The Year in Review 2020

JANUARY

The year 2020 began with Odessa High School sports as the #1 story of the new year, as the Tiger football team received accolades and honors for its undefeated season, which culminated in the team’s second consecutive 1B state championship. Odessa senior running back Marcus King was named Player of the Year in the 1B category by the Associated Press and was also placed on the first team statewide as a linebacker. He was joined on the first team by wide receiver Brady Walter, linemen Jaden Hunt and Pilot Weishaar and defensive back Jett Nelson.

Current Odessa football coach Jeff Nelson and retired girl’s volleyball coach Ken Scherr were inducted into the Wash. State Coaches Assoc. Hall of Fame.

In other news, the Odessa Chamber of Commerce began making plans for the 50th anniversary of the Odessa Deutschesfest.

The Odessa Record announced that a potential merger with Free Press Publishing in Cheney was in the offing.

FEBUARY

OHS football coach Jeff Nelson was recognized for outstanding athletic achievement by Big Bend Community College president Terrence Leas. His team was also honored by BBCC for its second state championship.

As the high school basketball season progressed, senior forward Ryan Moffet became the Wash. State scoring champion, as the team, coached by Larry Weber and Larry Moffet, marched onward to another successful season.

Maddie Scrupps was selected as Miss Odessa. Her princesses were Alyssa Iverson and Kaya Kuchenbuch.

Odessa High cheerleaders Ella Caler, Ireland Luiten, Josie Westmoreland, Kaylee McKinney and Taylor MacDonald won the 1B Academic Award from the WIAA for the winter sports season.

MARCH

The Annual Firemen’s Auction held in late February resulted in the sale of every last item, bringing in a tidy sum for the volunteer fire department.

The first reports of a highly contagious virus had begun appearing in U.S. media.

The OHS boys basketball team took the state 1B title by defeating Yakama Tribal Nation in the championship game. A majority of the team was also a part of the earlier championship won by the football team.

As Covid-19 began spreading like wildfire, schools were closed, spring sports were postponed and events were canceled, including the Odessa Quilt Club’s Quilt Til You Wilt, the Chamber Banquet and the Desert 100.

Emmett Schuster became the interim CEO at the Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center, following the resignation of Mo Sheldon, who moved with her family to take a job in Arizona to be closer to her widowed mother.

OHS and Central Wash. Univ. graduate Carsen Weber joined the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy.

Odessa native Chelsey Earnest provided Odessa readers with an insider’s view of the Covid-19 pandemic as an RN working in Seattle area nursing homes.

APRIL

The Stumpjumpers Motorcycle Club notified the Odessa Chamber of Commerce that the Desert 100 off-road endurance race would not be held this year due to Covid restrictions.

Odessa High School science students Josie Westmoreland and Chloe Winkler presented their science projects from their homes as the state science fair was held virtually.

Area Hutterians and other local volunteers were busy sewing cloth masks for distribution to the public.

Schools remained closed. The spring sports season was canceled. The Alumni Association opted to cancel its June banquet. The Athletics Hall of Fame committee opted to hold a scaled-down, socially-distanced ceremony for its 2020 inductees.

The Town of Odessa received a $3.1 million government grant for water system upgrades.

Potato farmers in eastern Wash. donated 20 tons of spuds destined for restaurants (which were closed due to Covid) to area residents rather than dispose of them.

Spring Fling activities and the Odessa Quilt Show were canceled. The Lind Combine Derby was also canceled.

MAY

Dr. Raj Ruparel, a surgeon based in Davenport, will hold office hours in Odessa once a month.

Superior Court Judge John Strohmaier announced that he would

To be continued in next week’s issue.