The Rear View Mirror

10 YEARS AGO

On the week of August 31, 2011, it was announced that the highest ranking firefighter to survive the world trade center collapse, and the last fireman to escape the devastation, Richard “Pitch” Picciotto, would speak at SWOSU in Weatherford on September 6.

The annual Beacon Football Contest began, with businesses and merchants teaming up in an attempt to make it one of the best ever.

Shane Todd of Dill City placed second at the Ponca City National Motocross Race

As a result of Cordell’s water pumps being forced to work overtime, City Council passed resolution 2011-16, which addressed the need for water conservation. The resolution required townspeople to limit outdoor watering to odd/even days, corresponding to their numbered street address, to closely monitor the watering, and to only water between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. City officials warned that continued heavy water usage would result in mandatory water rationing, a move that would be expensive in both time and money.

State Representative Todd Russ was appointed to the Budget and Revenue Standing of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), as well as the NCSL’s agriculture and energy committees. A new voter ID law came into effect, re

A new voter ID law came into effect, requiring all voters in Oklahoma to show a proof of identity in order to vote at any polling place.

20 YEARS AGO

On the week of August 15, 2001, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Steven Cornell was cleared of charges related to the shooting of Scott Andrew Curtis. The shooting was ruled a justifiable homicide under Oklahoma law.

Bob Lambert, City Administrator, issued a statement claiming that the City of Cordell was in the process of finding a solution for the stench radiating from the city sewer lagoon. Engineers quoted the cheapest possible remedy for the issue at approximately $180,000, with other solutions in the millions.

Dylan Sewell received a scholarship for the 2001-2002 school year in the amount of $300 from the Holy Cross Parent Teacher Club for outstanding academic performance. Dylan ranked 2nd in his class of 133 students.

The Cordell branch of MidFirst Bank reached out to cooks all across the country, asking for them to submit their favorite recipes and be a part of their cookbook, “Cookin for a Cure”. The cookbook would be sold to raise money for The Relay for Life.

18 Cordell Elementary teachers attended the Great Expectations workshop at SWOSU. The program set goals to ensure success for all students, provide students with good self esteem, set up a climate of mutual respect, and renew the joy of teaching.

Cordell youth soccer sign ups were scheduled and held at the Cordell Police Precinct room, and the G & H Office Extras office.

40 YEARS AGO

On the week of August 19, 1981, Congressman Glenn English made plans to pay a visit to Cordell. English invited residents to visit him at the Cordell Post Office from 9 to 10 a.m. on August 21.

Heavy winds from a storm on Aug. 15, damaged a Cordell home. The winds lifted a 12x20 foot patio cover off of its base, and carried it for nearly two thirds of a block before smashing it into the garage door of Jimmy Stevens home, not only damaging the door and home, but also breaking the back glass of the car within the garage.

Rocky voters approved a TV cable franchise for the town, according to results tabulated by the Washita County Election Board.

Courthouse officials received pay hikes mandated by the 1981 Oklahoma legislature.

The 42nd annual Kiwash meet was a smash hit. Over 1,500 attended the affair and Manager Paul Lenaberg termed it “one of the largest crowds in history.”

Two new producing wells were completed in the county - one in the South-west Burns Flat Field and the other in the Seger field south of Colony.

For the first time in ten years, Burns Flat had the largest school population of any district in Washita County. According to enrollment reports, Burns Flat’s total student population stood at 817, while Cordell’s was 777

1986