25 Years Ago
Aug. 16, 1995
Mother Injured In Car Accident
A mother turning around to talk to her kids in the backseat was the cause of a one car accident in Washita County Monday morning.
An Oklahoma Highway Patrol representative said 27 year old Rebbeca Hernandez, of Anadarko, was traveling east on highway 152, near the intersection of highway 115, when she turned around in the car to talk to one of her three children.
Not watching the road, Hernandez ran her 1985 Oldsmobile Cierra off the left side of the road and hit a bridge wall. The car rolled three times and came to rest in a field 225 feet east of the point of impact.
She was taken by ambulance to the Cordell Memorial Hospital, where she is listed in serious condition with head, internal, trunk and arm injuries.
Seven-year-old Amber Shosh and four-year-old Lea Shosh were treated for head injuries. Five year old Megan Shosh was treated for trunk and internal injuries. All are listed in good condition at CMH.
All three girls were wearing seatbelts; however, the mother was not.
Cordell’s Council Calls Special Meeting To Discuss Future Home of Police Department
The Cordell City Council has called a special meeting for Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. two agenda items will be discussed.
The four member council will vote on the city’s purchase of the $28,000 building located at 105 W. Main, the corner of college street and Highway 152. If the council votes to buy the former tire and battery building from Nikki Britton, it would house the Cordell Police Department.
The purchase of the building, an issue that was tabled at the August 7th council meeting, has been cleared by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Concerns had been raised over the uncertainty of underground tanks at the site.
Tom Springer, who handles underground tank issues for the OCC, cleared the waters by saying that even if there are tanks under the property as long as they have not been used since 1974, they pose no problem.
Mayor Phil Kliewer said the commission gave the city enough assurance that he feels “safe” with the regulations and the purchase.
50 Years Ago
Aug. 13, 1970
Botchlets Sell All Their Interest in City Turkey Plant to Whams - Firm Grows; Expansion Considered
Jiggs Botchlet announced Monday of this week that he and his wife have sold all of their interest in Jiggs Smoked Turkeys, Inc. to their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Don Wham.
The business was founded in 1960 and incorporated in 1963. At that time, the Whams owned 20 per cent of the stock and had acquired additional shares since to a total of 49 per cent.
The transaction announced this week transfers the Botchlets’ 51 per cent to Mr. and Mrs. Wham, who became sole owners.
Wham has been president of the corporation since July, 1969.
Botchlet said the sale includes all of the real estate used in the smoked turkey operation.
Botchlet said he plans to “take it a little easier” in the future and also to devote more time to his egg operation. He leased his turkey farm west of Cordell to Joe Boyd Thompson and his wife, Patricia, last year.
He added he probably will expand his egg operation.
Until the first of the year, he will keep his office in the same location at the Smoked Turkeys, Inc. , offices.
Crash Injures Dill City Woman
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports four accidents in Washita County in the last week.
Bessie Holcomb of Dill City received severe lacerations on her chin and head when the 1962 Ford in which she was riding collided with a 1967 Ford driven by Willa Mae Lowder in the construction area a mile west of Cordell about 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11.
The 1962 Ford, driven by Iona Selma Sellee, was traveling in a cloud of dust, raised by construction equipment on the Highway 152 project, when it crossed into the left lane and was struck by the 1967 station wagon, reports Patrolman Terry Nutter of Elk City.
Neither driver, both of whom are from Dill City, was injured, but Mrs. Holcomb was admitted to Cordell Memorial Hospital where she is listed in good condition.
Cordell Schools to Begin Own ‘Cluster Plan’
A new concept in education will be initiated when Cordell schools open for the new term Aug. 24.
It has been called the “cluster plan” or grade grouping. Supt. Raymond Garrison reported this week that new bus schedules have been set up to provide the necessary transportation.
Beginning with the new school year, all kindergarten, first and second grade pupils will be taught at Jefferson school; third and fourth grades at Lincoln school, and the fifth and sixth grades at Washington school.
Junior and senior high students will not be affected by the new program. Their transportation schedule will be the same as in the past.