Our Yesterdays

Laurie Nordyke, senior at Pekin Community High School, was crowned Jefferson County Pork Queen during the annual Pork Producers Banquet held Monday evening at the Junior High Building in Fairfield. Nordyke is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Nordyke of Blackhawk Township. Other queen candidates were Candi Hoskins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hoskins of Blackhawk Township, and Christine Meyers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Meyers of Polk township. All three candidates are Pekin students. Entertainment included music by the Ro-To-Rooter Kitchen Band from Rubio, and an old-fashioned pie auction.

Karen White of Farson has been named to succeed Susan Anderson as Managing Editor of the Clarion, effective Jan. 29. Susan, who has edited the Clarion since June of 1976 plans to move to Washington, Iowa. She has accepted a position as news editor of KCII radio. Mrs. White has served as Managing Editor of the Hedrick Journal for nearly two years. She and her husband, Gene, have four children — Jim, a 1977 Pekin graduate who is now attending NMSU; John, a senior in high school; Jeff, a freshman; and Becky, a seventh-grader.

The second and third grade rope jumping contest was completed on Friday for the boys and girls at the Pekin Elementary. Second grade winners were Aaron Striegel and Stephanie Owens. Others who placed were Dave Eidahl, second; Sage Dahlstrom, third; Mike Van Voorst, fourth; Tony Heisdorffer, fifth; and Mike Mosinski, sixth. Other girls who placed were Robin Hollingsworth, second; Stephanie Oswalt, third; Dana Winn, fourth; Terry Hartnell, fifth; and Wendy Hoskins, sixth. Results of the third grade boys were Jeff Whitham, first; Brad Lisk, second; Shawn Eckleberry, third; Ken Lynch, fourth; Larry Newman, fifth; and Ed Winn, sixth. The third grade girls champion was Julie Sweitzer. Susan Dunbar was second; Melisa Burtlow, third; Janette Adrian, fourth; Marcy Goettsche, fifth; and Brenda Sereg, sixth.

This week’s neighbor of the week is a familiar face both in the Packwood area and around Dickey’s Prairie home. Raymond Watts, genial Jack of All Trades, has many friends around. The waitresses at Prairie Home enjoy spoiling him, and he has a helping hand for any place it is needed. Raymond was born in 1925 in southwest Jefferson County. He started working on the Morgan Wells’ farm in 1941 but was gone in the army for a few years. He started working for Dickey Oil in 1971. He is a familiar figure, as well as being considered by many to be a good neighbor and a good friend.

Mrs. Sally Warner, Mrs. Luanne Archer, and Tammy Hall hosted a baby shower at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Sobaski on Thursday evening, honoring Aaron Dean, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Sobaski. Sixteen friends and relatives braved the stormy night and slick roads to attend the party. Games were played. Peggy opened her many lovely and useful gifts for their son, and after refreshments were served the guests departed for home. Several invited guests were unable to attend because of the weather.

Three-year-old Scott Dickey is the Pekinite of the Week. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dickey of Packwood. He likes race cars, football, enjoys playing with his cousins and the snow. His father, Daniel, is a truck dispatcher at Dickey Transport and his mother, Cindy, is a teller at the Iowa State Bank. Scott has a pet dog, Ramo. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dickey of Packwood and Mr. Don Rinaberger of Fairfield are his grandparents. Great-grandparents are Mrs. Sarah Priebe of Fairfield and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gillis of Burlington.

January, 1969

Mr. and Mrs. Dale Loeffler were taken to the Washington County Hospital early Saturday afternoon, flowing a two-car accident on Highway 1 on Sandyhook Hill, near Brighton. Sheriff’s officers said the accident happened after a car driven by Harold Dickey of Packwood spun around on an icy patch in the road and headed south back toward the oncoming Loeffler car.

January, 1924

The Methodist Ladies of Packwood held a three-day fair last week and the event proved to be a great success. Many premiums were offered and for these there was keen competition in most instances. Mrs. C.A. Neville of this city was one of the judges who made the awards. Following is a list of the winners of premiums: Best two dozen doughnuts: Mrs. W.A. Mincher; Best cornbread by girl under 16 years: Mavine Oliver; Best dozen cookies: Mrs. Earl Rodgers; Best display of home canned products: Mrs. B.T. Lutes; Best display of home canned fruit, not less than four quarts: Mrs. B.T. Lutes; Best display of homemade candy: Mrs. Edna Nelson; Best two-pound candy made by member of freshman class in Packwood school: Inez Loomis; Best one-pound candy made by a girl in fifth or sixth grade: Edna Adams; Best one-pound candy made by boy under 16 years: Arvene Nelson; Best ½ bushel of yellow corn: J.G. Oliver; Best 10 ears yellow seed corn: Henley Jones; Best 10 ears seed corn by pupil in Packwood school: Lucille Bowie; Best 10 ears pop corn by pupil in Packwood school: Lucille Avery; Best 10 ears popcorn by pupil in fifth or sixth grade: Chas and Jack Cowen; Largest ear of corn: Arthur Loomis; Best Angel food cake by a member of the Ladies Aid: Mrs. W.A. Mincher; Best white layer cake: Mrs. Chas. Chandler; Best burnt sugar cake: Mrs. Earl Rodgers; Largest Angel food cake: Mrs. J.C. Hill; Best coconut cake: Mrs. Ned Oliver; Best nut cake baked by any girl in Packwood school: Lucille Bowie; Best layer cake baked by a girl in seventh or eighth grade: Helen Furgeson; Best gingerbread: Maxine Oliver.