Editor’s note: To capture time accurately, language from the past generally is left unchanged. This may result in some antiquated or out-of-use language from time to time. We try to maintain the exact wording when possible, but edits are occasionally made for the sake of brevity or because such wording isn’t acceptable today.

25 years ago: Aug. 9, 2000

Later this month, the Bonner Springs City Council will take action on the city’s planning commission approval of a Wal-Mart Super Center. If approved, the 160,000 square foot store will be constructed near the southeast corner of Kansas Avenue and Kansas Highway 7, across the highway from the exiting Wal-Mart.

Monday night’s storm snapped several tree limbs in Tonganoxie, including one shown near Fourth and Delaware streets.

Things were chugging along as usual at this year’s threshing bee. Saturday morning, antique steam engines, belching puffs of black smoke, powered threshing machines, a sawmill and chugged across the grounds during McLouth’s 43rd annual Steam Engine Show and Threshing Bee.

Bill Leftwich, Sebring, Fla., comes every year. A former airplane mechanic for Pan America, he said he now builds experimental twin-engine planes, originally designed for National Geographic to flu in Africa. The planes allow unencumbered views for photographers. Leftwich said that getting out of Florida is his therapy. “You come up here and it seems so natural – there’s an order to things.”

Under the shade of a three-sided shed, Jim Bevan heated iron in the blacksmith shop. As visitors watched, Bevan explained the procedure of bending iron in the old-fashioned way. He was making a hanger to fit on a tripod that would hold a kettle over a fire pit.

50 years ago: Aug. 7, 1975

Bernard Eberth, Mayor of Basehor, was killed when run over by the city fire truck. The accident occurred in downtown Basehor. The Fire Department was responding to a grass fire call. As the fire truck went down the Main Street of Basehor, it came to a stop to pick up Eberth. He jumped onto the truck and yelled that he was on. However, as the truck started moving again he lost his grip and fell under the rear wheels of the moving engine. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and one son of the home and two other sons.

The Truitt Nursing Home will close as soon as suitable accommodations can be found for its patients. The director said the cause of the closing is financial problems. The nursing home is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Truitt. Government regulations has made it financially impossible to operate.

Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Theroff of McLouth announce the engagement of their daughter, Charlene, to James D. Crain of Tonganoxie.

A horse riding accident sent Jackie Crane to Research Hospital. Jackie was riding a horse in a practice race when the horse went through a fence and threw her off. At this time, she is still in a coma and doctors list her condition as critical. Although her left side is paralyzed, movement in her arm has been noticed.

The new building on the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds is near completion and looks like it will be s for use for this year’s fair. The building can be easily seen from K-16.

Mr. and Mrs. Bert Torneden will be honored on their 50th wedding anniversary at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lawrence. They were married August 8, 1925 and have resided in this area all their lives.

75 years ago: Aug. 3, 1950

A beautiful wedding at Sacred Heart church joined Miss Eleanor Klinkenberg and Mr. Robert Lenahan in holy matrimony. Mr. John McCaffery served as best man with Billy Seymour and John Cass Lenahan as ushers. A second wedding at Sacred Heart joined Miss Anna Seufert and Mr. James Davoren in wedded bliss. We wish many happy years to both couples.

Peaches are getting ripe, and reports are of a good crop this year. Juicy and drippy, they can’t be beat on shortbread with some good thick cream.

Tourist traffic is getting really thick around here. Many cars are lined up behind transport trucks looking for something to see, perhaps. If we had a snake garden or big hand dug hole, they might have something to look at.

The high school has had quite a bit of work done this summer in preparation for the start of the new school year. Floors were sanded and sealed, and a number of rooms repainted. The music room was made into an extra classroom, and the auditorium will not host the music class. New lighting has been added and new playground equipment at the grade school. School starts Sept. 4.

100 years ago: Aug. 6, 1925

The Civic League met Monday evening, Aug. 3 with Mrs. Foster Laming as hostess. Thoughts on summer time and a delightful story read by Mrs. E.E. Hoskins furnished the program. Reports of the various committees were as follows: Yards, Lawns and Flowerbeds in splendid condition: the boys and girls gardens doing fine: and the Rest Room caring for the tourists in its usual efficient manner. The charity committee reports so many calls for aid such as carfare, gasoline and clothing from people who do not need them. Please be careful not to use this department as a means of getting rid of imposters. Delicious refreshments were served by the hostess after which the meeting adjourned. The next meeting will be Sept. 7 with Mrs. Henry Geib as hostess.

A rate war is on between the Interstate and Middle States bus lines. The seriousness of the fight is in evidence in the advertisements of the latter, The Orange and Green line which hurls at its adversary the antique accusation of being a tool of Wall Street. The Orange and Green line has been making a lower rate the past few months than the Interstate and last week, the latter turned and announced a cut of rates all along the line. It made a rate of $1.00 for the round trip between here and Kansas City. The Orange and Green not to be outdone again went below the Interstate and made the Kansas City trip 75 cents. But why is the Public Service Commission not functioning? It has the power under the law passed last winter, to regulate bus fares, and yet the bus fares are jumping frequently without the Commission interfering. A suicidal bus war will not be to the public benefit in the long run and the Commission is justified in stopping a cut throat policy between competitors.

125 years ago: Aug. 9, 1900

Arthur Thistlewaite will build his new store building of stone. It will be 24×60 and one story. The front will Junction City cut limestone with plate glass windows, and the other walls will be of native limestone.

The Tonganoxie colored ball club went to Eudora, Saturday and played another game with the Eudora team, the Eudora Nine. They were again victorious. The two clubs will try it again on Saturday at Reno.

A Hoge fishing party went down to Roy Baldwin’s on Stranger last Thursday and spent the day. They had a basket dinner and a fine time. The amount of the catch was not reported.

The M.E. Church social at the Shockley home five miles northeast of town, Tuesday evening, held a short musical program in the open air. The larger part of the attendance was from Tonganoxie. A party of 18 enjoyed the ride in the moonlight in a hay rack cushioned with new mown hay.

After the regular business meeting of the Congregational C.E. Society, Monday evening at the home of Misses Halsted, the active members of the society gave a reception in honor of the associate members. Various games were played and watermelon was served for refreshments. Avery enjoyable time was the result.