The following stories happened this week, 25 and 50 years ago, as reported in the Snoqualmie Valley Record. From the Record’s archives:

Thursday, Aug. 23, 1990

• McDonald’s will sponsor a Big Mac-eating contest to benefit the Mount Si High School Drill Team on Saturday, Aug. 25. Every burger consumed during the 10-minute event will generate $20 for the drill team. Contestants include Snoqualmie Mayor Jeanne Hansen, Snoqualmie Police Chief Don Isley, King County Sheriff’s Deputy Khris Molchan; and representatives of North Bend Mayor Fritz Ribary, the North Bend Fire Department, and Mount Si Athletic Director Greg Hart. A trophy will be awarded in the fall.

• The Great Northwest Factory Stores, North Bend, will hold a grand opening event Aug. 24-26. There will be live radio, live entertainment and live Persian rug-weaving. Omid International, a rug importer, will have a master weaver on hand to demonstrate the fine art of Persian rug-weaving.

Thursday, Aug. 26, 1965

• Plasti-Lite Corporation recently moved its operation from the Georgetown district of Seattle to a building east of North Bend, formerly occupied by E & H Manufacturing Company. Plasti-Lite began as a “home garage” type of business in 1957. Its purpose was to manufacture a portable, lighted, changeable sign, after the company’s founder personally experienced a need for such a unit.

• Twenty-five members of the Snoqualmie Volunteer Fire Department responded to the alarm when a propane gas tank near the Weyerhaeuser plywood plant sprung a leak the evening of Aug. 18. Firemen kept 14 lines playing on the area for four and a-half hours, laying fog to disperse the gas and prevent an explosion. No damage resulted, said Fire Chief Martin Fringer.