This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

The Odessa Record

July 10, 1919

News updates: John Trejbal and daughter, Emily, returned Saturday from Chicago, where Mr. Trejbal underwent a vain operation to restore his eyesight, lost in a blast last fall.

Wednesday was the hottest day of the year with the temperature well over 100. The heat is pinching wheat.

Penitentiary grain sacks will sell at 123/4 cents, f.o.b. Walla Walla.

Two weddings of interest this week at Seattle were the marriage of Gus Weber and Miss Ida Weber, and John A. Schoonover and Miss Rosa Lowe. The grooms had received their army discharges on Saturday and the wedding was held Tuesday.

Dave Haase returned Tuesday from a year and a half overseas duty. John Stumpf returned after a year spent in France and Germany.

The Moody Juniors again took the Batum team to camp by the tune of 34 to 6. Batteries for Moody were Wacker and Becker, for Batum John Hopp, Dan Lobe, Charles Goede and Henry Schmidt.

Wm. U. Neeley, who had been doing overseas Y.M.C.A. and governmental education work overseas, has arrived at New York.

The Kennewai baseball team won the county championship from Ruff at a Fourth of July celebration by a score of 3 to 2. The Kennewai boys had planned the celebration, with the Harrington band playing during the day and for a dance at night, attorney Daniel Cross of Ephrata as the speaker. The day was a financial success. Among the outstanding rooters coming from Odessa were mentioned "Silent John," Nate Koth, Con Homburg and others.

75 years ago

The Odessa Record

July 13, 1944

State grange leader's son is killed in action: Word was received at Almira by Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Carstensen from the commanding general of the marine corps that their son, Second Lieutenant Myron B. Carstensen, has been killed in action in the south Pacific. Mr. Carstensen is master of the Washington State Grange and widely known.

No details of the death of the lieutenant were received. He had been overseas only a few months. He was a graduate of the Almira schools and Washington State college. Lieutenant Carstensen leaves, in addition to his parents, a sister, Mrs. Harold Radmaker, and a brother, H.P. Carstensen, Jr.

Rooster swallows rattlesnake: Emerging victorious in battle with a young rattlesnake a spring cockerel at the R. G. Delzer ranch swallowed his prey. Mr. Delzer, milking nearby, saw the rooster battling and went over to see the cause. The bird was pecking furiously at the head and neck of the snake. Mr. Delzer sought a weapon to kill the snake, over a foot in length, and returned in time to see the reptile disappearing into the rooster's mouth. The bird was banded so a check could be made on his reactions. The other noticeable result is a new pride in the manner in which he struts around the barn yard.

50 years ago

The Odessa Record

July 10, 1969

Lawsuit filed against city council: A Complaint has been filed in Superior Court which is intended to bring the proposed Odessa sewage collection and disposal project to an end.

Plaintiffs in the action are Adolph J. and Ruth K. Weber, representing others. Defendants named are the Town Council and its members: R.L. Tanck, mayor, Lloyd Tebow, Ray Gilbertson, Leon Walter, Al Wolf and Henry Braun and their wives. Notification of the lawsuit was filed on the Mayor Tuesday morning.

The city representatives have 20 days in which to file an answer to the Complaint which implies the council has exceeded lawful authority and is asked to be restrained from assessing property for the sewer system as proposed in Ordinance 275 which sets up Local Improvement District 1 and in effect, from proceeding with the project.

The Complaint also asks that the defendants be made to repay the city any LID costs which have been incurred since the adoption of the Ordinance as well as court costs.

The Council adopted Ordinance 275 on March 24, 199, to establish a procedure for bringing a sewer system to the town, after a hearing had been held that day.

Property owners had been notified of their right to protest and were given an additional 30 days, after adoption of the Ordinance, to file protests. (The deadline was set at May 1.) If dollar value of protests reached a total of 60 percent of the proposed assessment cost, the project would automatically be killed.

Plaintiffs in the pending court action contend that over 60 percent protested. It was reported at the May 8 council session that valid protests of 53.9 percent had been filed.

At a meeting called by the city representatives in November, 1968, the consensus was that the councilmen should proceed with the project. A survey by ACTION––a study group organized last year in Odessa––also revealed that the majority of those interviewed were in favor of a sewer system for the town. The chamber of commerce has been actively working for the project over several years and has endorsed it.

Important decisions face council concerning proposed sanitary sewer project for Odessa: Odessa city council members face several important decisions––all pertaining to the proposed sewage collection and disposal system for Odessa. The matters came forth at a special meeting of the council with Don Gray of Gray and Osborne, Yakima engineering firm on the project, and Don Morken, Seattle, investment banking firm representative.

1. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has authorized a public works planning advance of $38,200 to finance final plans and specifications for the sanitary sewer system.

2. The Pollution Control commission of the federal government, on the other hand, approved but 22 of 44 applications for funds last month. The Odessa application for approximately $40,000 did not receive approval on the first go-around. The state's $20,000 share of the anticipated $60,000 is available.

3. A complaint has been filed in Superior Court intended to stop all action on the sewer project.

4. New legislation adopted by the State Legislature makes is possible to extend repayment of LID tax assessments to 20 years or longer. The local program was set up on a maximum of 10 annual installments.

The Town has 60 days, or until August 23, in which to accept or reject the $38,200 planning loan. Application had been made for the funds by the engineering firm. It was pointed out by Mr. Gray that the loan is interest-free until such time as the project is financed; that the loan is to be repaid when permanent financing is arranged; that 4 percent interest can be charged by the government should repayment e extended a short period beyond permanent project financing. The interest would apply after permanent financing only.

