A Look Back in Time: Janice Laakso Named Miss Lewis County for 1963

Mar. 10—Janice Laakso was crowned Miss Lewis County on Saturday, March 9, 1963, The Chronicle reported. The "five-foot, two-inch ash blonde lass" from Winlock was 18 years old at the time of her selection.

"The 18-year-old charmer, with tears glistening in her eyes, received her rhinestone tiara Saturday night at the R.E. Bennett auditorium in Chehalis when she was selected over 10 other contestants," The Chronicle reported.

Beyond her title and the opportunity to compete in the Miss Washington Pageant in Vancouver in July, Laakso also won $250, a wardrobe valued at $800 and an "attractive" trophy.

Laakso was a freshman at Centralia College who intended to be an art major. She had previously served as Winlock Egg Day Queen two years earlier and was the Dairy Princess runner up for 1962. Her hobbies reportedly included horseback riding, reading, sketching and hiking.

A large picture of Laakso was featured on the front cover of The Chronicle's Monday, March 11, 1963 edition. The picture included the caption, "With colorful ceremony Saturday night in Chehalis, Janice Carol Laakso, above, 18-year-old Winlock beauty, was named Miss Lewis County of 1963. She will represent county in state competition at mid-year."

Behind Laakso were Carole Schwedler, of Chehalis, in second place and Martha Trupp, of Chehalis, in third place. Schwedler won a $150 scholarship and Trupp won a $100 scholarship while both won trophies. All contestants were awarded charm bracelets.

Saturday, March 11, 1933

—"Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rolli" of Los Angeles were being treated at St. Helens Hospital in Chehalis on March 11 after being involved in a car accident that occurred about 14 miles south of Chehalis. The couple were on their way to Seattle when they were apparently forced into a ditch by another motorist who was heading south.

—Centralia residents had reportedly taken interest in recent earthquakes in California. Many former Centralia residents apparently lived in California and many current residents had family in the state, causing great interest amongst the city's residents at the time. "So far as could be learned today no former Centralians were killed or injured in the brawl of falling bricks and buildings in Long Beach or other quake centers," The Chronicle reported. The news of the earthquakes was apparently received over radio and was announced at "various meetings" in Centralia.

—A meeting of the Centralia-Chehalis branch of Washington Cooperative Egg and Poultry Association took place at the Fords Prairie Grange Hall on the night of Friday, March 10, The Chronicle reported. Harry Beernink, the assistant general manager of the association, said there had been significant decreases in egg production in states such as California and Oregon. "All this makes Washington's reduction of seven to 10 percent favorable by comparison," Beernink told the association members. He added it was impossible to make predictions about the direction the egg market would go.

—A meeting of the newly appointed Lewis County Welfare Board "went to school" with Charles Ernst, the state welfare commissioner, at the St. Helens Hotel in Chehalis on the night Friday, March 10. The board met to make their initial plans for a county-wide home-relief and work-relief program, which would "draw together all interests of the county." All members of the board were present except for N.B. Coffman, who was expected to be replaced due to health issues.

—In an Associated Press story featured in The Chronicle, it was reported quorum issues had delayed the passage of various bills and forced members of the state House to postpone adjournment. "Speaker Yantis requested the members to 'round up' a quorum and come to order again at 11 a.m.," The AP reported. Fifty votes were required to pass a bill through the state House but only 49 members were present the chamber initially convened.

—The Boys' Club of Chehalis' Senior High School held its annual Dads' Night on Thursday, March 9. Almost 100 people were present at the event. "Various musical numbers were given, also two lively and entertaining skits," The Chronicle reported. Both Earl Trowbridge, a teacher at the high school and the club's advisor, and school principal J.D. Glann were present at the event, along with some other unnamed faculty members.

—Rev. J.C. Tourtellot's sermon at Chehalis' Westminster Presbyterian Church for the evening of Sunday, March 12 was to be entitled "A Bank Where Deposits Are Guaranteed," The Chronicle reported. There was also expected to be a "specially attractive" service for Sunday morning.

Thursday, March 11, 1943

—2nd Lieut. Arnold Carlson of Winlock was reported as missing in action by the War Department, The Chronicle reported. Carlson had been serving in the "European area" during World War II. "According to the word recently received in Winlock, Lt. Carlson was a member of the crew of a bomber that failed to return from a raid over the continent," The Chronicle reported. The War Department was the predecessor to the modern Defense Department.

