Only 30 years ago

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137520320768878474.post-68976718081587703102008-07-17T18:00:00.000-07:002008-07-17T18:02:41.063-07:00Only 30 years ago - Part IIWhen the Rolltop Roundup ended last week Chino was about to celebrate the Fourth of July sans any public celebration and fireworks except for the “safe and sane” ones sold at about 20 stands operated by local non-profits. The result was “only” three grass fires, two roof fires, one dumpster fire and one injury, most probably the result of illegal fireworks. Chino’s population was 35,500 in 1978. The area had 48,000 people. The city has more than doubled and the area more than tripled since then. The industrial giant of Chino was the Freightliner truck plant, opened in 1973 and which this last month was reduced to rubble after being shut down for years. Most of the up to 950 workers went out on a 4-month strike that spring. East of town the dairies were having a very good year, but were becoming plagued with the perennial problem which always comes with their good times—overproduction, which sends the price of milk down. There were 378 dairies in the Chino milkshed, 281 on this side of the county line. Cows numbered about 190,000 head. School attendance in the fall was 12,908 in 15 schools, with an expectation for 1,000 more during the year. Four-track year around school plus an alternative standard session was the rule. The Chino Fundamental School opened in the former Gird Elementary, which was combined with the Gird Primary across the street. When fall arrived so did the flu, which hit attendance hard. The school board thought it had found an answer to the ungovernable smoking in the high school restrooms. It established, by a 3-2 voted, outdoor smoking areas at Chino High in the spring, but the idea didn’t last long. By fall all smoking had been banned. It never was allowed at the newly opened Don Lugo High. The board also reversed its opposition position to builders fees to help pay for new schools, and asked the cities to impose them. The Chino hills were ravaged by the worst wildfire in recent years. Started near the Aerojet plant by illegal target shooters, the Santa Ana-fanned inferno consumed 5,600 acres as it headed for Yorba Linda. Seven hundred fire fighters finally got it under control with a minimum of damage to structures. On the political scene in Chino, newly elected councilman Larry Walker challenged the city ordinance banning political signs as a violation of free speech, so the city law was changed to allow them. Mayor Bob McLeod returned to his duties in the fall after several months illness, during which he had spent some time in a coma because of internal bleeding. He served two more years before retiring, a total of 16 in all. Crime continued to be a concern. The city budgeted for seven new officers and began running a crime watch series in the Champion, showing where burglaries were taking place. The Chino Hills branch of the Bank of America was robbed of $25,000 after an employee and her children were taken hostage at home and driven back to the bank to open the safe. They were later released. Fire Station 5 on Ramona north of the 60 Freeway was opened, giving new protection to the fast growing area north of the freeway. Monte Vista Park was dedicated in October on the site of the old D Street and E.J. Marshall elementary schools. Under new state law, school board members had seven months more added to their terms (I was one of them). The board elections were moved from March to November in odd numbered years. City council elections were moved from April to March. Chino High won its first outright football title in 30 years, in the San Antonio League, by defeating Ganesha 14-13 in the final minutes of the season’s last regular game. Coach Lou Randall had been hired from Garden Grove that summer, to replace Mike Ellison who resigned before he even started. The Cowboys made it to the second round. <div align="center">Copyright 2008 Champion Newspapers - Published July 5, 2008</div>Allen McCombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05335714741752650309noreply@blogger.com