Special Election in Russell December 4th

On Tuesday December 4, a special election for the residents of Lucas County will be held throughout the County. 

The issue is as follows:

"Shall the Indian Hills Community College (Merged Area XV) Board of Trustees be authorized to certify, as per Iowa Code Section 260C.28 (2), for the tax year beginning July 1, 2013, continuation of a tax not exceeding six (6) cents per thousand dollars of assessed value in any one year and for a period not to exceed ten (10) years, for the purposes of program sharing between community colleges or for the purchase of instructional equipment?"  Just a YES or NO vote will be taken.

History of the Curious Goods Building

The historical information in the following article appeared in the Chariton Leader on October 23, 2012 in the Russell News Section.

On September 25, 2012, residents watched as a large wrecking machine with its gigantic scoop pulled up to the old white building at the corner of Prairie and Shaw Streets (across from the Russell Museum and Library) and began knocking it down.  In less than an hour a pile of old lumber was all that remained of this old historical building in Russell.

In order for a town to grow and improve its appearance, this sort of thing must happen, but in Russell it happened twice in less than a month.  On October 15, 2012, residents waited with awe as another wrecking machine approached on the west side of the same block (east of the bank and the postoffice).  Spectators watched as the large machine touched the southwest corner of the building and it came down with a loud boom.  The entire building crumbled to the ground in a cloud of dust, throwing bricks in all directions almost hitting the by-standers and their vehicles.  (See the photos below).

The first building to fall was the old Chester Feed and Produce Store (owned and operated by Merle and Oneita for more than 30 years).  It was originally the two story Hasselquist Building which partially burned during the 1929 fire that wiped out most of the buildings on the south side of Shaw Street.  The building was rebuilt (without the second floor) and later was owned by the Hiles and the Behnkes, Sonnie's Beauty Shop and then by Hundley's Tire Shop.

H.W. Elliott originally built the building in 1875.  One well known owner was E. Dewey Hess where he had a soda fountain and a drug store from 1940 - 1961.   He purchased the store from A. J. Mettlin who had been at this location from 1901.  In 1962 Bob Long (Long's Sundries) purchased it.  In between these years, Bob and Vera Edwards (Bob and Vera's Varieties) operated their store for 13 years.  Then Bev and Jim Werts purchased it and opened an antique store, but kept the soda fountain (Bev's Corner Store).  They operated it from 1981 - 1994.  A toy train shop and the telephone office were once located on the second floor.  In October of 1998, Julie and Carl Moore owned and operated an art/craft store, but stopped using the store a few years ago.  As the bricks began bulging out and slowly falling to the ground, Carl tried patching the walls to no avail.  He then began knocking bricks out to remove the second floor.  This proved to be an immense and dangerous project, so the work stopped.  It was interesting to see the remains of an elevator at the rear of the building, which many people had forgotten was there.  No plans have been mentioned for this location.

The sadness at seeing these buildings disappear will dim as time goes by and we look forward to whatever the future might bring to the town of Russell.

Another Historical Building Comes Down in Russell

Residents watched as the Curious Goods Building in Russell came down with very little effort.  One push on the corner of the building and it completely fell to the ground in a cloud of red dust.  This building has slowly been falling during the past year and now it is completely down.  The pictures can't describe the feeling everyone was experiencing.  There were lots of memories associated with this building through the years.  At one time the telephone office in town was located on the second floor.  A pharmacy was located here over a hundred years ago, Bev and Jim Werts had a store here and most recently, Curious Goods displayed and sold there interesting wares.  There was even an elevator at the back of the store.  

Check out this site for more: 

http://www.facebook.com/groups/271290096218537/ 

(you'll need to have a login name and password to get on Facebook)

Pictures on Facebook by Carol Swigart

Comments by Charles Wright and Wanda Horn are very interesting and informative

1962 Alumni Class

The 1962 Russell Alumni Class enjoyed their reunion at the Russell Fall Festival, Saturday, September 15.  The class of 16 enjoyed riding on Mike Beaty's horsedrawn wagon at the parade.  They also enjoyed touring the Russell Museum.

Saturday evening they met for dinner and a program at Carpenter's Hall in Chariton. 

Sunday morning, six of the class and their spouses met for breakfast at the Millerton Cafe in Millerton.

Those pictured are:

Front row - Virginia (Egbert) Spillman, Donna (Collins) Byers, Helen (Dolinsek) Thompson, Mary (Osenbaugh) Parks, Marilyn (McKay) Trenary, Delores (Wright) Bufford.

Back row - Melvin Egbert, Ed Sellers, Dennis Boldt, Leo Orwig, James Noble, Jerry Jeffries, Douglas Prather.

Not pictured - Shirley (Powers) Morr, Jack Christensen, Mike Miller.

