Tiny Communities Treasure All the News That’s Fit

Nothing gives a traveler the flavor and tempo of a strange land like the local newspapers.

When we were in Brawley overnight, I picked up copies of the Imperial Valley Weekly and the Holtville Tribune. Imperial and Holtville are cities of 4,000 to 5,000 in the valley south of Brawley.

The legend under the Imperial Valley Weekly logo reads: “The power of the freedom of the press is a flaming sword . . . hold it high, use it wisely and guard it well.”

I was glad to see that freedom of the press was treasured even in those tiny farm centers.

Even more reassuring were the headlines on Page 1 of the Holtville Tribune: The banner, in red ink, was “It’s Carrot Festival Time.” This annual event had preempted any news of a more sordid nature.

Under it, three separate stories were headlined: “Dip Lunch on Saturday”; “Livestock Show Sunday”; “Recipe Contest Monday.”

On Page 4, though, the paper reported the nitty-gritty underside of life in Holtville. Under “Police Briefs,” calls to the Police Department on various days were listed as follows:

12:57 a.m.--Mike Molina reported that he heard his dog barking, went outside and discovered his bike was gone.

12:58 a.m.--Caller reported that a suspicious vehicle just parked in front of her residence.

10:40 a.m.--Connie Hoyt requested that someone come pick up a sick cat that is in her front yard.

5:30 p.m.--Mike Angelo reported that he lost his golden retriever. It was wearing a red collar.

7:39 p.m.--Anonymous caller reported that a fellow is playing his stereo so loud that he can hear it from 100 yards away.

There were also reports of violence from the police blotter:

10:44 a.m.--Finley school employee reported that there was a fight between two first-graders and one stabbed the other one with a pencil.

And wife abuse:

7 a.m.--Domestic disturbance was reported in which a man allegedly hit his wife, who is three months pregnant. The woman was taken to the hospital. The man, 24, was arrested on battery charges.

And sexual harassment:

1:41 p.m.--Caller reported that there are two fellows harassing a woman on 5th Street by Valley Auto.

And one crime of a sinister nature:

1:30 a.m.--CHP reported that they got a call reporting a kidnaping at Ninah’s Truck Scales. Mr. Wheeler reported that his wife Linda D. Wheeler was kidnaped by two subjects in a white newer model semi-truck with black lettering on the side. Linda Wheeler is 25 years old, 5’1”, with brown curly hair and a scar under her eye.

There was also a section called Snowbird Gazette, with social notes about the Snowbirds, those semi-residents from colder climes who come south in the fall to park their trailers on the outskirts of various Imperial Valley towns for the winter.

The Snowbird report began: “Well Hi Snowbirds and Holtville, Calif. We have had a fast week at the Springs (the BLM Hot Springs Campground)--Snowbirds going to the Big Pancake Breakfast in El Centro, and now some folks are off to the Quartzite Pow-Wow. Meanwhile, we’re looking forward to the opening of the Carrot Festival at the weekend. Now some news about our friends.”

A real estate ad pictured a three-bedroom, two-bath home with family room and pool for $85,000; a “spacious” three-bedroom, 1 1/2-bath home for $55,000, and a two-bedroom home on a large corner lot for $39,000.

Looking for a job? A help-wanted ad said a weighmaster is needed at Ninah’s Truck Stop (where Mrs. Wheeler allegedly was kidnaped.)

A reassuring headline topped Page 11: “Holtville Girl Scouts Start Annual Cookie Sale.”

In the Imperial Valley Weekly the headline over Helen Murphy’s “On the Local Scene” column was: “Three New Babies to Welcome This Week.”

And even that kidnaping had a happy ending. A story in the next day’s paper explained: “A woman who was reportedly kidnaped in Holtville last week by a couple of truck drivers actually went with them of her own free will, according to the Police Department.” (She was going east to visit relatives.)

I don’t think they’re even worried down there about the ozone layer.