Our Yesterdays

2001

Myron and Karen Greiner of Richland will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary Jan. 24, 2001. An open house is planned by their children on Jan. 27 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harper. Myron Greiner and Karen Wilhoit were married at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church in Richland with Reverend Glenn W. Fuegen officiating.

Another snowstorm hit the area the last weekend in January, after an already insurmountable winter. A huge snow had fallen in early December, 2000, and temperatures didn’t rise above freezing for 32 days, not allowing the snow to melt. In late January, the area got another round of snow. Strong winds came up and roads began to drift. By Monday morning, the snow had turned to rain, causing schools to cancel.

More than 30 Brighton residents gathered at the Brighton City Hall Community Room to surprise retiring UPS driver, John McAllister with a farewell party.

1991

David L. Weber has been appointed Postmaster of Martinsburg, effective Dec. 29, 1990. Weber succeeds Martha Lisk, who recently transferred to Drakesville. In the interim, Leanne Price, clerk from the Ottumwa Post Office, served as Officer-in-Charge.

Temperatures dipped below zero and the cold knocked out power to the Packwood and Hedrick areas. The ice and cold likely caused the power line east of Hedrick to snap, leaving several hundred households in the Hedrick and Packwood area without electricity for a few hours.

The Richland council voted to improve the existing water system (vs. rural water) and H. Eugene Smith Construction Co. of Mt. Pleasant began construction of a 65,000 gallon underground water reservoir. Treated water will be pumped from the underground tank to an elevated tank, then to the water tower. A 30 x 30 building will also be constructed that will house a pressure filtration system, which will replace the city’s existing filter. Completion date is set for April, 1991, with the underground tank to be completed by Jan. 11, 1991.

Josephine Young of rural Brighton, and her son Lance were visiting relatives when they heard the news that the mobile home they rented north of Brighton had been demolished by fire.

2015

Pekin High School seniors, Courtney Comstock, Ryan Swanson and Gwynne Wright recently graduated from the L.E.A.P. Academy, a leadership development program offered through the Career and Workforce Education division of Indian Hills Community College. L.E.A.P. is an acronym for Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement, Progress. The goal of the program is “to inspire future leaders who care about the success of Indian Hills’ 10-county region and to empower them with the knowledge that they can make a positive difference in what our region can achieve as we move forward.” The students were selected to participate in the program by their high school. They entered the program during the spring of their junior year and continued through the fall of their senior year. Over the course of the program, the students met with Indian Hills staff and other students from across the Indian Hills, engaging in a variety of hands-on activities designed to help them develop their leadership skills in the areas of communication, creativity, ethics, goal setting, handling conflict, problem solving, service leadership and team building. The students were also required to complete a service project in their community as part of the program. Comstock, Swanson and Wright cleaned up and did some repainting at the ball field in Ollie.

Pekin’s girls’ basketball team picked up two more wins last week to keep their undefeated season going. Pekin 71, Cardinal 20: Pekin faced Cardinal last Tuesday where they came away with a 71-20 win. Maci Gambell led the team in scoring with 20 points including five three-pointers. She also had six assists and four rebounds. Beth Atwood added 14 points and had 10 rebounds and five steals. Cassidy Tolle added 10 points. Kaylee Linder and Gwynne Wright each had nine points, and Wright had 10 assists. Pekin 64, IMS 29: The Panthers had another outstanding game last Friday as they defeated IMS 64-29.

Maci Gambell again led the scoring with 33 points, including four three-pointers. Gambell also had seven rebounds and eight steals. Beth Atwood put up 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Gwynne Wright had seven assists and four steals.

Sixty kids came to visit Santa on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Greiner Auction Building in Richland. The Richland Community Club was pleased with this turn out from our children to visit Santa, enjoy refreshments and games, and view a family movie. The three winners in the Lions Club drawing for a gift certificate from Walmart were Carter Allsup, age 3, Daniel Dailey, age 7, and Paige Lisk, age 10.

Emileigh Clare Ferrell was born at the Ottumwa Regional Health Center on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 to John and Sonja Ferrell along with her big sister Eleanora of Hedrick. Emileigh Clare weighed eight pounds, five ounces; and was 20.5 inches long. Grandparents are LeAnn Lindquist Dean of Morris, Minnesota, James and Janice Ferrell of Hedrick, and the late James Dean. Great-grandmother is Marjeret Dean of Willmar, Minnesota.

Caryl Smith entertained 18 friends and relatives at her home Christmas Day. They arrived from Fairfield, Brighton, Iowa City, Washington, Burlington, Keosauqua, and Chicago.

Gerald and Rosemary Pacha enjoyed the company of their daughter, Jennifer and Ryan Phillips with Aurora and Ames of Johnston, Iowa, and friend Jean Frazer of Iowa City. They attended church services Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, they enjoyed a brunch and a visit from Santa at the Pacha’s home.

Christmas Eve, 52 relatives gathered at the home of Winifred Fritz. All of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were in attendance for a soup supper and gift exchange. Christmas Day, Tony and Lynn Fritz had as dinner guests his mother, Winifred Fritz and other relatives. The Berry’s returned home to Bates City, Missouri on December 26. Guests at Winifred’s on Dec. 27 were her daughter Mary and Joel Boatright with Bridget Hollingsworth of Fairfield; and Winifred’s son Joe and Lori Fritz with Sophia and Julia of Brighton.

Tony and Lynn Fritz provided a cookout at the home of his mother, Winifred Fritz on December 28. They were joined by Joe and Lori Fritz with Sophia and Julia.

Ruth Schadt left Nov. 22 for Las Vegas. She visited her daughter Tedra. Ruth returned home on December 20.

Jason Roberts of Brighton spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with his parents, Jerry and Debbi of rural Brighton. They were joined on Christmas Eve by Jason’s sister Jaine of Clinton.

Pat Remington met her sister Kathy in Ottumwa for dining and shopping on December 26. On Dec. 27, Pat enjoyed the company of her daughter and family, Angela and Tony Garmoe with James and Christopher of Mount Pleasant, and Cody with friend McKenzie of Oskaloosa.

James and Christopher Garmoe of Mount Pleasant were overnight guests at the home of Grandma Pat Remington on December 21. On the 22nd, they were joined by Pat’s daughter Angela and Tony Garmoe and Pat’s sister Pam of Tennessee, Kathy of Chariton, and Kim of Clive. They enjoyed the evening meal at Pizza Ranch in Waukee and a Christmas gift exchange. Pat returned home that night.

Ryan Vogel was presented Keokuk County Farm Bureau’s Recognition Award at the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting held in Des Moines Dec. 1 and 2. Keokuk County Farm Bureau received an outstanding designation for its 2015 programs which help further the story of agriculture to new audiences through many areas including policy development, policy implementation, communications, and strengthen the county Farm Bureau.