Yesterday's Phillips County News Memories for March 11, 2020

100 years ago

March 11, 1920

W. G. Schneider, F. C. Perry, H. S. Whitcomb, Burt Moylan, B. H. Koke, and E. A. Gronback had formed a corporation known as the Fur Specialty Farm. The new enterprise was capitalized at $100,000. It was planned to breed a certain species of fur bearing rabbits. A building on Front Street was to be used to house the rabbits.

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Harry Conser was elected president of the Milk River Rod and Gun Club. H. M. Kirton was elected secretary, and Joe Hocking of Glasgow was a new director.

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The trustees of the school district were advertising for bids on the construction of a new school building and for bids on heating and plumbing.

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Mr. and Mrs. Grover Wait had returned to their farm on the north bench for the summer.

75 years ago

March 15, 1945

LaVern Crossen is awarded Flying Cross

First Lt. LaVern Crossen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Crossen, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while serving as a B-17 Flying Fortress navigator at an Eighth Air Force station in England.

The citation told how Lt. Crossen directed a crippled plane, which caught fire, to a safe landing back in England after the bombs were dropped.

The Crossens are former residents of Malta.

Pioneer Trails group elects Cotter

Jim Cotter, who knows the Lewis and Clark trail along the southern border of Phillips County as well as any man in northern Montana, was named president of the Phillips County chapter of the Montana Council of the American Trails Association.

Mr. Cotter, a pioneer resident of this section of the state, established a stock ranch near the Missouri River many years ago and knew many of the early day characters of the one-time main artery of travel through the state.

Ochitani is home after recovering from wounds

Pfc. Boon Ochitani, son of Mrs. Isao Ochitani of Malta, is spending a furlough with a relative. Private Ochitani is a Malta High School graduate and a one-time captain of the Malta Mustangs football team. He entered the service in June 1943.

While with the 442nd infantry in France he was wounded and hospitalized in France but later was brought to a hospital in Vancouver, Wash. Prior to his hospitalization, he was awarded the silver star for gallantry in action.

The citation stated that “The courage and determination displayed by Ochitani was the key factor in the battalion’s successful attack,” through German artillery, mortar, and sniper fire, which had been holding up the advance of his company.

Landusky man is wounded in France

Keith Kolczak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kolczak of Landusky, was wounded in action in France on Feb. 21, according to the War Department.

Details of the action in which he was wounded or of the extent of his injuries was not received. Kolczak was born at Landusky on May 26, 1924. He entered the army on April 19, 1944, and after a short period of training went overseas. He attended Landusky School and worked with his father on the ranch prior to his entry into the army.

50 years ago

March 12, 1970

Bill Ryan’s 3-M Company happy bunch of winners

There are a bunch of much happier Mustangs than last week as they tucked away the Northern Divisional crown and proved they are No. 1 as they battled the best that District 3B had last week in Cut Bank and came away victors.

Coach Bill Ryan told the PCN that the team was deluged with telegrams from local fans during the tournament and they really appreciated them.

One of the state sportswriters came up with “The 3M Company” title for the Mighty Malta Mustangs and it seems to suit them.

It’s now on to Butte and the State Class B Tournament.

25 years ago

March 15, 1995

Redbook rates Saco Elementary “best"

For the second time in two years, Saco Elementary School has been recognized by Redbook Magazine for excellence in education.

In its April edition, Redbook lists Saco Elementary School in its list of "Best of the States,” a list of 51 public elementary schools judged by Redbook’s eduction experts to be the tops in each state plus the District of Columbia.

Under Montana, Saco Elementary was cited: “A student population of 64 hasn’t stopped this rural school from putting itself into the driver’s seat on the information highway.”

10 years ago

March 17, 2010

Champions!

It was the Malta M-ettes’ turn to defeat their arch rival Fairfeild Lady Eagles Saturday night in the championship game at the Class B State Tournament in Belgrade. The two teams have met five times in the big game and Malta has come out victorious on four occasions.