25 years ago: April 4, 2001

Sandstone Amphitheatre in Bonner Springs will be opening the season with a wide variety of shows. This year’s concerts will include Brooks and Dunn, Rod Stewart, and James Taylor.

The Tonganoxie High School art students in Larry Percy’s art class received $25 checks from the Tonganoxie Chamber of commerce because their designs were selected to use on this year’s St. Patrick’s Day T-shirts. The St. Patrick’s Day parade committee, which organized the T-shirt sales, gave the profits to the city library.

No one can live without water. It’s in everything and needed for everything that’s alive. And thanks to one area woman, local children are learning how to make sure this important resource is preserved for future generations. Alison Reber, daughter of southern Leavenworth County residents, Nancy and Richard Smith, started the StreamLink program four years ago to do just that. StreamLink was designed to promote water conservation awareness and to teach school-age children how to keep this piece of the ecosystem intact by stream monitoring – testing the water of area streams and watersheds. On site, the children visually, then physically, assess the water. They check for things such as the water’s temperature and flow and how muddy it is. They look for elements such as oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus in the water. They learn the importance of data sheets and that science is not “a helter-skelter process.”

50 years ago: April 7, 1976

The Capital Outlay Levy for USD #464 received voter approval in a special election with less than one-third of the school districts eligible voters. The levy received 365 yes votes and 302 no votes. The levy is a continuance of a present four mill levy. Making it possible to continue capital improvement programs in shop, band, home economics, and other departments. Some credited low voter turnout to the nice weather as many farmers probably took advantage of the good weather to get into the fields.

A basketball has been turned into the Mirror. Identify and bounce it home.

Parke Johnson is the 1976 Leavenworth County Spelling Bee Champion. Parke had won the county title in 1974 as well. He won the spelling bee by surviving a 29-round competition by spelling pachysandra.

Terry Campbell announced his intention to run for Leavenworth County Sheriff. He is currently a lieutenant on the county sheriff’s force and he will resign that position for the campaign.

Spring is here and the fruit trees are about ready to burst into bloom. The honey bees also provide free pollination service, something unique in this inflated era. The Kansas legislature has come up with the most constructive session in state history by making the honey bee the state insect.

The road north of Jarbalo is closed to traffic for construction of a new bridge on the north side of town. The detour route is the road a mile west of Jarbalo, known locally as Rabbit Road, which has been graded and rocked.

75 years ago: March 8, 1951

Nevada is the 36th state to ratify the 22nd amendment to the US constitution that presidents must limit their terms to two and no more.

An obituary appears for young Bobby Burroughs who was killed a month before his 18th birthday in the Korean War. There are no details yet about his death. Bobby was interested in engineering and was stationed at Ft. Riley with the Eighth Cavalry. The entire community sympathizes with this family.

Come to Honey Valley School for special entertainment from Station KOFO, tomorrow night. Fun and food will be the order of the evening and all are welcome

The school board of Linwood, District 44 will sell at auction the Sarcoxie School and one acre of land. This seems to be s sign of the times with our one room school houses as the state moves toward consolidation and unification.

A “smash and grab” robbery occurred about 2 am this past Sunday morning when Fred Del Bondio, our night watchman witnessed a thief at Fred Cox Jewelry store. The man came out of a parked car, smashed the plate glass window with his gun, grabbed several watches and headed back to the car. Fred ordered him to stop as the thief seemed to cock his revolver. Fred fired at the man, hitting him in the shoulder. This caused the thief to drop the watches and head to his car. The driver sped off but not before Fred was able to fire through the rear window of the getaway car. He directed another shot at the gas tank. The car was able to get away, but most of their loot was recovered by Fred Del Bondi

100 years ago: April 8, 1926

The Board of Control of the Civic League was delightfully entertained at the Tea Room of the Myers House, Monday afternoon, April 5th, by Mrs. Geo. Fischer. A short biography of the mothers of the Bible was given by each member. Mrs. Henry Geib then read William Jennings Bryan’s beautiful book “The Prince of Peace” which was enjoyed and appreciated by all. At the business session which followed it was decided to open the Rest Room May 1st. As there has been so many calls for clothing lately our supply is exhausted, so we wish if anyone has clothing to give us, they will leave it at the Rest Room and call Mrs. W. C. Allen. The Rest Room is also in need of some more furniture and we will be glad to accept chairs, couches, draperies or cushions. Mrs. Henry Geib, chairman of the girls and boys club, will be ready to distribute seeds for the gardens as soon as they are ready. Dainty refreshments of ice cream and cake and coffee were served by the hostess after which the meeting adjourned to meet with Mrs. S. J. McNaughton May 3rd.

The Suburban Telephone Company has had more changes this spring than ever before. We have had 77 changes in numbers due to moving about and changing places, 14 new installations and 7 take-outs; so our subscribers can realize how hard it is for our operators to keep in mind all of these different changes. The Company also appreciates the fact that our subscribers are not able to know the numbers either, as the Directory consequently does not take care of this time; but as soon as possible the Company hopes to get out a new Directory up-to-date which will make it better for both the subscribers and the operators. Suburban Telephone Company, Foster Laming, Manager.

125 years ago: April 11, 1901 

The Ladies Guild served a tip-top supper Saturday evening. Eggs were served in every way the skill of woman could devise. 

The Reading Circle will meet with Mrs. Zoellner, Friday, promptly at half past two. Annual election of officers, and all members are requested to attend. 

The severe storm last Friday started to raise the tin roof on the elevator at the roller mill, but the discovery was made in time and the tin nailed down. 

Misses Nettie Grist and Josie Miller entertained a number of friends at the home of the latter last Friday evening. Besides having an enjoyable time otherwise an excellent supper was served. 

Some rural carriers had their measures taken this week, for uniforms, It was not required by the government but was done by mutual consent, one of the carriers only dissenting. The uniforms will be the regulation gray, the same as the carriers in cities wear.