STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
Great swarms of crickets flew and hopped into Valley cities last night.
The streets and sides of buildings in downtown Brawley were black with the bugs this morning, and the pavement of S. Imperial Avenue in front of the waterworks was hazardously slippery from crushed crickets.
Mayor Pat Williams of Brawley told a businessman last night that the city had not done its usual anti-cricket spraying this year because the city engineer is on vacation.
Last night the Salton Community Services District north of the Valley asked the Imperial Irrigation District to turn out a number of street lights; they were attracting so many insects that drivers could not see through the cloud of crickets.
In Imperial, the police department reported to the California Highway Patrol that the slime from dead crickets on Highway 86 south of Ira Aten Road constituted a road hazard.
40 years ago
Nearly everybody has had the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. But that feeling will be a relief to patients leaving the Intensive Care Unit of El Centro Community Hospital with the installation of a new cardiac telemetry system.
“It will give the patient a more secure feeling to know that he or she is being watched,” said James Jorren of Cardiopulmonary Services which supplies the equipment, disposables and personnel for El Centro’s cardiopulmonary department.
“It is going to provide a better environment for the patient and allow for greater expansion in the future.”
30 years ago
The El Centro City Council Wednesday decided not to decide on two separate applications for licenses to present entertainment that could include mud and oil wrestling, topless female dancers, exotic male dance acts and wet T-shirt contests.
The council postponed action of two weeks after pastors from two El Centro churches complained the dancing and wrestling at JJ’s Q Night Club, 845 Adams, and Papa Bill’s restaurant, 341 N. 8th Street, would cause traffic congestion and make a “moral statement” to local residents and visitors alike.
When the council does make a decision, not all five members will vote. Councilman Hank Kuiper said he would abstain because he sold the insurance to both Papa Bill’s and JJ’s. Councilman Jack Dunham is a member of the El Centro First Assembly of God Church, one of the protesting churches.
20 years ago
In a new twist on a common issue, nearly 300 people have signed a petition stating they want the county to consider removing stop signs in a residential area south of Holtville.
The Board of Supervisors voted about six months ago to erect the signs on Orchard Road at Nimura Road in an effort to slow traffic through the area, which includes a school bus stop. Residents appearing at the board’s meeting Tuesday complained the signs have not improved safety but are an annoyance.
“I don’t think the stop sign is the answer to our problems,” said Patti Dollente, who lives near the intersection. “It’s been up six months and people are constantly running it.”
Dollente proposed removing the stop signs on Orchard at Nimura and moving them to Edwards Road.
Dollente and others added the signs are increasing congestion in the area in part because traffic backed up at the sign makes it difficult for residents to get out of their driveways. Moving the signs to a less-congested area also would reduce the chances for an accident, they said.