Upcoming Reunions

Clanin Family Reunion

The Clanin family reunion was held Sunday Aug 5, at the Russell Community Center with a potluck meal.  All of the Sellers relatives are also encouraged to attend.  Please get in touch with any of the Sellers family that you know.

Bingham's Celebrate 55 Years of Marriage

Clinton and Ursula Bingham of Chariton are celebrating 55 years of marriage.  They were married Aug. 3, 1957 in Russell, Iowa, by the Rev. Archie Beals.  Their attendants were Virginia Stevenson and Robert Black

Chariton Rotary Program July 20

Dusty Hardin and Leah Dow, seniors this fall at CHS, participated this summer in Boys' State and Girls State Leadership camps.  This camp was a combination of leadership and government training held at Iowa State University for one week in June.  Dusty and Leah narrated a slide show presentation for the Rotatry Club of Chariton.  Several of the club's members had attended the Boys' State when they were seniors. 

Hall of Fame Agribusiness Person of the Year

Judi Wright (left) accepting her Hall of Fame Agribusiness Person of the Year plaque from Lucas County Farm Bureau President, Danielle Van Ryswyk (right).

Judi had worked for LCFB for 40+ years as administrative assistant before retiring in the fall of 2011.  She and her husband Jim live on 300 acres in Russell.  She credits much of her success at Farm Bureau due to the love and support of her husband. 

Judi and Jim both are long time LCFB members, Jim joining in 1954 and Judi as soon as they married in 1958.  While having not actually farmed for several years, they still enjoy putting in a large garden and mowing their huge yard.

Congratulations and welcome to the Lucas County Farm Bureau Hall of Fame!

Evans Garden In 2012 Garden Tour

Marilyn and Butch Evans' residence was one of five places featured on this year's Master Gardeners and Friends Garden Tour, which was held Saturday, June 23.  All of the plants in this yard compliment the large white house with blue shutters.  The lawn is immaculately maintained and is completely weed free.  You feel very welcome as you drive up to this home along the driveway lined with spiraea shrubs, some pink, some red, and a couple of white.  Marilyn started gardening when Butch was working nights and she needed something to do.  Her garden kept expanding and eventually wrapped around the house until she ended up with the garden you can see on this tour. 

Cross and Andrews Gardens

The Andrews and Cross residence is one of the five on this years Garden Tour.  These sisters use the many shades of green hostas' to create a mood in their gardens that is cool and refreshng, at the same time warm and cheerful.  They have placed their many kinds of hostas with contrasting sizes next to each other to make them look bigger or smaller.  They have used flower color from other perennial plants like purple cone flowers, deep orange tiger lilies, red border lilies, day lilies and even an Easter lily to contrast with the hosta leaves to create visual appeal for their entire hosta landscape.  The trees around the yard are big so they have a lot of shade, which is perfect for hostas.  They don't require a lot of work showing that old people can still have a yard and be able to take care of it with just a little time in the early mornings or late afternoons.

Steve and Patty Smith Welcome Garden Tourists

Steve's garden is very secluded behind tall bushes that offer only a very small opening to see through.  You might have mistaken the three "people" standing in the garden as the Smith's, but in reality they are the garden's "scarecrows" (as some people call them).

Steve and Patty's property takes up half a city block plus another six surrounding acres of mostly natural habitat, with the exception of a few paths for Patty to walk the dogs.  The yard, flower and vegetable gardens, and resident home, surrounded by the tall hedges and woods, provide for an exceptionally tranquil atmosphere.  The vegetable gardens, planted from seeds nurtured in the small greenhouse, are well tilled.  The flower gardens are planted all around the property and are converstation pieces in themselves.

Steve has a clever way of watering some of the flowers with terra cotta colored pots that are stacked in a way that water only needs to be placed in the top one and the water trickles on down through the other pots and thus water is used over and over on its way down.

He has a turtle enclosure and a pond for colorful koi that Steve keeps heated in the winter so the water stays warm enough if the pond is iced over.  The koi are kept company by small artificial alligators, snakes, frogs and turtles.  There is a rock garden nearby. 

The next time you travel down Smith street, at the big white house (used to be a funeral parlor years ago), peek through the tall bushes and wave at the three characters standing in the beautiful garden.

Farm Bureau News June 15, 2012

LCFB Board members ready to serve the evening's meal during the county annual meeting.  Pictured L-R:  Dan Harrison, Carl DeJong and Brian Beaty.

Jimmie and Donna Narber Celebrated their 50th Anniversary

Donna Reynolds and Jimmie Dean Narber celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on June 16, 2012.  They were married at the Russell Methodist Church in Russell, Iowa.  Please join their children Conn and Karen Narber, Shannon and Vicki Narber, Heidi and Kent Richter, Tiffany and Todd Johnson and 12 grandchildren in celebrating with a card shower.  Cards may be sent to Jim and Donna Narber at 1524 Stagecoach Road, Grand Island, Neb.  68801.

