The Tooele Transcript Bulletin has published Tooele County news since 1894. Here is a flashback of local front-page news from 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago that occurred during the fourth or fifth week of May — depending on whether the year was a leap year.
May 28 and 30, 1991
U.S. Ambassador Stephen Ledogar invited scientists from the Soviet Union to participate in research and destruction of a chemical weapon at Tooele Army Depot in 1992. Congress mandated that all antiquated chemical munitions in the U.S. stockpile be destroyed before the year 2000. The mandate was part of an overall agreement between the U.S. and Soviet Union to begin demilitarizing military chemical stockpiles by 1992.
The director of the Tooele branch of Chrysalis, a state-funded nonprofit corporation that provided vocational training for mentally handicapped adults, also resigned amid complaints from parents. The new director promised to improve communication with parents.
The 6th annual Tooele County Arts Festival was also set to open on May 31 with a performance by the Tooele High School jazz band.
May 24 and 27, 1966
Inez McKellar, Tooele’s beautification chairperson, was pleased with residents’ participation in a city-wide cleanup over the weekend. Almost every home reportedly had a pile of trash in front Saturday, ready to be picked up. In addition, local groups helped clean the city cemetery.
Members of the Federated Women’s Club also planned to join the U.S. Forest Service in planting trees at the Loop Campground in South Willow Canyon.
May 27 and 30, 1941
The railroad company changed the schedule for the Tooele Valley train in an attempt to match the schedules of smelter workers. “The reason for the change is to save time in the smeltermen’s waiting for the trains to come from the smelter to Tooele. By this means it is hoped that the use of private automobiles for transportation to and from the smelter will not be needed,” the story read.
The county commissioners also announced an increase in property taxes. Residents who wished to protest the tax hike were asked to take their valuation notices to the courthouse May 31 to make formal complaints. At the same time, many county citizens protested a state decision to use auto registration fees for advertising instead of local road development.
May 26, 1916
The county commissioners passed an ordinance requiring residents to license their dogs and to keep female dogs penned while in heat. Any dog owner with reason to believe their dog had rabies was also legally responsible to report it to the board of health, which would then examine the dog for rabies.
Tooele Mayor Peter M. Clegg was also announced as master of ceremonies for a Memorial Day program at the city cemetery.
Jessica Henrie compiled this report.