The Blade

11/19/2025

130 Years Ago
November 16, 1895
John Kuenzi is putting up a large two-story house on his place north of town.
C. W. Keck has sold his barber business and shop to Jay Tayler, and will devote his time mostly to the insurance business. Mr. Keck has been in the shop 15 years, 12 years as proprietor.
School Notes — Miss Dell Steen, in the absence of the teacher, taught the eighth grade Monday morning. Miss Steen is as able to wield the rod as any of the teachers who have had several years experience. A man with a talking machine gave an entertainment here after school Wednesday. About 250 were in attendance. Some of the young ladies have cleaned the piano up. It has changed the appearance, but not the tone. Misses Carrie Johnson, Lynda Oppy and Mayme Phillips, all former pupils of the high school, called Wednesday afternoon.

120 Years Ago
November 17, 1905
The members of Post 75, G. A. R. and the Women's Relief Corps dropped in unawares upon Mr. and Mrs. Dan Calmer Sr. last Saturday evening. They took with them plenty of good things to eat and after an evening of social enjoyment they enjoyed a delightful supper. Various amusements were indulged in until almost midnight when they dispersed to their homes, all having spent a very happy evening.
Monday, Joseph Bourlet, of Peoria, and Rank Rose, of this city, were unloading some tombstones for Mercle & Sons, of Peoria, when one of the stones got the start of them and fell upon Bourlet's leg, pinning him down. Rose exerted almost super-human efforts and lifted the stone up so that Bourlet could get his leg out. The injured man was taken to Dr. Manwarren's office and his injuries dressed and he was sent to Peoria that evening.
Wm. Alt settled with the fire insurance companies the first of the week, receiving $479, and immediately put the men to work tearing down the old building. This morning Matt Kammerer commenced the work of erecting a new building on the site of the old one. The new structure will be built of cement blocks and the floor will be made of cement, making it as near fire proof as possible. When completed, it will be one of the most up-to-date laundries in Central Illinois.

110 Years Ago
November 19, 1915
The general merchandise store of Holloway & Son at Wing was entered by burglars some time last Saturday night and a quantity of goods taken.
Harry Pittsenbarger, who has been in the employ of W. E. Stephey & Co. since that firm has been in business, has resigned his position, the same taking effect last week.
Olin Olmstead is now a full-fledged barber. He was in Peoria Wednesday of last week, where he took the state examination for barbering. He received his license Monday.
J. W. Henderson, who has had more than his share of hard luck in the way of fires, had more bad luck last Monday when he fell from a corncrib and broke the bones in one of his feet.

100 Years Ago
November 20, 1925
Rumor has it that S. E. Ellis and Miss Effie Nelson, both of this city, are married, but up to the present time we are unable to give the particulars of the event, as they have kept that to themselves. They left here Tuesday morning in Mr. Ellis' car, with Joliet, Utica and a few other cities on their itinerary. Up to the present time their friends here have not heard from them, but those in a position to know state they have been married.
An evening of greatest interest to the citizens of Fairbury and the surrounding territory occurs next Tuesday evening when the doors of the Central Theatre are opened to the public. The management will stage the finest opening program ever seen and will consist of the following: Pipe organ overture, H. L. Britton of Chicago; Comedy, "Luck of the Foolish"; News Reel, Dartmouth's famous football team in action; Song slides, synchronized with the pipe organ; one-act play, "Fourteen" directed by Miss Lucille Hyneman, featuring Mrs. R. E. Jones, Margaret Reynolds and Lyman Pendergast; super photo-play, "The Road to Yesterday," one of Cecil B. DeMille's specials.
Lloyd Borngasser, George Hibsch, Jr., Will Morris and Aaron Steidinger motored to Peoria last Saturday afternoon, where they attended a Shrine meeting. W. H. Bartlett Sr. and A. B. Claudon Jr., who had been in Peoria for three weeks serving on the United States petit jury, were also among those attending the Shrine meeting. On account of the heavy snow falling they found the trip home one that entailed very careful driving. Mr. Claudon and Mr. Bartlett bumped into one car that had stopped on the pavement without any lights. The Claudon car was running slowly at the time, and outside of putting the lights on his car out of commission, no damage was done.

