50 Years Ago

April 23, 1959

More beneficial rains fell over most of the county the past week. The Southwestern States Telephone Company's survey reported the following: Algerita, .90; Bend Store, .50; Chappel Store, .53; Cherokee, .45; Harkeyville, 1.08; Richland Springs, .40; Wimberly Ranch, .70; Locker, .00; San Saba, .79.

The Dr. W.S. Pence Memorial Fund for crippled children of San Saba County had reached the total of $389 at noon Tuesday, April 21. A committee for managing the fund includes L.A. Skaggs, Mrs. C.E. Tisdale, Mrs. Laurence Hamrick and Mrs. V.P. Millican.

L.C. Ward, Chairman of the San Saba County Savings Bonds committee, has been awarded a United States Treasury citation for his efforts in promoting the sale of Savings Bonds during 1958.

W. R. Shipp, local ginner, stated Saturday that he had a load of seed on a truck parked at the gin. Rats had invaded the seed and were destroying them, so necessity caused him to perfect a trap. He filled an ordinary laundry tub a little more than half full of water and placed some of the seed on the water, covering the surface. When he investigated his trap Saturday morning he found 15 rats drowned in the tub. At that rate, he soon should have his rodent problem solved.

At the Palace - Sal Mineo in Walt Disney's TONKA and Debbie Reynolds, Tony Randall, Paul Douglas in The Mating Game.

69 Years Ago

April 25, 1940

According to the rain gauge of Mrs. W. F. Sullivan, local observer, exactly .23 inch of rain fell in San Saba up to 8:30 p.m. A sprinkle of hail fell in portions of the city about supper time, but not enough to cause any damage here. The temperature has fallen all day and heaters were on in some homes.

The News has been informed that a "small pox" epidemic has developed in the Richland Springs area with a dozen or more cases having been reported.

Sunday, VA instructor Ace Howell of the San Saba schools, took the horticultural judging team composed of James Thornton, Dardon Scott and Dwight McDaniel, and his livestock judging team, Bill Moore, Stanley Burnham and Myles McDowell, to College Station to take part in the State FFA judging contests which were held at the A&M College Monday.

100 Years Ago

April 22, 1909

Dr. Sorell, county health officer, reports eight new cases of small pox at Bowser, but they are all in the McCluskey families with whom the preacher was living and were exposed before the authorities took charge of the cases. It is expected that there will be no further spread as every precaution is being taken.

The frost killed some pecans and the fruit crop will be about half a one here in Bend.

W.H. Gage is having trouble with dogs killing his sheep.

I.G. Weaver was in the city last week and left a local ad with The News for a lost patent to his home in the Northwest section. Mr. Weaver was the victim of a little cyclone last year, which blew his house completely away, but he has rebuilt and is looking the world square in the face.