LOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull

The Taylor County grand jury called to investigate the death of Pansy Turnbull, 17 year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Turnbull of Diagonal, who died August 27 at the home in Diagonal after being found unconscious at the Clearfield street fair a few hours before concluded its labors last Wednesday. Indictments charging first degree murder and intent to commit criminal assault were returned against Terrance Luton of St. Joseph, MO and Hal Howard of near Lenox, the two young men whom the coroner’s jury recommended in their verdict should be held to the grand jury without bond.

The largest single shipment of wall paper ever received in Mount Ayr was received last week by C.E. Thompson, proprietor of the Mount Ayr Book Store. The shipment weighed almost five tons and the freight amounted to $86.71. Not only does the shipment rank first as to volume, but includes the largest range of patterns ever before received by a dealer in Mount Ayr.

Obituary in this edition was, Mary E. Mustain Marshall.

John Denhart, of Mount Ayr, was high bidder Monday when the Tom C. Miller estate farm of 140 acres was sold at public auction. He paid $144 per acre.

In the last home game of the season, the Mount Ayr Vets captured a decisive 4-2 victory Sunday afternoon over the Bedford Bruins.

Highlights of the game were home runs by McNeill and Lent for Mount Ayr and Shupe for Bedford. Lowry was outstanding in the field when he pulled in Lent’s hard-hit ball to left centerfield to retire the side. With Jeter and Powers on third and second, Shelden saved the day for the Vets when he scooped up Jamison’s drive through the box, which was deflected from Geist’s mitt, and made a perfect throw to first to retire the side.

Clair Johnson turned in an excellent performance behind the plate and thrilled the fans twice with putouts-once a throw to first to his cousin, Kenneth Johnson, who dropped the ball, but quickly picked it up and made a perfect throw to the plate to pick off Shupe in a close play, and again on the same kind of play, home to second and return to nail Terrell.

Marriage: September 9, Barbara Freed and Arthur Rusk.

Births: Sept. 16, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Barker..Sept. 16, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Feuring..Sept. 17, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Archie Palmer..Sept. 18, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Schlapia.

Obituaries in this edition were: Charles W. William, Cal Sissel, John Basil Willey.

The Grand Valley marching band at Kellerton has selected Twila Payton to represent them in the Mount Ayr Ridiculous Days Parade September 11.

Mostly proper damage was the result of three break-ins at Diagonal some time during the night of August 31 or September 1.

Property damage of $300 was estimated at Schlapia Inc. when the front door was pried open. A similar amount of damage occurred at John’s Skelley when a side window was prried open to gain entrance and a pop machine was opened and $4-$6 taken.

At Hutchinson’s Grocery store a lock was broken off the front door and the cash register opened. Property damage here was $100 and an undetermined about of cash taken.

Rex Sickels was pleasantly surprised on his 73rd birthday anniversary Sunday when friends and relatives gathered. The event also celebrated the birthday anniversary of Rex’s 22-year old grandson, Rex Guthland. Those attending included Mr. and Mrs. Ira Guthland and children of Maryville, MO; Della Corn of Grant City, MO; Mr. and Mrs. John Sickels and Jeff; Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sickels and Christie; Shirley Karr and children; afternoon visitors were Debbie Sickels, Ned Foltz, Lesa Sickels, Kenny Reynolds and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Elmer and children of Redding. Rex received a congratulatory phone call Monday night from a daughter, Martha Palmer and children of Decatur,  IL.

Duane Dredge and Ron Johnson won the season championship races at the Ringgold County Speedway Sunday night.

Dredge also received the season point championship trophy and the sportsmanship trophy in the street stock claimer class.

Marriage: April 3, Lenora Myers and Daniel Beck.

Births: August 30, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Brown..August 31, a son to Mr. and Mrs. David Hardy..September 2, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Shaha..September 5, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Gailen Hager.

Obituaries in this edition were: LeRoy Harold Bonjour, C. B. Thompson, Leo Carlton Chandler, Jessie M. Lesan, Clyde James Howie and John R. Nolan.

Flags on the pole in the Ringgold County courthouse lawn were lowered to half mast early Tuesday afternoon in respect to the thousands of people killed in terrorist attacks in the United States Tuesday morning.

Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department was involved in a raid early Tuesday morning. Steve John Kephart, 36 was arrested at his residence in rural Mount Ayr and  charged with six counts.

County officers, with the assistance of the Iowa Highway Patrol Tactical Team, entered Kephart’s residence Sept. 4 at 5 a.m.  to serve warants for his arrest.

Kephart was charged with two counts of willful injury, one count of assault while participating in a felony, one count of going armed with intent, one count of carrying a dangerous weapon and one count of possession of an offensive weapon. Kephart was transported to Adams County Jail due to lack of room in Mount Ayr Jail.

Births: August 29, a daughter, Carli, to Dan and Tracy Snyder..Sept. 4, a son, Michael, to Kenny and Rachel Lane..Sept. 5, a daughter, Kelsey, to Jennifer Walkup and Patrick McVay.

Obituary in this edition was Vesta Maxine Smith.

Mount Ayr resident Marla Johnson and two of her daughters, Jamie Love and Kelli Clymer, did more than shuffle by the butter cow or take in a concert on this year’s trip to the Iowa State Fair.

The mother and daughter trio showed off their upper body strength the first Sunday (Aug. 14) of the fair by winning three different divisions in the Monster Arm Wrestling championships.

Harlie Ferguson, of Ava, MO, son of Faith Shinkle will be the guest speaker next Sunday at Wishard Chapel.

Obituaries in this edition were: Nancy Karen Needham Hullinger and Lori Knapp Watson.