60 years ago
AUGUST 17, 1944
A telegram received tonight from the War Department reports that Pvt. William F. Ford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clee Ford, died in a German prison camp July 20. He had previously been reported as missing June 27.
The intense heat wave which had held Marion and vicinity in its grip since the end of July was broken Tuesday night when .87 fell in a downpour accompanied by heavy lightning. An additional .07 drizzled down Wednesday night. The moisture is a great boon to seared pastures and burned crops. The lightning took a toll of stock during the storm, Alex Case reports. Ray Crofoot, Cedar Point, lost a large Angus steer in pasture south of Marion. O.A. Taylor had both a cow and steer killed, Frank Louis southeast of town lost two cows. Ralph Jackson a cow, and Adolph Deines had one cow killed and one injured.
Two representatives of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company were in Marion this week making plans for the opening of a Firestone retail outlet store here. Definite arrangements have not been made for anyone to conduct the store. The company would prefer to get a local man.
Sale of the Ray Gaunt blacksmith and welding business to Jack Highsmith and Ed Winter was announced this week.
Mrs. David Wheeler Jr. entertained Friday afternoon with a birthday party in honor of her daughter Lenore's birthday. The hostess served chocolate ice cream sodas, birthday cake and suckers to Jeanette Russell, Marjie Ann Bernhardt, Vicki Ann Black, Jackie Ford, Karen Brodhead, Karen and Sheryl Becker, LuEsther and David Wheeler and the guest of honor.
Mrs. Winifred Meierhoff and Mrs. Dorothy Wright accompanied nine Girl Scouts of Troop II on an overnight camp at the lake Saturday evening. Scouts present were Anne Burkholder, Patsy Harris, Pat Brose, Donna Hobein, Dawna Summervill, Naomi McIntosh, Lois Kelsey and Vera Mae Soyez. Shirley Grounds of Wichita was a guest. The girls took their supper, went swimming, stayed all night, and cooked breakfast After dark, they worked on their star gazing badge.
