Bill Lathrop Journals - Opdyke 1979-1989

Opdyke 1979-1980

Monday, Sept. 3, 1979 – No school today, Labor Day.  I made a $2000 payment on my tractor Sat.  Bought a $108 pair of glasses and a $725 wood stove.

Thursday, Sept. 6, 1979 – My lump in my jaw hurt worse last night then it every hurt in my life.  I was and am convinced that it is going to kill me.

9-16-1979 I prayed to God this morning to heal me, heal my jaws.  I pray that He will.  Please Oh Lord, and I will always be faithful and praise you.  I will work and not complain.  I will do all I can for you Lord.  I will give $1000 to the church in your name and healing.  Thank you, Lord.  Amen & Amen.  My left jaw swelled up almost like a goose egg and hurt and made me sick.  Trixie took me to the doctor at noon.  He gave me a shot and some medicine and an appointment Wednesday.

Monday, Sept. 24, 1979 – Frank and Ethel Talbert were killed by a train in Wayne City Friday around 11:45 AM.  Their funeral is today.  Trixie is to sing.

Wednesday, Nov. 21, 1979 – Stephen’s birthday – 20 years old.  It is raining today.  I had planned to try and pick my corn tomorrow.

Thurs. & Friday, Nov. 22 & 23, 1979 – No school Thanksgiving Day & vacation.  It rained and was muddy all weekend – rained a flood Sunday.  Be muddy for a long time now.  Trixie throws it up to me about making her got to mom’s for Thanksgiving dinner.  She does not want to be around for Christmas.

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 1979 – Today is my 43^rd birthday.  When I really think about it I feel sad and depressed – where has my life gone?

Friday, Dec. 7, 1979 – Pearl Harbor Day.  Monday, Dec. 10, 1979 We closed the revival at our church last night.  Praise God for the revival.  Several people went to the altar – Teresa Staggs, Ruth Moore, Judy Bean [Beehn], Chuckie Downey, a Willet boy, Robin’s friend.  I feel closer to God than I have for a long time.  I want to serve him better and live for Him.  I want to have daily prayer and devotion for my family.  I want to love my neighbors.  I want to love all people.  Praise God.  Thank Jesus.  So help me God in my struggles for thee.  I let the world and its cares get me down and get me away from God.

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 1979 – I picked a load of corn when I got home from school last night.  The ground was frozen solid and I got along pretty well with the old picker.  The best corn is left to be picked and it is down the worst.  I got more fertilizer on that side of the field.  I should have picked it first.

Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1980 – Trixie called today said Don Austin died.  We were just talking about him last night at Bernard’s.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 1980 – Went to Bluford after school for a church meeting.  Saw a man plowing his field.

Thursday, Jan. 10, 1980 – Big Red’s mother had a calf yesterday.  I did not get to see if it was a heifer or a bull.  I had a meeting at Bluford Church right after school, got home around 6:30 – it was dark.  Had to go look for the old cow.  She had just had the calf and I did not want to bother.  (Heifer)

Friday, Jan. 11, 1980 – I saw 4 deer this morning on Brehm’s by oil well tanks.  A trailer south of the school burned up around 3 PM today.

Thursday, Feb. 28, 1980 – Feb. has 5 Fridays.  This happens only 3 times in a century.

Friday, Feb. 29, 1980 – Feb. has 5 Fridays.  This happens only 3 times a century.  Has happened 6 times since 1776.  Leap year!  Watch out unmarried men.

Tuesday, April 8, 1980 – Trixie called after I got to school this morning, said Mike Sanders called – did not say what he wanted.  We got quite a storm last night wind and rain. The power was off for about an hour.  St. Louis got a tornado.

Friday, April 11, 1980 – Trixie and Barbara took mom to the hospital in St. Louis today.  They are going to stay overnight and come back tomorrow afternoon.

Friday, April 18, 1980 – I am taking this afternoon as personal day.  Going to St. Louis to see mom. 

Monday, April 21, 1980 – Went to see mom over weekend.  Left school after lunch – stayed all night came back Sat. afternoon.  They said she has Lymphoma.  They started treating her with chemotherapy.  It is warm and beautiful today. 

