Yesterdays

YESTERDAYS

From the May 4, 1972 Clarion

Dennis and Dwayne Blakely only had their hound pup Jerry for about a month when the pup was credited with saving 11-year-old Dennis from an attacking rabid skunk.

The boys are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Blakely who live near Rubio, which is located northeast of Richland.

On Sunday, April 16, Dennis ran into the house to tell his dad there was a skunk by the back door. Blakely went to the corncrib after his gun and the boys stood some distance away watching the skunk. When Blakely came out of the corncrib, he shouted for the boys to run out of the way. At that instance, the skunk began charging toward Dennis. This is when the pup, Jerry, ran between the boy and animal and grabbed the skunk by the tail, swinging it several times before Blakely could shoot the skunk. It had no odor. Dr. Gene Hoy, Richland veterinarian, said this is fairly typical of a rabid skunk.

After clinical diagnosis of the skunk, Dr. Hoy advised the Blakelys to have their dog put to sleep.

On that same Sunday evening, Mrs. Blakely’s brother Jack Moore, who lives two miles south of the Blakelys, saw their new pup being attacked by a skunk on their front door step. They too had to put their pup to sleep.

The James Walcott’s, other neighbors, have reportedly had to shoot eight suspicious-acting skunks near their farm buildings.

Dr. Hoy reports three confirmed cases of rabies since the first of the year. These included two cows and one skunk, all from the Rubio vicinity. He said rabies vaccinations have really increased.

Dr. Hoy said an odorless skunk is a good indication of it having rabies, although a rabid skunk can still smell. He also reported that skunks are nocturnal animals and generally aren’t seen in the daytime. He said any rabid animal looks confused and listless and appears not to have full control of its facilities.

The above story was written by Mrs. Helen Adam, correspondent for the Ottumwa Courier.

From the May 10, 1962 Clarion

Seventh and eighth grades will present two one-act plays on Thursday, May 27, at 8 p.m. The plays will be presented in the school gymnasium with music furnished by the music department.

Seventh grade will present “Father Says No” with Kathryn George, Steve Allen, Joy Adam, Carolyn Pepper, Kathy Sievers, Wayne Gould, Daniel Rogers, and Steve Steinbeck taking part.

The cast for “Ghost for Rent,” a one-act mystery play, will included Ronnie Neff, Karolyn Greeson, Martha Swartzwelter, Kristen Steinbeck, Gary Adam, Connie McIntire, Pamela Yoder, and John Sears.