Ozona history

July 18, 1935
Innocent looking enough to the uninitiated, but a potent weed to those who are acquainted with its possibilities if properly handled is the marijuana, a native plant of Mexico, smuggled across the border and often cultivated by Mexicans on this side and the other side of the Rio Grande, “outside" the law in each instance. One of the plants, some four feet in height and apparently of rank growth under the tender care of the planter, was seized here Monday by Sheriff Willis. 
The plant was growing in the yard of a Mexican resident, carefully concealed among flowers and shrubbery and protected by a vicious dog chained nearby. The dog, it was presumed, was to protect the plant from thieves rather than the law, although Sheriff Willis offered the confession that if the dog’s chain had contained a few more links it would have provided safety from even the law—for a while at least. An aged Mexican woman living at the place where the drug-laden plant was found growing, told Sheriff Willis that she planted the weed “for her rheumatism.” No arrests were made, but the plant was pulled up and destroyed.

July 19, 1945
A deal was understood to be in the process of completion here this week involving sale of the Hotel Ozona properties to Jack Hold, Ozona ranch operator. The hotel was purchased recently by J.M. Berry and E.J. Kingsberry of Austin and Mr. and Mrs. Bery have been actively in charge of the management of the business. The hotel was built in 1927 with capital provided by a group of citizens of Ozona and surrounding area who formed a corporation. It was operated by the stockholders until a few years ago when it was leased to individual operators, a system which was followed until last year when the hostelry was sold to Watt Turner, who in turn a few months later sold to the present owners.

July 14, 1955
Damage has been set at $10,000 in the July 4th fire in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Franklin in west Ozona. Origin of the blaze, which broke out in a storage closet, has not been definitely established. The loss was covered by insurance and Mr. Franklin has started reconstruction of the home. But for an excellent and careful job of firefighting by the well trained Ozona Volunteer Fire Department, the Franklin blaze would have caused several times the amount of damage. Mr. and Mirs. Franklin were away from home and the blaze was not discovered until it had made considerable headway. After locating the area of conflagration, the department extinguished the blaze with little damage to the rest of the house. One bedroom was gutted and smoke damage throughout the house resulted. 

July 15, 1965
‘‘THE FAVORITE” Saloon, one of three in one block in downtown Sonora in the 1890’s seems to justify its name. Kerosene lamps furnished light for “The Favorite” as well as for “The Maude S,” and “The Ranch” saloons. More than one shooting took place in just such surroundings in early days, but these customers seem well - satisfied. Sonora celebrates its Diamond Jubilee the week of Aug. 15-21.

July 17, 1975
CAMPER - PICKUP WRECK which took the lives of two young California brothers during a rainstorm 19 miles west of Ozona at mid-afternoon Saturday. The two boys were in the camper when the pickup struck a slick place in the road and overturned. Three other California residents were hospitalized overnight but were not seriously injured. Several accidents have occurred recently in almost the same location.