Monday, April 28, 1980 – We went to see mom yesterday.  She is feeling and looking a lot better.  Talking about coming home next week.  Cyrus Vance resigned over the hostage rescue.

Monday, May 12, 1980 – It is raining today – started about 10:30.  This is good – needed a rain.  Shucked over a hundred bushels of corn over the Saturday week-end.  Trixie and I were tired and sore.  Trixie was planning on shucking some today but probably didn’t because of the rain.

Opdyke 1980-1981

Monday, 10-6-1980 – It frosted Saturday night and last night.  The radio said it was 30° last night.  I saw a few geese in a bean field this morning on the way to school.  When I got home from school this evening the red Santa Gertrudis heifer had a ^(heifer) calf.

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1980 – I had my car stolen today at school.  Leona said that she noticed it was gone before noon.  I notified the Jefferson Co. Police.  The police called me at home around 8 PM saying they had found my car in Louisville, Ky.  It had been wrecked and 5 juveniles were taken into custody.  Clark and Troy Gowler and 3 others.  I tried to find out how seriously wrecked it was by calling the police dept. in Louisville not much luck.  I called Jeff. Co. Police Dept. they said they thought they could find out about my car.  They called me back later and said that my car was drivable. 

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1980 – Fredia Watson called from the Insurance Company today about my car.  She taped my answers to questions she asked.  She questioned about locking the car and leaving the keys in the car.  She wanted to know why I left the keys in the car.  I told her I did not think anyone would steal my car during the day time right by the school.  She thought that was pretty unusual.  I called the State’s Attorney.  Talked with his secretary, said she would call me back after she talked with him.  She said that he said that authorities were filing charges in Ky. and that he would keep in touch with me on any developments. 

Thursday, 10-9-1980 – I went in to see Freda Watson.  She said that I did not need to come in after all.  She knew nothing about my car.  Later in the day she called Trixie saying that our car was totaled and that the Ins. Co. would pay $4175 for it.

Friday, 10-10-1980 – The Gowler boys were released into the custody of their great aunt yesterday.  I went over about 3 PM to talk with the boys.  Clark said he took my car – drove to Mt. Vernon – then to Fairfield – then to Louisville, Ky. That he was driving when he hit another car and that my car was totaled.  I called the States Attorney’s office again today to see what was happening.  He had left town.  I then called the police again to see what I should do because it seems that nothing is being done.   He said that they had turned all papers over to the States Attorney and that he was suppose to see about it.

Monday, Oct. 13, 1980 – No school Columbus Day.  I picked corn Sat. & today.  Corn is really poor.  I got dirt, etc. in my right eye and I guess I scratched it because it got really sore and still is.  I heard that Troy Gowler’s dad took him home with him and that they got into it and Troy ran off.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 1980 – I called the States Attorney’s office again today.  He was not in I left a message for him to call me.  Trixie got mad and she called him and he told her that he could do nothing because he had no proff [proof] that the boys stole my car.  He said that I would have to go to the police office and file charges.  The police tell me that I have to let the States Attorney take care of it.  What do I do.  I call the States Attorney at Fairfield.  He was not in, but his secretary told me that the States Attorney would have to do something.  I called the Jeff. Co. Police Dept. again.  I told him nothing seemed to being done about my car.  He asked me, “What do you want done?”  What a stupid person I am, I just assumed law officials would know what to do and do it if someone stole a car and wrecked it.  He said that he would have someone call me back but that they had turned all the papers over to the States Attorney and that he was suppose to do something. 

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1980 – I was out this morning and my eye is bothering me quite badly.  It is suppose to rain today.  Ronnie [Shelton] was to combine my beans yesterday but he didn’t show up. 

Monday, Nov. 10, 1980 – No school Teacher-Parent Conference – Fever, sore throat, etc.  I started getting sick Thursday had a ballgame Thurs. night sick Fri: Sicker  Friday night, all day Sat., Saturday night.

