Glance Back: From the Washington Evening Journal, Friday, July 31, 2009

10 Years Ago

McKenna Brinning's, Keota, grand champion winning home-raised barrow brought the highest sale price during the swine division of the livestock auction that wrapped up the livestock portion of the 2009 Washington County Fair Friday.

Of the 12 animals that were sold in the division, the prices ran from $450 for the grand champion to $275. The beef auction saw prices running $1.55 for the crossbred shown by Austin Knupp of Washington to 90 cents a pound.

Members of Washington Post 29 of the American Legion Riders and Sons of the American Legion Riders prepare to give the semi hauling the Wall That Heals an escort into Washington. The Wall That Heals, a half-sized reproduction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be displayed in Richland.

The numbers are in and Mike Roe, the chair of the Washington Airport Commission, is happy to report the Washington Municipal Airport has several positive economic impacts on the area.

According to a study – contracted by the Iowa Department of Transportation's aviation division – of all airports in the state, the Washington Airport is 13th busiest of 101 like airports in the state. The report says 11,900 aircraft operations per year travel through the airport.

20 Years Ago

DES MOINES (AP) – The heat wave that's slowly roasting Iowa has claimed thousands of innocent victims – fish.

Several hundred largemouth bass died in Cedar Lake in eastern Iowa, said Martin Konrad, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Other kills were reported at Black Hawk Lake in Sac County and below the Lake Icaria spillway in Adams County.

DES MOINES (AP) – Iowa hog farmers will benefit from a new $100 million federal aid package for the industry, and $20 million in state funds has been set aside to aid farmers, Gov. Tom Vilsack and Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald said.

The Washington Choral Society will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City during the month of June 2000. The choral society will debut at Carnegie Hall as part of a 150-voice ensemble performing 'Come Follow Me,” composed by Jackson Berkey, with lyrics by his wife, Almeda Berkey.

30 Years Ago

WAYLAND – A monument and a 30-foot flagpole were dedicated in Wayland yesterday. The Rev. Timon Davison, chief chaplain at the Veterans Hospital, Iowa City, gave the dedication address at the 2 p.m. ceremonies held in Wayland Central Park.

Believed to be the first trail-hiking group to hike the complete Kewash Nature Trail from Washington to West Chester to Keota, a dozen Scouts and several leaders arrived in Keota about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Washington's $3 million sewer project, targeted for completion in 1992, is right on schedule, Mayor Harvey Holden told the City Council during its regular meeting last night. 'We're moving right along,” Holden remarked, as he glanced at to-date expenditure figures for the project. When the Westside trunk line project (the current phase of the project) is completed, the city will have spent $1,367,559 – or considerably less than the $1.4 million the city estimated for the work.

40 Years Ago

Washington School District Superintendent Kelly Schlapkohl has asked that parents be reminded that the first day of school is Aug. 27.

The Washington County unemployment rate stood at 3.3 percent in April, the latest month for which statistics are available, Job Service of Iowa says in its latest labor market summary.

Heavy rain fell during the night in the Washington area with the official weather observer here measuring 2.30 inches prior to 7 a.m. today.

Brian O'Donnell will serve in 1979-80 as local coordinator for community education courses offered by Kirkwood Community College in cooperation with Highland Community School District. Fall classes will begin the week of Sept. 10.

50 Years Ago

High winds accompanied a brief storm Saturday evening and brought down trees and caused considerable damage in the Brighton community and Lake Darling.

July 31 is payday at the Washington County Courthouse, but as of today, several of the county officers and their employees were still wondering just how much pay they will get when the checks are distributed tomorrow. Confusion over the pay of county officials is not limited to Washington, but is statewide.

Miss Agnes Wheelan retired from the Washington State Bank Thursday after 43 years of service. She started at the State in November 1926 as secretary-bookkeeper. At the time of her retirement, she was a teller.