25 Years Ago - 1985

Despair was shared by many Cardinal fans as the Staples - Apple Valley match drew to a close Saturday night. With his team leading by three points, Apple Valley’s heavyweight methodically worked to pin Staples’ Jerel Nelsen and end the match. The match of the year didn’t go the way the fans wanted. Apple Valley ended a fouryear string at 64 victories for Don Dravis and his Cardinal Mat Squad.

Candidates for Snow Days king and queen were announced last Friday at Staples High School. Candidates are Jenny Beck, Kristi Cunz, Micki Bacon, Ronn Redemske, Dave Howard, Erik Ziesemer, Joe Meyer, Jim Otteson, Penny De- Mars, Jackie Nelson, Sue Lelwica and Rick Snook.

Motley Education Association has nominated Jeanne Rohr, high school band instructor and elementary music instructor as its 1985 Teacher of the Year.

50 Years Ago - 1960

The 1960, Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow is our school senior Judy Lynn Erskine.

Fire of undetermined origin completely destroyed the barn on the Ray Martin farm located about one mile east of Staples. Lost in the blaze was a considerable amount of hay, one cow, two calves, five large pigs, twenty small pigs ready for market and their hunting dog, which were all housed in the 32 x 60 structure. Total damages are unknown at this time.

The goal of $50,000 was set by the Staples Development, Inc., which must be raised immediately in Staples and the immediate area for the erection of a building containing 25,200 square feet to house the newly acquired Ringer Staples Company.

Voting members of the Staples congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church met last week for their annual meeting and officially amended its constitution, changing the name of the church from First English Lutheran to Faith Lutheran.

REMINISCENCES A small box stuffed in a storage container in the bottom of the closet drew my attention this week. I opened it to find old childhood photos. I took the box and headed for the kitchen and a cup of coffee.

We were cute kids like all children. It was, however, a little disturbing to note the age of the pictures. At a second glance through them I noticed more of what was in the background and what we were doing when the photo was taken.

Many pictures showed us with our dolls and way off in the background a chicken coop with fenced in run. While I recall butchering chickens I don’t recall raising them. I do recall cleaning out that old building and putting a curtain on the window so my friends and I had a place for the “Sunshine Girls” club.

A couple of pictures showed me driving a homemade car. The steering wheel was in fact a wagon wheel mounted on the end of a broom stick and the seat was a wooden bench. Apparently my imagination was mechanical in nature. In the background was a tire swing hanging by a rope from a tree. It brought back memories of our neighbors who had a bag swing in their yard. It was a gunny sack stuffed with straw and tied from a tree with a rope.

There were several pictures of me in various cowboy outfits or “get-ups” with guns, holsters, neckerchief, bib overalls and cowboy hat. I remember being in love with Roy Rogers and thought of Dale Evans as his sidekick. He was so handsome and sang so well. To this day the western songs of the 50’s thrill me. Remember “Cool Water” and “Ghost Riders In The Sky?” Even now I’m remembering the harmony in the songs sung by the Sons Of The Pioneers.

Photos, toys and games are much different now. No doubt they are safer but probably not more fun. It was different when you had to make your own toys in order to have toys to play with. This is not a pout, just an observation.