60 years ago

july 5, 1951

The most devastating flood in the long history of Marion hit the community early Wednesday morning with an unbelievable fury, receded somewhat that evening, then came up again Thursday to complete the wreckage inflicted upon hundreds of homes and business houses. The entire business district and hundreds of home in the valley were inundated with up to six feet of water. Damages were estimated at a half-million dollars.

In almost true Western fiction style surrounding, a pair of young men who had escaped from a Nelson, Neb., jail. Officers from two counties were led on the hectic 7-hour manhunt Tuesday morning that ended only when the last one was captured on the Walter Rupp farm north of Marion. The wild chase started in Strong City when the pair took off in a stolen 1951 Hudson sedan, followed by Chase County Sheriff George Shaw, who was going to check the registration of their car.

Wayne Thies, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Thies, celebrated his 11th birthday June 27 with a skating party. Invited guests were Tommy Shirley, Junior Bledsoe, Jimmie Christensen, Neil Hoopes, Gregory Henry, Richard Vogel, Darlene Oblander, Cynthia Carney, Rita Miser, Mary Williams, Gaila Jost, Caroline Susdorf, Marilyn Dixon, Jeanette Russell, LeNore Wheeler, and Phyllis Jean Thies.

Mr. and Mrs. John Best, Cordell, Okla., announce the engagement of their daughter, Pauline, to Robert S. Edmunds, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Edmunds. The wedding date has been set of Dec. 17.