Services for the first Tama County World War II veteran whose body was returned from overseas was held for Pvt. Milo C. Upah, son of Mrs. Francess Upah of Chelsea, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chelsea with the Rev. Father W. Panek reading the requiem high mass. Private Upah was killed in Germany on October 10, 1944. He had been buried at Chapelle Cemetery in Eupen, Belgium. He is survived by his mother, a sister, Carolyn, of Marshalltown, and three brothers, Rudy, Tony, and Louis. Burial was in Petrazalek’s Cemetery at Vining, where his father is buried. The remains were accompanied by a uniformed army escort from the Chicago distribution center. Military services were conducted by members of the Benda-Sells American Legion Post of Chelsea, and members of the post comprised the color guard, the firing squad, and pallbearers. Fred VanDeWalle was in charge of the firing squad, and Wiliam F. Kucera of Elberon was a bugler. Father F.J. LaValtete of St. Patrick’s Church at Tama was chaplain for the military rites. Among those attending the service were P. H. Overturf, Toledo, Third District American Legion Commander, and representatives of the posts of Tama, Toledo, Elberon, and Belle Plaine.

The remains of three other Tama County World War II dead have arrived in New York City on the U.S. army transport Robert Burns. They are Private Loren Woehlk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Woehlk, who lives northeast of Garwin, Sgt. Lloyd J. McCoy, son of Lloyd J. McCoy of Tama and Sgt. Warren R. Miller, Grant township soldier, son of Mrs. Saide Miller.

Mac’s café was again opened for business under new ownership. I. W. Thompson, Toledo high school coach, and Roy Kvidera, Toledo, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Kvidera, are the new owners, having purchased the equipment and business from Mrs. Wayne Timm, the former Gladys Dolash. The building, which has been rented from N.R. McAnulty, has been remodeled. The middle partition has been removed, and the counter enlarged and built into a horseshoe. The back bar is of knotty pine. The walls and fixtures have been redecorated, and the owners plan to install a soda fountain at a later date. Doris Flint of Tama is the cook. Sally Culbertson is employed full-time as a waitress; Mrs. E. G. Shuler is also employed in the kitchen; Mrs. Roger Freet, George Dixon, Patty Rebik, and Jean Whitmore are part-time employees in the restaurant. Full meal service and short orders are being offered. Mr. Thompson will continue in his position in the Toledo public schools, and Mr. Kvidera will continue his farming operations. The Café, “Where friends meet,” is advertising thick malts or sundaes for 10 cents as grand opening specials.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Murty, who recently returned from California, where he received his discharge from the U. S. service, have rented rooms at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Thomas. Mr. Murty is employed at the Lorensen & Beale Elevator company.

A Christmas operetta, “She Didn’t Believe,” will be presented by the six lower grades of the Montour school.

Mayor Charles A. Gary and John Vore, Toledo’s chief of police, have had two streets in Toledo blocked off for the benefit of coasters. In the south end of town, Church Street from the Henderson funeral home corner south to the Juvenile home has been barricaded. The street from the James R. Locke corner on East State Street has been barricaded west to the Tama county jail corner. All those who wish to coast are requested by the mayor to use either of these barricaded streets in order to avoid accidents. {Do they still close streets for the children to coast in the winter?}

The Tama News-Herald, in last week’s issue, gloated over the fact that the Christmas tree on that city’s main street and inferred that the committee in our neighboring town took the tree from under the nose of the Toledo committee who, according to the News-Herald were tearing their hair trying to find a tree to erect on the streets of Toledo. The reporter down there evidently likes to get something “on” Toledo and will go far out of his way to spoil what could be a good story. It is true that the tree now on Tama street came from Toledo. It is donated by Ray Croskrey, a very worthy resident of our town. The local Christmas committee had offers of four fine trees but decided not to put one on the street. Of course, we do not want to enter into a controversy with the esteemed Tama paper, but most citizens of our town are proud of the live evergreen tree on the courthouse lawn, which has been decorated for the Christmas season. This tree, in our estimation, typifies the spirit of the season and that of Toledo and the rest of the nation. It is alive. Incidentally, this tree, in which most Tama county citizens take pride, was given to the city and to the county by two public-spirited citizens of Toledo, and we consider it one of the finest of all gifts. The “ribbing” the News-Herald tries to give Toledo means little and, in keeping with the Yuletide season, is being taken graciously by our citizens, who wish the citizens of Tama a very merry Christmas.

