LOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull

Iowa leads the U.S. and the world in the amount of sweet corn canned. The past season broke all records, the Iowa canneries turning out 24,000,000 cans or about five for every man, woman and child in the U.S.

Mr. and Mrs. Dan Campbell received the first of the week from their son, W.W. Campbell of Farmington, MN, a fine goose for the Christmas dinner.

Many of the psychopathic patients in the government hospital in Knoxville are proficient in the raising of chickens and six brooder houses are being constructed that will take care of 5,000 chickens.

Eggs and poultry form a large item in feeding the inmates. It took 470 pounds of turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. They buy from 400 to 420 pound of chicken for one meal. The eggs used run from 15 to 20 cases per week, or in dozens from 460 to 600 dozen each week. That means that an average of about 6,360 eggs are used every week, 25,440 eggs every month or 305,280 eggs more or less are used at the hospital every year. At the present price of eggs, bought at a retail store, it would cost the government about $15,264.00 every year for eggs.

Arthur Palmer who is enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, came Wednesday morning to spend the Christmas vacation at the home of his parents, County Auditor, Clarence Palmer.

Marriage: December 21, John O. Platt and Gertrude Hall.

Birth: December 13, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Leland McMath. .

Mrs. Harold Taylor, of Washington township, has been selected by a committee of four women, as an  outstanding farm mother of the year. The name of Mrs. Taylor was selected from a list of entries made with members of the committee which included Belle Cornelison, Mrs. John Irving, Mrs. Kermit Miller and Glen Foltz. Mrs. Taylor was presented by Mrs. Jerry Klejch, chairman of the women’s work in Washington township.

H.E. Todd having been recalled to active service in the U.S. Navy, announcement is made in this issue of the dissolution of the partnership of Guy L. and H.E. Todd, father and son, doing business as the Todd Hardware in Mount Ayr.

Howard (Bill) Todd passed his physical examination December 12 and will report for active service February 6 at Chicago, IL. He holds the rating of metalsmith, first class, U.S. Navy. He served two years in the Navy during WWII, since which time his status has been in active service.

Redding News: A masked robber walked into the home of John Fattig, southwest of town Monday night about 9 o’clock, held him up at the point of a shot gun and relieved him of his wallet which contained between $50 and $100. The sheriff was called,  but so far, no clues as to the robber have been found.

Obituaries in this edition were: Clarence Clay Harvey, Sarah Elizabeth Price Williams and Harry Waggoner.                    .

A freakish December twister struck Ringgold County early Sunday morning causing widespread damage. High winds and driving rains hit the area around midnight with the worst damage occurring around 1 a.m.

Most severely hit by the storm was the B & M Drive-In in Mount Ayr, owned by Bill and Marilyn Monaghan.

The roof was ripped off the entire structure by the tornadic winds and hurled into the drive-way of Harold’s Fina just to the east.

A Ringgold County man has been elected to the Iowa State Fair Board. He is Merritt Triggs of Mount Ayr, who was named to a two-year term at the annual meeting of the Association of Iowa Fairs in Des Moines on December 10.

Marriage: November 8, Lynnette Rule and  Neil Richards.. November 29 Jean and Robert Bernhardt.

Birth: December 15, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Glee Mobley.

Obituaries in this edition were: Mabel Mae Herrington Huffman  and Howard Edgar Pine.

When the Southwest Iowa Honor Marching Band takes part in the three-mile Fiesta Bowl parade and handles the flag ceremony before the football game, a Mount Ayr Community high school student will be taking part.

Josh Smith, son of James and June Smith of Mount Ayr will be playing the trombone with the band and taking part in the trip south for the second time.

Same song, another verse. That about sums up the week of weather in Mount Ayr, where a record snow fall total for December is all but assured after some storms this past week.

According to local weather reporters, a total of six more inches had fallen by Tuesday morning.

Winners were named today in the annual Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce Christmas lighting. Winning first prize of $25 was the home of John and Marge McFarland. Taking second place and $10 prize was the home of Steve and Cheryl Taylor. Third place and $5 prize went to the home of Robert and Shirley Erikson.

Births: December 11, a daughter, Ashton, to Christopher and Christina Smith.. November 29, a daughter, Haley, to Shawn and Kara Buckingham.. December 14, a son, Andrew, to Mr. and Mrs. Nial Belzer..December 16, a son, Drew, to Mr. and Mrs. Craig Willis.

Plans for the demolition of the old Ringgold County Hospital are moving forward.

A bid opening was held December 3, and those bids will be presented to the hospital board of trustees at their meeting Monday, December 21.

Diagonal royalty crowned. Jaci Haidsiak and Levi Jarred were named queen and king during the Diagonal high school’s homecoming ceremonies Friday evening.

Six Raiders were named to the all-state football teams by the Iowa Newspaper Association. Kyle Dolecheck was named to the first team offense as a receiver and Jacob Taylor was named first team as a defensive back.

Named to the second team defensive unit were lineman Logan Stark and punter Nick Wurster.

Offensive lineman Lincoln Lutrick and defensive lineman Jed McCreary received third team recognition.

Obituaries in this edition were: Judy Ann Hansell and Paul Vere Campbell.