July 14, 1936

90 years ago

New Heat Record for the City

109 DEGREES IS RECORDED AT 3 O’CLOCK

Previous High for the Summer Was 106 Yes­terday and July 4.

The all time heat record for Webster City was shattered this afternoon when the mercury went shooting skyward to touch 109 de­grees at 3 p. m.

All indications pointed to another degree rise be­fore the peak for the day was reached. The previous high mark for the city and immediate vicinity of this slimmer was 106 degrees yester­day and that also was the top mark of July 4, the second day of the current heat wave.

Crops are Damaged

Crops in this vicinity were be­ing damaged some by the severe heat as the torrid wave passed through its twelfth day. Some corn was reported as tasseling too early and some fields are firing.

A turtle dove, lighting on the rail of the perch at the Will Warneke home yesterday, stood there for a few minutes and then toppled to the floor dead as the result of the heat.

1976/50 years ago

Decision reached to move century-old rural church

After opposition from the seven remaining members of the Swede Bend Evangelical Covenant church four miles southwest of Stratford, the building is being moved from its original site today to be relocated at Twin Lakes Covenant church in Calhoun county.

At a meeting yesterday about 45 interested Stratford residents, in­cluding 5 of the 7 members of the church, congregated at the church site to oppose the moving of the church but the group found it was too late.

“If we had acted sooner when we first heard about the plans to move our church, maybe we could have accomplished something,” stated Mrs. Arvid Anderson, a longtime member of the church. “But at that time people weren’t really concerned. It wasn’t until we realized that it was really going to happen, did anyone get worked up.”

The Midwest Evangelical Covenant Conference with Superintendent Rev. Warren D. Swanson of Omaha made the decision to move the church to “preserve it for future generations.” By moving the church to Twin Lakes, the conference feels they will not have to worry about vandalism of the historic building.

According to Mrs. Anderson, a contract signed by two church members, Mrs. Russel Anderson and Mrs. Charles Anderson in 1989, stated that the church would revert its ownership to the conference when regular services were no longer held.

But Mrs. Anderson also stated that the members of the church were told that the church would remain at Stratford as long as someone was there to take care of maintenance of the grounds and church. The mover R.E. Knosby of Perry and Superintendent Rev. Warren D. Swanson were at the church today as the moving got underway.

Preparations for the move began in mid-June when the church was lifted off its foundation and placed on a dolly. According to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Anderson, the oldest members of the church and caretakers for it, a couple had planned to be married in the church on July 4 but the church was already moved off its foundation.

Mrs. Anderson said, “The first we knew of definite plans for moving the church was two years ago when a story appeared in the paper at the time of a special service. We went to the Bible Camp at Twin Lakes and saw that a foundation had already been laid for it.”

2006/20 years ago

Relay for Life is tonight

Children from the Webster City Day Care recently spent time decorating the Luminaria bags which will be used for tonight’s Luminaria Ceremony. Sara Vogelbacher, Jason McVicker, Brandon Peck, Trever McCoy and Andrew Straw were among those helping with the luminaries.

The relay is set to begin at 7 p.m. at the Bob Buckley Track at Webster City High School and continue through the night until 7 a.m. Saturday. Special festivities are planned throughout the evening.

At 9:45 p.m. there will be a memory walk in honor of long-time wrestling coach Dick Kennedy, who passed away this week from cancer. The memory walk will be followed by the luminaria ceremony.

Gypsy opens at Performing Arts Center

The Webster City Community Theatre presents Gypsy starting this weekend. Amanda Shelton stars as Gypsy Rose Lee, with Mary Sealine as Mama Rose.

Other cast members include Madeline Keane as Baby June, Hannah Harfst as Louise, Jossi Sann, Wyatt Sann, Addie Swansson, Erma Bockovern, Kevin Sweet, Garret Shelton, Becky Harfst, Diane Bahrenfuss, Linda Miner, Marcia Fritz, Newt Draheim, Don Zompa, Jim Heerema, Mark Dohms, Al Yungclas, Curt Miner, Ellie Hemmingson, Zach Brandt, Abe Lambert, Ben Lambert and Loween Clayberg.

The show will be running the next two weekends.