Looking Back: January 1, 2025

by Staff Writer

2015

District Court Judge Annette Scieszinski administered the oath of office last Friday to four newly elected and re-elected office holders, including Dennis Amoss, who became the county’s newest supervisor, Tracy Casady, Recorder, John Pabst, newly elected county attorney, and Peggy VandenBerg, re-elected treasurer.

2005

After two days if freezing rain and sleet early in the week, tempertures dropped in Monroe County on Tuesday night and the rain turned to snow.

1995

Nick Griffin leads Albia in a blowout over archrival Centerville, 90-48. Griffin scored a career high 17 points.

Laura Lindaman scored a career high 10 points to help the Dees down archrival Centerville 48-30.

Monroe County is home to eight foster homes. The state says there is need for eight more.

The Oskaloosa Indians gave the Albia Blue Demons a real scalping at Thursday’s duel meet, defeating the home team 64-11. Albia’s only two winners were Kevin Pickerell and Justin Thomas.

1985

Jan. 1 marked the six-month anniversary since Harry Milligan went missing.

The Demon basketball team earned the name “Giant Killer” when they downed #5 ranked Bloomfield 75-52. It is the second ranked team they beat in the week. The Stocker brothers led in scoring with Dan scoring 21 and Norm putting up 15.

The Dees struggled to keep pace with Grinnell losing 66-52. Donna Flahive led the team with 28 points while Sherry Hollinrake led the team in rebounding with seven.

Misty Jamieson travels to Ft. Worth, Texas to compete for the national Modern Miss Crown.

1975

Harold Waters of Lovilia was named chairman of the Monroe County Board of Supervisors for a third time.

Melrose parents are seeking to overturn a decision of the school board, which dates back to November 1973 They want an additional teacher in their school, doing away with consolidated classes. One teacher was fazed out of the school three years ago and another part-time teacher was eliminated last year.

Barbara Mandrel has signed a contract to headline at this year’s Monroe County Fair.

1965

Kness Manufacturing following a public hearing at the City Hall by the Zoning Adjustment was given permission to remodel the former Friends’ Church as a four apartment building. The building is located at the corner of North Clinton and B Avenue West.

Paul Chisman of Blakesburg opened a barbershop in Lovilia a door north of the post office.

1955

Monroe and Wapello County boards of education approved a proposal calling for the enlargement of the Blakesburg school district. The Blakesburg proposal takes parts of Franklin and Williamson districts in Monroe County and parts of Adams and Polk Township in Wapello County.

There was a sharp decline in Monroe County divorces last year. Ten divorce decrees came out of district court in 1954 as compared with 29 in 1953 and 26 in 1952

1945

Pvt. Andy Karso has been reported killed in action by the War Department, Karso was reported missing on Nov. 19. Karso was stationed in France serving with the 95th Division. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. I Karso

Frank Waters will open a Gambles Store in Lovilia. The firm will be located in the Lenger building, in the rooms formerly used by the Lovilia cafe and by Melcher’s hardware store.

1935

Vern (Rip) Henry of Centerville is under 24-hour guard in the Monroe County jail and Ray Clark of Centerville, allegedly his companion in crime, is still at large following an escape from the Mahaska County jail. Fred Jewell accompanied Clark in his escape. Wilma Johnson, 40, of Centerville, Johnson’s half sister, had slipped him a saw during a visit. Henry was on the first floor of the jail, Jewell and Clark on the second. They had divided the saw, half being passed up through a ventilator to the men on the second floor. Clark and Jewell sawed an opening in their cell bars and lowered themselves to the ground by means of a rope made from blankets. Henry and Clark had previously been held in the Monroe County jail but were caught removing bolts from their cell in an attempt to escape. They were moved to a more secure Oskaloosa jail.

Beer on Sunday? That’s against Iowa law. But the law didn’t prevent many motorists from laying in a supply of free beer at 2 o’clock Sunday morning when an Ottumwa truck overturned near the Bay Filling station east of Albia, scattering the amber fluid over the surrounding countryside. The truck, not badly damaged, was taken to Ottumwa. The beer, by the bottle and case, was taken in a number of directions

1925

The Knights and Ladies of the Ku Klux Klan were denied permission to parade the streets of Albia in full regalia in a special meeting of the city council. Mayor J.H. Elder cast the vote denying them permission as the vote of the council stood tied. Mayor Elder was going to vote yes, if, the Klan members would parade without hoods but the Klan said no. It is against the laws of Albia and the state from citizens appearing upon the streets or public highways wearing a mask.

The rabies epidemic in Monroe County grows at an alarming rate.

Commander Dick Bratton of the American Legion post today announces that the proposed American Legion swimming pool is “going through” next summer, in spite of “3A and high water,” but that no definite location can be agreed upon. In an effort to find a suitable location, he is asking for suggestions as to where would be the most desirable place for this proposed civic improvement.