60 years ago

aug. 27, 1964

The three finalists for Marion County Fair Queen are Candice Batt of Florence, Elaine Klaassen of Hillsboro, and Diane Nickel of Marion. One of them will be crowned tonight by Margene Savage, 1963 Marion County Fair queen who went on to become Miss Kansas 1965.

Dale Snelling of Florence was named superintendent of Marion County Park and Lake at a special meeting Friday of county commissioners and the park and lake board.

Matt Classen won first place in the Marion City Bowling Association handicap match play tournament that wound up Sunday evening. Pete Klein was second, followed by Spencer Bevan and Wilbert Backhus.

An explosion thought to have been caused by a gas leak Wednesday demolished the home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Helmer at 220 Walnut St.

Mrs. Helmer was in the basement doing laundry and turned off a light when the explosion occurred.

She was blown across the room and knocked down, and her clothing was set on fire.

She suffered some burns. Her condition is not considered serious, although painful.

All four Helmer children were upstairs and “shook up” but not injured.