Excerpted stories in Crawford County newspaper archives
100 years ago
June 23, 1926
Selection from Flotow's opera, "Martha," will feature the weekly band concert program tomorrow night in the band dome at Lincoln Park, under the direction of J. J. Richards, conductor. The band will play a selection from the opera, and Clyde Nelbarger, tenor soloist, will sing "Ah! So Pure" from the same composition. Mr. Neibarger's second number will be "As Long As I Have You," by Haubrich.
Girard, June 23. - County teacher examinations will be conducted at the Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, on July 2 and 3, according to an announcement by M. A. Callahan, county superintendent of schools. Quizzes will be given for first and second grade county certificates. For second certificates, the applicant must make an average of 80 percent or better and no grade below 70. The minimum age is 18.
Girard, June 23. - Notice is expected sometime soon by Herbert Ludlow, county engineer, from the state highway department approving plans and specifications for the Free-King highway, west of Pittsburg. The road is four miles in length and connects Fourth Street with the Minden road. It is a benefit district project. Bids will be received July 15 on two other road projects in the county and it had been hoped that the Free-King contract could be let the same day, but this cannot be done now because of a lack of time in which to advertise for bids.
50 years ago
June 23, 1976
A recommendation by the city engineer for city acquisition and disbursement of abandoned Frisco Railroad rights-of-way was dropped by the Pittsburg City Commission Tuesday after two motions failed to be seconded. City Engineer Bob Caldwell commended that the city acquire the rights-of-way by quitclaim deeds. The land would then be deeded to the ad-joining property owner, placing the abandoned right of ways on the tax rolls. City Atty. Charlie Menghini told the commissioners that when railroad rights-of-way are abandoned the land can go to the adjoining property owner without a quitclaim deed.
Law enforcement officials, judges and program directors from the SEKAN Mental Health Center met in a closed meeting Tuesday to review the effectiveness of the center's alcoholic program and mutual problems of each official in arresting, prosecuting and determining the outcome of drunk driving cases. The meeting was organized after law enforcement officers complained that Crawford County courts produce few convictions of persons charged with drunk driving since the courts reduce most of the charges to reckless driving after the charged person completes the alcoholic program.
While there is little similarity in background or experience among Kansas Fifth District delegates to the Republican National Convention in August, the seven delegates are solid in their support of President Ford for the COP nomination. The four men and three women representing the GOP in 25 Southeast Kansas counties stated in telephone interviews they would stick with Ford through the first and second ballots in Kansas City, and, in most cases, through the end of the nominating process.
25 years ago
June 23, 2001
If you notice falling prices starting next Sunday, there's a reason for it. That is when Crawford County's half-cent sales tax, enacted two years ago to finance construction of the new judicial center at the former Safeway building at Seventh and Locust streets in Pittsburg, expires. "The tax has done well and it's nice that people voted it in," Crawford County Commissioner Anthony Pichler said. "The tax has done its job. We should have enough to get it built." In fact, the sales tax has brought in as much or more money than planned.
Thousands of volunteer fire departments can't afford a $1,000 protective coat-and-pants set, not to mention hoses, trucks and other equipment. "There are still a few departments, one for sure, and possibly two, in Crawford County, who fight fires without any protection equipment at all," said Pete Scales, president of the Crawford County Firefighters Association and Girard Fire Chief. What can be done to resolve this dilemma? Used gear would seem a good solution. But shockingly it's often destroyed, rather than donated, because of civil liability lawsuits.
GIRARD - Higher costs and future equipment needs may require an increase in Crawford County's 46-cent-a-month 911 emergency telephone surcharge. "I know this is not the easiest decision to make, but in order for the county to provide the ser-vices for 911 to the citizens of Crawford County, I see no other way," John Gagliardo, Crawford County 911 director, told Crawford County commissioners at their regular Friday meeting.