It was also pointed out that the loan could be accepted by the Town, in which case final project plans would have to be completed within 200 days. Although in this instance final plans would be ready, the start of the actual project could be delayed, if desired, indefinitely, by many months or even years.

Alternates more costly

Alternates to accepting the approved HUD $38,200 loan are: (1) This source of money will not be available again inasmuch as the Odessa application is the last one to be approved for "final" plans by the HUD. A new policy is that HUD funds are to be used for "preliminary" public works planning only. (2) The Town could borrow money on interest to finance final plans. (3) The sanitary sewer system could be fully funded (revenue bonds sold) prior to preparation of final plans and specifications, an alternative not encouraged.

It was pointed out that the latter two proposals would cost the Town more than by utilizing the authorized HUD loan.

Repayment of the HUD loan is not required if the Town does not actually proceed with the sanitary sewer project.

In reference to point 2. above:

The application for Pollution Control Commission funds can be re-submitted for consideration in December. The engineer did state that he did not anticipate affirmative action at that time since no applications have been approved in December during the past two years. The present general administration cut-backs may also have a bearing.

Inasmuch as Odessa would be "high on the list" next June, the engineer felt that approval at that time would be forth-coming.

Of the anticipated $60,000 pollution control fund, to be used for a lift station, line and lagoon, two-thirds would be from federal sources and one-third from the State of Washington Pollution Control Commission.

Can Reduce Annual Tax

The investment banker stated that the council might want to consider changing the proposed re-payment aspect of the property assessment. If a 20-year program, for example, was adopted instead of the 10-year plan, taxpayers would have an opportunity to reduce their annual principal payment. As an example a $900 assessment on 10 years would require a $90 annual payment plus interest, whereas a 20-year program would require but $45 per year plus interest.

Taxpayers under either proposal would have the option of paying off their assessment in full at any annual anniversary date.

Mrs. Gray and Morken listed several potential procedures that could be taken by the council. The first would be to accept the HUD planning loan, have final specs completed, get the Pollution grant, advertise for bids and sell revenue bonds to finance start of the project in 1970.

One alternative would be to accept the HUD loan, proceed with the bid call and financing in 1970, anticipating the Pollution grant. Provision could be made to pay off a portion of the bonds upon receipt of the $60,000 grant. If the Pollution grant was not received, an increase in the monthly service charge could be made to make up the $60,000.

A second alternative was that interest bearing warrants could be issued during the construction period with bonds being floated when the project is completed to pay off the warrants. This procedure was not recommended, however.

No actions were taken by the council.

25 years ago

The Odessa Record

July 7, 1994

Softball tournament could attract 500: By Linda Gustafson

The accumulation of several months of work is coming to a head for Kathy Valenta. She is the chairperson for the first ever United States slow pitch Softball Association tournament, which will be held in Odessa on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17.

Between 400 and 500 players and families will be arriving on Friday night and Saturday morning. The fields are being readied by Alan Dart. Friday night chalk lines will be drawn, the port-a-potties will be in place and play will begin Saturday morning.

In March, when she began work on this project, Kathy contacted Gene Grunden, of Ellensburg, to take a look at the Odessa facilities at Finney Field. Grunden is the Eastern Washington area coordinator and a member of the U.S.S.S.A. He looked over the area and said it would be great for the tournament.

The organization is involved with men's, women's, church and coed teams of which there are approximately 3,000 throughout the states.

Odessa will be hosting 24 teams for the weekend from Issaquah, the Tri-Cities, Moses Lake, Seattle and Wenatchee. Game time will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the final game on Saturday scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday, play will start at 9 a.m. and the championship game will be played about 1 p.m. There will be 12 men's teams and 12 women's teams.

Tournament headquarters for the weekend will be at the Pastime Tavern. The brackets for games will be listed there and at the field for the convenience of the players and fans.

"We expect the teams and family members to begin arriving on Friday evening," Kathy said. "They will check in at the Pastime and pick up their packets."

Officials for the game will be coming from Moses Lake with Gary Lawson as the umpire in charge.

Four fields will be used for play with each team guaranteed three games.

Concessions will be served by the Odessa High School F.B.L.A. students.

On Saturday night, there will be a steak feed at the community center with a dance to follow. The dinner and dance is open to the public. The cost is only $10 for a great meal and dance or the dance is only $5.

"I hope local citizens will come to the community center to meet the team members and enjoy the evening," said Kathy.

On Sunday, the V.F.W. is hosting a pancake breakfast starting at 7 a.m. and going until 11 a.m. at the community center.

Kathy says she is looking for spaces for people to camp during the weekend. If anyone has room to house a team, please contact her.

The winners from this tournament will earn a berth to the state championship games. Trophies will be given to the first four places with Scablands Desert Classic T-shirts going to the winning team.

Anyone wanting to help at the field can also contact Kathy.

"I am hoping this will be a big success and we can plan more tournaments during the summer months," she said.

After the final game, the awards ceremony will be at the Pastime Tavern.

With the weather's cooperation, the tournament should keep the town busy the entire weekend. Anyone not busy with harvest should watch a game or two.

"Come watch some good softball," said Kathy.

Slow pitch has not caught on in Odessa as both women's teams play modified fast pitch. Kathy is hoping that after watching this tournament, people from the surrounding areas and Odessa will become more interested in playing the game.