100 YEARS AGO TODAY
December 18, 1912
Green River water, according to all intimations of health department officials, has been found absolutely unfit for use in its present condition for drinking purposes. The report of City Health Officer Janes, which was to have been made public last week, but which has been repeatedly deferred, is expected to recommend the immediate construction of a filter to cost between $250,000 and $300,000 to purify the supply. For nearly a month the city bacteriologist has been examining samples taken from the city Green river supply.
50 YEARS AGO TODAY
December 18, 1962
President John F. Kennedy says “peril was faced and reason ruled” in 1962, making the nation “just a little bit more confident of peace on Earth, good will to men” this Christmas season. With this declaration, the president lighted the national Christmas tree, a 72-foot beauty from Colorado, in the park behind the White House grounds. Alluding to the danger of nuclear war that pressed close during the Cuban crisis, Kennedy said, “the year of 1962 was a year of peril, but the peril was faced and reason ruled.” But he said, there is much to be done “and we still need to ask God to bless everyone.” Then he pressed a button that enveloped the towering blue spruce in the blaze of 4,000 colored lights.
25 YEARS AGO TODAY
December 18, 1987
Tacoma School Board members Thursday went looking for some answers to explain what School Board President Eugene Matsusaka described as this year’s abysmal standardized test scores. “I thought we were on an upward swing. I thought we would continue,” Matsusaka said. “When I found out it was the reverse, it was unsettling.” He said he understood some of the reasons, but he wanted more specifics about how the district was going to try to improve test scores.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.