Shops closed for Christmas, easy win for Tiger basketball, Lamona briefs

100 years ago

The Odessa Record

December 28, 1919

News updates: Christmas business in Odessa was the best in years, even with a shortage of some lines of merchandise. Postmaster Schoonover reports postal business at 25 percent over last year.

There were a lot of disappointed kiddies when the town's quota of Christmas trees failed to arrive. They had been shipped on the 17th and were finally located on a siding 10 miles from where they started. They arrived on Christmas eve, but too late for any practical use.

Burglars broke into the Standard Oil, Edwards & Bradford and Odessa Union Warehouse offices last night. No money was taken and the only thing known to be missing is Sol Reiman's automatic revolver.

Alex Kramer installed an Edison light plant, consisting of large battery, dynamo and a gas engine, to provide electricity for lights and cooking. The only place in town that is independent of the power company is John Luiten, who has a light plant for his garage.

Odessa had a green Christmas, with weather so milk that only a light fire is required for comfort.

The Odessa orchestra will play for a New Year's ball at Harrington.

C.F. Knott has started a milk route in Odessa. He has a herd of Holstein cows.

Orlu and Doris Ganson, Joe Weik and Clifford Patton are home from WSC for the holiday.

Jake Woitt has returned to San Francisco from his army service and Siberia and hopes to be home in a few days.

75 years ago

The Odessa Record

December 28, 1944

Santa Claus found many waiting: Santa Claus, who arrived here on the rural fire truck Saturday afternoon, after his regular conveyance had "burned" on the road east of here, found an eager group of children braving the cold weather awaiting his arrival.

After a procession through the business section Santa led the children back to the truck and distributed bags of treats.

Christmas quiet with town closed: Christmas was quiet in Odessa, the business houses remaining closed, and few people venturing outside their homes. A snowfall started early on Christmas morning and before evening the town had its "White Christmas."

The Christmas dance had been held the Saturday evening previous, drawing a large crowd.

The large Christmas tree remained unlighted this year, drawing much comment from those who did not realize is darkness was by request, due to war needs.

50 years ago

The Odessa Record

December 25, 1969

Lamona briefs: Mrs. Edwin Lobe journeyed to Spokane on Wednesday. She was a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Stehr and family in their home. While there she visited her son, Gary, at the Deaconess hospital. She returned home on Friday.

The Woman's Club of Lamona had their December meeting at the club house on Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. Lester Luiten spent Monday and Tuesday in Lewiston, Idaho, visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Karl VanBuren. Mrs. VanBuren and Mrs. Luiten are sisters.

Mr. and Mrs. Lester Luiten attended the wedding of Miss Tamara Wellsandt and Mr. Kenneth Benson in Ritzville at the Lutheran church on Saturday afternoon.

Dinner guests at the Virgil Landfried home on Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Norman Nelson from Davenport.

Mrs. Marie Undeberg and Lorus spent Friday in Spokane. They spent the afternoon visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lawson in Opportunity.

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Carlson and Michael had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Carlson in Odessa on Saturday.

On Thursday Buddy and Shelley Laney stopped to visit with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Laney, and with their father, Dick Laney. They were moving from Alaska to Colorado Springs.

Joe Laney traveled by bus to Seattle on Sunday to spend a couple of days visiting with his sister, Francis Harris, who is from Los Angeles, California.

Mr. and Mrs. DeLoss Rodenbough and Criss traveled to Spokane on Saturday on a business trip.

The best demonstration of a man's poise is his ability to talk fluently while the other fellow is paying the check. –– Ed Kummer, The Eaton (Colo.) Herald.

Tigers have easy win Friday with Harrington: The Odessa high school Tiger basketball team defeated Harrington here Friday by a score of 66 to 47. The quarter scores of the game were 9-17, 14-32, 28-51 and 47-66, all in favor of Odessa.

High-point man for the Tigers was Neil Jeske with 25. High-point man for Harrington was Dick Krause with 11. Others scoring for the Tigers were: Marty Meise 17, Dave Wiest 12, Mel Jantz 6, Doug Meek 3, and Greg Haase 3.

The Tigers pulled down 41 rebounds to Harrington's 11. Odessa players attempted 46 field goals and made 24 for 52 percent. Harrington players tried 65, hit 18 for 28 percent shooting.

Tom Renner was on the bench for the game Friday with a bad ankle.

Odessa's B squad defeated Harrington's quint by a 62-36 score. High-point man for Odessa was Tom Schuh with 15.

The Tigers played at Harrington Tuesday night and will play in the Lind holiday tournament this weekend.

25 years ago

The Odessa Record

December 29, 1994

Holiday season quiet in Odessa: The holiday shopping rush came to a screeching halt last Saturday in Odessa at 4 p.m.

Only a few stores stayed open that long. Then a peaceful quiet settled in over the town as darkness fell and Christmas lights blinked on. It was time for family gatherings, Christmas programs at the churches, gift giving and gift opening. It was Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day was equally quiet. Many residents welcomes guests, for the most part friends and relatives from out of town. Christmas services were held at all Odessa churches. Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph Church both at midnight and in the morning.

Many residents headed for Spokane or the coast to spend the holidays. The trip across the mountains was an easy one going west, but the return proved slow and tedious for those who were bound for Odessa on Monday. Although roads were clear and the weather was mild, traffic moved at a snail's pace in Interstate Highway 90 from North Bend on the west side of Snoqualmie Pass all the way to Cle Elum.

"We were going at 15 miles an hour all that distance," said one returning traveler. The cause of the bottleneck turned out to be the failure of the state Department of Transportation to turn off a sign at the foot of the mountains warning motorists to put on traction devices. As a result, many stopped to chain up, creating an all-day backup.

Fog was not a problem for travelers on eastern Washington roads. A pre-Christmas debacle at Spokane International Airport which left thousands of passengers stranded had ironed itself out by early this week. Fog had lifted and planes were getting in and out on schedule.

There were no public gatherings scheduled between Christmas and New Year's Day in Odessa. The Town Clerk's office reported that all municipal services will be on regular schedule throughout the week. Garbage pickups last week were early. Municipal offices were closed Monday and will be closed on New Year's Day and January 2, the legal holiday.

Health officer to explain new septage rules: Lincoln County Environmental Health Director Ed Dzedzy will be in Odessa next Tuesday to explain new federal and state septage regulations which apply to the installation and maintenance of septic tanks and cesspools.

New rules become effective January 1.

Dzedzy has accepted an invitation of members of the Odessa Town Council to appear at their next meeting, which is Tuesday, January 3, starting at 7:10 p.m.

Council members and some residents have expressed concern over new standards which will require sand filters for residential septic systems and new on-site septic systems at residences where there is new construction or expansion.

Interested residents and property owners are urged to attend the meeting.

Intro to year in review: Strides in Odessa's senior housing project, the promise of a report on the feasibility study for a sewer and the prospect of a Scablands education and science center at Lakeview Ranch were among the indicators of progress in the community during 1994.

Other events which made headlines during the year were the closing of the Odessa Landfill, efforts to obtain funding to rehydrate dry lakes and streams in western Lincoln County and the controversy and eventual settlement of the private grade crossing problem between area property owners and the Burlington Northern Railroad.

During 1994, The Odessa Record published a total of 528 news pages, averaging 10 pages per issue throughout the year for the first time in the newspaper's 93-year history. From these pages, we bring our readers a capsule of the news we reported.

An installment of the first six months of 1994 appears today. The second six-month report will be printed next week.