This Week in Odessa History

In the midst of the war years; pool vandalism; Weber in 2nd-grade teacher

 

Last updated 9/2/2018 at 3:26pm

--Archival photos.

Second Lieutenants Muriel J. Janikula and Jeanne E. Janikula.

100 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 23, 1918

Over 3 million men under arms. Washington - Of more than 3,000,000 men now under arms, the United States has sent nearly one-half or more than 1,450,000 overseas for service against the enemy in France, Italy and Siberia.

These figures were given by General March in Saturday talks with newspaper men and members of the senate military committee.

The senators were told that some transports are making the trip to Europe and back in 19 days, and that the average has been reduced to 28 days, which with additional shipping becoming available makes the great job of getting 80 divisions of American troops to France by June 30, 1919, certain of success.

General March renewed his statement made to the senate military affairs committee that there will be at least 80 American divisions or 3,600,000 men of all arms and capacities under a united command on the western front by June 30, 1919. Of actual combatants he said there will be on the firing line, or in touch with it, at least 2,200,000 American troops.

General March informed the committee that in the recent Picardy offensive that allies have regained approximately one-third of the territory the Germans took in their March drive, together with approximately 40,000 prisoners.

He said the allies succeeded in killing a large number of Germans and capturing much ordnance, which is regarded as a most telling victory at this time.

Almost a fire. What was thought to be a fire, but turned out to be mostly smoke and hot air was the cause of the fire alarm that was turned in Monday afternoon when the smoke house at the rear of Dobson's meat market got to doing too good a job.

The alarm was sounded by W.L. Michaelson and the fire boys turned out in full force prepared to make a good fight. The hose was quickly laid and everything was ready for the call for "water" when instead came the cry "it's all out" and there was no show to turn on water or draw pay.

A summary of the situation showed that intense heat had caused the meat to catch on fire and also burned the shed so it will need repairing, but the fire was noticed by "Bill" Ulrich and extinguished with a garden hose before the alarm was sounded. The meat however, was a total loss and the damage is estimated at about $250.

Insane man taken at Wilbur. Sheriff Level and Marshal Pebles of Davenport were called to Wilbur to arrest a man named Wahl, who is thought to be insane. Sunday the man attacked Mr. Post at Wilbur and when the marshal attempted to arrest him, stood the officer with a rifle. The sheriff was sent for and a hunt was started Monday without success, but Tuesday he was located in the sage brush a mile from Wilbur and surprised while cooking a meal over a camp fire. He fought violently, but was overpowered and taken to Davenport to be examined for insanity.

Rabid coyote bites girl. Miss Ethel Kellog, aged 15, was badly bitten of the face and arms by a mad coyote at her home near Ephrata Saturday. The animal was running through the barn yard after chickens when the girl attempted to drive him away. The animal immediately turned upon her and before her father could come to her rescue had inflicted several serious wounds. At the suggestion of a physician she was taken to Seattle for Pasteur treatment.

75 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 26, 1943

Enforced blackout protects Warden. Warden, most bombed town in the area, is "blacking out" each night until an investigation can be made, stated the mayor, Mrs. Helen Beck.

She reported that on Sunday night a bomb was dropped in the middle of the town by an airplane, the second time in four months that explosives had fallen there. She said no damage was done.

Mrs. Beck stated that the bomb was a practice missile evidently intended for the bombing range in that area, as was the case in the previous incidents in April.

Bursting walls toss out grain. A part of the bulk storage space of the United Grain Growers, Inc., Harrington, burst out on two opposite sides Friday from weight of the grain. The space had been converted into storage for bulk grain from former sacked warehouse space.

Grain spilled over onto one of the main tracks of the Great Northern railway. Men with shovels, including section workers, shoveled the grain from the tracks onto trucks. No one was injured when the slide occurred.

G.C. Schoonover, formerly of Odessa, is manager of the warehouse company.

Inflation remedy. The President has a non-inflationary solution to organized labor's demands for wage increases to meet higher living costs: Namely, non-negotiable bonds, payable after the war.

