From Our Files

• Jan. 27, 1949

It was estimated that between 700 and 800 people stopped at the Burns Chevrolet Co. on Highway 18 to look at the new 1949 Chevrolets. Area residents also had the opportunity to stop at Lorenzen Motor Co. to see the new 1949 Pontiac models.

Verlin Bobzien, of Hartley, entered the Chillicothe Business College at Chillicothe, Mo., to enroll for the course in commercial and railroad telegraphy. He was an Army veteran.

Ninety-six percent of the 1,087 students enrolled in O’Brien County high schools took advantage of the opportunity to have a chest examination. The purpose of the miniature film examinations was to detect unsuspected cases of tuberculosis among those examined.

• Jan. 24, 1974

Hartley fifth graders dressed as characters they read about in their books. Some of the characters were Robin Hood, Laura Ingalls, Duke Slater, young Benjamin Franklin and Patience Brewster. Other students dressed as animal characters.

Eilers Sports in Hartley was the new dealer for John Deere consumer products, including lawn and snow equipment. Ruby Implement Co., the previous dealer for those products, was devoting their complete attention to the farm implement line.

William Barksdale, a vice president with Cook Industries, denied that the company was pulling back from its plans to build a giant commodity depot near Hartley. The firm had purchased 100 acres of land from the Cooper family west of Hartley, between the Rock Island and Milwaukee railroads.

• Jan. 28, 1999

Kelly McCarty, of Spencer, was named the director of the Iowa Lakes Small Business Development Center. The Hartley native was responsible for assisting small businesses and entrepreneurs in a nine-county area to build, expand and market their products. He had previously been chief financial officer of Hedberg Broadcasting and also had experience in banking and as a certified public account.

Eight area students were contestants for the title of 1999 Flagfest Youth Ambassador. Among them were Leah Bleeker, of Hartley, and Jessica Goeken, of Everly. Each contestant was required to submit a short essay stating why he/she wanted to be the Flagfest Youth Ambassador. A three-minute self-expression performance was also required during the competition.

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