Fire at the Rooster in 1981

E-mail from Cheryl

Facts from the past gleaned from the Moses Lake Herald, Columbia Basin Herald and The Neppel Record by Cheryl (Driggs) Elkins:

From the CBH on May 13, 1981:

Royal Rooster gutted by fire

Fire gutted the east end of Ed’s Royal Rooster east of Moses Lake Tuesday afternoon, Fire District Five firemen said today.

Firemen received the fire call at 4:30 p.m. Cause of the fire is under investigation today by the Grant Fire Marshal’s Office.

Firemen fought the blaze more than two hours. More than one-third of the structure was consumed in flames. Damage estimates will be available after the investigation.

From the CBH on Oct. 11, 1976:

Member hosts formal dinner

Alpha Tau chapter of Beta Sigma Phi held its preceptor night at the home of Mrs. Howard Copenhaver.

She was hostess for a formal dinner where gifts were exchanged and Beta buddies for the preceding year were revealed. New buddies also were chosen for the coming year.

After the business meeting the preceptor ritual was given for Mrs. Merle Armstrong. The ceremony was conducted by Mrs. Richard Lowther, with assistance from Copenhaver and Hazel Gerber.

Members will have a rummage sale 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15 and 16 at the former Herald Building on Third Avenue.

From the CBH on Sept. 4, 1979:

It happens to everyone

Your vehicle runs out of gas, the State Patrol stops and the situation is explained. The trooper is only allowed to pump one gallon of gas into your stranded vehicle.

But if you have a Columbia Basin Job Corps bus loaded with 31 passengers, stuck at the Blue Lake Rest Area, one gallon isn’t quite enough.

After the sheriff’s office helped notify the Job Corps Center at Moses Lake, aid was dispatched with extra gasoline and the bus finally got home.