Clinton man has big loss from flood at Oregon mill

“While many Whidbey residents worried about their friends and relatives suffering the flood conditions of Oregon and California last week, at least one local man was an eyewitness as his hopes for a prosperous 1965 washed out to sea in the high waters of the Willamette River.

“The flood victim was Les Bosch of Clinton, part owner of a stud mill located in the Willamette River near Oregon City. He came home Wednesday of last week and returned to Oregon Christmas Day to see what could be salvaged from the ruin of his mill and his hopes.

“For the past few months, the Clinton man has been manager of the mill and only a few weeks ago wrote his wife that the mill was ‘in the black’ and that 1965 should see a handsome profit.

“Wednesday, when he arrived home, he had had six hours sleep in the past 72 hours. In that time, he and his men had done their best to prepare for the expected flood. They had ‘boomed’ and tied down nearly $40,000 worth of logs and had moved more than 100 electric motors to what they had hoped was safety.”

Blaze damages house in Clinton

“Fire, which started Wednesday afternoon of last week, caused an estimated $1,500 in damage to a Clinton house owned by Al Camandona. No one was living in the house.”

Freeway to make difference in commuter pocketbooks

“Among the happier prospects of 1965 for Whidbey residents is the opening to traffic in the near future of the Seattle-Everett freeway, an event which promises to save time, dollars and temper.

“The 19.7 miles of six and eight lane limited access highway was to have opened Tuesday of this week, but the extreme cold weather of the past two weeks, combined with both snow and ice, threw construction far off schedule. Best guess at present is that the new highway will open early in 1965.”

Island’s four liquor agents sell more than half million

“Whidbey Island’s four state liquor agencies sold $544,631.25 worth of liquor during the period July 1, 1963 to June 30, 1964, according to the annual report released this week by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

“The report did not take into account the liquor sold at the county’s 40 other liquor outlets, which include five taverns, one restaurant, five resorts, 34 groceries, four Class H licensees and one beverage store.

“Of the total sold at the state agencies, Oak Harbor accounted for $321,912.64; Freeland, $115,841.96; Langley, $62,068.97 and Coupeville, $44,807.68.”