1946: Lightning strike kills May City chickens

• Feb. 7, 1946

Adolph Gosch received a painful injury when a horse kicked him, tearing the ligaments in the right knee. He was in a stall putting the harness on a team of mules when the horse in the next stall kicked him.

Lawrence Clark, the light plant superintendent, was informed that the state was willing to send a geologist to Hartley to help in determining desirable locations for test holes for a new water supply.

The paper drive conducted by the Boy Scouts was the best they ever had. It was estimated that over four tons of paper was collected. Proceeds from the sale of the paper went to the troop funds for their cabin and equipment to carry out their activities.

A rather unusual fire occurred at the Chris Holle farm near May City. Lightning struck a tree in the yard and glanced off, killing 10 chickens out of a flock of 250 in a new chicken house. The building was not damaged thanks to quick action by neighbors.

• Feb. 4, 1971

The Hartley stage band competed in their first contest at Carroll. Thirteen groups competed during the day and the Top 3 were selected for the finalist competition. The Hartley musicians placed second.

The congregation of Trinity United Church of Christ celebrated the end of the debt against their new church which was completed in 1963. The mortgage was burned during the worship service. Representatives of the congregation participated in the mortgage burning.

Garland L. Lorch was named the 1971 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow for Hartley High School. She was chosen on the basis of her score on a written test.

The town council was studying a proposed ordinance that would severely limit the use of snowmobiles in Hartley. If adopted, the ordinance would limit their use to when streets were impassable and on private property.

• Feb. 8, 1996

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn senior Lee Bunge was selected to participate in the Iowa Shrine All-Star Football Classic. He was one of 44 players named to the North Squad. The coaching staffs of both Shrine game squads selected players from nominations submitted by their coaches.

The Hartley city council accepted a proposal from Maguire Iron, of Sioux Falls, S.D., to complete interior work in the water tower. Under the agreement, the interior of the tower would be sandblasted, necessary repairs would be made and a complete interior coating would be applied. Maguire Iron’s bid was $23,960.

Hartley’s park board was expanded from three members to five. Three of the members were to be elected during municipal elections and two were to be appointed by the mayor for one-year terms. As a result of the change, the summer recreation board was eliminated.

“From Our Files” is compiled by Sentinel-News sports editor/staff writer Mike Petersen.