60 years ago
JULY 29, 1944
1st Lt. Ronald B. Johnson, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Johnson of Tampa, was killed in action June 28 in Italy according to a telegram from the War Department received by his wife this morning. Mrs. Johnson, with their two children, Janet, 2, and Ronald, 1, makes her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Heidel in Marion.
August 20 is the date that has been set by the Speed Boat Race committee of the Chamber of Commerce for the annual races to be held at the Marion County Lake. The committee is headed by Al (Swede) Williams with other members being Frank Hollar, Leslie Powell, Ira Newcomer, George Miser, Howard Mullen, Richard Brodhead, Ben Meier, Dr. J.E. Tibbetts, Ted Schlotz, J.F. Waddell, C.L. Rickenbrode, and Wharton Hoch.
Joe Duckworth, for over 30 years proprietor of Joe's Snappy Service Station on South Third Street, has retired from business and returned to Dover, New Jersey, where most of his family is located. C.W. Duckworth, who for a number of years ran the Nickle Inn here in Marion, has taken over the management of the station and has also leased the Standard Service Station on the hill at the corner of Main and Cedar streets.
Ten girls enjoyed a watermelon feed at the Marion park last Wednesday evening. They were Helen Seifert, Neva Heiser, Lois Keazer, Norma Skibbe, Louella Regier, Nettie Ehrlich, Mrs. Edna Domke and Jerry, Mrs. Edna Toews, Martha Hansen, and Mrs. LuVena Van Horne.
Bud Pierce, who is working for the Rock Island out of Caldwell, was operated on last Thursday morning at the Marion hospital for appendicitis.
At a meeting in the courtroom Monday, representatives of a number of organizations in Marion County were told of the Navy's serious need for milkweed floss to replace Kapok for life belts and jackets. The nearest thing to Kapok, which comes from Japan-held territory, is the milkweed floss. Payment of 20c per bag for dried heads and 15 cents per bag for green heads will be made.
