56 Years Ago

* And So They Say: Leonard Liebenau: “I want everyone to get down on their knees and pray for good weather for my sale.” Dennis Reynolds: “We certainly had a lot of usual weather this winter. It was all the same.” Jess Jarrett: “I predict it will quit snowing before the Fourth of July.” Lloyd Hollern: “I’m certainly glad I have a son. I’m getting too old to shovel snow.”

* Mrs. Albert Haines had received a call from her son, Richard, from Bangkok, Thailand, when he was on R&R. She had been notified earlier by the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company that she was a recipient of a “Hi, Mom!” call. She commented that his voice was clear as if he had been calling from in town.

* The dedication of the Flame of Freedom, installed on the southeast lawn of the courthouse as a memorial to the local boys who have given their lives in the country’s last four wars, WWI I. WWII, the Korean Conflict, and Vietnam by the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary, was set for the coming Saturday. The flame was to burn continuously, similar to the one burning in Arlington National Cemetery and the only third Flame of Freedom installed in Kansas. Mayor William L. Votapka was set to light the flame with short talks by Judge C. E. Birney, Virgil Hagan, and Reverend Sanders Clayton.

* Mrs. Charlotte Schilowsky had learned from her son’s wife that he, BM-1 Bernard Schilowsky, had been seriously injured in Vietnam. Facts from the Red Cross stated Bernard, who was stationed in Nhaba, Vietnam, was on a Navy patrol boat that was either struck by a mine or torpedo. Bernard received severe burns on his legs, and skin grafting was being done at the hospital in Vietnam so he could be moved at a later date to a hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Several of the young men who were on the boat with him were killed.

* The Stockton Junior High wrestlers had won their season opener 45-14. Winning in their weight classes were Dwight Schneider, Blaine Hageman, Tim Votapka, Terry McCrae, Brad Hrabe, Jerry Sanders, Joey Bellerive, Steve Rock, Shawn McCall, Allen Maddy, David Schneider, and Jim Rogers. 

* Mrs. Robert Ballard recently received a fancy pillow from her son, Robert Jr., stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. It was in no way an unusual gift for a mother to receive a fancy pillow from a son ornamented with the insignia of his company or base, but what made it so special is that 25 years prior, she had received a pillow from the same place from young Robert’s dad.  

* From The Feminine Slant By The Office Cat: Well, it’s just about time for the annual argument about whether St. Patrick’s Day or Good Friday is the proper day to plant potatoes.

* Looking Backward Fourteen Years Ago: The City was planning a special election to decide if they would purchase the baseball lights at the fairgrounds for the VFW.

* Showing at the Nova Theatre was “The Devil’s Brigade” starring William Holden, Cliff Robertson, Vince Edwards, and Andrew Pine.

* On sale at Webster’s Supermarket were a five-pound bag of Texas oranges or grapefruit for 39¢, twelve jars of Gerber baby food for $1.00, eight Sylvania light bulbs for $1.00, and an eight-pack of RC Cola for 59¢.