40 years ago

march 26, 1986

Vandals went joy riding in a county-owned road scraper Monday night, knocking down rural property and damaging the machine.

Farmer Harold Woerz said the culprits drove the machine about a half mile north from where it was parked, knocking down his fences until they reached his storage shed, which was flattened.

The drivers continued on, breaking an electric fence until three-quarters of a mile away, when they plowed into an old stone barn in a field owned by Orville Vannocker.

As yet, no estimate of damage has been made.

The third-grade class of Shari Padgham presented a program on ecology Thursday at Marion Elementary School. One play was about seeds needing rain and sunshine. The flowers were Mandy Inlow, Natalie Thies, and Todd Winter. Rebecca Collett was the meteorologist, Kimberly Kreutziger was the sun, and Ben Bowers was the farmer.

Woolworth sponsors a worldwide contest for community service each year among employees and retirees. This year’s international winner of the contest is Geneva Widler of Marion, a valued employee for many years at the F.W. Woolworth store in El Dorado. She received $600 and an impressive plaque. On Wednesday, she donated the $600 prize to Marion Senior Center.

Historical reminders of Florence’s pioneer days will be unveiled Saturday during dedication of Moses Shane Park.