Fire departments moving away from red engines

Days Gone By

Fresno Flats Research Library

(Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 6:20 PM)

Forty years ago

Week's news capsules:

Nation's gold supply drops to lowest level in 32 years as a result of $2.2 billion shelled out to foreign buyers during recent gold crisis.

Big red fire engines approaching extinction; fire departments in nation switching from red to colors more visible at night.

Largest hydrogen weapon underground blast rocks Nevada, registers "quake" in surrounding states.

Darrell Wood, assistant state forest ranger for the CFD at Ahwahnee, announced that the home inspection program has begun.

Violations for which inspectors will be on the alert include insufficient clearance of grass and weed and pine needles on rooftops and in rain gutters and proper incinerator devices that need to be covered with one-quarter wire material.

State fire laws require a minimum of 30 feet around all structures and a 10 feet around the incinerator. A burning permit is required at all times of the year.

Sierra Trail Riders brought home a first-place trophy for participation in the best-working cowboy category in the Clovis Rodeo parade.

President Don McCracken, led a contingent of 25 members, riders and horses dressed their best.

Thirty years ago

Robin Duncan, a 16-year-old sophomore at YHS has been chosen to spend two months this summer in Germany. More than 6,000 students a year enjoy the privilege of living, learning and maturing in another country through this Youth for Understanding program.

Timber harvest operations in the Bass Lake basin are underway says Bob McCarthy, district ranger. Approximately 2,000 trees will be removed by the American Forest Products Corp. This will utilize trees killed by the drought and by insect infestations.

Friends and relatives gathered at the home of Roxor Canellis on Sunday to celebrate the Greek Easter and the resurrection of Roxor's home that was destroyed by fire on Oct. 11.

The TV Guide in the Sierra Star has: All in the Family, Happy Days, Merv Griffin, Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch, Laverne and Shirley, Hawaii Five O as weekly shows. Twenty years ago --

YHS student, Scott Shirley, was picked to be a member of the 14-member California team to compete in the 1988 National Test of engineering aptitude, math and science (TEAMS). Shirley competed in engineering graphics. The test given to the students consisted of 18 problems to solve and took over three hours to complete. Results were forwarded to New York and the winners will be announced May 16.

The US Forest Service issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and a special-use permit to Mega Hydro of Redding to construct on approximately 18 acres of Sierra National Forest Service land, the Rock Creek Power Project. Construction to cost $5 million is expected to occur in the summer of 1989 in the Minarets District about 20 miles north of North Fork.

When completed, it is expected that it will generate 5,200,000 kilowatt hours in the generating season December through July. The Madera County Board of Supervisors took steps to ban smoking in the county government buildings by approving a resolution filing an ordinance which will prohibit lighting up. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held this week. If approved it will take effect in 30 days.