INSIDE

Thirty Years Ago

The February 29, 1980 issue of the Ocean Star reported that the Point Roberts marina was bankrupt and a trustee had been appointed to liquidate the marina and adjoining properties. Ten buyers were reported to be interested.

The total property tax rate for Point Roberts was $9.71 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation and raised $582,870 in taxes on the Point. The 2009 mil rate is $8.43 and raises over $4 million in taxes. The local fire department collected 34 cents per thousand dollars of property value and today they collect 46 cents.

A new adult bookstore opened across the street from the “hard-core porno theater” on Gulf Road.

U.S. Customs reported 19 seizures of narcotics and dangerous drugs at the local border from January 1 to February 24. Two vehicles and a $34,000 boat were also seized. The newspaper also reported customs officers now had computers in their booths that accessed a national law enforcement database and that they asked “mundane questions.”

Drilling a fourth well to bolster the local water supply, the local water district hit sediment and clay at 310 feet and engineers declared it would not be economically feasible to develop the well. The abandoned well cost the district $14,000 of the $30,000 it had budgeted to develop additional capacity.

Local seniors announced plans to build a bocci court and picnic area adjacent to the community center.

The Cannery Ballroom announced its grand opening.

A 1.47 acre parcel, including 152 feet of waterfront between the Cannery and Lighthouse park was advertised for $167,000.

On January 29, 1980 the local fire department responded to three men and two dogs stranded on offshore ice. Ladders and boats were used to rescue them.