Yesterday's Phillips County News Memories for week of September 7, 2014

September 11, 1914

100 years ago

Additional Locals: George Whitney, while out hunting Sunday, could not tell the difference between ducks and mud hens, and after getting ten of the later down and carrying them some two miles asked Ike Murphy, “what kind of ducks are those with sharp bills?” Murphy told him they were ducks right enough but they had worn their bills sharp picking up feed from among the rocks. Ray Gardner swore to all Murphy told him and there will likely be a scarcity of mud hens in the lakes around town in the near future.

Also: Cows belonging to Ole Veseth have been trailed along the Zortman Road this week on first stage of their long journey from the pleasant hills of Montana to the stockyards in Chicago.

September 14, 1939

75 years ago

Headline: Malta Alumni to push Pigskin around Friday afternoon.

In order to get in at least one good practice before the Glendive game, Malta’s Blue and White Football squad will meet a team composed of high school alumni on the local field Friday, tomorrow afternoon, at 3:30.

Although the high school squad has been putting in a great deal of skirmishing this week, it will have to look at its coming laurels when it tangles with the group of all-star men who made history on the local field sometime ago, an alumnus announced.

Members of this year’s high school squad include Bell, Ochitani, Trottier, Hoover, Thrash, Fasbender, Pray, Lovell, Hotz, Mayhew, D. Durocher, D. Holton, Stine, DeBray, Goschke, Lang, Eskildsen, DeFlyer, Lundstrom, Kaufman, Blackorby, Chamberlain, Barrett, Nelson, Hould, Head, Boothe, John Judge, Taylor Miller and Crouch.

September 3, 1964

50 years ago

Note: There is only one copy of the PCN for the entire month of September, 1963, at the Phillips County Museum. It is from the week of September 3.

Headline: Anticipate good game at Laurel Saturday night.

“The Mustang Football overall picture is good,” Coach Glenn Flatt said this week as the squad prepares for a season-opener with the Laurel Locomotives Saturday evening. Twenty-five men will make the trip, leaving Malta about 11 a.m. The game will start at 8 p.m.

Coach Flatt said the squad was out for scrimmage last Saturday night.

“we have a fair offense attack and our running attack is good. We anticipate a good, tough game with the Locomotives.”

The Mustangs played the Class A Laurel team to a 6-6 tie in their encounter last year.

September 13, 1989

25 years ago

Headline: Phillips rancher named as a “Montana Centennial Cowboy”

John Matovich Sr. was named a Montana Centennial Cowboy by the Latigo Corporation, directors of the Great Montana Centennial Cattle Drive.

The recognition came in honor of a lifetime achievement as a top hand in the livestock industry.

He was nominated by friends and neighbors in Phillips County at the request of Latigo.

Mr. Matovich has owned and operated the Loving U Ranch in south Phillips County since 1949.

Mr. Matovich indicated that he is “proud to receive the nomination and wanted to thank friends for the high and memorable honor.”

September 8, 2003

10 years ago

Headline: Drag Strip effort revived after donation

Four years ago, a public meeting was held to discuss the possibility of developing a drag strip at the old airport in Malta.

A club – Phillips County Motor Sports – was created, officers were elected and members assigned to begindeveloping the project.

PhillCo chaired a meeting a the high school in which supporters and opponents of the plan voiced their opinions.

The club, mindful of the objections raised by some residents – regarding noise during races – planned sound barriers and other modifications that would alleviate other complaints.

However, other inquiries about using the land put the drag strip on hold. But selection of a site for the Homeland Security facility on the west side of Highway 2 – and an unexpected donation to the sports club – have revived efforts to build the drag strip.

“What can I say,” Greg Kirkwood asked. “It’s a win-win situation for Malta. We want to work with the community to benefit the community. Who can argue with that?”