25 years ago
DECEMBER 26, 1979
Still chained and with one handcuff on, Timothy Newfield made a brief dash for freedom Wednesday night in Newton but was captured in minutes by Sheriff Jost and Florence Police Chief Delano O'Dell. Charged with murder and kidnapping in connection with the July 29 abduction and shotgun slaying of Peabody State Bank teller Grant Avery, Newfield apparently managed to pick the lock on his left handcuff while being transported from the Marion County Jail to the Harvey County Jail in Newton.
Fanning the flames of public interest in fire safety, fifth grade students in Jean Case's Marion Elementary School class are pictured waving fireman's hats donated by a fire insurance company. Class members include Pat Bernhardt, Jill Dannenfelser, Michelle Foth, Lucy Guerra, Dale Heidebrecht, David Hett, Devin Kelsey, Terry Looney, Jeff Makovec, Dale Peterson, Mark Raleigh, Robin Scheideman, Jeremy Schlehuber, Jeff Stenzel, Diane Vantuyl, Gail Walker, Sheila Weber, Mike Wheeler, Amy Hett and Doug Williams.
"Dear Santa: I have been a good boy this year. Please bring me 10 fence for my farm set, a race track, a pair of boots, and some cowboy clothes. I will leave cookies and milk. Thank you. Love, Michel Soyez, age 4."
The Florence Middle School seventh grade boys won their own invitational tournament held Monday and Tuesday in Florence. Hillsboro was second, Peabody, third; and Southeast of Saline, fourth. Wildcats scoring were Kevin Reid, Mike Kelsey, Richard Genandt, Dan Horsch, and Chris Webb. Florence coach is Steve Janzen.
Edmund Steiner, a well known Marion County farmer from the Pilsen community, was named to the Agricultural Stabilization Committee (ASC) by delegates to the county convention Monday in the Owl Car Café meeting-dining room. Oliver R. Unruh, a prominent farmer and livestock producer from northeast of Hillsboro, was re-elected chairman of the committee for the 1960 year.