Thursday, 11-20-1980 – My old car died as I drove into the garage last night then this morning it would not run.  I am afraid that it has run it last. 

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1980 – It got down to about 21° last night.

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1980 – My 44^th birthday.  Time has passed me by.  I raised the hood of my truck last night to check the battery because it has been not starting right the last few times and to my surprise there was very little battery.  The top was completely gone, and about all that was left were the post and the grill work.  I don’t understand how the truck ran and stared at all.  Drove over to Fairfield to get a new battery.  By the time I got to Sears they were just locking the door – so I bought a battery for $42+ from Kincaid’s and the salesman put it in for me and they closed before he was completed. 

Monday, Dec. 8, 1980 – It is warm and has been over the week-end.  We bought a new white, four door, LTD Ford car Saturday at Harrisburg $8250 tax and all.  Doesn’t that just blow your mind.  My other car was stolen Oct. 7 – practically 2 months ago.

                   $8250

Minus tax     392.87

                $7857.13

Monday, Jan. 5, 1981 – Today is Suellyn’s 17^th birthday. First day of school after Christmas vacation.  It is cold (4°) this morning – suppose to snow this afternoon and night.  Stephen came home for Christmas Wed. – Sun.  I had the flu – high fever – sick.  Trixie got made at me because of Jim and the estate.

Tuesday, March 17, 1981 – I almost got killed this morning coming to school as I was coming over the 64 overpass.  I was looking at a big tractor parked on the Charlie Jenkins’ place instead of watching the road and almost hit head on or side swiped a pick-up truck on the overpass – and I was driving about 50-60 miles per hour.  The first I noticed I was just about bumper to bumper skimmed right by him side mirror almost hitting.  Thank God it wasn’t any closer. 

Thursday, March 26, 1981 – Bea Bolton is buying mom’s house in town $40,000 a bargain.

Friday, April 10, 1981 – Today is Trixie’s 41^st birthday.  It seems not so long ago she was just a young girl.  God what happens to the time?  The Space Shuttle was to be launched this morning.  There were some problems developing this early this morning.  They are on hold now.  Launch is still possible.  I left my glasses home today.  I will have problems all day. 

Mon.-Friday , April 13-17, 1981 – No school, Easter Break – I got all my ground plowed except Johnson place.  I disked it twice.  Maybe I won’t plow it.  There is a lot of corn planted already – Almo Farms planted some in March and it is up.

Monday, April 20, 1981 – Vacation is over!!  We received a good rain Sunday – 2.65 in.  Trixie was still in bed this morning when I left for school.  I am nervous about starting back to school after break.

Tuesday, April 21, 1981 – It is turning colder – seems to me.  It was 40° this morning. 

Monday, May 4, 1981 – Today is Mom’s birthday the first after her death.  She would be 69.  My black Santa Gertrudis had a bull calf Sat. She keep kicking it and would not let it suck.  I got her and the calf in the barn Sunday morning.  I have been able to let make her let the calf suck some.  It did better this morning.  I planted my little patch of corn (7 acres) Sat.  This is the earliest I have ever planted.  Some however has planted in March this year. 

Tuesday, May 12, 1981 – George [Vanatta] drove my truck to Belle Rive yesterday to deliver the tables & chairs.  When he got back he took the truck key and laid it on my office desk and said nothing about it.  I saw it there but did not realize that it was mine.  I started home I discovered that the key was missing for the truck and it was gone from desk and I could not find it anywhere.  I called Trixie to come and get me.  Dexter found my key in this book today.  Thank God.

Wednesday, May 13, 1981 – The Pope was shot today – did not die.  My corn is coming up.

Monday, May 25, 1981 – No school Memorial Day.  Sunday Evening:  I had planned to plant my beans this weekend but it has rained and been wet.  Yesterday we were out all day looking and bought Stephen a 1977 Caprice Classic Chevrolet.  It is loaded has everything imaginable on it.  Has almost $42,000 but a very nice looking car.  Paid $3800 I think. 