90 Years Ago
November 15, 1935
Curtis Weeks, residing north of Fairbury, has been shaking hands with himself ever since last Friday for the reason that he is glad he is able to shake hands. Mr. Weeks was combining a field of soybeans at the Ben Zimmerman farm when something went wrong with the combine. Mr. Weeks was working by himself at the time, and without stopping the machinery, went around to see what the trouble was. In some manner his clothing became caught in the moving machinery. There was no one to stop the machine and Mr. Weeks' chief concern was to keep from being drawn into the machine. He succeeded in doing this, but his clothing, including a new pair of overalls, was literally torn from his body. One of his legs was slightly injured.
A bad-check passer was in Fairbury for a time last Saturday evening and left at least three checks that were no good. The stores cashing the checks were the Walton Department Store, Lyons Clothes Shop and the Mrs. Reavis' store and lunch counter in the west part of town on Route 24. In each instance the man came into the business, made some small purchase and tendered a check for several dollars more than the cost of the article and received the difference in cash. All three checks were made out on Farmers State Bank checks, with the name of William Winslow forged to each one.
The Green and Gold eleven of the Fairbury Township High School covered themselves with glory and mud Armistice Day afternoon at Chenoa, when they defeated Chenoa High by a score of 8 to 0. It was Chenoa's first defeat of the year. For Fairbury, it meant a clean slate, they having not been defeated this year.

80 Years Ago
November 16, 1945
A transaction that had been pending for a week was closed Monday when T. A. Haptonstall purchased of C. A. Hume the latter's produce business at 109 North Fourth Street. Mr. Hume had conducted the business since April 7 of this year, when he purchased the same of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Haase. The new firm name will be known as The Farmers Produce. Mr. Haptonstall has been a resident of this community for several years past, and a few years ago was employed at Honegger's.
Sheriff Jones was in Chatsworth on Wednesday, and the state police on Tuesday, looking for a fellow who went by the name of Edwin Thorpe. It appears that a check for $20 was cashed at a Fairbury bank and one in Pontiac for $60, and signed by Thorpe, which were not honored. He wore an army uniform and had a woman with him here. State police said the car he drove had been stolen and that he was AWOL from the army. He was in Fairbury after leaving Chatsworth but had not been apprehended at last reports.
A school election important to residents of certain sections of Avoca and Eppards Point Townships, as well as to the Fairbury Township High School District, will be held tomorrow. It has to do with the annexation of these certain sections in the above-named townships to the Fairbury Township High School District. The vote has to carry in the local township high school district as well as in the Avoca-Eppards Point sections in order that the annexation may become effective. The election was called by County Supt. of Schools Lindquist, following a petition presented to him by voters of the Avoca-Eppards Point sections, asking that such an election be called.

70 Years Ago
November 17, 1955
State Police Sgt. Francis Mowery was recently appointed to the State Pistol Team.
With continued good weather, footings for the new grade school building are expected to be poured beginning Saturday.
Ken Bazzell and Nick Goslin were named this week to the Midstate Conference all star football team by coaches of the eight conference teams.
Two Fairbury physicians were retiring officers of the Livingston County Medical Society last Thursday night. Dr. W. A. Marshall, president, and Dr. James Langstaff, secretary-treasurer.
Miss Elizabeth Kauffman, 23, of Oregon, who is making her home on RFD 3, Fairbury, escaped injury at 7 a.m. Tuesday when she turned a corner near the sanatorium at Pontiac, and struck a telephone pole.

