The Leon Journal-Reporter Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Twice Told Tales 30 Years Ago (April 24, 1980) A beekeeping seminar was held at the MILLER Farm located southeast of Leon. Loring and Phyllis MILLER hosted the meeting with Glen STANLEY and Robert WELLS of the State Apiary Department giving the presentation. The Decatur County Farm Bureau Women honored Bernice MILLER for being a "Special Author" for Decatur County. Carolyn RICE celebrated her 20th year of employment at The Decatur County State Bank. The Cottage Grocery in Pleasanton featured specials on groceries, sandwiches and pop for the weekend. 50 Years Ago (April 28, 1960) A group of 24 4-H club members from Van Wert and Garden Grove along with 4 leaders and 6 drivers, enjoyed a sight-seeing trip to Kansas City, Mo. The trip was sponsored by the Leon Chamber of Commerce. The Garden Grove Go-Getters girls' 4-H Club and the Decatur County Achievers boys' 4-H Club of Van Wert were honored as the top clubs in the county for 1959. The Leon Rebekah Lodge honored three ladies as 50 year members. They were Mrs. Lillian HARDEN who joined the Rebekah's in 1910, Winnie PAINTER who joined in 1910, and Carrie CARPENTER who joined in 1908. New officers for the Leon BPWC were Pauline HANTHORN, president; Josephine SHOOK, vice president; Esther SNARE recording secretary; Cleo HEMBRY, corresponding secretary; and Glendola BINNING, treasurer. Idavee V. CROUSE installed the new officers. Central Community school of Leon rated eight first places in the solo and small group music contest held at Villisca, and there were 20 second place ratings. Rating first places were: Donna WOODERSON, piano solo; Juliann EILTS, trombone solo; John HANSELL, baritone horn solo; Frank BINNING, baritone solo; and Judy COLE, soprano solo. The other three first place awards went to the trumpet trio A; trombone quartet A; and the flute duet. Second placed went to Irene MEACHAM, Tom BENNETT, Dave LYDDON, Mike MADDEN, Robert REDMAN, Bill STEWART, Dennis MASSEY, Bob STEWART, and Connie BENDICT; along with drum ensemble, saxophone quartet, trumpet trio B, woodwind trio, brass sextet, b-flat clarinet quartet, mixed double quartet and girls quartet. Instructors were Joan and Paul BENJAMIN. The Cardinal track team coached by Dud NORRIS won the Bluegrass Conference track meet. Winning team members were David REX, Gary SAGE, John THOMPSON, Dick MCCLURE, Bob STEWART and Larry HOLLAND. 75 Years Ago (May 2, 1935) A 7-ton red granite boulder taken from the farm southeast of Leon owned by Mrs. Elizabeth GREEN of Davenport, has been taken to the Leon cemetery where it will be used as a monument to the soldiers, sailors and nurses of all wars who have passed on. Stone from the M. F. SPRINGER farm will be used as a base. Fifty-two students will receive their diplomas during the Leon High School Commencement to be held May 16. Dr. J.L. HILLMAN, president of Simpson College, will deliver the address to the senior class. Mrs. Ferne GAUNT, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O.P. ESTES of Leon, who has been dramatic instructor in the Ames High School, won first place in the one act play contest held in Des Moines. Mrs. GAUNT's high school cast was awarded the Nate Kendall cup. The spreading of crushed rock on the streets leading to the new swimming pool has begun. The rock was spread first on the north end of Q Street starting at the north edge of the new addition to the city park system. Drilling is under way in the bottom of the present shaft of the Decatur County Coal Company mine west of Davis City, preparatory to the deepening of the shaft to the lower and heavier vein. The prospect hole will be cored when the coal vein is reached. It is planned to open and mine the heavy vein estimated at four feet in thickness by the coming fall. Don HORN, junior, was named as editor-in-chief of the 1935-1936 school paper, and Howard Menold, junior, associate editor.