Past Pages for May 17

130 YEARS AGO

Fence painting: Pete Cavanaugh hired a Chinaman to whitewash the fence, but when he came to inspect the work noticed the whitewash had been superficially performed. As Cavanaugh walked away he said, "Whitewash everything in sight." Upon his return later that afternoon, he found the delivery wagon and the horse had been whitewashed. The horse seemed to enjoy the performance as it was rather cooling.

120 YEARS AGO

Mud-hole episode: Joe Muller, adonis of the wheel met with a severe accident while attempting to smash the world's record on Carson street. He ran into a mud-hole which caused Joe and wheel to separate. When seen later he stated that the cause of his misfortune was due to the fact that one of the gentler sex attracted his attention.

70 YEARS AGO

Advertisement: "Carson Theater - 'Andy Hardy's Private Secretary' with Mickey Rooney, Fay Holden, Lewis Stone. America's No. 1 entertainer and the whole Hardy family, funnier than ever!"

50 YEARS AGO

Photo caption: Barbara Roventini reigned as queen of the Junior Senior Prom Saturday. The Carson high school gymnasium was decorated in the "Wonderland at Night" theme, with a profusion of stars.

20 YEARS AGO

The Board of Supervisors voted to snuff out smoking. As of July 1 no smoking will be allowed in city offices.

10 YEARS AGO

Nevada lawmakers are critical of President Bush's energy plan to build a high-level radioactive waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

• Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.