This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 25, 1915

Mr. and Mrs. Hy. Rieke drove to Davenport yesterday afternoon in the Rieke auto to visit with Mrs. Wm. U. Neeley and little daughter, Wilma, who have been seriously ill this week with typhoid fever.

John Geile, Jr., of Odessa, has been awarded $300 by the Great Northern railway company for damages received when struck by a train at a railway crossing in Odessa.

The Odessa Hardware and Implement company delivered a Buick touring car last Saturday to C.T. Deets and another to C. Jantz. Ford touring cars were also delivered to John Hopp, Geo. Lenhart and Palmer Bentley.

While driving his auto near the Julius Kuest place, Henry Kister, accompanied by a party of young friends, had the misfortune to turn the auto over. The fenders, windshield and other small parts were smashed and bent, but fortunately all of the occupants escaped without injury.

H.A. Wild is the new manager and butter maker at the Odessa creamery, having come here from Spokane. It is the intention to churn every day now that cream receipts have become heavier with the opening of spring.

75 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 28, 1940

The marriage of Theodore Schritter, Ruff, to Miss Lydia Kissler, Wilson Creek, was solemnized at the Emanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. Henry Brockman officiating.

H.H. Strate had his car “stolen” Friday night and did not discover it. The “thieves” were also serene in their innocence. W.C. Raugust, who had also left his car on the street, called the Trading company garage to have the car put inside. Coming to the Strate car instead, it was taken and placed in the garage. Mr. Strate, who had come to town with his son Glen, noted the absence of his car and thought his son had driven away with it. The next morning the error was discovered.

Boys and dads shared a feast put on by the commercial club. All members of the Boy Scouts were “adopted” by men of the community for the event.

A clam bake, with hot dogs, was the principal menu, served by the senior Girl Scouts. The junior Girl Scouts presented a play, the Rev. J. P. Flemmer gave a talk, and Tauro, the magician, presented a magic act.

The state game protector, in Odessa, called attention to the large bird planting program the game department intended to follow in this area, and that its success was menaced by the number of coyotes on the range. He urged farmers and stock men who see coyotes about their ranch to notify him and he will start denning operations to rid the area of the animals.

50 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 25, 1965

World champion bull rider Bob Wegner will come from Tulsa, Oklahoma to stage an exhibition ride on the famous bull Salty at the Odessa pro-rodeo, it was announced by the Odessa Riders club.

Salty the bull was voted number two in the national finals last year. Bud King made the arrangements.

The 1965 Tri-County Fair Board members recently who met in Odessa were: Blaine K. Turner, Mrs. Harold Gies, Leo Lobe, Walter Ott, Don Evavold, Mrs. G.A. Weber and H.G. Gettman. The group announced that the Spring Preview for the 4-H and FFA boys and girls will be held in Odessa this year and Wilbur next year.

25 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 29, 1990

Hunters school superintendent Roy Graffis, formerly a teacher in Odessa and owner of the Odessa Drive In, announced he was running for the state senate seat against Scott Barr, the Colville Republican. Graffis was known in Hunters for breathing new life into the town, solving the school system’s dropout problem while improving academic performances, and fielding championship athletic teams among both boys and girls.

10 years ago

From The Odessa Record

March 24, 2005

The 2005 Farm Progress Edition of The Record recorded hopes were high for the crops despite drought worries and low prices. Bill Schillinger, research agronomist at WSU’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and an Odessa high school graduate advised farmers to reduce tillage to keep the land from blowing. He said it’s better to wait until April before turning the ground with non-invasive implements that will keep the residue on top.