By IMPERIAL VALLEY PRESS STAFF Imperial Valley Press

6:30 p.m. EST, February 8, 2013

>> 40 Years Ago — Because of his poor health county sheriff-Coroner Raymond B. Rowe announced Tuesday he will retire June 30.

The Board of Supervisors accepted his resignation and appointed Oren Fox, presently serving as undersheriff, to replace Rowe on July 1. Fox will complete Rowe remaining two-year term.

In a letter to the board, Rowe said he will apply immediately for disability retirement from the county. He explained his doctors have advised “to disassociate myself from law enforcement and this position in particular.”

>> 50 Years Ago — Motorists driving on the east slope of the Jacumba Mountains are in for a change of scenery in 15 months, thanks to plans of the California Division of Highway.

At that time, traffic between Imperial and San Diego counties will be temporarily rerouted from the present twisting In-Ko-Pah Gorge road to the Devil’s Canyon Link of U.S. 80. The new link will carry east and west traffic between the two counties while the old route is being realigned and improve.

>> 30 Years Ago — For 43 years, John O’Grady has saluted when he has driven by Valerie Jean’s dates hope just this site of Coachella.

O’Grady, a producer broker, passes Valerie Jean’s each year on his way down Highway 86 to the winter lettuce harvest in Imperial County.

“I salute when I go past it because any integrity I have I lose when I get on this side,” says O’Grady, who has been making the yearly trek to Imperial County since 1938.

For eight months out of the year, O’Grady works out of his Salinas home, buying lettuce and other vegetables in Northern California. But each winter, the lettuce harvest moves south. And along with it goes O’Grady and his three sons.

O’Grady says the Imperial Valley with its shorter harvest season is a more volatile market than Salinas. As a result a different code of ethics prevails.

>> 20 Years Ago — PALO VERDE — An Imperial County woman reportedly missing for four days in a remote desert area south of here was found early Sunday when she flagged down several deputies who where leaving the area after discontinuing their roles in the search.

Sherry Lynn Carter, 32, address unavailable, was apparently suffering from dehydration and dementia when she was located after sunrise, Sheriff’s office Deputy Mike Leon said. She was in stable condition today at Yuma Regional Medical Center.