The Blade

01/09/2026

Fairbury’s Dec. 31 blood drive, held at the First United Methodist Church, surpassed its goal of 55 with 59 units collected.

Grace Main and Kezia Wenger were first-time donors. Donors reaching milestones were Lee Waldbeser, four gallons, and MaryAnn Stork, 10 gallons.

Others donating were Mark Bolliger, Louis Retter, Kyle Buchanan, Kinzey Bachtold, Ann Francis, Greg Hish, Brenda Bachtold, Nate Kelson, Cary Dehm, Lynn Barnett, Mark Hall, Kevin Moser, Charles Larsen, Matthew Brauman, Steven Slagel, Joyce Gulliford, Lori Leman, Robert Nussbaum, Martha Fehr, Paul Harms and John Vitzthum.

Also donating were Amy Kostesich, Robert Schroen, Craig Davis, Betty Dray, Tom Kilgus, Kathleen Lawless, Steve Hall, Leann Brown, Dawn Kestner, Kaylee Skaggs, Sally Fehr, Steven Carey, Charles DeFries, Heidi Bachman, Evan Hish, David Hammer, Matt Thomas, Jim Yoder, Leslie Slagel, Beth Russell, Neil Bahler, Anne Nugent, Curtis Meiss and Katie Haas.

Donors came from Strawn, Forrest, Chatsworth, Fairbury, Sibley, Chenoa, Cropsey and Lexington.

The Forrest Christian Apostolic Church furnished a Dave’s gift card to provide food for the donors. Cookies were donated by Becky Schaffer, Kathy Honeger, Kezia Wenger, Devon
Steidinger and Joyce Honegger.

Volunteers working at the blood drive were MaryAnn Stork, Deb Moran, Kathy Fehr, Linda Zick, Barb Taylor, Kathy Cook, Beverly Forneris, Jeanie Searby, Judy Bennett, Lo**ta Dunahee, Mary Zimmerman, Mark Hall, Jeannea Shier, Janet Greear and Denny Greear.

Many thanks to the donors and to the volunteers who gave their time to help others.

Your next opportunity to donate blood will be Wednesday, January 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.

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01/08/2026

130 Years Ago
January 4, 1896
Mrs. Hester Lough has opened a restaurant in the west end block.
A New Year's Eve party to watch the old year out and the new one in, was given by Miss Alice Richardson. About 25 were present and the evening passed very pleasantly with refreshments and games.
Perlee Bros. have put up a telephone line between their cold storage to their chicken house in the west end. Their store is also connected on the line. Perlee Bros. run a big thing and are always up to date.
The furnace in the south side school building was out of order this week and they had to send to Peoria for a chimney sweep to clean it out.

120 Years Ago
January 5, 1906
Last Sunday, Dec. 31, Mrs. Harriet Coomer celebrated the 48th anniversary of her arrival in Fairbury. On December 31, 1857, Mr. and Mrs. John Coomer and son, Ibert, arrived in what is now Fairbury. It was then called South Avoca. Mr. Coomer had been here previous to that time and built a house, but it had not been weather boarded, nor plastered, neither had it any doors of windows. The family lived in the house for three weeks before the doors and windows arrived from Chicago, the openings being stopped up with boards and curtains. The original house is still standing and occupies the lot just across the street east of the Thomas House, and this was the first house built in Fairbury.
One of the prettiest weddings of the season occurred at the palatial residence of Mr. and Mrs. James Besgrove, when their youngest daughter, Annie, became the wife of Mr. Edwin H. Brown, in the presence of about one hundred invited guests and relatives. This is the fourth New Years wedding that has occurred in the family of Mr. Besgrove. He and Mrs. Besgrove were married just thirty-three years ago, and two other of their children have been married on New Year's Day.
The Gamma Gamma Gamma Fraternity of the Fairbury High School celebrated its fourth anniversary at Mapel's Hall Monday evening. Sixty guests were present and games of all kind were indulged. Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. J. W. Walton, Jr., and Miss India Wade presided at the refreshment booth. Dancing and cards furnished amusements until a late hour. Everyone voted the fraternity boys jolly entertainers and departed, wishing them many more "Happy New Years."

