This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

Nov. 19, 1920

After an exciting chase lasting more than a week, Louis A. Steurnagle was arrested by Sheriff McManus and identified as one of three men who robbed a store at Odessa, a garage at Ephrata and who stole Sheriff Deycous’ car at Wilson Creek. Steurnagle is strongly suspected of being implicated in several safe and store robberies across Washington and into Idaho during the past year. Nearly 100 stores, offices and business places have been robbed in the last 12 months, all perpetrated using the same methods. Steurnagle’s capture rivals a movie thriller. On Oct. 27, the store of J. Janikula at Odessa was robbed of several hundred dollars worth of goods. The next night a garage at Ephrata was broken into, the thieves evidently trying to secure a new wheel for a car that had broken down. Grant Co. Sheriff Deycous organized a posse and followed the car to a point near Wilson Creek, where it broke down. The posse followed one of the occupants into the desert to the south and surrounded him. They kept him surrounded for two days. On the third day, a businesslike young man came out from behind some rocks near where a few men had been assigned to watch out for the cars of the other posse members. He asked which was the sheriff’s car, saying that the officers had run out of ammunition and had sent him for more. A guard pointed out the sheriff’s car, and the man cranked it up and drove away. He drove a few miles west, deliberately wrecked the car against some rocks and hitched a ride with some tourists, thus evading the posse searching for the sheriff’s car. The 27-year-old robber, a lengthy criminal record already behind him, was apprehended near Monitor by Sheriff McManus.

75 years ago

Nov. 22, 1945

A group of local duck hunters found a large buck deer down on the ice at Black Rock lake Sunday, apparently too weak to rescue himself. They raised the animal, loaded him on a truck and took him to the Harold Gies ranch, where he was turned out with the stock for feeding.

A stray hog found its way into the city limits this week land was taken into custody by Marshal Kuest, who placed it in the care of Alex Cook until an owner could be found for it. For those interested, it is announced that the animal is too young for butchering.

The Spokane A Capella choir will present a broadcast over radio station KFPY in Spokane at 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 26. Miss Ruth Derr of Odessa is one of the singers in this group.

50 years ago

Nov. 19, 1970

The Odessa Lions Club reports a successful Turkey Carnival held at the town hall Saturday afternoon and evening. After a one-year lapse, the event came back strong with active participation on the part of the local public. A number of visitors, former residents, were back in town for the annual event.

Odessa High School senior Benaya Schafer took first place in the Area Association of Soil and Water Districts speech contest Thursday in Davenport. There were seven contestants from Spokane and Lincoln counties. Schafer will participate in the state semi-finals scheduled for Friday in Pullman.

25 years ago

Nov. 16, 1995

Eighth-grader Mandy Hardung became principal for a day Tuesday after her name was drawn as part of a recent magazine sales project at the school. She took on all of the duties and decision-making of Principal Gordon Neale, and Neale sat at a classroom desk with the rest of the eighth-grade class. Hardung’s duties included monitoring the halls between classes, playground supervision and observing and taking notes during elementary classes. At noon, she went downtown for lunch without having to ask permission. She was in charge all day, from 8:10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.