Back in the Day 1-20-21
Ten years ago
January 26, 2011
Tuscola Police were investigating an armed robbery over the weekend at Subway in Tuscola.
Helen and James Dallas celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. The pair was married February 2, 1951 in the Tuscola United Church of Christ.
Tuscola Alumni and former NFL player Fred Wakefield was the guest speaker at the first Rotary Council meeting. The Rotary Council meeting was formed to bring Rotary club presidents in the area together.
The Tuscola Warriors boys basketball team held a Coaches vs Cancer fundraising event during the Friday, Jan 21 home game. Over $2,000 was raised with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
The Warriorettes received first place at the Villa Grove Illinois Drill Team Association competition, advancing them to the I.D.T.A. State Contest. This year’s squad included Becky Hemmer, Kristen Dickens, Kylie Amick, Lexi Wasiloski, Alex Brown, Chloe Kerns, Jami Knight, Sarah McCrory, Rachel Craddock, Rachel Pflum, Taylor Harris, and Kaitlyn Carter.
Twenty years ago
January 23, 2001
Theatergoers lucky enough to take in ARTCo’s recent production, “Nunsense,” no doubt found the play habit-forming. At the helm of the show were directors Mike Steen (Sister Mary Clairol) and music director Kim Higgins (Sister Amadeus); and actos LaDonna Wilson (Sister Hubert), Lyn Leithliter (Sister Robert Ann), Debby Mechtly-LeVeck (Sister Leo), Laura Arwine (Rev. Mother), and Debbie Rice (Sister Amnesia).
Kudos went to local vocal ensemble 98.6 Degrees–otherwise known as Andrew Rahn, David Dyke, Jon Shirazi, Shane Pangburn and Zach Danielson–for gardening second place out of 48 entries in the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs state talent competition. The Tuscola group’s rendition of “In the Still of the Night” won first place in last summer’s Mo-Do County Fair and would now be included in the Illinois State Fair lineup in Springfield.
After nearly 500 miles of traveling and five games in eight days, the Lady Warriors fell 42-27 to Niantic-Harris-town in the consolation championship game of the LOVC Tournament. Game scores leading up to the final game were Tuscola 50, Atwood-Hammond 29; Cerro Gordo 56, Tuscola 50; Tuscola 53, Bement 25; and Tuscola 45, Villa Grove 42.
The Tuscola Warriors made the showdown a smackdown as they defeated Oakland Friday night by a score of 85-62 before a hometown crowd. They rode the two-pronged attack of Cory Kleiss and Jeff Damler to a 27-8 lead in the first quarter that just kept building.
Thirty years ago
January 22, 1991
TCHS grads Mark Payne, Shannon Clarkson, and Jim Nayonis, all members of the 233rd Military Police Unit in Springfield, were deployed to Saudi Arabia, where Scud missile attacks had recently taken place. Tuscola police officer Jim Clark organized a yellow ribbon giveaway for residents to display in recognition of local residents serving in the Middle East.
Sixteen-year-old Jillaine Little of Tuscola would be included in the February edition of TEEN magazine as a 1991 regional semifinalist in the Great Model Search.
Mac Boyd, president and owner of Boyd Real Estate in Arcola, was recently named Realtor of the Year for 1990 by the East Central Illinois Board of Realtors.
The Warriors evened their season record to .500 with an easy 61-38 win over Arthur in the first round of the LOVC Tourney. Senior Tim Smith led all scorers and rebounders with 23 points and 11 caroms for Tuscola. The Warriors would ultimately take third place in the tournament, losing to the Atwood-Hammond Rajahs 70-69 and bouncing back to beat Arcola 60-57.
Forty years ago
January 27, 1981
Paul Flock was sworn in as alderman for Ward 4 during the recent city council meeting. He was named by Mayor Chris Hill to fill the vacancy created when Phil Waters resigned last year.
Approximately 75 residents and employees of Douglas Nightingale Manor were on hand to honor resident Amelia Weir on her 101st birthday. A party was held for the retired school teacher/principal who hailed from Minnesota.
Mr. and Mrs. Romine Sanders announced the enhancement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Cindy Blaase, to Richard Lamb, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Piercy and the late James Lamb. The couple was planning a May 9 wedding.
Bob Anderson’s eight fourth-quarter points helped spark Tuscola to a 58-56 banburner over the visiting Sullivan Redskins. Leading the charge for the Warriors was John Murray with 25 points.
Fifty years ago
January 21, 1971
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Lance and their newborn baby were presented with a $25 life savings bond, as the little Lance was the first baby of the new year born at Jarman Hospital.
Lloyd “Curly” Rahn announced this week that he would be seeking the Republican nomination for supervisor of Tuscola Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Luther Hoke of Tuscola were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sunday, January 31 at the Vine Street Christian Church in Arthur.
A full-page advertisement in The Journal (formerly the Tuscola Review) courtesy of numerous Tuscola businesses, welcomed Miss America Phyllis George to town, and officially proclaimed Jan. 24, 1971 would be known as Miss America Day in honor of her upcoming visit.