60 Years Ago
November 18, 1965
Jo Ellen Maurer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maurer, has been notified by Knox College that she is to receive the Mary Elizabeth Wallace Bennett award for this year. This is an annual award made to a Knox woman student of the sophomore, junior or senior class who has shown unusual promise during her attendance at Knox. The honorary distinction is not based on scholarship alone, but also on contributions to campus activities and promise of future leadership and service to society as a whole. The Fairbury-Cropsey graduate has served as a member of the college board of public relations all four years at Knox and is presently serving as secretary.
Take a bumper corn crop, moisten with a deluge of fall rains, hasten its harvest with modern picker-shellers and pour it in on area elevators. The result is 24-hour shifts for the grain handlers, with drying and storage equipment working around the clock. Compound the problem with an annual shortage of box-cars which always shows up at harvest time, and you have difficulty. The Cropsey Grain Co-op found itself forced to store corn on the main street of the town. Monday afternoon, elevator manager Lynn McKee had no choice but to start dumping grain outside when a flurry of wagons brought shelled corn from area fields. And dump it they did, more than 30,000 bushels by Tuesday noon, in a pile as high as the rooftops of adjacent store buildings.
Fairbury lumberman Manny Steffen is reported improving at Fairbury Hospital, where he is in traction for fractures suffered in a 14-foot fall down an open stairwell at the Helen Lewis Smith Pavilion being built at the hospital, where he is one of the contractors.

50 Years Ago
November 20, 1975
The possibility of merging the Fairbury-Cropsey and Forrest-Strawn-Wing School Districts will be explored Monday, Dec. 1, when the two boards hold a joint meeting. This will not be the first time the two school systems have talked about merging. A few years ago, the issue progressed all the way to a referendum before being defeated. Should the two districts decide to again try for consolidation, a petition signed by at least 200 residents of the two school territories would have to be filed in the office of Wayne H. Blunier, superintendent of the educational service region.
Eleven high school bands will participate in the annual Fairbury Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 6, and parade watchers will have an opportunity to cast ballots on the effectiveness of each marching unit. Ten high school bands, representing Minonk-Dana-Rutland, Lexington, Gridley, Mahomet-Seymour, Octavia, Chatsworth, Tri-Point, Saunemin, Deland-Weldon and Forrest-Strawn-Wing, will compete in the marching contest. The host Marching Tartars of Fairbury-Cropsey will lead the parade as a non-competitive band and FCHS Jr. High band will close it.
Paula J. Koehl, of Fairbury, is currently serving as president of Sigma Alpha Iota at Butler University. Membership in this professional women's music sorority is based on scholarship and musical ability. The Butler Chapter sponsors musicals and recitals as part of its program. Scholarships are available to qualified and interested members. Miss Koehl is a senior majoring in music education.

40 Years Ago
November 14, 1985
"Uncle" Bobby Collins of WGN Radio in Chicago will host five academically-talented Prairie Central High School students and The Fairbury Blade's Rick Jones next Monday afternoon. The visit will include having the group in the studio for a portion of Collins' popular afternoon show. The students are part of the PCHS Scholastic Bowl team and come from a class for academically-gifted students who meet in an accelerated setting mornings before the normal school day begins. Prairie Central students making the trip include: Joan Cress, Joe Cress, Heather Dameron, Rebecca Luttrell and Shanu Kothari.
Mrs. JoAnn Scurlock of Fairbury is announcing the engagement of her daughter, Tammy Kay Scurlock, to Ernie Meister, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meister, also of Fairbury. A March 22 wedding is planned.
Prairie Central Varsity Football Coach Keith Deaton told an overflow audience at Tuesday night's football awards dessert that this past fall's first PCHS team "will always be special" in Hawk history. The Hawks posted a 7-3 mark in their first year and qualified for the first-round of the Illinois High School Association state playoffs. Senior linebacker-running back Ty Cottrell was named Most Valuable Player for the 1985 Hawks. Seniors Mark Bachtold and Joe Vaughan were also honored.

