems to “cement” Imperial’s position on the disputed Westside annexation.

Houston presented the Imperial school district’s position on the plan at the meeting of the state Board of Education. His presentation included documentation on the history of the Westside area and the “findings” of Judge George R. Kirk in Imperial’s recent injunction suit to halt the El Centro area unification election, which would have put Westside back into the El Centro area, from which it was annexed.

Also present, and question by the board, was Carl Moore, assistant superintendent for the Central Union High School District.

Huston said the approval was unanimous from the 10-member board, with all members present. Six previous plans had been rejected for various reasons the last time because it “took a wealthy district from a poorer district and gave it to a wealthy district.”

40 years ago

California sweet corn is usually associated with the Coachella Valley, and rightfully so. With 5,200 acres of the state’s total 13,600 acres grown there it is the top production area.

But Imperial County started in sweet corn production two years ago, through the effort of Joe Maggio Inc. of Holtville, and so joined nearly 20 other state counties involved in its production.

Maggio grew 300 acres of the corn in 1976 and 340 acres this year; and is pleased with the crop. “The quality has been excellent,” said Maggio. This year 75 of Maggio’s 340 acres were produced in joint ventures with smaller vegetable growers.

30 years ago

IMPERIAL — Ben Hulse kindergarten teacher Marian Long loves to teach children their ABCs, and she was recently rewarded for her efforts with the Imperial County Reading Council reading teacher-of-the-year award.

Teachers from schools all over Imperial County were nominated for this award by administrators, said Bob Haney, principal of Ben Hulse.

Long has taught in Imperial Unified School District for 19 years.

She is a certified Miller-Unrun Reading Specialist, and began teaching under that program during the time Ben Hulse School participated in it in the early 1970s. She has taught kindergarten classes for the last 14 years, using a variety of techniques including music, visual aids, and hands-on activities. Her motivational techniques include free time at a game area with a playhouse to promote language development and expression between students.