Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies
Flathead Courier, July 23, 1959
Tuesday's Siren Blast Was Simulated Disaster Alert
The siren blast about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday was a simulated disaster call staged by the Polson Jayceens with cooperation of the volunteer fire department.
The call was a simulated auto accident near the Polson airport involving four victims - provided by the firemen. The first "victims" arrived at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in eight minutes. They were transported in "ambulances" provided by Bill Bishop and Jim Hohman.
The disaster plan is a project of the Jayceens. In event of a community emergency the sheriff's office would notify communications controller, Mrs. Bill Bishop who in turn notifies key personnel who have specific duties.
Mrs. Bishop calls for doctors, then she phones Mrs. Jim Hohman, overall project chairman, who notifies nurses who will be needed. An assistant calls for baby-sitters for the nurses … Mrs. Bishop then calls Mrs. Duane Cass who notifies the hospital of the situation and then goes to the hospital to assist with calls and "tagging" victims ... Mrs. Janet Keller is notified… she calls ambulances and orderlies.
More personnel are brought into action if a receiving station is set up.
Tuesday's practice run was regarded as highly successful. Jayceens reported two doctors would have been either at the scene or at the hospital within five minutes, two within ten minutes.
Clergymen would have been available in four to five minutes.
Girl Lost in Woods; Walks Out Unharmed
Lyda Dryer, 19, of Whitefish walked out of the woods unharmed after being lost overnight near the Condon ranger station in the Swan country at the northern edge of Lake County.
She and two male companions, Kenneth Bunker, 25, and Ralph Hertz, 21, both of Kalispell had gone into the area at Condon Saturday morning intending to hike five miles to fish in Pony Lake.
The girl became tired along the way and said she would meet the men at the creek along the trail on their return.
Bunker and Hertz failed to locate her when they came back and reported to law officers in Kalispell who notified Lake County sheriff Bill Graham. A search party of Forest Service personnel and volunteers was organized. Horses and a Jeep were used.
About 8:30 a.m. Sunday, the girl stumbled out onto the highway as the sheriff, Tony Bratton and Bill Anderson drove by in a Jeep. Except for scratches and mosquito bites, she was unharmed.
Water Restrictions Are Helping Supply
Sprinkling restrictions in Polson have helped the city's water shortage during the past week, Meyers Nelson, city engineer, reported Tuesday. The reservoir level still drops during the day, however, it fills up again at night.
City officials emphasized that restrictions are still necessary to maintain adequate fire protection and domestic use levels. They urged all persons to turn off water taps in event of a fire.
Nelson added a clarifying statement to last week's published water restriction areas. All areas remain the same as published. He said that persons on the north side of US 93 or State 35 outside city limits could irrigate on odd numbered days, persons on the south side of highways 93 and 35 could water on even numbered days.
All-Day Lake Cruise Is Planned Saturday
Stan Koss has scheduled his second all-day cruise of the season for this Saturday, July 25. The MS Flathead will leave Polson at 9 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. Stops will be made a lakeshore communities Tourists and residents are asked to phone 150-K for reservations.