50 years ago
AUGUST 19, 1954
The Red Cross sponsored swimming program started off in a big way this week with nearly 100 youngsters, most of them beginners, enrolled. Over 80 of them are from Marion, the balance from Florence and Burns. The classes are held in the Marion Country Club pool. Instructing the swimmers are Doris Meredith and Don Hayen with Mrs. Edward Good helping with some of the beginners classes.
The official government rain gauge here in Marion has now been moved to a new location and has a new daily observer. Dr. P.J. Garrison this week ended his many years of official rain and weather observations, and turned over the tools of the trade to Rendel Newsom.
There have been no new polio cases reported from Marion County recently, according to the county health office. Only two relatively mild cases have been reported to date. Mrs. Reuben Koch, 31, Ramona, was treated for some time in Herington hospital and is better and being treated at home. Little Kristin Elaine Reid, 5 1/2, of Florence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Reid, is being treated in St. Francis Hospital Wichita, having been taken there Aug. 8. She is recovering satisfactorily, it is reported.
Mrs. Gene Atterberry was successfully surprised Thursday afternoon when a number of her pupils and their mothers from the Dickerson school came to her home with ice cream and a birthday cake to help her celebrate her birthday. Those present were Mrs. Carl Bass, Carlita and Anna Belle, Mrs. Henry Kline, Hank, Cathy and Arlene, Mrs. Earnest Thompson, Madeline and Norma Kay, Mrs. Frank Richmond, Jean and Loretta, Mrs. Leslie Williams, Janice and Mean, and Mrs. Arthur Hamm.
Howard L. Collett, Marion, has been contracted to teach in the high school at Cimarron for the coming school year. Mr. Collett received the bachelor of science degree in education in January 1953 from Emporia State Teachers College. He has been an insurance salesman for the past year and a half.
Bob Bailey has been hired as custodian at the local VFW club house. He replaces Ernest Haas.
