Russell Wilson Officially Retires

Former Seahawk quarterback Russell Wilson, who guided Seattle to its first Super Bowl victory, is now officially retired.  

It was already announced that he was joining the CBS broadcast crew for pregame analysis, but reporters stopped short of saying the 14 quarterback was ending his playing career permanently. 

1951 Jack Keating Takes Over At Walla Walla Station

June of 1951, Jack Keating takes over at KWWB, whom he would later have the call letters changed to KTEL.

Keating would own the station until his death in the mid 1980s. 

Melinda Gates Joins Kraken Ownership Group

 She had been mentioned as a potential candidate to purchase the Seattle Seahawks, but various sources report that Melinda Gates, the ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is joining the ownership group of the Seattle Kraken.  The group is now known as One Roof Sports.

The news adds the speculation that the group is setting sites on the potential team in the proposed NBA expansion. 

Bob Garred--National Newscaster From Walla Walla

 There is very little information on Bob online, but not only was he from my hometown, he grew up in the house where my family lived from 1965-2000.  We purchased our house from the Garred's as they moved to the Trees apartments on Catherine Street. 

His father owned Walla Walla Drug, a downtown drugstore. 

Bob Garred would die in 1956.

Former Seahawk Super Bowl Champ Takes CBS Job

 Reports say that Russell Wilson, most recently a quarterback for the New York Giants has joined the CBS Sunday TV football crew as a pregame analyst.  Whether Wilson is retiring or just pausing his career has not been indicated, although, it would seem that the handwriting is on the wall. 

Once, thought of as one of the game's elite quarterbacks, Wilson's career has been seemingly less stellar since leaving the Seahawks, where he guided the team to its first Super Bowl victory, and a losing apearence the following year. 

Big Y Area Joined College Place In Early 1980s

The annexation of the Big Y area was successful, but not everyone was happy.

My Dad Helped College Place Expand

First off, this article from late 70s or early 80s contains a huge error, my dad, Alan Barer, never owned Miller Supply, but did own the building.  My Uncle Dave was owner to the Big Y, a retail center, between Walla Walla and College Place 

At the time, College Place had a small retai footprint, mostly businesses along College Avenue, many owned by Walla Walla College, which is now a university.

The eventual annexation, which would go all the way East to Myra Road, helped diversify the city's retail offerings.

Thank you to brother, Steve for sending this. 

Farmers Market Up And Running

We visited the Maple Valley Farmers Market today (Saturday, May 20, 2026. It runs Saturdays from 9am till 2pm until the end of October.

Stan Barer Was Sworn In By Supreme Court Justice

 I just learned this today (May 29th, 2026).  My cousin Stan was sworn in to the bar by legendary Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. This is from an article in the Union-Bulletin archives, sometime in the early 1960s. 

 Douglas was a graduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, while Stan graduated from Walla Walla High School before going on to the University Of Washington.  Steve posted this in the Barer Family Group on Facebook. Stan, himself, would have an amazing career in Politics, law, and business.