LOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull

Submitting his report for the month of September, which passed into history as the wettest September on record, Alex Maxwell, local co-operative weather observer, calls attention to the fact that one inch of rainfall on an acre of land weighs 113 tons. The rainfall during the month of September and the first four days of October amounted to 16.75 inches, which multiplied by 113 gives 1,892.75 tons on each acre.

Edwin H. Polley, veteran of the civil war and for fifty years a respected citizen of Ringgold County, died peacefully at his home near Maloy, Tuesday, September 29, aged 83 years and 11 months.

The death of Mr. Polley marks the passing of another one of the nation’s heroes who in the bloom of young manhood, responding to  that patriotic impulse which marks the true citizen in time of war or peace, gave themselves unselfishly to the service of country and offered themselves a willing sacrifice for the preservation of the union.

A number of Redding people opened up their eyes and began to wonder what they beheld Saturday night when Orville Baker brought a Pelican bird to town. He shot it by the George Griffith farm. It weighted twelve pounds and measured eight feet and six inches and the color was white. How this bird ever got away from the ocean is a mystery to be solved. They are the only bird that can cross the ocean as they  can carry enough food to last them a long time.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Leland Saville ate the proud parents of an eight pound baby boy, born Thursday, Septenber 30. The little fellow will be known as George Louis Saville..Sept. 29, a daughter, Julia, to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Woollums..Sept. 24, a son, Ira, to Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Groves..Sept. 30, a daughter, Janice, to Mr. and Mrs. Hollie Emley..October 5, a son, Billy, to Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Johnson.

Obituaries in this edition were: William M. Reasoner, Edwin H. Polley, Floyd Orville Hickman, J. Hall Liggett and Levi Jarvis

The one hundreth baby to be born at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr since its opening on April 17th. arrived Thursday, October 4. A girl, weighing seven pounds and three ounces, was born

to Mr. and Mrs. Allen Long, of Shannon City. Since the arrival of the Longs’ baby, four other babies three boys and one girl have been born at the local hospital, making a total of 104 during a period of five and one half months. The first baby to be born in the county’s new hospital was Janet Elaine Dennis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Dennis, who arrived on April 19. two days after the hospital was opened to receive patients.

Other Births. A son, October 4, to Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Saville, of Redding. Weight, seven pounds and four ounces. A son, October 6, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hacker, of Mount Ayr. Weight five pounds and fifteen ounces. A daughter, October 7, to Mr. and Mrs. John May; of Mount Ayr. Weight, five pounds, seven and one half ounces. A son, October 7, to Mr. and Mrs. Dick Buck, of Eldora. Weight, six pounds, one and one-half ounces.

While R. E. Hauptmann, vocational agriculture instructor, is primarily interested in the success and achievement of his boys, he shared honors with them when the Honorary American Farmer degree was conferred on him at the convention. It represents the organization’s highest award to an instructor.

The American Farmer Degree, the highest award to chapter members, was also conferred on Loren Campbell.

Attending the convention from Mount Ayr were Mr. and Mrs. Hauptmann, and the chapter’s officers, Leland Dolecheck, president; Russell Davenport, vice-president; Lynn Sickels, secretary; Jerry Fetty, treasurer, and Marvin Triggs, reporter.

Marriage: October 3, Ruby Vanderpool and Duane Grose..September 29, Aliene Minnick and Junior Mercer..October 4, Sue Taylor and Stanley Smith.

Obituaries in this edition were: Wesley Cain, Paul Campbell, Elmer Blunck, Lona Terwilliger Main and Mace Albert German.

Kenneth “Ike” McGehee retires October 1, 1976, after 26 years with the Department of Transportation. Highway division.

Management of Mount Ayr’s low rent housing project, Heritage Park Apartments will be handled by the regional housing authority. The project is located two blocks east of the square.

Agreement between the Mount Ayr Low Rent Housing agency and the Southern Iowa Housing Authority was reached recently, with the latter officially taking over as of October 1, 1976.

Donna Johnson, daughter of Clare and Pat Johnson, reigns as homecoming queen.

The freshman class took best creative honors in the Homecoming parade with the float, “Stomp Our Way to Victory.”

Marriage: July 31, Pamela Porter and Timothy Knapp, August 7, Roberta Karpen and Lance Keith

Births: Sept. 22, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dave Moyer..Sept. 24, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Steven Small..Sept.14, daughter, Brandi, to Mr. and Mrs. Billy Keith.

Obituaries in this edition were: Hazel Bastow Campbell and Sarah O. Madden Hughes.

Mount Ayr Community high school’s Raider marching band placed third in the street marching competition at the Southwest Iowa Band Jamboree in Clarinda Saturday.

Homecoming king and queen candidates announced. King candidates include: Austin Adams, Nick Johnson, T.J. Redding, Aaron Roberts and Ryan Roe.

The queen candidates are Courtney Cannon, Shannon Hartman, Amanda Jackson, Kim Larsen and April Perrigo.

Crestland Cooperative of Creston, which has a branch facility at Benton in Ringgold County, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking protection from creditors while the cooperative has time to reorganize.

Kraft Foods and Affiliated Food Stores held a drawing for a silver scooter last week. Community Grocers manager Jeff Haugland was on hand to give the scooter to the winner, Joe Ricker of Mount Ayr.

Marriage: October 14, 2000, Kathleen Taylor and Scott Coulson..September 8, Judi Russell and Richard (Dick) Bucy.

Obituaries in this edition were: Fern Leone McPherson Badger, Hubert Bennett Herrold, Donna Marie Liles Pickens, Marvin E. Robison, Helen Betty Bradley Sickels, Elizabeth J. Danielson Zeiter.

Candidates for queen and king of Mount Ayr 2016 Homecoming celebration include Blair Glendenning, Kelcie Shields, Macy Larsen, Haylea England and Sadie Frost. King candidates include: Cal Daughton, Clay Wimer, Devin Russo, Mitchell Jennett, and Heath Andresen.

This year, Mount Ayr high school has a few new teachers in the building, One of whom is Daniel Showalter.

Lew Knapp of Redding has been selected for the 2016-17 Harding University Thundering Herd marching band. Knapp plays the cymbais.

Births: September 17, a son, Harley, to Jake and Melanie Rice.

Obituaries in this edition were: Irene Waddell Spencer, Donald Keith Clarke, Edith Anne Cregeen Bear and Doris Hogue Mahrenholz.