An ice skating rink, established northeast of the Rock Island Depot, became a very popular recreational area. Lights were hung to allow evening utilization.

The Ardo Cafe advertised two Sunday dinner menus, each complete with soup, salad, desert, two vegetables and coffee. The featured entrees were either T-bone steaks or barbecued ribs & dressing. Your choice for 80¢. Children's portions, 40¢.

The Red Cross drive this year was headed by Mrs. Don Amundsen. She enlisted seventeen ladies to help solicit the town. This marks the first time in many years that Loretto McGary was not in charge of this campaign. Mrs. Leo Amdahl was the chairwoman of Military township's drive.

The Roy Koch Cafe served free beer in celebration of the Koch's twentieth wedding anniversary.

The Ossian Pharmacy and Schroeder Clothing firms swapped buildings. C. F. Wallmark purchased the structure housing the clothing store and Wm. Schroeder bought the corner site—a drug store location for many years.

Warren Holtey, representing De Sales school, was crowned the champion speller of Winneshiek county. Mary Louise Schulze, the public school's entry, was the runnerup for the second year. The two Ossian contestants required 48 rounds of competition before Mary Louise misspelled the word, "accuracy".

Cleo Moser, a senior at the parochial school, won the first prize of $10 in an essay contest sponsored by the American Legion. His entry was titled, "America's Contribution for Permanent Peace."

The seniors awarded diplomas at Ossian public this spring were: Shirley Berg-land, Mary Jane Doane, Robert Hardy, Laverne Harvey, Iva Nell Mundt, Betty Miller, Ingrid Oxley, Freddie Scheidel, Shirley Sand and Inez Wolfs.

There were 15 graduates from De Sales. They were; Bradley Brockman, Maurice Collins, Rosemary Gerleman, Roger Holder, Luella Huinker, Bernice Klisart, Veronica Lansing, Cletus Leuenberger, Joseph Leuenberger, Arthur Moellers, Cleo Moser, Irene Rothmeyer, Agnes Schildmeyer, Gerald Schroeder and Cleon Timp.

The local legion post selected Luke Klisart to attend Boy's State at Ca-mp Dodge. Helen Jean Bothel was the Auxiliary's candidate for Girl's State.

A street carnival was held during Ossian's Harvest Festival--the first in many years. In addition to the midway on Main St., free acts, including Leland the magician, were presented on a platform erected on livery hill. A baseball game, Ossian vs Castalia, and an exhibition by the Decorah Drum and Bugle Corps, were other featured attractions.

The faculty at the public school for the coming year included many new instructors. The teachers hired were: A. N. Rogers, superintendent; Donald Buenneke, principal; Sylvia Shey, Norma Quill, Loretto McGary, Mrs. Emma Bothel and Elaine Deweese. There axe 109 pupils registered. The enrollment at De Sales was 258.

The Commercial Club sponsored a "Turkey Day" this fall. Five turkey chases were held with Diann Schroeder, Leander Becker, Mrs. Mayme Gunderson, Jervis Hanken and Einar Borness each capturing a bird. Thirty five additional turkeys were awarded to holders of the winning tickets in the barrel roll.

The town's citizens were shocked by the sad news that Lt. Rodney Nicholson Jr. had lost his life in a military plane crash on Honshu Island, Japan. Rodney was testing a P-51 fighter when the craft caught fire. He was advised by the control tower to abandon the fighter and save his own life. He replied that he would stay with the plane until clear of the populated area beneath him. The aircraft exploded, causing his death. The residents of the village of Orio erected a memorial at the site of the crash in recognition of Lt. Nicholson's heroism in sacrificing his life.

Those of us who grew up with "Sonny" Nicholson were not surprised by his heroic action. This recorder, a boyhood pal, cannot recall Sonny ever showing fear in any encountered circumstance. We remember instances when, upon returning home at a late hour, he would climb to the top of the town's water tower before retiring