STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
Approximately one year ago, specifically Feb. 20, 1967, students at Calipatria High School took up classrooms in tents following condemnation of buildings under the Field Act.
One year later, a set of brand spanking new modern classrooms and buildings are all occupied, with the exception of the home economics room and a combined library for high and junior high school students. These latter will be ready for use by next week.
The high school complex includes 16 new classrooms, administration offices, the 90 by 120-foot library, expanded locker rooms for boys and girls, a teacher workroom, and additional outside lockers. All buildings are completely air conditioned.
40 years ago
Two of the aviation replicas that went up in flames Wednesday that destroyed the San Diego Aerospace museum were built by an El Centro man.
Norm Ward, 44, built the replica of the 1883 Montgomery glider, which some people believe was the first winged apparatus to carry man off the ground, and a 1905 Montgomery glider.
Ward flew the 1883 glider for a distance of 168 feet at an altitude of 20 feet, which he recalled at the time, was “high enough.” He is employed by the State Housing Division of Codes and Standards.
The 1905 replica was too “tail heavy” and Ward never managed to get it off the ground. He canceled a planned 1,000-foot drop from a balloon in 1984 after he decided it would be suicidal.
30 years ago
WASHINGTON (MNS) — A Senate amendment unrelated to the Imperial Valley threatens to delay construction of the Ocotillo archeological museum and visitor’s center.
Members of the House and environmental groups are opposed to the controversial amendment that Sen. Pete Wilson, R-Calif., attached to the Ocotillo Museum Bill last December. Some claim the Senator is using the bill as a vehicle to obtain special treatment for a developer. The amendment changes the boundaries of the 1984 California Wilderness Act in a way that would permit developer Joseph Keating to build a hydroelectric power plant in the Eldorado National Forest. The property, east of Placerville near Caples Creek, is part of a U.S. Forest Service wilderness planning area. Using nearly 1 mile of pipe, the power plant project involves building a diversion dam along the creek.
The original bill, which would transfer 25 acres of federally owned land to Imperial Valley College to build a museum and visitor’s center, was introduced in March 1985 by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-45th District.