50 YEARS ago

january 12, 1961

Marion County’s predominant position in the oil industry of the state is illustrated in the figures of drilling activity during 1960. There were 284 completions during the year, by far the largest number of any other county. Second was Butler with 226 completions. Ellis County was third with 203.

Work on the Farmers and Drovers National Bank building, a beautiful new structure at the corner of Third and Main streets, is continuing this week in pleasant weather.

First baby of the new year at St. Luke Hospital, Gary Michael Hedrick, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hedrick of Peabody. The baby weighed 11 pounds 3 ounces at birth.

Miss Karen Thole, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Thole, and Lt. James L. Socolofsky, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Socolofsky of Ramona, were married December 27 in the sanctuary of the Strassburg Baptist Church.

Sixteen girls were invited to the Wayne Tipton home Sunday to help Betty celebrate her birthday. The guest list included Mary Melton, Rose Marie Loveless, Helen Olsen, Cheryl Caselman, Jean Morse, Sharon Nelson, Ruth Lais, Edith Jewett, Kay Amick, Karen Higgins, Anita Schlehuber, Jeannine Skibbe, and Sharon Youk

One of the first acts of Marion County’s new sheriff, Earl Pankratz, was to name as his undersheriff, former sheriff Ezra Bernhardt.