30 Years Ago
November 15, 1995
Snowplows were brought out of hibernation Saturday morning, as the season's first measurable snowfall moved through the area. Measurements varied from one to one and a half inches of snow. Strong 30 mile-per-hour winds kept travel at a minimum Saturday, as police were keeping motorists off the roads due to 'white-out' conditions. Winter does not officially begin for another five weeks, but temperatures dropped thirty degrees from Friday to Saturday.
Vernon and Pat Hartman of Fairbury will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 25, 1995, with an open reception at the Apostolic Christian Fellowship Hall, Fairbury. The event will be hosted by their children and grandchildren. Hartman and Patricia Bell were married Nov. 23, 1945 in Long Beach, CA. They have one son, John, of Fairbury; and one daughter, Donna Banwart of Forrest; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Five area students are among students enrolled in one or more of University of Illinois at Chicago's 14 colleges and the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center to receive degrees during the 1994-95 academic year. Two were Fairbury students; Mary Hallinan Kennedy and Shanu Kothari. Kennedy earned a Master of Science and Kothari a Doctor of Medicine degree. Other students from Chenoa, all receiving Master of Science degrees were: Mary Beth Augspurger, Mary Jo Krall and Kimberle G. Reeser.

20 Years Ago
November 16, 2005
Success highlighted the Prairie Central FFA's performance at the National Convention in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 25 through Oct. 28. Four teams, Management, Meats, Livestock and Dairy Products, advanced to the national level after dominating the state contests. The Management team of Michael Kilgus, Brianna Keever, Trent Schmidgall and Alex Dotterer, placed fourth in the nation. The Meats team, consisting of Julie Steidinger, Denver Slagel, Kent Steidinger and Cara Lanz, placed ninth. The Livestock team, Reid Zehr, Thadd Fosdick, Bradley Kahle and Brandon Knapp, placed 12th. The Dairy Products team of Adam Cavanagh, Jenna Honegger, Phillip Poppe and Cindy Allonge, placed 14th overall.
Duane Schieler of Fairbury recently completed 40 years of employment in the service department at K & S Lincoln-Mercury in Fairbury. He was honored at a luncheon on Monday and presented with a watch. His wife, Diane, and children Chad, Cory and Kelly Johnson also attended. Congratulating Schieler were John and Joan Tredennick, former owners of the business, and Dave and Kitty Tredennick, current owners of K & S.
Doug and Cindy Stephens of Forrest will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with a Caribbean Cruise in January 2006. Stephens and the former Cindy Feller were married Nov. 15, 1980 at the United Methodist Church in Forrest. They are the parents of Derek, Deanna and Dustin. He is a self-employed farmer and also works for Forrest Redi-Mix, and she is employed by OSF HealthCare as a Process Flow Analyst Coordinator.

10 Years Ago
November 18, 2015
Assemblies, special ceremonies, parades and many more events marked Veteran's Day on Nov. 11. At Prairie Central Upper Elementary School, students wearing red, white and blue formed a panoramic flag. The Forrest American Legion Color Guard, Ed Harms, Glen Waibel, Bob Immke, Leonard Roth and Jack Trainor, presented the colors at the assembly. Ashlyn Kratochvil and Tyson Ruiz played Taps. Prairie Central High School History Teacher Andrew Quain presented the address to students and faculty. The National Anthem was sung by the Upper Elementary choir under the direction of UE Music Teacher Melissa Nagel. Special assemblies were also held at Westview Elementary and Prairie Central High School to honor all the veterans.
Ashley Burgard and Devin Cook, both of Fairbury, are announcing their engagement and approaching marriage. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Don and Tina Burgard of Pontiac and Sharon and Tim McGuire of Fairbury. She is employed at the Forrest branch of Bank of Pontiac. The future bridegroom is the son of Brian Cook and Connie Cook, both of Fairbury. He is employed at Cook Performance in Fairbury. The couple is planning an Oct. 8, 2016 wedding.
Prairie Central fall sports awards were presented at the fall awards night Nov. 9. Cross country awards went to Most Improved, Daphne Matson and Liam Barnes; Hawk Spirit to Abbie Bazzell and Nathan Somers; MVP to Caitlyn Ifft and Kyler Knapp. Football awards were presented to Luke Seiving, MVP; Jacob Keller, Hawk award; Grant Ricketts, lineman award. Golf awards were presented to Alex Duffy and Molly Lane, MVP; Josh Kilcullen and Hannah Conlisk, most improved.