Chariton Municipal Airport Ribbon Cutting

This nearly completed fabric art by Russell resident, Meg Prange, will be completed and one of the items unveiled after the Chamber of Commerce sponsored ribbon cutting set for 7:45 a.m. at the terminal building at the Chariton Municipal Airport Saturday morning, June 16, just prior to the pancake breakfast and other scheduled events.

Community 1st Anniversary Celebration

SCICF Grants Awarded

Paul and Clarice Smith Celebrated 60th Wedding Anniversary

Paul and Clarice (Dixon) Smith were united in marriage 60 years ago at the First Baptist Church in Russell, Iowa. Greetings and congratulations may be sent to 3167 Highway S56, Promise City, Iowa  52583.

Lucas County Area Council of Beta Sigma Phi Awards Two Checks

Russell American Legion

July 1st, new officers will begin their term; Post Commander Russ Harris; Post Adjutant Don Sellers; Post Treasurer Jerry Dillman.

Beta Sigma Phi Chapters Founder's Day

The Lucas County Beta Sigma Phi Chapters celebrated Founder's Day April 24, 2012 at Carpenter Hall.  Crowned Girl of the Year were:  front row left to right, Jody McGee, Iota Nu; Felicia Beaty, Alpha Theta and Kelly Van Ryswyk, Xi lota Zeta.  Back row left to right:  Connie McKinley, Alpha Omicron Master; Deb Mullenburg, Xi Psi; Nancy Bright and Ruth Ryun, Alpha Pi Master.

New Area Council Officers are front row left to right:  President, Penny Paige from Alpha Theta and Vice-president, Pam Sandy, Alpha Omicron Master.  Back row left to right are Corresponding Secretary, Deb Mullenburg, Xi Psi; Treasurer, Tracey Aldolphi, Xi lota Zeta and Recording Secretary, Jennifer Fehrer, lota Nu.  Not pictured is Darlene Banasik, Alpha Pi Master.

Mark Felderman's Speech Class April 26

Shantel Dow was a guest speaker in Mark Felderman's Speech Classes on Thursday, April 26.  She shared the importance of networking, making good impressions, and volunteering.  She also spoke about the Chamber's Vision for Chariton's future.  Chariton students really enjoy guest speakers from our community.

American Legion Auxiliary Select New County Officers

Pictured are the new American Legion Auxilliary County Officers.  Pictured left to right are President, Donna Sellers; Vice-President, Betty Grismore; Secretary, Ginger Sellers and Treasurer, Margaret Phippen.  (Picture by Mert Jones).

The American Legion Auxiliary Lucas County meeting was held in Chariton on March 19.  County Chaplain Ginger Sellers gave a prayer.  They enjoyed a potluck lunch.  Election of officers were President, Donna Sellers; Vice-President, Betty Grismore; Secretary, Ginger Sellers and Treasurer, Margaret Phippen.  The next county meeting will be held September at Russell.  

Daisy Chapman Celebrated 99th Birthday

In February, the family of Daisy Chapman celebrated her 99th Birthday (February 6th) at the Community Center in Russell.  Daisy still lives in her own apartment in Russell and gets out when family can take her.  She makes several pot holders each year and her kids, grandkinds, and great-grandkids get to pick the one's they want.  She has several big pots of flowers outside her apartment each summer and you will see her out each evening that it is nice watering them and taking good care of them.  Daisy does most of her own cooking and even bakes cakes and homemade chocolate chip and raisin cookies at different times.

She says she doesn't care to live to be 100 years old.  Her family reminds her when God wants you home, He will take you and until then He still has work for you here.  She had fun at her party.

Bob Cain Reflects on his many years of Coaching

Chariton Coach Bob Cain has been on the sidelines for football Friday nights for half a century.  Along with coaching football, he's exhibited a great knowledge of basketball and led teams to success on the hardwood as well.

This past fall Cain, 73, an assistant varsity football coach at CHS, completed his 50th year of coaching high school football.  Forty-five of these years have been spent at CHS.
Cain began his storied coaching career at Russell High School where he coached from 1962-65.  He coached varsity football at Russell, was the head boys'  basketball coach and head boys' track coach.  At Russell he coached a state champion in track, Larry Sellers, who won the mile and the 880 at State in the spring of 1965.  Sellers also broke state records in both events and is now a doctor in Sioux City.
In his last year of coaching football at Russell in 1964, Cain led the Trojans to an 8-1 record.  In his last year of coaching basketball at Russell he led them to an 18-4 record.