Opdyke 1981-1982

Monday, Aug. 31, 1981 – Jim Lathrop – is to move from the home place today.  He is complaining because he did not get a 30 day notice.  Then he said he wanted a 12 day extension.  It is quite upsetting, to say the least, to talk with him.  I called Trixie today to see how she got along with getting the corn ground.  

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1981 – Rain some last night.  Red Santa Getrudis cow had a calf when I got home from school last night.  I really was not expecting one at this time.  

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1981 – I am running lat this morning got to school about 7:45.  It rained yesterday.  I got a letter from Jim wanting to pick up some of his things.

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1981 – Had quite a time last night.  Jim came down and hauled off his stuff that Trixie, Barbara & Bea had worked days hauling out of the attic and cleaning up.  The auctioneer was there also – trying to write up what we had to sell – lot of Jim claimed – Farming tools are to be hauled out of the weeds.  Who do you think gets to do that?

Friday, Sept. 25, 1981 – 3 deer this morning north of Belle Rive. 

Monday, Sept. 28, 1981 – Joe Granville predicts that this will be the worst day in Stock Exchange history.

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1981 – Last day of Sept. – we are having beautiful weather although rain is predicted for tonight & tomorrow.  Trixie took some new corn to have ground today. 

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1981 – Trixie is taking black white faced heifer to be butchered today.  Selling her to Howard Lathrop.

Thursday, Oct. 8, 1981 – I picked 6 rows of corn last night.  Pretty good load.  Barbara & Bob were out to the farm last night.  Bob is a complainer.  The heifer Trixie took yesterday weighed 920 lbs.  I called Howard Lathrop last night and he said the price was 61¢ a lb.  That is better than I could get around here as the price [h]as really been going down, down, down. 

Friday, Oct. 9, 1981 – It is cloudy & looking like rain, predicting 30% chance of rain for tonight and tomorrow.  Estate sale scheduled for tomorrow.  Stephen is to come home tonight.  Bob called last night he might come down over the weekend. 

Monday, Oct. 12, 1981 – No school Columbus Day – Thanks Columbus!  Had the sale Saturday – worked Friday night getting things ready.  Went down 6 AM Sat. morning getting things ready.  Worked my rear-end off- all day – things sold pretty cheap.  Auctioneer forgot things in the house, practically gave them away.  Stephen was home.  I tried to pick corn Monday.  Got some done but had trouble with the old picker all day.

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1981 - [clipping]

Public Auction

October 10 at 10:00 AM

Located South of Wayne City, 3 mile to curve then west

1 1/2 mile - Watch for signs.

Signature gas range; true cold deep freeze, upright, 15 cu. ft.; 2 metal kitchen cabinets; wood kitchen cabinet, antique; Kenmore washer; kitchen table; recliner; 2 rocking chairs; couch & chair; 3 end tables & coffee table; Whirlpool air conditioner; 8 table lambs, one hanging lamp, 2 pole; piano bench; bedroom suite, walnut & odd dresser; hall tree; night table; magazine rack; desk; library table; 2 heaters; Electrolux sweeper; Sears sweeper; Wearever cooking numerous dishes; numerous quilts, blankets, rugs; picture frames.

Antiques

Wooden baby high chair; wash board, glass; flat iron & stand; gas iron; granite wear; oak chair; pitcher pump; kerosene lanterns; Marvel water cream separator; two wheel wagon; Massey disk, 10', 3 pt.; Burch cultivator, 4 row, 3 pt.; Burch wheel disk 10'; hay fork; cattle oiler; Horn grass seeder; A.C. auger combine, pull type; wagon; cattle water tank; numerous hand tools; 40' TV tower; porch swing; metal law chairs.

Estate of Grace Lathrop
Bill Lathrop, Administrator
Roger Hertenstein, Auctioneer
Not responsible for accidents or theft
Terms of sale - CASH
Checks with proper ID
Lunch will be served

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1981 – Trixie & Suellyn, Donna [Miller] & Barbara [Wood] are going to Barry Manilow concert at Carbondale SIU.