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11/12/2025

Congratulations to PCHS Students of the Month, Gabby Radovick, Tyler Harms, Kassi Pearson, Nathan Buchenau, Rita Strong, Kiley Steidinger, Huma Manha, Rheagan Aberle, Treyton Zimmerman, Kayden Friend, and Skylar Mortensen!

11/12/2025

130 Years Ago
November 9, 1895
Thomas Langabeer has resigned his position in Keck's barber shop. He has purchased a half interest in Hillyer's shop, and the firm will hereafter be known as Hillyer & Langabeer.
Anchor Burns — The village of Anchor was almost destroyed by fire on Monday afternoon. The fire started in Dr. Banks' frame office, which was destroyed together with the following other buildings: E. B. Stewart's three story single brick, occupied by Worley & Hester, general merchandise; Mrs. T. J. Williams, milliner; W. H. Watson's two story frame building, the second floor was occupied by the I. O. O. F. Hall; Carter's frame building, occupied by Caler Bros. Meat Market; Danel & Martin's double frame two story building, occupied by them with a hardware store and Ed Farmer's pool hall on the second floor; W. E. McReynolds' one story brick, occupied by Grandstaff's barber shop in the rear; and Rick's building occupied by a pool hall.
Willis Compton has been appointed to the place of bill clerk at the railroad depot.

120 Years Ago
November 10, 1905
The Fairbury Laundry was visited by a fire Tuesday afternoon which completely ruined the laundry and wash room and also did some damage to Mr. Alt's house and the Central Opera House. The fire originated by the explosion of a gasoline generator which furnishes gas to heat the manglers. The cause of the explosion was the breaking of a belt operating a fan which drives the gas to the machines. When the belt broke the check valve on the generator failed to work and the flame was worked back into the generator which blew up with the report of a cannon.
The Waukegan football team, one of the strongest teams of northern Illinois, will play the Fairbury Athletic football team here Thanksgiving Day. This will be the best game ever witnessed in Fairbury, as the teams are evenly matched.
The number of births in the county during the nine months, from January to October, are largely above the number of the corresponding months of last year. The following is the record of the stork for the past nine months as reported to the county clerk's office by the physicians in attendance: total number or births reported, 512; total number of still births, 16; total number of boys, 251; total number of girls, 259; s*x not given, 2.

110 Years Ago
November 12, 1915
Will C. Schmidt spent the first of the week in Chicago buying dry goods for Walton Bros. Co.
H. H. Phelps has leased the part of the Fogel building formerly occupied by Ray Eggleston and will have his Ford business located there.
Quite a number from this city accompanied the ball team to Chatsworth, Sunday, and saw them win from that team 6 to 5.
R. A. McAllister is minus the tip of one of the fingers on his left hand as the result of coming in contact with a corn elevator at the home of the Teesdale brothers, where he was working.

100 Years Ago
November 13, 1925
"Gib" Harris, formerly of this city, but who for the past ten years has conducted the ice business at Chatsworth, has sold the same, according to the Plaindealer: T. G. Harris has sold his ice business in Chatsworth to John M. Plank, the ice manufacturer of Piper City. The latter took possession November first. The transfer includes the ice house situated near the Walter Tile Factory pond, all tools employed in the business and the good will of the late owner.
Mrs. James B. Armstrong, who was born here and spent the greater part of her life in this city and vicinity, passed away at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Corkhill, at Kenton, Ohio, last Saturday. She was aged 33 years, 4 months and 19 days. Mrs. Armstrong's death was caused by lockjaw, the effect of having a tooth pulled. It was a wisdom tooth, and she had considered having it filled but upon advice of her dentist decided to have it pulled. Lockjaw developed the next day, and several days later, caused her death.
The supper and bazaar given by the American Legion Auxiliary Wednesday evening was well patronized. Close to 350 people ate supper with them and the bazaar brought in $60. Later in the evening the 129th Infantry Band gave a concert and dance at the Fairbury Opera House that was largely attended. A prize waltz was one of the features of the evening and was won by Lester King of Pontiac and Miss Dorothy Dixon of Fairbury.

