10 Years Ago 1997

City officials spent 1997 as they did part of 1995 and 1996, negotiating the purchase of the Welco property on the slough for a future water park and public boat launch. Additionally, the city acquired property for parks, including the Deering Wildflower Park from Western Washington University. Community members and staff worked to raise a park in one day, coming very close at the Youth Peace Park on the corner of Grove Street and 67th Avenue. The park was designed by Marysville Middle School students. The $3.8 million renovation of Cedarcrest Golf Course was completed and the 70-year-old course opened to rave reviews in August. Annual pass holders, however, werent so pleased when the council did away with the pass this year, to save money and wear on the new grass. However, the passes will be reinstated next year. The city hasnt decided on restaurant plans at the golf course a consultant is studying the idea. Meanwhile, golfers are forced to pump coins into machines for food and beverages. A big boost for the citys seniors came in October, when the Ken Baxter Senior Center opened in the former city hall at Comeford Park. Already, more than 300 people have passed through the doors. Also in October, the Council voted to spend $90,000 for an architect to come up with a plan that can be implemented in stages at the Strawberry Fields athletic complex on 152nd Street in north Marysville. Skateboarders are working with Council member John Meyers to raise money for a skatepark in Marysville.


25 Years Ago 1982

Christmas and New Years are truly a time for cheer; a time people gather in the glow of friendship and love; a time to appreciate being alive. Lets keep it that way, say members of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers). If youre driving this holiday season, steer clear of alcoholic beverages. If youre drinking, stay off the road. The unpalatable mixture of a drunk pouring himself behind the wheel of a rubber-tired projectile means there are many people today who could be celebrating the holidays with loved ones but arent. There are countries which tolerate this outbreak of crime by relieving the offender of one, or both, of his hands. Other countries take another tack preferring to leave the hands intact and instead simply put the offender to death. We dont stop to realize just how cruel a drunk driver really is, said Dean Likell, Smokey Point Area Chamber of Commerce vice president, in introducing the Points featured guest speaker at a recent member meeting. Diane Janes, who has been busy the past year as a spokesperson for MADD, told the Chamber audience that traffic accidents were nothing more then just a statistic until her daughter, Julie Baker, was seriously injured when struck by a drunken driver more then a year ago. Julie, a Tulalip resident who was in training for the 1984 Olympic Games while attending the University of Florida, may never walk again. Her family, holding out hope for their daughter, rejoices when Julie makes any type of movement. You know, in 1950, we considered it a national emergency when 200 people between the ages of 15 and 18 died of polio. We did something about it. We developed a vaccine. We have another epidemic on our hands, and, once again, we have to do something. Our goals are to reduce deaths, assist the victims of drunk drivers and to publicize the program, Janes explained. Candy Lightner, whose daughter Cari was killed by a hit-and-run driver with two previous drunken driving convictions on his record, put the MADD organization together in 1980 in California. The idea was to give the victims of drunken driving a voice. There are 10,000 young lives lost annually in this country because of drinking and driving, Janes points out. And tens of thousands of people are maimed or disfigured every year. Thats a national emergency, I would think.


50 Years Ago 1957

Kiddies of the Marysville community are reminded once more that the volunteer firemen are planning for their (the kiddies) pleasure in the traditional annual Christmas tree burning again this year. Date for this event has been set for Saturday, Jan. 5, at the old football field at Eighth and Alder. All children of the community are invited to bring their old, worn-out Christmas trees to the bonfire party. There will be marshmallows to toast over the fires dying embers furnished by the fire department. Probably the most looked forward to part of the event, however, is the time when the children are invited to take turns riding with a fireman on one of the big red trucks especially brought over for this very special treat.