15 YEARS AGO

July 15, 2009

Nobody knows where he came from, but many Marion residents are familiar with him. He’s the big, black rooster that many people see on Main St. by Central Park and on the north side of the street. Attempts to capture the wild fowl have been made, but so far, the wily rooster has outsmarted them.

Marion Mayor Mary Olson rode an elephant Sunday afternoon to start a 4:30 p.m. circus near Marion County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. The circus was a fundraiser for Marion County Fair Association.

Cris Peterson, Nina Bittle’s nurse, has been recognized as outstanding employee for the third quarter of 2009 by St. Luke Hospital and Living Center, Marion County Home Care, and St. Luke Physicians Clinic.

After sitting empty for years, a former nursing home in Florence will have new life. New owner David Weseloh of Midland, Texas, plans to renovate the building, calling it Sunshine Residential Center and making it a hotel that caters to senior citizens.

Pictured is “Miss Geraldine” (Tanya Eklund of Ramona) as she raises her arm in victory after being crowned Miss Redneck 2009 at Ramona’s Fourth of July celebration.