25 years ago: Oct. 3, 2001

Leavenworth County commissioners on Thursday will begin negotiations with a Kansas City area firm that wants to take over operation of the county infirmary. In July, commissioners agreed to seek proposals from companies to operate and manage Broadway Heights, the county nursing home. The home recently has been a financial drain on the county, and commissioners have approved transfers of thousands of dollars from the general fund to the infirmary to keep it afloat. The commissioners will meet this week with Citadel Holding.

The front-page photo showed Russ Kimberlin tying pink ribbons on one of the Tonganoxie streetlamps in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Carolyn Wise was also pictured, steadying the ladder for Russ.

Another front-page photo was contributed by Stephen Seely. He is an actor living in New York City and sent a photo of the World Trade Center buildings engulfed in smoke. The photo was taken from the roof of the apartment building where he lives, about 20 blocks from the trade center.

Two Kansas court of appeals judges, Joseph Pierron Jr. and Henry Green talked to the eighth- and ninth-grade students at an assembly. “We demonstrate how the United States Supreme Court works by having them help present United States Supreme Court cases that have been decide within the last few years,” Perron said. Pierron explained the basics to the students, telling them that the Court of Appeals, on which both Pierron and Green serve, is an intermediate appellate court, between the trail court and the Kansas Supreme Court. Steve Woolf, junior high principal, said the school jumped at the opportunity to have the judges visit. This was the only day they could make it and even though we were in the middle of our Stanford Achievement tests, we thought his was important and so we rearranged our schedule to fit that in.

50 years ago: Oct. 6, 1976

Instead of cooking Sunday, join the Sacred Heart Church for their annual Turkey Dinner and Bazaar.

The annual Tonganoxie High School Homecoming game will be played Friday on Beatty Field. The Chieftains face the DeSoto Wildcats. The Homecoming parade will start at 2:30 and travel through town. A pep rally will be held at the intersection of Fourth and Bury Steets. The three finalists for the Homecoming Queen are Julia Hoffhines, Debbie Ryan and Jeanne Seymour. The queen will be crowned during half-time activities at the game. The homecoming dance will be after the game.

Frank Smith, 1974 Tonganoxie High School graduate, has been selected as a member of the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors’ football squad. Frank, a Physical Education major, is a starting defensive end.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were moved inside for Southwestern Bell’s new central office at 105 East 6th Street. A gold shovel was presented to the Mayor of Tonganoxie. The $110,000 building will house a $769,000 Electronic Switching System, the most advanced switching equipment in the world, Bill Collinson, local manager for the company, said.

Fifteen students were selected by the THS faculty as worthy of becoming members of the National Honor Society. Juniors and seniors were chosen on the basis of scholarship, leadership, character and service.

For forty years Alex Lash has been hauling can milk. Last Thursday his route was terminated due to new regulations. For Alex it was the end of an era. He started hauling can milk during the boom days of Tonganoxie’s Franklin Ice Cream Company in the 1930’s. He recalls when he was one of thirty can milk drivers in this area, each having their own route. Usage of ten-gallon milk cans for transfer of milk is now prohibited and many were thrown in the farmyard.

More than 500 persons loaded their plates with fried chicken, baked beans, relishes and homemade pie and cake at the fairgrounds to kick off National 4-H Week.

Connie Jean Swain and Lawrence Dale Torneden were united in marriage in a candlelight ceremony at the Friends Church.

Cynthia Denise Thornton became the bride of Thomas Loren Murry at the United Methodist Church.

75 years ago: Oct. 4, 1951

Once again, we have a story about a death on a moving train. A St. Louis Private, Lester Timmons age 18 had been arrested in Illinois for being AWOL.  He was being transported to Briggs Air Base in Texas by two Sergeants when the young soldier asked to use the toilet.  As the train pulled out of the Bonner Springs depot, the private, who was unaccompanied locked himself in the bathroom.  He managed to knock out the window and then jumped as the train sped along.  He was killed instantly, his body being sent to a Tonganoxie Funeral home.  Readers might remember the stories of two other men who have jumped the trains near here and have sustained fatal injuries.

Two local mechanics, Tom Robb and Hobart Herries, have won an all-expense paid trip to Havana Cuba after entering a Ford Motor Co. contest.  They’re both married, so probably won’t be much dancing with senioritas!

Enter a “What I Like About Norge Appliances” contest is open for residents in our area with a prize of a Norge stove, refrigerator or washer.  All you have to do is count the number of dots on the application picture, tell why you like Norge and enter your name.  Good luck to one and all.

Boeing airplane Company is hiring men and women, skilled and unskilled to produce the B-47 Stratojet Bomber. You can earn while you learn whether you have had any previous experience.  Jobs include electricians, tool and die workers, sheet metal assemblers and mechanics.

100 years ago: Oct. 7, 1926

The Tonganoxie High School Football Eleven held the Linwood “Spud growers” scoreless in the second game of the season on Elm Park Gridiron, Friday October 1. The game was called at 2:30. Tonganoxie had excellent side line support, although Linwood boosters were also in evidence. The game was started with unusual vim. Capt. Knox won the flip for Tonga so chose to receive. The Linwood eleven with their blue and white took their position to kick, while Tonganoxie spread her red and white over half the field to receive. Lloyd Sechrest of Tonganoxie received the ball and advanced up the field to a 12-yard gain. The ball then changed hands frequently but remained in Tonga’s territory most of the time. The second quarter uneventful except for good solid team work by both teams. At the beginning of the second half Linwood tried several center plunges but was unsuccessful. Tonga, the smaller team by an average of ten pounds, made her downs and kicked to safety. The Tonga boys tightened up their plays ad fought their way until prospects were very good for a score. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to carry the ball across the line. Linwood was slowly moving out of danger as the game ended.

The glee clubs are working on a patriotic cantata entitled, “The Spirit of 1776.” It is to be given Armistice Day in the auditorium and everyone is cordially invited.

Fred D. Angell of Tonganoxie was elected president of the Kansa State Firemen’s Association Wednesday September 29, at Manhattan, Kansas. Mr. Angell is a competent and efficient man for this office, having been interested in this work for a number of years. He has been Fire Chief for the last six years. He was First Vice-President last year of the Kansa State Association.

125 years ago: Oct. 10, 1901

Apple picking is in full blast in the Wellhouse orchards. The picking of the winter varieties began the middle of last week, and it is expected the work will be finished sometime next week. Twenty men are at work picking and barreling the crop. The culls from the orchard have not yet been sold, though several parties are negotiating for them. The apple crop so far is coming up to Mr. Wellhouse’s expectations in yield. Thos. Jackson, of Glenwood, brought over a load of apple culls yesterday, and had them transferred into cider.

B.F. Blakely’s store is being treated to a new coat of paint, and a warehouse is being erected at the rear. Uhlrich & Childs started up the Reno cheese factory Monday morning, receiving 1800 pounds of milk the first day.

The teachers of Leavenworth County will have a meeting at the courthouse next Saturday, to discuss educational matters.

A very pleasant surprise party was given at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Reno last Thursday evening, in honor of their daughter Dollie’s 15th birthday. They made merry till a late hour. They then did justice to the ice cream and cake, and then departed for their homes, wishing Miss Dollie many happy returns.