Excerpted stories in Crawford County newspaper archives

100 years ago

February 14, 1926

W. L. Cunningham, commissioner of the supreme court in the state's ouster suit against A. H. Carl, suspended county attorney of Crawford County, announced Saturday that he would prepare his findings and recommendation and file them with the court before March 1. The announcement followed arguments made by attorneys for the state and attorneys for Carl in Topeka Saturday. The supreme court is expected to decide the case at the March term.

Leases for eighteen years for complete control and operation of the Colonial, Klock and Grand theatres was obtained last night by the Universal Chain Theatrical Enterprises of New York City from the Pittsburg Amusement Company, owner and operator of the three local show houses. Control of the shows will pass from the hands of the local company to the lessees March 1, according to the terms of the contract entered into by the parties to the transaction last night.

The greatest organization in the world is the United States of America and to become a member of that organization it is well that applicants must go through formalities, Prof. D. M. Bowen of the Teachers College here said in addressing a court room crowded with applicants for final papers for American citizenship at the City Hall this morning. "We have had all manner of government throughout the history of the world, and no group of people ever existed without subjecting itself to some form of governmental control," Prof. Bowen stated.

Girard - Frank Kovacic, one of the applicants for citizenship papers at naturalization hearings which began this morning before Judge D. H. Woolley in district court at Pittsburg, had his hopes for citizenship blasted Saturday night when members of the sheriff's force visited his home. They found three gallons of wine and placed Kovacic under arrest. Those who made the raid were Robert Smith, motorcycle officer, and Deputy Sheriff Frank Mutch.

50 years ago

February 14, 1976

GIRARD - The reduced City Court appointed attorney fees again gave cause for debate at the Board of Crawford County Commissioners meeting Friday, as Commission Chairman D.J. Saia and County Attorney Mike McCurdy exchanged pros and cons on the issue. Last week the commission moved to reduce the appointed attorney fees from $50 to $25 in order to conserve county funds. A letter was written by Deputy County Attorney Vern Grassie and sent to City Court Judge John Gariglietti concerning the reduction.

ARMA - Unified School District 246 in Arma began the long process of bringing a $998,000 new high school into realization when a public notice of intent was published Monday. If everything goes well for the proponents of the school, the end of the road will be April 6 when the issue goes before the public in an election, Samuel J. Nicoletti, USD 246 superintendent, said Friday. "Anytime you go above seven per cent valuation, like we have for this school, you have to make an appeal to the State Board of Education," he said.

GIRARD - The deadline for the purchase of truck and truck-tractor license decals has been extended by the State Department of Revenue to Feb. 27. County Treasurer John Kovacic said Friday that the original deadline was Feb. 15. The deadline for mobile home, motorcycle and trailer decals is Feb. 17. Late penalties for truck and truck-tractor owners will go into effect March 1. "If the vehicle is not re-registered before March 1, 1976, all penalties will become due and payable as if no extension period was given," the Revenue Department stated in a letter to Kovacic.

Wheel chair patients in Ward 6 of the Veterans Hospital in Topeka will be having a Valentine's Day party today, thanks to the efforts of the Pittsburg Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. The local chapter sent money to the hospital last month following its monthly meeting. In response, Gertrude Bloomquist, a hospital representative, wrote the local group: "It is so nice of you to remember our patients. We will have a party in Ward GB where we have about 20 wheel chair patients and 45 men altogether-all in poor condition. "I am here with them four days a week and some extra days when we have parties," Mrs. Bloomquist continued. "I work with them and some are in poor mental condition." Undoubtedly, these men will have a fine time at their party today.

25 years ago

February 14, 2001

Valentine's Day 2001 is shaping up to be a whopper. "The economy has been sluggish, so I was nervous going into this Valentine's Day," noted Stan Forrest, owner of Steffen Michaels Floral. "I have to order my flowers for Valentine's Day in January, so I ordered the same amount as last year. It's been so busy that I've had to order 50 percent more." "I don't think I've ever had so many orders left to fill this late in the evening." added Mary McClaskey, manager of Dillon's Floral Department.

Pittsburg's mayor urged the Family Resource Center and two residents who opposed its opening of an infant day care to be "good neighbors" after the city commission gave its approval Tuesday night. Madeline Sharp, 203 E. 19th St., and Dorothy Anderson, 1902 N. Locust, brought several concerns, mostly related to parking, to the Planning and Zoning Commission in January and again to the city commission Tuesday. The P&Z recommended approval for The Center's conditional use application on the condition that it add off-street parking.

A Kansas Supreme Court Justice has moved the trial for a Girard man charged with killing three local residents to Emporia. In an order issued Monday to attorneys and other officials in the case, Justice Donald L. Allegrucci relocated the trial for accused murderer Michael A. Bethel from Crawford County to Lyon County District Court in Emporia. Allegrucci's order came about two weeks after Crawford County District Court Judge Don Nolan choose to grant a request from Bethel's defense lawyers to change the venue of their client's trial.

GIRARD - Crawford County Counselor Jim Emerson said he thinks a Community Development Block Grant application for a sewer project is close to being approved. Emerson told the Crawford County Commission Tuesday morning that if a letter of commitment from the federal Rural Development Agency is received before the application deadline, "I think it will go through." The grant would fund a new, $1.5 million sewer system in Crawford County Sewer District No. 4 in the Farlington area.