Timeline From The Past: Eradication Of Marijuana, Launch Of Rural Mail Delivery
From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society
Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.
July 17, 1968 — County officials, gravely concerned with the far-reaching impact and dangers of marijuana, moved swiftly today to destroy the heavy concentration of the weed in the northwestern portion of Kosciusko County.
Spraying crews moved into the area this morning to begin spraying roadsides and county highway rights of way. However, Sheriff David Andrews issued an urgent appeal to all landowners in the area to eradicate the dangerous weed from their private property.
July 16, 1962 — Fourteen-year-old Steve Lewis, of Mentone, blurted out “Boy, that won’t be hard!” when asked to come forth with a big smile immediately after winning the annual Soap Box Derby in Warsaw Saturday afternoon. It was the third time a Mentone boy has won in the last four years and nets Steve a $500 savings bond and a chance to compete in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, on Aug. 4. Steve, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Lewis, defeated John Klinefelter Jr., of Etna Green, for the championship.
July 10, 1899 — Rural mail delivery was just a dream until 1899, when the post office decided to experiment, hiring a man to deliver the mail in the rural areas.
Postmaster Bentley received an order July 6, 1899, from the post office department authorizing him to establish a free rural mail delivery route from the Warsaw post office to commence July 10, 1899, with one carrier at a salary of $400 per annum, which included horse hire.
With the establishment of this rural mail route, the post office at Orion was discontinued. Milo H. James was appointed carrier and Roy Sloane substitute carrier, and Postmaster Bentley arranged to have the carrier leave the Warsaw post office no later than 8 a.m.
This rural mail delivery was made without any expense whatever to farmers, the only requirement being that they provide a box that was placed on a post near the road so the mail carrier could deposit mail in the receptacle without getting out of his wagon. Farmers living near the route could go together and place a box at a crossroads on the route.
For the accommodation of the farmers, the carrier was at all times supplied with stamps, postal cards and stamped envelopes.
Delivery was made daily — Sundays and legal holidays excepted.
– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels