70 years ago

december 8, 1949

Last Thursday afternoon the Florence Methodist Church was completely gutted by fire that for a time threatened the entire neighborhood. Florence, Marion, and Peabody fire trucks answered the call and helped control several blazes ignited by flying embers from the church.

The end of an era in American military life was marked this week by the closed bid sale of the last of the famous cavalry horses at Fort Riley.

Three more Marion County children were diagnosed with polio this week. They are 2½-year-old Rosemary Holub of Tampa, 2-year-old Laurel Vinduska of Pilsen, and 6-year-old Gerald Spohn of Tampa. This brings the total in the county to 12 cases for the year.

Attending the Scout Circus at Wichita Saturday were the following boys from Troop 102: Jack Adler, Laurence Griggs, Dick Hoch, Dale Johnson, Dean Kelsey, Robert Meisinger, Jerry Richards, Paul Roberts, Robert Schmidt, Joe Soyez, Jerald Stage, Johnny Tuell, and Bruce Wingerd.

Fred Lee & Sons, furniture and appliance firm in Herington, is opening a Marion store in the near future.