Memories for the week of June 14, 2017

100 years ago

June 11, 1917

It rained hard, the Enterprise reported. A copious amount of showers fell that promised to relieve a critical situation and lack of moisture. Along with the rain, news was of a terrific tornado that struck from Glasgow east to Poplar, leveling many small buildings, killing five persons and injuring 30.

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Local law got back two criminals who broke out of jail sometime before. One Walter Blevins turned out to be sailing under an alias and had a long and vicious crime record. Carl Chamberlain, another jail breaker, was given 10 to 25 years by Judge Hurly.

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Sheriff Crabb put the run on a group of WWI "Wobblies" who were caught making seditious utterances. Apparently, these were from the local railroad track "Jungle."

75 years ago

June 11, 1942

Little Ben Mine shuts down after nine years

The final cleanup after nine years of continuous operation at the Little Ben Mine two miles above Landusky took place. For the fourth time this century, Landusky is a ghost camp due to the discontinuation of operations.

The first mill was a stamp mill put in by the Mission Peak Mining Co. in 1900. Due to the lack of free gold, this mill closed in 1902. In 1908 the August Mining Co., opened up, putting in rolls and a cyanide process. In 1914 the mill was enlarged and a gravity system with cable and huge buckets was installed to deliver the ore from the mine 1 ½ miles about to the mill in Landusky. Before that, the ore had been hauled down the mountain with six-horse teams.

World War I closed the mine until 1922 when Charles Whitecomb opened it up and operated until 1924. The Little Ben Mine Co. was formed in 1933, and bought the mine and the mill and built the mill which just closed two miles up the mountain on the north side.

Golden Wedding observed by Malta Couple

About eighty local friends of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Tressler called at their home Monday afternoon and evening to help them observe their golden wedding anniversary. There was an open house at the Tressler home and refreshments were served to all visitors.

Mr. and Mrs. Tressler were married on June 8, 1892, at Curlew, Iowa. They came to Montana in April of 1899 and lived the first year on the Dan Tressler Ranch near Dodson. They then moved to Malta where Mr. Tressler at first did general carpenter work and later on established the Tressler Lumber Co., which has been a successful local institution for many years.

Printed signs on local windows are explained

Sheriff R. L. Campbell announces that signs appearing in the windows of local bars and pool halls excluding Japanese do not mean race discrimination is being practiced by local businesses.

The measure is intended to protect the Japanese from possible violence, preserve local order and ensure the full use of the labor needed in the local beet fields.

50 years ago

June 15, 1967

Simantons file assault charges, counter-charges

Two Strater men, William Simanton and Thomas R. Simanton, Jr., have each filed complaints with the county attorney charging each other with assault in the second degree, a felony charge. The charges grew out of a fight the two had regarding a bull in the other's pasture.

William Simanton charges Thomas Simanton, Jr., with assaulting him with a weapon likely to produce grievous bodily harm, namely a garden hoe.

Thomas Simanton, Jr., charged William Simanton with assaulting him with a mower pitman and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The incident took place last week in Strater.

Fire Call to Sunset Rest Home

The Malta Volunteer Fire Department was called out about 11 a.m. Saturday to the Sunset Rest Home. The fire, a smoldering mattress, was extinguished before the firemen arrived and no other damage was done.

Perry has tickets for Reagan Great Falls appearance

Louie Perry announced this week that anyone who wishes to go to Great Falls on June 24 to hear and talk with California Governor Ronald Reagan should contact him for tickets. There will be a reception and social hour at Hotel Rainbow from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for which tickets are $15. Reagan will speak at the C.M. Russell gymnasium at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $3 for adults and $1.50 for children.

25 years ago

June 17, 1992

Flower pot covers taken by vandals

Sometime between 1:30 and 2 a.m. numerous flower pot covers were stolen from various locations in the downtown area. At this time there are no suspects.

MEA signs contract with teachers with $500 salary increase

Malta School District teachers will get a raise of approximately 3-percet in the 1992-93 school year as a result of negotiations which were recently completed.

The Malta Education Association and the Malta Board of Education have both voted to approve the increase which basically adds $500 a year to each salary step on the district's teacher salary ladder.

The base salary for a beginning teacher with a bachelor degree will go from $17,000 to $17,500.

10 years ago

June 20, 2007

Street Talk

Question: If necessity is the mother of all inventions, what do you think will be the next big scientific breakthrough in the next 50 years?

Deanna Arnold: Hopefully, the cure for M.S.

Jane Thompson: I hope they can find a cure for cancer.

Bob Minnerath: I think somebody with some alternative fuels.

Ernie Olson: It will probably be something to do with travel and different fuels.

Colgate Country Showdown defies the weather, draws a crowd

The Colgate Country Showdown came to Malta and the show went off smoothly - despite the last minute change from Trafton Park to the Malta High School Auditorium.

The winner, Kirsten Svennungsen, received $250 and the right to represent Malta. Calista, placing second, received $150 while the only local act in the top three, the Gairrett Sisters, took home third prize and $100.