STORIES FROM THE PAST

50 years ago

Assemblyman Victor V. Veysey of Brawley has introduced a bill in the state legislature which would clearly define the eastern edge of Imperial County.

The measure was written at the suggestion of County Counsel James Miller “to get everything ship-shape” after last year’s interstate compact between Nevada, Arizona and California clearly defining borders which had previously been based on the Colorado River. As the river does not keep to the same path, no one knew exactly to which state some of the land adjoining the river belonged.

Miller said this morning that a single definition by the state would save the county the money and effort necessary to write legal descriptions for the numerous districts — water, judicial, political and school — concerned.

40 years ago

Imperial Valley grower spokesmen expect both good and bad results from Thursday’s historic Teamsters-United Farm Workers peace treaty.

Growers hope more farm laborers will vote for no union in upcoming secret ballot elections now that there is one less union to vote for.

But they also realize the UFW is now in a much stronger bargaining position.

Imperial Valley election activity is not expected to increase because of the agreement, according to Marshall Ganza, local UFW director.

30 years ago

WASHINGTON (MNS) — Imperial Valley College’s new desert museum came another step closer to reality Tuesday when the House of Representatives voted unanimously to give it 25 acres of federal land at Ocotillo.

The bill to transfer the land, introduced by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-45th Dist., made a speedy trip through the House. It now awaits action in the Senate where it is pending committee hearings.

Efforts have been underway for more than a year to transfer the land to the college in order to preserve ancient Indian sites and move the museum from its present site in El Centro to Ocotillo.