Memories for May 19, 2021

10 years ago-

Wednesday,

May 18, 2011

Gusting Winds Trash Truck

Winds blowing at 29 mph and gusting as high as 44 mph weren’t to blame – although they may have been a factor – in the crash of a semi-truck and trailer at mile marker 458 on Highway 2, 14 miles west of Malta Sunday afternoon at approximately 2:45 p.m.

Veniamin Iurcho, 24, originally from Romania, but living in North Carolina was cited for careless driving and a seatbelt violation.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Mitch Willet, “Iurcho had just completed a left curve approaching the Dodson Overpass when he lost control of his Freightliner tractor and refrigerated trailer containing a load of onions.

Iurcho and his 20-year old passenger, also Romanian, were initially transported to Phillips County Clinic in Malta with non-life-threatening injuries. Iurcho was later transported by air ambulance to Great Falls.

Nelson Cabin Burglary, Theft Information Sought by Officials

The Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary of a cabin at Nelson Reservoir on Wednesday, May 11.

The cabin is located on the northwestern area of the reservoir. The burglary is believed to have occurred between the afternoon of May 9 and May 11.

Entry was gained through a window and stolen were a bow for shooting fish, several lanterns, a skill saw, and alcohol.

Showing at the Villa

Soul Surfer starring Dennis Quaid, and Helen Hunt

25 years ago-

Wednesday,

May 15, 1996

Malta School District Files Lawsuit Over Fire Insurance

The Malta School District has filed a lawsuit against its insurance company in an effort to reach a final settlement in the wake of the Dec. 24 fire which destroyed Malta High School and Junior High.

The suit was filed in the 17th Judicial District Court in Malta, Monday against US Fidelity and Guaranty Co. and Phillips County Insurance by the Edwards Law Firm of Billings which has been retained by the local school district.

School board chairman Orvin Solberg, however, was stressing Tuesday that the school district still hopes the two sides can reach an agreement before going to court. Solberg pointed out that the vast majority of civil suits are settled before ever getting to court.

Doctor Won’t Prescribe Two Suspect Drugs

Dr. Luis Galano, MD, family practice physician at the PC Family Health Clinic, recently announced that he will not be prescribing the drugs Pondimin and phentermine for weight loss.

Dr. Galano noted that he is unwilling to put patients at risk of possible side effects from these medications, even though harmful side effects are rare.

Dr. Galano is urging any patients currently taking the medications to stop taking them until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the drug manufacturers show positive proof the drugs are completely safe.

(Side Note: In 1997, the FDA asked that these drugs, also known as fen-phen, be removed from sales due to heart valve disease and pulmonary hypertension. These problems as of April 2005, had cost over $21.1 billion in litigation costs.)

Showing at the Villa

The Quest starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Roger Moore

Primal Fear starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney

50 years ago-

Thursday,

May 20, 1971

Coast Store Will Re-Open Next Week

Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Boothe announced this week that they have completed negotiations to purchase the Coast-to-Coast Store in Malta. The Boothes are presently engaged in inventorying the stock in the store and will open sometime next week.

The new owners stated that it will take several weeks for orders to come in to build up the stock in the store before they announce their grand opening, which will probably be held sometime in June.

The Coast-to-Coast Store in Malta has been closed for over a year since it was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Clain Hughes to the Coast organization.

Thinclads Took Division Track Meet

The Malta High School tracksters brought home another trophy last week, the Class B Northern Division title from the meet held in Great Falls on Thursday.

The Mustangs qualified four members of the team for the state meet to be held in Billings this weekend. The four are Duane Walker, Craig Stiles, Bill Cole, and Mervin Bishop.

Walker won firsts in the shot put and high jump. He was second in the javelin behind teammate Craig Stiles, was third in the discus, and fourth in the long jump, collecting 21 of the 41 Malta points. Walkers’ distance in the shot put was 52’ 1 5/8” and his high jump was 6’ 1 1/2”, both marks establishing new division records.

Stiles’ javelin throw was 209’ 6” to win that event. In addition, he finished third in the pole vault and fifth in the long jump.

Bill Cole set a new Malta High School record in the discus, something he has done three times in the last three weeks. The throw at the divisional meet was 153’ 11”.

Mervin “Babsie” Bishop came in fourth in the mile run at the divisional to qualify for the state meet.

Grand Opening of the Valli Drive-In Theatre

Giant starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean

The Hallelujah Trail starring Burt Lancaster and Lee Remick

75 years ago-

Wednesday,

May 23, 1946

Clark Repair Shop On North Side Is Completed

A 40 x 40-foot garage building has been completed at 328 Main Street by Les Clark, who announces that he will handle the new Kaiser-Frazer cars as soon as they are obtainable.

The new building is located next to the Calso Service Station, which Clark will also handle. In connection with the garage, there will be a repair shop employing three men in addition to Clark.

River Voyager Is Rescued On Reservoir

Employees of the Fort Peck engineer district rescued a modern edition of Sinbad the Sailor on the reservoir the other day when the crew of the reconnaissance boat, “Sacajawea” picked up Roy Safley of Los Angeles, who was adrift on the deep in a rubber boat, presumably of the kind used during the war by fliers forced down over water.

Safley told Fort Peck officials that he was attempting to satisfy a desire of 25 years standing, to sail down the Missouri River in a small boat. Possibly ignorant of the size of the reservoir when he began his voyage at Loma on May 12, Safley ran out of downstream current when he reached a point about twenty miles below the junction of the Musselshell with the Missouri, and was more or less marooned when the government patrol vessel sighted him and took him aboard.

The lone voyager appreciated the rescue, he said, because he was virtually out of food and pure drinking water and had likewise lost his fishing tackle.

Showing at the Palace

Pardon My Past starring Fred MacMurray and Marguerite Chapman

Nob Hill starring George Raft, Joan Bennett, and Vivian Blaine

100 years ago-

1921

-The crop outlook in northern Montana was the best in years.

Louis Pecora was denied a new trial following his conviction on a charge of manufacturing intoxicating liquors.

-Leedy planned to put on a real wild-west show. The Long X boys were being depended upon to furnish the talent.

-John Survant was building a silo on his farm east of town.

-The citizens of Malta were planning on devoting a day to improving the streets of the city.

118 years ago-

1903

-The school board had hired D.W. Vaught of Bailey, Texas, as principal of the Malta schools at a salary of $100 per month. “The Malta school must be the best in the county, no matter what the expense.”

-William Hicks, a rancher near the mountains, was kicked to death by a horse.

-Steve Sweeny paid a $10 fine in Justice Court after striking Robert Hyatt over the head with a cane.

-Stone was being hauled for the basement of the new Sklower Hotel.

-J.F. Murray had resigned as justice of the peace and B.W. Brockway was appointed to fill the vacancy.

-Train loads of cattle were being unloaded at the stockyards. Shippers were the Long X, the Circle Diamond, and Russell Brothers.