Compiled by Nick Sestanovich

75 years ago

Offer Made By Federal Govt. To Improve Streets (April 8, 1943)

Among the matters discussed at the City Council meeting Tuesday evening was the announcement that the Federal government has recently had representatives here and consulted city officials proposing improvement of East 5th street to the Catholic Cemetery. This street is a secondary highway of the state system. East H street from East 2nd street has been in bad condition and this street also is to be resurfaced.
If heavy Army trucking is to be done on East H street the city wishes to be assured that the government will continue upkeep and maintenance.
Two taxpayers appeared before the council asking for immediate sewer improvement near West I street. They were assured that the section was included in the sewer system approved by the Federal government.
City Attorney Harold Simon reported that the city had been before the Grand Jury recently asking for a county detention home due to increased juvenile delinquency and that the board of supervisors had ordered the preparing of plans for a detention home.

50 years ago

 Record Turnout At Polls Expected (April 4, 1968)

A record Benicia turnout at the polls is expected next Tuesday, April 9, when voters will elect three councilmen and a new city clerk.
Eight candidates, including two incumbents, will be contesting for the council seats. Two candidates also will be vying for the office of city clerk. The council vacancies are for the seat of C. Carsten Johanson and James Reed, both incumbents, and Roy J. Charboneau who is not running.
Acting City Clerk Jeanne M. Spencer, who is not a candidate for election, said 2,700 voters have registered to cast ballots Tuesday. She said 54 absentee ballots have been taken out.
The four polling places, which will be open from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m., will be located in Benicia High School; Chamber of Commerce office at 737 First St.; Old St. Paul’s Church, and Robert Semple School.
The council candidates are Johansen, Reed, Royce Brooks, Vernon Estey, Warren Humbert, James Kurtz, William Odom and Willard Seiffert.
Mrs. Mary M. Odom and Mrs. Betty M. Pellinen are the two contestants for the city clerk’s office which has been served on an acting bases by Mrs. Spencer for more than two years since the retirement of Miss Anna M. Pine.

25 years ago

Developers drop Sky Valley plans (April 4, 1993)

By Sarah Rohrs

Fear over I.T. apparently has paralyzed the Sky Valley housing project, although developers stressed they are committed to building in the northern area and will try again when the former toxic waste dump is finally closed.
“We’re asking that the processing of the Sky Valley plan be suspended until we have worked out the I.T. issue,” Sky Valley spokesman Jim McKeehan, vice president and general counsel of Signature Properties, said Friday.
Within the past month, the Sky Valley Development Group has completed a random telephone survey that showed Benicia residents want more assurances that the presence and closure of the International Technology Corp. Panoche facility will have no effect on Sky Valley or the existing Benicia community, McKeehan said.
“We need to know what the closure plan will be and what, if anything, it will mean to Benicia,” McKeehan said.
He added that developers are convinced fears about I.T. are the community’s main stumbling block to accepting the massive residential development.
McKeehan said developers intend to work with the City Council subcommittee (councilmen John Silva and Dirk Fulton) to lobby the Department of Toxic Substances Control in an effort to expedite the I.T. closure process.
At present, the state is still trying to finalize closure plans so the I.T. EIR can begin. Public hearings should convene in about one year.

The full articles of these and other stories are available on microfilm at the Benicia Public Library.

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