Our Yesterdays

April, 1975

A storm of vandalism raged Ollie, Packwood, and Richland early Sunday morning as windows were broken out of schools, businesses, and automobiles. The Pekin Community Schools fell victim to the most damage as windows at all four attendance centers were smashed. The windows on one side of a school bus parked at the high school were also broken out. Pekin school officials said that no estimate of the damage has been made yet, and that apparently no entry was made into the buildings. In addition to the windows, they said some door glass had also been shattered. The Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigations was in Sigourney Monday afternoon to aid local law enforcement agencies in the case. Several windows and windshields of automobiles in Ollie, Packwood, and Richland were also smashed including two law enforcement vehicles. Keokuk County Sheriff Garry Dietrich’s car parked in his driveway in Ollie had the windshield shattered. The windows and windshield were also broken out of Richland town Marshall Bill Muenzenmeyer’s pickup truck. The truck also received some body damage. Muenzenmeyer had been on patrol until after midnight and had parked the truck at his home. Plate glass windows at Baker’s Shell Service in Richland and The Hub in Packwood were also broken out. At Ollie, all four sides of a public telephone bother were shattered.

Richland Cub Scouts held a Pinewood Derby on March 25 at the Lions Building. First place went to Chris Hogan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hogan, and second place went to Steve Fritchen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Fritchen. Other Cub Scouts participating were Tom Wolcott, Doug Robison, Jerry Hoover, Tony Bond, Doug Young, Steve Smith, Steven Horras, Gary Horton, Timmy Pfeifer, Robert Sloan, Jeff Maeder, Todd Egbert, Scott Watson, James Varner, and Doug Greeson. Officials at the race were starter, Dean Kurtz, and judges, Lloyd Bottorff and Craig Capps. Weighing in cars was Assistant Cub Master Milford Watson. Scorekeeper was Mrs. Ron Greeson. Cub Master Leroy Robison served as announcer.

Ericka Dahlstrom, 14-year-old Pekin Middle School student, won first place in the Missouri Valley Walking Championship Saturday. The race was held in Columbia, Missouri. Ericka walked five miles, 1300 yards to win by over 800 yards. By winning, Ericka also broke the Iowa record, which was set last year of five miles, 50 yards. Davis Eidahl of Richland competed in the men’s division and walked seven miles, 198 yards. This was over 300 yards better than his personal best.

Easter Sunday dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Robison and family were Mr. and Mrs. Meryl Paxson and Mr. Orville Robison.

Easter Day dinner guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Archer were her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Elmore, Dan and Tim, Mrs. Dessie Elmore, all of Brighton and Craig Elmore AC-2 of Jacksonville, Florida. Afternoon callers were Mr. and Mrs. Dean Elmore and family, Mr. Delbert Fleig of Richland and his daughter Cindy, of Haviland, Kansas, visited in the morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Leo Fornash, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Downey and children, and Mrs. Delora Young were supper guests in the Ed Chabal home near Wellman.

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wolf, Tony, Rhonda, and Matthew entertained their parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sheraden and Mr. and Mrs. Forest Wolf on Easter Sunday. The celebrated the fifth birthday of Matthew Wolf and the birthday of Matthew’s grandfather, Paul Sheraden. Matthew also celebrated his birthday with his family by going out for pizza, one of his favorite past times.

A very impressive baptismal service was held at the Packwood Christian Church on Sunday, April 6, during the church services. Four young men from the community were baptized by the Rev. Kenneth Breeze. They were Richie Muntz, Tom Dailey, Tom Heald, and Ray Chambers. Mr. Robert Heald and Mr. Clifford Pepper assisted the Rev. Breeze with the ceremony.