Flashbacks

Image
  • Flashbacks
    Flashbacks
  • Flashbacks
    Flashbacks
Body

25 Years Ago July 12, 1995

Cordell’s First Bed and Breakfast Opens

Cordells first bed and breakfast, the Grape Arbor Inn, is officially open and ready for business. The two rooms of the inn offer guests a second to none view of the county’s heart piece, The Washita County Courthouse.

Travelers can enjoy a cool glass of fresh ice tea, they can read one of the many books or magazines that fill the bookshelf or simply lounge in the country comfort the rooms offer.

Owner Twila Peace has spent the last 13 months working on the bed and breakfast project. It was done in her spare time, the few hours a day she is not in her other shop - The Grapevine Galleria, a tea room and antique shop that opened in 1992.

Last weekend, the two days set aside for the “all school” reunion, the Grape Arbour Inn officially opened. Howard and Adaline Wesner were the first occupant.

Sentinel Man Charged With Sparking Home

David Chandler, a 48 year old Sentinel man, was recently charged with first degree arson, in connection with a blaze he allegedly set in his own house.

Sheriff Larry Burrows said the man lit gasoline on the floor while he and his wife, Carolyn Chandler, were still inside. The two had been in a verbal argument. Both escaped unharmed.

Abe Helfstine, a county deputy, said an intoxicated Chandler released gas from the home’s gasoline powered compressor and dropped a lighter into the liquid. Damage was confined to the kitchen area of the Sentinel house.

An official from the State Fire Marshall’s office noted the gas was fairly old and that the fire would have been much bigger, probably destroying the home and its occupants if the gasoline had been fresh.

The felony charge is punishable by up to 35 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

50 Years Ago July 2, 1970

Two City Firms Are Burglarized

Police Chief Eby Don Walters reports burglaries of two Cordell business firms last Saturday night.

Thieves broke into Erv’s Quick Serve No. 1 on East Main street and stole one case of beer, one stereo, and six or seven cartons of Salem Cigarettes. The burglars gained entrance by breaking the glass in a back door. Ervin Ratzlaff is the store owner.

The same night burglars broke into the Red Barn Cafe on East Main street.

Chief Walters said that so far as could be determined the thieves took only an old french rifle. He concluded that they broke into the restaurant solely to steal the old gun.

The Red Barn Cafe is owned by Hazel Maddox.

Dutch Girl To Visit County, 4-H Guest

A girl from the Netherlands will spend three and a half weeks in Washita county late this month and early August.

She is Miss Wouthera Gysbertha c. Brey and is in Oklahoma participating in the 4-H clubs’ international program, “4-H Teen Caravan.”

She is one of six dutch boys and girls who arrived in Oklahoma June 24.

Miss Brey is spending three and a half weeks in Caddo county and will come to Washita county about July 20. She will leave with her group to return to her homeland in Europe Aug. 8th.

Sentinel Soldier Gets Army Award

Army specialist five James T Palmer, Jr, 21, whose parents live in Sentinel, recently was awarded the mechanic’s badge while serving with the 6th infantry near Berlin, Germany.

Spec. Palmer received the award for his proficiency in maintaining army vehicles.

The specialist is a mechanic in headquarters company of the infantry’s 3rd battalion.

Canute Sergeant Gets Army Medal

Staff Sergeant Thomas J. Walters, 22, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. Walters, and wife Marilyn, live on route 1, Canute, recently received the army commendation medal while serving with the Americal division near Duc Pho, Vietnam.

Sgt. Walters earned the award for Meritorious service as a rifle platoon sergeant with company A, 1st battalion, 20th infantry of the division’s 11th light infantry brigade.