This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

The Odessa Record

February 2, 1917

Auto licenses for 1917-18. Secretary of State I.M. Howell is already making preparations for handling the 1917 rush, when all machines in the state must be re-licensed. Howell will issue the licenses and wrap up the new number plates and hold both in readiness for mailing. The scheme can only be used by those who carried licenses for 1916, for otherwise a man purchasing a new car could make application with the county auditor and receive temporary cardboard number, thereby avoiding having to obtain a 1916 license.

The metal plates to be used for automobiles in 1917 will be black with white numerals. The 1916 plates were lavender with white numerals, whiile the 1915 plates were blue with white numerals.

Another business change. Charlie Stepanek sold his interest in the Snyder barber shop Wednesday to Arthur Kunkel who took posession of same yesterday. Arthur is one of the pioneer boys of the town and was practically raised in Odessa and his friends will be glad to see him permanentlyu established in a good business.

Athletics win and lose. The local Athletic Club son and lost a weekend game since our last publication. Thursday night a Krupp they easily took the measure of their western neighbors and come home with the long end of the score 25 to 17.

Saturday night, however, on their home floor, the Athletics put up the poorest excuse of a basketball game that they have played this season and went down to defeat to Lind, a team they had defeated at Lind ten days before with two regular players absent from the lineup. On this occasion at times, defects in their playing showed up so glaringly that a person not acquainted with the individual members could not have possibly recognized the team as the smooth well oiled machine that played the strong Reardan team just a week before.

Odessa winner in both debates: Teams from recently organized debate class argue like veterans and bring home bacon. The pupils of the Odessa high school have been in a considerably easier state of mind since Friday night when the two local county debating teams won from both Harrington and Sprague on the state question of military training in the high schools. OHS fared rather badly at the hands of both these schools a short time ago at basketball and the lowering of the rival schools' colors in debate showed conclusively that whereas Odessa might not be the equal of either in a contest where brawn played the most important part, it was certainly their superior in a game where brains were the deciding element.

75 years ago

The Odessa Record

February 5, 1942

Sprague-Odessa share first place in Inland Empire Shoot. The Sprague-Odessa gun club, taking two matches on Sunday, has won four events with no losses and stand tied with Wallace-Kellogg for undisputed first place. Top shooters from Odessa: John Scrupps, R.E. Suchland, Dave Haase 24; Dr. L.J. Bonney, H.H. Strate, Otto Haase 23; Al Wagner, Roscoe Wagner, Sam Richardson, L.O. Williams, C. Kissler, E.C. Weber, Winston Weber 22; R. Schimke, D. Tjossem, Mrs. L.J. Bonney, Sam Iltz 21.

School affairs called off. Curtailment of school buses because of tire rationing has cut down school activities in Lincoln county. A county rural school spelling and good English contest, planned for the spring, has been abondoned, and written spelling and English tests in the individual schools will be given, with awards to the two pupils highest in each grade in spelling and to the pupil of each grade who scores highest in a written English test.

The county Junior Red Cross convention, held each spring, will be abandoned because of transportation difficulties.

Report 51 births here during year. There were 51 births reported at the office of the registrar of vital statistics, during the past year, 29 of which were boys and 22 girls. Deaths included six males and two females.

La Verna Lenhart is member of honorary. La Verna Lenhart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lenhart of Ritzville was honored recently by being elected to membership in the Key Men and Women's club at Kinman Business University in Spokane. Miss Lenhart was presented with the first degree emblem of the society at a recent assembly.

The organization recognizes the highest qualities of service and loyalty and marks the student as being outstanding in these business qualifications. The honor rewards the student for some outstanding service to the school, faculty or fellow student. Miss Lenhart is also a member of the KBU glee club and is enrolled in the stenographic course.

50 years ago

The Odessa Record

February 2, 1967

Another 'something' spotted Tuesday. Mrs. Eddie Kern reported to the Record yesterday that she and her husband, Eddie, had witnessed "another something" while returning from Spokane Tuesday evening. At about midnight, while driving on this side of Davenport, a sudden series of lights appeared – red, green and yellow. At first they thought it to be a jet plane. But suddenly the light became larger, Mrs. Kern stated, and there was no noise. The car was stopped. They watched the light which became an immense yellowish light for a couple of minutes, she said. The light appeared to go off and on and suddenly darted east at a terrific rate of speed. The window were rolled down but no sound was heard, she said. It was real eerie. She's a believer now in Unidentified Flying Objects.

Baby shower given for Marilyn Carlson. Pink and white place mats, nut cups and ruffled parasols were used as decor for the baby shower given by Mary Louise Dormaier and Norma Jantz for Marilyn Carlson. After the games were played and prizes given, Marilyn opened her many gifts. Strawberry swirl, coffee and punch were served. Among those attending were Hedra Wilson, Margaret Roloff, Virginia Carlson, Clara Hoag, Wilma Swartz, Dorothy Sieverkropp, Rachel Barlow and Delores Sieverkropp.

Unusual cause of power outage. A large female bobcat was found hanging from the Lincoln Electric power line eleven miles north of Davenport near the E.A. Coley and Fred Flory farms. The bobcat, measuring 52 inches from toe to toe, had gone up a pole to get a chicken hawk which had come into contact with the 7200 volt line and was electrocuted. The bobcat was also electrocuted and was found hanging from the line by the employees Gordon Bonser and Frank Campbell.

25 years ago

The Odessa Record

February 6, 1992

Odessa's 1992 float in planning stage. Odessa's float which will represent the community at parades throughout the Inland Northwest in 1992 is now in the early planning stages. A design concept has been turned over to an expert for refinement and elaboration. This year's float will be a 1959 pink Cadillac convertible. A theme name is needed. If anyone in the community has an idea for the theme of the float, please leave the idea at the Odessa Record. The float of last year remains to Center and torn down, a spokesman of the float committee said. The committee is also seeking a volunteer to mail parade entries. The committee also is searching for volunteers to dismantle the old float beginning on February 16. Persons wishing to assist in this project should be at the Community Center at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 16.

Spring Fling new name for April event. Spring Fest is now Spring Fling. The name of Odessa's springtime event was changed Tuesday after members of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce decided that having Fest in the name could be confusing with the late summer Deutschesfest.

Among suggested activities are a car wash, and any group interested in being the sponsor should contact chamber officials. Chairpersons are needed to head the yard sale and walking tour. Denny McDaniel and Dale Hunt are the co-chairmen of the dance. Clarene Haynie is heading the arts and crafts committee.

Three-on-three basketball is tentatively under the sponsorship of the Young Guns of '93. In charge of arrangements for a horseback ride across some of the Bureau of Land Management's Lake Creek Recreation/Wildlife Enhancement Project north of Odessa will be Cindy Groh.