[private] 10 years ago: 2014
Three local communities honored individuals for their community service last Thursday evening during the Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner at Masonic Pathways’ Doig Chapel. Ther recipients were George Baily, Ithaca Citizen of the Year; John Manzullo, Alma Order of the Tartan Award; and Chuck Oatten, Spirit of St. Louis Award.\
Michelle Zombeck is the new coordinator of the Court Appointed Special Advocates in Gratiot County. The agency is now operated as part of Child Advocacy. It recently relocated from Ithaca to the Wilcox Non-Profit Center in Alma.
Alma senior Hannah Chase won the 20-under Junior Gold competition, qualifying her for the Junior Gold National competition in Buffalo, New York this July.
20 years ago: 2004
Along with a group of optometrists, Ithaca Dentist Dr. Dale Nester will travel to Honduras in March to provide free eye and dental care to the country’s underprivileged population.
Ithaca sixth grader, Grant Reeves, and eighth grader, Trenton Barnes, champions of the school level competition of the Reader’s Digest National Word Power Challenge, will advance to the state level championship on Feb. 27.
Jim and Gert Kennedy recently presented the Breckenridge Area Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen Award to Jacque Buchanan during Monday night’s award ceremony. The Kennedys were the first recipients of the award last year.
30 years ago: 1994
Joseph Stafford, a Middleton-Fulton senior is one of 23 high school students from the 4th Congressional District to be nominated for one of the three United States military service academies. Joseph Stafford is seeking an appointment to the Air Force Academy.
Dr. David J. Biddinger, son of John and Sharon Biddinger of rural Ithaca, received his doctorate in Entomology, August 1993 at Penn State University.
A four-year dream of a major expansion and renovation project becomes a reality at Carson City Hospital. Officials are hosting an open house and dedication ceremony. The $5.8 million project will be showcased with tours.
40 years ago: 1984
Raymond Slavik of Elba Township was honored as he retired from the Gratiot County Soil Conservation District Board. An 18 year member of the board, Slavik was presented with a plaque by Soil Conservation worker Howard Poindexter.
Robert L. Brown referred to the support of his immediate family, church and his community “families” when he was presented with the Ithaca Person of the Year Award.
Harold K. Poff, D.O. and Roger D. Morris, D.O. will open a new family medicine clinic in Elsie on February 13.
50 years ago: 1974
Charles Fiske, lay citizen member fro Alma, was elected Chairman of the Gratiot Isabella Intermediate District Vocational Education Advisory Committee at the organizational meeting.
New directors appointed to the Ithaca Chamber of Commerce board are Duane Pitcher and Art Droste. They will serve a 1-year term, filling vacancies created in the resignation of Logan Cox and the death of Mack MacKellar.
Named to the Michigan All-State team as selected by Michigan Association of Baseball Coaches Association are Kevin Smith and Rick Murgittroyd of the Ithaca baseball team. [private]