Our Yesterdays

An editorial — The Richland Clarion has gone into the public opinion business. With so much being said concerning what we choose to call the school problem, we took it upon ourselves to find out just what the general trend of opinion would show. We took an impartial poll of Richland businessmen and others vitally interested in the welfare of the community. Our school at present is overcrowded. In a few years, it will be almost disastrously so. The welfare of our children is of utmost importance, and their education bears directly thereon. If, we do not plan now for the future, we shall be most sorry. There are several plans which have been proposed, both publicly and privately, the past few weeks, including: I. A consolidated school including Richland, Brighton, and Pleasant Plain. Which eventually would include a building located most probably at a rural site equidistant from all three points. II. A consolidated school including students from Richland, Packwood, and Ollie, and located similarly. III. A high school in Richland, incorporating either or both Ollie and Packwood. IV. The present Richland school enlarged and improved to accommodate growing needs. Of those asked, 20% had formed no opinion and 10% declined to disclose an opinion. A few facts with direct bearing upon the situation — A consolidation of districts with all tax revenue in a consolidated fund, would result in common benefits and common losses as any district joining the consolidation with or without debt would also share the debt. Therefore, those entering the consolidation debt-free would be paying tax money on debts they did not incur. The State puts a limit upon the amount of money which may be spent upon enlargement and improvement, based on a percent of the total value assessment. This may mean that an enlargement built on our present school plant would not be as large or well-equipped as most would consider adequate. The State requires that a minimum of forty boys sign up for a vocational agriculture course before it may be offered as an accredited subject in high school curricula. In some off-the-record comments in various discussions concerning the problem it is generally agreed that losing the high school would be a definite loss to Richland’s community as a whole. It is fairly generally agreed that should we merge in outside territory; we would much prefer to join with our neighbors to the southwest and west. We at the Clarion do not wish to see the high school leave Richland. We would like to see our present school system enlarged and improved as much as possible. We would like to see Packwood and Ollie both join us in Richland, and pool our common resources and interests.

First and Second Grade news: Last Friday there were 14 perfect spelling papers in second grade. They were written by Bonnie Nichols, Carolyn Tucker, Cathy Dupius, Cheryl Oswalt, Dean Weber, Donna Caughlan, Huber Evans Jr., Johnny Adrian, John Gould, Nancy Downey, Patty Prenger, Ronald Townsend, and Sandra Hotle. We have had six and seven people absent all week: Bill Allen is absent because of gland trouble following his tonsil operation and chickenpox; Barbara Laux and Cheryl Oswalt both have chickenpox; Steven Rusk is very ill with mumps; Danny Reed has a very big face from an ulcerated tooth; and Wade Roberts has the flu again.

February, 1974

Quick action be the Richland Fire Department prevented serious damage to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Smith Monday after a fire broke out in a storage building attached to their home. The Smiths were not at home at the time of the fire. An alarm was turned in by the R.C. Connelly family when they spotted smoke coming from the building. Both the building and its contents were destroyed, but damage to the house was minor and limited to the back porch. The property was formerly owned by the Logan Sellars.

The Keokuk County Sheriff’s office investigated a break-in at the Hadley Chevrolet garage in Richland Thursday night or early Friday morning. A car belonging to Lyle Greiner of Richland had a window broken and a tape player and speakers stolen; and a battery was taken from a car belonging to Raymond Hadley.

A retirement dinner party was held in honor of Kermit Oswalt Saturday evening at the Stever House in Fairfield by officials of Standard Oil Co. and employees. Following the dinner, Oswalt was presented a wristwatch for his 39-1/2 years of service with the company. Fellow employees also presented him with a billfold and cash gift. Ralph Talley, who worked for Oswalt for the past 26 years, was presented with a fishing rod and reel and both men were commended for their service to the community. Mr. and Mrs. Oswalt were presented a corsage and boutonniere by the group. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cobb and children were introduced to the group as the new bulk agent for the Standard Oil Co. Cobb had been parts manager at the Hadley Chevrolet for several years. Mrs. Cobb is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oswalt.