ORANGE COUNTY FREEZES AGAIN

California, including Orange County, has had another disastrous cold spell. Pictured is Irvine Park on Jan 7, 2007.

I remember when it snowed in Fullerton in the winter of '48. We were making snowballs at recess at Wilshire Jr. High. I was teased for bringing the cold weather as I had just returned from an over-long summer vacation in South Dakota.

Epic freezes in O.C.

1913: The first week of January, several nights of lows in the 20s (some farmers reported 18 degrees) resulted in damage to 60 percent of the county citrus crop. Trees not saved by smudge pots were lost when they froze and split open.

1937: The devastating Freeze of 1937. It was the coldest month in the county's history. Overnight temperatures were at or below freezing for 21 of January's 31 days. On Jan. 21, the mercury plunged to 18 degrees at Irvine Ranch – the lowest temperature ever officially recorded in the county. Children skated on a frozen Santiago Creek. Growers spent night after night in their groves with smudge pots, but frost still wiped out an estimated 30 percent of the area's $3.5 million orange and avocado crop.

1990: One of the most devastating freezes ever to hit the state's citrus industry, with losses topping $800 million. The chill destroyed fruit and trees, requiring two years for the industry to recover. A state of emergency was declared in 17 counties; a federal disaster was declared in 31 counties. Few citrus farmers possessed crop insurance, with about 160 paying $8 million in premiums. Some $9.1 million in state and federal aid was approved for farm workers.

1998: Four freezing nights in December destroyed 80 percent of the crop, a loss of $700.4 million in fruit, but left trees relatively unharmed. The president issued a disaster declaration for Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Tulare and Ventura counties. More than 85 percent, or 3,000, citrus farmers were insured, paying $114 million in premiums. A $9.1 million grant for disaster relief for farm workers was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

MICHAEL BOYD JEWETT FUHS '57

Jewett, Michael Boyd, age 67, of Fullerton, passed away from complications of chemo. therapy Monday morning January 8, 2007. Mike was born to Richard "Dick" and Virginia Jewett in 1939 and was the second of three brothers (Craig, Michael and Thomas "Tee") in Orange. Mike loved golf and played on the PGA tour and was the head pro in Billings, Montana and Alta Vista Country Club in Fullerton. In 1964, he married Sally Gorrindo and they had one son (Bailey Thomas) and one daughter (Danielle Susan) whom he loved very much. In 1971, Mike began working for the family owned RC Jewett Company, which he still was a partner of until his passing. In 1979, Mike married Sandra (Sandy) Wagen who was with him when he passed. In Dec. 1998, Mike and Tom's oldest brother (Craig) passed away. Mike loved both of his brothers very much. In October 2005, Mike and Sandy finally moved into their dream home in Quincy, CA. Mike loved the outdoors and fishing was his favorite hobby. But more than anything else, he loved the people in his life. He had a heart of gold and we all loved him very deeply. You will be lovingly missed by us all! Mike is survived by his wife Sandy, his brother Tom, his son Bailey and his wife Jeanine, his daughter Danielle, his grandson Chance, his granddaughter Nicole and the entire Jewett and Wagen extended families. There will be a service at Loma Vista Cemetery (701 E. Bastanchury Rd., Fullerton, CA 92835 – 714-525-1575) on Wednesday, Jan. 17th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society (1940 E. Deere Ave., #100, Santa Ana, CA 92705 – "In loving memory of Michael Jewett"). Lastly, Chance and Nicole would like to say, "We love you Grandpa and you will always be in our hearts"!!!

Published in the Orange County Register on 1/12/2007.

DONALD (POKEY) WOOD, FUHS '50

Wood, Donald E., 74, of La Verne, passed away on Jan. 2, 2007. Born in Long Beach, Calif. on Dec. 27, 1932, Don is survived by his wife, Sandra; children, Claudia, Michael and Patrick; their spouses; 6 grandchildren; 6 stepchildren; 9 step-grandchildren, and many family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Eva, Emmett and Kermit Wood, FUHS '53. Don's life was centered on football. He played football at Fullerton High and College, while in the Army, for the semipro Orange County Rhinos, appearing as an extra in the 1974 movie The Longest Yard. He encouraged his sons when they played Pop Warner and school football. He was a die-hard USC fan, joking that he had cardinal and gold in his veins. He was known for his USC tailgate parties and for giving everyone USC gear for each occasion. During the '50s and '60s, Don served as a patrol officer and a detective for the Anaheim Police Dept. He worked as a painting contractor from the '70s through November 2006. As a boy in Buena Park, he learned to make great tacos, when he helped in his mother's restaurant. He met his wife Sandra while making tacos at the Elks Club. Don loved trout fishing in the Sierras, enjoyed NASCAR races, trips in the RV, dinner club meetings, and friends at the High Brow. Don touched a lot of people and made many good friends. He always had a smile, a joke to share, and would give anything he had to his friends. He married five times, remained close to, and was loved by his family. Fight on, D.W.! In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Veterans Admin. Hospital, Loma Linda, Home Health Care Dept. Memorial - noon, Sat., Jan. 6, 2006.

Published in the Orange County Register on 1/6/2007.