Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The record high price of wheat was good for the region’s farmers, but not so good for bakers and consumers.

The city’s bakers announced that they were dealing with the problem by reducing the size of a five-cent loaf from 14 ounces to 12 ounces. A 10-cent loaf would be reduced from 28 ounces to 24 ounces.

The city’s bakers had been debating the move for weeks. They said they felt it was better to reduce the loaf’s size rather than raise the price.

One exception would be Swedish bread, which was not sold in loaves, but in flat cakes, and was not sold in a specified weight.

From the accident beat: A 9-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his mother on a farm at Hay Station, 35 miles west of Colfax.

The boy had been sent into the house by his father to fetch a shotgun. While the boy was exiting the house, he dropped the shotgun. It accidentally discharged, and his mother was fatally injured. 

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1981: Iran released 52 Americans it had held hostage for 444 days, minutes after the presidency had passed from Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan.

1986: The United States observed the first federal holiday in honor of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.