1944: Larsen awarded air medal for meritorious achievement
June 1, 1939
WAUSA — Eastern township farmers in Knox County declared war on grass hoppers by making use of the mechanical spreader to spread along all roads in that township. Farmers were urged to spread a sack or two along their fence rows on their farm to get complete coverage in the township. True Gobel and Henry Wortman on the township committee are directing the work in that township. Bait is available at Bogner’s Filling Station on Highway 81 in Crofton. Lincoln, Columbia, and Dowling townships are spreading along the highways and roads also.
June 1, 1939
WAUSA — DeLoris Olson, Maxine Anderson, Ruth Gustafson and Jean Swanson accompanied by Mrs. Rudolph Monson, drove to Norfolk on Wednesday where the four girls gave a fifteen minute program over the radio station WJAG at 3:15 in the afternoon, singing five numbers.
June 1, 1944
WAUSA — 15th Army Air Force - 1st Lieutenant Allen B. Larsen 23, former resident of Wausa, who is now a first pilot on a liberator bomber of the 15th army air force, has been awarded the air medal it was announced by the 15th army air force headquarters. This honor was bestowed up him “for meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participation in sustained operational activities against the enemy.” Lt. Larsen is stationed in Italy with a 15th AAF Liberator Bombardment Group which has been bombing German held targets in Austria, Rumania, Hungary and northern Italy. A graduate of Wausa High School, Lt. Larsen was interested in farming prior to entering the armed forces. He received his commission as 2nd lieutenant at Lackland Field, Texas on May 24, 1943.
June 3, 1954
WAUSA — Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Blair spent the weekend in Norfolk while their son Lynn Alan visited his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Whitwer, 3 1/2 miles southeast of Norfolk The tornado which did so much damage in Madison County passed over the Whitwer farm which lies in a valley and struck the farms on higher ground on either side. Machinery, a dead animal and other debris was dropped on the Whitwer farm about a quarter mile from the house. A heavy manure spreader was dropped in the corn field but the corn, about three inches tall, was not flattened around it and the machine had not been moved by sliding or rolling after it landed. A terrific electrical storm had disrupted electric service causing the lights to go out and in the darkness the coming of the storm was unnoticed and the family did not take shelter in the storm cellar. Mr. and Mar. Blair did not realize what had happened until they returned to the home of her parents where they had left their son. The farms damaged were homes of friends of the Blairs. Mrs. Blair taught school in the district where the Klawonn farm is located. They saw some of the damage done by the tornado such as twelve race horses belonging to Norfolk business people. These horses were mashed into a two inch thickness with leg bones stripped of skin and flesh. The power of the storm is almost beyond belief.
May 28, 1964
WAUSA — Neighbors of Gust R. Swanson furnished the necessary machinery and gathered at his farm May 14 to assist with the plowing. Mr. Swanson had been confined to his home with a severe case of rheumatism in his foot. The men plowed 67 1/2 acres of ground in approximately three hours. Included in the good neighbor group were: Harold Bargstadt, Bud Swanson, Oliver Gustafson, Elwin Banks, Don Banks, Einar Swanson, Bob Eifert, Dale Rosen, Adolph Johnson, Vaughn Erickson, Fred Olson, Henry Kliment and Keith Jensen.
May 28, 1969
WEIGAND — The Weigand Basin at Lewis and Clark Lake was the setting, May 24, for the District IV World Games Day participated in by 159 Junior Girl Scouts, 29 adult leaders, and six Senior Scouts from Wausa. Ten troops participated with girls and adults coming from Allen, Coleridge, Crofton, Pender, Plainview, Wayne (two troops), Ponca, Winside and Wausa. The purpose of the day saws to learn, play and be able to lead games played around the world and become acquainted with Junior Girl Scouts from other towns. The World Games Badge was earned by the girls participating upon the completion of two requirements in their own troops. The even was planned by Mrs. Gerald Gunderson, district chairman; Mrs. Arnold Emry, Wayne, Mrs. William F. Brown, Ponca and Mrs. Larry Bonge, Plainview, neighborhood chairmanned for 16, 117, and 18. Six Senior Scouts from Wausa assisted; Mary ElDorado, Maureen Tollefson, Laura Nelson, Laura Lind, Donna Olson, and Gretchen Tollefson. The following girls were in attendance from the Wausa troop: Karen Gustafson, Becky Beaudette Carline Lind, Gail Barnes, Sandra Kirby, and Pam. The adult in charge of the girls for the day was Mrs. Gary Langemeier. Mothers assisting in the driving were Sheldon Lind, Duane Erickson and John Blankenship.
June 1, 1989
WAUSA — The Knox County Sheriff’s Department said Craig Umberger, 26, of Wausa escaped injury when the car he drove went into a ditch and overturned Monday, May 29.
