60 years ago

Marsh Creek watershed zone first in county: The zone embracing some 68,000 acres of the Marsh Creek watershed is the first to be organized on a permanent basis in the Contra Costa flood and soil conservation district. It was formally established after the directors of the district approved a petition submitted by Arthur Honegger and Stanley Nunn at a meeting in Walnut Creek last week.

A program of flood prevention according to Tomas S. Vanasek, district board chairman, will be undertaken immediately along Marsh and Sand creeks. The program is expected to cost approximately $50,000 and is aimed at preventing a recurrence of the overflowing last winter which caused an estimated half million dollars of damage when it inundated Knightsen, part of Brentwood and other localities.

Formation of the permanent zone, Vanasek explained, gives the district authority to levy taxes not to exceed 20 cents on the $100 assessed valuation to carry out a flood control program as recommended by engineers with the approval of the property owners.

25 years ago

Young businessman runs dad's hardware store: One of Bethel Island's newest businessmen is also probably the youngest. In fact, it is a fair best he is one of the youngest in East County, if not in the county.

But that doesn't bother Mile Gebro, 17, who splits his days between doing

his senior year at a Bay Area high school and more or less managing Judy's Hardware on Bethel Island. His father, Vern Gebro, bought the store about a month ago. He has worked after school pretty much since he was 11, so there has been no time for school sports.

Gebro started working in a pizza parlor at age 11 and has since detailed cars, installed stereos and done a variety of other jobs, often working for his father who is sales manager of an Alameda-area Ford agency, in addition to putting in two days a week at the store.

Gebro plans to go to college after graduation, but is not definite on a major at this point.

-- Brentwood News files