Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 50 years ago

It’s spring break in Spokane, and that meant only one thing in 1961: mischief.

Sheriff William J. Reilly warned Spokane County youngsters with “springtime vigor” to stay away from dangerous, and thus attractive, pursuits, such as cliffs.

“The Five Mile Bluff cliff is always a problem at this time of year,” Reilly told The Spokesman-Review. “Boys and girls go up there without supervision, and there has been some shooting of B-B guns at other youngsters.”

Area property owners, it seems, repeatedly had complained about vandalism, such as broken windows.

Reilly reminded young people that all of the area from Francis to the Little Spokane River was a no-shooting zone, and all guns, including BB guns, would be confiscated.

From the horticulture beat: For the third year, area lilac growers were being urged to spread the love by sending lilac shoots to friends and family across the United States. The event was organized by the Spokane Park Department, the Associated Garden Clubs of Spokane and the Lilac Festival.

The first year, 1959, more than 150 shoots were mailed to 23 states, including Alaska, and to England, Canada, Germany and Hong Kong.