40 YEARS AGO

FEBRUARY 28, 1979

Last week’s warm weather permitted work to proceed on the Rock Island Railway bridge over the Cottonwood River southwest of Marion.

Third grade pupils in Steve’s Hart’s class at Marion Elementary were well prepared for eclipse viewing Monday morning. Individual lightproof cardboard boxes allowed the sun to cast the moon’s image on white paper inside the box through a pin prick in foil on the back of each box.

Charles C. Holcomb of the U.S. Corps of Engineers support group is conducting a survey this week of buildings to determine their potential for fallout protection. Marion County has been declared a “host” area. Its fallout shelters will serve as havens for planned evacuation of up to 14,000 persons from Sedgwick County.

Former LHS student, Don Alcorn, has rented the Lincolnville High School building. The building houses a retail store and the gymnasium has been turned into place where auctions can be held. The first auction was held Saturday.

A seven-foot lemon tree, seen for many years in the display window of the Western Auto Store operated in Marion by Leslie and Kathy Lunderman, has been given to the Sedgwick County Zoo. It now is at home in the jungle house at the zoo.