—Joseph, Carper, a 77-year-old Rochester resident, reportedly died on Wednesday, March 10 in a Seattle hospital after an illness. Carper was born in West Virginia on an unspecified date and was survived by his wife, three sons, seven daughters, 53 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

—The state Legislature was expected to adjourn later in the day on March 11, an Associated Press story featured in The Chronicle reported. The legislators were reportedly waiting on four bills still being worked on in conference committees. Both the state House and Senate convened at 10 a.m. and officials expected adjournment wouldn't come until 4 or 5 p.m. If the prediction proved correct, the 1943 legislative session would be the first in several sessions in which the Legislature completed its business earlier than the scheduled time of adjournment.

—Rodney Wooster, a 27-year-old resident of Doty, was in the Lewis County Jail on March 11 after being arrested for draft evasion. Wooster was apparently arrested by sheriff's deputies and the FBI after being taken from his "hide-out in the woods." He was apparently found sleeping in his cabin about three-quarters of a mile from the nearest road southwest of Chehalis. "Unmarried, he told officers he went into the woods, across creeks, and up and down hills into a secluded spot a year ago. Members of the Chehalis Draft Board at that time had declared him delinquent for failure to report to the board," The Chronicle reported.

—Flossie Parker, who was "painfully injured" the previous Saturday when she was "attacked by an unruly girl at the state training school at Grand Mound," was reported to be improving. Parker had experienced shock and scratches and bruises on her face. Her knee and abdomen were also injured. Parker was hired to work in the school's kitchen, but had been detailed to act as "police matron" over a group of girls who were being punished by confinement. "In an effort to get away, the girl attacked Mrs. Parker only to discover she had no key for the outside door, and was herself locked in with the girls," The Chronicle reported.

—A group of 45 Cub Scouts gathered with their parents at Centralia's First Presbyterian Church on the evening of Wednesday, March 10, The Chronicle reported. The scouts were part of Pack 27, which was holding its March meeting. "Games were played and 'good deed calendars' made by the boys were displayed and judged," The Chronicle reported. Prize winners were Merrill High tower, Roger Thordarson and Dick Lund. It was also announced the next pack meeting would be on April 14.

—A group of five "youths" were back in custody on March 11 after "short-lived freedom" from the state training school in Chehalis. "They fled from the institution yesterday in a coal truck while unloading coal from a railroad car, and were recaptured a few hours later," The Chronicle reported. The group apparently abandoned the stolen truck and stole a car near Eatonville, which they then abandoned before going into a wooded canyon near Renton.

Wednesday, March 11, 1953

—After the state Senate approved a $658 million budget bill, the issue of the state budget moved to the House. "Republicans and Democrats squared off for one of their last big scraps of the 33rd Legislature," The Chronicle reported. Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled House predicted quick passage of the budget, and said they would resist all attempts to change the balanced budget the Senate had passed. Meanwhile, House Democrats promised a last-ditch fight to amend the proposed budget. The budget, which was passed by the Senate in an "overtime session" that lasted until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, had initially been intended by House Republicans for passage during a similar late night session, but the threat of a filibuster by Democrats forced Republican leaders to postpone consideration until the next day.

—School board elections took place throughout Lewis County's 15 school districts on Tuesday, March 10. In Chehalis, where three incumbents were running unopposed for reelection, only 98 votes were cast. The incumbents were Ted Teitzel, George Matheson and Robert McGandy. In Toledo, incumbent school board member, E.C. Manwell, lost reelection to Dale Crase by a vote of 138 to 111. Based on The Chronicle's reporting it appeared all other incumbents were reelected.

—The seventh annual Mossyrock Pioneer Day Celebration had been scheduled for June 26 and 27, The Chronicle reported. The decision was made by the Mossyrock Athletic Club, which organized the event. A committee of seven was appointed to plan the event, including John Dunn of the Athletic Club, Ethel Birley of the Garden Club, Cecil Birley of the Saddle Club, Marion Workman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Ann Moore of the VFW Auxiliary, Harold Osborne of the Lions Club and Louis Bower of the Grange.

