A Look Back in Time: Woman Walks Quarter Mile After Being Shot in 1963

Apr. 3—Birlie Stidham remained in critical condition at the St. Helen Hospital in Chehalis after being shot twice, The Chronicle reported in its April 1, 1963 edition. The shots had apparently been fired by her husband on Saturday, March 30, according to Lewis County Sheriff O.R. Amondson.

Stidham's husband was taken into custody later on the night of March 30 and his bail was set at $5,000. Amondson said the couple's three children witnessed the shooting.

"Mrs. Stidham walked a quarter mile to an Onalaska store to summon aid. The sheriff said the woman told him she was shot by her husband," The Chronicle reported.

According to Amondson, Stidham's unnamed husband had been drinking prior to the shooting and was found by the sheriff in a wooded area. The husband was apparently asleep in his car, which had gotten stuck in the mud. The revolver used in the shooting was reportedly in the car seat beside him. Amondson also found beer in the car.

"Amondson quoted Stidham as saying he had intended to kill himself. But the Onalaska man said he couldn't remember shooting at his wife," The Chronicle reported.

Amondson added the weapon was obtained from a friend of the husband without the friend's knowledge.

Around eight deputies also participated in the search for Stidham's husband after the shooting.

Saturday, April 1, 1933

—The Columbia River Presbyterial re-elected "Mrs. Kenneth L. Carlisle," an Onalaska resident, as president at its meeting in Centralia on Friday, March 31, The Chronicle reported. The local body, made up of Presbyterian churches in six Southwest Washington counties, also elected "Mrs. George Farnham," of Onalaska as a vice president, "Mrs. J.S. Norton," of Chehalis as recording secretary and "Mrs. M.W. Hawley," of Centralia as young people's secretary. The new officers were installed by Rev. J.C. Tourtellot, the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis.

—Thieves reportedly "punched" a safe at a Chehalis service station belonging to a man named Otto Rieger and stole about $30 in cash on the evening of Friday, March 31. Candy, gum, cigars and tobacco were also taken. The thieves got in by "forcing the lock" on the front door.

—Josephine Tarrach, 48, died in her Centralia home on the night of Friday, March 31, The Chronicle reported. Her death was attributed to heart failure. Tarrach had lived in Centralia for 20 years and was survived by her four children and her mother, seven sisters and eight brothers who all lived in Montana.

—A story on the front page of the Saturday, April 1 edition of The Chronicle reported Clarence Laubach, of Chehalis, asked for an annulment to his previous marriage. "Laubach alleges that he was married in Chicago, in December 1928, to Frances Folker; that they separated subsequently and he was under the impression his wife had obtained a divorce," The Chronicle reported. In January 1931, Laubach married his unnamed present wife but later discovered his first marriage had not been dissolved.

—Southwest Washington Democratic leaders had reportedly formed an association named the "Third Congressional District Democratic League" and had elected two Lewis County men as the heads of the organization. J.H. Roberts, of Centralia, was elected chair of the league while Lloyd Sullivan, of Chehalis, was elected secretary. The group was organized on Friday, March 31 at the state capitol in Olympia where local democratic leaders met with Gov. Clarence Martin. The purpose of the league was to strengthen party organization in the third congressional district.

—Rev. J.C. Tourtellot was scheduled to deliver a sermon entitled "The Last Words of Jesus" on the evening of Sunday, April 2. During the Sunday morning service, Tourtellot was set to deliver a sermon on the subject of "Growing in the Christian Life."

—The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Chehalis was expected to hold its dedication service on Sunday, April 2 for its new church located at the corner of Park and Washington street, where it remains today. The church cost $5,000 to build and was reportedly free of debt. The building was described as being "quite attractive and fits well into the surrounding location."

Thursday, April 1, 1943

—Charles Prestel died in Shelton on Tuesday, March 30, at the age of 70, The Chronicle reported. Prestel had lived in Centralia for 43 years before moving to Shelton the year before his death. He was born in Muir, Michigan on Jan. 30, 1873, and was survived by his wife, son, four brothers and one grandchild.

—On Wednesday, March 31, W.M. Luebke, the chair of Lewis County's Red Cross war fund drive, recognized rural areas for their contributions to the Red Cross. Luebke mentioned the Klaber-Curtis district, Winlock, Dryad and Doty specifically for the funds residents had given.

—The Centralia Kiwanis Club was reportedly planning for the annual spring conference of the Southwest Washington District of Kiwanis the upcoming Wednesday. As part of the conference, a luncheon and program was to take place at the Lewis-Clark Hotel in Centralia.

—Staff Sergeant Robert Draggen, of Chehalis, and Tech. Sergeant Glenn Boreen, of Winlock, were among the American airmen who received 530 awards at the headquarters of the 8th U.S. air force, The Chronicle reported. The news came in the form of press dispatches from London. Draggen and Boreen both received air medals for actions during the ongoing conflicts as part of World War II.

—A campaign by the Victory Service League was underway in Lewis County to collect playing cards for members of the armed forces, according to an announcement by Claude Warren, the local director of the league on Wednesday, March 31. The cards were to be distributed by the American Red Cross. People with cards were asked to leave them at the office of the Warren Motor Company in either Chehalis or Centralia.

