40 years ago

january 9. 1980

Near record spring and fall harvests, increased grain sales, high prices for farmers, strong performances in the sale of farm equipment and machinery, surprisingly steady retail sales, an oil and gas boom, and higher valuations of city and county property combined with slightly lower taxes to make 1979 a year to remember in Marion County.

The first baby born at St. Luke Hospital this year is Grant Lee Bowers, first-born son of Norman and Pat Bowers of Marion. Grant was born at 11:39 p.m. Jan. 6. He weighed 7 pounds 2 inches and was 21 inches long.

Marion High School class of 1964 had its 15-year reunion Dec. 26 at the VFW post home. There was a family get-together in the afternoon and they enjoyed visiting and seeing each other’s children. There was more visiting in the evening and the group listened and danced to music provided by Larry Lillard.

Lucille Britain, Marion’s city clerk, handed in her resignation Jan. 2, effective April 19. Britain has been employed by the city for 19½ years and has been city clerk for 16½ years—longer than any other city clerk in the history of the town.