Stories from the past
50 years ago
CALEXICO — Local authorities are awaiting information on full implementation of President Richard Nixon’s “Operation Intercept,” a sweeping U.S.-Mexico program designed to halt drug traffic from Mexico.
The President outlined the program Saturday and by this morning local agencies had not been further informed on specifics.
“Everything is indefinite so there’s nothing I can discuss,” said Eldon Woolley, officer in charge at the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, here.
“Actually, the news stories outlining the program were an embarrassing thing,” he added, “Since what I read was more than I already knew.”
Woolley said he did not know whether there would be closer checks on vehicles and passengers, but he said he already ran these “close checks.”
“On these, we just do a more careful check on the vehicle by sight and touch and a closer interview with the person. Checks like this back up traffic,” he add.
Some help, in the form of increased personnel may be on the way for Woolley. Rep. Lionel VanDeerlin (D-San Diego) had introduced more legislation asking for more employees at the Calexico and San Ysidro ports of entry.
A representative of the Border Patrol said, “We’ll just increase our efforts.” He said he would like to have said more, but was unable to.
40 years ago
Two more California farm companies, including the first Imperial Valley-based company, signed tentative agreements with the United Farm Workers late last week, bringing the total number of signed pacts to 16.
Hubbard Farms, based in El Centro with operations in the Salinas Valley, penned the tentative agreement Friday, as did Green Valley Farms of Salinas.
Neither was among companies that have been a victim of the lengthy strike by the UFW, but both had terminated and unresolved contracts since the first of this year.
In Imperial Valley, seven locally based companies have not yet met with the union, and company spokesmen say they still consider relations with the union at an “impasse.”
It was reported that the union first wanted to get the Salinas area farmers “out of the way” while the lettuce and vegetable harvest was still going strong there before it concentrated its efforts on Imperial Valley farmers.
30 years ago
CALEXICO — A delegation of city officials may be traveling to Chingshui, Taiwan, in October to meet with businessmen and government officials there who are interested in establishing a “sister cities” relationship with Calexico.
The trip would give officials from Calexico and Chingshui a chance to exchange documents establishing a sister city relationship, City Manager Robert Cruz said. Calexico officials would also be introduced to Taiwanese businessmen who are interested in opening new businesses or factories in the Calexico area, he said.
“They want to show us various industries they have and introduce us to (business) people who will be coming over here,” Cruz said.
The Taiwanese businessmen who contacted Calexico may also be interested in setting up twin plant operations in Calexico and Mexicali, said City Clerk Victor Rocha.
Most of the trip expenses would be paid for with membership dues from a yet-to-be-named association of businessmen from Calexico and Mexicali that has contacts with the Taiwanese government, according to association members Andy Lee and Billy Sun.