60 years ago
MARCH 30, 1944
Lt. Herman L. Haasis Jr., 23, known here as "Jack" was killed in action over the European theater March 6, 1944, according to a message from the War Department received Friday, March 24. Lt. Haasis, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herman Haasis, was a navigator with a bombing crew which had been on numerous missions over Germany. A 1939 graduate of Marion High School, Jack is survived by his brother, Lt. Merle Dean Haasis and his grandparents, Mrs. Anna Haasis and Mr. and Mrs. Sol Sager of Florence.
The month of March this year topped by far all existing records of total precipitation, according to records by Dr. P.J. Garrison, local comparative weather observer. The March rainfall and snow totaled 5.34 inches, more than double the average for the recorded years since 1921.
The office personnel of the Marion County Ration Board were guests of the Kaw Theatre Monday night to see the show, "Rationing." Following the show, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Brodhead served them refreshments at the Green Parrot. Those invited were Misses Barbara L. Knight, Ruth Keller, Edna Rupp, Norma Skibbe, Betty Frazier, Mrs. Jack Burkholder and D.M. Seneker.
Miss Dorothy Bledsoe entertained with a Saint Patrick's party last Friday night. The evening was spent in playing games. Those present were Misses Elsie Suderman, Irene Mott, Martha Hansen, Leona Heiser, Iola Hegle, Nettie Ehrlich, Ruth Jo Willming, Louella Regier, Helen Seifert, and Betty Ann Mersereau.
H.H. "Hemp" McGhay received a box of big, black cigars the other day from his son, Durward, who is in India. It takes a stout constitution to handle one of these stogies.
Pfc. Glenn Dody, who entered service Dec. 11, 1942, has arrived in the South Pacific. "We go swimming and play baseball all the time. The coconuts are OK at first, but they soon get old. We see several natives who are crude and uneducated." He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dody of Route 3.
