40 years ago

Dec. 4, 1985

Santa’s House, headquarters for the Jolly Ol’ Gent from the North Pole while visiting in Marion, was a popular place Sunday afternoon. Children lined up in bone-chilling, near-zero-degree weather to sit on Santa’s knee.

The unemployment rate in Marion County is one of the lowest in Kansas, standing at 3.5% percent during October. The state average is 4.6%, up from 4.4% in September.

The family of Frank and Nellie Richmond gathered Thanksgiving Day at the Marion County Lake hall for their traditional turkey dinner. All of the couple’s children — Virginia, Eleanor, Richard, Regina, and Tootsie — were able to attend along with their families.

Marion Elementary School and Marion High School both suffered from vandalism over the Thanksgiving holiday. Five skylights in the roof on the north side of the elementary school were kicked in. Nothing was missing. The woodworking shop of the high school also was burglarized. The burglars found nothing to take but about a dozen candy bars from a vending machine.

A welcome break from Sunday afternoon’s weather was found at open house events sponsored by local florists. At Buds and Blossoms, three generations — Joni Crofoot, daughter Sara, and “Grandma” Mary Ann Wiens — were seen taking time to look at a bit of holiday finery.