10 YEARS AGO

june 29, 2005

A large ball of fire and smoke filled the morning air Sunday when Hett’s Repair at 111 E. Main caught fire and burned. The building, owned by Kevin and Kristina Burkholder, was a complete loss. The auto repair business, owned by Troy Hett, was a total loss with four vehicles and equipment also destroyed.

Marion residents attended a reception Monday afternoon honoring the retirement of city employee Dale Johnson. Johnson has been cemetery sexton for the past 11 years.

Mike Thomas, manager of Cooperative Grain and Supply in Marion, said the facility has taken in an amount “substantially below” the 10-year average of 500,000 bushels of wheat. He estimated the average yield at 35 bushels per acre.

Wedding anniversary celebrations reported in this issue included a dinner June 20 in honor of the 25th anniversary of Joanne and Dave Loewen of Hillsboro, the 50th anniversary of Donna and Bob Kelly who were married July 1, 1955, and the 65th anniversary of Ida and Ed Svitak, who were married June 10, 1940.

Keith and Claudia Allison of Marion recently returned from an Alaskan cruise on which they were accompanied by most of their family including six grandsons.