Looking Back with Lora Stull
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One Hundred Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 14, 1920.)
Three towns to get electric lights. The electric light proposition has taken another step forward. Although Shannon City has withdrawn their cooperation in the work, the three towns of Tingley, Arispe, and Ellston have decided to go on with the movement, at a meeting held at Tingley Friday afternoon. Although the expense will be a little greater for each town, we feel sure that the work will go right ahead and before many months have passed our streets and homes will be lighted with electricity.
Citizens State Bank of Benton robbed Wednesday night. Same method used as at Tingley. The Citizens Savings Bank at Benton was robbed last Wednesday night in much the same manner as was the Tingley Savings Bank about three weeks ago. After gaining entrance to the bank the robbers used an acetylene torch to burn off the lock of the vault. A hole about 10” in diameter was burned around the lock and the safety deposit boxes were opened by inserting a punch in the keyholes and hitting the punch with a hammer. It was undoubtedly the work of experts. As was the case at the Tingley bank robbery, Liberty Bonds, notes and other valuable papers amounting to several thousand dollars were taken.
Ellston News: Mr. Rush has come to Ellston to go into the grocery business with his brother-in-law, Tom Ballew. The firm hereafter will be known as Ballew and Rush. They are putting an excellent line of groceries and meats.
Marriages: December 31 Don Armstrong and Faye Pike were united in marriage…December 30, Myrtle Lucas became the bride of Joseph Langer.
Birth: January 8, a son, Wendel Carl, to Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Mix.
Obituaries in this edition were: John D. Carter, Sarah Margaret Roach Thomas, Dr. John H. White, Martin Almon Pottorff, Thomas Jefferson Lamb, Leah McQuery Simpson Reynolds, and Ivan Dewain Bollinger.
Seventy-Five
Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 18, 1945.)
Three men killed in action, four reported missing. Since December 16 when members of the First and Third Armies bore the brunt of the surprise assault which the Germans launched, a number of telegrams reading “missing in action” or “killed in action,” have been received in homes in Ringgold County and nearby communities. Among those missing are the following: Cpl. John Harold Blauer, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Blauer of Tingley; Pvt. Marvin Cavendar of Delphos, son of Mr. Wayne Cavendar and Mrs. Pauline Bailey; Pvt. Leland Merle Butler, son of Mrs. L.E. Butler of Benton; Pfc. Ronald Bonebrake, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Bonebrake formerly of Diagonal. Those listed as killed in action are, Pvt. Harold Webb, son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Webb of Blockton; Pfc. Donald Shrimpton of Diagonal and Jack Beardsley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Beardsley of Grand River.
Two hundred eighty-four births were recorded in the columns of the Record News during the year 1943 and nineteen less than for the year 1942. The list includes seven sets of twins-four pairs of girls, two sets of boy and girl combination and the sex of the other twins is not recorded.
Marriage: January 14, Sgt. Willma Willis became the bride of Rick Wilson…January 5, Vivian Clark and Richard Killmon were united in marriage.
Births: January 8, a girl, to Mr. and Mrs. Bud Brown…December 27, a girl, to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Guthrie.
Obituaries: Earl Monroe Adams, Harley Eugene Bagley, Michael C. Shay, Monica O’Connor Shay, Flora May Gleason Beall, Harry W. Marshall, William Burr Burchett, and Fannie Emily Bell Richardson.
Fifty Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 1, 1970.)
Diagonal was the scene of a derailment last week as 26 cars of a Chicago & Northwestern Railroad freight train that left the tracks about 300 feet north of the depot. The accident occurred about 9 a.m. Tuesday. It was reported a broken rail caused the accident, which brought wrecking crews from Kansas City, MO. to the scene. The rear end of the train blocked traffic on Hwy P66 at the south edge of Diagonal for several hours.
During Ringgold County’s recently completed clothing drive, 850 pounds of good used clothing and blankets were collected for the Church World Service. The collection of clothing was picked up on December 19 by the C.W.S. truck and is on the way to the Nappanee, IN. clothing center where it will be processed and packed for shipment all over the world. The clothing and blankets to be used to aid disaster victims and war refugees in more than 30 countries, will be distributed by the Church World Service.
Barbara Wagenknecht and Pam Foltz went Monday evening to Des Moines, where they were accompanied by Margaret Pence, taped a vocal number for the Bill Rilley Talent Show. The show, in which Barbara and Pam will appear, will be aired January 4 at noon on KRNT-TV.
Obituary in this edition was, George F. Kidney.
Twenty Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 29, 1994.)
Fourteen Mount Ayr Community high school musicians to march with honor band at Fiesta Bowl. The 14 students who are part of the southwest Iowa Honor Marching Band in Arizona this week include; Josie Stephens, Erica Petersohn, Jacque Gepner, Erin Smith, Tracy Carey, Amy Shafer, Brandy Adams, Aaron Comer, Ami Patel, Josh Waske, Stephanie Bainum, Darin Dolecheck, Cody Roe and Travis Johnson.
A victory on the road gave the Diagonal Maroonettes a perfect 5-0 record for the young season and brought mention in state ratings. The Diagonal girls are now included in the list of possible contenders for rating in class 1A after their good start and are 4-0 in the Blue Grass Conference.
Obituaries in this edition were, Melvin B. Hawke and Gordon Lynn Myers.
Ten Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 17, 2009.)
City, county, and state road crews kept busy last week trying to make sure roads were cleared after the heavy snow with blizzard winds and cold temperatures that descended on the area. Huge piles of snow were made as the Mount Ayr square was cleared and then had to be trucked away. The weather kept school closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The golden year 1959-2009 for Mount Ayr Community wrestling. This is the 50th year that MACHS has had wrestling as an extracurricular activity. Throughout these 50 years there has been a total of 5 head coaches. The first head coach was Maurice Arndt, Doyle Thomas was next followed by Jeff Freeman and then Ron Scott. Now the 2009-10 wrestling coach is Eric Ehlen. Coach John Ford and Kevin Trullinger, assist coach Ehlen this year.
Births: Justin and Kristen Akers of rural Kellerton are proud parents of a daughter, Caroline Suzanne born October 27…December 12, a son, Colton Daniel to Clint and Courtney Bowen.
Obituaries in this edition were: Rex Ellis Brown, Mary Lynn Caldwell and John Arnold Combs.