125 Years
December 23, 1891
This is the first time the News was ever in a Valley City home on Christmas Eve. It is therefore, an occasion of importance to the newspaper – for it has friends, and what better condition in life is there than to be in the house of one’s friends. A “Merry Christmas to all of you” – a saying that has lost none of its good content since its first utterance centuries ago.
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Last evening a lighted lamp, hanging in Markland and McCaslin’s store, fell on the floor and exploded. Nelson Ague, a clerk in the store, promptly suppressed it by throwing his coat over the fire.
100 Years
December 23, 1916
With the connection of a telephone for William H. Schroer, in Franklin Township, The Sidney Home Telephone Co. crossed the 2,000 mark in the number of phones installed. The popularity of the telephone is remarkable when we stop to consider that less than 20 years ago, there were less than 10 telephones in the entire Shelby County.
75 Years
December 23, 1941
A report from Manila indicates that the initial attempt of the Japanese to land a strong force near Lingayen Gulf had been beaten back. The Japanese were said to have 80 transports in the attack 100 miles north of Manila.
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With the schools of the city and county showing the way, the drive of the local chapter of the American Red Cross to raise its quota of $10,000 for war relief, swung into full blast today. With reports 95 percent complete, school contributions totaled $556. McCartyville rural school joined Fort Loramie in carrying off top honors in the county school system with 100 percent participation.
50 Years
December 23, 1966
FORT LORAMIE – A home at Lehmkuhl’s Landing at the east end of Lake Loramie was almost completely destroyed by fire shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday. The Minster fire department was called at 9:50 p.m. by Verlin “Red” Egbert, owner of the home.
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In the annual election at St. John Lutheran Church in Sidney, Theodore Althoff was chosen elder and Vorrest Sprague was named a trustee. Deacons elected are Paul Baker, Jacques Beer, Corliss Davis, Larry Hall, Douglas Millhoff and Donald Umstead. Robert Bertsch was reelected treasurer and Wayne Fogt was named secretary.
25 Years
December 23, 1991
Photo: Holy Angels School students prepare food boxes for needy families of the area. The students gathered a variety of foods and other gifts for those less fortunate. Preparing the boxes are: Andrew Hodapp, 14, Jennifer Biggs, 14, Nolan Nuss, 13, and Melissa Monnier, 13.
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RADNOR, Pa. (AP) – Jay Leno will just say no to sex and yes to politics when he takes over for Johnny Carson on the “Tonight” show in May. The talk show runs up against an explicit dating game series in some areas. “I’m tired of watching shows with stupid sex themes,” Leno said in the latest issue of TB Guide. “In some markets, we’re up against ‘Studs,’ which, as far as I’m concerned, is for people who have no mating skills, I’m never going to try to compete with that kind of show.”
