Glance Back

(From The Washington Evening Journal, Friday, Sept. 3, 2004)

10 YEARS AGO

Washington County voters said yes to riverboat gambling in yesterday?s special election, with 53 percent of registered voters showing up at the polls. Gambling was approved by a vote of 4,095 to 3,743. There are 14,800 registered voters in the county.

The issue was defeated in only two of the county?s 12 precincts: Kalona/English River, which includes the city of Kalona, and Lime Creek Precinct.

The council adopted two ordinance amendments. The first approved changes in the nuisance abatement procedure; the second creates a no parking zone on South Avenue E from West Tyler Street to Sitler Drive. Both amendments were approved unanimously.

In its first year of operation the Washington County Conservation Center averaged 30 visitors per day (when open), for a total of 7,322 from Aug. 4, 2003, to June 30, 2004. In addition to regular visitors, the Center also had paid rentals which generated $2,283.27 in a total of 57 rentals for fiscal 2003-04.

20 YEARS AGO

A six-year plan to add panic buttons for added security at the Washington County Courthouse has been dusted off, in part because of the interest in an upcoming trial. Additional locks have already been added to the courtroom facility and a metal detector is expected to be erected at the one entrance left open during the renovation.

Several area football teams will see unfamiliar surroundings this year as the Iowa High School Athletic Association has realigned districts for the 1994 season. Seeing the biggest change is Highland-Lone Tree which moves all the way up to Class 2A from Class A.

Mired in differing philosophies, the Ainsworth City Council and Washington County Board of Supervisors will take a two-week break before trying to hammer out the city?s law enforcement contract with the county sheriff?s department.

30 YEARS AGO

About 550 persons were on hand Saturday as the National Guard dedicated its new armory in Washington and they heard a call for the rededication of the things the $875,000 building represents.

Volleyball will be officially introduced into the Washington High School athletic program on Sept. 4. Forty girls have tried out for the WHS volleyball team that will be coached by Jolleen Cerka who played the sport at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School and Coe College.

A photograph of a fall scene inspired Larrette Sexton of Ainsworth to design a wall hanging made of wool which won a Meredith Award at the Iowa State Fair.

40 YEARS AGO

The Summer Creative Arts and Drama program in Washington has received complimentary remarks from Gov. Robert Ray. In a letter to Mark Dawson, a member of SCAD, Gov. Ray gave his thanks for the Arts and Writers Workshop book presented him at the county fair.

Today was moving day for city officials as they moved from Blair House to the new municipal building just to the east.

The annual Jaycees State Golf Tournament was held in Eldora and Union, Saturday. Washington Jaycees were represented by Dennis Brayton, John Prochaska, Phil Rusley and Dave Williams.

50 YEARS AGO

Steven Stout, son of the Jesse Stouts of Washington, and Terry Jones, son of the Russell Joneses of Ainsworth, spent a week?s vacation in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and took several tours in the Smoky Mountains.

Linda Campbell has returned from Eden Valley, Minn., where she served as a camp counselor at TTT Camp, this summer. She will visit her parents, the Herb Campbells, for a week before returning to Iowa State University in Ames for her second year.