This Week in Odessa History

Odessa High School won full accreditation from the state in February 1910.

The upgrade had been due largely to the efforts of Principal William U. Neeley, who expanded the curriculum and hired additional teachers.

The Record gave this report of the school’s new classification in the issue of February 25, 1910:

Word has been received that Odessa high School has been fully accredited for all of the work now being done.

This action was taken by the State Board of Higher Education at a meeting in Spokane last Monday. This stamp of approval placed upon our school by the highest educational board in the state places it on the list with the first class highs schools of the state and admits our students to any of the state institutions without examination.

It would be hard to find another school system that has made the progress of Odessa schools during the past few years. The grades have been well organized, the high school well established, a foundation for a good library started, an excellent laboratory fitted up, a school magazine launched and last but not least a school spirit second to none has been aroused.

No actions or disturbances are ever allowed to enter the school to mar its harmony.

The salaries for the teachers have been increased from time to time so as to secure and retain the services of well-trained faculty members, and now the salaries are at the head of the list in Lincoln County, while five years ago they were the lowest.

The credit for these accomplishments and should go to the principal of the Odessa Public Schools, William U. Neeley, who has done much to bring them to their present standard of protection.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 23, 1912

A press dispatch to Spokane-Review from Walla Walla, dated February 20, says: Gymnasium boxing lessons served an unintended purpose for Miss Georgia McMenus, a Whitman college freshman from Odessa, Wash., last night, when she was going to a Christian Endeavor meeting. Stepping from behind a tree on one of the principal streets of the city, a well dressed thug seized Miss McMenus by the left arm, but was repulsed by a heavy right to the jaw, which completely knocked him out. The girl then fled, and a later search for the assailant was unsuccessful.

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 25, 1937

It was spring weather instead of wintry storms that forced the Odessa schools to close on Tuesday of this week. Thawing had taken the frost from the ground and fields would not stand the traffic forcing cars to go in the roads, where old snow banks, left from the drifting weather of the past weeks blocked the roads.

A light rainfall on Monday night cut the snow and added to the mud in the country roads. Water, gathering in the creek, is filling pools and the creek is expected to resume flowing in a few days.

Ranchers welcome the thaw as it brings to a close one of the longest winter periods this region has ever recorded. Snowfall was heavy, but light in volume, containing but little water.

50 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 22, 1962

Odessa people and teh rest of the world spent an exciting morning Tuesday while astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. flew his space capsul in a three-times-around-the-world orbit.

The flight was made after months of delay and found satisfactory weather conditions. He made teh entire cycle, passing three nights and three days in his round trip flight encountering extreme cold on teh dark side of the earth, which caused flight supervisors to consider bringing him donw at teh end of teh second orbit. He was permitted to continue and made the entire cycle within minutes of the calculated time, and making a very satisfactory retun to earth.

The Odessa volunteer fire department will recieve first hand information in a tour of the Batum missile site on Sunday, February 25, to become familiar with undergound hazards in case their services are needed.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 12, 1987

Helping farmers cope in the present economy will be a stressed feature of this year’s Town & Country day.

Instructor Bill Looney from Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake will address the first of several farm– and farmer – related topics as he speaks on “Survival in Farming.”

Biological control of a fungus disease that may affect 625,000 acres of wheat in the Northwest could be worth $13 million a year to growers, according to agricultural researchers at Washington State University.

The disease, known as take-all, reduces yields by destroying the root system and lower stem of the wheat plant. Plant pathologists say it is one of the most damaging root diseases of wheat worldwide.

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

February 28, 2002

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office now has a web site. It is a simple address to remember– lcso.cc. Listed on the web site are the Most Wanted in Lincoln County, links to other areas, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Venture Scouts, sex offenders in Lincoln County, the mission statement, contacts and newsletter.

A prospective physician for Lincoln County Hospital District #1, Dr. Sveto Tomov was in Odessa on a recruitment visit.

The 32-year-old native of Bulgaria now is in his third year of residency at a hospital in Morristown, N.J., where he specializes in internal medicine.

For lack of interest among students and for lack of a coach, there will be no tennis program at Odessa High School this spring..

There were no applicants and no volunteers for coaching positions. A few students had indicated a desire to participate, but not enough to go through with the program.