From Our Files

• Sept. 19, 1946

C.M. Longstreth, National 2nd Vice Commander of the Amvets, was in Hartley obtaining the 10 charter members which were necessary for the organization of a chapter. Von Brower was appointed temporary commander of the new Hartley chapter.

John Schiphoff and Dick Stellingwerf, both of Melvin, left for New York, where they would leave by boat for the Netherlands. They planned to visit relatives and Mr. Schiphoff hoped to find his son’s grave in France.

John Meiske visited the Pioneer hybrid corn breeding station at Algona, where early hybrids for the northern Corn Belt were bred and produced. He reported seeing outstanding northern hybrids of the future, which were still in experimental stages.

• Sept. 16, 1971

The directors of the Hartley Community School gave permission to the National Ocean Survey to construct a 90-foot tower on property belonging to the district, near the high school. The tower was one of a series which formed the basic framework for all maps and boundary locations of the country.

A very successful 9th District Legion and Auxiliary convention was held in Hartley. Congressman Wiley Mayne addressed the group at the noon banquet, and the state Legion commander and Auxiliary president gave inspiring talks about patriotism and 100 percent Americanism on the part of all citizens.

John Van Olst, owner of John’s Bakery, was the top vote-getter in a three-way race for director at large of the Hartley Community School. Van Olst received 281 votes, Earl Muilenburg 78 and Roy Payne 35. Dr. J.C. Peterson, Jr., the incumbent director, did not run.

• Sept. 19, 1996

Hartley had another qualifier for the national pedal pull championships at Omaha, Neb. Courtney Harms, daughter of Brad and Betty Harms, qualified by placing second in the 4-year-old division at the Iowa State Pedal Pull Championships at Swea City.

Marilyn Honken brought her 20-year career in daycare to a close. After providing childcare in Sibley for six years, Honken started her daycare in Hartley in 1982, serving over 30 families in the community.

A petition containing 760 signatures was presented to the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board. The petition asked the board to call for a special election to approve a $2.5 million bond issue to finance additions and improvements to the high school. The proposed construction plan was the same as was presented for an unsuccessful bond referendum earlier in the year.

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