40 years ago

march 29, 1978

The rural home of Tom and Gerri Hett was completely destroyed by fire Friday caused by a lightning strike coming into the house over the television antenna and going to the basement where it smoldered in the walls for hours. There were no flames when the fire department arrived. As windows were broken, the released oxygen caused flames to rush through the rooms and out every opening, engulfing the home and completely destroying the residence.

Larry Loomis, vice president of Marion National Bank, is the person featured in this week’s “Personality Profile.”

Liz Holm and Gwen Stucky, Peabody-Burns eighth graders, were trophy winners in the Marion County spelling bee Wednesday morning at Marion Elementary School. Holm was first place winner.

Marion County ambulance crews are busy raising funds to purchase two-way pagers. The present pagers are only one-way. The new pagers would allow ambulance crew members to answer back when they are called and thus confirm they received the message.

Pictured in this issue is a log cabin being erected by Dan Gilham at Marion County Lake.

Kathryn Beneke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Beneke of Lost Springs and a Centre High School senior, has been awarded a $700 scholarship by the Lutheran Hospitals and Homes Society of America. She plans to study nursing and will attend either St. John’s College at Winfield of North Central Area Vo-Tech at Beloit.