Laurel High School produces another crop of graduates in May 1943

The month of May brought a flurry of activities for members of the Senior class of 1943. The first activity was “skip day.” Thirty-five of the 38 seniors were driven to Sioux City where they spent the morning visiting city hall, the fire department, and the bomber plant. After lunch they spent the afternoon rollerskating on the floor of the Rigadon ballroom. In the evening they attended a movie.

The Junior- Senior Banquet was held on Friday, May 15. Marjory Lisle and Marvin Wickett were voted queen and king. Since the theme was South America, they were crowned with sombreros.

Thursday, May 20, was graduation day. Thirty-eight seniors received their diplomas in the city auditorium that evening. Members of the class of 1943 included Norma Anderson, Helen Hansen, Shirley Rimel, Alice Jensen, Phyllis, Sarha, Edith Reimers, Adeline Nelson, Gerald Mallatt, Lois Smith, Jean Christensen, Robert Harrington, Mary Fae Tolles, Beverly Nielsen, Helen Thompson, Betty Sandrock, Betty Steckling, Darlene Wacker, Bonnie Bruggeman, Dorothy Lyons, Marjory Lisle, Phyllis Hinrichs, Pauline Krabbenhoft, Ronald Burns, Vern Storm, Ernest Vanderheiden, John Duffy, Kenneth Kastrup, Eugene Sohler, James Maloney, Bud Johnsen, Duane Brockmoller, Lloyd Wendel, Wayne Johnsen, Marvin Wickett, Floyd Craig, Mabel Most, Madelyn Paulsen, and Donald Brittell.

“We can be proud of this class of young people,” said Editor Allison. “They are the finest in the land and have the foundation to become good citizens.”

Eight Belden seniors received their diplomas on Tuesday, May 18. They were Virginia Arduser, Evelyn Beuck, Geraldine Fox, Dorothy Hokamp, Paul Leuenberger, Lowell Roland, Virginia Root, and Richard Stapleton. Miss Root also was the Advocate’s Belden correspondent.

The names of graduates from Concord and Dixon were not listed. However, it was mentioned that Donald Garvin, Lorraine Mills, and Arlene Nelson were awarded scholarships at the Dixon commencement exercises.

For many of the boys, a stint in the military was in their future. The Memorial Board on the west edge of town already displayed the names of 927 Cedar County servicemen. Reuben Anderson, Earl Rimel, and Clarence Ericson were responsible for adding additional names as needed.

On Sunday, May 23, Memorial Services were held in the Methodist Church for Eldon Larson and Harold Anderson. Larson was killed in action in North Africa and Anderson was killed in one of the early naval battles in the South Pacific.

Also on Sunday, May 23, the Logan Center United Brethren Church celebrated its 50th anniversary. Founded in Laurel on February 6, 1893, the congregation built the town’s first church at the corner of Third and Cedar. A new wooden church was built at Logan Center in 1900. A larger brick church was erected in 1916-17.

Despite bad weather, the church was packed for the celebration. Mrs. Alice Robson, one of the charter members of 1893, was present as well as five members who attended the dedication of the old wooden church in 1900. In addition to Mrs. Robson, these included Mrs. Ethel Ross, Mrs. Roy Ross, T.J. Dempster, and Harry Pritchard. In 1968 the United Brethren joined with the United Methodists. The Logan Center church closed in 2022.

In other news of May 1943: A couple of business changes were reported. Local John Deere dealer W.W. Leinbaugh bought out the interest of his son-in-law, C.J. Wilson. Leinbaugh and Wilson became W.W. Leinbaugh Implement Co. The other deal was the St. Anthony & Dakota Company selling its properties to the Farmers Union Grain Terminal. The St. Anthony Lumber Co. became Great Plains Supply.

Bob Minor did not have a goose that laid golden eggs but he did have a chicken that laid flat ones. The eggs were normal in size except for being flat on two sides. Minor said he sold one of the eggs for five dollars to Sioux City firm that wanted to put it on display. There would be no more $5 eggs. Minor said the hen – the only white leghorn in his otherwise colored flock – became chicken stew. Seems like a blatant case of antiwhite discrimination. And shouldn’t Minor have referred to his “colored” flock as “chickens of color”?

Saturday, May 22 was Poppy Day in Laurel. Under the leadership of Mrs. Clifford Guinn and Famy Ericson, the ladies of the Laurel Legion Auxiliary sold crepe paper replicas of the poppies of Flanders Field to honor and support veterans.

Congress was being pressured by business interests to pass the Wadsworth-Austin Mobilization Bill.

This bill would make men between the ages of 18 and 65 who were not already in the service, and women between 18 and 50, eligible to be drafted for civilian war work.

If drafted they could be sent wherever they were needed. Critics said this would mean a military dictatorship. The bill was defeated largely over the prospect of drafting women.

Another bill that was was signed into law affects people to this day. The “Current Tax Payment Act” provided for withholding 20 percent from each paycheck for taxes instead of waiting to collect the entire amount once a year. The new withholding law was prompted by the large increase in taxes because of the war. The Internal Revenue Service feared that many people would be unable to pay their taxes in a lump sum on March 15.

Winston Churchill warned the Germans that if poison gas was used against the Russians, the British would paralyze German cities with gas bombs. The British believed that the U.S. had the most effective chemical weapons of any country, including gas that could be sprayed over a wide area from low-flying planes. The use of gas by the Germans in World War I was considered a war crime. Apparently poison gas was OK if used by the British and Americans.

Five more Laurel boys were drafted in May. They were Laverl Minor, Floyd Andrews, Bobbie Van Slyke, Clifford Jewell, and Roland Huetig.

“The wartime manpower shortage is getting serious,“ said Editor Allison in his weekly column. “It is hitting the young gals more than the older ones, but even they are yelping. And some of the old battleaxes are going to be mobbed if they persist in robbing the younger gals of their boyfriends. If you think we are kidding just keep your eyes open most any night around some of the darker streets in town.“ Food, gasoline, tires, and other consumer goods were being rationed. Why didn’t someone come up with a plan for rationing men?