Even William Shakespeare would have been proud of the rendition of “Romeo and Juliet” performed at the Mediapolis Community High School spring play on May 1-2. The students gave a powerful performance of the tragic love story. Tim Kaufman as Romeo and Bethany Levins as Juliet were authentic in their roles as young lovers from feuding families. Equally strong performances were produced by the supporting cast.

The Bulldogs continued an impressive 1998 season by winning the Spartan relays at Solon on April 28. Mepo used powerful display in the field events, including a record-setting performance in the high jump, to build an early lead. Strong performances in the running events guaranteed the win. Clint Larson broke the school record and won the high jump competition at Solon with a leap of 6’5. 5”.

The Bullettes pulled a mild upset by winning the New London /relays which were held at Mt. Pleasant on April 28. Mepo rolled up 131 points to edge favored W-MU with 125. They won three individual events and four relays, but it was depth, which won the meet, according to coach Ralph Kaufman. The girls earned a second place finish at the Columbus Relays behind champion Iowa City Regina. This was their third meet of the week and they had some sub-par times.

The girls golf team earned a tie for the SEISC dual meet title when the defeated central Lee 329-238 at Indian Hills Country Club on April 30.The win propelled the Bullettes into a tie with Wapello with 5-1 marks.

The Bulldogs golf team fell to Central Lee 165-177 despite their best round of the season, and was defeated by Wapello 177-193 on April 27. They are now 2-5 for the season.

Leading characters in “Life With Mother” are Barb Miller, Todd Oetken and Jennifer Lowthorp. The all-school play, a comedy, will be given at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Mediapolis High school music room. “Mother” is double cast with Miller in the lead role one night and Lowthorp the other.

Two accident victims face an array of charges in Des Moines and Louisa Counties, beginning Saturday with a 5:20 a.m. crash on US 61 two miles north of Mediapolis, sheriff’s department reported. Charles E. Travis, 21, a former Peoria, IL resident, was arrested after he was found unconscious or asleep in a gulley in Columbus City. This was some time after he reportedly fled the scene of the Des Moines County accident. He and his passenger fled the scene and sheriff’s officers in Mediapolis arrested the passenger. He was charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, public intoxication and interference with official acts. Travis was jailed at Wapello and charged with operating while intoxicated, reckless driving, second degree theft and interference with official acts. He may also face multiple traffic charges in Des Moines County and is wanted in Henry County for striking a truck in Winfield.

Mediapolis High School band marched and competed in the Drake Relays Parade in Des Moines last Saturday. In class 3A Pella was first, Mediapolis second and Central lee was third. On May 12 the band travels to Pella to march in the Pella Tulip Festival and on May 19 will be a Pop Concert, their final concert of the year.

The Bullettes track team placed second at Burlington and third at Columbus last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Victor Davis will observe their 65th wedding anniversary Saturday, May 10 at their home in Kossuth. No special celebration of the day is planned.

Lyle and Clifford Lee sighted a deer Thursday morning west of their house. It was a small deer and didn’t seem frightened- just trotting along in a southerly direction, jumping the fences it came to. This is a rare sight up here on the flat.

Wayne Linder maintained a gpa of 3.6 and Janet Boysen had a gpa of 3.5 at Sperry High School, and were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. They will graduate on May 14.

John Swygard, long time member of the Mediapolis Volunteer Fire Department, has resigned as an active member and was placed on the department’s honorary list. He was presented with some fishing equipment as a remembrance of his many years of service.

Service News: Pvt. Thomas B, Roberts, 20, of Yarmouth, departed Fort Benning, GA early this month for Europe under Operation Gyroscope, the Army’s unit rotation plan.

Last Thursday was the 23rd anniversary of the birthday of Leslie Ibbotson and in the evening some 25 of his friends called at his house and gave him a surprise visit. Light refreshments were served and an enjoyable evening was spent.

Oakville News- The shadow of death has fallen over the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nott and taken from them their little daughter, Minnie Nadine. The little one was only ill a week, with the measles, death being caused by cold settling on the lungs. She was 4 years, 3 months and 13 days old.

A terrible accident occurred at the home of John W. Thie, a half-mile west of town last Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Thie was in the yard assisting in making soap. Mrs. Sam Mehaffy and Mrs. Callaway drove up in a buggy and spoke to her and she turned to talk to then. A high wind was blowing and her skirts blew into the fire and in a moment she was enveloped in flames. The ladies smothered the flames but not before Mrs. Thie was horribly burned from the waist down. She rallied from the first shock and her symptoms seemed to be better Monday and yesterday, but with so much of the surface of the skin burnt over, there is but a slight chance of her recovery. She has three children, one a babe 3 weeks old.

The Winfield High School baseball team crossed bats with our boys here Saturday. The game was a good one and our boys came out victorious by a score of 18-4.