LOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull

Announcement of those running for Ringgold County Sheriff: R.R. Stephens, B.B. Poor, L.H. Goines, John Shaner, J.L. Sheesley, and E.J. Ford.

Caledonia News: Several in this vicinity have been taking advantage of the good roads in order to get their moving done by the first of March. Grant Swigart, of near Kellerton, is moving to his farm in this community, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ingram are moving to the Ike Mosier farm, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Richardson are moving to the Smith farm, Mike Foltz is moving to the farm vacated by Heightshoe and Mr. Heightshoe is moving to the Will Teale farm in Riley township.

Weather: The record for Februry is one of which any loyal Iowan, whether he be at home or basking in the California or Florida sunshine, may well be proud. Here it is: Mean maximum temperature, 43; mean minimum, 24.9; mean 33.9; maximum, 64 on the 28th; minimum, 10 on the 15th and 19th; greatest daily range, 31.

Precipitation, 0.62 of an inch; greatest in twenty-four hours, 0.35 on the 17th; snow, 0.6 of an inch; none on the ground the 15th and none at the end of the month. Thirteen clear days, five partly cloudy and ten cloudy.

Marriage: February 27, Winifred Swartz and Fred Payton.

Birth: February 16, a son to Mr. and Mrs. John Goodman.

Obituaries in this edition were: Mary Jane Baird Poor, Joseph Dailey (infant), Elizabeth J. Pollock, Robert Bryarly Williams.

During the initial public fox drive, held Saturday at Redding, a fox and a coyote were bagged. Men of the community engaged in the shoot, which began at nine o’clock. Only shotguns-no rifles or dogs-were used to bring in the bounty.

At the noon hour a lunch was served at the schoolhouse by the ladies of the Methodist church.

Ringgold County places four teams in district meet.

In the sectional cage tournament held at Mount Ayr, Redding won the class B crown by defeating Kellerton, 57-25; Beaconsfield, 66-45, and Grand River, 44-41. Mount Ayr earned the right to play in the district tournament by virtue of class A wins over Lamoni, 66-40, and Leon, 62-36.

Maloy won the class B title at Bedford. They defeated Conway, 48-24, Clearfield, 38-23 and Gravity, 33-25 to win their place in the district.

Diagonal coasted into the district behind victories over Afton, 73-32, Shannon City, 76-35, and Arispe, 57-18.

Eight girls from the fifth grade of the local school went Wednesday evening of last week to Benton, where they appeared on the Parent-Teacher Association program. Two tap dancing numbers were given by Donna Barker, Judith Thomas, Janice Mercer, Nancy Terwilliger, Margaret Reel, Jean Rusk, Karen Carr and Judy Johnson and piano solo was played by Donna Barker.

Hyde’s Food Store specials of the week: 8 oz can corn 5 cents; California head lettuce, 10 cents; 10 lb bag Russet potatoes, 49 cents; Sirloin Steak 69 cents a lb; Ground Beef, 53 cents a lb; 25 lb bag Victor Flour, $1.59; 2 lbs Golden Ripe Bananas, 29 cents a lb.

Births: Feb. 23, a son, James, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Nelson..Feb. 22, a son, Rodney Jowett, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bastow..Feb. 21, a son, Lonny, to Mr. and Mrs. Duane Laird..Feb. 19, a daughter, Jean, to Mr. and Mrs. Wendall Robison..Feb. 21, a son, Lanny, to Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Howie..Feb. 25, a son, James, to Mr. and Mrs. Elvis Hunt.

Obituaries in this edition were: Finn Landreth, Matilda Jane Todd Blauer and Clive N. Ketch.

A late winter storm roared into Ringgold County late Friday night and early Sunday morning, leaving blocked roads, downed power lines and broken trees in its wake.

The storm started Friday evening with rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, a rather unusual phenomenon in February in Iowa. Early Saturday morning, the rain changed to snow, accompanied by winds of 40 mph. Streets and highways were 100 per cent snow and ice covered with visibility near zero.

At the last leap year, there were two babies born at the Ringgold County Hospital on February 29, 1972.

This Sunday, February 29, 1976, they will be officially observing their “first birthday anniversary.”

The two were Brian Ward Campbell, son of Phillip and Kathy Campbell, who was born at 4 a.m. and Lanette Rene Shields, daughter of Barton and Barbara Shields, who came at 7:36 a.m.

The Mount Ayr Raiders advanced two wrestlers to the State Class 1A wrestling tournament this weekend Mike Edwards. senior and Curt Braby, a junior.

Marriage: December 27, Ginny Skarda and Malcolm Eighmy.

Births: Feb. 26, a daughter, April, to Mr. and Mrs. Danny Lutrick..Feb. 25, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Green.

Obituaries in this edition were: Rose Wimer Wheeler, Mervin Grover Jackson and Robert Michael O’Grady.

A wrongful death suit has been filed in Ringgold County District Court stemming from the fire over a year ago when four Mount Ayr residents were killed.

Cathy McNear, whose husband and three children were killed in the fire and Jennifer Webb, who lost her father in the fire, have filed the lawsuit against Alliant Energy Corporation and rental property owner Doyle and Roberta Campbell of Mount Ayr.

Four Mount Ayr community high school speech contestants and three from Diagonal community school will advance to the state meet in Ames later this month. Mount Ayr students are Landi McFarland, Kelsey Allen, Amy Hynek and Sean Kilgore. Diagonal students are Abby Stephens, Tory Walkup and Rachel Turkovic.

Marriage: October 7, Mindy Jimmerson and Ryan Bryngelson.

Birth: Feb. 22, a daughter, Hannah, to Kevin and Melanie Jackson.

Obituaries in this edition were: Harvey Leonard Campbell and Duane “Doc” Johnson.

The Mount Ayr Raiderettes completed an improbable run to the Iowa High School Girl’s State Basketball Tournament with a thrilling overtime win against Grand View Christian Monday evening.

Team members include: Tegan Streit, Macy Larsen, Kaylie Hickman, Abbey Schafer, Paige Lynch, Kiersten Klommhaus, Blair Glendenning, Tessa Shields, Megan Warin, Kelcie Shields, Kirsten Dolecheck, MacKenzie Shields, Sara Winemiller, Hayley Whittington, BrieAnn Byrd, Dani Krauth. Head coach, Thad Streit; assistant coaches, Jim Goins and Tiffany Bolles.

Obituary in this edition was: Helen Margaret Reece Blunck.