50 years ago
A 4-H Family Day picnic brought 300 Bremer County 4-H family members to the fairgrounds in Waverly for a potluck dinner and recreation, we read in a front-page story of the June 10, 1975, issue of the Bremer County Independent.
Ten 4-H members were selected to serve on the 1975-76 Bremer County 4-H Council. They were Judy Whitney, Janesville; Sharon Hoffman, Frederika; Bob Buhr, Sumner; Don Johnston, Plainfield; Sandy Gates, Barb Wylam, Terri Frost, Ken Solheim, Tim Busch and Marvin Munson, Waverly.
Also on the front page, we see that the Rohlf Clinic in Waverly welcomed to the staff David MacMillan, M.D., a specialist in family practice.
“Originally from Mason City, he is a 1965 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and a 1969 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Medicine,” the article states. “He has recently been discharged from the Army Medical Corps. His most recent station was Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.”
This issue also announced a pork cooking school to be held at the fairgrounds in Waverly.
“All pork needs is a little understanding,” the article opens. “The event is sponsored by the Bremer County Porkettes auxiliary of the County Quality Pork Producers Association.” Instruction would include “some of the newest cookery ideas using micro-wave oven and the crock pot.”
An article in this issue reports that Jeff Kuethe, 14, of Shell Rock, became an Eagle Scout on June 2, joining his two brothers, Brad and Tim, who also held the Eagle rank. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Kuethe.
This issue also shares which new children’s records had arrived at the Waverly library, including“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
The Waverly Fire Department held an open house and dedicated its new fire station, we learn in the June 12, 1975, issue of the Waverly Democrat. There would be “guided tours of the new station, demonstrations of the new $72,000 aerial pumper truck with its 85-foot extension ladder, and the Firettes, auxiliary of Waverly’s Volunteer Firemen, will be servicing cookies and coffee.”
Also, “a special attraction for the youngsters will be ‘Patches,’ the station’s new Fire Dog. Patches is the second Fire Dog the firemen have had. She will stay at the station and ride the trucks in parades and on displays.”
Fifty years ago, the Waverly Drive-In showed “Gone in 60 Seconds” plus Walter Mathau in “Pelham 1-2-3.” At the Waverly Theatre, viewers could watch “Capone,” “The Groove Tube” and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.”
This week in 1975, the Allen Travel Agency in Waverly advertised bus tours to the August Minnesota State Fair, featuring Lawrence Welk, for $49; Fred’s Super Valu offered frozen TV dinners for 39 cents each; and at Big “O” Family Discount Store, men’s boxer or trunk-style swim suits were $3.57.
40 years ago
The Country Roads community variety show was ready to stage its 12th show in Clarksville as part of the annual Pioneer Days celebration, we read in a top story in the June 11, 1985, issue of the Bremer County Independent.
“Country Roads is a blend of contemporary music and old favorites, of country tunes and patriotic numbers performed by Clarksville’s 34-member Community Chorus and an 11-piece band,” the article explains. Tickets were $2 for adults and $1 for children.
“One of downtown Waverly’s long-awaited improvement projects is scheduled to get underway this week,” we read in another top story in this issue. “In another two months, an unsightly row of wire-laden utility poles will have been removed from the alley a half-block south of East Bremer Avenue all the way from the Cedar River east to the First National Bank lot. In their place will be underground lines, protected from the weather and also out of sight.”
Clarksville Pioneer Days activities were reported in this issue. The three-day celebration would include a sky-diving exhibition, a chuck wagon breakfast, an Alumni Marching Band, led by Majorette Lola Clark, a watermelon-eating contest, a basketball clinic with Hawkeye basketball players Michael Reeves, Clarence Johnson and Kent Hill and performances of the Country Roads ‘85 variety show.
In sports in this issue, we learn that “Janelle Jaspers, three-sport star at Waverly-Shell Rock and many times a letterwinner in basketball, track and softball, as well as a cross-country runner, may have capped a brilliant prep career last week when she finished second in the Track and Field Federation’s pentathlon held at Ankeny.”
The events were long jump (she took third), high jump (she tied for first), shot put, 100 meter hurdles and the open half.
