Glance Back

(From The Washington Evening Journal, Friday, Aug. 27, 2004)

10 YEARS AGO

Organizers Pat Tobin and Bryan ?Turbo? Lasek and other volunteers are preparing for their sixth Ainsworth Annual Great Tractor Ride, Ainsworth Iowa show, parade and street dance which will take place this Friday and Saturday. The organizers hope to beat last year?s record turnout of 140 tractors. Old trucks are welcome. Pedal tractors and 4x4 tractors will also be on display.

Despite having more recesses than a school Tuesday, the Washington County Board of supervisors reached a unanimous vote on $4.2 million jail project with a bond issue not to exceed $4.5 million.

The measure will be on the Nov. 2 election ballot and requires a 60 percent margin for passage.

WELLMAN ? There are five Wellman residents who have filed for the council seat vacated by Jim Blum who resigned effective Aug. 15. Blum is moving to Washington.

Those who filed are Mae Areneau, Karri Fisher, former councilman Jim Seward, David Smithers and Angela Wasson. All five will be on the Nov. 2 ballot to fill the term ending Dec. 31, 2007.

20 YEARS AGO

The Washington Area Habitat for Humanity has received a $1,375 grant as one of 129 organizations selected to receive a total of $80,020 from the Volunteer Action Fund of the American Express Foundation. The fund awards grants to those organizations in which American Express U.S. employees volunteer on a regular basis.

FAIRFIELD ? Fairfield?s Terry Kruse became the fastest man in the world on two wheels after recently breaking a pair of world records on his motorcycle at the International Hot Rod Association?s Summer National in Morocco, Ind.

It may be August, but the golden and crimson leaves on some Washington County maple trees are forcing a second look at the calendar.

?The short answer is: "It?s stress,? Jeff Iles, an assistant professor of horticulture at Iowa State University, said.

30 YEARS AGO

Harold Suter of Crawfordsville won the checkers championship, Saturday and Sunday at the Iowa State Fair.

The Iowa National Guard?s century-old tradition in Washington will receive a boost, Saturday when the local Guard unit dedicates its new quarters, a recently completed $875,000 armory.

AINWORTH ? Results of a straw poll here Tuesday signaled overwhelming opposition to the town?s proposed $1.6 million sanitary sewer system.

40 YEARS AGO

A self-propelled, mechanical corn detasseler, valued at $10,000, was destroyed by fire about 10:35 a.m. today, fire officials report. Washington firemen, manning the Farm Mutual truck, answered the call to a Bob Jones cornfield contracted to Northrup King, about 6 ½ miles northwest of here.

Third-place finishers in the water fight sponsored by the Washington Volunteer Fire Department here, Sunday were Daryl Hamilton, and Leo Beauchamp and his two sons, Glen and Tom.

Ground was broken during a brief ceremony shortly before noon today for a 36-bed nursing care unit at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington. The unit is expected to cost over $700,000 when completed.

50 YEARS AGO

Miss Ruth Earnest returned home, Saturday from Washington, D.C., having terminated her work there as a file clerk with the FBI. She will be at home with her parents, the Chris Earnests, until her marriage, Sept. 8, to Donald Heck.

Charlotte Singleton has completed her training and is now a long-distance operator with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Iowa City.