by Elaine Rassel We have a new business a cafe’ in town. It is located next to Mike’s Barbershop. At the Council meeting the other night, the alley will be a North to South alley as the cafe’ will have a drive-through.
Garbage will be picked up early Monday mornings, so that means the can should be out on Sunday night. We can no longer put our cans out in the alley if you have a gravel alley. They are to go CURBSIDE. Recycling cans are also CURBSIDE.
Saturday at 9 a.m. (3 o’clock, England’s time) was Prince Philip’s funeral at St. George’s Chapel. He wanted no sermon, no eulogies or readings, in keeping with royal tradition.. Former Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, who knew Philip well, said the 50-minute service reflected the preferences of the prince, who was a man of faith but liked things to be clear and brief. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, said in his call to prayer that “Our lives have been enriched through the challenges that Prince Philip has set us; the encouragement that he has given us; his kindness, humor and humanity.” There were only 30 family members in the Chapel for the funeral_dressed in black and wearing masks. Queen Elizabeth was dressed all in black except for the diamond brooch that flashed on her left shoulder a piece she had often worn on engagements with her husband. Brothers, William and Harry had a cousin in between them as they walked following the casket of their grandfather. Ever since Harry’s wife (Meghan) and he left the Royalty and had a tell-all to Oprah, the brothers have not been friendly to each other. It sure is nice that Meghan put a wedge between them. There are those that want the other person all to themselves and split many families up because of this. William and Harry were seen walking together at times and talking to each other. Hopefully Meghan (back in California) didn’t see this.
Saturday evening we celebrated Bensen and Gracelyn’s birthdays as Jesse was home. Amber’s relatives came from Rockwell City and Fort Dodge. Other guests were family members. We enjoyed pizza and birthday cake.
I see where Iowa’s “can” law is up again for discussion. If we have to pay 5 cents and don’t have any place to turn it back in, it would seem that the garbage cans will be the recipients of these cans. I never put a dirty can or bottle to be redeemed. I do know that there are people that pick up cans along the road and turn them in looking like that. I can see where the grocery store wouldn’t want any part of these. Somehow there has to be a happy medium to getting rid of cans we have already paid 5 cents extra for.
Monday nights Council meeting had people commending on clean alleys this spring. I found some of this “clean up time” back in 1899 in Marcus as follows:
April 20, 1899—”City News Items”.
Workmen did a commendable act in cleaning up the alleys and Main Street the past week.
It seems that everybody in Marcus is “cleaning up” and making repairs on their residence property just now.
Street Commissioner Jungers did some good work on Main Street this week. Much more could be done with profit.
Notice—All persons are forbidden to leave dead chickens or other dead animals on the public highways of Amherst township. By order of the board of trustees. —I will be prepared to do bicycle repairing every Saturday in Marcus. Satisfaction guaranteed. Viking Sjostrom
The tramps that have “favored” Marcus with a call so far this spring are truly “manly” representatives of their class. They are insolent, dirty and ragged.
April 6, 1899—With the advent of spring comes the festive tramp. The genus hobo has not changed from former years. He sings the same old tale of woe and works the back doors with the same persistency as of old, says an exchange. He asks for food with the gentlemanly demeanor of a Chesterfield and swears like a pirate when he is refused. He should be given a frigid reception with orders to move on. Everyone knows that there is no excuse for tramps, and that a man who is begging for something to eat is doing so from choice and not from necessity. Times are prosperous and there is work for everybody that is looking for it. Those that prefer tramping to working should be allowed to go hungry. Don’t feed the tramp. Send them to the marshal, and if they are deserving and looking for work, and really wish to do a little work, he could let them clean a crossing or two for a square meal.
It strikes The News that it would be the proper thing for each property holder in Marcus to see that the grass and weeds adjoining their property should be cut now so that the town may present as nice an appearance as possible on July 4th. Now is the time to do the work before the noxious weeks have an opportunity to seed.
There was an old maid’s convention at Sloan one day last week. We suggest a bachelor’s convention for Marcus. There are a number here who are on the shade side of forty who would be glad for an excuse to be married.
April 6, 1899-A Michigan boy, the son of a Baptist clergyman, has inherited all the traditional baptism by immersion principles and by close attention given to the ceremony as performed by his fond parent, is able to repeat it word for word. A few days ago, he filled a tub with water in the back kitchen an catching the family cat and her two kittens, proceeded to teach them one of the essential rites of the Baptist church. The kittens underwent the ordeal without protest, but the cat showed her displeasure by scratching the boy’s face. Throwing the offending animal down, he said in disgust, “Damn it, then be a Methodist if you want to.”
Keep in your thoughts and prayers those who have lost loved ones to death, those with health problems and their caretakers, those who are having financial problems due to job loss, families that no longer are friendly with each other, and those who are lonely. Take time to call and make their day a little better. Count your blessings.
I will leave you with the following: “People don’t always need advice. Sometimes all they really need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand them.”