35 Years Ago
December 1983
The Community Action Program office in Iola has been moved to 223 N. State St. The building was purchased by Allen County for $45,000 from Dr. David Hanson. The SEKCAP group is paying the county $175 a month rent. Community Action has been active in Iola since 1960.
*****
Andy Dunlap, Iola accountant and member of Kiwanis, is spearheading a drive to raise $10,000 to buy a Jaws of Life machine for the use of Iola firemen and area law enforcement personnel to pry open vehicles in which persons are imprisoned as the result of an accident. The machine uses hydraulic force to cut and pry open doors of wrecked vehicles. He is being assisted in the campaign by the Iola fire chief, Merrill Hodgden.
*****
Carolyn Westgate is the new executive director of the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce. She will replace Les Norton, interim director. She came to Iola in 1977 to work here as a probation officer. Her husband, Mark Westgate, is a Highway Patrol trooper.
*****
Iolans will be treated to the music of bells because of the efforts of the First Christian Church. A carillon system, to be amplified through speakers in the bell tower atop the church, was installed yesterday. The music of bells is one of the most meaningful and familiar sounds in the world, said Madge Strickler, a member of the church who was involved in promoting the purchase. The system is electronically controlled and will play hymns, Westminster chimes and peal and toll the hours on a prearranged schedule.
*****
Chris Ronsick, 92, and his wife, Bertha, 94, keep the Christmas spirit alive all year long making crib quilts and seeing that they are sent to missions abroad and to the poor here. Chris cuts the blocks and the linings and then organizes the four-inch squares for each quilt. He has enough squares cut for another 150 quilts. Berthas job is to sew the blocks together on the treadle sewing machine that was used to make her wedding dress more than 66 years ago. It gives us something to do. It is a pleasure, Bertha said.
