Out of the Past: 04/15/2026

80 Years Ago

The annual spring concert of Deer Park grade school music organizations will be given Monday evening, April 22, at the high school gym. The boys’ chorus will sing “Comrades of the Road” and “Bells of St. Mary’s;” the rhythm band will play “June Waltz,” “Rhythm Band,” and “On the Good Ship Lollypop.” The girls’ sextette will sing “Amaryllis” and “Grandma.” The orchestra will be featured in “Majestic,” “Don Juan,” and “ Step Lively.” The girls’ chorus will sing “Song of the Danube,” and “Dance Ye Gypsies” and the mixed chorus, “Favorites” and “Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief.” 

Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Gillies of Wilbur were here visiting over the weekend. Mr. Gillies formerly published the Deer Park Union. 

The Clayton Home Economics club met at the home of Mrs. Goodwin April 11. Mrs. Steele was co-hostess. A delicious pitch-in dinner was served at noon. Margaret Tobeck, president, presided over the business meeting. The secretary was asked to invite Mrs. Bolin, county demonstrator, to meet with the club in the near future for a demonstration. 

40 Years Ago

A fun run, obstacle course, museum truck, Life Bird, arts and crafts – and oh yes, Reckless Rex – are featured activities Saturday as the people of Tumtum and Suncrest officially open the five acre Lake Spokane Youth Recreation Area. The idea of the park has been a long time in the planning and its ground breaking was last October 1985.

The first victims in the Deer Park School District’s declining enrollment problem will be teachers, the school board decided last week. The school board voted Wednesday to reduce staffing levels for next year by four positions. The decision will mean layoffs for only three teachers since one spot will be eliminated through the retirement of high school guidance counselor Carrie Prentice. 

Deer Park Parent Co-op Preschool will join forces with local 4-H clubs during the National Week of the Young Child to sponsor a petting zoo on April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Deer Park Fairgrounds. Featured in the zoo will be calves, lambs, chicks, geese, horses, ponies, dogs, pups, cats, kittens, goats, and rabbits. 

20 Years Ago

The Riverside and Deer Park school districts along with the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council and Spokane County Meth Team will present a meth watch community awareness night 6:45 p.m. April 20, at the Riverside High School multipurpose room. Among the topics are “Meth 101” law enforcement, ID theft, and protecting neighborhood and rental property. A meth survivor and drug court graduate will also share his story. 

A benefit dinner will be held for Hayden Phillipy from 4-7 p.m. April 23 at Peppi’s Pizza in Chattaroy. Proceeds from every pizza sale will go to help the Phillipy family. Ten-year-old Hayden was recently diagnosed with leukemia. 

In April 1976, the Deer Park Eagles held an Easter egg hunt in cold, blustery weather for more than 100 area youngsters. At the time, organizers had a modest goal of making the hunt an annual tradition. Three decades later, despite dealing with almost any weather conditions Mother Nature could find – sunshine, wind, rain, and a couple of inches of snow, along with a flock of hungry crows – the Eagles will continue to hide hundreds of eggs every year.