25 years ago: Jan. 21, 1998

Matt Bichelmeyer was chosen citizen of the year by the Chamber of Commerce. Matt was chosen because of his willingness to help out wherever and whenever he could.

Roger Shilling, of Shilling Electric, has been retrofitting the Sunflower Ammunition Water Treatment Plant, since September, to breed tilopia, whitefish found in the Nile. There is a similar operation in McPherson, Kansas.

This week’s paper included the 16-page supplement for the 39th Tonganoxie Invitational, with team stories, statistics, and brackets.

50 years ago: Jan. 18, 1973

Mark and Jim Aye display the snake their mother, Mrs. Delbert Aye, killed Sunday. Killing a snake is not unusual but doing it in January is.

Outstanding academic performance during the fall semester earned “scholastic honors” for 2,476 Kansas State University students. Those from Tonganoxie included: Donna Black, Linda Denholm, William Peterson, Jon Nelson, John Schlup, and Roderick Sturgeon.

Nine senior students of Tonganoxie High School are enrolled in Vocational Education courses and are working three hours daily in Tonganoxie business firms. Miss Marsha Wiles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey Wiles is learning to operate a Teletypesetter.

Paola staved off a late Tonganoxie threat and handed THS its fifth straight loss, 64-56. The Pioneer League battle was played on Paola’s home court.

The Tonganoxie Wrestling Squad stretched its winning streak to six straight in dual competition. Undefeated this season the Chieftains overran the Holton Wildcats by a score of 35-13. Unable to overcome the stiff competition of larger schools, the Freshman Wrestling Squad was defeated in both of their matches in the past week.

With an increase of 285 students in the last six years, the initial steps necessary to solve the problem of inadequate facilities for the school district have been taken by the Board of Education and with the help of the steering committee. Administration and faculty have come up with a proposed solution that is considered to be the most economical for the district. The proposed solution to the facility problem of USD 464 would be a new K-3 building and an addition to the high school constructed to house grades 7, 8, and 9. This proposed solution would be adequate to house between 1700 and 1800 students to provide a good basic education.

75 years ago: Jan. 22, 1948

The Gas Service Company informs us that practically all of the natural gas supplied here comes through pipelines from Texas, Oklahoma and Western Kansas. Naturally, there are bound to be some breakdowns and shortages as the gas is brought from such great distances. And especially during the winter months, the equipment is working overtime. Because of that, a break could decrease the available gas supply. Please conserve gas in every way you can during cold weather. We are meeting huge demands.

Hill Rendering Service is paying highest cash prices for dead horses, cattle, and hogs. Call their office, collect.

Zellner Mercantile is selling new Hoovers for $69.95. This model has the exclusive “Positive Agitation” system that beats as it sweeps and cleans! Extra cleaning tools can be purchase for $18.

Zoellner’s has an after-inventory sale with low, low prices on children’s dresses, coats and overshoes. If you don’t mind a little dirt, girl’s raincoats regularly $4.98 are on clearance for $.98. 

Several members of Chapter AT PEO attended a Founder’s Day banquet in Lawrence. Baldwin and Olathe chapters also attended. 

Musil’s Bakery now has the brand-new whole-wheat bread which contains 57% whole wheat flour. It is believed to be the best quality on the market.

100 years ago: Jan. 18, 1923

Following the death of the young man, known here as Oscar Warren, who was killed by a cave in of a ditch in the sewer construction work last Wednesday afternoon, it was arranged to delay the funeral until his parents residing in Oklahoma could be heard from to learn if they might desire the body sent there for burial.

At this time, it became known that he had been leading a double life and his name was really Oscar Warren Stansberry and he had deserted his young wife at Blackjack where she and her ten weeks old babe reside with her father, B.J. Rader. Last July he had been married to a daughter of Henry Oberbach, of Tonganoxie, and the young couple were residing at her parental home at the time of the accident.

After the facts became known, the body was removed from the Oberbach home to the Rumsey Undertaking room and Monday of this week the funeral services were held at the Maple Grove cemetery where interment was made. Services were conducted by Rev. A.J Haworth.

Mr. B.J. Rader and a son were here looking after affairs. Mr. Stansberry was 28 years of age.

125 years ago: Jan. 20, 1898

Early Tuesday morning, James Murphy, George Woodruff and George Gordon, post office burglars, made their escape from the federal penitentiary. They dropped behind the other prisoners in coming out to breakfast, and taking advantage of the heavy fog, scaled a twenty-foot wall by means of a rope ladder and were gone some time before they were missed. Guards tracked them through the snow for a short distance, but they traveled on a road and all trace of them has been lost. All three of them were convicted at Topeka for breaking into post offices. Murphy and Gordon have two years to serve and Woodruff ten. This makes the third time Murphy broke prison and the second for Woodruff. Murphy’s home is in East St. Louis and Gordon’s in Topeka.

Fire broke out at the State Penitentiary shortly after midnight Monday night and destroyed the Laundry building, a brick and wood structure, 30 x 80 feet. The loss is about $4,000, principally on the machinery of the laundry. The fire caught in the dry room and was under full headway when discovered at 12:50.

There was much excitement among the convicts in the south cell house nearby, as it seemed certain to them that the cell house would go. Warden Landis and a force of guards removed them to a safer place and the march was made without the least break of discipline. The prison fire department did efficient work in keeping the flames in check and protecting adjacent property. The weekly change of clothing for 406 men employed in the mine was lost