From Our Files

• Feb. 3, 1949

For several weeks the younger set of the Hartley community was plagued by a run of three-day measles. The disease seemed to be of a mild form, and discomfort its only feature. The school asked parents to keep their children at home at the first signs of illness.

Displaying the best basketball of the season, the Hartley Hawks upset a favored Sheldon team to win the O’Brien County tournament for the second straight year. Hartley pulled into an early lead and was never behind. Calumet won consolation honors by defeating a strong Sanborn team.

The Boy Scouts were offering to perform odd jobs and tasks for residents of Hartley. They were attempting to raise money for their summer camp expenses. The troop was performing the tasks as a unit, which promised fast and efficient service.

• Jan. 31, 1974

HyTop Foods, previously RWAY and Council Oak, was purchased by Hartley Foods, Inc. The food store would continue to operate in its Central Avenue location until its lease expired. Hartley Foods also exercised the option it held and purchased the Goetsch building on Highway 18, which would be remodeled into the new home for the store.

Death claimed pioneer businessman Elmer Neebel, who died at age 89. He operated Neebel’s Café for 32 years and also operated Danceland with his sister, Katie. Neebel was a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce and also served on the town council, which purchased the 10-acre tract of land for a park that was later renamed in his honor.

The common stock of Spencer Foods, Inc. was approved for listing on the American Stock Exchange. The AMEX was traditionally the market for younger, growing companies serving public investors. Spencer Foods, which operated a plant in Hartley, announced record sales of $413 million.

• Feb. 4, 1999

The Mi’Ono Club and the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Music Boosters provided funds for a new piano for H-M-S Middle School. Instrumental instructor Lavila Nelson and vocal instructor Brad Dighton selected the Yamaha piano which was purchased from Midwest Piano and Organ in Spencer.

Craig Snider, of Osage, was honored by the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials as the top boys’ basketball referee in Iowa. A native of Hartley, Snider had been a high school sports official for nearly a quarter century at the time of the recognition.

Area high school seniors Kyle Vogt, of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, and Joe Wick, of Clay Central/Everly, were selected to play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Classic. They were among 44 players named to the North Squad for the game which raises funds for Shrine Hospital programs.

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