Glance Back (From The Washington Evening Journal, Friday, Nov. 7, 2008)

10 Years Ago

The Washington City Council voted Wednesday to seek applicants to fill a vacancy on the council, rather than the alternative choice of holding a special election. The council's five members unanimously agreed to repeat the process used to appoint a mayor, replacing Rick Cicalo who died in September.

Council member Sandra Johnson was selected among four applicants to replace the mayor. Her selection created a vacancy that the council intends to fill this month. Johnson had an at-large council seat, so her replacement could reside anywhere in the city.

In the five races for the Washington County Board of Supervisors, Republican candidates won all five contests, according to the unofficial results announced Tuesday evening. Vote totals will remain unofficial until canvassed by the board of supervisors.

When the board goes from three to five members on Jan. 1, four of the five members will be new. James Miksch (Rep.) was the only incumbent to run. He defeated Bob Goodrich (Dem.) by a vote of 1,164 to 755.

The face of law enforcement in Washington won't change, after incumbent Sheriff Jerry Dunbar (R) successfully defended his position against challenger David Schweitzer during Tuesday's election.

20 Years Ago

Topping the list was Tom Vilsack's furious finish, besting Jim Ross Lightfoot, who led the race up to Tuesday, according to the polls.

Washington County voters turned out at a 56-percent clip, apparently re-electing Republican Raymond Lasek to a four-year term on the board of supervisors.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – Often success, particularly in a major event, is measured by being in the top 10. The Washington boys' and girls' cross country teams sure thought so at the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge on Saturday. And with the top-10 finishes for both the boys' team and Stefanie Richardson individually, the Demons came back to Washington feeling on top of the world.

SIGOURNEY – Jake Flanders rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns, lifting Sigourney-Keota to a 48-7 victory over Mediapolis in the first round of Class 2A playoff action last night at the Sigourney High School field.

30 Years Ago

A history-making race for Washington County supervisor ended with the election of the county's first woman board member. Virginia Bordwell, a Washington abstractor, finished second, behind Wilfrid Vittetoe, to earn a spot on the board.

At a special Washington City Council meeting Thursday, council members received a citizen petition calling for a special mayoral election to fill the vacancy created by the Oct. 20 resignation of former Mayor Raymond Minick. The vacant term expires Dec. 31, 1989.

Washington senior Amy Redlinger, who ranks in the top five in 13 different career statistical categories in volleyball for the Demons, was named the Most Valuable Player in the Southeast Seven Conference, as voted on by the league's coaches.

40 Years Ago

In the four area farm fires which kept area firemen particularly busy this week, monetary losses were high but no one was injured. Firemen from Washington and Wellman were called into action during the week, while Wellman and Keota firemen battled a blaze which broke out about 9:05 p.m. Saturday in grain handling and storage equipment on a farm.

A survey of polling places in Washington this week indicated that voters turned out in relatively heavy numbers to cast ballots here.

Washington Community District School Board members have decided to table plans for purchase of a public address system at the high school and for painting the gymnasium area of the junior high.

50 Years Ago

Earth tremors which shook the Washington area stopped the large regulator clock on the wall of the Logan Jewelry Store Saturday. John Logan, owner, said the tremor obviously was the reason the reliable timepiece stopped at four minutes after eleven.

The old mantel clock in the Joe Knotek home north of Washington started ticking again when the tremor shook Washington after having stopped a couple of years ago. Knotek reports that the old clock has been running smoothly again since the time of the tremor.

About 200 people visited Washington High School Thursday evening, taking advantage of Education Week open house and the opportunity to tour the building and visit with teachers.