110 Years Ago
January 7, 1916
The people of this community were shocked and their hearts saddened Tuesday morning when the word was received here that William Goudy had met death in a motorcycle accident at Bakersfield, Cal., Monday afternoon. He died Monday evening as the result of brain concussion received when three motorcycle racers bunched on a turn at the track in Bakersfield. Will was unconscious and a bad scalp wound extended across the top and back of his head. For a time it was thought that he had a chance to live, but he died three hours later as a result of brain concussion and internal injuries.
J. E. Masterson received a carload of Jeffery cars this week from the factory. One is a seven passenger, one a five-passenger and the other a three-passenger roadster. This makes a fine display of Jeffery cars and can be seen at the Leis garage.
Miss Isabelle M. Ward arrived Monday and is being entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Ward, the visitor being a sister of Mr. Ward. Miss Ward has been in Japan for the past fourteen years as a missionary, being sent out by the Presbyterian Missionary Board. Miss Ward has been situated near Tokyo, for some time past. Her work is only in girls' schools, where she teaches the English language, music and Christian religion.

100 Years Ago
January 8, 1926
After debating the matter several months, plans have been formulated to employ a community nurse for the coming year. The estimated salary of $1,800 has been guaranteed by four organizations, the Red Cross, Woman's Club, High School and Elementary School. The work of the nurse will be the daily inspection of the school children, keeping health records, yearly physical inspection, follow-up calls to the homes of pupils absent on account of illness, baby and pre-school age inspection. The work of the nurse will include the community of Fairbury, provision being made for visits to rural homes.
Ernest Bess has purchased of Miss Frances Patterson the four lots located at the southeast corner of Seventh and Oak Streets and just as soon as the weather will permit will start the er****on of an oil station thereon. The house now on the corner will be moved onto the lots east of where it now stands, and Mr. Bess and family will occupy it. The oil station will be one of the best, both as to appearance and in point of giving service. Mr. Bess will handle Shell gasoline. The price paid by Mr. Bess was $3,800.
Conrad Munz, Jr., has practically completed his ice harvest, with the storing away of 2,200 tons of ice of exceptionally fine quality. He has room for 400 tons more at his ice house on East Walnut Street, and will fill it when it freezes again. Dust blowing on the ice from the fields caused Mr. Munz some extra work, as he had to cut the top off to the depth of a half inch or more.

90 Years Ago
January 3, 1936
Starting yesterday the Santa Fe Trail System took over the Yellow Bus Line and will make two round trips daily between Chenoa and Watseka. At Chenoa they make connections with their trans-continental schedule. Their local depot will be at Van's Service Station. The Santa Fe Trail System is one of the country's largest bus lines, their busses covering some 60,000 miles daily. The bus in use between Chenoa and Watseka carries 21 passengers.
One of the large water mains on Main Street, which has been carrying water from the old wells through it for more than 40 years, could not stand the water from the new wells and vented its disgust by cracking wide open. The break occurred between Third and Fourth Streets and several basements in the business houses along there were flooded from a depth of a couple of inches to a couple of feet. The broken pipe was replaced with a new one and the water is again turned on in the business houses in that block.
Roy Dickson and Phil Goslin have leased the Mapel building in the west business block, formerly occupied by the Home Cafe, and tomorrow will open a tavern there. The new tavern will be known as the "Casino."

80 Years Ago
January 4, 1946
R. B. James and Cloyd Wilson, Jr., who recently purchased the Farmers Locker plant, took possession Wednesday. The new firm name will be the Fairbury Locker Company. Both of the new proprietors are men well acquainted with the meat business. For 14 years Mr. James conducted a meat market here, disposing of the same six years ago. More recently he successfully operated a locker plant at Chenoa. Mr. Wilson, before entering the service worked at the locker plant, and since his discharge had worked at Frank's market.
Mrs. Flossie K***z, of Strawn, has been a patient at the Fairbury Hospital since New Year's Day, suffering with severe burns on her hands, arms and chest. It had been said that Mrs. K***z had used kerosene while building a fire in the kitchen stove, but Mrs. K***z stated yesterday that such was not so. The fire had been built for some time, and as the morning was quite cold, she was standing by the stove to get warm. She got too close to the stove and her apron caught on fire. She tried at first to put it out with some water that was in a tub in the house. Not succeeding, she ran outdoors and then lay down and rolled in the snow.
Frank Leach, a former Fairbury Township High School instructor, is again on the high school faculty, following a stretch with Uncle Sam in the service. He will also coach the grade school basketball team.

