50 years ago

december 1, 1960

Indication of the real interest in Marion County gas and oil production potential was revealed last week in the announcement that the Can-Am Petroleum Co. of Wichita had sold a full working interest in 7,520 acres of east Marion County land to the Texstar Petroleum Company of San Antonio, Texas. Gas production is sought.

You never saw such a happy fire—where spectators and firemen alike watched ‘er burn with broad grins on their faces and wisecracks on their lips. A deserted, rat-infested old residence, last used by the late Ellis Williams, was going up in smoke and flames.

High winds, which many claimed were definitely part of a tornado, hopped and skipped some six miles up an almost due north course in northwest Marion County Sunday evening. Seven farmsteads sustained damage in its wake.

Rickey Schwendiman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Schwendiman, was guest of honor at a birthday party at his parents’ home Nov. 29 in observance of his sixth birthday. Invited guests were Eddie Griffith, Doug Marler, Mike Jackson, Brad Kimball, Tony Turner, Freddie Nelson, Leonard Schafers, Dennis Helmer, and Glenn Bartel.

The Conyers and Williams families had a combined Thanksgiving dinner and celebration of the silver wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Williams on Thanksgiving Day at the IOOF Hall.