STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
The Holtville City Council cleaned up odds and ends of business last night, had a look at the newest plans for the Orchard Road bridge and took the first step toward increasing the treasurer’s salary.
The council also assured Artur Lay and the California Rural Legal Assistance that Lay would have permanent access to his property southwest of the abandoned Melon Avenue.
The council waived the first reading of the ordinance which increases the city treasurer’s salary from $25 to $75, beginning with the new term in April.
It was the first increase for the post in 30 years. Councilman Alva Mickelsen, who said he had just completed a time study of the job, told the council that he felt the raise was justified.
The increase begins with the new term in April. The present treasurer is Arona Farris, who has filed for re-election.
The council learned that the new Orchard Road bridge will be a foot lower than the present structure and will have a slight dip.
Traffic from the proposed freeway will move into town on Orchard, across the bridge and be dispersed across Cedar Avenue and Fourth Street.
Police Chief Coy Taylor commented that through traffic along Fourth Street — where the police station is located — will be greatly increased. “It’s almost suicide to come out of the driveways now.”
40 years ago
A 17-year-old Brawley youth was shot late Sunday and another youth suffered minor injuries during a wild clash involving some 75 feuding teenagers near the intersection of Canal and Eastern roads.
Sheriff’s investigators said the 17-year-old youth of Brawley was hit in the shoulder by a .22 caliber bullet during the melee which broke out shortly before 11 p.m.
Another 17-year-old youth of Brawley suffered minor injuries after he was struck in the head with a bottle during the disturbance.
Deputies indicated the fight was the result of an earlier disturbance which broke out last week at Brawley Union High School.
30 years ago
LOS ANGELES — Following the Metropolitan Water District’s rejection Tuesday of the latest water transfer proposal from the Imperial Irrigation District, the next move in the negotiations may be made by the state Water Resources Control Board.
Despite a personal explanation of the proposal by IID representatives, the MWD Board of Directors voted unanimously to reject the IID’s offer to guarantee Metropolitan 100,000 acre-feet of water each year for 35 years in return for payments of $17.5 million per year, subject to escalation by increases in the consumer price index. The payments would fund conservation projects in the Imperial Valley designed to save the water made available to Metropolitan.
“I think we picked up a few friends today,” said IID Director Lester Bornt. “I saw a few friendly faces. I saw a few that weren’t friendly, but, hell, they weren’t friendly before.”
“We didn’t expect them to accept it,” he continued. “All I hoped to get was a friendly reception and make a few friends, and maybe get some press coverage on what we’re trying to do.”
Reporters from the Riverside Press-Enterprise, Long Beach Press-Telegram and Los Angeles Daily News were in the audience to hear the IID presentation and the response from MWD officials.
20 years ago
The Imperial County Farm Bureau announced Tuesday it will support the proposed Imperial Irrigation District-San Diego County Water Authority water transfer if four key issues are addressed.
“The Farm Bureau realizes the importance of this transfer or a similar transfer in ensuring California’s compliance with its 4.4 million acre-foot plan. At the same time we want to protect the long-term interests of our membership,” said Don Barioni Jr., president of the 927-member Imperial County Farm Bureau.