Memories for the Week of August 17, 2016

100 years ago

August 17, 1916

Bad shooting scrape at Saco Wednesday

As the result of a gunplay at Saco last night, Walter James is now in jail and will be charged with the crime of murder in the first degree for killing J.H. Hutton, commonly known as "Curley" Hutton. The shooting took place at 10:26 last night just outside of the Windsor Hotel and at the autopsy this morning conducted by Coroner Tucker and County Attorney Wolfe, four bullets were found in the body, all of which fit the gun found on the person of James, which in itself appears pretty damaging evidence of the accused.

First Chautauqua is great success

Malta's first Chautauqua and also the first affair of this kind to be pulled off in this section of the Milk River Valley is now over. The big tent has been taken down and is now on its way with thirteen other huge tents to its winter home in Kansas City. But the glory of Chautauqua week will live forever in the hearts of the Malta people. We have heard some of the best musical talent in the west and we all feel better that we have had the opportunity of seeing and hearing what we did.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A Chautauqua was an adult education movement in the United States popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Aggressive McGarry

The self-styled Able, Active, Aggressive McGarry made an effort Tuesday to even-up with the editor of this paper for the things we wrote about him and his campaign for Judge Utter. We were coming from out of the office of Messrs, Treasler & Kirton when the learned (?) gentleman (?) swatted us, one on the jaw. He informed us that there would be an obituary to write and the editor would be the subject if his name was again mentioned in the paper.

75 years ago

August 14, 1941

Animals found dead in alkali bog

The mystery concerning the finding of the carcasses of eight horses and two mules which had evidently been driven some time ago into an alkali bog hole in a pasture belonging to the Phillips Development Co., is no nearer to being solved, Sheriff R. L. Campbell said yesterday.

Several theories have been advanced for a reason why the animals reached the treacherous piece of "soupy" ground. It may have been a case of the "meanest man in the world." In the event of spite the animals might have been deliberately driven into the bog...another theory is that the animals may have become frightened during an electrical storm and blindly tried to cross the soft ground.

Yuh Don't say

Technique

Slippery ice – very thin;

Pretty girl – tumbled in;

Gave a shriek – then she sank;

Boy on hand – heard her shout:

Jumped right in – pulled her out;

Now he's hers – very nice;

But she had – to break the ice.

Has Her Points

Man 1:"I don't see why he dates her, she is a terrible dancer."

Man 2: "No, she can't dance, be she sure can intermission."

Whee!

Teacher: "What is it that binds us together, sustains us and makes us even better than nature intended?"

Tommy: "Girdles."

50 years ago

August 18, 1966

11 County 4-H'ers at State Congress on MSU campus

Eleven 4-H members left Monday by car for Bozeman to attend the 21st State 4-H Congress at Montana State University campus. Accompanying the delegates are Mrs. Arthur Miller of Landusky and Mrs. Jim Mitchell, 4-H leaders and Roger Brownson, extension agent.

Teresa Hould is competing in the finals of the state-wide 4-H dress revue; Charles Barnard, John Barnard, Greg Depuydt of Saco and George Anderson of Whitewater are competing in the livestock judging; Mary Yeska of Saco, home economics judging; Bill Koss, agriculture demonstration; Cheryl Mitchell, home economics judging: Gail Stiles, safety demonstration and Robert Legg, state tractor driving competition. Pat Cummings is attending on a junior leadership scholarship.

25 years ago

August 14, 1991

New refuse district should start operating this month

The Phillips County Refuse District – minus the City of Malta – will gradually kick into gear the final week of August, according to Refuse Board Chairman Sherman Doucette.

Some of the metal dumpsters or containers for the nine sites which will be served by the district will start arriving on Aug. 19. Actually, refuse operations won't begin until a contract with the Valley County Refuse District is finalized.

The Valley County board voted to set a $50 tonnage fee which will be billed to the Phillips County Refuse District for refuse hauled to the Valley landfill. The district will also be billed five-percent surcharge per ton amounting to $2.50.

10 years ago

August 23, 2006

Husband, wife teaching duo feel right at home in Malta School District jobs

Most people when they start a new job need time to learn the system, but husband and wife, Nick and Shannon Oxarart, grew up in the system.

Both Nick and Shannon, the former Shannon Davis, graduated from Malta High School in 1999.

Today they'll greet students in classrooms where not too long ago they were students themselves.

Nick, son of Greg and Jenny Oxarart, is a new math teacher at the high school and junior high.

Shannon, daughter of Stan and Cindy Davis of Wagner, is the new computer teacher for grades K-8.