August 8, 2007 Th e Akron Hometowner • Page 7

Current Grain Bids as of August 6 Present New Crop Corn - $3.24 $2.47

Soybeans - $3.08 $7.60 Call for up-to-date prices or check our web pages.

Doug SchurrIreton Coop

Visit us at: www.farmerscoopsociety.comPhone: (712) 278-2312 or 800-498-2312

Hillcrest Health Care Services2121 Ave. L

Hawarden, IA 51023Is accepting applications for

Activity DirectorFull-Time Position

• Paid Time Off• Benefi t Package

• Flexible SchedulingIf interested please send resume or application to Melodee.

EOE

Main Street Memories: A book about a family, a town and

a boyhood rememberedBy Dennis Johnson,

Akron native

Book Signing at the Akron Public LibrarySaturday, August 11 from Noon - 1:30 p.m. and

again after the parade.Sale price $17.90 tax includedProfits to benefit the Akron Public Library

Refreshments provided

Parks Carpet CareCall Brian today at 712-551-3888 to schedule your cleaning

Brian has Industry Certification in:Water Damage RestorationCommercial Carpet MaintenanceResidential Carpet CleaningOdor ControlUpholstery & Fabric Cleaning

Relax and Enjoy the Last Lazy Days of

Summer!Let Brian Do the Work!

Akron Public Library Director Jeannie Frerichs received a donation of several book about the lives of the Jesse James Gang, who local histori-ans say passed through this area after robbing a Minnesota Bank.

Is the Jesse James Ganga part of local history?By Julie Ann Madden Legend has it that Jesse James had a cave in the Loess Hills near Westfi eld where he and his gang hid out after robbing banks in the area. A Westfi eld man listened to those stories as a child growing up here and even did some of his own investigating tin those the hills during his teen-age years. “We found caves,” he told The Akron Hometowner, “but I think they were bootleggers’ caves. We found a lot of rings from whiskey barrels but we found no caves big enough for you to put horses in.” However, the Jesse James his-tory buff believes that Jesse and Frank James stayed overnight at the Spink Cafe, a few miles west of Akron.

An old Akron Register-Tribune article tells of the Spink Cafe his-tory, telling how the Spink Cafe was a general merchandise store and post offi ce until 1914. The upper level of the store was used as sleeping quarters for the men employees and women employees lived in the Larson home next to the store. The original store was owned by John Larson and his sons, Andrew and Albert. John Larson was the grandfather of Myrtle Twedt, Albert was her father. Albert Larson sold the store in 1915. After robbing a bank in North-fi eld, Minn., on Sept. 7, 1876, Jesse and Frank James came through Minnesota and into South Dakota and Iowa -- Canton, Hawarden and Spink -- on there way home to Mis-souri, so the story goes. They were the only two gangsters to escape after the robbery. Frank and Jesse James stopped at the Spink Cafe and were fed by the Larsons and allowed to spend the night. One of them wouldn’t take his boot off so they assumed he had been shot. Later, they were captured and spent time in prison. “If you want to know more, you’ve got to read the books,” he told The Akron Hometowner. Cliff Faust passed his interest in the Jesse James Gang to his son, David Faust, and grandson of Brent Faust. In 1995, the three generations of Fausts traveled to the Jesse James farm and museum in Missouri. David Faust, who now lives in North Dakota, decided to donate the family’s collection of books on the Jesse James family to the Akron Public Library. It was 125 years ago that Jesse James was shot and killed by one of his own gang members. It just seemed fi tting to make the donation now when Akron is cel-ebrating its 125th birthday. The fi ve books will remain at the library at this time. The family has requested that they eventually be given to the Akron Area Museum.

100 Hwy 12, Akron, IA 51001712-568-3545

GET LUNCH

Thursday Chicken & Noodles

FridayTavern

MondayChicken Fried Steak

TuesdayBeef Tips

WednesdayScalloped Potatoes & Ham

SpecialsPrice$3.99

• Regular menu items are available on request evenings

and on the weekends• See menu at Akron Pronto

Short on Time?

Ridgewood NewsGreetings from Ridgewood Apart-ments once again. Arnie and Pat Bremer returned home on Tuesday, July 24, after a long and busy weekend at the Doug and Lori Bremer home south of Knoxville, IA. On Saturday they enjoyed a gathering of friends at a private lake near Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Arnie also helped son Douglas with the fi nishing of a large house deck. Chris and Ione Lucht of Tempe, Arizona, recently visited Alma Seely one afternoon, early this past week. On Wednesday Gloria Stotz had two of her stepdaughters stop in for a visit. They were Jeanette Camis from Sedro Woolley, Wash-ington and Barbara Marvin from Midvale, Idaho. Everyone enjoyed visiting about the good ole days and getting caught up with every-one’s life. On Saturday Gloria and Chris went to Lake Andes, South Dakota for the 95th birthday of Gloria’s

sister-in-law, Bertha. While at the party, Gloria got to see a lot of her nieces, nephews and other family members whom she has not seen in a long time. She also got to spend more time with her stepdaughters before they went home. This past weekend a new resident, Leona Gibbs, was busy moving into the Ridgewood Apart-ments. Welcome, Leona! Wanda McCrill attented a sur-prise “cook-out” at the Anderson farm last week-end, in honor of Anita (Anderson) Johnson’s 60th birthday. Helen Snow attended a birth-day party recently in honor of the fi rst birthday of her great grand-daughter, Lea Van Buskirk, held at the home of Sam and Amy Van Buskirk. June Lamoureux drove to Webster City, Iowa on Friday, Au gust 3to visit her sister, Thelma Weada. She and her sister drove to Fremont, Nebraska, on Satur-day and enjoyed a train ride while

enjoying a delicious dinner that evening. They spent the night in Fremont and drove back to Akron on Sunday morning Her sister will spend the week visiting relatives here in Akron. Wanda McCrill went to a Bridal Shower for her niece, Kellie Beaubien, in Sioux City on Sunday afternoon. Kellie is the daughter of Diana Beaubien. Wanda’s daughters, Karen Wil-coxin and Peggy Anderson, also attended the shower. Something new has been added at Ridgewood. Take note of our new lights (three of them) just recently installed outside of the front part of our building. They really light up the place! That’s all for this week – join us again next week for the latest news from Ridgewood!

Magnifi cent Turn of the Century Home including antiques from 1904. Kitchen has been completely updated but maintains the century home decor. Gorgeous hardwood fl oors throughout, antique lighting and two fi replaces. The open stair-way to the second fl oor is breath-taking. Master bedroom with bath, three bedrooms and bath with claw foot tub. Maid’s quarters is now the laundry room with separate stair-way leading to the kitchen. Open

third fl oor with a spectacular view! PLUS a Wine Cellar in the basement. Large corner lot that is beautifully landscaped and three car detached garage with overhead storage. This could be your HOME!!!

If unable to attend the Open House,

please call for private showing.

Orange City, IA 51041

Representing Northwest Realty251 Reed St.

Akron IA 51001Connie Blake, salesperson

Offi ce: 712-568-2472Home: 712-568-3166

www.nwronline.com • e-mail - cblake@fnbakron.com

FEATURED LISTING

201 Main St., Akron

OPEN HOUSE SAT., AUGUST 11 NOON to 1:30 p.m.