Days Gone By
10 years ago
The Times Record
Nov. 3, 2010
Board holds preliminary levy discussions -- The Mercer County Board of Education held preliminary levy discussions at its Oct. 27 board meeting. Mercer County Superintendent of Schools Alan Boucher said early indications are that the EAV off farmland and residential will be up. Boucher said the board would talk more about it in November and make a decision in December.
Viola food drive is Nov. 14 -- The eighth annual Sons of the American Legion food drive will be held on Nov. 114 in Viola from 1-4 p.m. Members will be going door to door. Items collected during the food drive will go to the Viola Food Pantry located at the Viola Methodist Church.
Left turns should be safer --Workers from the Illinois Department of Transportation recently finished up work on signals in downtown Aledo that should improve safety at the intersection of Illinois Rte 17 and College Avenue. A smart light for the east-west traffic on Rte 17 will stay green unless the north-south traffic indicates there are vehicles there. DOT workers installed detector loop wires throughout some already existing conduit beneath the roadbeds.
25 years ago
The Times Record
Nov. 1, 1995
Dispatchers instrumental in saving life of baby -- A 17-month-old baby, Kayla Vandergriff, daughter of James and Tammy Vandergriff of New Boston, is alive today thanks to 911 dispatchers, Wal-Mart employees, an Aledo police officer and Mercer County Ambulance. At approximately 7:22 p.m. Oct. 24, Mercer County Sheriff dispatcher Kris Welch took a 911 call from the Aledo Wal-Mart store. A voice on the other end, belonging to Debbie Long, an employee at the store, asked Welch to dispatch an ambulance to the store because the child had stopped breathing.
Construction of 12 unit assisted living apartments to begin in March -- Work on constructing a 12 assisted living apartment complex southeast of the Mercer County Nursing Home is expected to begin in March. Fred Ehrenhart, administrator, expects tenants to move in by midsummer.
Burglary information sought -- The Mercer County Crime Stoppers is currently seeking information regarding a burglary to the Corner Mart store located East of Sherrard. During the last evening hours of Oct. 15 or early morning hours of Oct. 16, perpetrator(s) unknown broke a window at the Corner Mart entering the business through the window. Once inside, the perpetrator(s) stole cartons of cigarettes, rolling papers, and several Jeff Foxworthy cassette tapes.
50 years ago
The Times Record
Oct, 28, 1970
Halloween parade set for Friday -- The Aledo Civic Association is again sponsoring the sandal Halloween parade on Friday, October 30, at 1:15 p.m. for Kindergarten and First Grade students. The parade lineup will begin at Aledo North Side School and will pass through the downtown area on College Avenue and continue to Central Park.
Local Government's share of Illinois income tax listed -- Gov. Richard B. Ogilvie recently announced distribution to local governments of $7,111,076, as their share of state income tax collections for August. Of this amount, the governor said, $1,152,067 was divided among the 102 counties of Illinois and $5,959,009.31 went to the 1,258 cities and village. Payment is made on a per capita basis, the money being obtained from the one-twelvth share of the state income tax reserved by law for distribution to local government.
Article by Joy student published -- Teresa Patton, a student at Westmer High School, Joy, has had an article entitled "An Evangelist Comes to Town" published in the October issue of "Illinois History,: a magazine for young people whish is published by the Illinois State Historical Library. The story tells of the visit to Aledo in October of 1905 of the famous evangelist, Billy Sunday.
75 years ago
The Times Record
Nov. 7, 1945
Blame suicide on ill health; Hold funeral Tuesday for Mrs. Cleo Patterson of Sherrard -- Funeral services were conducted at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at Orion for Mrs. Cleo Patterson, 30, of Sherrard, who died at her home Sunday afternoon, Nov. 4, 1945 of self-inflicted pistol wounds. Burial was in Beulah cemetery. Mrs. Patterson, who had been in ill health several months, shot herself twice throughout the chest and heart with a small caliber pistol, according to Dr. V.A. McClanahan, Mercer County coroner, who conducted the inquest. A verdict of suicide was returned by the jury.
Home canning sugar coupons void Nov. 30 --All home canning sugar coupons issued during the past summer will expire Friday, Nov. 30, Mercer County residents were warned this week by the local war price and rationing board. The canning season is practically over for this year, and persons who have not used up their canning sugar stamps by Nov. 30 probably will not need them at all, it was pointed out.
School nets $272 on sale; New Boston high school realized $272 from a magazine sales contest held from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31 inclusive, it was announced this week. The funds will be used to buy a juke box for the school and some gymnasium equipment.
100 years ago
The Times Record
Nov. 4, 1920
Mercer roads well prepared for winter; Oils graders and drags have been used liberally; Drainage and dragging bid items -- With the opening of winter probably only a few weeks away, the roads of Mercer County are no doubt in better shape than ever before in history. Many miles have been carefully graded and given a coat of oil and many more graded and dragged consistently until cross country tourists find riding easy when riding inside the county's boundaries.
BOX Social -- There will be a box social at the White Oak School northeast of Aledo Friday evening, November 12th. Ladies please bring boxes. EDNA TITTERINGTON, teacher.
A.M. Runbom hurt in a fall down steep stairway -- A.M. Runbom was severly injured Friday afternoon when in some way he lost his balance while descending the stairway leading to the second floor of the Aledo State Bank building. At the landing his head struc the concrete floor and a bad gash was cut over an eye, Prompt medical attention was at hand and Mr. Runbom is getting back to normal rapidly.