Stories from the past

50 years ago

Imperial Valley residents and municipal authorities are still working to restore a semblance of normalcy after last night’s unexpected downpour that dumped about three-quarters of an inch of rain on the desert in nine hours.

The Federal Aviation Administration recorded 0.71 inch precipitation at the Imperial Airport and the Imperial Irrigation District reported a total measurement of 0.85 inch at the Imperial Water Office. The high temperature was 104 degrees, falling to 68 degrees during the night.

Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co. reported 12 cables dead involving 1,150 pairs of wire. Repairmen have been called from San Diego to assist in restoring service. Approximately one third of El Centro’s telephone service has been interrupted, according to the El Centro sheriff’s office. The phone company hopes to restore all service by 5 p.m. today.

40 years ago

Renewed interest in motocross racing and bicycles throughout California has brought Ray Uppenkamp into El Centro from the Coast with a new business geared to the young bicycle rider and his machine.

Uppenkamp, a native of San Diego, recently opened Bicycles of El Centro in the 400 block of State Street. He also owns Bicycles of Lakeside in San Diego County.

El Centro has one bicycle shop and some residents might wonder if the city can support two. Uppenkamp plans to give the city three years to discover the answer.

“We will be in El Centro for a minimum of three years,” according to the bicycle shop owner, “because I have a threeyear lease on this business location.”

The man behind Bicycles of El Centro walks with a limp, a result of a bout with polio at age nine. He runs the business with wife Patti and sons Mike, 13, and Andy, 8.

Bicycles of El Centro isn’t the easiest location to find but the search is worthwhile. Uppenkamp has a complete stock of bicycle parts and is knowledgable in the cycling field.

30 years ago

The Rotary team from Calexico will play the Holtville Reds tonight for the championship of Little League Baseball’s District 22 at El Centro’s Frazier Field.

Calexico, the winner of the loser’s bracket and the team that had to travel the tough way to the title game, defeated previously undefeated Holtville 2-1 Monday.

Tonight’s game is anticipated to be a battle of two fine young pitchers — Holtville’s Carlos Vasquez and Calexico’s Gabriel Jiminez. Jiminez has stuck out 42 batters in three playoff games. Vasquez, like Jiminez, is undefeated in tournament play.

Monday, the spotlight was on pitchers Carlos Macias of Calexico and Javier Ramos of Holtville. Both pitchers went the distance and both were very effective.

20 years ago

The California Department of Corrections has awarded the Imperial County Arts Council a three-year, $1 million contract in an effort to provide art services to inmates in five county prisons.

The grant will facilitate the Arts in Corrections program at nine Southern California prisons. ICAC’s involvement started Wednesday and will last through June 30, 2001. ICAC will recruit artists to teach in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial counties.

The ICAC was chosen over non-profit art agencies throughout Southern California, ICAC Executive Director Mitjl Capet explained.

“We had to prove five years competency at managing fiscal affairs, providing arts, leadership, and arts recruiting. The application was 450 pages,” Capet said.

Arts in Corrections began as a pilot program in 1977.