Flashbacks

25 Years Ago April 19, 1995

Council Passes Junk Car Ordinance In First Meeting

A heavy agenda and a crowded house welcomed the newly elelcted Cordell CIty Council to its first meeting Monday night.

The most heavily debated item was the unanimous passing of City Ordinance 95-3, an ordinance aimed at ridding the city of junk cars.

City administrator David Fuqua said several people have complained of seeing the junk cars and this ordinance will enable the city to force their removal.

Mark Wesner, city attorney, said the ordinance defines junk cars as vehicles that are wrecked, abandoned, discarded and inoperable. He said it would not apply to people who are trying to restore an antique car.

Councilman Steve Craig said it will apply only to cars that have “been sitting for eight years and have grass growing through the floorboard.”

BF Man Charged With Rape

James O. Jennings, a 23-year-old Burns Flat man, was arrested last week on charges of second degree rape.

He is accused of forcing a 15-year-old girl into having sex with him in his Burns Flat apartment. The alleged rape happened on April 8th in the Hunter’s Apartments.

In a written affidavit, the teen said, “,,,I told him no...” and “...he said he didn’t care.”

The mother of the girl, in the affidavit, said she wanted to press charges.

Special Aeronautics Task Force Explores Wind Tunnel Construction In Burns Flat

A spccial task force studying a proposal to build a multibillion-dollar National Wind Tunnel Complex (NWTC) in Burns Flat recently met with NASA officials in Washington.

Representative Jerry Hefner, chairman of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Aeronautics and Railways, said the proposed tunnel would be the most technologically advanced aircraft-testing facility in the world.

“This complex would cost in excess of #2.3 billion to construct over a period of five to six years,” he said. “It is truly an exciting opportunity for Oklahoma.”

50 Years Ago April 16, 1970

Oil Activity Picking Up

The wildcat producer southwest of Cordell has perked up oil interest and brought a new wave of activity in the county during the last week.

Oil lease sales were reported brisk with about 40 new ones being turned in for recording at the office of Court Clerk Dale Hubbard.

A new geophysical company, Geophysical Service, Inc., rented the former Hollis-Altus-Transfer building on North Church street and began operations in the area southeast of Rocky.

The company, a dvision of Texas Instruments, Inc., is working under a contract with Humble Oil Co.

New Football, Wrestling Coaches Are Hired For Local High School

Wilson Wilhite, Cordell’s new football and track and field coach for junior and senior high school, was here Monday making preparations for the 1970-71 season.

He spent the day in meeting prospective athletes and in surveying the athletic department’s equipment and considering its needs.

Raymond Garrison, superintendent, announces the employment of another member of the Cordell coaching staff. He is Danny Bringham who will be junior and senior high wrestling coach and assistant football coach.

Bringham, whose home town is Blackwell, has been junior high wrestling coach at Moore the past two years. He is a former state high school wrestling champion and also participated in wrestling at Oklahoma State University.

Talks Held On Vo-Tech

Washita County school leaders met in the county superintendent’s office in the courthouse Tuesday afternoon of this week to discuss ways and means of getting information to the public about the May 12 special election on a tax levy for the area vocational and technical school.

The election will be held in all 15 participating districts at the same day and during the same hours - 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Dr. C.C. Holcomb, Burns Flat superintendent, told the group that the state votech department is preparing information to be disseminating throughout the 15 school districts.