The Way It Was

100 years ago:

Severe weather puts squeeze on coal supply

RICH HILL -- Letters, telegrams and telephone messages have been pouring in on local operators and shippers of coal the past three days for big orders of fuel which cannot be filled owing to the extreme severity of the weather and the deep snow in the strip pits.

One shipper said yesterday he could sell 100 cars of coal if he had it. Many towns are entirely out of coal in this section, although the output is sufficient to supply local demands.

75 years ago:

Cottey delegates return from meeting of the Women's Voters League

The Missouri College League of Women Voters held their annual conference last Friday and Saturday at Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Mo. The following universities and colleges were represented: Missouri and Washington Universities, Lindenwood, Cottey, Stephens, Christian and William Woods colleges. Cottey was represented by Marion Buxton, Joplin, Mo., Winifred Lesh, Guthrie, Okla., Smily Cooper, Galena, Kan., and Miss Grace Galbreath, sponsor of the league at Cottey.

The conference emphasized the need of intelligent citizenship and a greater participation of women in public affairs, and the delegates were urged to carry this message back to their respective leagues.

50 years ago:

Bud Vincent tells of importance of life-giving blood

Members of the Lions Club today heard the role of the Red Cross in Vernon County, the state, nation and world, from Miss Dorothy Staley, Red Cross representative from the St. Louis office.

Miss Staley outlined the various activities of the organization and compared its program to the "Good Samaritan."

She said that Vernon Countians should step up their contributions to the Red Cross this year to insure the keeping of the blood program and other vital activities of the local chapter.

Miss Staley introduced M.R. (Bud) Vincent, Nevada oil dealer, who was critically burned in November 1953 and spent several months in the hospital who told the importance of the blood program.

-- compiled by Nick Wright