Following are summaries of local news stories from the pages of the Intelligencer Journal and New Era. This column appears on page B1 of the printed newspaper each Monday. The items are researched and compiled by staff member Tim Buckwalter. Full versions are available on microfilm at the Lancaster County Library, 125 N. Duke St.

25 years ago

WOMEN INDUCTED: Two Lancaster-area Jaycee organizations inducted their first women members in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a Minnesota case. The U.S. Jaycees dropped their male-only rule, and local Jaycees followed suit. Three women were inducted into the Lancaster Jaycees and a fourth joined the West Lampeter Jaycees. (Sept. 14, 1984)

TRIATHLON: Two unrelated Morrisons were the first man and first woman to cross the finish line of the 35.3-mile Lancaster YMCA triathlon, held at Speedwell Forge Lake north of Lititz. Ian Morrison, 33, of Australia, finished in 2 hours, 39 minutes and 55 seconds. Vickie Morrison, 24, of Camp Hill, finished in 2 hours, 58 minutes and 11 seconds. The contest consisted of a 1.2-mile swim, 24.8-mile bicycle ride and 9.3-mile run. (Sept. 17, 1984)

GOODE VISIT: Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode had 120 Lancaster Democrats shouting out loud as he led cheers for “Fritz and Gerry!” Goode, 46, was the keynote speaker at the local party’s annual wine-and-cheese event. He urged support for local candidates as well as the top of the ticket: presidential candidate Walter “Fritz” Mondale and vice presidential candidate Geraldine “Gerry” Ferraro. (Sept. 17, 1984)

MIKE & JEN: For the seventh straight year, Michael was the most-popular name for baby boys in Pennsylvania, the state Health Department reported. Jennifer topped the list for girls. Other top-10 names for boys were Matthew, Christopher, David, Jason, John, Robert, Joseph, James and Daniel. Behind Jennifer, the most-popular names for girls were Jessica, Ashley (up from 29th), Amanda, Nicole, Melissa, Sarah, Heather, Stephanie and Lauren. Amy, a perennial favorite, dropped from third to 12th. (Sept. 18, 1984)

50 years ago

BLUE LAW: Enforcement of a new Sunday blue law was halted in Lancaster County pending the outcome of legal action started by the Manheim Discount Center Inc. in U.S. District Court. The move was seen as opening the way for resumption of Sunday selling of all types of merchandise, as was the case before the new state law took effect. (Sept. 16, 1959)

SCHOOL PRAYER: A special federal court ruled that the reading of the Bible and the compulsory recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in Pennsylvania’s public schools was illegal. The ruling was handed down by a panel of three judges who said the acts violated the 1st and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. “We’re going to wait for the final word, and will continue with the practice as is,” Lancaster school Superintendent O.H. Aurand said in response to the ruling. “The Pennsylvania school law requires reading 10 verses of Scripture. It has been in existence for a long time, and I suspect that it will take more than a lower court ruling to put it out,” Aurand added. But John Hambright, city PTA Council president, saw it differently. “I’d think that in a country where there are so many different religious concepts, and non-religion on the part of some, selection of the Bible passage would be a rather difficult procedure to follow. A teacher with one viewpoint can be objectionable to a parent with another viewpoint.” (Sept. 17, 1959)

LINKLETTER: In a visit to Lancaster, Art Linkletter (left) told what he’d do to Nikita Khruschev (right) if the Russian leader — who was touring the United States — appeared on his television stunt show, “People are Funny.” “First I’d introduce him to a family of Hungarians who were driven from their country, and just see what kind of a conversation they would have,” Linkletter said. “Then I’d ask Khruschev if it were true that the Russians have a lot of volunteers to ride their first rocket shop to outer space. You know — East German volunteers, Polish volunteers, Hungarian volunteers. Khruschev is a very funny guy and a good showman. I approve of his coming here. But those would still be pretty good stunts, don’t you think?” Linkletter was in Lancaster to tour the Pitney Road plant of Hubley Manufacturing Co., whose toys he advertised on his show. (Sept. 17, 1959)

75 years ago

RESCUER BEATEN: A 59-year-old North Christian Street man was charged with severely beating his stepdaughter after she found him hanging from a rope in his basement and rescued him from the suicide attempt. In an unrelated case, a 35-year-old federal poison expert who formerly lived in Lancaster committed suicide by taking poison in his office in Washington, D.C. (Sept. 15 and 20, 1934)

SEWAGE SUIT: Charging the City of Lancaster with infringing on its patent rights for a new aeration system of sewage disposal, Activated Sludge Inc. of Chicago filed an equity suit in federal court in Philadelphia. Although Lancaster’s two new sewage plants were still under construction and were at least six months away from operation, Activated Sludge was “asking an accounting for damages and profits” resulting from the “use” of the aerating system. The firm had a similar suit pending against the city of Milwaukee, Wis. In Lancaster, the officials had refused the firm’s request for a $25,000 royalty payment, the city’s solicitor said. (Sept. 17, 1934)

TIGER TALE: With a quintet of large cats as the “bridal party,” a Lancaster couple was seeking a minister willing to marry them inside the tiger cage at the upcoming county fair. The names of the couple were being kept secret until plans could be finalized. (Sept. 18, 1934)

100 years ago

NEW SLOGAN: “Present Right, Future Bright” was the winning entry in a Lancaster Board of Trade contest to adopt a new marketing slogan for the Red Rose City. The contest winner, who received $20 in gold, was Milton Goldsmith, of East 22nd St. in New York City. He was one of 353 contest entrants, from the United States and Canada, who submitted a total of 2,046 suggestions. (Sept. 14, 1909)

MASONIC HOME: The Committee of the Grand Lodge of the Masonic Order of Pennsylvania selected an 850-acre site outside Elizabethtown for its new home for aged and indigent members of the fraternity, along with their wives, widows and children. The cost of the property was about $100,000. Another $2 million was expected to be spent for grounds and buildings. (Sept. 17 and 18, 1909)