In 1943 (75 years ago)
• All gasoline stamps numbered 3 in the “A” mileage rationing books will expire at midnight tonight, while the sudden snowstorm has caught many persons here with unused stamps and no way to get their automobiles to a service station to use them.
Dave Cohen, state mileage rationing representative of the Office of Price Administration (OPA), yesterday reported to the Kitsap County War Price and Rationing Board that his efforts to have the San Francisco regional OPA office extend the valid period of the No. 3 stamps in storm-bound areas had not met with success.
At the suggestion of several rationing boards in this area, Cohen asked the San Francisco office to permit the No. 3 stamps to expire later, after the heavy snow had melted and motorists could get their cars to gas stations. He received a negative reply.
Thus after midnight tonight, Stamp No. 3 will not be valid for the purchase of gasoline by a book holder. Stamp No. 4 will be used for two months after Jan. 22.
• Bremerton and Kitsap County continue today to struggle with one of the worst snowstorms in the history of this area. The weather forecast indicates that residents will be getting more hardship before relief comes.
The Puget Sound Power & Light Co. has had 50 men working almost continuously since last Friday attempting to clear up the maze of downed power lines in this area.
A spokesman said that the company is doing everything possible to restore service to all parts of the country. The men have been working at top speed with only a few hours sleep since early in the week, he said.
In 1968 (50 years ago)
• Three men were arrested by Bremerton police Friday on a range of charges stemming from a traffic violation to an alleged scuffle with police.
The driver of their car was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, for being drunk in public and for resisting arrest. The two passengers were charged with being drunk in public.
Police said they stopped the car driven near the intersection of 11th Street and Kitsap Way.
After getting out of the car, the driver and one passenger struggled with police, refusing to get into the patrol car, police reported. It was only after the use of chemical Mace and handcuffs that the arrests were made.
The other passenger reportedly gave the police no trouble but had to be carried to the patrol car because he “passed out."
In 1993 (25 years ago)
• The Hearthstone Restaurant, one of Bremerton's first fine-dining establishments, will go out of business Jan. 30 after 32 years.
The Verheist family, which owns the land, building and business, decided to close because the operation wasn't making enough money. Assessed at nearly $500,000, the property generates about $2,000 in monthly rent, or about half of its potential, said Richard Verheist.
Kathleen Verheist, widow of one of the three original partners, owns the 15,000 square feet of land and the 8,000-square-foot building. To bring the property to its most profitable use, the family plans to convert the building and offices for a single professional tenant.
The family believes the main problem is the continuing commercial shift from downtown Bremerton to Silverdale. The owners tried to buck the tide when they took over the restaurant business in 1987 from the previous owner who filed for bankruptcy.
“We had to look at the competition coming online,” said Richard Verheist. “We’d be going up against General Mills,” he said, referring to the corporate owner of the about-to-open Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Silverdale.
“It's like a wake and we're hoping for people to come and celebrate the end," said Sandy Verheist.
In 2008 (10 years ago)
• A bill to make recess a mandatory part of elementary school students’ days is making its way through the state Legislature.
Kitsap educators say they value free play time, but they don't need a law to make it happen.
The State Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6042 last week that included testimony from representatives of the Washington State PTA.
Those who spoke said the membership ranks recess time among its top priorities. A related bill, SB 5265, would create an outdoor education and recreation grant program aimed at underserved children.
Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, the mandatory recess bill sponsor, said children in her district had been shortchanged on time for unstructured play because of pressure on schools to meet state academic learning standards.
Compiled from Kitsap Sun archives by Ann Horn