90 Years Ago
November 8, 1935
While excavating for a basement under the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Gillespie (the Z. T. Hanna home) located at the southeast corner of the Eighth and Ash Streets intersection, James Word found what is undoubtedly a petrified egg. The surface of the egg is in perfect condition and in weight it is just like so much rock. Close inspection leaves no doubt in the mind about it being a genuine specimen of petrifaction, and not a china nest egg.
Farm land belonging to the Jacob Worrick estate consisting of 280 acres and located about seven miles south of this city, was sold by Special Master in Chancery Neale Hanley Saturday afternoon at the city hall, to close the estate. The southeast 80-acre tract was bought by Joseph Ge**er and O. A. Shanks. T. D. Karnes purchased the southwest 80, J. W. Wade was high bidder on the northwest 80 and T. R. Voorhees bought the northeast 40. There was some variation in the prices paid for the several tracts, but the average was about $107 per acre, the 280 acres bringing a total of $30,000.
C. J. Hadaway, manager of the Texaco Service Station, was the victim of a painful accident at the station about a week ago. While sitting in a chair he leaned the chair back against a radiator, the chair legs slipped on the oily floor, causing his head to strike the radiator with considerable force, inflicting an injury which required the attention of a physician.

80 Years Ago
November 9, 1945
Midget automobile racing, which has been popular the country over, is coming to Fairbury. The Shaw Construction Company, of Decatur, is now engaged in constructing a midget race track at the Fairbury fair grounds, and it will be ready when the racing season starts next spring. The track, which is one-fifth of a mile around, when completed, will be the shape of an oval bowl. This big bowl, which will be of dirt, will be banked four feet high, 44 feet wide at the turns and 38 feet wide on the straight-aways.
Governor Dwight H. Green has proclaimed next Monday as a legal holiday in Illinois. This action was taken because November 11, Armistice Day, occurs on Sunday. In keeping with Governor Green's proclamation the business houses of Fairbury will be closed next Monday. Armistice Day services will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Graceland Cemetery.
Eli Leman and Emil Schultz, owners of the Corn Belt Elevator, Monday purchased of S. C. Van Horne, the latter's elevator at Lodemia, taking possession at once. The elevator was put into operation on Tuesday, with Carl Rapp as manager, grain being both received and shipped out. On account of the strike on the T. P. & W., the local firm will truck their grain to Lodemia and ship it out over the Wabash from there.

70 Years Ago
November 11, 1955
An elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. John Grunert of Forrest, escaped injury Tuesday morning when they thwarted a holdup attempt in their store. The thief was captured west of Gibson City several hours after the holdup.
The season's first snow followed by the lowest temperatures since last March served notice this week that winter wasn't near at hand, but already here.
Mr. and Mrs. John Traub were married Sunday, Oct. 30. Mrs. Traub is the former Bonita Stein.
Charles Merritt Jr., of Forrest, receives his Eagle Scout badge. He is the first in this area to hold that honor for two years.
Wm. Arends, administrator of the Fairbury Hospital for the past seven years, resigned and has accepted a position as field representative with the American Hospital Supply Corp. of Evanston.