Roosevelt revealed this secret during a confidential talk with R.J. Thomas, president of the United Auto Workers union, on price rollbacks, strikes and the War Labor board's Little steel formula. Here is the summary of his views:

Prices. Roosevelt stated that he would make a vigorous attempt to roll back prices. He told Thomas that he would prefer that Congress provide the money, but that, failing this, he would use either RFC or Commodity Credit corporation funds to restore the following food prices to their September 1942, normal: Meat, canned goods, potatoes, milk and milk products.

It would be too difficult, the President said, to attempt a rollback of clothing and personal service. He pointed out that rents already have been rolled back to March 1941.

50 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 22, 1968

$1,000 to be presented at talent nite event. The General Foundation of Women's Clubs and the Sears-Roebuck Foundation $1,000 award to the Town and Country Junior Women's club will be made at the talent show here Friday evening, Aug. 30, it has been announced.

Another feature of the annual program will be the appearance of Victor Lentz of Marlin, according to Mrs. R.E. Suchland, talent organizer. Mr. Lentz recently had a record cut of some of his compositions.

Mrs. June Walter of the Junior Women, who was present at Boston in June when the club was named one of the 10 national winners, states that representatives of the National Federation and the Sears Foundation are expected to be present for the local formal presentation.

A few numbers have been announced for the Talent Show, Mrs. Suchland reports, however, more are needed. Organizations are participating, including a barber shop quartet.

"More adult numbers are needed," Mrs. Suchland states. Anyone interested in participating should contact her. The program will be held at the Finney Field stadium starting at 7 p.m. August 30.

Bowling future to be topic at Friday meeting. The directors of Odessa Lanes, Inc. are calling a special community meeting for Friday evening at 7:30 at the bowling alley. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the future of bowling in Odessa, William Wenz, president states.

Plans are being considered by the director to move the bowling operation from its present site to the downtown area. The ramifications of such a move will be fully discussed Friday night.

All area residents, bowlers or not, are urged to attend and participate in the public meeting

More wheat to go overseas. Congressman Tom Foley said the United States has signed a Public Law 480 agreement with Indonesia that provided for the sale of more that $15 million worth of American wheat and wheat products.

He said the Department of Agriculture has issued the first purchase authorization in connection with the new agreement. The shipment of more than $8 million worth of wheat. It will total about 100,000 metric tons and the delivery period runs from August 23 through December 31.

Is anybody happy? Harvard University Prof. John F. Kain has proposed an alternate solution to the mass transportation problem in this state, but it is doubtful if he poured any oil on the troubled waters stirred up by the running battle between the champions of rapid transit and the highway builders.

Kain, recognized nationally as an authority on mass transportation, thinks the problem can be solved with existing highways through use of a recently-developed computer system.

During peak periods, these commuters would give high-speed buses priority access to freeways, "metering" other accesses.

Kain says the computer system could be installed at a fraction of the cost of building fixed rail transportation, or constructing more multi-lane highways. Because it is new, there aren't any figures on maintenance costs, and none have been advanced on the cost of providing the high-speed buses, which would be in 50 to 60 MPH range.

The plan was presented to the joint committee on highway's subcommittee on mass transportation, headed by Sen. Sam Guess, Spokane Republican, who arranged for Kain's appearance.

As Senator Guess is the most outspoken foe of rapid transit in the Legislature, nobody expected Kain to offer anything to cheer the rapid transit people, but he didn't offer much comfort to the highway builders, either.

25 years ago

The Odessa Record

August 19, 1993

Vandals hit swimming pool. The civic pride of Odessa, the new aquatic recreation center in Reiman Park, has been the target of vandals this summer.

They aren't the usual types of vandals, who senselessly destroy property under cover and at night, but rather the very youngsters for whom the $450,000 swimming pool was built.

Their action has caused outrage among members of the community.

