45 years ago

may 30, 1979

Undersheriff Mike Childs is pictured as he escorted Bert Becker into Marion County Courthouse where Becker was arraigned on first-degree murder charges in the deaths of his estranged wife, Martha Becker, and part-time Goessel policeman John Morgan and on one count of attempted murder in an attack on Byron Hodgson of Tucumcari, New Mexico, a visitor in the home of Martha Becker.

Money is being collected to restore the little fountain in Central Park, according to Norma Hannaford, who is spearheading the drive.

D.W. Montgomery, agent for William Scully in Marion County since 1949, will retire Friday after 30 years in the Scully Estates offices here. Forrest L. Smith will assume management and replace Montgomery as agent after spending 25 years as Montgomery’s assistant.

George Jackson, president of the Chamber of Commerce, is pictured as he presents a national tiddly winks championship trophy to Debbie Kreutzman, who defeated all comers at a competition in Marion.

A new bank building is under construction at Tampa. The new Tampa State Bank is scheduled for completion in October. It will replace a facility built in 1905.