70 Years Ago
January 5, 1956
A former Fairbury girl is the mother of the first baby of 1956 born at Fairbury Hospital. Pamela Darlene Roth entered the world at 6:16 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, tipping the scales at just a half-ounce under six pounds. The parents are Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Roth, of Forrest. She is the former Dorothy Cooper, of Fairbury. With the distinction of first baby came prizes worth almost $100 from local merchants. The Roths live on the Roth home place located two miles south and a mile west of Forrest. They have one other youngster, Terry Wayne, who'll be a year old Jan. 12.
Fairbury High School begins a new year of basketball playing Friday night as they play host to the Forrest Eskimos, and everyone in the land of the green and the gold are hoping that 1956 will be the year. The Big Ten's dominance over the west coast teams in the Rose Bowl game is nothing compared to the mastery Forrest has displayed over Fairbury on the basketball court for the past six seasons. The cold facts are that the Eskimos have beaten the Tartars in 21 straight basketball games. The last time a Fairbury basketball team won over Forrest was back in February 1947, when Mack Follmer missed the game because of a cold and the Tartars took unfair advantage to whittle out a 29-27 triumph.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Bolliger, of Silverton, Ore., are announcing the engagement of their daughter, Mary, to Gilbert Ifft, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ifft, of Fairbury. The wedding is planned for Saturday, Jan. 14.

60 Years Ago
January 6, 1966
The first baby of 1966 at Fairbury Hospital was Karen Yvonne, the 10 lb., 3½ oz. daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Smock of Fairbury at 7:05 a.m., Tuesday, January 4. The infant was also greeted by two other Smock children, Richard and Sarah. Karen's timely arrival earned for her and her parents, a number of gifts from Fairbury merchants.
Nearly 39 years to the day after he first became a Locust (Main Street) businessman in Fairbury, Hi Steidinger closed out his career last Friday morning. He had been in the jewelry business since Sept. 18, 1946. If you're questioning our arithmetic, hold on...for Hi came to "Main Street" in January, 1927, when he joined Bert Monroe in the barber business. He then was associated with Jay Tyler for one and a half years, and then "was a partner with Dutch Waite for a while." Hi next was associated as a barber with Al Kilgus and that was a rather lasting affair, 16 years in fact. During that time, he became interested in watch repair as a hobby, and took a correspondence course. But he didn't get into it professionally until during the war, "when every jeweler around was drafted; some people knew I could fix watches, and they started calling."
As a member of the United States Mission to Berlin, Miss Betty Nussbaum of Fairbury has been appointed to serve as a vice-consul to West Berlin. On Monday morning she began an intensive German language course which will require four months' training to complete. Following language school she will attend a consular course for several weeks and plans to assume her new duties as vice-consul to West Berlin on or about July 1. Betty has been employed by the state department of the United States government since 1947.

50 Years Ago
January 8, 1976
The first baby born in 1976 at Fairbury Hospital was Jeffrey Lloyd Stehle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Stehle of Forrest. He weighed 9 lbs. 5¼ ounces at 10:45 p.m. January 4. His mother is the former Donna G*e Babbs, who at one time resided in Fairbury. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ernest J. Stehle of Forrest, Mrs. Alta Wenger of Fairbury and Leslie Babbs of Pontiac. Great-grandparents are Mrs. Emma Babbs of Pekin, Henry Stehle of Chatsworth and Mrs. Thelma Blackmore of Cullom.
Fairbury-Cropsey and Forrest-Strawn-Wing School Board members looked at an "on paper" merger of the two school systems Monday night, but took no substantial steps toward joining the districts. The two school boards held their second joint session in Forrest and reviewed data prepared at their request by superintendents Lester Miller and Harold Slater.
Two Fairbury residents have been found guilty of disorderly conduct and fined $25 plus court costs because of excessive barking by their respective dogs. Judge Darrell Reno handed down the verdict and the fines Dec. 30 in a case brought to court by State's Attorney John Satter's office despite the fact that the City of Fairbury has a dog ordinance, which should have meant the city would clamp down on the owners of the barking dogs. "Normally, we would not have been handling a case like this since Fairbury has a dog ordinance," a spokesman in Satter's office said. "However, in this case, we had to step in because the Fairbury police wouldn't stop it."

