65 Years Ago
An unidentified motorist backed into a gas meter on West Street here early Sunday morning. Gas then seeped into the Iola Milling Company office. According to Fire Chief Ray Chard, a pilot light on a heater in the office ignited the gas, creating a king-sized explosion. The explosion showered glass over a 50-foot area. The force of the explosion was sufficient to lift the southern two-thirds of the building clear off its moorings, and move it over three inches. No immediate estimates on damage were available. Jake Elliott is the owner of the Milling Company.
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Mildred Criswell of rural Humboldt, representing the Cottage Grove Rural School, won the Allen County Spelling contest at Lincoln School here yesterday afternoon. Paul Ray Upshaw representing Iola Junior High, came in second. Mildred will be sent to Topeka next month by the Register to compete in the state spelling bee.
