Letters to the editor: March 25, 2009

Mr. Winship,

I enjoyed your article about the 50 years of home delivery for the post office.

However, I do feel that a correction should be made in the part about the recall in the city during 1958.

While it is true that Earl Gossett, Alvin Treat and Marshall Squires were recalled due to the firing of Victor W. Armitage, the police chief, it should be noted that the editor of the Valley News spearheaded the recall. It should also be corrected that only Alvin Treat was a founding council member.

The first mayor and founding councilman, Ralph Ganyon was defeated and Murial Peckler, another founding council person, did not seek re-election, therefore making Marshall Squires and Earl Gossett the new members.

The night Armitage was fired, I was appointed acting police chief and was in this position until January 1959 when Carl Wallace became the new chief. Wallace stayed only three or four months, then resigned to return to Ventura. I was then appointed as permanent police chief until I resigned in 1965.

Although the newspaper back then reported it, Vic Armitage was never re-instated as police chief nor given any back pay.

He remained in Anderson for a while and then went to the U.S. Army depot in Herlong as Chief of Security. Eventually, he retired to Utah and is now deceased. Thanks for letting me set the record straight.

Don Canada,

Anderson