January 24, 2026 Issue, Page 10 of 13

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10• SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2026 NEWS The Elk City News 100 Years Ago: January 1926 By Judy Haught It was business as usual when 1926 arrived. Beckham County newspapers reported on organizations, schools, and churches. The front page of the January 14, 1926, edition of Elk City News-Democrat reported that 172 people attended the Chamber of Commerce banquet. After dinner, the audience enjoyed a sing-along and a violin concert. One of the speakers at the banquet was Postmaster E. C. Willison, who spoke about Elk City’s getting free mail delivery. Another speaker informed the audience of the possibility of Elk City’s acquiring a Federal Building. Another item that made frontpage news was a fire that destroyed Planters Gin in Canute. According to the article, “The gin was a total loss.” Other news of note was an ar- ticle entitled “Some Laying Pullets.” N. E. O’Brien had entered his pullets in the state egg-laying contest in Stillwater, and one of his pullets had laid twenty eggs in twenty-one days. The article proclaimed, “That is almost half as many as the average hen lays in a year.” Library news in Elk City News-Democrat contained a review of the book Plumes by Lawrence Stallings. The book was about an injured World War I soldier who returns home. The author of the article said the book was one of the best modern novels “for two reasons: its refreshing difference and its power of making the reader think.” Ads in the Elk City News-Democrat included one for Mrs. Stanley’s Dining Room. The ad declared, “Our table is set and loaded with lots of good substantial food. The price is reasonable.” The William Hunter store advertised a sale on ranges and touted 1,000 pounds of coal with the purchase of a new range. In sports news, the January 11, 1926, issue of The Southwestern Elk City Press reported that Elk City High School boys’ basketball team lost 46 to 19 to Mangum in a home game. The article said that Mangum had “one of the strongest teams of the league.” The article went on to report that the Elk City High School girls lost to Altus 35 to 40 at Altus because “the guards could not keep up with the Altus forwards due to the slippery floor.” The January 18, 1926, issue of The Southwestern Elk City Press reported that “9,000 new telephones “would be added in Oklahoma in 1926.” The article also gave statistics about telephone operators. “In the state of Oklahoma there are 2,385 Bell operators who handle 925,000 local calls and 28,700 toll calls daily.” The paper also reported on the Baptist State Sunday School Convention to be held in Elk City January 25-28. The convention was “under the direction of the Sunday School Department of the Baptist General Convention.” In an ecumenical gesture, the Broadway Methodists were going to entertain visiting Baptists during the convention. The January 21 edition of The Sayre Journal advertised the Nichols Hatchery and Poultry Farm. It was selling “white and brown leghorn baby chicks for 10 ½ [cents] and up.” The ad encouraged people to support a local business. The January 14, 1926, edition of the Beckham County Democrat contained a message from the Beckham County Superintendent upbraiding parents for their chil- dren’s tardiness. The superintendent said, “Over 576 cases of tardiness in the rural and consolidated schools of Beckham County last month… School doesn’t take up until nine o’clock, and we can’t help but feel someone besides the children slept too long.” The paper also ran an ad for Swamp Chill and Fever Tonic. According to the ad, it “relieves malaria in 3 days.” And as usual, the paper published chapters from its latest serialized novel, Neighbors by Robert Stead. The novel was historical fiction set in Canada. The January 14, 1926, edition of The Texola Tribune reported a light turnout for the Chamber of Commerce meeting due to a “cold norther” blowing in. One of the main items of business was a proposition to “secure the stopping of the fast train [in Texola] for passenger and mail service.” A signed petition was going to be sent to the Corporation Commission. The Texola Tribune also published chapters of its latest serialized novel, The Valley of Voices by George Marsh. It was a mystery/romance set in the Hudson Bay area. Another article in the paper reported on an escaped prisoner who killed another man in Clinton. A surprising and disturbing part of the article was that the headline contained a racial epithet. The news from January 1926 gives a glimpse into the lives of Beckham County citizens. Chambers of commerce were busy in the communities, and progress was being made with telephone and mail service. School and church news was also important to the citizens as it is today. Senator Mullin Appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, along with Senators Kevin Cramer (RND) and Ted Budd (R-NC). Senator Mullin joins the Board at a critical time as it prepares to deliver its comprehensive report to the Secretary of War in the coming weeks. “It is both an honor and a privilege to join the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors. As our nation faces unprecedented challenges from our adversaries, it is critically important that our Airmen have the utmost elite training and tools needed to meet those threats head-on,” said Senator Mullin. “I am looking forward to working with the board to ensure our Air Force Academy Cadets are prepared to enter the most lethal and #1 fighting force in the world.” Chairman of the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), applauded the additions in the statement below: “As the Board prepares to deliver one of its most consequential reports, adding three proven leaders strengthens our ability to produce a foundational product that will serve both the Academy and, more importantly, our cadets. My mission as Chairman of the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors is to restore America’s Fighting Force and ensure the Air Force Academy is preparing cadets to become the next generation of warfighting leaders our nation needs,” said Chairman Pfluger. “While we will never be able to know when or where the next conflict will occur, we do get to decide how prepared our fighting force will be. Senators Mullin, Cramer, and Budd bring the grit and leadership needed to help us meet and exceed that mission. I am proud to welcome them aboard.” “It’s an honor to be appointed as a member of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors. Our nation’s service academies train future officers to operate in any environment, and their commitment to excellence is what ensures the U.S. Air Force remains the greatest fighting force in the world. I look forward to working with fellow Board members to train and educate leaders who are prepared to meet today’s threats and excited to tackle tomorrow’s challenges,” said Senator Cramer. “I am honored to join the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors to help ensure our cadets receive a worldclass education and rigorous leadership development as they prepare to serve as officers in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. As recent operations have proven, maintaining American air superiority is critical to the success of our modern military operations, and it is our responsibility to ensure the next generation of warfighters are prepared to operate and lead under the most demanding conditions. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this board to uphold the highest standards of education and training to ensure the continued strength, readiness, and lethality of the Air Force and Space Force,” said Senator Budd. MERRITT 8/9th Oilers won their game to come home with 3rd place!! 8/9th Oilerettes are JH Tri-County Runners-Up! Middle School Students of the Month: Serenity & Uziel Yes Finance We proudly support the students, staff and administration at Merritt Schools 1414 W. 3rd St., Elk City, OK ~ Great Plains Bank ~ First National Bank 580.225.1525 LocalLoanGroup.com Have a photo to share? Send to [email protected] with a description! 2nd grade Mystery Reader, Macey Roberts, reads to elementary school kids.