40 Years Ago
January 2, 1986
Christmas shoppers found what they wanted in downtown Fairbury, and at competitive or lower prices than could be had at area shopping malls, according to an informal Blade survey of retailers. Fairbury merchants contacted this week almost universally reported that the 1985 Christmas shopping season had easily surpassed the amount of business done locally one year ago.
Doris Teubel, a Fairbury native, lost everything she owned except the robe she was wearing when she discovered the fire in the wall of the Bloomington apartment building that was gutted last Thursday. After calling the Fire Department, she was unable to save any of her belongings and had to borrow a coat. Doris is presently staying with her sister, Ruth Teubel, in Fairbury. She has a second sister, Mary Beth Slagel, who also lives in Fairbury.
According to The Daily Telegraph of Sidney, Neb., ex-Fairburians Bob and Joy Spence have won the Christmas home lighting contest for the second year in a row. The Dec. 20 issue carries a five-column photo of their home and writes, in part, "The Spence home decorations range from cutouts of a Christmas card to a fence that has been lighted, lights in large trees, and a cutout of Santa being hoisted to the top of the house by reindeer. Bob is with Natural Gas Pipeline, which has an installation in Fairbury.

30 Years Ago
January 3, 1996
Walton's of Fairbury closed their doors Saturday evening for the last time. The 126-year-old establishment, which was bought by Szold's of Peoria, was sold to Specialty Retailers, Inc. of Houston, TX, and will reopen in early spring under the new name, The Stage. They are a family apparel store, and sell many of the same brands that Szold's sells. As the store reopens in early spring, items like furniture, appliances, housewares and carpet will no longer be available there.
"Students win more than awards and scholarships when they participate in the VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship program," said Commander Stephen Drach of the VFW Post 9789 of Fairbury in discussing the essay program conducted annually by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary. Nathan Kelson was selected the recipient of the scholarship, and will have the opportunity to compete at District, State and Federal levels of the competition. Other students receiving awards were Kent Blunier, Emily Bachtold and Lucas Roach.
Doug Stephens of rural Forrest has been named to the "Winner's Circle" for the fourth time as one of the top dealers for DEKALB Genetics Corporation. Doug and Cindy were guests of DEKALB at a Winner's Circle weekend in Branson, MO recently. Doug has been a DEKALB dealer for 15 years and is among 1,200 Winner's Circle members to be recognized nationwide this year. The award is based on service to customers, sales volume and increases in seed orders.

20 Years Ago
January 4, 2006
Maury Cox of Fairbury has spent many years (20-plus) in the doorways at Prairie Central High School, working as a volunteer, taking tickets at athletic events. This year will be his final year as a volunteer, as he has decided to retire at the end of the school year. Cox, a former mayor for the City of Fairbury, and a longtime basketball floor official, will still follow the Hawk teams, but he just won't be sitting in the doorway next year, he'll be in the stands.
Moderate temperatures shortened the life span of any standing snowmen in the area, and nearly all traces of snow have been diminished following a week of temperatures in the lower to mid-40s.
SP4 Jarad Mack, son of Bob and Linda Mack of Fairbury has been deployed to Baghdad, Iraq for a year. He is with the 101st Airborne Division out of Ft. Campbell, Ky. His unit will help provide security for the region.

