From the files of the Ellsworth Reporter
From the files of the August 11, 1988 edition of The Ellsworth Reporter.
142 YEARS AGO
August 15, 1978
On account of the delay in receiving a new supply of print paper, we could not issue a full edition of full sheets of The Reporter. Therefore those who get only half sheets may understand the reason.
In walking around town Monday morning, we were surprised to see the amount of building going on. Twelve months from now Ellsworth with her residences on her two hills, will be one of the prettiest towns in the state.
There are twenty-five teachers attending the County Institutes.
132 YEARS AGO
August 18, 1888
Children’s Day was observed by the Excelsior Lutheran Church Sunday School last Sunday. The schoolhouse was decorated with evergreens and flowers, and the exercises were profitable and pleasant to all. A handsome sum was contributed by the school for missions.
A Knight of Labor Lodge was organized last Saturday evening in this city by the State Officer having such matters in charge. He was met at the U.P. Depot and escorted to the hotel by a number of the members of the Order headed by the Military Band.
The derrick at the salt well was blown down during the storm last Friday afternoon.
107 YEARS AGO
August 7, 1913
An order has been issued by W. Clyde Wolfe, water commissioner, that due to the water shortage, sprinkling will be prohibited between 6 and 8 p.m. until further notice.
Two thieves broke into Demuth and Sephard’s store gaining entrance through a window in the rear. Twelve revolvers were taken valued at $77. Cizek’s Butcher Shop was broken into about the same time. Entrance was gained by prying loose the rear door. Canned goods were taken there.
82 YEARS AGO
August 11, 1938
Seventeen freight carloads of six hundred and fifty-one head of steers were shipped over the Missouri Pacific railroad from Crawford last Saturday. The steers belong to the Sherman ranch and were sold to Harry Hoover on a contract.
This week Patterson brothers installed a new Frigidaire ice cream cabinet, model U-25, in the restaurant located on U.S. Highway No. 40. The cabinet was purchased from Storey-Peterson Corporation.
Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall in “Always Goodbye” is playing Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at the Dickinson.
57 YEARS AGO
August 8, 1963
The Ellsworth County Historical Society has purchased the old garage next door to the museum this week, and plans to restore the old building to its original state — that of a livery stable. Restoration plans call for tearing down the front portion of the structure, making a new front and restoring the back part.
A number of Ellsworth people have been taking advantage of the fine performances put on by the Starlight Theater in Kansas City this summer.
Riding high, wide and handsome, Al Slaight, Kanopolis mayor, carrying the stars and stripes, led the El-Kan Rodeo parade up Douglas Avenue. He was followed closely by his colleague, Ellsworth Mayor Preisker, in a carriage behind.
42 YEARS AGO
August 3, 1978
The Ellsworth-Kanopolis Board of Education accepted a request from high school teacher and coach Charles Norris to be released for his contract for the 1978-79 school year. Norris is moving to Great Bend.
Capacity crowds Saturday and Sunday, August 5 and 6, packed the improved El-Kan Western Riders Saddle Club Arena for the 25th annual rodeo.
Dancing, skydiving, and boat races are just a few of the activities planned for this Sunday as Kanopolis Reservoir observes 30 years of existence.
Everything but new tile floors for the science room and the science preparation room in the new Joel Martin Wing will be ready for Ellsworth students when they return to school later this month.
New facilities that will greet EHS students include a music room addition, a multi-purpose room for weight-lifting equipment, and remodeling of classrooms in the old junior high wing, now called the Joel Martin Wing.
Ellsworth’s Western Riders hosted their fifth annual Central State Rodeo Association Pro Rodeo Saturday, Sunday and Monday and near capacity crowds turned out all three nights for the action.
32 YEARS AGO
August 11, 1988
Firing Range for Officers
Ellsworth County law enforcement will have a practice shooting range. The plans were approved at the Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners regular meeting, August 8.
The site for the range will be furnished by the City of Ellsworth and Department of Corrections inmates will do the construction.
In other action at the meeting the commissioners accepted plans presented by Fred Abercrombie, an architect from Russell, for repairs to the jail roof. Bids for the repairs will open August 29, 11 a.m.
The commissioners also approved the repair of the air conditioning system of the jail.
The commissioners met in special session August 5 to canvass Primary Election books.
Burning Cigarette cause of Pasture Fire Aug. 8
Ellsworth’s Volunteer Fire Department responded to three fires this week.
Apparently one acre of pasture was lost in a fire northwest of Ellsworth. The pasture was owned by Dell Langerman, Wilson, and leased by Donald John Soukup, Ellsworth.
“The fire started right at the ditch so we believe that the fire was started by someone who threw a burning cigarette into the ditch,” said fireman Ted Landon.
The department responded to a fire August 8 at 5:53 p.m. when a vehicle owned by Cooksin Hills Christian Ministry, Oberlin, Ks., overheated on Interstate 70.
According to Landon, the 1978 Buick station wagon’s radiator had no water in it and the engine had no oil.
The extent of damage was not known by Landon but he thought there was only minor damage.
On August 3 at 1:59 p.m. the fire department responded to a small grass fire in Ellsworth’s east cemetery.
City employee Tony Barta was mowing when he was pushing a pile of weeds from The Pine’s garden by the cemetery.
“I’d call it spontaneous combustion”, said Landon. “It was out in no time”.
Geneseo Seniors Tourney August 14
The second annual Geneseo Seniors Golf Tournament is scheduled for August 14 at the Geneseo Municipal Golf Course; and, according to tournament organizer Leonard Burris, the tournament is also open to women players.
“We’re trying to involve a lot of golfers, both men and women, 50 years old and older,” Burris said. “This is the first year for the ladies and they will be using the women’s tee boxes.”
Tee-off time for the tournament is from 7-10 a.m. And it is one-on-one competition — no teams. The participants will be flighted into three age groups and prizes will be awarded for the top three finishers in each group, according to Burris.
Anyone interested in participating in the tournament should contact Burris at (316) 824-6350.
“We expect to have a very good turn-out and we hope all the players have a lot of fun,” Burris said.
The historic items on this page appear as they did in the original publication.