Monday, Oct. 19, 1981 – I have a cold, do not feel well.  I got soaking wet twice Saturday.  My tractor got wet and quit running just as I was unhooking the picker to come home from the field.  I had to walk home in the rain.  Had a Rotary exchange student meeting at the Holiday Inn yesterday & last night.  It was cold and windy lasted long & didn’t help me any.  It was 34° this morning no heat in the school – pretty cold.   We were interviewed on Channel 16 TV will be on the air Wed. night 10 PM, Friday evening 5:30.  We can’t get Channel 16.

Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1981 – I had started feeling a little better last night.  Ivan & Barbara came and stayed until nearly 10:30.  Needless to say that I tired out and got to feeling worse before they left and I got to bed.  I do not have my beans combined as of yet – beginning to worry – rain is predicted for tonight & tomorrow.  I pray that I will get them out before it gets to[o] bad to get into the field.  I haven’t sold my steers yet either – and they just keep going down every day – it is unbelievable.  How low can they go?

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1981 – It is raining this morning and is suppose to turn cold – no beans combined today.  Cows going down more each day.  It has rained all day.  Will I ever get my beans harvested.  Cyril Fry died.

Friday, Oct. 23, 1981 – Cold this morning - 33° - suppose to have a hard freeze tonight.  Ronnie called Trixie yesterday said he is ready to combine our beans.  Maybe it will dry up by tomorrow.  I hope.  Glen McCormick called last night about buying the [Albert Lathrop] farm.  He said that he would make an offer in a few days.

Monday, Oct. 26, 1981 – It is raining this morning and has rained all night.  Ronnie did not come Saturday to combine my beans.  I tried to pick corn Sat.  It was really cold.  Fairfield gave a low of 19°.  I picked 7 rows of corn I think.   The elevator messed up for good – bearing I think.  I lack eleven rows.  Trixie took a pig to be butchered and a pig to sell at Barnard’s.

Thurs. & Fri. Oct. 29 & 30, 1981 – No school Mt. Vernon Conference.  Ronnie called last night.  He is going to combine some of my beans today.  He said he would combine Johnson’s and Olson’s then do some of his then come back to mine.  [Johnson 20 acres east of Starvation Corner, Olson 40 northwest of the home place]. 

Fri. Oct. 30 – Ronnie got my beans combined on the “Johnson 20.”  Glad to get them out – although they were a little wet.  First load 15.3%.  I haven’t sold all of the beans yet but I think they are going to make something less than 25 bu. per acre and the price is only $6.03 before the dock – and I don’t know yet what the dock will be.  He cut a pick-up and his wagon load on Olson place before he quit.  He said the piece on his combine was tearing up again.  I guess that I will go to institute for awhile this morning.  I came home at noon yesterday.  It was a beautiful day and is suppose to be more so today.

Monday, Nov. 2, 1981 – Back to the Salt Mines.  I got all my beans combined and 10 acres of wheat sowed with a truck.  It rained some yesterday Ronnie did Johnson & Olson.  I got Otis Meyers to combine Smith place Saturday.  My beans averaged about 25 bu. Per acre.  The price is way down.

Monday, Nov. 9, 1981 – It is raining this morning.  We got the rest of our corn out Sat.  Picked seven rows by hand.  Picked up 4 rows behind the picker because the elevator quit working.  I was sore Sunday and worn out.  It was a beautiful day Sat.  Some of my wheat is starting to come up.  I met Robert Seidel walking in the rain this morning and I did not stop to see if I could help him.  He was close to Wilton’s.  When I got over to his bean field on the county line road – his car was in the ditch.  I feel terrible because I did not turn around and take him somewhere.  I think that I have to be at work on time which is craziness. 

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1981 – It got cold last night 27° this morning.  I drove be the wheat field this morning on the way to school.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that lot of the wheat is coming up. 

Friday, Nov. 13, 1981 – When I woke up this morning something was wrong in my head – things and the room was really spinning around from ceiling to floor.  I don’t feel real well yet.

Monday, Nov. 16, 1981 – Trixie is to take corn to get ground today.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1981 – I called Randy Trotter about buying the west 40 [acres] plus the house and 8 or 10 acres.  He said that he would buy it for $60,000.  I asked him $67,500.  He said that he could give a little more than $60,000.  Trixie insists that I will take her to Florida over Christmas. 