—Leroy Davidson, the 12-year-old son of "Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Davidson," died in a Centralia hospital on Monday, March 9. Leroy Davidson was born in Centralia on Feb. 17, 1941. He was survived by his parents, two sisters, two brothers, a grandmother and a great-grandfather.

—A large contract for construction of the then-new "Pacific Highway" through Lewis County was authorized by the state Highway Department in Olympia. The contract was for $418,615 for 5.1 miles of grading south of Chehalis. According to Paul McKay, a district highway engineer from Vancouver, contracts had been awarded for the grading of 14.66 miles of highway out of 19.76 total needed from the Cowlitz County line to Main Street in Chehalis.

—Two incumbent Centralia School Board members were "easily reelected" to three-year terms, The Chronicle reported. Morrill Folsom and Felix DeLisle were both reelected. "An issue in the election was the January disclosure that the district's board would not renew the contract of Superintendent William Bloom after June of next year," The Chronicle reported.

—Seven of Lewis County's nine incorporated municipalities held elections on Tuesday, March 11, The Chronicle reported. Both Pe Ell and Napavine saw the election of new mayors while the mayors of Toledo, Morton and Mossyrock were reelected. Peter Kus defeated John Treznoski by a vote of 133 to 90 to become the Mayor of Pe Ell. Mickey Cameron was elected Mayor of Napavine after running unopposed. Elmer Jastad, Percy Birley and Homer Parr were reelected as the mayors of Morton, Mossyrock and Toledo, respectively.

Monday, March 11, 1963

—In an Associated Press story featured in The Chronicle, it was reported legislators were discussing the possibility of a special session "as though it were an inevitability." "They say it is virtually impossible to complete legislative action on the state budget bill and the legislative redistricting act before the regular 60-day session ends Thursday night," The AP reported. However, Republican leaders were reportedly dismissing the possibility of a special session as "totally unnecessary." Both bills had apparently passed the state House and were awaiting approval by the Senate.

—The Chronicle included an Associated Press story in its March 11 edition reporting on the large number of bills that had died during the 1963 legislative session. "Death in committee, or by failing of enactment by the required time, wrote the end to some 800 legislative proposals before Washington's lawmakers," The AP reported. Among the bills that died were a "Save Sunday for The Family" bill, a "trading stamp bill" and a civil rights bill preventing housing discrimination.

—Lewis County's 15 school districts were scheduled to hold school board elections on Tuesday, March 12. Centralia district residents could vote at one of seven different polling places while Chehalis district residents could only vote at the school district office by W.F. West High School. Three incumbents were seeking reelection in Centralia, including Goerge Parke, Maruice Rubenstein and Wanda Linderman. Three incumbents were also seeking reelection in Chehalis, including Lee Giffey, Paul Tornow and Carl Lofberg.

—The Chronicle reported 10 Centralia High School seniors would lead the graduating class. At the time, Centralia High School did not have a valedictorian and salutatorian, and instead provided honors to a group of students. The 10 seniors the school was recognizing were Gail Anderson, MeriAlyce Brown, David Draper, Gretchen Gehrke, Ron Heilman, Ann Larson, David Robinson, Darcy Sabin, Cheryl Simmons and Eric Steffensen.

—An annual open house event was held at the Green Hill School in Chehalis, drawing about 600 visitors on Saturday, March 9. "Superintendent Robert Quant said the occasion, held each year for the public to see the school and its facilities, was the best attended yet," The Chronicle reported. Visitors toured the facilities, spoke with staff members and had refreshments.

—U.S. Rep. Julia Butler Hanson informed Dan Olson, the Morton School District Superintendent, Morton schools would be receiving $12,738 form the federal government for school operation and maintenance. Olson was informed by the congresswoman on March 11. The money was apparently provided annually to school districts with federal employee families who don't pay school district taxes because they were generally temporarily located in the area.

—Two members of the Olympia Skating Club successfully salted from Olympia to the Rollerdrome in Centralia on Saturday, March 9. Don Smith and David Climer were part of a group of 12 skaters who attempted to skate the entire 30-mile distance. The group left Olympia at 9 a.m. and Smith and Climer reached the Rollerdrom at 2:15 p.m. Most other members of the group traveled about 20 miles of the 30 mile distance before quitting, according to The Chronicle.