Our Yesterdays

Matthew Swanson recently completed his Eagle Scout Project and Board of Review. He is a member of Troop 56 of Richland. Matthew’s project was an exterior renovation of the restrooms near the athletic fields at Pekin High School.

The Packwood Library will have to relocate due to the building being torn down, to make more space for the new fire station, which will be located on the east side of Main Street.

Leo N Adam, 85, of Richland, passed away at his home.

Daniel “Barndog” Thomann, 37, of Richland, passed away at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City following a stroke.

May 1999

F. Emory Neff of Packwood retired from the Iowa Department of Transportation. Emory filled many positions during his 43 years with the Iowa DOT.

For the first time in 10 years, Ollie was alive with children. Ollie Memorial Field was still under renovation, but the advanced T-ball kids came to town to use the field. Many adults were reminiscing of the days when Ollie High School existed and the ball diamond fielded locals; some of which are deceased, but will be remembered on the new entrance sign.

May 1989

Six Packwood area residents have undergone training to become volunteer First Responders; to help individuals in emergency situations. QRS members are Sandy Sobaski, John Robinson, Denise Hall, Steve Mosinski, and Gary and Deb Bemis.

A barn on the south edge of Brighton owned by Lee Shafer was struck by lightening and destroyed by fire. The barn was engulfed in flames, causing an LP tank inside to explode.

Dave Denly was invited to play for the Iowa International High School Basketball team in Europe. Games that were scheduled to be played included West Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Paris.

Mayor Tom Edwards, Keota, announced that the city council hired Frank Johnston of Fairfield to be Keota’s new police chief. His wife, Sandra, is a teacher in the Fairfield School district.

A Brighton business was sold to an Ollie resident. Customers of Eddie Edwards Insurance received letters stating the business was sold to Dave and Adrian Gentry of Ollie. Mr. Edwards will be working with the Gentry’s for the remainder of the year and operate his Edwards Real Estate and Eddie’s Auction Service.

A number of people attended the Open House held for Ethel Bright, who will be retiring from Packwood Librarian.

May 1979

For the second year in a row, Pekin’s Steve Greiner won the Drake Relays one mile run. In what has been called the biggest track and field meet in the country, Steve defended his mile crown with a 25-yard victory over Jim Zinnel of Algona, the same one he defeated last year by .00l of a second. Steve broke the Drake Relays record, a record that had stood since 1968.

May 11 was the opening date as ‘77 Speedways began its third season of go-kart racing programs in Richland. Thirty-five to fifty carts are usually entered in the weekly Friday night races.

The Pekin boys track squad won the State Class B track and field championships, the first State Championship that Pekin has won in a major sport. Ten boys took part in the state meet which saw several new school records fall. The squad consisted of Rick Welsh, Bryce Baker, Rick Fosdyck, Denny Blakely, Bob Northup, Bill Northup, Nate Fritchen, Steve Greiner, Al Baker, and Doug Moothart.

May 1969

Mr. and Mrs. Dale F. Smith of Washington were notified by an army sergeant that their son, Pfc. Larry E. Smith had been killed in action in Vietnam. Pfc. Smith was serving with the U.S. Army in the Loc Ninh area, north of Saigon near the Cambodian border.

Jake W. Hendrickson sold a sausage grinder for $6,000 at an auction. The sale event was held by Parsons College to liquidate sale of surplus locker plant equipment. Mr. Hendrickson said that in his forty years of auctioneering he never sold a sausage grinder at the price paid at this auction.

Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Hall entertained at a surprise party for Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Sutton. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton live at Packwood where he has been principal of the Elementary Center for the last eight years. The family will move soon to Mt. Pleasant where Mr. Sutton will be principal of the high school.

James E. Hoskins returned home from Mesa, Arizona where he spends the winter each year. Mr. Hoskins had a most unusual experience in New Mexico on his way home. He had seen a rattle snake but had no idea he had run over it. Farther down the road, he had a flat tire. When the mechanic changed the tire, he showed Mr. Hoskins that the snake had struck the sidewall of the tire, and the teeth were still in the rubber.

Miss Twilla Keiser, 18, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Lyle Keiser, attended a special DAR tea in Ottumwa, honoring girls chosen from the area schools for the Good Citizen award. Twilla is a senior chosen for this honor by Pekin Community faculty and classmates.

D & K Locker, owned by Dwight and Kathy Westercamp, have a new poured floor in the processing room and have added some new equipment which adds much to the appearance and maintenance of the plant.

May 1959

Fire badly damaged the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Reinier a mile northwest of Ollie. Most of the contents downstairs were taken out by volunteers. The upstairs was badly damaged by smoke and water. The family was not at home.

John H. Pitt has decided to close the Richland drugstore.

Russell Parsons, owner of the Parson’s Gas Service in Richland, has been appointed local dealer for Amana Refrigeration Products.

Ground was broken for the start of the new church at East Pleasant Plain on May 10. Bishop Ralph L. Hayes of Davenport led the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new St. Joseph’s Church. A former church was destroyed by fire in 1944. Since that time services have been held in a Quonset type building which will be used as the parish hall after the new structure is completed.

A Milwaukee westbound freight train struck and killed cattle belonging to John Hadley and Kenneth Morrow. Eleven head were lost.