10 Years Ago
January 6, 2016
Sophomore Drew Hoselton won his second Pontiac Invitational championship this season at 152 pounds. Last season he won as a freshman at 138 pounds. Hoselton recorded four pins on his path to the championship where he defeated Khandon Howse of Thornwood in 2:48. Prairie Central, finishing sixth, had seven wrestlers place overall. Along with Hoselton's championship, Simon Schuler at 138, Jake Woodrey at 160 pounds, Cade Kerns, Chase Collins at 182 and Grant Rickets at 285 each placed 4th. Alex Steidinger lost his opening match but then won four matches to take fifth place at 285. Chandler Ifft placed 6th overall.
Members of the Prairie Central FFA Chapter were one of 43 teams participating in the National FFA Agricultural Tech and Mech. Systems Career Development Event (CDE). The team, led by advisor Kyle Miller, was awarded a Gold emblem. Members also competed for individual awards with 160 other participants. Kenton Edelman and Cole Yoder each received a Gold emblem, Kyle Livengood and Jesse Leman received Silver emblems. Members of the Prairie Central FFA Chapter were one of 36 teams participating in the National FFA Agricultural CDE. The team, led by advisor Becky Freed, was awarded a Gold emblem. Earning individual awards with 140 other participants were team members Laine Honegger, Hannah Miller and Kylie Miller each receiving a Gold emblem. Monte Schaffer received a Silver emblem. Members of the Prairie Central FFA Chapter were one of 43 teams participating in the National FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management CDE. The team, led by advisor Darren Ropp, was awarded a Gold emblem. Members also competed for individual awards. Milan Leman, Jake Leman, Grayson Cottrell and Milan Teubel all received a Gold emblem.

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01/08/2026

Congratulations to Prairie Central High Schools’ Illinois State Scholars for 2026. Natalie Stoller, Lydia Kilgus, Sam Slagel, Gage Maurer, Justin Leman, Acer Kratochvil

01/02/2026

PC Community,
Please take the time to view the letter that I sent out to parents and staff via email on some updates on the Junior High facility. We appreciate everyone's flexibility and patience as we deal with the circumstances that are apparent now and for the unknown that we are dealing with each day. We will continue to make best of the situation that has been dealt to us with a positive approach and outlook. There are many moving parts that we working through but we are doing our best to maintain our day to day operations while keeping our focus on our students.

Thank you again for your support and understanding,
Brian Quam
Superintendent

12/31/2025

130 Years Ago
December 28, 1895
The weather the past week has been abnormally warm for this time of year. It has rained considerably, but the sun has shone several days and the high waters have abated.
The Salvation Army meetings at the Methodist Church during the past week have been crowded to the full capacity of the building.
John Scharlach, who has been employed in Walton Bros. Grocery for several years, has purchased a partnership in a hardware and implement store at Cissna Park, and left for that place the first of the week.
Walter Watterson and Harvey Baylor, both attending school at Onarga, are home for the holidays.

120 Years Ago
December 29, 1905
Christmas in Fairbury was given up principally to family dinners and there were many gatherings of this kind participated in. The stores closed up at 10 o'clock a.m. and did not open until the next morning. There were large numbers of people standing around on the street during the afternoon, and as there were no business houses open, the saloons did a thriving business. After standing around in the cold for about an hour, C. R. Virgin declared himself a candidate for the office of mayor on the ticket of closing the saloons on all legal holidays and at six o'clock every evening, the same hour the business houses close.
A. D. Westervelt gave us some figures Thursday, which show what clover will do for corn land. On his mother's farm, south of town, the amount of corn produced five years ago was 40 bushels per acre. There had been no clover sown on the land for many years. Since that time the land has been renewed by clover and this year the land produced as follows: 45 acres, 60 bushel of corn per acre; 40 acres, 54 bushel of corn per acre; 40 acres 63½ bushel of oats per acre. The land is farmed by Taylor Rudkins and Fred Cooper.
Ben King marketed his hogs this week, Fry & Weber being the purchasers. There were 53 hogs in the lot and they averaged 310 pounds. One of the animals was a monster, tipping the scales at 740 pounds. Mr. King understands thoroughly the art of fattening hogs for market and this bunch was an exceptionally fine one and will undoubtedly bring top prices on the market.

110 Years Ago
December 31, 1915
William Rilland, one of the drivers down in the mine at the west coal shaft, was badly, but not seriously, injured when two strings of cars came together and he was caught between them.
Rev. Father Aout and his parishioners have received a Christmas gift that is a fine one. The gift is a pipe organ for St. John's Catholic Church of this city, and its donor is Andrew Carnegie, the millionaire and philanthropist. The organ has already been ordered and will be installed some time next month.
Ice about six or seven inches thick is being put up this week in the ice houses of the Perlee Produce Company and the Chatsworth Produce Company. The ice is cut from the Munz gravel pit.
If the youngsters had ordered the weather themselves for the Christmas holidays they couldn't have done a better job than the weather man has done for them. It snowed the day their vacation commenced, and every day this week the streets have been alive with "kids" who hook their sleds on every moving vehicle that chances to come their way.