—A five-room modern house in Chehalis was listed for $3,500 in The Chronicle. The house included "a sleeping porch," hardwood floors, venetian blinds, a fireplace, a garage and shop, along with a backyard fireplace and garden space. The house was also described as being on a "paved street."

—A recent dental clinic done at Chehalis schools revealed 51% of Chehalis students were in need of dental work. Out of 940 students who went through the clinic, 481 were discovered to need dental "corrections." "Ninety-three were urgent cases, and there were 10 pupils needing orthodontia, or teeth straightening," The Chronicle reported.

Wednesday, April 1, 1953

—Two cases before the Lewis County Superior Court were dismissed by Judge John Murray on Tuesday, March 31 because of insufficient evidence. The motion to dismiss the cases was made by attorneys representing the Department of Labor and Industries.

—A Portland driver reportedly escaped injury early on the morning of April 1 when he crashed on Harrison Avenue in Centralia. He apparently failed to see a caution sign because of fog, The Chronicle reported. Damage to his car was estimated at $350 and damage to the area around the crash site was about $400.

—Enough money had been raised to get Millett Field in Chehalis "almost 'half-lit,'" according to George Nowadnick, the chair of the lighting committee. "So far we have a grand total of approximately $3,700 in the fund. ... Besides money in the fund for electrical work there is enough for 54 lights. A total of 120 lights is needed," Nowadnick was reported as saying. The lighting committee was reportedly working to raise the remainder of the funds needed to light the field.

—A "huge" Easter egg hunt at Alexander Park in Chehalis was expected to be the "top Easter Sunday attraction for youngsters in the Twin Cities," The Chronicle reported. The Easter egg hunt, put on by the Chehalis Active Cub, was to start at 1 p.m. and was open to children ages 9 and under. The egg hunt was the third to have been put on by the Chehalis Active Club. The previous two Easter egg hunts had been put on in conjunction with an egg hunt in Centralia put on by the Centralia Active Club. However, the Centralia Active Club did not host an egg hunt that year. Over 1,500 Easter eggs were set to be hidden for the event.

—Two men were reported to have been injured while working in Mossyrock. Glen Poe broke two ribs while logging and Harry Hatfiled stepped on a rusty spike while working at a mill. Hatfield was reportedly on crutches and would be unable to work for some time.

—"Mrs. Steve Niemi" died in a Centralia hospital on Tuesday, March 31 at the age of 88. Niemi, a Winlock resident, was born on Aug. 25, 1864 in Finland and came to Winlock in 1914. She was survived by her husband, two daughters, a son, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

—Isabelle Morris, a former Centralia resident, died at her home in Seattle on Tuesday, March 31 at an unspecified age, The Chronicle reported. Morris was born in Workington, England. She was survived by her son, three daughters, a brother, two sisters, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Monday, April 1, 1963

—An amendment to a highway omnibus bill sponsored by state Sen. Joe Chytil, of Chehalis, was approved by the state House on Sunday, March 31, The Chronicle reported. The proposal would provide funds for relocating the highway around Mossyrock Dam and Riffe Lake, which had been recently constructed. In The Chronicle's story, the Mossyrock Dam was referred to as "Tacoma's Mossyrock dam."

—"Mrs. Thomas Music" was reported to have died in a Morton hospital on Saturday, March 30 at the age of 70. Music had lived in Randle for 50 years at the time of her death and was born on April 7, 1892 in Shively, West Virginia. She and her husband had moved to the Cispus Valley in 1913 to homestead. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary the previous October on the farm they had homesteaded 50 years earlier. Music was survived by her husband, a daughter, two sons, a sister, a brother, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

—Dora Prehm died in a Seattle hospital at the age of 64, The Chronicle reported. Prehm was a Winlock first grade teacher who was born on Sept. 30, 1898 in Winlock, where she lived her whole life. She was survived by her husband, two sons, a daughter, three sisters and three grandchildren.

—A three bedroom home in Centralia was listed for $13,000 in The Chronicle. The house was described to have carpeting, drapes, a new gas furnace and "all appliances."

—The Pe Ell High School honor roll was announced on Saturday, March 30 by principal Herbert Duncan. At the top of the list was Sharon Israelson, a senior with a 3.75 GPA, followed by Linda Nelson, a sophomore with a 3.6 GPA. Also on the honor roll were Sherry Coleman, Kay Benny, Starla Adkins, Nancy Muller, Diane Palmer, Dave Salkeld, Dixie Neal, Elained Bange, Kathy Stewart, Anita Helvie, Joe Muller, Sharon McCalden, Diane Baydek and Penny Coady.

—A story in The Chronicle reported on the wet weather the Twin Cities area had experienced in March. "March came in like a lion and went out like a wet lamb," The Chronicle reported. Total rainfall for March 1963 was reported at 5.26 inches compared to an average March rainfall of 4.5 inches. "The rain picked up impetus in the final week with the heaviest fall recorded Thursday (March 28)," The Chronicle reported.

—Leaders in the state House and Senate were to name a six-member committee on April 1 to resolve the differences between the chambers on the state's $1.3 billion budget bill. The committee was tasked with "reshuffling" funding until a proposal was developed that would be acceptable to both chambers. The Legislature was on the 18th day of a special legislative session after failing to reach a budget deal before the end of the regular session.