Memories for the Week of December 21, 2016

100 years ago

December 21, 1916

District Court News

Women entertainers will be barred from Montana cabarets after Atty. Gen. S. C. Ford takes office, it is reported. Mr. Ford has no public announcement on the matter, but it is reported that he takes the position that the state statute prohibits the employment of women in such places of entertainment and that he will enforce the law.

Claim jumping

During the past few months a certain party at Malta has become very busy getting parties from other points to jump claims on which settlers have resided for six or seven years. The people of Phillips County have been very free from business of this kind and it is too bad that a varmint like this would cause respectable people trouble and shouldn’t be permitted to live among us. There is no danger of those being jumped losing their claims, but in many cases puts them to considerable trouble and expense.

Peace proposals rejected

The German peace proposals have been rejected by all the entente to the allies in strong terms. England has asked for Germany’s terms, but virtually rejects them advance, and declares in Germany and her allies must concede many things before peace terms can be discussed.

Ranchers are severely frozen in Monday’s blizzard

During the blizzard Monday afternoon and night those who were so unfortunate as to be caught out of doors for any length of time suffered severely, many having frozen faces and fingers to remind them of their experience.

A.S. Brownell and his nephew Philip, residing 13 miles southeast of Malta, had a painful experience. They left Malta at 6 p.m., Monday evening and were nearly four hours on the road. They met Mr. and Mrs. George Chastain and Al Taylor traveling in the same direction and all were lost several times on account of their inability to follow the road. The lantern, which Mr. Brownell carried, enabled them to return to the highway and probably saved them more serious consequences.

When the party finally reached the Brownell Ranch about 10 p.m., where they all spent the night, all were exhausted and badly chilled. Mr. Brownell’s face was severely frostbitten and Mrs. Chastain suffered greatly.

75 years ago

December 18, 1941

Arcade Café is now open after investigation

The Arcade Café, closed by federal order at the outbreak of the war, has been permitted to reopen and conduct its business, according to Sheriff R. L. Campbell. Its affairs were investigated by the Treasury Department and FBI and its owners given a clean bill of health. Closure was ordered as part of a nationwide checkup on businesses operated by Japanese elite.

During the week the restaurant was closed it was guarded by members of the local American Legion Post until permanent guards were hired and put on by the County for the final two days. About 30 members of the post organized a guard detail and served two hours at it.

War Chest donations will from entire County

Phillips County is responding patriotically to its first war call, according to the Kiwanis Club committee which is handling the war chest campaign to raise funds for American Red Cross and other war relief purposes.

Chairman James T. Harrison says each mail is bringing in a steady flow of contributions in answer to letters mailed out several days ago and that $1,050 was collected up to Wednesday night as comment from all parts of the community and highly satisfactory fashion.

Defense call brings crowd to Malta

A call issued by Dr. Geo. W. Setzer to consider the organization of Phillips County, from a national defense standpoint to more than 200 persons to the City Hall in Malta Saturday night. Indicated as the result of the meeting was wholehearted determination on the part of the community to carry out any civilian assignments which the situation may demand as time passes.

The mainland of United States has not yet been attacked, it was pointed out, so there can be no immediate danger for more or less isolated communities such as Phillips County except from fires or explosions which might result from the individual sabotage of fanatics. It was the sense of the meeting though, that while this condition does exist the example of the rest of the nation should be followed preparing completely possible emergencies of the future. This is in line with the wishes and instructions of the state defense organization of which the local set up is to be a part.

50 years ago

December 22, 1966

Loring Cash Store destroyed by fire last Friday night

A Loring landmark dies. The Loring Cash Store burned completely Friday night, December 16. The fire was discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Compton, the owners, about 7 p.m. as the Compton’s were eating. The fire started in the restricted space between ceiling and roof of the building. When the fire was first discovered by Mrs. Compton, it had already burned through the siding just below the roof on the west side. By the time water hoses could be brought and hooked up, the fire was raging all through the building above the ceiling below the roof, and the structure was doomed.

The post office is located in the building and the post office was also lost, Mrs. Compton saving the money, stamps and books of the postal department. Most of the latter were in the safe which was open Saturday and the contents were found to be in good shape.

Defective wiring in the space above the ceiling is thought to have been the cause of the fire.

Santa Claus visit Saturday

Saturday, December 24, at 2 p.m., Santa Claus will arrive in the downtown area with treats for preschool and school children. Charles Welch will bring Santa to the downtown area of the airport in a snowmobile. Horses and a buggy driven by Henry Compton will be used for his transportation if the snow melts before the day of his arrival.

About 1000 children are expected to pay a visit to Santa.

The Phillips County Saddle Club has sponsored his visit the past 13 years. This year the Malta Chamber of Commerce and the Phillips County Sheriff’s Posse will assist with the sponsoring. The Saddle Club members sacked the treats Wednesday evening.

25 years ago

December 18, 1991

Azure Cave ‘neat’ place to visit

If you like spelunking, Phillips County Azure Cave would be a place to visit. But turning it into a tourist attraction taken to Lewis and Clark Caverns would be an expensive proposition.

That’s the assessment of state representative turned spelunker Ernie Bergsagel.

Bergsagel was one of nine persons who rappelled down an 80 foot drop off in the darkness of Azure Cave in the Little Rocky Mountains last August 19.

Located on BLM administered land, the cave is listed as an area of Critical Environmental Concern in the draft resource management plan which recently went to public comment.

10 years ago

December 13, 2006

Ferrell, Cooke wed in May

Bill and Carolyn Ferrell, both of Malta, announce the engagement of their daughter, Lisa Ferrell, to Rodney “Pete” Cooke, son of the late Sam and Dorothy Cooke of Big Sandy.

Lisa is a 1997 graduate of Malta High School and Pete is a 1975 graduate a Big Sandy. A May wedding is planned.