25 years ago

march 26, 1986

Vandals went joy riding in a Marion County-owned road scraper Monday night knocking down rural property and damaging the machine. Farmer Harold Woerz said the culprits drove the machine about a half mile north from where it was parked, knocking down his fences until they reached his storage shed, which was flattened. The drivers continued on, breaking an electric fence until three-quarters of a mile away when they plowed into an old stone barn in a field owned by Orville Vannocker. As yet, no estimate of damages has been made.

The third grade class of Shari Padgham presented a program on ecology Thursday at Marion Elementary School. One play was about seeds needing rain and sunshine. The flowers were Todd Winter, Natalie Thies, and Mandy Inlow. Rebecca Collett was the meteorologist, Kimberly Kreutziger was the sun, and Ben Bowers was the farmer.

The Woolworth Company sponsors a worldwide contest each year among employees and retirees for their community service. This year’s international winner of the contest is Geneva Widler of Marion, a valued employee for many years at the F.W. Woolworth store in El Dorado. Mrs. Widler received a total $600 and an impressive plaque. She, on Wednesday, donated the $600 prize to the Marion Senior Center.

Historical reminders of Florence’s pioneer days will be unveiled Saturday during the dedication of Moses Shane Park.