Five of the class of 32 are deceased - Tony Sweeden, Bernard Thomas, Roger Hawkins, John VerSteeg and Harley Jones.

Fall Festival Entertainment

Al Butler and his sister Cindy provided entertainment at the Russell Fall Festival.

A Piece of Russell History Taken Down

　

     The photograph above, shows the Hasselquist building (the building later occupied by Merle Chester, Chester's Grocery). This building suffered damage but was saved from destruction when the Chariton Company arrived and a hose was finally coupled on and the blaze was soon extinguished on that building, but not until the whole west side had been practically burned out. If you compare this picture to the one where Sonnie's Beauty Shop was, you will see that at one time the building was a two-story building. Because of a shortage of hose it was some time before the firemen could reach the building.
    
     At one time Lloyd LaFavre had his grocery store on the SW corner of the intersection of Prairie and Shaw, in the old Hasselquist building.

     Merle and Oneita operated the Chester Feed and Produce of Russell for approximately 30 years. Before Merle had the store, the Hiles and the Behnkes owned it. Merle bought the store from the Behnkes. Oneita said they were at someone’s funeral when the south side of Shaw Street burned back in 1929. The building where they later had their store lost the whole top floor to the fire, but the building was saved and repaired.

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Today, September 25, 2012, around 5:00p.m. a large truck pulled up in front of the building and unloaded the heavy duty piece of equipment shown in the color picture above. In less than two hours the building was torn down in order to construct a new modern building. Many people drove up and down Prairie Street to see a piece of Russell History disappear.

　

Fall Festival 2012

These pictures are from Carol Swigart

Parade prizes:

First Place - Lowell Sims and Bob Hensley for their float "Businesses, Past and Present"

Second Place - Southside Tavern for a congregation of hats "Hats Off to Russell"

Third Place - Whiskey Dick's for the giveaway ride

Thanks to the Last Chance for providing a wonderful display of food for the noon meal.  Al Butler and his sister Cindy for providing entertainment, the Chariton Middle School Band giving the parade a real touch of parade music and the community of Russell for making a success of the day.  It was great to see the 1962 and 1967 class members here to participate in their school reunions.

Activity at the Firemen's 2012 BBQ Contest in Russell

Russell BBQ Results

Chicken

1st - Warren Co. Smokers (Bryce and Tim Mitchell - Lacona), 2nd - Wide Open BBQ, Ryan Atwell and Cory Swigart - Russell), 3rd - Outhouse Smokers (Alex, Kellie Drake & Jeff Swanson - Chariton).

Ribs

1st - Poling Smokehouse (Steve Poling - Chariton), 2nd - Wide Open BBQ (Ryan Atwell and Cory Swigart - Russell), 3rd - Smoke Aholics (Rich Watson and Cecil Pruiett - Chariton)

Pork Butt

1st - Sadies BBQ (Mitch Philips - Milo), 2nd - Outhouse Smokers (Alex, Kellie Drake and Jeff Swanson - Chariton), 3rd - Poling Smokehouse (Steve Poling - Chariton).

Brisket

1st - Warren Co. Smokers (Bryce and Tim Mitchell - Lacona), 2nd - Wide Open BBQ (Ryan Atwell and Cory Swigart - Russell), 3rd - Outhouse Smokers (Alex, Kellie Drake and Jeff Swanson - Chariton).

Overall

1st - Poling Smokehouse (Steve Poling - Chariton), 2nd - Wide Open BBQ (Ryan Atwell and Cory Swigart - Chariton), 3rd - Outhouse Smokers (Alex, Kellie Drake and Jeff Swanson - Chariton).

Dutch Oven Dessert

1st - D.O. Liars (Kinser Werts - Russell and Karen Jones - Corydon), 2nd - Smoke Aholics (Rich Watson and Cecil Pruiett - Chariton), 3rd - Outhouse Smokers (Alex, Kellie Drake and Jeff Swanson - Chariton).

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Russell Class of 1967 Reunion

Russell Community High School Class of 1967 - 45th Anniversary Reunion

MEET & GREET - Friday, September 14 @ 6p.m. - BYOB - appetizers, mixers, ice provided

ALL ALUMNI WELCOME AT FRIDAY's EVENT ONLY!

CLASS DINNER - Saturday, September 15 @ 5 p.m. - BYOB - BBQ, mixers, ice provided

Both events held at the Russell Community Center

Chariton After Prom Committee host trap shoot

The Chariton After Prom Committee will host a benefit trap shoot on Sunday, September 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Russell Sportsmen's Club range to raise funds for the After Prom Party.  No experience is required and everything needed will be supplied, including certified instructors and mentors.  To pre-register, call or text Dan at 641-203-5296.

