Flashbacks

25 Years Ago

June 14, 1995

Wheat Harvest Heating Up

Big combines and tons of out of state trucks in Washita County mean one thing. It's harvest time.

However, recent thunderstorms, which dumped over twelve inches of rain, have slowed the usual progress.

Jim Balzer, manager of the Wheeler Brothers grain elevator, said mud has been a major problem. He said he can't judge how many bushels per acre the wheat is yielding because a complete field has not been able to be cut yet.

"With good weather the harvest will continue to move along pretty rapidly" he said.

Balzer said he expects a "fair" wheat harvest.

He said the quality will e below average due to the recent rains and the light winter. Test weights are falling below 60 pounds per bushel on most loads being brought to the elevator and foreign matter in the wheat also could be a major problem on pricing.

Five Inducted Into Washita County Hall Of Fame

The Washita County Historical Society, in conjunction with Washita County 2000, recently announced the 1995 Washita County Hall of Fame inductees. The new class includes Jack Cox, Ella Mae (Weichel) Crowder, W.S. "Sam" Holden, Sr., Merkle O'Halloran, and A.C. "Claude" Taylor.

Cox, a WWII veteran, is a former Cordell Church of Christ minister who preached at both the 4th and College Church of Christ and the Northside Church of Chrst. He was a leader in building in the Cordell Christian Home.

Weichel is a former nurse who in 46 years of service helped deliver 987 babies in the Corn-Colony-Cowden-Weatherford area. She was also a member of many community organizations.

Holden, a WWI veteran, was a former owner of Holden and Knie Real Estate. He was the country's first auto tag dealer and he served on the Cordell City Council and the Cordell School Board. He also helped get Highway 41, now 152, established.

O'Halloran, a WWII veteran, once owned O'Halloran's Dairy, a milk and ice cream processing plant. He also operated Washita Chemical Supply, two Champlin's Service stations and Fleming Abstract and Insurance Company. O'Halloran was a Cordell City Councilman for six years and Mayor of Cordell for four years.

Taylor, a WWI veteran, was the former president of First National Bank in Sentinel. He was active in all Sentinel's community affairs. He was Chamber of Commerce president for two years. Besides banking, Taylor was interested in farming and raising cattle.

Superintendent Says Test Scores Reflect Progress and Highlight Weaknesses

Cordell Superintendent Jerry Burrows presented the Cordell School Board with the school's yearly national test scores during the board's meeting last week.

The Iowa Basic Skills Test was administered to Cordell students earlier this year and the results were sent back at the end of May.

Burrows said he was "not real pleased" with the results.

"The scores show some areas of progress, but overall we have some work to do," he said. "But you don't want to judge a school solely on achievement tests."

Burrows cited the school had academic state champion teams in football and softball, as well as a baseball team and girls basketball team that received academic recognition. He said those individual groups had rising test scores, but that overall the scores were about the same as last year.

Burrows said the longer a student is tracked through testing, the closer the student comes to the national average, which is a 50 percentile.

He also said that math scores were generally higher, which he attributes to having students take Algebra instead of General Math, a class that was dropped last year.

50 Years Ago

June 10,1970

Harvest Passes Peak In County

Washita County's wheat harvest passed the peak at midweek and farmers hoped to have most of the grain in elevators by the weekend - if the weather cooperates.

However, thunderstorms were forecast for the state, and clouds appeared over Washita County Wednesday afternoon.

The Cordell wheat market Wednesday afternoon was $1.19 - the same as the Hobart market.

Because of a lack of freight cars to move the grain, much wheat had to be stored on the ground near the General Mills, Inc., elevator in Cordell.

Ray Whatley, manager, estimated Wednesday afternoon that 100,000 bushels were on the ground. He said the pile probably would grow unless rail cars arrived quickly.

City Youth Sets State Record

Mark Wesner, member of the Cordell High School track team, won two state championships and set a new state record in one event at the state A.A.U. track meet in Oklahoma City last Saturday, June 6. He was in the 14-15 year age group.

He won first in the broad jump with the leap of 20 ft. 5 in. In the triple jump he won first place and set a new state record with a distance of 41 ft. 7 1/2 in.

The American Amateur Athletic Union which sponsors these track and field events on a non-school level is the governing body for amateur athletics in the United States. It also sponsors U.S. participation the the Olympics.

As a result of winning in the state A.A.U. events, Wesner will participate in the National Regional contests at Conway, Ark., July 18. It is one of three regional meets held in the U.S.

If Wesner places first, second, or third at Conway, he will qualify for participation in the national meet.

Farm Pollution Problems Aired

When pollution control programs are planned, farmers and ranchers in Washita County need to take an active part, says James H. Barnes, county Extension director.

"Some misinformed individuals have made emotional charges about chemicals and pesticide practices used in agriculture," he said. "To counteract some of these charges, a sound educational program is needed.

"Some controls being considered would needlessly increase the cost of production and eventually increase the cost of food. Hopefully, most controls put into effect should be based on logic and facts.

"Producers need to be aware of ASCS cost sharing practices available for installing some pollution abatement practices."

The state ASCS office has approved certain practices, Barnes said.