Flashbacks

Jan. 22, 1970

Head-on collision kills four of Cordell family

A head-on collision near Roswell, N.M., early Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, snuffed out the lives of four members of a Cordell family.

Killed were Robert Mc- Clary, 51, Buick-Case dealer, and his wife Helen, 49, and their two daughters, Jeanette, 20, and Joy, 17.

Funeral services for the McClary family will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Northside Church of Christ in Cordell. Jack Cox, minister, will officiate. Burial will be made in the Sentinel cemetery.

Lawana Price is crowned Cordell junior high basketball queen

Lawana Price, seventh grade candidate, won the title of Cordell junior high basketball queen for 1970 at games with Hobart Monday night, Jan. 19.

She was chosen by vote of spectators at the games and her coronation was a feature of halftime intermission in the boy’s game. She was crowned by her escort, John Emerson.

Banks pay higher rates

The three Cordell banks and the First National Bank of Sentinel announced Wednesday they are raising the interest rates they pay on time deposits, effective immediately.

The Sentinel bank was the first to make the announcement Wednesday

morning shortly after the federal reserve board authorized banks to increase interest rates on savings accounts.

The Farmers National Bank, the Cordell National Bank, and the First National Bank of Cordell announced Wednesday afternoon that they are raising their rtes to the maximum allowed by the new federal reserve order.

The banks had been paying the maximum rates allowed under the previoius order.

The new rates include 4-1/2 per cent on regular savings accounts, 5-1/2 per cent on one-year certificates of deposit and 5-3/4 per cent on two-year certificates of deposit.

Jan. 25, 1995

Auto Wreck Claims Life of Cordell Woman

Cordell’s Terri Jane Sumpter, 30, was killed last Wednesday night when the 1988 Ford Thunderbird driven by her husband Steve Sumpter clipped a bridge southwest of Dill City.

She died at the accident’s scene, after being pinned inside the car for 45 minutes. Reports said she died of massive head and internal injuries.

Steve Sumpter, 32, was transported to Oklahoma Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was released Friday after being treated for a broken nose, broken rib, and facial lacerations. An ambulance from Cordell Memorial Hospital tranported him to Oklahoma City.

Washita County’s Historic Markers To Be Revamped

Two of Washita County’s three historic roadside markers could receive a facelift.

Bruce Joseph, education director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, said 140 of the state’s 400 historic markers will be refurbished with federal money from an ISTEA grant.

He said the $1.9 million dollar project is the first time a state has been able to secure federal money for this type of project. Although, he said representatives from Florida and Oregon are currently trying to put together a similar project.

Prairie Dogs Bedevil Land Owner

What do you do with 40 some acres of prairie dogs?

If you are the land owner you could wish them away; if you are the passer-by in a vehicle, you could slow down and watch, you could hunt them or if you are a wildlife adorer, you could hope their habitat would bring back the endangered black-footed ferret.

The Cordell area has a hand full of prairie dog towns, according to local wildlife officer Jeff Headrick, on private land. None is as popular or wellknown as the 45 acres of dogs one mile west of the courthouse.

Located to the north of Highway 152 these prairie dogs have been building their community since the early 1970s. The town is on Beech land and Monte Beech said he could never remember when the dairy cattle which shared the acreage with the small predators ever seemed to be bothered by them.

Lady Devils Bring Home Tri-County Championship; Boys Finish Second

It looks like the Cordell Lady Blue Devils are over the hump.

Coach Joe Crabb said winning last weekend’s Tri-County Tournament in Snyder has given his team an extra spurt of confidence heading into the stretch run for postseason play.

The Lady Devils blew past Lone Wolf in the opening round 58-38. The balanced offensive attack saw all three forwards with double digit efforts. Senior Erin Crabb had 22 points on 9 of 15 shooting from the field. Junior Alicia Cannon had 18, while sophomore Pam Smith tallied 16 against the Coyotes.

Cannon also snatched seven offensive rebounds in the opening round game. She and Smith each had one steal.

The defensive unit, in limiting Lone Wolf to 38 points, was led by senior April Cochran’s five rebound and three steal effort. Jamie Edelen gathered four steals and a rebound and Crystal Cook got a rebound and a steal.