Wallace Ihns, 73, Lime Springs

Wallace Roger Ihns, 73, of Lime Springs, Iowa, passed away September 28, 2011, at the Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital in Grand Rapids, Minn.

He was born June 18, 1938, to Walter and Emma (Austin) Ihns of rural Lime Springs. He was the youngest of four children. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lime Springs. He attended rural country school through the eighth grade, attended Lime Springs High School for one year and later received his GED.

On September 2, 1961, he married Edith Ann Betten at Rushford Lutheran Church in Rushford, Minn. Together they farmed the family farm, raising crops and livestock, along with raising four children.

St. Stephen’s is no more

Jesus is moving to a new location. All of the religious artifacts will be moved to other churches in the cluster.

By Marcie Klomp

There is no turning back. St. Stephen’s Church in Chester is no more. Sale on the church is pending and almost certain in the next few weeks and Sunday, September 4 some former members gathered one last time. Not to pray, although many were talking to God, but to dismantle the pulpit area for the new owners.

Father Atwood explained, “It is standard procedure to remove the religious articles” when closing a church.

Former members packed up sacred vestments, tabernacle, cross, crucifix, stations of the cross, candle sticks, pulpit and communion rail. “They will be used in the cluster churches of Lourdes, Riceville, Elma, New Haven and Alta Vista,” the priest said.

The rest of the items were sold with the church and rectory.

Evans has book signing

Eileen Evans spoke about her journey to compile a book on Cy Thomson and signed books at the Lime Spring Library on Saturday.

Eileen Evans gave an enthusiastic presentation at the Lime Springs Library on Saturday, September, 24 on her book, “Cy Thomson: The Generous Embezzler.”

She related Thomson was a far-ahead thinking individual. “Way back then (1920s), he built a two-car garage!”

She found out he was always doing something for other people.

She first wrote about Thomson in the Lime Springs Herald and LeRoy Independent in 1995. “Afterward, people kept bringing stuff in and would say, ‘I remember . . .’”

One 88-year-old gentleman kept asking when she would do a book. “He kept pushing, so when I first got it published, I called him and told him I would be at his house that afternoon. He said he wouldn’t be home because he would be at my house. When he came, he had one red rose and bought 10 books!”

She also reminisced about purchasing the Lime Springs paper. “Carl wanted it in the contract to keep the Lime Springs Herald running for two years. We’ve been here 19 years this month.” She added, “That was how close you came to losing your paper.”

She recalled being in the office when it was below the Post Office. “I looked out the window and saw a lady with a walker coming down the steps!” She and Al decided to move the office to street level. “Carl said, ‘You can’t move the office. People won’t find it!’ Well they did.” And they are still finding it, even 19 years later.

Club done with SCD—now planning for fall

By Marcie Klomp

There’s no rest for the wicked is the saying. Well, the Community Club must be really bad! While most of the group’s meeting was spent discussing Sweet Corn Days, upcoming items also needed to be addressed.

Sweet Corn Days—looking toward 31st annual in 2012

By Marcie Klomp

Sweet Corn Days is a go for next year. During the Community Club’s meeting after the August 12-14 event, suggestions were given for next year’s celebration.

Into the wild blue yonder

Organizer of the event, Keith Williams, commented kids were more excited at this event than at other Young Eagle events, including Kristin “Chip” Kuhl of Lime Springs. (Photo by Nicole Klomp)

By Keith Williams

Fifty-seven youngsters left Cresco last Saturday, September 17, as official Young Eagles, courtesy of the EAA and its Cedar Rapids/Iowa City chapter. Pilots from the organization brought their airplanes to Cresco for the first Young Eagle event at that airport. Fifty-seven kids, ages 8-17, were given free airplane rides with the intent to interest them in some facet of aviation.

The pilots were from Washington, Dubuque, Ankeny, and Cedar Rapids. They each donated their time and use of their airplane to give the rides because aviation is an important part of their lives and they enjoy introducing aviation to the younger generation.

Chester PIP has meeting

With fall in the air, it is time for the Chester Partners in Progress to start planning for fall and winter events.

Meeting to address Chester P.O. discontinuation, Sept. 29

A meeting will be September 29 to discuss the discontinuation of the Chester Post Office.

A meeting is being held on September 29 at Chester City Hall from 6:00-7:00 p.m. to address concerns from citizens of Chester on the closing of the town’s post office.

The letter sent to all postal customers said, “The U.S. Postal Service is conducting a discontinuous feasibility study of facility operations at the Chester Post Office into the Cresco Post Office.”

Customers’ needs have changed over the years and the Postal Service is trying to cut costs. Much of the transactions can be done via computer for those so inclined. For the others, it was noted the Cresco Post Office is 20.0 miles away and the Lime Springs Post Office is 5.4 miles away.

Book-signing by Evans

Eileen Evans will be having a book-signing at the Lime Springs Library on Saturday, September 24 at 1:00 p.m.

Her book, “Cy Thomson—The Generous Embezzler” took nearly 20 years for her to compile. She admits she had a lot of help from others along her journey.

It all started right after she and hubby purchased the Lime Springs Herald and LeRoy Independent 19 years ago. A lover of history, she had a party to commemorate a cyclone that hit the LeRoy area 100 years ago.

Little did she know she would learn so much more about LeRoy history after that party. It was there she heard the first whispers about the area’s most infamous thief.

UM Harvest Auction. . . —Let the bidding begin!

Yes, once again it’s time for an evening of fun at the Lime Springs United Methodist Church on Monday, September 26. The fun starts as soon as you arrive, but the auction starts at 7:00 p.m. SHARP!