Monday, Nov. 30, 1981 – Cora Miller fell yesterday and broke her hip.  She is in the Mt. Vernon hospital.  I did not get very much accomplished over the days off.

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1981 – I bought 2 little pigs from Glen Lowery last night – went by after school hauled them in a tow sack.  Bob Lathrop called last night, said that Debbie had a baby girl [Tahlea Matthias] – pre-mature – had quite a time.  Cora Miller is to have her leg operated on today.

Friday, Dec. 4, 1981 – Forty-fifth birthday – I now belong to the over the hill gang.

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1981 – I loaded my bull and best steer this morning for Trixie to sell.  She had trouble getting up Scrub Hill.  She got mad.  Said that she would never take anymore cows to market.  

Monday, Jan. 11, 1982 – Down To -15°.  It is colder than a frog.  It was 15° below Sat. night.  10° below last night.  Our water was all frozen up all over the house this morning.  It is about 2° about 7:30.  It was announced yesterday was the coldest day of the 20^th century.

Clipping - 20 Years Ago Today

The coldest day ever recorded in Mt. Vernon was Feb. 10, 1899, when the temperature dropped to 22 below zero.  In February 1905 the temperature dropped to 20 degrees below zero and also in January 1930 making last night's 9 below zero reading seem mild.  In contrast the hottest day recorded in Mt. Vernon occurred on July 14, 1936, when the temperature soared to a scorching 114 degrees above zero.

Friday, Jan. 22, 1982 – It is raining and has about all night.  It is cloudy, gloomy, etc., etc., etc. forecast says change to freezing rain.  I am leaving at noon to go to Tressie’s funeral.  It poured rain during the funeral and I and others got soaking we as we carried the casket to the grave.

Monday, Jan. 25, 1982 – Cora Miller died Friday night.  After burying Tressie Friday afternoon, got home, got to bed around eleven o’clock got the phone call that Cora died at home.  Funeral is today.  I need to leave school as soon as I can get away around eleven.  It appears to be another busy, busy week.  Eric Newman ran off the road, jumped the creek north of town and was killed Sat. morning 2 AM.  Did not find him until 7 AM.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1982 – Cora’s will is to be read today.  Trixie took a load of corn to be ground today.

Monday, Feb. 1, 1982 – No school today, ice & snow.  Peppermint Patty had a heifer calf today – out in the cold – but I think it is doing alright.  Yesterday it rained, froze & snowed some.  Church was cancelled.  Our electric went off at 9:05 AM.  Did not come back on until about 7 PM.  10 hours.  We got along fairly well. Trixie cooked on the wood stove.  I had run some drinking water before power went off.  Bernard & Zella came down – after Bernard went home he called me.  He was worried about his cow having a calf.  We went down, played pinoclle [pinochle].  Cow had calf okay.  Salem, Centralia – received more than 20 inches of snow.  Motorist stranded, etc.  I tried to call Jim, couldn’t get through.  Did today.  He said he was snowed in – snow was as high as a barrel.

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1982 – Snow & sleet are predicted for today.  Centralia High School is closed today so my class will probably be cancelled – class was cancelled.  We dismissed school at 12:30 today.  I didn’t leave until after 3 PM.  I had a little trouble getting home – snow had drifted into the road in places and was getting kind of bad.

I cut this from the Feb. 3, 1997 paper -->

15 Years Ago Today

Several school districts in Jefferson County which started classes on time this morning dismissed as early as 10:30 a.m. today as wide-ranging snowstorm dumped several inches of snow on Mt. Vernon and surrounding areas. 

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1982.  No school today snow packed roads.  We got about 6 inches of snow last night.  Big Red’s mother had a red bull calf last night.

Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1982 – Going home from Board meeting last night I got stuck in the road north of Leon Rich’s.  I kept rocking the car back & forth and finally got out had to back all the way out with my head out the car window.  Nearly froze to death.   It was 16° below this morning.  I guess I will have class tonight at Centralia.

