30 YEARS AGO

Sept. 25, 1996

Rain or shine, Old Settlers Day events are set for this weekend in Marion. Theme for the 85th annual celebration will be “175 Years on the Santa Fe Trail.”

The peace and tranquility of shady Central Park gave way Saturday to crowds in excess of 25,000 people who came to attend Marion’s 18th annual Art in the Park. At least 20,000 people visited the park last year. Chairman Judy Christensen speculated that as many as 25,000 to 30,000 attended this year.

Bob and Sally Stack have been selected as residents of the month” at Hilltop Manor. They have lived there since July, 1986.

A bronze plaque has been installed near horseshoe pits in Central Park as a memorial tribute to Byron “Barney” McCarty of Florence. McCarty was an advocate of pitching horseshoes and an expert at the game. He was a prime mover behind the Central Park pits for years and always organized Old Settlers Day tournaments.

A produce derby entry this week is a 21-inch-long “burpless” cucumber entered by Ed McGinness of Aulne. He gives his wife, Ruth, full credit for growing the cucumber.

Pictured are six Marion County youngsters who successfully completed a 4-H shooting sports program: Grant Garrard, Marie Konarik, Simon Makovec, Robbie McVey, William Scriven, and Steven Waner.

This year’s topic for high school debaters is, “Resolved: That the federal government should establish a program to substantially reduce juvenile crime in the United States.” MHS debaters this year include Medea Fowler, Curtis Gore, Heather Holub, James Meier, Josh Powers, Dusty Sharp, Cory Schoemaker, Joey Smallwood, and Natali Toupin.