Love - The Odessa Record

Odessa Record subscriber Larry Fisher of Spokane continues his series of articles on the history of the Batum/Lauer area where his wife, the former Joyce Kiesz, grew up.

Hi, here I am again.

After two years, Cal Jr. realized help would not continue dryland farming. After paying the rent on the land, he didn't have enough left over to meet all his other farm expenses let alone to live on. The only answer for that area of Lincoln Co. was sprinklers and deeper wells.

Cal Graedel Jr. and Fred Kissler were the first in the area at that time (late 50s - early 60s) to drill deep for water. Cal's firs...