from The Marysville Globe archives
10 years ago — 1998
n The Lakewood School District encompasses such a rural area that some students ride to school in a station wagon driven by a district employee. It is in this rural area that volunteers are spreading the word to make sure the school’s maintenance and operations levy passes. If it fails for a second time, several staff positions and nearly all the co-curricular programs, including band and athletics, will be cut. Students at Lakewood High School are organizing post cards and making ribbons to tie on cars. “It’s been a really neat experience in that everybody has reached out and volunteered to do things,” said Tara Mizell, member of the steering committee. “I think there’s a lot more people from the community, there’s more involvement this time around,” said Paul Pearson. The postcards that are on their way are grouped by sports, school and activities such as band and drama. Leaders of those activities are writing notes on each card and sending them to parents of children on their rosters. “It’s all rural so it’s challenging to get that word out,” said Mizell. “We are trying to hit it different ways.”
25 years ago — 1983
n After almost two years of studies, surveys and environmental impact statements, the City Council is close to deciding the fate of the downtown development project. After listening to two hours of public testimony Monday night, the last in a series of public hearings conducted by the Council, members will be discussing the plan and could act on the project at next Monday night’s meeting. The Log Cabin Room was nearly full of interested property owners and tenants of the 33-acre site, as well as interested citizens. Ed Christie, representative of the Danton-Russell Company, whose D and R Cedar subsidiary is within the project boundaries, asked Council to defer voting until certain questions are answered, among them the relocation of the railroad spur and the possible dredging of the marina. D and R Cedar is currently in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Christie said the company is uncertain about its long-term plan, however the short-term plan includes starting up the mill again and putting some 60-70 people back to work. He also said an appraisal is being taken in order to determine the best use of the land. Christie asked if the city can justify a downtown shopping center during current economic times. Citizen Walt Crane, who had addressed the Council during an earlier public hearing, questioned not only the current economic times, but if the economy was failing in the downtown area. In an eight-page prepared statement, Crane took the city to task on finding the downtown area blighted. He cited a passage from the Urban Renewal Law stating “the rehabilitation, redevelopment or a combination thereof, or such area or areas, is necessary in the interest of public health, safety, morals or welfare of such municipality.” Council had determined the project area was detrimental to the public economic health and welfare, noting it drains rather than contributes to the growth, development or well being of the community. The Final EIS states the area has not appreciably improved in the past 20 years; and recent events indicate the economic physical well being of the side properties will deteriorate further if a project effort is not undertaken. Crane presented facts showing in a 12-year period, from 1971-1983, the tax return to the city had increased roughly 280 percent and the assessed valuation about 426 percent. “These statistics certainly refute the statement that the project area is detrimental to the economic health,” he said.
50 years ago — 1958
n City Council heard a request Monday evening for a change of street names in Marysville to the extent of calling north-and-south ones avenues and east-and-west ones streets. Thus, according to the suggestion, Cedar, Delta and State would be avenues. First, Second and Third would remain streets. The proposal was contained in a letter to the Council from Postmaster Leon Stock. In a study of traffic problems in school areas, it was stated by Chief of Police H.J. Broeker that, in his opinion, the school areas on Liberty and Grove streets are now inadequately signed. Both Grove and Liberty were considered by him to be too narrow for placing traffic “dolls” in the middle of the street.
