Glance Back

(From The Washington Evening Journal, Friday, Jan. 28, 2005)

10 YEARS AGO

The Washington Community Y held its 81st Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Banquet at the Y, last evening.

Pamela Holz has been awarded the Iowa Association of Naturalists (IAN) and the Iowa Conservation Education Council?s (ICEC) Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award for 2004.

The Washington Police Department could be getting new TASER non-lethal guns in the next budgeted year to replace four existing TASER weapons which police say are clunky and less effective in quick-use situations.

KALONA ? Creation of the Iowa Veterans Cemetery is at least $1,250 toward a $500,000 fundraising goal, thanks to some 120 Mid-Prairie School District fifth-graders.

COLUMBUS JUNCTION ? An open house in Columbus Junction on Friday will celebrate an article in Latino magazine that recognizes Columbus Junction as an exemplary small town where Hispanics are living, thriving and making noteworthy contribution to their community.

20 YEARS AGO

When the Department of Human Services asked for an estimated 45 percent increase from Washington County late last year to finance its share of the regional Child Support Recovery Unit consortium, the Board of Supervisors balked. The unit tracks down back child support payments. Even though DHS Regional Administrator Tom Kisch told them that most of the $10,443 the county is being requested to pay to fund its portion of the unit will be returned to the county, local officials want to know why the cost is nearly doubling.

The face in the window is retiring. The face is that of Bob Logan. Most days, that?s all you see of Logan on his ?perch? in the drive-up window of Washington State Bank.

30 YEARS AGO

It was cold enough in Washington over the weekend to shatter a 49-year-old weather record like the flip of an icicle. The overnight low Sunday was an official 22 degrees below zero, a new record for Jan. 20 here. The previous record was 17 below, set in 1936.

Crystal Lynn Cox made her initial appearance in the world at 1:34 a.m. in the garage of a rural West Chester couple. En route to Iowa City, Wally Cox pulled the pickup into Richard Stewart?s driveway. Stewart?s wife, Bonnie, a registered nurse, placed a call to the Washington County Ambulance Service whose crew was able to arrive in time to deliver Deb Cox?s third child.

Three adults were killed and two children seriously injured in a car-train collision in Washington today. The accident is among the area?s worst. Authorities identified those killed as Nancy J. Boock, 40, and Kathy Ann Boock, 19, of Washington, and Pamela Sue Ray, 20, of rural Washington. Injured were 11-month-old Jeremiah Ray and his 3-week-old sister, Amanda. The accident occurred at the railroad crossing west of Sunset Park near Leet?s Refrigeration.

40 YEARS AGO

Monday: Melinda Reed, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Reed of Washington, has been named the Washington High School 1974-75 Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Brinning of rural Washington returned last week from a week?s trip to Spain. They went as part of a Professional Farmers of America tour. The majority of the 148 U.S. farmers who participated were from Iowa and Illinois.

County officials bowed out of planning for a countywide police reserve Monday night and the Washington City Council, on a 4-2 vote, sent the auxiliary police program back to the committee for design of a city-only unit.

50 YEARS AGO

Bob Everetts, Ted Howell, Keith Hora and Mrs. Winnie Beiter attended the Southeast Iowa Red Cross meeting at the hotel in Ottumwa, Tuesday.

Barbara Strum was installed worthy adviser for the year at an open installation Saturday of the Order of Rainbow for Girls, Washington Assembly 39.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Stump of Kalona are vacationing in the Hawaiian Islands where they are visiting with their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Charbonneau, U.S. Navy.