Fall Festival Events

Saturday, September 15, parade 4 p.m. (no themes selected), prizes to be provided by the Community Club.  For parade registration contact Chris Feehan at 641-203-0851, garden tractor pull 6 p.m. on Shaw Street in front of the bandstand.  Volunteer Fire Department Best in Smoke BBQ Competition, also includes a dutch oven dessert competition.  Call Shawn 641-203-3164 for further information.  Judging for the Fire Department contests is at 3 p.m.  Cookout will be in the bandstand area, dinner at 5 p.m. at the fire station with a free-will offering.

Arrangements for a street dance to follow that evening are being made at the Southside Tavern.

Competition for the State Volunteer Fire Departments

In addition to preparing for the Fall Festival, Russell's dedicated firemen are preparing for the State Competition at Manchester the weekend following Labor Day.  We wish them good-luck.  Also a special thank you to all of our volunteers for helping our residents (and others as needed) who have an emergency.

Free Youth Trap Shoot

Sunday, September 2, at 2:00p.m., the Russell Sportsmen's Club will have a free youth trap shoot for middle school and high school students.  No experience is necessary.   Certified instructors will be on site for safety instruction and shooting fundamentals.  Firearms will be available for use.  For more information, call Dan at 641-203-5296.

Best in Smoke BBQ Competition

The Russell Volunteer Fire Department "Best in Smoke" BBQ competition will be held on September 15.  Call Shawn 641-203-3164 for further information.  More information will be available after their Monday, August 27 meeting.

Russell Museum/Library Fundraiser

Saturday, September 22, 7-10 a.m., The Russell Museum/Library is having a fundraiser at the Museum, providing a sausage gravy and biscuits breakfast with beverages.  Free-will offering.

Yard of the Month for August 2012

This charming home belonging to Peggy Morgan Fulks, with its well manicured yard, is the winner of the Russell Wayside Garden Club's August 2012 Yard of the Month.  The home is situated facing Shaw St. near the corner of Highland St. in Russell.

Story Time at the Museum/Library

The Museum/Library's Story Time for young children, continues on Tuesday and Friday until school starts.  The last day is Friday, August 17.  Thank you to Craig and Joan Gooder for bringing this delightful event to the children.

Local Option Sales and Service Tax Vote

August 7, noon to 8 p.m. Remember to vote. The voting location in Russell is the Russell Community Center. The incorporated citizens of Russell will be voting for the Local Option Sales and Service Tax change. The way the tax is used now is: The 1% tax goes 60 percent to road use and 40 percent towards maintaining the Chariton swimming pool. The Council is offering a change to 60 percent road use, 30 percent general purpose and 10 percent towards maintaining the Chariton swimming pool.

Be sure to vote and give your opinion. If it passes, the change would take place on January 1, 2013. It is a yes or no vote.

The citizens of Russell voted and passed the Local Option Sales and Service Tax change on August 7.  So on January 1, 2013, the 1% tax will go 60 percent to road use and 30 percent to general purpose and 10 percent towards maintaining the Chariton swimming pool.  This means more money will come into Russell for road use and general purpose use.

Simms' Barn Painting

Have you seen the Simms' barn lately.  New drawings have been added.  Drive down West Ames St. and take a look.

Mark McCurdy Travels to East Africa

by Bob McCurdy 

Russell resident Mark McCurdy has spent two weeks in Zambia,  an East Africa Country,  with 13 million people and about the same size as our state of Texas.
He was part of an eleven person group made up of six firemen/emergency medical personnel, one nurse, one physical therapist, one dietitian, one doctor, and one medical student.
Their mission was to show a small community how to use their current fire truck and a newer truck that had been in use in Alaska. The new truck did not arrive and is still in a port near Houston, Texas. The community has a 1946 model fire truck from Great Britain.
The group also taught the local citizens emergency medical procedures. Mark found his students to be very interested in learning and developing skills that would help them help themselves.
The next task was to develop a fire plan for the area hospital (Saint Francis). They found a very willing medical staff, which had a serious lack of equipment and supplies to serve so many people. The hospital has four to six deaths per day because of poor health conditions in the country. 37% of the African population is infected with the HIV virus. They want to improve their health conditions but a vast amount of education is needed for the treatment and prevention of diseases.
The group did get to visit a large animal reserve that required a four hour trip . The roads a lot of the time  were like the roads we would see, only a little better than Lucas County level B roads.
Look for information to follow on this trip.

Wayside Garden Club Yard of the Month for July

I am sure many of you have seen Randy Halteman riding around town with his gardening supplies and his mower going to someone's house to make it look beautiful, but how many of you have gone by his home and seen how beautiful he keeps his own yard?  July's winner of the Yard of the Month in Russell, is the Halteman's.  Congratulations Cindy and Randy.

