Family is comfortable signing their words: (Picture of Homer and Larry Burns.) His fingers flash as Homer signs his thoughts to his only son, Larry. Larry signs back just as quickly and then translates to those of us who don’t know this second language the deaf father and his hearing son share. (The article continued, sharing much information about the family.)

Deaths: Mrs. Virginia Ann Baldwin, 64, of Kansas City, died Dec. 8, 1994, at her home; James Austin Novo-Gradac, 53, Bonner Springs, died Dec. 10, 1994; Glenda May McAllister, 58, Midwest City, Okla., formerly of Kansas City, Mo., died Dec. 10, 1994; Dolores F. “Toots” Tobin, 70, Kansas City, Mo., died Dec. 7, 1994; Dorothy Louise Harris, 85, a lifetime Leavenworth county resident, died Dec. 6, 1994.

A surprise 80th birthday party was held for Willa Guthrie on Dec. 10, with nine of her 10 children in attendance. Also in attendance were her 18 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Air Force Airman Derek E. Jarvis has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. (Picture.)

Air Force Airman Jerry W. Mills has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

25 years ago: Dec. 12, 1979

Manhattan: (Picture.) The Kansas State University Foundation awarded $515,000 in scholarships to 1,300 students during the last school year. Among the students who received awards this fall is Tracey E. Pittman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Max Pittman, of Tonganoxie.

Deaths: Mrs. Amelia Jeannette Emerson, Tonganoxie, passed away Dec. 8, 1979, at the age of 82 years; Harold D. Kirby, 80, Lawrence, died Thursday; Samuel Franklin Haas, Tonganoxie, passed away Dec. 8, 1979, at the age of 85 years. Services for Mrs. Rose M. Burroughs, 100, Ottawa, were held Wednesday.

Troy Freeman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Freeman, celebrated his 13th birthday, Dec. 1, by having a party where 30 classmates were invited. His mother was pleased with the boys he invited. They all were very well-mannered.

Linwood News: Mrs. Gladys Zimmerli was hostess of a birthday party Dec. 2, honoring her husband, Fred; Miss Ruth Pettengill was honored on her birthday Dec. 2, also.

Girl Scout Troop No. 566 went to the Eudora Nursing Home Nov. 30th where they entertained the patients with a Puppet Show called “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” The girls had made their own puppets, and after the show they served cookies and juice. This was a gratifying experience for these young ladies.

50 years ago: Dec. 30, 1954

(There is no copy in the newspaper files or at the Tonganoxie Public Library.)

75 years ago: Dec. 5, 1929

This week two old-time residents of Tonganoxie were brought back to the old home town for their last rites. Services were held Tuesday for Fount Hawkins, who died Friday at Goodland. Services were held Sunday for Mrs. M. M. Boman, who died Nov. 25, in Los Gatos, Calif.

A band of cattle thieves is operating in six or eight counties in the Kansas City vicinity, and reports come in from various counties where farmers are being victimized by this band.

Sidney D. Woodard, 83, a well-known retired farmer, died at his home in Lansing at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon. He had been in feeble health for several months.

Hermine Mitchell, 15 years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Mitchell, of Valley Falls, was fatally injured Thursday when the motor car her father was driving turned over in the loose chat on Highway No. 73, near Dunavant, Kan.

Mr. and Mrs. Walt Neibarger went to Valley Falls Sunday for an 80th birthday dinner for Mrs. Neibarger’s father, Z.A. Hukill. The Hukill family has lived at Valley Falls since the early days.

Stanwood: Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Beechheim, of Lecompton, announce the birth of a son, Nov. 22. Mrs. Beechheim will be remembered as Miss Ruby Coffman.

100 years ago: Dec. 15, 1904

M.R. Howard has sold his lumber yard at Linwood to a firm from Olathe, and gave them possession this week. Mr. Howard will devote his time more exclusively to the banking business. Before spring, the capital stock of the Linwood State Bank is to be increased from $5,000 to $10,000.

A strange fatality seems to have befallen the Fields-Silvers family at Reno. There have been three deaths among the grown people in three weeks, and another one of the family is now seriously ill. Four weeks ago, Thos. Fields died of pneumonia, a week later James Fields, a cousin, also passed away. Last Friday, Will Silvers, a half-brother of James Fields died of pneumonia. Charlie Fields is now sick.

James Gideon, a resident of Reno, died this week. He was about 82 years of age.

Mrs. Gale, wife of Howard Gale who taught school at Friendship Valley a few years ago, died at her home near Piper last week. She leaves her husband and a week-old babe.

A 10-pound son was born to Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Emerson at their home in Kansas City, Kan., yesterday morning. Both of the parents are well-known in Tonganoxie.

Don’t forget the time and place: Reno church, Friday, Dec. 16th, afternoon and evening. Everybody is invited to come and enjoy themselves. There will be plenty of fish in the “mysterious well” to furnish amusement for both young and old. There will be a booth of homemade candy and fresh popcorn. Also plenty of nice things to select your Christmas presents from. Oysters will be served in the church basement.