11.2.22

1914The election ballot was seven feet long. It had to be printed in two sections, then pasted together by The Fairbury Journal staff. Large numbers of sample ballots were printed in those years, but few used. The Journal worked out the present plan of printing the samples in the newspaper.The W.E. Willey Poland China hogs from Steele City had earned 136 ribbons at shows in several midwestern states.Arthur J. Denney of the Fairbury post office staff and Walter M. Jones, railway mail clerk at Council Bluffs, traded positions.The Diller Acetylene Gas Co. went broke and left the town in the dark.1920“The Call of the Bell, directed by Rock Island employee J.J. Whiting, with a hometown cast of 400, was to be the final feature of county fair evening programs.Automobiles were not to be permitted in the viewing area unless they had their tops down.1922Fairbury Police Chief P.H. Shea thanked resident for their cooperation in “controlling the youth activities” He’d published a “stern warning” prior to Halloween.Reports from Gage County said that grasshoppers were eating up the young wheat.1924Republican McMullen was elected Nebraska governor, defeating N.J. Norton, later a Congressman. Norton had been named to the Democrat state ticket after Gov. Charles Bryan declined the renomination to accept the vice-presidential spot.Cornhuskers were being paid 6 to 8 cents a bushel and meals. Yields were from five to 55 bushels per acre.1932Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John Nance Garner were elected President and Vice President.1934The Fairbury Journal Editor W.F. Cramb predicted a Chamber of Commerce talk that Nebraska would adopt a sales tax; told of its operation in Iowa and Illinois.A rain of 1 ½ inches followed the driest summer here in history, putting the wheat ground in fairly good condition.While in Chicago for the World's Fair, Editor W.F. Cramb reported cheapest seats for the Ziegfeld Follies were $1.10, the highest $3.65.1944An executive committee was formed to deal with postwar developments locally. George Apking of Daykin was county chairman. Morris Spear headed the Fairbury group.The V.A. Marshall Life Insurance Agency offices was planning to move from the Mary-Etta Hotel building to an east side site formerly occupied by the Jensena Marie Cafe.Cleo Schmoldt, daughter of the Leo Schmoldts, received the Union Pacific's Carl Raymond $100 scholarship.Messer Auto Parts rented the building at 316 F Street from R.B. Steele, Merle L. Oglevie was manager; Louis Klein salesman.1954The Rexall Drug Co's. honor store plaque was presented to Globe Rexall.1964Stan Buckow, who had been a casualty underwriter for the Travelers Insurance Co., in Denver, joined the Starr Insurance agency in Fairbury.Dale Gates was honored for 50 years as a bass singer with the Christian Church choir. He had sung under direction of Henry Abrams. Mrs. Perry, Ruth Hinkley, Clarence Henney, Wanda Cook, Lorene Norton, Nellie Orth and Amaryllis Holloway.1974A group of Fairburians formed the Bomber Booster Gage Club, to support SCC-Fairbury basketball.The ASCS office was processing claims for crop damage from drouth and hot winds, hail and the Sept. 3 freeze.The Rev. Don Shoemaker was installed as Kiwanis Club president.The Happy Harbiners 4-H Club won Jefferson County home ec and ag “best club” plaques.1984A candidate forum was held for those running for mayor of Fairbury, city council and county commission, but the real interest for those attending was the one percent sales tax proposed for the city of Fairbury.Former Fairbury resident William Hugh Riley, 51, was appointed judge in the 11th Judicial District by Gov. Bob Kerrey. He was living in Grand Is-land.Brian Zimmerman of Tri County High School and Farmers of America was nominated for the American Farmer Degree to be conferred at the national convention later in November.1994With a new global tracking system already in operation, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Fairbury Police Department were ready to begin using their mobile data computers. The county and city departments were the very first in the state to have the combined tracking and mobile data systems.The Tri County FFA chapter participated in the district land judging contest in a field near Tecumseh. Jessie Byrd was the top individual and received a purple.2000Richard Zimmerman and James Machmann were recognized for their service and participation in school boards at the 2000 Nebraska Association of School Boards regional meeting in York. The District 8 school board members were among nearly 200 out of more than 3,000 board members statewide selected for the honor. 2004Fairbury area residents were in line early in the morning on Nov. 2 waiting for their turn to vote. Sandra Stelling, Jefferson County Clerk, originally predicted a 50 percent turnout. By mid-morning, she felt that it would definitely be larger than she had thought.Kathren Mees and Ruth Schoenrock were selected to receive Parkview Manor's Heart of Gold Award this month. Kathren had served as treasurer for the tenant's association and has helped with both the morning coffee hour and potluck dinners. She purchased supplies for both events. Kathren also helped with planting the flower beds. Ruth Schoenrock, recipient of the second award, has held a number of offices, including card chairman, vice president and president of the association. Ruth also assisted with the coffee hour and the potluck dinners, giving special attention to those who needed a little extra help. Each of the women has extended the hand of friendship to many people at Parkview and are highly regarded. The awards were presented by Ben Da-vis, Parkview Manor's tenant association vice president.2014Looking Back Store of Fairbury for "high standards of community service." Patti Dennis and Charles Herfkens were ap-pointed as editor and business manager of the FHS annual, "The Trail." Ralph Graham was faculty advisor. Eldon Miller was supervisor of the FHS distributive education program. It had 32 juniors and seniors taking on-the-job training in addition to courses leading to a diploma.

Phyllis J. (Fishell) Waltemat

11.2.22

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