Years and Years Ago

January 19, 2012

40 Years Ago

Russell Community High School senior Dee Ann DeBok was the school's Homemaker of the Year.
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January 19, 2012

50 Years Ago

Grade school students of the Russell Community Schools literally moved themselves into the new classroom addition.  Movement of the students into the six room addition completed the $165,000 building program of the district.  The addition included a new gymnasium.
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Tourism Exchanges with Other Communities

Establishing partnerhips with other communities to exchange tourism cooperation opportunities has been one of the tasks of Tourism Lucas County during 2011.  From left:  Vickie Mallory, Executive Director of the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce; ISU Professor Rebecca Tang, Ph.D. and Tourism Lucas County Vice President, Sandra Knebel, meet in Algona to discuss the feasibility of exchanging overnight bus tours to share each other's attractions.

Calvin Kint Birthday

Buddy and June Davis celebrated the one-year birthday of their grandson Calvin, on February 12.  Calvin and parents Tyler and Annie Davis-Kint live in Newton.

Dean Werts Celebrated 90th Birthday

Dean Werts celebrated his 90th birthday on Monday, January 23rd.  His family hosted a card shower in his honor.  Greetings may be sent to 1110 N. 6th St. Chariton, Iowa 50049.

Doyle and Janet Hoover Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Janet and Doyle Hoover celebrated their 50th Anniversary January 21, 2012.  If you would like to send greetings please send cards to 23501 550th Street, Chariton, Iowa 50049.

Ken Mason National Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach

Ken Mason named the 2011 Coach of the Year

University of Tennessee also inducted Mason into

University of Tennessee at Martin Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2011

Russell native and Missouri Valley College Rodeo Coach, Ken Mason was recognized for both of his accomplishments at the UT Martin rodeo April 16, 2011.

Martin is the son of Richard and Charlene Foland of Russell and a 1991 graduate of Russell High School.  He's the son-in-law of Doug and Colette Swarthout and Steve and Pat Sallee.

For the past six years, Ken has been the rodeo coach at the Marshall, Missouri, College of Missouri Valley College for the past six years.  He and his wife, Kari, live in Marshall with their two daughters, Sydnee and Taylor.

Mason's rodeo career started in Iowa High School rodeo where he won the state championship in bareback riding in 1991 and qualified for the National High School Finals in both bareback riding and saddle bronc riding in 1989, 1990 and 1991.

While attending college, Ken competed in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and team roping.  He won many championships while in college.  In 2010, Coach Mason led the men's team to their fourth consecutive Ozark Regional Championship and its first NIRA Reserve National Championship.  The Lady Vikings ended the 2010 season as Ozark Region runner-ups, and also qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo.   The men's team finished the season as Ozark Region Champions, winning by 1973.33 points to secure a spot to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo.

Holidy Lighting Winners

Pictured is the second place residential winner, Ron and Vicki Bingham of 402 S. Prairie St. in Russel.  They received $50 in Chamber gift certificates.  Pictured from left:  Chariton Community Betterment President, Mary Jo Fisher, Vicki Bingham, and Chariton Chamber Executive Director, Shantel Dow.

Years and Years Ago

December 6, 2011

Dr. Wendell Force, a Russell native, was now associated with Dr. E.G. Danner, Chariton Optometrist.  Dr. Force is the son of Nora and Guy Force of Russell.

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December 15, 2011

50 years ago -

Russell High School inaugurated its new gymnasium.  Opponents for the opening game were Moravia, both boys and girls teams.  The gym was part of a new $165,000 school improvement program which also included classrooms and other facilities.

December 22, 2011

60 years ago -
Three Lucas County men were inducted into the Marine Corps at Des Moines.  They were James L. May of Russell, Gust H. Sutherland of Lucas and Scotty J. Hall of Lucas

Carol Swigart wins Chariton Giveaway Drawing

Carol Swigart of Russell (at the left) was the winner of the Chariton Chamber's grand prize Holiday Giveaway drawing held on December 16.  She received $500 in Chamber gift certificates for being the grand prize winner.  Her winning ticket was from the Chariton Pamida.  Standing at the right is Chariton Chamber Business and Professional Division President, Betty Pepping.

Stork News

Isabella Marie and Gabriella Marie Sandy, twin daughters, were born to Brock and Erin Sandy, Holdrege, NE.  Isabella Marie, 5 lbs, 9 oz. and 18¼" long at 4:12pm; Gabriella Marie, 5 lbs. 11oz and 18 3/4" long at 4:13pm.  They were born on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 at Phelps Memorial Health Center, Holdrege, NE.  Their sister Olivia welcomed them home.  Great-grandmother is Mary Sandy of Chariton.