The destruction was first detected last summer, the first season the new facility was in operation. Doors in the dressing rooms were torn off the hinges and then were left off for the remainder of the swimming season. Defacement also included the smearing of dressing room walls with the pool's orange-colored admission tickets which had been soaked in water to make them fade.

That damage was repaired, but this summer on the first day the pool was open another door was torn off. In the girls' dressing room the shower heads have been taken apart.

Then a week ago Monday, two or more girls knocked a hole in the wall of the dressing room.

Town officials have pondered the possibility of placing a monitor in the dressing room to keep watch of activities. They have also discussed an increase in admission prices to help offset the cost of repairing the damage.

"I'm very disappointed with what has happened at the pool," said Odessa Town Council member Evelyn Weber. "Where is the pride in a new building? What has happened regarding people's respect for property which was built for the use of all?"

Weber said that voters in approving a bond issue and civic leaders in obtaining grant money had provided a swimming facility which is one of a kind in the area. Most people feel fortunate in having a first rate recreational facility in Odessa, but apparently some of the children don't care, she said.

Deutschesfest preparation under way with local groups. Deutschesfest is only four weeks away and everyone is scurrying to get things done. The feeling of Fest is in the air and with that feeling, the comments that can be heard are, "Already?" With harvest running late this year, farmers are not as available to get jobs completed which are usually done by those who have time after the crop is in storage.

The pickles have been made and the aroma greets people entering the community center building.

All the kraut ranzas have been made, the cabbage rolls are in the freezers, Das Kraut Haus and Voise Sausage are busy making their German sausage. In homes around the community, pies and coffee cakes are being made to donate to different organizations.

The carnival this year will be Davis Shows, Randy Carlson announced at the first meeting after harvest of the Chamber of Commerce.

Applications are out for the 3-on-3 basketball tournament and the co-ed volleyball tournament being held at the high school gymnasium.

Larry Weber 2nd grade teacher, high school boys varsity coach. Larry Weber had been selected by the Odessa School Board to fill its second grade teaching position. This spot opened up when Linda Erickson was moved to counselor and HOSTS instructor.

Odessa has been home to Larry almost his entire life. He is the son of Bev Weber and the late Jerry Weber. Larry grew up and played sports from a very early age until graduation in 1985. He has two brothers, Ed and Bill, and a sister Debbie.

After graduation from high school, Larry attended Eastern Washington University where he majored in elementary education. Upon completion of college, Larry secured his first teaching job at Brewster where he taught sixth grade and was the junior varsity boys basketball coach. The next two years, Larry was the fifth grade teacher besides doing the boys basketball.

When the chance became available to teach in Odessa, he quickly filled out his application and hoped he would be chosen over the other 27 completed applications. Larry came highly recommended by the principal and superintendent of Brewster for the position and helped in the selection of him.

Why did Larry want to move back to Odessa? To be closer to his family was his main objective. "I like Odessa; it is a great community to live in and to raise you children," said Larry. Odessa has always been home.

In April 1993, Larry married Kelly Schafer of Odessa. She is in her final year at EWU and spends her time commuting between Odessa and Cheney to classes.

Larry says he plans to work on self-esteem with his second graders. He wants them to feel good about themselves which will help throughout their lives. Larry also wants to work with their parents to help them work with their children both in school and at home.

Seaman First Class Joe Janikula and Private Jack Janikula.

Choosing to teach elementary students was easy for Larry. He spent many hours in high school and afterwards with his dad and the VFW basketball program and little league. Larry said he really enjoyed that age and decided this was what he wanted to do.

After being selected as the second-grade teacher, Larry applied for the coaching position which was made vacant by the resignation of Tom Wolsborn, Sr.

Larry has some new ideas to use on the court with his high school boys. He says there is a lot of good returning talent and he is excited about coaching. Larry hopes to have a good turnout with the incoming freshmen and the returnees.

In his spare time, Larry enjoys hunting, water-skiing, playing basketball, golfing and doing yard work, besides spending time with Kelly.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024