From Our Files

• July 1, 1948

A hail storm started 2-1/2 miles northwest of May City and traveled several miles to the southeast. Corn was stripped and beans were extensively damaged. It was thought that under favorable conditions, a fair crop could be harvested in the damaged area.

The Marvin Meyer family, living northwest of Hartley, was selected by the Arthur W. Kirchhoff Post as the local candidate for the typical G.I. farm family. They were entered in the contest with other families in O’Brien County.

James P. Martin, 100, of Sutherland, became the sole remaining Civil War veteran in Iowa upon the death of Ebenezer McMurray, 103, of Iowa City. McMurray was the senior vice commander of the Iowa Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, and had planned to attend the G.A.R. encampment at Mason City.

• June 28, 1973

Hartley Chief of Police Larry Rawlings issued 122 licenses during the two-day bicycle inspection. He was aided in the inspection by members of the Hartley Kiwanis Club. The number of licenses represented an increase from the 99 issued in 1972.

Lyle L. Shinkle and Paul Staines planned to construct four rental apartments on a property in east Hartley. The plans called for three two-bedroom apartments and one single-bedroom unit. They hoped to have the units completed by late fall.

No applications to sell liquor on Sunday had been filed with Hartley City Clerk Lyla Balliet. Gov. Robert D. Ray had signed a bill that legalized the sale of liquor on Sunday. The town council had not indicated whether it planned to exercise the option for Sunday liquor sales.

• July 2, 1998

The Hartley Police Department conducted the annual bicycle safety course. Bicycles were inspected and registered with the city so they could be identified in case of theft or loss. Kenny Wohlfarth was the lucky winner of a mountain bike, and Brandon Peters and Kyle Kunzmann won bike helmets.

Members of the Hartley Lions Club and employees of Beef Specialists of Iowa scraped and painted the home of Bob and Kay Hoeppner. Kay was recovering at home from heart transplant surgery. The two groups worked several weekends on the painting project.

O’Brien County Economic Development Corporation was awarded a $633,000 grant for housing rehabilitation projects in five communities, including Hartley. The homes were to be rehabilitated to meet federal housing guidelines and provide families with safe places to live.

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