Monday, Feb. 15, 1982 – It was 38° this morning and is suppose to get into the upper 40’s today and rain.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1982 – Very foggy today.  Trixie took 2 steers to market this morning.  I went by after school to pick up my steer check.  They were not as big as I thought they would be.  One weighed 1070 @ $60.75 à $650.03 – the other one weighed only 965 @ $57.25 à $552.46.  I really thought or was hoping that they would weigh about 100 lbs. more each. 

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1982.  Barbara called this morning.  Bea [(Bolton) Lingafelter] is in the hospital to have her third baby.  [Crystal Lingafelter]

Monday, March 15, 1982 – It was the most beautiful day Saturday, but rained yesterday & last night.  A little cool today.

Tuesday, March 16, 1982 – Trixie’s Grandmother [Edna (Gurley) (Erkman) Davis] died yesterday evening.  She is going over today – and I will go to the funeral tomorrow.  It is warm this morning.

Wednesday, March 17, 1982 – I did not come to school today.  Went to Evansville Trixie’s Grandmother’s funeral.

Mon. – Friday, April 5-9, 1982 – No school this week Easter Break.  Tuesday – the worst weather in history for this time of year.  Chicago, New York, and many other places got over a foot of snow.  Thursday – It snowed 3 inches here last night.  It was bad driving home from Centralia last night.  Sat. – Steven came home Friday night.  We went to Evansville today.  He got a TV set (Grandma’s) Trixie got some rings.  Fri. Trixie got a letter from a lawyer Joe Harrison, telling her how much Cora’s bonds are worth.  Somewhere around $30,000.  A little problem over paying income tax on the interest.  Sun. Went to Sunrise service – men served breakfast – Steven went back home this afternoon.

Wednesday, April 14, 1982 – It is a beautiful day.

Thursday, April 15, 1982 – I am tired, frustrated & nervous.  I have had two days and two nights straight.  Board meeting Tuesday got to bed 11 o’clock.  Class last night got to bed 10:30 or later got up before 5 o’clock.  At breakfast Trixie starting telling me that I needed to help her clean up the back of the barn.  It was more than I could take.  I have so much to do and I can’t see any end to it or even getting close to catching up.

Thursday, April 22, 1982 – It got down to 32° last night. 

Friday, April 23, 1982 – Trixie got her Bonds yesterday.  $13,000 but they have drawn lots of interest somewhere around $18,000 worth.  We are suppose to go to see Bill Hoffee tomorrow trying to decide about the tax that is to be paid on them.  It is a beautiful, sunny day.  Randy Trotter.

Tuesday, May 4, 1982 – It is raining this morning.  I don’t think it will rain very much.  I heard on the news this morning that Glen McCormick and his wife [Alice] were in an auto accident (head on). They were both taken to the hospital with head injuries, but I think they were released last night.  Today is mom’s 70^th birthday. 

Monday, May 24, 1982 – We planted about 22 acres of beans Sat. the rest of Olson’s 10 acres and about 12 acres on Dad’s.  I hope it comes up.  My first beans came up pretty well.  My corn not so well and cutworms are eating it and I think corn bore[rs] too.  Back to school Monday morning.  I feel terrible about coming back.  I don’t want to.  This is the worst I have felt in a long time.  I think partly is because I just offered Barbara $27,000 for part of Dad’s farm.  It makes me sick to think of that much money for ditchy, brushy ground.  I guess for any ground that much makes me sick.

Opdyke 1982-1983

Friday, August 27, 1982 – We got an inch of rain last night.

Monday, August 30, 1982 – Monday – and I am not feeling well.  It is humid and is suppose to rain today.  Sister Dorothy called Sunday concerned about a deed to an acre of ground on Dad’s place.

Tuesday, August 31, 1982 – Last day of August – hot & humid today.

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1982 – I had a meeting at church last night.  Trixie & Barbara went to Mt. Vernon to see Edward [Butler].  Barbara stopped in after they got back and stayed until after 10 p.m.  I am all tired out today and I have a class tonight.

