This Week in Odessa History

100 years ago

Feb. 18, 1921

The masque ball given by Odessa members of the Elks fraternity at the Community Hall Friday night was unquestionably the social event of the season for the dancing public. From the standpoint of weather it came at a most unfavorable time for the roads in some places were almost impassible, and a number of people who started were unable to get to Odessa by their cars stalling in the mud. Nevertheless, the crowd that came filled the hall and there were many fine costumes.

The Odessa Gun Club lost its first match of the Spokesman Review tournament in which it was matched against Spokane Sunday, the team of Spokane shot gun artists breaking 74 blue rocks to 72 for the local team.

The Odessa high school debate team learned that it will next meet the team from Millwood in Spokane County in the state debate competition. Millwood is undefeated this season and was last year’s Spokane County champion. Odessa will defend the negative side of the question and a close contest is expected.

75 years ago

Feb. 7, 1946

The Odessa town team emerged at the long end of a 37-33 basketball game with the Ritzville town team on the Odessa floor. Playing for Odessa were Ralph Heimbigner, Robert Deife, Winston Weber, Weldon Goede, Otto Schell, Delbert Schafer, Arthur Grening, LeRoy Hook and Vernie Zeiler.

Three business buildings in Odessa are brightening up this week, Dad Odell’s place, Strate’s Furniture Store and the Odessa Plumbing Company. At Odell’s a new floor has been laid and the entire interior redecorated.

The St. Mathews church building and parsonage were sold by the United Congregational church under sealed bid. Two bids were received, the higher being that of Rev. R.H. Klaudt at $22,000. At the congregation meeting Tuesday, a committee was chosen to proceed with plans for remodeling and enlarging the present building.

50 years ago

Feb. 18, 1971.

Four of the 11 Odessa Tiger wrestlers competing in the sub-district tournament at Ritzville earned the right to participate in the Bi-district tournament at Medical Lake. The four participants are Bruce Finkbeiner, heavyweight; Tom Weishaar at 170 lbs .; Virgil Schmidt at 141 lbs. and Dean Michaelsen at 135 lbs. Ritzville was the team winner at the tournament, and Odessa was third.

The Tiger basketball squad defeated Harrington 82 to 72 in the final game of the season, giving the Tigers an 11-1 season. Their only loss was to Reardan. Neil Jeske had 19 points, Mark Wagner and Greg Haase 18 each and Marty Meise 17 to pace the Tigers. High point man of the game was Harrington’s Randy Schultz with 24.

25 years ago

Feb. 15, 1996

Four young women were running to become Odessa’s Junior Miss and ride the community float: Lanae Jeske, Jennifer Kniola, Loni Watters and Karma Schmierer. The float committee met to begin work on this year’s float and appealed to the community to donate funds to help. The girls also attended the Chamber of Commerce to request immediate release of the $2,000 that the Chamber sets aside for the float each year. The request was granted. The Chamber also met to nominate new officers, but only three people volunteered to be directors and only one to become an officer. The public was reminded that Chamber membership is open to all. You need not be a business owner.