25 years ago: April 8, 1998

The Tonganoxie Ministerial Alliance will be sponsoring an Easter sunrise community service at the former Reno Methodist Church building located on the Tonganoxie Historical Society property. The service will be held Sunday, April 12, beginning at 6:30 and concluding at approximately 7:15.

Youths between the ages of 14 and 16 who wish to work on a farm this summer should know they cannot work for anyone other than a parent or egal guardian unless they take a safety training course following U.S. Department of Labor requirements.

50 years ago: April 5, 1973

Wide interest was shown in rural Leavenworth County in three school bond elections, two of which were defeated, and one which carried at Basehor-Linwood No. 458. The Tonganoxie-Jarbalo and Lansing school bonds were defeated. The following incumbent mayors were re-elected: Lee K. Mark, Tonganoxie; Bernard Eberth, Basehor; and Stanley Hipsher, Linwood. An entirely new city council, with the exception of Wayne L. Finch, was elected in Tonganoxie. It was reported that out of approximately 1,300 registered voters in District No. 464, ballots were casts on the bonds by 1,267 voters.

“People in Leavenworth County can boast that they are host to about 40 species of Kansas champion trees,” states County Extension Agent, Jack Smith. Last fall, foresters of the Kansas Extension Service began to update the list of 80species of champion trees. Perhaps the most notable champion is the ginkgo located in the front yard of an apartment owned by Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Wollesen in Leavenworth. “This tree is not only the largest ginkgo but probably one of the most valuable in the state,” said Smith.

The first track meet ever held at THS was held Tuesday, April 3. Congratulations to Mr. Shaw and Mr. Lobb and the teams for showing outstanding performance in their first home track meet.

Tonganoxie Jr. High students have been studying Mythology and students Colette Spencer and Debbie Neff created a model of Mount Olympus. Teachers involved in the course are Mrs. Michaels and Mrs. Maach. 

The Sertoma Club has available electric engraving pencils which can be borrowed to engrave your Social Security Number on items which can be stolen from your homes. To further discourage burglaries, the Club has decals which read, “Warning All Articles on This Property Are Protected By Identification Seals, Sertoma International.”

75 years ago: April 1, 1948

Zellner Mercantile Company, longtime establishment in this area, has transferred ownership of their hardware store to Mr. Carl Oakson. Any customer with owed accounts will need to settle by May first. Many items in stock have been reduced for quick sale. It’s no April Fool’s joke. Get in and get some bargains.

Meyer Brothers Milk Company will deliver to your home. Their products are pasteurized and homogenized. So, we guess it’s “wize” to buy from this company in order to “protect your health”

Kansas United Dry Forces Tonganoxie Committee reports that a 40% increase in auto collision rates is caused by drinking and drunken drivers. Teetotalers must also pay this increase. Join your Kansas neighbors who find temperance an investment in good citizenship and a dry state the best heritage for Kansas children.

News from Reno reports that Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Grinter and son Jimmie visited Wednesday evening with the Pearson family. Might be possible that Jimmie will stay in our community for a long while. We hope so.

100 years ago: April 5, 1923

The city election went off very quietly in Tonganoxie although there was a lot of work done for both tickets in a quiet manner. There were 381 votes cast and when counted, but few were thrown out as not voted correctly.

The citizens of the town showed their confidence in William Heynen, who has been our efficient mayor for the past four years, by re-electing him over F.W. Cronemeyer who was also his opponent four years ago, by the majority of eighty-eight votes.

Foster Laming enjoyed the honor of leading his ticket. And Chas. Milett held the distinction of leading the loosing ticket.

Following is the vote for each candidate:

Mayor William Heynen 227; F.W. Cronemeyer 139

Police Judge H.B. Kline 211; T.J. Cook 136

For Councilmen – George Seufert 189, Ivan Sechrest 219, Foster Laming 235, W.C. Allan 200, C.H. Cain 198, W.E. Simison 152, L.F. Young 164, Chas. Milett 177, John Todd 121, H.L. Hawkins 112.

The office to which we have elected these men is a thank-you job, and more often than not they do not receive the thanks they are entitled to for their efforts on behalf of the citizens. Why not let each citizen, for the next two years, do what they can to help the city administration in a personal manner instead of knocking and faultfinding.

If your neighbor’s chickens are trespassing, consult your neighbor about it before bothering the mayor. If that ditch needs a few shovels full of dirt moved to open the drain, maybe your shovel is in need of exercise, and it would reduce your taxes as well as the other fellow’s.

These things do not amount to much to the individual but when it is considered that there are over a thousand citizens who have troubles you can realize the possibilities of annoyance to a long suffering public official.

Let’s boost, work in harmony, and not knock.

125 years ago: April 7, 1898

The election Monday was a surprise all around. It was expected that the result would be close by the partisans of both sides, hence the decisive majorities on the Straight Republican ticket were unexpected The fight really came upon the heads of the ticket and the voting was generally straight for either ticket.

The only candidate on either ticket against whom a personal fight was made was A.A. Moody, and the thing was overdone.

The vote cast in the forenoon was light because of the bad weather, but in the afternoon weather conditions improved and a good vote was pulled, the total for the day being 392.

For Mayor: Ashley Moody, 221; J.M.Enochs, 160.

Clerk: R.B. Wilkinson, 221; Louis Cronemeyer, 165

Police judge: E.F. Cooledge, 363

For marshall: Frank Lawrence, 241; J.W. Hollingsworth 135.