As reported in the Aug. 15, 1973, edition of the Town Crier, Los Altos residents were generally satisfied with their community and wanted the quality of life in their city either maintained or enhanced.
The positive response was the result of a survey of 398 local households in conjunction with a comprehensive review and revision of the Los Altos General Plan. Highest priority was assigned to open space maintained in its natural state.
Bill Whitacre was awarded the prestigious Carnegie gold medal in recognition of his role in saving the life of Shirley Morgan in 1970.
At that time, Morgan’s estranged husband allegedly shot her in a Los Altos restaurant. She had been hit four times when Whitacre forced his hand in between the hammer and body of the gun to prevent it from discharging further. He disarmed and held the man until the police arrived. Morgan survived the attack.
Los Altos Boy Scout Troop 31 returned from the National Jamboree West held at Farragut State Park in Idaho. For the jamboree, troop 31 took Scouts from troops 30 and 39. The 23 Scouts were driven to the jamboree, camping at Shasta Lake and by the Columbia River. On the return trip, the troop did some sightseeing in Idaho, Oregon and Nevada.
50 years ago in the Los Altos News
According to the Aug. 12, 1948, issue of the Los Altos News, five men, including two sets of brothers, engaged in an early evening bloody free-for-all that took place on Main Street. The 25-minute brawl sent all five to an emergency room in a San Jose hospital for treatment of fractures of the nose and hand, severe facial injuries and for considerable stitching.
“It was just a family argument. I guess we can have a fight if we want to,” the participants said as they were released from the county jail after no charges had been filed against them.
It had been two years since Congress, after much debate in July 1946, voted to curtail price controls. Official figures from mid-year 1948 showed the difference between controlled prices and uncontrolled prices following the end of the Office of Price Administration: Price of meat – upped 191 percent after May 1946; Rents – which remained under controls, increased only 7.6 percent; Gas and electricity – regulated by state and municipal commissions, increased only two percent; General food prices – went up 214.1 percent over the 1935-39 averages.
– Ellen Shaw of the Los Altos History House Association
