Looking Back

100 years ago

George McGath, Spokane River Farmer, had a narrow escape while traveling from Davenport to his ranch. His wagon loaded with bran shorts and Christmas goods tipped and spilled his load into the river.

The water in Crab Creek is the lowest it’s been in years. The creek bed is actually dry. C.C. Dobson reports his well is dry and he is having to haul water from town for his livestock and household use.

Warmer weather came to most parts of the county the first of this week with a good snowfall which amounted to about 7 inches. The snow settled with a rain that fell and then froze.

75 years ago

16 new homes were added to the town of Odessa last year as well as a new clinic, hospital and water tank. 3 new homes are currently being built.

The first arrest of 1950 in Lincoln County was a Mohler man who was arrested for drunkenness and second degree burglary. After pleading guilty he was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Davenport men’s Basketball team will travel to Reardan on Friday to take on the undefeated Indians. Davenport Coach Rook Hilton puts a team on the floor that averages well over 6 feet in height.

50 years ago

No groundwater was contaminated after 20,000 gallons of fuel was spilled on the Jerry Schafer farm. The spill happened when a backhoe laying irrigation pipe severed a pipeline that ran from Fairchild Air Force base to the Former Larson Air Force Base at Moses Lake.

A Davenport school bus ended up in a six to eight foot ditch just north of the Bluestem road overpass after dropping off it’s last passenger of the day.

The Lincoln County Superior Court Clerk’s office released some numbers from 1974. 45 divorces were filed and 96 couples applied for marriage licenses. Marriage is more popular than divorce it seems.

25 years ago

Directors of the Odessa school board unanimously approved a resolution for a proposed levy for $415,000 the same amount approved by voters last year.

After much anxiety and preparation Y2K proved to have less bite than a mosquito. According to Avista there were no noticeable disruptions detected.

The Lincoln County Sheriffs office’s emphasis patrol over the New Year’s Holiday only netted 1 DUI, 3 negligent driving tickets, 10 seat belt violations and one driving while suspended.

10 years ago

Reardan school board is looking for a new member after the resignation of Arne Seim for health reasons. There are 2 years left in this position which is an at large position.

The Harrington library recently received a donation of recorded interviews from 1984 with Frank Gateley whose ancestors settled in the Lord’s Valley in 1888.

Meetings will be held in early January to discuss rural health care and what is happening at Odessa Memorial Hospital. All residents of Odessa and surrounding areas are welcome to attend.