Yesterday's Phillips County News Memories for June 17, 2020

100 years ago

June 15,1945

Mrs. B. P. Bushnell presented a group of her piano pupils in a recital at her home. Among the pupils were Violet Veseth, Dorothy and Edna Robinson, and Muriel Edwards.

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Reverend Fr. Demers was pinned beneath his car for seven hours when it overturned on a hill near Landusky. He was not seriously injured.

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Louis Pecora and John Malavara were arrested on moonshining charges. Pecora posted bail on $500, but Malavara was in jail.

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R. C. Warren of Trine was in town reporting crops in this community to be almost a total failure.

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Andrew Ebaugh traded his Little Rocky Mountain ranch for a farm 8 miles West of Malta.

75 years ago

June 14, 1945

Peacock is lost

S omewhere along the Milk River in the vicinity of Malta, a black-shouldered Peacock, a very rare bird indeed in these parts, is on the loose. About two weeks ago Sam Denniff purchased a pair and a few days later the cock took to the tall cottonwoods along the River and although several people have reported seeing him, his whereabouts at present are unknown. Mr. Denniff fears someone may shoot him, being unable to identify him on site.

Details of death of Staff Sergeant Wheeler received

Details of the death of her brother, staff Sergeant Frank K. Wheeler, have been received by Ms. Rosine Holmquest of Malta from Lunsford E. Oliver, Major General, US Army commanding headquarters of the 5th Armored Division.

The letter follows in part;

"Staff Sergeant Wheeler was killed in action in the vicinity of Arnsberg, Germany, on April 13th, 1945. Death was caused by small arms fire from the enemy. His body was evacuated to the US military Cemetery at Margraten, Holland. Burial was made with a chaplain of the Protestant faith conducting the service.

"Your brother reflected the very highest type of American manhood. Quiet, dignified, erect in bearing and deficient, he was an outstanding platoon Sergeant. Both officers and men admired and respected him highly. His devotion to duty and to his comrades was exemplified in the action which cost him his life.

"He had just been knocked from his tank by enemy rocket fire and was badly wounded. Yet, he saw his gunner in distress and forgetful of self, went to his rescue. He was killed in the attempt. I trust that you, as well as we, will always be proud of his devotion to the cause of his country."

German prisoners reported to be good workers

About 220 German war prisoners are going out into the sugar beet fields of Phillips County each day. Figures available as of Monday night show that up to that time they had worked for 12 growers and had thinned approximately 150 acres.

Up to the same time total then acreage in the County was 240 acres. Fields are getting very weedy and continued showers not only made them worse but the lay thinning. There are more than 3,400 acres of beats in the County.

The war prisoners are good workers and farmers appeared to be well satisfied with their work, according to W. M. Rasmussen, County agent. An educational film with a soundtrack in Mexican and one in German was shown at the City Hall last night. The prisoners were marched up from the camp for a nine o'clock showing.

50 years ago

June 18, 1970

Monsoon rains hit County

It was monsoon season in Phillips County this week period according to the Bureau of Reclamation figures 3.51 inches of rain fell in Malta from Friday through Thursday. rains seem to have been general all over the County with some areas reporting over 4 inches in most localities getting between three and four inches.

25 years ago

June 21, 1995

Street Talk

Question: Do you think the old adage "if the shoe fits, wear it" holds true in the O.J. Simpson case?

Norman Hoover: It should, shouldn't it?

Johnny Richardson: Yes, I do. I think money many times causes a great travesty of justice.

Frank Crowder: There's a million people in the world who were a size 12 shoe.

Shirley Eklund: I don't know. I only watch Jay Leno.