a look back into our archives
10 YEARS AGO
On the week of September 21, 2011, two new members of the Cordell City Council were sworn in by Cordell Mayor Alex Damon. Mike Stowers and Cheryl Wedel were elected as representatives of ward four of the city.
Sentinel resident Dean Walter Dlugonski was killed in a one vehicle accident.
The City of Cordell announced that some unpaid utility balances would be turned over to the city’s collection agency.
The 58th Retrop Reunion was scheduled for October 2, at Back-In-Time, The old Hopper Sudik Building in the center of Sentinel.
The Cordell Library announced that they would be recording 2001 Tornado Memories. The library invited everyone in the community to share their memories of the event.
Mariah Sperle from Cordell 4-H took Reserve Grand Champion Heifer and placed first with her Charolais at the Carnegie Tri-County Free Fair.
Cordell 4-H’er Ryan Sperle took Grand Champion Heifer and placed first with his Shorthorn Plus at the Carnegie Tri-County Free Fair.
The Lady Blue Devil Softball team went 3 and 3 in the week, bringing their season record to 24 and 9.
20 YEARS AGO
On the week of September 19, 2001, Phil Kliewer, Mayor of the City of Cordell, was named the 2001 Mayor of the Year for communities with less than 5,000 population. He was presented the award from the Oklahoma Conference of Mayors at the Oklahoma Municipal League Annual Awards Breakfast on September 14.
Following the terrorist attacks on the east coast of the United States on September 11, a plan was made at the Cordell Elementary to collect “Hope Bears” for children affected by the tragedy. Channel 9 and the Daily Oklahoman put the project together and notified the school about it. Despite only having one day to donate bears due to shipping times, the huge basket brought in by Principal Allen Hull was filled with bears by the end of the school day. “One of the beautiful things about this project,” Hull said, “was that they (students) were not encouraged to go out and buy a new bear. The organizers said that a ‘loved’ bear was special because the love gave it even more worth to those who had been traumatized.”
The 2001 Cordell High School Football Homecoming King and Queen candidates were announced. King candidates were Chevie Brown, Matt Spradlin, and Mark Stowers. Queen candidates were Jessica Simpson, Lindsey McKee, and Lacey Smith.
Residents from the Cordell area gathered on the steps of the Washita County Courthouse on Wednesday evening to participate in a service designed to pray for the victims and survivors of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks.
40 YEARS AGO
On the week of September 16, 1981, a new gas field was opened in eastern Washita County-the second week in a row that well completions have opened new fields.
The Washita County Red Cross Chapter announced that they would hold a free stress management course at the Cordell Community Center. The purpose of the course was to give participants effective skills for dealing with the adverse effects of stress.
Jiggs Smoked Turkeys Inc. of Cordell reopened under new owner and operator Jim Laughlin. The business offered whole turkeys, turkey fries, turkey rolls and breasts, and hams- all fully cooked, smoked and ready to go.
About $900 worth of items was taken in a weekend burglary at the Rocky Co-op Service Station, according to the Washita County Sheriff’s Department.
A 17-year-old Burns Flat man was shot by a prowler outside his bedroom window. Ricky Blackstone was awoken by the sounds of prowler outside his bedroom window at about 3:08 a.m. on Sept. 10. Blackstone fired one round into the air and was then shot by the prowler. Blackstone was treated for his wound at the Elk City Community Hospital. As of press time, no suspect had been identified.
Pete Nichols was named the 1982 chairman for members and funds for the Washita County Red Cross Chapter.