From the files of the December 8, 1994, edition of The Ellsworth Reporter.   

138 YEARS AGO
December 11, 1884
Ellsworth needs — More advertising; more mechanics; a woolen factory; street lamps; fire engines or waterworks; more tenement houses; several new sidewalks; fewer unpainted houses; more business rooms; a packing house; more educational enthusiasm; more people to come and settle here.
J.J. Williams has prepared a very handsome marble slab, 12 feet long, for R. Rhuel’s new meat market.
The memorial window placed in the new M.E. Church by the Ellsworth Women’s Relief Corps is very beautiful.
Robert Martin, of this city, has his residence heated by a hot air furnace.      

128 YEARS AGO
December 13, 1894
Amos Farris brought to Ellsworth last Monday two loads of fine hogs and sold to Charley Robinson. Paid half of his taxes and went home happy.
From now until the 1st of January, 1895, Nunamaker will sell you Elgin or Waltham watches in Silverite screw bezel cases for $5 each, and in filled cases from $7-$15 each.
For a number of days, past teams crossing the bridge over Spring Creek just this side of Kanopolis were frightened by a traction engine left on the approach on this side of the creek by Mr. Raulston on account of some breakage. It has now been removed.
On the 10th, Gov. Lewelling issued a proclamation offering a reward of $300 for the arrest and conviction of Ex-Treasurer J.L. Dick.
Sheriff Hutchins has offered $100 reward on his own account for the arrest of J.L. Dick. That makes $400 for his arrest.              

103 YEARS AGO
December 25, 1919
Mrs. Roletta Brown and August Saunders were married Monday evening at seven o’clock by Judge J.R. Tercy at his home in this city. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown of the north part of the county. The groom is a farmer, living north of Kanopolis. Mrs. Saunders is a teacher in the Holyrood schools and will complete her school year.
The library opened Monday at the regular hours after having been put under the closing regulations. From now on, the hours will be the same as before the fuel shortage caused a curtailment of opening hours.
Real Estate Transfers: John Helus to Edward Branda, W. 50 ft. of lot 15, block 1, Somers addition, Wilson. Consideration $3,000. Frank Charvat et al to George W. Smischny, lots 22, 23 and fraction 21 and 24, block 19, Ellsworth. Consideration $1,300.
The Ellsworth schools closed Tuesday, and those teachers living out of town have gone home for the holidays.     

78 YEARS AGO
December 7, 1944
Roy Handlin, member of the Wolf Creek 4-H Club and president of the county 4-H council, left last Saturday morning for Kansas City where he joined other Kansas 4-H members en route to the national congress in Chicago.
Walter G. Bircher, Ellsworth, was elected president of the executive board at the Farm Bureau business meeting held in connection with the annual Farm Bureau business meeting and women’s achievement program which was held Friday, Dec. 8, at the Ellsworth City Hall.
The Market — Wheat, 60 pounds, bushel $1.47; wheat, 59 pounds, bushel $1.47; wheat 58 pounds bushel $1.46. Produce: butter, pound 43 cents; eggs, dozen .38 cents.
The city council moved swiftly Tuesday at its regular meeting date to place Ellsworth in line with her neighboring communities to construct the necessary facilities to complete an airport.
The year’s moisture total to the first of December is 30.45 inches or 10.49 inches above last year’s total rainfall of 19.96 inches, but it is 12.21 inches below the previous all-time record., 42.96 inches in 1941.

53 YEARS AGO
December 11, 1969
The Ellsworth wrestlers took fourth in the Pratt Invitational Wrestling Tournament last Saturday with 74 points. Anthony won with 98 points.
Ray Swalley, office manager for the Smoky Hill Electric Cooperative in Ellsworth, will retire at the first of the year. Don Barta, Ellsworth native who recently returned from service in the Navy, will assume Swalley’s duties.
Your family crest in Birthstones, $16 and up; family circle pin, gold-filled or sterling, retail $12.50. - Huff Jewelers.
Spare ribs, lb. 49 cents; Tescott Longhorn cheese, lb. 79 cents; Ivory liquid, giant size 49 cents; Clorox bleach, ½ gallon 35 cents; mixed nuts, pound bag 49 cents; Christmas trees, 5-6 ft. $1.89. - Family Food Store.
Mrs. Roger Novak was honored at a stork shower at the home of Mrs. Robert Sutton Sunday afternoon, Dec.7. Mrs. Larry Soukup and Mrs. Bill Berner were assistant hostesses.          
      
38 YEARS AGO
December 6, 1984
A semi loaded with 64 head of cattle overturned killing two of the animals at the scene reported Sheriff Raymond Thomas. The accident happened at 6 p.m. Nov. 27 on a county road 5 ½ miles west and 1 ½ miles north of the K-140 and K-14 junction.
Delinquent railroad taxes plus interest amounting to about $37,000 was received by Ellsworth County Treasurer Connie Goode according to the county commission minutes of the Dec. 3 meeting.
Six Ellsworth High School players have been named to the North Central Activities Association All-League Football Team for the 1984 season. Gary Schultz, Roger Laubengayer, Vernon Dolezal, Jesse Magana, Tim Finkbeiner and Melvin Rohr were first team selections to the honor squad. Schultz and Laubengayer were named both to the offensive and defensive teams. The other Bearcats were named to the offensive squad.
Eldene Diaz and Bob Cossel are the new co-managers of the Ellsworth Country Club effective Nov. 27 announced Don Keener, country club president.          

33 YEARS AGO
December 7, 1989
The fund drive for the expansion of J.H. Robbins Memorial Library in Ellsworth received a dramatic boost this week when an anonymous $40,000 donation was received. The total donations have now reached approximately $112,500, and I can assure you the library will be built, Mark Cunningham, the drive chairman, said this week.
The Ellsworth Correctional Facility is virtually completed as far as construction is concerned, and it is practically at capacity as far as inmate population is concerned Director Mike Nelson told the Ellsworth Economic Development Committee at their regular meeting Nov. 29.
It was so dry that not a drop of measurable precipitation fell on Ellsworth County the entire month of November. “That’s the first time that’s happened since I’ve been checking the weather,” said George Soucek, who has been the official weather-watcher in Ellsworth County for 11 years. “It has always rained in the 30-day period.”   

28 YEARS AGO
December 8, 1994
A shotgun found hidden in the bushes at First Bank in Ellsworth across the street from the Ellsworth County Jail leaves lots of room for speculation, but so far, no evidence.
Let a light shine. This season in honor or memory of a friend, neighbor or loved one, for a $2 donation, the United Methodist Youth Fellowship will place a light in the tree in front of the Kanopolis Methodist Church in their name. The names of those honored will be listed in the bulletin each week.
Donny Stone bowled the high series for the men this week with a 627 series. He bowled with Vic’s team, El-Kan League.
The women’s high series was bowled by Jan Prochaska and Abby Seiler, each with a 549. Jan bowled with Alley Dusters, Moonlighters League and Abby bowled with the W.A.W.C.?, Town and Country League. The historic items on this page appear as they did in the original publication.