Memories for Wednesday, June 1, 2022

10 Years Ago –

May 30, 2012

Retiring principal ran out of gas, stayed 31 years

If principal and teacher John Roberts’ former students were writing his epitaph on some future day, what would he like it to say?

“I would like them to think I treated them fairly and with respect,” said Principal Roberts, who will retire at the end of the month.

Principal Roberts, who taught at Malta High School for 22 years before becoming an administrator nine years ago, won’t be saying goodbye completely.

He plans to continue teaching an advanced placement literature class as he did even while principal.

And he isn’t going far when he retires. “We’re going to stay,” he said.

The principal says he wants to do a little writing when retired and confides he’s developed a woodworking hobby over the past couple of years which he enjoys.

“I’ve been making bowls lately,” he smiled.

And he and his wife, Janice, will “travel some.”

He calls Malta “a good town to live in” and notes “I can walk to the train station.”

MOI athletes bring medals home from Special Olympics

Eleven athletes representing Malta Opportunities Inc. recently competed in the Special Olympics in Billings and brought home several medals.

Winning medals were Janet Carlson, Janice Carlson, Jack Stenswick, Anne Jefferson, Andy Mord, Gina Shields, Jimmy Cochran, Kris Boothe, CJ Seitz, Vanessa Sheehan, and Fred Allery.

Showing at the Villa

The Lucky One starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling

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25 Years Ago –

May 28, 1997

Purple hands could betray local burglar

During the holiday weekend, someone entered the Phillips County Veterinary Clinic and took an undisclosed amount of cash.

The individuals should have purple stains on their fingers or hands from the money because of a special dye applied to the money.

M’ettes second, Mustangs fourth at Divisional; state meet this Friday

Malta’s girls walked away with the runner-up trophy and the boys finished fourth last Saturday at the North-East B Track and Field Divisional in Great Falls.

Malta returns to Great Falls this Friday and Saturday for the state meet.

The M’ettes finished 17 points behind Divisional champ Glasgow while the Mustangs were behind champion Glasgow, Shelby, and Plentywood.

The top six in each event advanced to this weekend’s state meet. The M’ettes will send nine and the Mustangs will have 10 at the state meet. Each squad lost only one athlete from the divisional meet.

LeeAnn Pekovitch was a multiple winner for Malta with titles in the shot put and discus. K.D. McConnell was the only other winner for the M’ettes with a school and divisional record of 9-0 in the pole vault.

Kirk Stiles won the javelin by more than 30 feet and neared the 200-foot mark with a personal best of 199-7, the best mark in the state this spring. Kelly Kuszmaul was the only other winner for Malta with gold in the shotput.

Coach Tad Schye looks for good performances from his teams this weekend.

“The girls have a good chance for a trophy and hopefully the boys will have a top-five finish,” he said. “We have a strong chance with a number of individuals to win and place high.”

Showing at the Villa Theatre

Volcano starring Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche

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50 Years Ago –

June 15, 1972

Kitty Wells Headlines County Fair

The “Queen of Country Music”, Kitty Wells, will be the star of the Sunday night show at the Phillips County Fair this year. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Aug. 4-5-6. Entry day will be Thursday, Aug. 3.

A major change in the fair this year, according to secretary Marion Waters, will be a rodeo under the lights Saturday night, replacing the usual Saturday night show. The Saturday afternoon period will be taken up with pari-mutuel horse racing, which was started at last year’s fair. There will also be horse racing Friday evening starting at about 5 p.m. and also Sunday afternoon.

Retirement Home Survey Will Determine Interest

A retirement home survey is being made in Malta to determine if there is enough interest in the community to support the undertaking.

A meeting was held at the Moose Hall last week sponsored by the Senior Citizens and conducted by Rev. Joel Nelson and Rev. Martin J. Burke and there appeared to be a genuine interest shown for such a home.

A survey questionnaire was passed among those present and several were filled out at the meeting and others were taken home to be filled out and returned.

The committee would like service organizations in Phillips County to show their interest by the adoption of a resolution or letter of support. This support would show community interest and backing only.

Survey sheets will be collected until July 1 and then the committees will meet and canvas those accumulated.

Showing at the Villa

Star-Spangled Girl starring Sandy Duncan and Tony Roberts

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75 Years Ago –

June 5, 1947

War Veteran Returns After 49 Years

It took Mathew McFarland 49 years to get back from the war (the Spanish American was, that is), but he finally made it, according to word received here by his niece, Mrs. A.N. Starkey, and his nephew, W.E. McFarland, of Malta.

“Uncle Mathew”, now 70 years old, left his home near Ainsworth, Iowa, when he was 21 to fight the Spaniards. He was sent to the Philippines and was discharged there after hostilities had ended. He married a native of the islands and speaks of a son, four daughters, and 15 grandchildren. He served there for several years as an aide to the U.S. government, establishing an educational system on the island.

During the more recent World War II, he was a prisoner of the Japanese for more than three years. Weighing 190 pounds when taken prisoner, he weighed a meager 135 when released.

While his future plans are uncertain, McFarland plans on visiting around among his American relatives.

Golf Course Is Now Ready For Players

The Malta golf course renovation job has been completed and the nine-hole layout just east of Malta is again ready for play after several years of inactivity, club officers report.

Greens and fairways have been repaired under the direction of Louis Perry and Ray Harwood and the course is in excellent shape.

Sunday is expected to be the grand opening day. Golfers are reported as busy shining up clubs and backyard shrubbery around town is taking a beating as the boys practice their swings.

Club members say somewhat grimly that a watch is being kept for a vandalistic-minded motorist who recently drove across one of the newly refurbished greens during the hours of darkness and necessitated considerable extra repair work. The boys say that if this gent is caught at this he will be sorry!

Showing at the Palace

Wake up and Dream starring June Haver and John Payne

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100 Years Ago – 1922

- Fifty-one Phillips County girls were attending camp in Glasgow sponsored by the Extension service, Phillips, and Valley County Farm Bureaus.

- “Uncle” Dan Tressler, pioneer settler and Civil War veteran, died at the age of 85.

- Editor Johnson was still on the warpath over violations of the prohibition and gambling laws.

- W. H. Russell and Amos Whitney had sold the Pastime Pool Hall to F. W. Stine and Jack Lang.

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118 Years Ago – 1904

- “Shade” Denson, formerly engaged in the liquid refreshment business in Malta, was down from Harlem renewing acquaintances.

- Thomas O’Brian, sheepherder, ran amuck in a local saloon, shot up the place, and then started out on the street after stray pedestrians. He was thrown into the local jug.

- Trafton and McGregor were advertising new suits for men at $8.50 to $20.

- Seven-cent beef was in sight. Local stockmen noted that the market had reached $6.50. Wool was selling for 16 cents per pound.