This week in Odessa history

100 years ago

Apr. 15, 1921

G.W. Finney and attorney W.M. Nevins, the committee sent by the Odessa Commercial Club to Portland last week to interview the head officials of the Portland Flouring Mills Company regarding the report that the company’s plant at Odessa would be dismantled in the near future, returned from the Rose City Sunday night with the report that while they were courteously received, they had received nothing definite in the way of a promise that the mill would be left intact and started again this fall. Those officers said that it was for purely financial reasons that they had considered discarding the local mill as it, like all their other plants with no export business, lost them money, and that while the plant was a better one than some others it needed an expensive overhauling that they would rather not spend the money on. They promised to do nothing further until one or two officials would come here and look over the situation thoroughly, which is at least encouraging, for it is doubtful if there is another town in this section that can show that it can support a flour mill better than Odessa.

75 years ago

Apr. 18, 1946

Despite the discouraging weather conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday, the annual cleanup days were successful. The dray men put in long hours hauling refuse to the city dump. The few places that did not respond to the mayor’s call will likely complete their work by the weekend.

Cattle event draws large crowd to Odessa. Wayne Walter placed first, exhibiting a Shorthorn. Second and third places went to Elmer Gettman of the Harrington club, fourth to the Shorthorn exhibited by Manford Giese and fifth to a Shorthorn belonging to Bud Praetorius.z

50 years ago

Apr. 15, 1971.

Maurice Weishaar received a lacerated upper lip and a bump on the cheek in a two-car accident four miles west of Odessa at 3:30 p.m. last Thursday. He was taken to the local hospital for observation by Deputy Sheriff Mike Hutsell. Mrs. Ellen K. Schafer was westbound on Highway 28 and stopped to turn into the Paul Schafer farm, according to a report from State Trooper Dennis English. Weishaar was also westbound at the time and failed to observe the Schafer vehicle preparing to turn. He swerved to the right and slid on the west pavement, striking the Schafer vehicle on the right rear. His Ford Ranchero continued down the highway shoulder and rolled onto its top in the ditch. Both vehicles were considered “totaled.” They were recovered from the accident scene by Dave Birge of Birge’s Garage.

25 years ago

Apr. 18, 1996

Commissioners of Lincoln, Adams, Grant and Franklin counties met Wednesday with representatives of the Columbia Basin Development League in Connell for further talks on the expansion of the Columbia Basin Irrigation District to include the Odessa Ground Water Management Subarea. The commissioners and others concerned about Inland Northwest water resources make up the Northwest Council of Governments and Associates, which has as its major objectives the construction of the East High Canal or the 87,000-acre expansion of the East Low Canal.