40 years ago

august 26, 1981

A Boulder, Colorado, couple accused of first degree murder in the 1977 deaths of Dennis and Evelyn Armstrong of rural Tampa were bound over for arraignment Saturday in Marion County District Court.

Terry Allen, 37, and his wife, Carol, 34, will enter pleas Wednesday on two counts of murder. If they plead not guilty, a trial will be held before the end of November.

Donald J. Westerhaus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin G. Westerhaus of Marion, recently joined Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa, as advertising manager. He is responsible for the company’s corporate advertising and sales promotion activities outside the United States and Canada.

Sam Moore and Mike Barnett are pictured as they relax in front of Marion High School enjoying the last few moments of freedom and appearing to be bored at the prospects of what the next nine months might bring. The two sixth graders and their classmates were waiting in front of the high school for their bus ride to Florence.

This week’s Produce Derby report shows a 70-pound watermelon grown by Loren Weddle at his home at 304 N. 4th in Marion; an 11½-pound cantaloupe picked by 10-year-old Jason Hauser from the garden of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hauser; and a 35-pound pumpkin that Kris Widler, three, helped his grandpa, Ron Widler, grown — in plenty of time for Halloween.

Florence Historical Society is organizing a flea market and hog roast for the city’s annual Labor Day celebration, according to Bessie Suffield, society president. The hog roast will begin at 11 a.m. at the Florentine Building.