October 4, 2002

Looking Back on Oroville's Heroes                            

By Stu Shaner

These stories are about the men and women who went to war so that we might be free.

Oroville Mercury January 2nd, 5th and 11th, 1945

BETTY LEE HILLS LEAVES FOR RED CROSS SERVICE

Miss Betty Lee Hills, oldest daughter of Judge and Mrs. Harry S. Hills, left San Francisco Thursday evening for Washington, D. C. where she will receive instruction in personnel service with the armed forces for the American Red Cross. Upon completion of the course she expects to be sent overseas. Miss Hills has been in Red Cross work in the bay city for about three months. The opportunity for further work was presented to a group of ten about a week ago and Miss Hills was one of the candidates to pass the tests given.   She is a graduate of Oroville Union High School and attended Stanford University for two years before going to Saline Johnson Business School in San Francisco where she received her diploma. She was employed by the Columbia Steel Corporation before she became interested in Red Cross work.

4 BABIES COME NEW YEAR DAY

The first of four New Year's Day babies to arrive in Oroville was a daughter born at 12:27 A.M. to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond A. Martin. The baby has been named Linda Lee. She is the Martin's second child. At 1:40 a. m. a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. George Thomas Webb. The boy is the second child in the family and has been named George Kenneth. Webb is a fireman 1 /c in the navy, stationed at Kardasham Bay. Lt. and Mrs. Robert Elwood Rasmussen became the parents of a son at 4:25 a.m.. The boy is the second child in the family and has been named Robert David. His father is in the Army Air Corps and is stationed in Texas. The holiday procession of babies, all ushered in by Dr. C. B. Griggs, ended with young Richard Warren Wilson, born at 9 p.m. to Coxswain and Mrs. Warren Wilson. He is the Wilson's first child. Wilson is on survivor leave after his ship went down off Leyte Island.

LINEKER, LUDWIG AT SAN DIEGO NAVY BASE

Allison Lineker, 18, who enlisted last week in the U. S. Navy has been stationed in San Diego. Lineker is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Lineker of Palermo. In his senior year at Oroville High School, prior to his enlistment, Lineker will receive his diploma at the close of the school year. Stationed at the same naval base is Gene Ludwig, 18, also of Palermo, who enlisted and left the same day as Lineker for San Diego. Ludwig is the son of Mrs. James Hayton of Palermo.

LEDFORD WRITES TO POLICE DEPARTMENT

The local police department this week received holiday greetings a V-mail letter from former Highway Patrolman O. P. Ledford, Machinist's Mate 1 /c in the Sea Bees. Ledford is serving somewhere in the South Pacific. He has been in the navy nearly two years.

MERCURY BEGINS 72nd D VOLUME; ONE OF BUTTE'S OLDEST PAPERS

The Oroville Mercury-Register, founded as the Oroville Mercury, a weekly, in 1873, began its 72nd volume today with edition No. 1. The Mercury, one of the oldest newspapers in Butte County, saw the light of day in July, 1873, when it was founded by L. D. Clark of Tehama county. In August, 1874, John C. Gray and Wm DeMott purchased the Mercury and continued in charge for a number of years. Gray, later a Butte county superior judge, was the editor. De Mott later became sole owner and was publisher until his death in 1880. Then his widow became editor and Warren T. Sexton, also later a superior judge, was business manager. E. B. Price was the next editor. He was followed by his widow who later became Mrs. J. A. Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Dungan became publishers in 1913 and continued in-charge until 1926. The Mercury and Register, which was founded in 1878, were combined in 1927 and have continued under the present management since that time. (Dan L. Beebe Editor & Publisher, George Wangelin, Business manager).

Today, 10-4-02, Stu is 62!