100 Years Ago
January 1, 1926
Conrad Munz Jr., started Tuesday to gather his ice crop for 1926. He is getting the ice off the creek to fill the bottom of one house, but started taking it from the gravel pit Thursday morning. The ice is about ten inches thick and of fine quality. Mr. Munz has recently built another large ice house in which to store ice for his increasing trade. If the weather continues favorable he will finish the harvest in about six days.
The residence on West Pine Street, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Biggers, and owned by Mrs. C. D. Howarth, burned to the ground this morning about 6 o'clock, together with most of the household goods of the Biggers family. How the fire started is not known. The fire company responded to the call, but the hose would not reach the scene of the fire. The property is outside the city limits. The Biggers family was not at home at the time.
Mrs. C. W. Griggs and daughter, Miss Lucile, entertained a company of ladies at six o'clock dinner Tuesday evening. The place-cards were sweet peas and narcissi. Butterfly ladies in complimentary colors were the table decorations. Places were arranged for twenty-two. Out-of-town guests were Miss Harriet Lewenberg, Oak Park, and Miss Florence Tredennick, of Strawn, who is home from Oak Park during the holidays.

90 Years Ago
December 27, 1935
The fire department was called to the Isaac Walton school house last Friday about 7 a.m. to extinguish a blaze that did damage to the amount of around $200. The fire was discovered by Charles Wesser, the janitor, some 15 or 20 minutes after he had come back from breakfast. The fire had started in an abandoned air ventilating shaft, the most damage being done in the recitation room on the second floor in the southwest part of the building. The room just below it, the sixth grade, was also damaged some. The fire did not interfere with the school work for the day, and the damage will be repaired during the holiday vacation.
The dream of ages came true Saturday night before Christmas, when the electric current was turned on the new high line into Wing, and local residents who had previously been connected up had their lights for the first time. Only four houses in town were connected and meters installed Saturday, Willard Barclay, Clyde Allen, Homer Gibb and Mrs. Laura Perrine, but others were hooked up by Monday and Tuesday, and there was plenty of light for Santa Claus to see to fill everybody's stockings on Christmas eve.
James Glennon, residing several miles northeast of this city, received a number of cuts and bruises Christmas Day, one of the cuts on his head requiring five stitches to close. Mr. Glennon's car had become stalled. He threw the car in gear with the wheels spinning and then went around to the rear and gave it a push, intending to climb in when the car started. The car got in motion all right, but went much faster than he had anticipated. He got on the running board of the car just as it started for a fence, which knocked him off and injured him as above stated.

80 Years Ago
December 28, 1945
Pedestrians and automobiles have found the going pretty slippery the past several days. Following the cold spell of ten days or so, it moderated the day before Christmas, and Christmas Eve there was a heavy rain. It turned quite cool again Christmas Day and there was a light snow, the result being slippery roads and slippery walks. The snow was blown by a brisk wind and some north and south roads were blocked. Buses through Fairbury did not operate Wednesday.
An accident, caused by the slippery condition of things occurred in the alley back of Harper's Grocery, when a big Armour's truck went out of control and ran into a big telephone pole. The pole went down and there was a grand mixture of telephone wires. It took workmen about a day to straighten things out.
A final attempt to reorganize the F. T. H. S. Alumni Association will be made at a meeting which will be held in the basement of the library building at 7:30 this evening. All members of the association and all persons who graduated from F. T. H. S. since 1942 who did not have an opportunity to join are urged to attend this meeting. If we fail in this attempt to elect a group of officers for the coming year, the association will have to be considered inactive. —Committee.

70 Years Ago
December 29, 1955
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Brandt were named winners this week in the annual Christmas home decoration contest sponsored by the Rotary and Chamber of Commerce.
Donald Rabe, 23, of Fairbury, an employee of the Texas-Illinois Natural Gas Co. had two fingers of his left hand amputated following an accident.
Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Fosdick of Route 4, Pontiac, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary at an open house at their home New Year's day from 2 until 5 in the afternoon.
Edward Kahle, Chenoa, paid $599.70 an acre for 150 acres at a sale in Lexington Township. The land was part of the estate of Ira Zook.

