James Presley Gilner Jr., 79, Greeley, died Jan. 11 at his home; Arthur G. Voelker, 80, McLouth, died Jan. 14.

Kara Whitner, a seventh-grade student at Tonganoxie Junior High, won the school-level competition of the National Geography Bee last week and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. Other finalists included Mike Moss, Sarah Latham, Matt Huffman, Shawn Massing, Jonathan Clubine, Justin Mills, Mike Needham, Kevin Reischman and Nick Hoegler.

Jarbalo Jottings: George and Cathy Moore have a new grandson, born Jan. 5.

In front of the Village Floral Monday, a special sign read Happy 65th Birthday, Paul, surrounded by colorful balloons. This was a special day for Paul Nicholson, who has been a part of our community for many years. As one cup handed to Paul read, “I’m not over the hill, I’m on a roll.”

25 years ago: Jan. 17, 1979

A Tonganoxie High School graduate is one of five finalists from Kansas to compete as a torchbearer for the 1980 Olympic games at Lake Placid, N.Y. Heidi Wallace, daughter of Mary Wallace and the late Arch Wallace, will compete in finals in Denver, March 21.

The frame home of Louis Mills on Third Street in Tonganoxie was virtually destroyed in a fire Friday afternoon.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Quisenberry announce the birth of a son, Eric Matthew, Jan. 13; Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Kyle of Tonganoxie, announce the birth of a son, Chad Allen, on Jan. 7.

Deaths: Fred Raymond Cox, Tongan-oxie, passed away Jan. 11, at the age of 73 years; John Roland Weiss, R.R.1, Basehor, age 71 years, passed away Jan. 10.

50 years ago: Jan. 28, 1954

Death: Mrs. Alice May Beech, 71, died at her Lawrence home on Jan. 14.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Blackwell announce the birth of their daughter on Jan. 18. She has been given the name Karla Sue; Mr. and Mrs. Don Rasmussen have given the name Janet Sue to their new daughter, born Jan. 14.

Bob Robinson in the St. Marys Star comments on a plan to give surplus butter to starving people in other countries. He says aid should be limited to starving friends and let our enemies go on starving.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Dale Black of Van Nuys, Calif., announce the birth of their daughter, Cindy Rae on Dec. 21; Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Knapp, Easton, announce the birth of a daughter, Carma Lynn, on Jan. 17.

Georgina Himpel, 6-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Himpel, has the scarlet fever.

75 years ago: Jan. 10, 1929

Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Kimmel of McLouth celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Saturday, Dec. 29, 1928.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert E. DeVoe of Fairview, announce the birth of a girl on Jan. 6. Linwood, Route 2: Mr. and Mrs. George Henik announce the birth of a daughter, Jan. 3.

Stanwood: Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Holliday and family attended the funeral of their brother, Mark Holliday, Wednesday afternoon.

Tonganoxie Rural High School News: Two of the boys are building individual hog houses in the shop. They are also building a 10 to 12 brooder house in the shop for Mrs. Hans Freienmuth.

100 years ago: Jan. 21, 1904

After three weeks of suffering the 2-year-old son of Andrew and Mary Hawkins died at their home one and three quarters miles east of Tonganoxie. There is an empty cradle; there is an empty bed. There is an empty bosom, where joy and light have fled. To soon in the graveyard the little hillock lies; But the hillock represents an angel in the skies.

R. Wright who lives two miles directly east of town, has two brothers who are becoming famous because of their success in aerial navigation. A lengthy write-up of the machine in last Sunday’s papers is preceded by the following explanatory paragraphs: “As a culmination of five years of careful study and experimenting, Wilbur and Orville Wright, two young men of Dayton, Ohio, have constructed a machine which on Dec. 17 easily flew more than three miles in the face of a wind blowing twenty miles an hour. The experimenting grounds are at Kitty Hawk, N.C., an isolated locality among the sand dunes of the Atlantic coast.

The rapid increase of telephones in the rural neighborhoods makes communication with town easy. The Mirror will deem it an especial favor if telephone users will send in news items, about themselves, their families or their neighbors. Call No. 22, tell us, and we will do the rest.