According to Paul Yetter, the farm fire truck has been on display in the Toledo fire station for about four weeks. The new truck, a Chevrolet, is equipped with a big high torque motor, the largest engine used in a two-ton truck. It has more speed and power than the older model fire trucks. The cost of the new truck will be approximately $7,500 when fully equipped. An order for hoses, nozzles, hand extinguishers, fittings, and other equipment has been placed, and it is hoped delivery will be made soon. One hundred forty-six farmers and farm owners have subscribed to the purchase of the truck, and it is hoped that about 23 more will join. The truck is to be used primarily for farm fires, and paid-up members within a radius of 10 miles of Toledo or halfway between another town in the county having fire-fighting equipment will be served by Toledo firemen, who will receive no financial returns from this extra service. Should the farm owner or tenant vacate the farm before the 15 years expires, he is entitled to a refund at the rate of $3.00 a year, or his contract may be transferred to the new operator.

The children of Toledo and its vicinity will have the privilege of attending another free matinee at the Wieting theater. There will also be another pie-eating contest, and they will also have the opportunity to show their skill in blowing bubbles. That is not all-the high school chorus will add to the entertainment by singing several selections. Coach Irwin “Rabbit” Thompson will mystify the audience with sleight-of-hand tricks, and all-in-all, the children are scheduled to have a good time on Saturday. Another big event will take place on Wednesday afternoon when Santa Claus will be in Toledo. He will ride through some of the streets of the city on the new red fire truck housed at the fire station. It is said that he has made a special request that he be permitted to do this. There will be another free matinee for the children, and the Iowa State Juvenile home children’s chorus will give a short concert at the theater and from the bandstand on the courthouse lawn. The newly-organized businessmen’s chorus will also sing at the theater and outside. Again, there will be bubble gum and pie-eating contests, with prizes going to the winners. Santa Claus will not make his appearance on the street until after the close of the events at the theater. After making the rounds of the business streets, he will then mount the fire truck and be driven to the bandstand, where he will distribute gifts and treats to the children.

Toledo’s streets have had the Christmas appearance for several weeks, and the evergreen tree on the courthouse lawn has been decorated for the occasion. For the day before Christmas festivities, eight white lights will be put on the tree to represent the men and women of Tama county who lost their lives in World War II. There will be a short memorial service in the afternoon in memory of those who gave their lives for their country.

A special invitation is extended to the public to visit the cottages at the Iowa State Juvenile Home, which have been decorated during the week prior to Christmas, and to attend the Choral program at the chapel. The grades and the junior high school at the chapel will present the school program. The program has been divided into three parts. The primary department, under Miss Charlotte Allen’s direction, will present songs, dialogues, and a marionette show. Mrs. Julia Maxwell, Mrs. Carrie Elwood, and Mrs. Mary B. Cox are in charge of the intermediate department, which will present a Christmas play, songs, and recitations and tell the story of Christmas carols. The junior high school, under the direction of Mrs. R. H. Mericle, will present a Living Scrapbook of Christmas Characters. Christmas Day festivities begin in the cottages on Christmas morning. Each cottage has a Christmas tree and its individual gifts. Christmas dinner will be served at noon. Each cottage is decorated by

those who reside in the cottage, and while the decorations are not elaborate, they are original. Prizes have been offered for the best-decorated cottages. Between 500 and 800 gifts will be distributed at the Home this year. In addition, each one will receive candy bars and Christmas candies. Each cottage will receive pecans, English walnuts, and peanuts for the holiday season.

Memorial services were held at the Miller funeral home in Garwin for Pvt. Loren A. Woehik, whose body had been returned from an American military cemetery in Belgium for reburial. Rev. L. E. Crippen, the chaplain of the soldiers’ home in Marshalltown, was in charge of the services. Rev. Crippen was formerly pastor of the United Brethen church in Garwin in which the Woelik family attends and which Loren had attended before being called into service. Two vocal selections, “In the Garden” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” were sung by Miss Irene Conant and Mrs. Herb Hall, accompanied by Mrs. W. N. Townsend. Albina Uridel, Mrs. Kenneth Bacon, Mrs. Albert Harmsen, and Mrs. Hollis Mason were in charge of the flowers. Burial services in charge of the Garwin American Legion, assisted by the Gladbrook Legion, were at the Crystal cemetery. Edward Dolezal, Paul Plashen, Charles Rohach, Jim Kvidera, Paul Novotny, and Russell Kienzle were casket bearers. Pvt. Woehik was born October 31, 1924, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Woehik, who reside on a farm between Toledo and Garwin. He was killed the morning of November 4, 1944, in the assault on Kommerscheidt, Germany, a shell fragment penetrating his chest. He served with Co. A, 112th infantry, which was a part of the famed 102nd infantry division. This group experienced some of the most rugged fightings and on November 4, the Germans staged an overwhelming counter-offensive, and the ground was not retaken until the following February.

Toledo’s holiday season will be climaxed with the judging of the gaily decorated residents sometime between Christmas and New Year. In cooperation with the Toledo Chamber of Commerce Christmas committee, a number of local residents have added to the spirit of the season by achieving some very unusual and attractive outdoor decorations. In order to be entered in the competition, local residents should be sure the lights are turned on, displaying the splendor of their achievements each night between Christmas and New Year.