60 Years Ago
November 11, 1965
Surely four registered Guernseys loading on a freight car at Bloomington doesn't make a news story. But when you add that the two-year-old heifers were donated free and clear to an orphanage in Korea, it might make a story. And then when you add that the four cows were given by local farmers, and they are valued at $300 each, things shape up for a local news item. Donors were Wallace Alpers and James Keeley, Fairbury; Myron Erdman, Chenoa; and Carol Garrett, Anchor. Each heifer will calve after arriving in Korea. it will be an 18-day trip over the water by boat, and they will arrive before Christmas. About $1,350 was raised in Bloomington for the passage.
Blade writer Dale Albee announced today that he has accepted a post with the News-Palladium in Benton Harbor, Mich. He assumes the position Monday, Nov. 22. Albee will be a news bureau man working in small communities south of the twin cities. The Herald Press in St. Joseph merged with the News-Palladium in Benton Harbor one year ago. The daily papers combine a circulation of 26,000. Albee has worked on The Blade staff a total of five years.
A Cropsey farmer received the Ford farm efficiency management award this past weekend. Harold Elliott, 54, was named one of 15 top U. S. farmers by the Ford Motor Company. The Ford Company awards 14 efficiency honors in various departments. Winners of the nationally-recognized awards are selected by the staff of the Ford Almanac, edited by John Strohm, internationally-known farm writer, in cooperation with other agricultural experts. Elliott has been on the farm south of Cropsey since leaving Illinois Wesleyan University in 1931.

50 Years Ago
November 13, 1975
The Cropsey facility of the Fairbury-Cropsey Community Unit School system was sold at public auction Saturday to Ben Kafer, for $11,200, in an auction conducted by the McLean County Board of School Trustees. Contending bidder was Mrs. Louise Furrer, who reportedly was representing her brother, Earl Steffen, a manufacturer of specialty lawnmowers. The property consists of five acres with a two-story brick school. The building, which once housed the entire Cropsey Elementary and High School, has been used for the last half-dozen years as the location for all 6th graders in the F-C Unit. It was closed last week when the sixth graders were moved to unused space on the Westview campus as an economy measure.
If you saw Cropsey's Lois Simpson huffing and puffing around Fairbury last week, you couldn't really accuse her of being out of shape, because she was toting around three carrots totaling eight pounds, and a sweet potato weighing another three pounds. Lois grew the immense vegetables herself, and utilized them in the making of the soup for last week's Cropsey United Methodist Youth Fellowship soup and chili supper.
A 6,000 pound Cummins diesel generator was delivered to Fairbury Hospital last Thursday morning. According to Dan Roth of Maurer & Roth, who sold the generator to the hospital, the new generator kicks on automatically in about five seconds after a power failure. Koehl Bros. provided a hydraulic crane to move the generator from a semi-bed. Workers at the scene included two Koehl employees, Wendell Cooperider, head of maintenance at Fairbury Hospital, and fellow employees, Sam Runyon, Tom Schahrer and Russell Tjarks.

40 Years Ago
November 7, 1985
The Dominy Memorial Public Library has been awarded a 60-volume set of The Library of America, the series that 'American Heritage' magazine called "The most ambitious effort ever undertaken to put the best of American literature into the hands of the general reader." The library is receiving the award after submitting an application to the Library of America and obtaining a pledge of $500 from an anonymous donor. The Library of America is a non-profit publishing program that began in 1982 in an effort to restore America's literary heritage by publishing the collected works of America's major authors in a uniform, hardcover series.
Canada geese, slightly over two dozen of them, floated serenely on the mirror surface of the Munz Sand Pit in the middle of Fairbury's Indian Creek Country Club. They had interrupted their southerly migration to headquarter here for the past few weeks while feeding on surrounding fields and also on generous donations from Virg Munz, chief custodian of the pond which has provided entertainment as a swimming hole, skating rink, golf driving range, fishing hole and loafing spot for a couple of generations of area residents.
Mrs. Curtis (Marjorie) Weeks of Fairbury suffered a fall, breaking the same hip that was broken three years ago. Mrs. Weeks, her husband and daughter and family (Jim and Liz Wharton and daughter, Julie) had attended a movie at College Hills Mall in Normal when the accident happened. It appears she will be in traction for about six weeks. She is at St. Francis Hospital, Peoria.

