Glance Back

(From The Washington Evening Journal, Friday, April 1, 2005)

10 YEARS AGO

Elizabeth Burns knew there was something missing during her freshman year at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. The 2003 graduate of Washington High School said, ?I was there at school just hanging out. I didn?t have anything I was passionate about. I didn?t know what I wanted to do.? Instead of returning to college last September, Burns joined a national youth service organization, City Year, which is affiliated with AmeriCorps, which is a national program similar to the Peace Corps.

New Washingtonians now have another resource for dealing with employment and housing issues. The regional New Iowan Center office in Ottumwa has opened a branch office in the Washington Workforce Development Center at the Kirkwood Washington building.

The Washington County Citizens for Good Jobs Committee ? funded by the casino group that wants to bring gambling to Riverside ? spent just under $450,000 on the campaign to secure a yes vote Aug. 31, 2004, when county voters approved a measure allowing gambling, 4,095 to 3,743, in a 53-percent turnout at the polls. Communities Against Riverboat Expansion spent just under $11,000 in the same election.

20 YEARS AGO

Washington County has a new outreach nursing program which provides a health services liaison to assist in advocating for Halcyon House residents? health needs. Lynette Sievers, RN, will work closely with Halcyon House staff to help residents access a wide variety of health services and resources.

RIVERSIDE ? Area firefighters were called to Riverside Pallets this morning for the third time in less than a year.

MT. PLEASANT ? The authorization of state patrol payments from the Iowa General Fund should increase the Road Use Tax money available for road, bridge and other infrastructure improvements in Henry and surrounding counties. State senator Tom Vilsack, D-Mt. Pleasant, confirmed Monday that an amendment to transfer payments of the Iowa Highway Patrol back to the General Fund should restore needed funds.

30 YEARS AGO

Lester B. Krabill, superintendent of the 104 rural Washington County schools from 1933 to 1960, will be honored at an open house Sunday in observance of his 90th birthday.

Gov. Terry Branstad asked the Washington Chamber of Commerce, Monday

night ?to build on the successes of the past 50 years? in helping the community and all of Iowa pull out of the greatest challenge in this state since the Depression.

AINSWORTH ? Highland High School earned 15 Division I and four Division II ratings in the state speech contest held in Ottumwa, March 23. For his superior performance in the original oratory category, Johannes Kudera was selected to participate at the All-State Speech Festival, April 15 at the University of Northern Iowa.

40 YEARS AGO

A motion by school director Larry Robison of Brighton calling for the termination of the teaching contract of Skip Speece died for lack of a second, Friday and the official move to oust Speece as Washington High School?s head boys? basketball coach also died. Speece is in his seventh year at Washington High School and ended this season with a 7-11 win-loss record.

The employment picture in Washington, described as stable only a month ago, is worsening. The Perfex plant here said today it will lay off about 60 workers, Tuesday and unconfirmed reports have it that production cutbacks are imminent.

Plans for 50th year anniversary observances of the Washington YMCA are well under way.

50 YEARS AGO

Mrs. Earl Redlinger, Mrs. Lloyd Marek and Mrs. Grethel Marshall are in Ottumwa today attending a meeting planned by the State Board of Social Welfare.

Terry Leeper, former Washington resident who has been assistant football coach at Oskaloosa High School, will be the football coach at Marshalltown Community College.