A10 THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
COFFEE BREAK
FLASHBACK
Expecting sizzle, smokejumpers see season fizzle in 1997
100 Years Ago
Sept. 14, 1922 — Splendid dinner
served by commercial body
The commercial club luncheon
held at the apartments of Miss Flo
Cook last Tuesday was exception-
ally well attended.
It was generally understood by
the members that there would be
something out of the ordinary in
the way of eats.
All we can say is that the ones
who failed to be present were the
losers, for it with a meal to be long
remembered.
Miss Cook is certainly a splendid
hostess.
75 Years Ago
Sept. 18, 1947 — Redmond
police draw whistles with new
outfits
Resplendent in their new, two-
toned green uniforms, Redmond‘s
police officers are in the Beau
Brummel class these days. All
three of the regular police now are
outfitted.
The uniforms have dark green
whipcord trousers, with shirts of
light-weight woolen in a lighter
tone of green.
The shirts are trimmed with
dark green and are worn with dark
green ties.
Gold badges and shoulder em-
blems in gold add to the appear-
ance of the uniform.
During cold weather, the police
will wear dark green Eisenhower
jackets which are belted at the
waist.
Submitted Photo
Downtime lets smokejumper Steve Hopkins repair parachutes.
50 Years Ago
Sept. 20, 1972 — Construction tops
$1 milliion
Construction — primarily of
new residences — pushed up build-
ing permits for the year over the
$1 million mark last week in Red-
mond, reports George Simpson. As
of September 15, the tally stood at
$1,017,792.90.
The city building figures do not
take into account the boom in build-
ing, primarily residential, in the Red-
mond fringe area, where accurate
figures are not available.
25 Years Ago
Sept. 17, 1997 — Expecting sizzle,
smokejumpers see season fizzle. One
of slowest seasons on record idles fire-
fighters
Renee Tripp has done a lot more
pedaling than parachuting this
summer. Last year, Tripp and the
rest of the smokejumpers based
at the Redmond Air Center had a
nearly nonstop adrenaline rush as
they started early and stayed late
through a hectic fire season. They
barely had time to repack their
‘chutes before they climbed on the
plane again to jump another wild-
fire.
By the time smokejumpers
stowed their gear for the last time
in October, Tripps bank account
had a nice boost from the busy
season. She bought herself a new
mountain bike. And she’s had
plenty of time to ride it this sum-
mer.
“That’s just the way it goes some-
times,” said Tripp, who made 20
fire jumps last summer.
This year, she made two.
“Last year was my best year, and
this year has been my worst,” the
eight year veteran said.
Understand, smokejumpers don’t
delight when blazes scorch Pacific
Northwest forests.
“Nobody wants to see bad fires
burn up houses and natural re-
sources,” smokejumper unit man-
ager Dewey Warner said.
But the 38 Redmond-based
smokejumpers are specialists who
thrive on performing the challeng-
ing job they’re trained for — para-
chuting in as first response teams
on the lightning sparked fires in
national forests.
“If we have fires, we hope we get
to go out on them,” veteran jumper
Jim Reeves said.
Reeve, a Redmond middle school
teacher who’s been a smokejumper
the past 15 summers, made just
five fire jumps this season, three of
those in Alaska.
“This base has been here since
‘64, and I’d say it’s one of the five
slowest years we’ve had,“ said War-
ner, who’s been based in Redmond
for most fire seasons since 1975.
Puzzle solutions can be found in today’s classifieds.
People in Redmond are being crushed by rising
gas, food, and housing prices. As your City
Councilor, and a local small business owner, I
understand this skyrocketing cost of living is
unsustainable for families and businesses alike.
As your City Councilor today, and with your vote
in November, I will continue to work to create
more affordable housing and job opportunities
in Redmond.
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