50 years ago

Editor: Ace Comstock

Former Sergeant receives his award twenty years late

“Late in February 21 years ago, Everett Peterson was laying communication lines over a bridge across the Roer River in Germany. The bridge was under constant fire from Germans and he had to maintain the lines for several days.

‘It wasn’t any more than what thousands of other guys did,’ said Peterson, who graduated from Langley High, class of ’34 and still resides in Langley.

“Not everyone agreed with him, however, and last Saturday the present commander of his own 104th Timber Wolf Division flew from California to award him the Bronze Star — 20 years late.”

25 years ago

Editor: Jim Larsen

Big blow whips waves, darkens island

“A Christmas week cold wave crippled South Whidbey, with island-wide power outages leaving residents on their own to battle the elements. While pockets of residences in Freeland, Clinton and the city of Langley maintained power throughout the crisis, more than 7,000 Southend Puget Power customers were affected by the cold weather. The week was a wild one for island residents who awoke Christmas day to the whitest Christmas in many years. Several inches of snow covered the ground and kids with new sleds were in heaven. A one-day warm spell Wednesday melted most of the accumulation, then another half inch fell Thursday evening.

15 years ago

Editor: Jim Larsen

Holiday burglars return to action

“Burglars targeting both homes and businesses on South Whidbey during the past month-and-a-half seem to have an affinity for the holidays, if their recent activities are any indication. Over the Christmas weekend, burglars broke into a Whidbey Coffee stand on Howard Road and into the nearby Blue Star Rockery.”