[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 114 (Monday, July 30, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5656-S5657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                              MELBA, IDAHO

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate and 
acknowledge

[[Page S5657]]

the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city of Melba, Idaho. 
Starting August 17, 2012, the citizens of Melba will gather throughout 
the weekend to commemorate this special time in their southwestern 
Idaho community.
  Melba was founded by Clayton C. Todd, naming the yet-to-be town after 
his 4-year-old daughter. Stopping in Idaho on his way to Alaska to mine 
for gold, Mr. Todd heard about a State land sale. He purchased 160 
acres of land and laid out the town site. He had done his homework and 
saw that this land with a siding on the railroad and expanding farms 
throughout the area would cut five miles off the route to the nearest 
town of Nampa and the mainline railroad.
  Melba became a small boom town in the middle of an agricultural area. 
Shortly after World War I, the area became famous for its sweet corn 
seed. Area farmers expanded their seed operations to grow carrot, onion 
and alfalfa seed, along with the corn. The rich, fertile soil, abundant 
water and the hot summer days with cool nights earned Melba the moniker 
``The Seed Heart of America.''
  Like many small communities in our great country, they have seen 
times of struggle. In 1949, Melba was hit hard by an epidemic of 
infantile paralysis, also known as polio. The residents not only 
supported one another, in 1950 they held the first Polio Auction, 
raising $2,000 for medical research on the disease. Now called the 
Melba Community Auction, area residents continue the tradition of 
helping one another as they raise funds for nonprofit organizations 
that provide services to those in and around Melba.
  The spirit of small town America is alive and well in Melba. They 
believe in helping their neighbors as well as strangers. Their schools 
are a source of pride and strongly supported by the community. And as 
to their Fourth of July celebration? Let me put it this way--no one can 
question their patriotism and love of America! Theirs is a grand 
celebration of our Nation's birthday.
  So, Madam President, I am very proud to recognize this landmark 
anniversary and congratulate the community of Melba for this 
centennial. Melba has much to celebrate as well as to look forward to 
in its next century.

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