25 years ago: March 3, 1999

City Park Underway. Volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, playground equipment and three soccer fields are slated for new Tonganoxie Park. The park will occupy eleven acres on Main Street. Over the winter, the city decided to dig a separate well for the park rather than try to connect to the city water line.

As the year 2000 approaches, fears are fueled by the potential Y2K computer malfunctions. Local banks are working with the FDIC to keep people informed on the issues facing this possible technological glitch.

50 years ago: March 14, 1974

Mrs. Doris Somers of Tulsa, Oklahoma wishes to announce the engagement of her daughter, Karen Ann, to R.J. Stephenson, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Stephenson Jr. of Tonganoxie.

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Reetz, Lawrence, announce the engagement of their daughter, Debra Anne to Dennis A. Wedel, son of Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Wedel, of Tonganoxie.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Leimkuhler, Leavenworth, announce the engagement of their daughter, Lynn Marie, to Jerome L. Paul, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Paul of Atchison.

Sheriff Dan Hawes, of Leavenworth, has filed for another term as Sheriff. Mr. Hawes is now completing his fourth term and has had strong support from citizens of the county who want good law enforcement.

Work has started on the expansion of the First State Bank of Tonganoxie. The addition when completed will triple the size of the present building.

Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day. If there are any good Irishmen or others around who don’t have their potatoes planted, it’s that time.

The Boy Scouts have 1,000 Scotch Pines to give away at B & J Thriftway, courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Koerth.

Rhonda Chapter #82, Order of the Eastern Star, will be celebrating its 84th birthday March 18th. Mrs. Marilyn Jensen, Worthy Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Kansas, will make an official visit.

Wayne Kesinger who has spent the past two years at the school of Farm and Ranch Management at Coffeyville, Kansas is now employed as assistant manager of Shannondale Angus Farms at Riley, Tennessee.

The Tonganoxie Jaycee Jaynes will sponsor a Babysitting Clinic at the Leavenworth Mutual for five weeks starting March 21st. Each girl completing the course by missing no more than one meeting will receive a certificate and have her name listed in the paper for reference.

75 years ago: March 13, 1949

The community club dinner and business meeting hosted about 20 men who are considering work on the “city white way”. Readers may wonder what this area is, and the answer is Fourth Street in our downtown business district. Discussions center around the placement of light poles, five to a block in the business district and three to the block in residential. These improvements will make our city safer and more attractive for evening shoppers.

Ralph Bray, Surge Service Dealers reminds dairy farmers that creeping teat cups do pinch off their dairy profits. Surge Teat Cups don’t creep allowing the downward and forward pull to get the milk.  He’ll come to your farm and show you how it works.

There is a dance this Saturday night at the White House in Reno. Music by Ernie and the Ramblin’ Play Boys. Cover charge is $.50 per person. Square dancing and round dancing!

Representative Cole has explained why he is totally against President Truman’s health care plan to provide free medical care, drugs, eyeglasses, teeth, maternity care, and hearing aids to all US citizens. Cole believes that it is socialized medicine and will cost taxpayers across the country. Cole opposes this bill stating “…it would not improve the health of our people or give them better medical care.” He also believes that it would bring a huge expansion of government and control of our freedom. Might need to go for a vote before the people.

100 years ago: March 13, 1924

Considerable misunderstanding seems to exist related to the limitations regarding the time in which a claim for compensation can be filed under the provisions of the War Risk connection with this matter the facts hereinafter set out might be carefully noted:

Any person who was a member of the U.S. military forces subsequent to April 6, 1917 and prior to Feb. 9, 1922 and has received a proper discharge, is entitled to file a claim for compensation with the U.S. Veterans Bureau, but his claim must be filed within five years from date of discharge. Any person who was discharged from the U.S. military forces prior to Oct. 6, 1917, has a right to file either a claim for compensation with the U.S. Veterans Bureau or a claim for pension with the Commissioner of Pensions, but he cannot file for both. No person who was discharged from the U.S. military forces prior to April 6, 1917 nor any person who enlisted in the U.S., Military forces subsequent to Feb. 9, 1922 comes within the provisions of the War Risks Insurance Act.

Commander ad Adjutant of American Legion Lester D. Hamil Post of Tonganoxie, Kansas has the necessary blanks for re-instatement of Government Insurance.

125 years ago: March 9, 1899

Register of Deeds John K. Creighton was brutally beaten Tuesday morning by his deputy W.W. Byers. The dispute arose over the deputy’s salary, and Byers struck Creighton over the head with a revolver while the latter was sitting in a chair. Byers finally floored the register of deeds with his blows which were so severe as to break the revolver.

Mr. Creighton is so severely injured that he will not be able to be out for several weeks. Byers has been arrested for assault with intent to kill.

James Poag, wanted since September 5th, for horse stealing, was arrested yesterday afternoon, by Deputy Sheriff Bishop on the farm of Andrew Wistuba, six miles southeast of here.

Poag lives in the Klondike district between Leavenworth and the Soldiers Home, and the family of which he is a member is considered tough, even for that thoroughly disreputable neighborhood. Last September he stole a horse from his brother-in-law whose name is Phelan, and since then the officers have been on the lookout for him. Not long ago Poag appeared over on Stranger and felled timber for about a week. He left before the officers found it out, but a few days ago he again appeared and was taken in.

Poag slept in the city prison last night, and this morning was taken to Leavenworth to be lodged in jail. He admits the theft.