Glance back: From the Washington Evening Journal, Friday, June 5, 2009

10 Years Ago

From a new roof on an old fire house to a Plexiglas case to protect a bicentennial quilt, six projects of historic significance received grants from the Washington County Historic Preservation Commission during Tuesday's Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Commissioner Mike Zahs said that the commission received $4,000 from the Washington County Board of Supervisors in its historic preservation efforts, so the commission likes to make the annual presentation during a supervisors meeting.

The Washington Parks Board, in a 2-1 vote, decided Tuesday to recommend to the Washington City Council that the city dedicate the swimming pool at the Washington Aquatic Center in memory of Milo and Maxine Steele. The Steeles had established a swim team in Washington and coached the team for 30 years.

Lyle Moen, Washington County Conservation Board (WCCB) president, says the trail system in Washington County is making great progress.

'There are a lot of exciting advances to the trails across the county,” Moen said. 'There is a lot of interest in the trails from the different communities, trying to link the trails to a countywide network. That's the ultimate goal in the long term.”

20 Years Ago

Michelle Haberer, Olds, will leave for a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps, June 7. She will be teaching English as a second language (ESL) in Moldova, after three months of in-country training to learn the language and customs of Moldova, as well as ESL teaching techniques. Haberer is a 1994 graduate of WACO High School and a 1998 graduate of the University of Iowa.

Snowy (Marion) and Lucille Cady will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, June 6, in the Fellowship Hall of the United Christian and Baptist Church with an open house from 2-4 p.m.

Jerry Shirkey, 14, son of Dan and Donna Shirkey, of Wellman, has received the highest Scouting honor possible. J. Shirkey achieved his Eagle Scout Rank March 2. His Eagle Scout ceremony was held May 16 at the Senior Center in Wellman.

30 Years Ago

Washington will be throwing its 150th birthday party later this month. Consequently, Iowa's history lesson relates that a drug store has occupied the southeast corner of the intersection of East Washington Street and South Iowa Avenue for nearly a century. However, the current occupant, Norman Schoonover of Schoonover Drug Store, is planning to retire. The sale of Schoonover Drug Store will mark the end of his 36-year reign on the square and the history of a pharmacy at the location dating back to the 1890s when it was occupied by Lemmon Drug Store.

AINSWORTH – Dwight Sexton, an entering freshman at Iowa State University in animal science this fall, has received one of five Orscheln Farm and Home Supply Inc. scholarships. Sexton is the son of Larry and Carol Sexton of Ainsworth.

40 Years Ago

Washington High School's marching band, 'The Demon Dimension,” will stage a full dress rehearsal of the program they will present for competition in the Iowa Combine this month.

State Senator Forrest (Frosty) Schwengels of Fairfield was in Washington today visiting with constituents about various phases of the recently concluded Legislature session.

Denise Hahn of Washington, now attending the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary Girls State on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, has been named city treasurer of the mythical city of Hinderman. She was a candidate of the Federalist Party.

50 Years Ago

Something less than ideal flying weather held down a number of planes which flew in to the Washington Airport Sunday morning for the flight breakfast sponsored by the Washington Airport Club. Despite this, there were many 'drive-ins” and breakfast was served to about 325 people at the airport.

The Rev. Leland Grove will assume his duties as pastor of the First Christian Church in Washington on June 15.

There were at least two reports of UFOs spotted in the Washington area Thursday night. One was sighted by Gifford Morrison who said he saw what looked like a 'soap bubble with a tail” about 5:30 p.m. The other sighting was in Riverside by Jack Schnoebelen about 9 p.m.