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: Sept. 6, 2000

Voters in Atchison and Leavenworth counties will face a judicial question in November. Should district judges be elected in the First Judicial District, which encompasses the two counties. Presently, nominees for judges are selected by a non-partisan commission. That panel submits up to three finalists to the governor, who makes the final decision.

There’s a lot going on at Florence Riford Senior Center, but there should be more people enjoying those goings on, according to active members of the group. They note that there was a bus that would drive around and pick up seniors for lunch from as far as Linwood. But now six to fifteen attendees are far short of the three long tables that used to be filled. Cars still pick up those who need rides and over 30 meals are delivered to homes. Besides providing balanced meals, another purpose of the center is to get people out of the house for a while. Women gather for a quilting group two morning each week. The center offers a potluck supper and entertainment once a month.

Edna Elder thought for a minute. Would it slow her progress if she tried to push two shopping carts instead of just one? The winner of a $500 shopping spree rejected the idea of two carts. She didn’t want to waste precious time. Eric Gambrill, store manager at B&J’s Apple Market, concentrated on his watch. “Ten seconds,” he told Elder. “Five. Two. One. Go for it!” And elder was off. She sprinted toward the bacon and the sausage. Hams were next, then pizzas. On to the meat case, where Elder tossed packages of meat into her ever-growing stash. Elder had three minutes total to gather the groceries. She had to work alone, but she did take the advice of her son, LeRoy, and she wore her tennis shoes. The groceries that Elder picked up scanned in at $314.42, a little short of $500. So Gambrill presented her with a gift certificate for $185.58.

50 years ago: Sept. 4, 1975

Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Walbridge of McLouth announce the engagement of their daughter, Vicki, to Ronnie Starcher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Starcher, also of McLouth. Vicki is a 1975 graduate of McLouth High School and is attending Lawrence School of Hair Styling. Ronnie is a 1971 graduate of McLouth High School and a 1973 graduate of Northeast Kansas Vocational Technical School at Atchison. He is a partner in the S&S Body Shop of Tonganoxie.

David Klamath, 92, who was born and lived his entire life in the same house in Leavenworth County, has died at the Bethany Medical Center.  He was a farmer.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tullis are the parents of a baby girl, Amy Louise, born at St. John Hospital. She was welcomed home by a sister, April Lynn.

Tonganoxie High School will play their annual Red-White Football game this Friday night. Admission is a bar of soap.

The first week of school went quite well. Student schedules at the high school have been finalized and the bus schedules have a seat for every child and the mileage and time on the road are pretty close to the same for all routes. One route had 72 students assigned to a 66-passenger bus so it was necessary to change a couple of the routes to be sure that no bus was over loaded.

The elementary children are really enjoying the new asphalt playground area at the elementary school. Children are there after school and on weekends.

Champion’s Grocery Store has 5 lbs. of flour for .69, 4 loaves of bread for $1, 3 heads of lettuce for $1, chuck roast for .73 a pound, and coffee for .99 a lb.

Kenny Hardy is reopening Kenny’s Service at 622 East Fourth (Former DeLude Building). Kenny has the best in automotive repair.

75 years ago: Sept. 7, 1950

A very unusual accident occurred when the Franklin Ice Cream water tower collapsed. The wooden fixture, holding 20,000 gallons of water must have made quite a splash, although it was not witnessed by any employees or passers-by. The plant manager, Charles McEnulty reported that the hoops on the tower gave way and the water poured out. It is planned to replace the tower with a steel tank. (Editor’s note-this plant was located near the new Bark Park).

In other unusual news, Paul LeGer the game warden recently killed an 18-rattle rattlesnake out near the State Lake. It’s one of the largest that he has ever killed, with most of them coming in at 10-12 rattles. He has it on display over in Perry.

On a lighter note, Freshmen Initiation will be coming up with a parade from the town depot up to the schoolhouse. Good luck to all who experience this rite of passage.

Little Allen Jones, ten years old fell off the tractor at the Ray Cronemeyer farm. Allen was helping his dad haul hay when he tumbled. Fortunately, he was not run over, but both shoulder blades were broken. 

100 years ago: Sept. 3, 1925

J. W. Foster went to Excelsior Springs, MO., on Wednesday on business and to take some baths for a few

days. He will meet his daughter and son-in-law who are visiting there.

Mrs. Henry Papenhausen left last Sunday for Moline, Kansas, where her sister and husband, B. P. Beckner joined her in an auto trip to visit O. C. Haywood, a brother, at Mince, Oklahoma, who Mrs. Papenhausen has not seen for fifteen years.

We want to thank our many friends who are so kindly helping us get the local news to 30 of our readers by reporting the items to this office. Mrs. Williams, who is in Bethany Hospital, Room 306, Kansas City, Kansas, having underwent an operation, has been taking care of the local work on the Mirror and you are surely making it easier for use during her absences. Miss Izola Farrell is ably assisting us also.

125 years ago: Sept. 6, 1900

Black residents expect to have a grand Emancipation picnic in Tonganoxie, September 22nd. An effort will be made to have some noted outside speakers present. 

The semi-annual distribution of school funds will take place before the 15th. The amount allowed is 44 cents for each person aged from 5 to 21 years. This county has 12,384 children of school age and will receive $5,448.96. The Tonganoxie school district will receive about $132. 

The Tonganoxie Library Association held its regular monthly business meeting Tuesday afternoon. Miss Nina Lacy handed in her resignation as president, owing to the duties devolving upon her in her schoolwork. No other business of importance was transacted. 

The Catholics will have a picnic at the Watermill at Dafer next Saturday, for the benefit of the church, and the public is cordially invited to attend. There will be a refreshment stand, and amusements of all kinds are arranged for. The ladies will serve dinner at noon for a reasonable price. 

Miss Flo Carter left Monday morning for Kansas City, Kan., where she has accepted a position at the state blind school. Miss Carter’s many friends wish her success in the position which she is so well qualified to fill. Her appointment was not solicited, and the offer of the position came as a surprise to her.