Remember When?

76 YEARS AGO • JULY 21, 1948

NEW MOTEL

The new Falls Motel, located one-half block off the highway west in the city limits, is now open to the public. It is one of the finest, with eight double unit sleeping rooms, all modern and electrically heated and the quarters are nice and roomy.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moore, the proprietors, have their living quarters and office in the first unit.

Moores are to be congratulated on completion of their fine establishment.

64 YEARS AGO • JUNE 9, 1960

PICNIC PEST

Ants aren’t the only uninvited guests that appear at picnics here.

Friday a black bear broke up a picnic and devoured all the food at an outing being enjoyed by four Thompson Falls youth at Miller Park (up Prospect Creek). The four were Donnie Heater, Timmy Smith, Eileen Smith and Marilyn Wakefield.

According to the father of one of the picnickers, the bear scared them off and ate the food as the four rushed to town on their bicycles to report the incident.

When Lyle (Tuffy) Smith, father of Eileen and Timmy, returned to the scene the bear grabbed a plastic juice container and headed for the woods.

50 YEARS AGO • JUNE 20, 1974

STATIONS TO OFFER NON-LEADED GAS

When July 1 rolls around at least four service stations in Sanders County plan to have unleaded gasoline available for their customers.

Federal law makes it mandatory that any station with sales of 200,000 gallons or more annually must have unleaded gas available July 1. The 1975 model automobiles, which go on sale in September, will be designed to operate solely on unleaded gas.

The first four stations expected to offer the no-lead fuel are Ron’s Husky Service and Town Pump in Thompson Falls, and Gary’s Chevron Service and Kermit’s Union 76 in Plains. Others undoubtedly will add unleaded gas as demand gradually increases.

The new 1975 autos will have a smaller diameter gasoline tank filler neck than earlier models. The nonleaded gasoline pumps likewise will be equipped with a smaller diameter dispensing nozzle which will be the only nozzle which will fit the 1975 filler necks.

Federal law makes it a crime to put leaded gas in 1975 or subsequent model cars, which will be equipped with a catalytic converter as the newest emission control device. Leaded gas quickly fouls the catalytic converter and would require an expensive replacement. On the other hand, unleaded fuel can be used in older engines without damage.

Damon Wheeler, Plains bulk dealer, said the no-lead fuel is similar to high test white gas. Unleaded gas will be higher priced than regular.

NATION NEEDS PENNIES

One of the most patriotic acts Americans of all ages can perform today is emptying the family piggy bank, according to Glenn H. Larson, president of the First State Bank.

Larson said the nation faces a penny shortage that costs taxpayers millions because people are withholding some 30 billion pennies from circulation.

This means that nearly half of the 62 billion pennies the U.S. mint has produced in the last 15 years are in hiding. The mint is still producing one cent coins at a rate of 35 million a day, yet there still aren’t enough pennies to go around in many areas of the nation.

Larson urged families to start gathering those pennies that are hiding in pickle jars, old socks and piggy banks and bring them into the bank so the nation can get Mr. Lincoln back among the people where he belongs.