Glance Back

(From The Washington Evening Journal, Friday, April 15, 2005)

10 YEARS AGO

Washington High School now has a new principal. The school board last night voted unanimously to hire Shane Ehresman, the candidate nominated by superintendent Dave Schmitt and the nominating committee.

Washington area farmers will sponsor a study to determine whether it would be feasible to construct a biodiesel fuel plant in Washington County. Washington Economic Development Group director Ed Raber said that local farmers have signed up to commit between $8,000 and $10,000 for the study.

The Washington school board voted Wednesday night to continue with renovation plans for its facilities and to increase property tax by 25 cents per $1,000 before it heard about the repairs planned for Room 209 of the high school, where a lengthy crack in the floor was discovered.

20 YEARS AGO

Rob Whitham has been named United States National Award winner in science. He was nominated by his Washington Junior High School science teacher, Curtis Mayer. Whitham will appear in the United States Achievement Academy official collegiate yearbook, which is published nationally.

Members of Immanuel Lutheran Church?s Luther League recently donated $300 to Washington Area Habitat for Humanity. The donation was the result of the Luther League?s tree sale during the month of March.

Renee McCrory, daughter of the John McCrorys of Kalona, has been accepted as a member of the 1995 Spirit of America National Honor Band to tour Europe. She will represent Iowa as an emissary to the people of Europe, representing the best of American youth. She was chosen on the basis of maturity, performance and ability to represent a positive image of the young people of America.

30 YEARS AGO

Some 600 Iowa employees in education will meet in Des Moines, Thursday through Sunday, to help shape policy for the 30,000-member Iowa State Education Association. Participants have been selected by members of the 473 local associations affiliated with the ISEA and the National Education Association. Delegates from Washington are Mark Schneider and Al Olson.

The Washington Chamber of Commerce will soon have an office complex of its own, thanks to the generosity of a longtime local business couple, Bill and Hazel Sitler. They are donating an 8,184-square-foot building, located at 212 N. Iowa Avenue in Washington, to the civic and business organization.

40 YEARS AGO

KALONA ? Rick Morgan of Kalona, a rural mail carrier, has retired, effective April 8, according to Postmaster Earl Fry. Morgan came to Kalona from Brighton and began serving Route 2 from the Kalona Post Office, in May 1960.

As Paul Revere raced to the Washington Public Library shouting, ?The British are coming!? a large crowd of senior citizens rushed to the windows. They gathered to ?Celebrate Our Heritage? as part of the bicentennial and also to recognize National Library Week, April 13-19.

Two local night spots were closed down earlier than usual Saturday night, following skirmishes and fist fights in which law enforcement officers finally intervened. The Highway Patrol, the Sheriff?s Office and city police were called to Fritz Tap in Washington and the Sportsman?s Lounge, just west of town.

50 YEARS AGO

Frank Eaves, 32, formerly of Missouri and presently employed on the Lawrence Whisler farm, four miles north of Washington on the Riverside Road, was rushed to Washington County Hospital, today, with serious head injuries.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pacha and family and Mr. and Mrs. Keith Wikoff were dinner guests of Hazel Wikoff at the Amanas, Easter Sunday.