Trending
1936
Mrs. Percy Neese has not seen her mother for last 32 years; to be reunited
A mother who refused to believe her daughter had died, and the daughter who had been led to believe for 32 years that her mother was dead are planning to see each other some time next month.
The mother is Mrs. A.O. Wells, of Colorado, Alaska and the daughter is Mrs. Percy Neese who lives in the Saratoga community south of Webster City.
Mrs. Neese learned of her mothers whereabouts recently from an uncle living in Oklahoma and immediately wrote to her in Alaska asking Mrs. Wells to come to Iowa for a visit just as quickly as she could. Upon receiving that letter, Mrs. Wells notified the Anchorage Alaska Times that she had finally located her daughter and planned to visit her. However, she failed to give her daughter's name and it did not become known until the Alaska dispatch was published in the Freeman Journal Tuesday evening.
Mrs. Neese, who is the correspondent for the Freeman-Journal in the Saratoga community was surprised when she read the article about Mrs. Wells and yesterday called at the newspaper office and explained the details.
Mrs. Neese also has a brother, W.E. Craig, Jr. of Renwick. He too has not seen his mother for 32 years.
It was in 1904 that Mrs. Neese's parents separated and the father, W.E. Craig, Sr., who lives in this city, assumed the custody of his son and daughter.
In the news dispatch from Alaska, the mother stated that she had been told by Mr. Craig that the daughter had died, but that she refused to believe it. Mrs. Neese yesterday that she had been led to believe her mother had died.
1956
County conservation board issue boosts local vote interest
While contests for local offices are at a minimum in Hamilton county's November 6 general election, voting interest is being increased by a referendum on the establishment of a county conservation board.
The question which will be on the top column on the county's voting machines, is: "Shall a County Conservation Board be established in Hamilton County, Iowa to control and manage County Public Parks, as provided by H.F. 591, Acts of the 56th General Assembly."
If voters approve the issue, the county board of supervisors will be empowered to appoint a five member county conservation board.
The board will have the power to levy up to one mill to develop, maintain and purchase parks.
Actually, Hamilton county has owned park property for more than 37 years. Legally, the county has not had the authority to spend money to improve and maintain the parks.
The Briggs Woods property, just south of Webster City was added to Hamilton county for a park in 1919. Bells Mill park, northwest of Stratford, was given to Hamilton County in 1936.
The conservation board would have the right to improve Briggs Woods and Bells Mill parks and to acquire additional park property elsewhere in the county.
1971
Radio Patrol elects new officers
New officers were named last evening at the meeting of the Webster City Emergency Radio patrol, held at the municipal building. Officers are Captain L.R. (Bud) Gibbs; Lt. Howard Paine; Sgt. Art Tolle; Treasure Bob Bringolf; Secretary Alton Crim and trustee Blaine Kloppenberg. Tolle was also named as a new member of the board of trustees. Gibbs succeeded Paine as captain of the patrol unit which has a membership of nearly 40 patrol and auxiliary members.
Caroline McMurray named Pella Homecoming queen
Caroline McMurray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M. McMurray, of Webster City has been elected to reign over Central College's Homecoming celebration this weekend. Her selection was announced Thursday night at a coronation ceremony.
Miss McMurray, also Homecoming queen while in high school, is a French major and studied on Central's affiliated campus in Paris during the 1970-71 school year. She has been named four terms to the college's Dean's List and was a member of the symphonic band, wind ensemble and Centralettes precision drill team. Miss McMurray currently is president of the French House, one of the various language houses where students live to gain better exposure to the language of their interest.
1996
Webster City High School connects to ICN
In one-room schoolhouses of yesterday, all the children in one community shared one teacher and one classroom. Today, children all across the state are sharing their teachers as well as classrooms through the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). Webster City High School recently connected to the state's fiber optic network and is one of 479 video sites in the Part III project.