From Our Files

• May 1, 1947

Drawings of a new church were heartily approved by the building committee of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Architect Thorwald Thorsen, of Forest City, drew plans for a building of modern Gothic style. A meeting of the congregation was planned to discuss approximate seating capacity, building materials and the desirability of obtaining complete blueprints.

Torrential rainfall drenched Hartley and vicinity, with a total of 4.72 inches recorded at the local observation station. Basements too numerous to mention were flooded. A new residence under construction in north Hartley was set back when part of the foundation was washed away and timbers carried away by the near river running through the north part of town.

The M&L Tractor Hospital, owned and operated by Myrl Peters and Leo Frisby, opened in the building formerly occupied by The Goetsch Co. on south “Smokey Row.”

• April 27, 1972

Twenty-two representatives from 20 organizations attended a meeting during which the Hartley Betterment Council was formed. Steven Baumgarten was appointed temporary chairman. A representative of the Iowa Betterment Program highlighted various accomplishments throughout the state.

David Keyt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Keyt, won top honors in a speech contest sponsored by the O’Brien County Soil Conservation District. Second place went to Randy Veldboom, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Veldboom. Both were seventh grade students at the Hartley Community School.

Bruce Peters received a Life Scout Advancement during a meeting of the Hartley Boy Scouts. His mother, Mrs. Virgil Peters, received a mother’s miniature Life Scout pin. Bruce worked as an instructor and senior patrol leader in Scouts for two years and was on the staff at Boy Scout camp during the summer.

• May 1, 1997

United Community Bank held the official grand opening of its new facility on Highway 18 in Hartley. A large group of area business people was on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony. James W. Cravens, chairman of the board, cut the ribbon.

Twenty-seven initiates were welcomed into the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn National Honor Society. Officers of the NHS conducted the initiation ceremony. The program speaker was Father David Hemann, pastor of the Catholic Churches in Sanborn and Hartley.

Mike Wallinga, son of Vern and Joyce Wallinga and a senior at H-M-S High School, was named to The Des Moines Register’s 1997 Academic All-State Team. He was one of 10 seniors who were recognized as top scholars among Iowa high school students.

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