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Roy L. Downing in Washington, D.C.
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Appanoose County veteran boards most recent Honor Flight
Roy L. Downing, born and raised in Davis County near Lake Wapello, now living in Appanoose County with his wife, was one of several hundred to go on the November Honor Flight.
Downing served in the U.S. Army as a medic from 1942 through early 1946. When he returned from the service he began work for the then Conservation Commission.
He may be remembered as the person that drove the truck with a trailer behind it containing all sorts of wildlife including snakes, skunks, deer and fish for the Travelling Wildlife Exhibit that toured the entire state visiting schools and other organizations.
If you are not quite that old you may remember him when he was the Game Warden-Conservation Officer or Fish and Game Officer in the early 1950s. There are numerous people still residing in Appanoose County that knew him in this capacity, either as child, friend or as someone that had an official encounter with him.
The trip to Washington D.C. was a tremendous privilege. The organizations that sponsored the trips, Hy-Vee and Casey’s, did an unbelievable job of coordinating the trips and taking excellent care of every veteran and family member that accompanied them. If someone was not able to walk up the long flight of steps to board the 747 airplane that carried the veterans they had staff or volunteers that would pick them (and their wheelchair, if necessary) up and carry them up to the plane.
The World War II monument was the first stop. It is spectacular and appropriately honors all persons that were involved in that war. The second stop was the Iwo Jima Marine monument. The pictures that you may have seen of this monument does not do it justice. It is wonderful. Then the tour went to Arlington Cemetery. The buses, 11 of them, drove through a portion of the cemetery and the number of graves that you see is astounding. The tour then went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and everyone was able to watch the changing of the Guard. The Vietnam and Korean War memorials were the next two stops. Then the buses did a driving tour of the D.C. area. Emotions ran high at all of the stops and the privilege of seeing these veterans visiting their monument and the others was overwhelming.
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'Ides of March Madness' first performance at Ritz Theatre in many years
The 50 or so who attended the "Ides of March Madness" Saturday night enjoyed local entertainment, food, drink and comments from John J. Stephens, executive director for the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Ill. and Cyndi Pederson, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
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Benefit concert March 27 for New Hope Ministry
Shane and Natalie Brown will present a free concert as a benefit for New Hope Ministry and Counseling Center Saturday, March 27 at Simon Estes Auditorium in Centerville. The doors open at 6 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7 p.m.
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Cincinnati still working on waste water fix
The regular Cincinnati City Council meeting opened with a full council present last Tuesday evening, March 9.
- Alleys off limits for garbage pickup
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Supporter turns challenger in race to be Iowa’s governor
A Des Moines man who appeals to both the left and right has decided to challenge Iowa Gov. Chet Culver in the upcoming Democratic primary.
- Alliant Energy plans to implement temporary 10 percent rate increase
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Council to discuss ‘nuisance property’ at tonight’s meeting
"Property owners must be held accountable for the appearance of their property. Is there not an ordinance for automobiles setting idle for a period of time? The council has allowed automobile junk yards to appear one block off the square! Do we not want people to visit our town! Are we not trying to attract new businesses into the community anymore?"
Concerned citizen in which name should not matter reads the signature affixed to the five item letter addressed to the mayor and city council
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- Drake Public Library book fair
- Iowa schools get more than $5 million in grants
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