Our Yesterdays

The State FFA Convention in Des Moines was attended by 10 members of the Pekin FFA Chapter. Arlen Wonderlich, district reporter, ushered at the convention. Mark Curtis played his French horn in the band and represented our district in the Creed Speaking Contest. John Campbell was selected to sing in the State Chorus. John Adrian, Tom Hull, and Danny Reed were delegates from our chapter. Gary Heemsbergen, Gary Derby, David Dumont, Allen Rice, and John Adrian were chapter representatives. The following five boys left Thursday morning with Mr. Redmann: Arlen Wonderlich, Mark Curtis, John Campbell, John Adrian, and Danny Reed. Those who left Friday were Tom Hull, Allen Rich, Dave Dumont, Gary Derby, and Gary Heemsbergen.

Oct. 25, 1962

Pekin FFA corn plots will be discussed this Thursday in the Pekin high school cafetorium. Slides will be shown on the first 12 plots and results will be given. Results will include the cost to produce per acre of corn, cost per bushel, bushels per acre and profit per acre. On the FFA field day held Thursday, Oct. 18, the group harvested 5095.45 bushels of No. 2 corn at 15.5 moisture (after drying) from a measured 45 acres. There were 18 different corn test plots. The highest yield from one measured acre was 155 bushels.

Feb. 21, 1974

The Richland and Ollie Fire Departments were called Thursday night to assist the Sigourney Fire Department at the Dean Yates farm northwest of Ollie when a machine shed caught fire and threatened several other buildings nearby. The machine shed and its contents, reported to include four tractors, car, pickup, combine, auger, drill, feed and other supplies, valued at approximately $100,000 was completely destroyed by the blaze.

Patricia Yoder of Ollie escaped serious injury Sunday afternoon when the horse she was riding vaulted and fell on her. Miss Yoder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Yoder, was riding with her sister, Brenda, Ron Shy, and Verne Wonderlich, all of Ollie. The accident occurred south of the Gilbert Leathers farm near the County Road line in a remote section of the area. Thinking her leg was broken, the young people made a split for her leg and fashioned a litter from their clothes to transport her to the nearby Gilbert Leathers farm. Nurses at the Jefferson County Hospital, where she was taken after the accident, were impressed by the way she was treated by her companions and said that, if her leg was broken, they were sure there would have been no further damage to it, due to the first aid she received. Her leg was badly bruised but not broken, and she is able to get around on crutches.

Airman Patricia S. Wright, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Wright, of rural Hedrick, has been assigned to Sheppard AFB, Texas, after completing Air Force basic training. During her six weeks at the Air Training Command’s Lackland AFB, Texas, she studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special instruction in human relations. The airman has been assigned to the Technical Training Center at Sheppard for specialized training as a dental helper. Airman Wright is a 1973 graduate of Pekin High School.

Billy Dean Cobb, agent for Standard Oil Division of Amoco Oil Company in the Richland area has received a diploma from the company’s comprehensive agency — training course. At the specially-equipped training center, agents are provided with the technical knowledge required to serve today’s farmers. Product knowledge and salesmanship are also stressed at the Clinic. Special emphasis is placed on the wide use of fuels on the farm to promote energy conservation.

Mrs. Dale Myers was elected president of Chapter F. TTT on Feb. 5 at the Packwood Community Hall. Other new officers are Mrs. Wilbur Kimple, vice president; Mrs. Jack Middlekoop, treasurer; Mrs. Willis Mitchell, recording Secretary; Mrs. Harold Dickey, corresponding secretary; and Debbie Dickey, historian. Installing officer was Mrs. Wayne Ellis. Hostesses were Mrs. Ray Hill, Mrs. Roby Johnson, Mrs. Richard Day, and Mrs. John Van Klavern.