Ball Park Blowout a Success

Deb Mason, President of the Russell Community Club told us the Ball Park Blowout, held June 30 at the new Trojan Field Campground, was a huge success.  Had the weather not been so hot there would have been more people in attendance.  It was a good opportunity to learn how the facitilities can be made more adaptable for such functions.

The 2012-2013 officers are:  President - Deb Mason; Vice President - Don Sellers; Treasurer - Mike Beaty and Secretary - Joann Harris.

WHO Great Iowa Tractor Ride

On June 24th, 2012, Ron Christensen and Raymond "Bud" Moody met in Russell to ride their tractors to Centerville, IA to take part in and register for the Great Iowa Tractor Ride, sponsored by WHO radio and other sponsors.

Some 550 tractors made application in late January to go on ride number 16.  This was their 10th or 12th time participating.

The host city for this ride was Centerville, IA.  They rode a different route each of the three days and returned to the Fairgrounds each evening.  Departure  time was staggered as 50 tractors at a time left the area.

Monday they went to Corydon, IA., leaving at 8:15 a.m. and returning by 5 p.m., traveling 89 miles that first day.  Tuesday they went around Lake Rathbun and traveled 48 miles.  On Wednesday, they went east on Highway 2 through Unionville, IA., to Moravia and then back to Centerville.

Ron and Bud rode about 200 miles by the time they returned home on Wednesday, the 27th of June.

The heat did not seem to bother them, they considered it nice weather to ride in.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the activities.

Bud is a member of the Lucas County Antique Tractor Club.

Fall Festival

The possibility for there being a Fall Festival is still in the discussion stage.  Prospective date is the third Saturday of September, which falls on the 15th this year.  We will let you know as soon as something is definite.

Judy Pierce, long time resident, Leaves Russell

Judy will be so missed in our little town of Russell.  She has served as the leader from the Horizon's group since its beginning in February 2009.  She will be taking up residency in West Des Moines this summer.  We wish her well in the next chapter of her life and thank her for her faithful work in all aspects of our town.

Horizon Group Provides Plants to Seniors

The Horizon group has again sponsored 8-10 tomato plants distributed for the elderly in Russell.  You might remember they brought this activity to the seniors last year, which provided something for them to take care of through the summer with happy results.

Museum Military Board Update

Preparations are being made to add new and omitted names to the Veterans Memorial Board at the Museum.  The following names will be added:  Donald Argo, Devon Carroll, Robert Fuller, Joe Gookin, Leo Kline, Marvin Neer Jr., Jason A. Noble, Brent Paige, Keith Ray Thompson, Whaley boys, Dean Jr., Matthew, and Andrew.  Vernon Wilson and Dale Downard.  If you know of other missing names on the board, please call Betty Cross at 641-535-2704.

Wayside Garden Club Yard of the Month for June 2012

Russell Museum and Library Open House

On June 2nd, the Russell Museum and Library held it's open house to show off the new museum area addition to their building.  The entire building had been expanded and restyled.  The original section of the building had become very crowded with Russell memorabilia and expansion was very necessary. 

The Museum's task is to exhibit, document, and preserve the vast assemblage of objects that tell Russell's history, past and present.  Volunteers register, catalog conserve, research and display in style exhibits that memoralize the thriving hub that Russell once was.

With the extra space, the library was able to expand to meet its potential.  A wide range of books in all gneres, movies, computers, and a meeting area are available to the public.

Six foundations had a part in contributing funding toward this project:  The Coons Foundation, Vredenburg Foundation, Alliant Energy, South Central Iowa Community Foundation, U.S. Bank and the Chariton Arts & Recreataion Foundation (Vision II).

The Russell (Iowa) Historical Society Board members whose vision, commitment, and hard work made the endeavor possible were Wanda Liddell, President; Jim Werts, Vice President; Jacque Chester, Treasurer; Terry Newcombe; Joe Gookin; Ed Sellers, Duane Bedford and Betty Cross.  Honorable mention also goes to Marilyn Yoakum, Raymond Moody, Mary Louise Reeves and Justine Abrahamson.

2012 Russell History Book

Well, here it is at last!  This is the front and the back cover of the history book we have all been waiting so long to see.   Click on the picture to enlarge it.  Hope you like it.  50 of the one hundred copies are at the museum/library.  The rest will be printed this week.  If you have ordered one, please come pick it up.  They are selling for $30 each and they are going fast.  If you need one mailed to you, postage will be extra.  They will be mailed in a US Post office priority envelope which costs $5.15.  The majority of the content is from the 1950's to the present.  The pages are printed on both sides of an 8½ x 11 sheet of paper; 132 sheets.  All the printing inside is in black and white.