Past Pages Dec. 28

130 YEARS AGO

Police Court: Judge Cary yesterday dispensed of the following cases: "Buck" Murphy, opium smoker, guilty; John Chinaman, opium seller, guilty; two Indians, drunk, guilty; each sentenced to ten days work on the streets; Ah Lung, selling whiskey to Indians, guilty; sentenced to fifteen days imprisonment.

100 YEARS AGO

The thermometer has been hovering about zero for the past few nights. At Mound House it was reported at four below. A number of hydrants have burst, setting busy days for the plumbers. Washoe Lake is frozen over and in a few days skating on that lake will be excellent.

70 YEARS AGO

George Forbes of Fallon has put up $25 to start a fund to buy a bombing plane, name it the "Nevada Rattlesnake" and present it to the United States Government. "Nevada has always been at the top when war emergencies arise - from the Civil War on down through history," Forbes declared.

50 YEARS AGO

Surplus property from the Stead Air Force Base will be offered for sale. The sale will include 3⁄4 ton cargo trucks, a ditching machine, portable gas generators and dental chairs.

20 YEARS AGO

Fifty fewer persons died this year compared to 1990, according to the Highway Safety Division. As of this week, 289 persons have died compared to 341 in 1990. Last year drinking accounted for 53 percent of highway fatalities.

10 YEARS AGO

Drive-in tourists helped Northern Nevada's economy weather a sharp national downturn after the Sept. 11 attacks.

• Trent Dolan is the son of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.