Across the page we read, “Joe Jaspers, defending Waverly city golf champion, will be in the field when the men tee up this Saturday morning at the Waverly municipal golf course.” The city champion would be eligible to compete in the state tournament of champions at Atlantic in August.
“Although Jaspers is probably the pre-meet favorite, there are some other top names registered to play, including Bo Blake, longtime high school golf instructor, and Ed Droste, always a threat any time he enters a tournament.”
Forty years ago, the Waverly Theatre was showing “Lost in America,” starring Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty, and a held-over “Places in the Heart.”
This week in 1985, the Waverly Shell Rock High School Chamber Choir advertised a fundraising concert and dinner at the Red Fox Inn that would include a five-course gourmet dinner with wine at $20 a ticket; a Father’s Day Special at Pamida offered an ATARI 2600 with a joystick controller, AC adaptor and TV/game switch for $19.99; and at Reints’ Willow Lawn Pharmacy, a bottle of Old Spice aftershave cost $2.49.
30 years ago
Six candidates were in the running for the title of Miss Readlyn, we see in a front-page story of the June 13, 1995, issue of the Bremer County Independent.
They were Erica Westendorf, daughter of Kevin and Norma Westendorf; Jennifer Wittenburg, daughter of Dennis and Janice Wittenburg; Dahne Deterding, daughter of Roger and Connie Deterding; Mandi Sander, daughter of Dennis and Cheri Sander; Nicole Matthias, daughter of Gary and Betty Matthias; and Shannon Hartman, daughter of Ron and Louie Hartman.
Competing for the title of 1995 Readlyn Grump were Harriett Risse, Doris Seydel and Delbert Wittenburg. The winner would be crowned by the 1994 Grump, Ellen Staack.
Volunteers for the Bremer County Conservation Board’s hunter education program were recognized with awards by Gov. Terry Branstad at a ceremony in Dubuque, we read on the front page of the June 15, 1995, issue of the Waverly Democrat. Both Conservation Board Director Frank Frederick and Naturalist Darrin Siefken accepted Governor’s Volunteer Awards on behalf of the Conservation Board and themselves.
“The Board has conducted its hunter education program for eight years, and has receive other numerous awards in addition to the Governor’s Volunteer Award in 1993 for its Environmental Education Program.”
In Nashua, we read in this issue, the 74th Zwanziger Family Reunion was held June 11 at the fairgrounds, with 75 people attending.
“Bessie Runyan of Walker, Minn., came the longest distance. Oldest members were Effie Conklin and Casper Zwanziger. Effie has not missed one reunion and continues to bring her famous donuts to the reunion,” the article states. “The youngest member was Colton David Balvanz, 4-week-old son of David and Brenda Balvanz of Shell Rock, and great-grandson of Marie Zwanziger. […] The family tree now includes 2,100 names.”
W-SR student Elizabeth Abend, daughter of Arthur and Kathy Abend, will spend a year in the Philippines as a Rotary exchange student, reports an article in this issue. “Her flight will take her across the international date line and below the equator via Chicago, San Francisco, Seoul (Korea) and Manila.”
Only 15 years old, “Elizabeth had already lived in Australia and visits New Zealand and Europe. After she returns, she will finish her senior year at Waverly-Shell Rock High School.”
Also in this issue, we learn that “Kathy Sundstedt, a New Hartford-Dike Social Studies teacher and resident of Waverly, Iowa, as been selected as one of twelve educators to participate in the Fulbright Group Projects Abroad Program this summer.”
The five-week environmental literacy study would tour Costa Rica, discussing global environmental issues with environmentalists, as well as visit biological reserves, national parks, community development projects and eco-tourism facilities.
Sundsted was trained in methods of geographic education by the National Geographic Society in 1991 and presented workshops on the subject throughout the Midwest. In 1993, she taught English to faculty and students at a Chinese university in Nanning.
Thirty years ago, the Waverly Theatre was showing “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” starring Bruce Willis, and “French Kiss,” with Meg Ryan and Kevin Cline.
This week in 1995, the Father’s Day brunch at the Red Fox Inn cost $4.95 (dinner $6.95); Dad’s breakfast buffet at Country Kitchen was $5.25 (dinner $6.50); and at Airline Amusement Park, the family special with four rounds of mini golf and four go-cart rides cost $15.
