Back in the Day – Dec. 26, 2018
10 YEARS AGO
Dec. 30, 2008
Members of the Tuscola girls’ basketball team and the Tuscola Rotary Club teamed up to organize a canned goods collection. Team members included Jessica Hardwick, Leslie Borries, Audrey Mooney, Molly Romine, Lindsay Troike, Rachael Brewer, Taylor Kauffman, Kati Ponder, Olivia Morris, and Sammi Kohlbecker and Coaches Tim Kohlbecker, Justin Bozarth, and Justin Quick.
Teens on the TCHS student council joined together in creating toasty warm fleece blankets that were to be donated to the Mills Breast Cancer Institute in Urbana.
Molly Romine was named to the 2008 All Tournament Team at the Monticello Holiday Hoopla.
20 YEARS AGO
Dec. 19, 1998
The face of Southline Road was undergoing yet another transformation as the building that formerly housed Twice is Nice clothing consignment shop was razed. In its place would be an 8,400 square foot structure for Tuscola Pro Hardware. Jim Nees said he was making the short move to add an automobile and small engine repair shop to his business.
City Aldermen passed a $328,792 tax levy for FY 99… the same bottom line passed for FY 98.
Winners in the Christmas lighting contest included Bernice Kresin – first place; Bob and Julie Slaughter – second place; Bruce Wood – third place; and Rogers Florist – first place in the business category.
The Tuscola Post Office was to ring in the New Year without two longtime employees – 25-year employee Nancy Bosch and 24-year-8-month employee Judy Brannon were set to retire Jan. 2.
Tuscola schools superintendent Jim Voyles presented TCHS coach Stan Wienke with a plaque in appreciation of his efforts of the construction of the new weight room/concession stand facility.
30 YEARS AGO
Dec. 27, 1988
Tuscola Community High School Illinois State Scholars included Jennifer Moorhead, Heather Gaddey, Geoff Miller, Mark Kalmar, and Chad McCullough.
Freshman Susan Harris of Tuscola was a member of Milikin’s junior varsity women’s basketball squad. The 5-foot-11 forward had started every game and was averaging 11 points per game.
The United States Postal Service was offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction of any person involved in a burglary at the Tuscola Post Office. Suspects reportedly entered the 24-hour lobby of the post office and forced entry to a postage machine. An undetermined amount of money in dimes and nickels was taken.
Two newcomers to the Tuscola Chamber of Commerce Christmas Decorating Contest were named winners. Steve Wetzel and McDonald’s restaurant won, while Burnie Campbell earned second place, and Danny Stennet and Tom Ray tied for third.
40 YEARS AGO
Dec. 28, 1978
Winners of the newspaper Christmas coloring contest were Melissa Dare, Tammy Mitsdarffer, Susan Ross, Sherri Winans, and Jodi Hahn.
Volunteers who prepared gifts to be given to Tuscola residents by the Christmas Bureau included Mrs. Phil Beachy, Mrs. Theo Houser, and Mrs. Darrell Ford.
Douglas County Coroner Ron Keith reported that he investigated 33 natural deaths, eight accidental deaths, one homicide, two suicides, and had one case pending which could be deemed a suicide or homicide depending on the findings of a jury.
TCHS FFA members unloaded a semi-trailer loaded with oranges, grapefruit, and tangelos as one of their moneymaking projects during the year. FFA members hoped to purchase a pickup truck to be used as part of their studies.
Farmers had reportedly borrowed more money for their operating expenses during 1978 and would likely keep up the strong loan demand through the first half of 1979, according to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale agriculture economist William Herr. He reported that of 1,350 US banks surveyed, they held a collective $7.7 billion in farm loans as of June, which was considered about 1/5 of the nation’s farm debt at that time.
50 YEARS AGO
Dec. 26, 1968
The winners of the Christmas Home Decorations contest sponsored by Tuscola JAYCEES were: Lewis Hettinger, who had a unique Nativity scene with a shining star; Dr. Melvin F. Lossmanns, who had a wonderfully decorated home with a life-size Santa seated on the doorstep; James Loosers, who had an extensive Christmas scene featured carolers and Santa.
W.A. Bozarth, county superintendent of schools, announced that 39 school busses would be inspected over the holidays. Of the 5,578 county pupils, about 1,725 students who live more than 1 1/2 from their schools rode the bus in 1968.
After a rugged and ragged first half, which could have been disastrous for the Warriors but for the shooting of Phil Rome and Mark Seip, Tuscola came into its own and disposed of conference foe Newman by a 68-43 count.
Each year the senior class votes on their favorite in a certain category, this year’s included: Most unpredictable: Holly Smith and Dennis Adkisson; most flirtatious: Linda Hausmann and Charlie Wilson; best sense of humor: Rita Allen and Greg O’Brecht; friendliest: Nancy Cranford and Gary Ring; best personality: Joyce Ochs and Tom McGuire; most musical: Marsha Fortney and Rodney Voyles; most intelligent: Madonna Wilhelm and Lawrence Harrington; most likely to succeed: Cindy Thode and Gary Neal; best dressed: Esther Skinner and Bill Cook; and most athletic: Marge Schweighart and Steve Leonard.