60 Years Ago
December 30, 1965
The high wind and rain of Christmas Eve and early the following morning caused a Limestone Transit semi-trailer to do a "headstand." The trailer was uncoupled from its tractor at the company's lot west of Fairbury on U. S. 24. With the nose to the east and slightly lower, about 100 gallons of water collected at the nose on the tarp covering, and this weight, coupled with the wind buffeting the other end, caused the trailer to nose over during the night. Limestone's owner, Herschel Leffingwell, said that no damage was done to the trailer.
A Norfolk and Western Railroad southbound passenger train won a race with the stork Wednesday afternoon, with the aid of Forrest Ambulance Service by Clarence Culkin and the staff of Fairbury hospital. The fast-moving story began on Train 111 when Mrs. Margaret Johnson and her six children were en route to their home in St. Louis from Chicago. Nearing Forrest, Mrs. Johnson told Conductor Harry Kammerman that the time had arrived for the birth of her seventh child. Kammerman radioed ahead and Culkin had his ambulance at the depot where Mrs. Johnson was removed from the train on a cot and rushed to the hospital. At the hospital, Mrs. Johnson gave birth in less than an hour to a 6 pound 2 ounce daughter.
Leroy "Peanut" Miller will retire today from the U. S. Postal Department at the Fairbury office after 41 years and eight months of service. Miller, who is 60, started as special delivery and mail messenger in 1924. Postmaster John Reis said that Miller was "a post office fixture, he's been with this office longer than any other employee."

50 Years Ago
January 1, 1976
Today opens the calendar year in which the United States observes its 200th anniversary. Nostalgia fills the air, and to join the birthday anniversary celebration, The Fairbury Blade today announces plans to publish a book of historic photos from the Fairbury-Cropsey area. For more than a decade, The Blade has been publishing each week, old photos, ranging from nearly a century in age to as recent as 15 or 20 years ago. For some time, the possibility of compiling these historic treasures into book form have been weighed by Blade Publisher Jim Roberts, and this week the decision was made to launch such a project.
The elevator in the front of the Keck building in Fairbury will come in especially handy for insurance man Dean Broquard, but if he'd used it last week, he wouldn't need it now. If that sounds cryptic, it must be explained that Dean was leaving his upstairs office in the building by way of the back stairs when he slipped and fell, injuring a knee. Dean is off his feet now and surgery may be needed if the joint doesn't heal properly.
Honeggers' and Co., Inc. stockholders met Wednesday, Dec. 31 in Fairbury to make a decision about mortgaging company property. In a separate matter, shareholders will also decide whether or not to merge with a Delaware corporation. According to Richard Funk of Honnegger's, the Delaware corporation was initiated with the distinct purpose of changing Honeggers' charter from Illinois to that state. While stating that "there will be no change in the company's name, its business, its assets or its management" as a result of the proposed merger, they do admit that "certain rights of shareholders will be changed as a result of the change in corporate domicile." They did not specify the rights which would be affected.

40 Years Ago
December 26, 1985
A tool shed and three vehicles were lost in a Saturday morning blaze where cold weather hampered efforts of four fire departments. The near zero temperatures froze up some of the pumpers. Saunemin firemen first responded to the alarm about 7:20 a.m., 1½ miles east of the curve on the Fairbury-Owego blacktop and on County Road 1700 North. They called for tanker assistance from Fairbury, Pontiac and Odell. Lost in the blaze, at the Steve Schaffer property, were a grain truck, a car being stored there and a pickup truck belonging to Edwards Soil Service, by whom Schaffer was employed.
Keith and Lois Coleman of Fairbury announce the engagement of two of their daughters. Becky S. Coleman will marry Todd Webster of Forrest on May 17, 1986. His parents are Gene and Betty Webster of Buckingham. Connie D. Coleman will marry Jim D. Gentes of Sibley on March 8, 1986. His parents are Don and Faye Gentes of Sibley.
William Dean Nussbaum, named for his grandfathers, was born to Jay and Ann Nussbaum of Fairbury on Dec. 18, 1985 at Fairbury Hospital. The 7 pound 10½ ounce baby boy is the couple's first child. Grandparents are William and Mary Orth of Fairbury and Dean and Betty Nussbaum of Chatsworth.

