(Picture) The recent warm weather has brought animals and reptiles out of hibernation. Fritz Bloomberg found this 7-foot-1 bull snake in the woods near his home north of Tonganoxie.

(Picture) While she is recuperating and resting at home, Helen Schilling took time out to visit with the Mirror and discuss topics ranging from her 22 different collections, to her long career with the Mirror. “I started working for the Mirror back in about 1927,” Helen said. “I worked after school until I graduated, and then after a year at Park College, I came back and was a roving correspondent, covering the farms all over this area.” (Helen also worked at Victory Junction as a waitress, as an operator and chief operator for the phone company, was in the Coast Guard as a SPAR for 2 1/2 years and was a traffic manager in Kansas City.) Among other things, Helen collected post cards, rocks and Teddy bears.

Birth: Jim and Cyndy Pearson announce the birth of a son, James Bennett Jr., on March 13, 1995, in Plano, Texas.

Deaths: Merle Robert Whitford, 79, of Burbank, Calif., died March 25, 1995; Harold E. Turner, 71, died March 31, 1995; George Clayton Swan, 59, Tonganoxie, died March 28, 1995.

25 years ago: April 2, 1980

Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Mark Nicolay announce the birth of a son, Jason Michael, born March 15, 1980, in Osborne.

The family of Fred and Dorothy Northern invite you to participate in celebrating the golden anniversary of their parents, Sunday, April 6, 1980, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Leavenworth Mutual Savings in Tonganoxie.

Deaths: Joseph Charles Bogard, RR 1, Linwood, passed away March 31, 1980, at the age of 60 years. George H. Waters, 78, Kansas City, died Saturday. Charles T. “Zack” Moore, 78, St. Joseph, died Friday.

Several of Mrs. Juanita DeLude’s friends enjoyed celebrating her birthday with a dinner in Kansas City, Sunday. Those who enjoyed the day were Mrs. Bea Bateson, Mrs. Irene Duncanson, Mrs. Maurine Lamb, Mrs. Lurline Abplanalp and Mrs. Juanita DeLude.

Sometimes we really don’t know our neighbors, and we’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to one of our own who has a story to tell. (The story by Helen Schilling was about Charles “Charley” Jacka, the owner of a Silver Star Medal, the third-highest honor given by the U.S. Army.) Jacka saw a lot of front line action in the infantry in the European campaign, and served on four continents in the ETO (European Theatre Operations), covering territory in Algiers, Tunisia, Sicily and Italy in his 45 months of Army life. The Silver Star was received for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Djebel Touila, Tunisia, Feb. 6, 1943. In an attempt to rescue six men of his troop caught in an enemy trap, Private Jacka calmly faced heavy enemy machine-gun and mortar fire in a futile search of the area.

50 years ago: April 21, 1955

Deaths: Wesley Moore, Springfield, Missouri, passed away April 14, 1955. Frank J. Nirschl, Kansas City, Kan., passed away April 9, 1955. Francis Ambrose Reynolds, formerly of Tonganoxie, passed away April 12, 1955, at the age of 74 years. Earl Warner Ward Sr., Tonganoxie, passed away April 17, 1955, at the age of 55 years. Mrs. Mary Ellen Swain, Tonganoxie, passed away April 17, 1955, at the age of 52 years.

George Baker family moved this week to their new house on South Delaware Street, purchased from Amos Barton.

Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mitchell, Lawrence, are the parents of a girl, born April 20th. They have given her the name Toni Lee.

Stranger Valley Echoes: A well-known Kansan, in a confidential mood, told us when a boy he would run away from home every so often. But he never got so far away that he couldn’t get back by meal time.

Linwood: Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Reece announce the birth of an 11-pound, 6-ounce boy April 15.

75 years ago: March 27, 1930

John B. Greever, prominent farmer northwest of Tonganoxie on State Highway No. 30, died about five o’clock Tuesday morning. Mr. Greever was born Nov. 21, 1860, at Savannah, Mo., in Andrew County. Mrs. Narcissis Brewer, age 86, died Monday evening at her home in Tonganoxie. She was born in Johnson County, Ark., Feb. 14, 1844, and came to Kansas with her father at the close of the Civil War in 1864, and has resided at Tonganoxie practically all the time since. (This obituary ends with “And so, in the passing of Narcissis Brewer, we find this story, so far as we know — the last of the colored race here who was born in slavery.”)

Roy Kramer, vice president of the Kaw Packing Co., who was found dead early Wednesday morning on the roadside of No. 10, near Grantville was known by many here. He made regular trips to Kansas City each week, and always stopped at the Davis Coffee shop for breakfast. Raymond Davis said Kramer would come in, announce he had made it to Tonganoxie from Topeka in 50 minutes. A coroner’s jury at Oskaloosa decied Kramer had been murdered by parties unknown.

Mrs. W.J. Stephenson entertained Sunday with a birthday party in honor of her son, Billie’s fifth birthday. Fourteen little playmates were the guests.

The Marmoy and Needham families had a jolly time one evening last week, when they met at the home of H.V. Needham to celebrate the birthdays of Miss Iola Marmoy and Miss Elsie Needham. The affair was arranged as a surprise for Miss Elsie and was a complete surprise, as she had no idea of what was coming.

Tonga, Route 4: Little Miss Patricia Lenahan celebrated her 8th birthday Thursday evening, March 20th, by inviting 22 of her little school friends to a party.

100 years ago: April 6, 1905

Word was received in town a few days ago that Mrs. Truman White had died in a hospital in Los Angeles from the effects of burns received from a gasoline stove explosion. No particulars were sent.

The parents and young people of the Honey Valley school pleasantly and completely surprised Mr. Turner and his pupils last Friday afternoon, March 31st, by the unexpected opening of the door, marching into the school house, taking possession of it and spreading a delicious dinner. The afternoon was very enjoyably and entertainingly spent in various amusements, but the main feature of the afternoon was a ball game, in which male and female, big and little, old and young, all participated. Every family in the district except two were present, and those who did not take part in the outside amusements, spent the afternoon in social chat. An affair of this kind is always nice, but this one seemed all the nicer as March 31st was Mr. Turner’s birthday as well as the last day of school.

Louis Cronemeyer has been exceedingly pleasant this week. We are not sure whether it is caused by the arrival at his house on last Thursday of a fine boy or the prospects of an election to a city office. –McLouth Times.

Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Carter, living south of town, have received the sad news of the death of their 7-year-old granddaughter, Merle Hurst, of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, on March 31. She had been ill for some time and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst were on their way to the seashore with her when death came.