30 Years Ago
November 8, 1995
The Fairbury City Council entered into an agreement with Mills Associates of Bloomington to access future options of the City Hall building at their regular meeting last week. The council is considering three options: updating the current city hall, but not retaining its historic mark; keeping the city hall as an historic building; or remodeling part of the former Honegger building, which is currently owned by the city. A portion of the Honegger building had been demolished, leaving the one-story office. Prior plans involved moving the city hall to the new location on West Locust Street, but structural stability of the site is in question.
Watch for the stop arms on school buses, says Prairie Central Director of Transportation Dorothy Tomlison. She has been doing her job at PC for 10 years, and before that, was a bus driver for the district for 25 years. The State of Illinois recently passed stiffer penalties for violators who drive by school buses when they have stop arms and red lights flashing. The first offense punishment is a three-month suspension of their driver's license, and a $150 fine. A second offense within five years would result in the loss of the driver's license for a year and a $500 fine.
Joining Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes at Chenoa is Washburn native, Michael D. Strauch. He began his duties as general manager on Nov. 1, and has recently moved into the apartment above the memorial home at 302 Lincoln St., Chenoa. Strauch, a Washburn native, comes to Duffy-Pils with seven years experience as a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer. He is a 1984 graduate of Low Point-Washburn High School. He then attended Illinois Central College, East Peoria, and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago, in 1987.

20 Years Ago
November 9, 2005
The Prairie Central Junior High speech club attended the state speech contest at Cornell Grade School on Saturday, Oct. 29. Winners who received first place ratings are Sharnell Knapp, Marla Steidinger and Karla Edelman. Also attending the contest were Ethan McPherson, Faith Steidinger, Carson Cross, Joe Tolliver, Dan Schweizer and Chaeyenne Stephens.
Mervyn and Marianna Kaeding of Piper City celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open reception at the Piper City Community Building on Saturday, Nov. 5. The event was hosted by their children. Kaeding and the former Marianna Vaughn were married Nov. 6, 1955 at the Methodist Church in Piper City. They are the parents of Cathy Schwarz, Judy Schwarz, Lori Kietman and Shelly Harrell. One daughter, Deanna, is deceased. They also have 11 grandchildren. He retired from Pontiac National Bank in 1998 and she retired from Alexander Lumber Co. of Gilman in 1998.
Michael Hoomanawanui. That's the name of a player Illinois football fans should become familiar with in the near future. As far as Prairie Central fans are concerned, its the name of a player they would rather forget. Hoomanawanui scored three touchdowns, including a 4-yarder with 1:17 to go in the game, to help Central Catholic edge the Hawks 36-33 in a Class 4A second-round contest at Hundman Field on Saturday.

10 Years Ago
November 11, 2015
The Fairbury City Council has authorized the final pay request to Tarter Construction for completion of the Brian J. Munz Public Safety Complex. The motion was approved with the stipulation the check will not be written until the city receives all of the proper paperwork. The amount totals $56,737.89.
Kenneth and Gail Kafer, Fairbury, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house celebration Oct. 25. They will also take a Disney cruise with their family in November. Kenneth Kafer and Gail Cox were married Nov. 6, 1965, in Cropsey. They are the parents of Kent (Amy) Kafer, Kevin (Heidi) Kafer and Courtney (Mark) Farrell, all of Fairbury. They also have seven grandchildren. Before retiring, the Kafers owned and operated Pontiac RV.
The Prairie Central cross county team ended their season Saturday, October 31 at the Lisle Sectional. The girls took away an 8th place finish out of 20 total teams. They were only 27 points shy of advancing to the state meet at Peoria. Leading the way for the Hawks was Caitlyn Ifft 15th, Megan Ifft 42nd, Daphne Matson 50th, Emma Fogarty 59th, Abbi Bazzell 79th, Vivian Walter 86th and Summer Huber 94th. The boys barely missed out, scoring 161 points, only five away from 5th place advancing Elmhurst (Timothy Christian). Leading the way for the Hawks was sophomore Jake Maquet in 10th place overall. He will be advancing to the state meet at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Following Maquet were senior Kyler Knapp 18th, Nathan Somers 35th, Carter Evans 63rd, Tyler Porter 64th, Liam Barnes 76th and Dawson Toller 82nd.

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