30 Years Ago
December 27, 1995
Four days before Christmas, a Fairbury family of five lost all of their possessions to a fire which they narrowly escaped. Denzil Wilson, 29, and his wife Cherri, 28, were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene by SELCAS. Their three sons, Bradley, 6; Denzil Jr., 3; and Alexander, 2, did not require treatment. Firemen from Fairbury, Chenoa and Forrest responded to the 8:45 a.m. blaze, which totally destroyed the 2-story structure that sits on the north side of U. S. 24.
About 160 people attended a special 100th anniversary/Christmas open house hosted by Anchor State Bank on Friday, Dec. 8. Pins of service from the Community Bankers Association were awarded to Maynard Schleeter, who has been a director of the bank since 1967; Dean Bright, a director of the bank since 1974, bank president from 1979-1993 and chairman of the board from 1975-1993; Louis Martens, who was recognized for being the longest depositor (since 1920); Jim Eckert, a director and chief executive officer at the bank since 1979 and bank president since 1993; and Margery Eyer, employed the longest at the bank (1955-1993) and assistant cashier from 1988-1993.
Pittsburgh Tube Company of Fairbury announces the following organization changes and promotions: Jill Davis is promoted to the position of Manager-Accounting, personnel, benefits; Rob Fornnarino is promoted to the position of Manager-Quality Assurance; Dan McMinn is promoted to the newly created position of Manager-Receiving, Finishing, Traffic; Ron Parrish is promoted to the newly created position of Manager-Slitting, Welding.

20 Years Ago
December 28, 2005
Jon Bachtold of Advanced Communications gave a presentation on security cameras to Fairbury's City Council on Wednesday night. Bachtold told the council he would install six cameras and where they would be placed. The locations were: a camera placed in an area to capture people coming to the police department; a camera pointing at the parking lot; a camera at the rear door covering the drop box; a camera at the front door of city hall and a camera in the basement to capture the evidence room door. Later the council approved $6,386.91 to Advanced Communications for the installation of six cameras.
Fairbury Curves owner Laurie Sturm recently honored elite member Mary Lou King of Fairbury for her consistent workouts. Mrs. King, who has been a member since Curves opened in July of 2004 has thoroughly enjoyed her 290 workouts. Since the Fairbury facility opened, women members have lost a total of 681 pounds and 1,300 inches.
Sixteen Prairie Central High School seniors have been named Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), for their outstanding academic achievement. Students from nearly every high school in Illinois competed in the 2005-06 program. PC State Scholars are: Cole Cluchey, Emily Bane, Jodie Bittner, Jenna Honegger, Kelli Coldren, Rochelle Ge**er, Steven Dray, Joel Ge**er, Marissa Keever, Cara Lanz, Crystal Stoller, Brad Kafer, Amanda Pilgrim, Kami White, Caitlin Schaffer and Reid Zehr.

10 Years Ago
December 30, 2015
Dorothy Hubly will celebrate her 85th birthday with an open house and card shower on Jan. 9, 2016 at her home in Chatsworth. She was born Jan. 8, 1931 in Chatsworth and married Robert Hubly on Sept. 18, 1950. He passed away on Oct. 22, 2003. Her children are Diane (Mark) Kerber, Chatsworth; Dan (Jackie) Hubly, Naperville; Denise (Barry) Corban, Fairbury; and Debra (Jim) Corban, Greeley, Colo. Mrs. Hubly also has seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. One granddaughter is deceased. She worked on the family farm with her husband and they enjoyed traveling and hosting family reunions.
Prairie Central Upper Elementary School held its 2016 Geography Bee on Dec. 21, 2015. Alex Williford won first place and Katy Curl was runner-up. In January, Williford will take the online qualifying exam to see if he is eligible for the state level.
The first weekend of December not only celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with the Fairbury Christmas parade, but also marked a successful platelet drive. There were 15 donors on Friday and 10 donors on Saturday. Platelet donation requires a special commitment because it takes two hours or more and requires a needle in both arms. Whole blood is taken from one arm, and the platelets are removed. The remainder of the blood, along with some fluid, is infused back into the other arm. Volunteers, who staff the kitchen and coordinate alternates, were Joann Van Antwerpe, Mary Beth Steidinger, Jan Lancaster, Darlene Helmers, Shirley Meenan, Joann Slagel, Linda Zick and Karen Harms.

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