Monday, Sept.  6, 1982 – Labor Day, No School.  Enjoyed being off school.  Stephen & Suellyn came home Friday night or about 12:30 Sat. morning.  We got the corn picker from Andy Hays Saturday.  Then yesterday we got the combine I didn’t think that I would get it home.  It would run only 5 mph and it was heating up.  I poked in the radiator with my knife and cut a hole in it.   It took about 6 hrs. to drive it home.  I was worn out.  Bea called said that Debbie Lathrop’s baby [Tahlea Matthias] died after going through surgery.

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1982 – It rained over 2 inches yesterday and last night.  Yesterday Trixie was bringing the truck over so she could have the car to go to Mary Hays’.  The brakes went out on the truck.  I was driving it home it made grinding noises, etc. in the right wheel.  I drove slowly – worried if I was going to make it.  I left it with Chuck Downey. 

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1982 – I got home from Board meeting last night around 11:30.  I think I got a $1400 raise.  Bonnie is to come out today.  I have class tonight won’t get to see her much.

Friday, Sept. 24, 1982 – It rained last night.  I tried to combine some beans yesterday evening, but the combine was cracking them and spitting them out the back.  I went up and talked with Clarence [Bennett].  He told me that the cylinder was running too fast.  Trixie called me today and said that Andrew Hays died.  He had wanted to give Trixie the farm but never got around to fixing it up.

Monday, Sept. 27, 1982 – Trixie and I went to Mary Hays’ Sat. morning.  I got parts to the combine and the book on the combine.  Went to Andy’s funeral yesterday.

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1982 – Freda and Lyman Porter are at our house yesterday & today.  That is the reason I was not up when Mr. [Charles] Thierry called because I stayed up last night.  Freda gave Trixie $3000 and each of children $1000. 

Monday, Oct. 4, 1982 – It is raining this morning. I combined some beans Friday after school and Saturday.  Lacked about 2 acres getting done on Olson place.  Having trouble with the old combine.  It wants to heat up, battery runs down and is hard to start and just as I was quitting Sat. night the elevator chain was banging.

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1982 – Trixie took 2 calves to market this morning.  It is very foggy this morning.

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1982 – I combine beans finished up on Olson’s.  They averaged 30 bu. per acre, price is low down to $4.83.  Bob & Debbie [Lathrop] came and stayed all night last night.  It is suppose to rain tonight.

Thursday, Oct. 7, 1982 – I combined 3 hoppers about full last night on Dad’s place.  It sprinkled rain – is damp this morning, but sun is suppose to shine this afternoon.  Maybe I can combine when I get home today.

Friday, Oct. 8, 1982 – Combined some last night.  It is misting rain right now and is suppose to rain tomorrow and I was planning on getting my beans tomorrow.  Stephen’s suppose to come down tonight.

Monday, Oct. 11, 1982 – No school – Columbus Day – Thanks Columbus – Stephen & Suellyn came home over the weekend.  It rained over 2 inches Friday night and ½ inch Sat. night.  So I didn’t get my beans combined or wheat sowed.  It is still cloudy.  I went down and paid Mary Hays for the combine and picker Sat.  I got a distributor cap for combine and learned that I had been putting the battery in backwards.  I think I have messed up the voltage regulator now.  Stephen and I picked a wagon load of corn yesterday.  Borrowed Bernard’s  elevator.

Friday, Oct. 22, 1982 – It froze again last night 30° - I finished combining the Johnson place last night, averaged about 17 bu. per acre.

Monday, Oct. 25, 1982 – It was a cool beautiful weekend and is to be good weather next few days – suppose to get in the 60’s today.  I almost got through combining beans.  Lack about 3 acres on Smith place.  They are making about 20 bu. per acre.  Trixie is going to call today and see if she can get the wheat spread and I will try to disk it in tonight.

Thursday & Friday, Oct. 28 & 29, 1982 – No school these 2 days – Teachers’ Institute Mt. Vernon Conference.

Monday, Nov. 1, 1982 – New week, new month started off with a bang.  I had quite a weekend.  I bought and moved a wire corn bin.  Picked 2 loads of corn.

Monday, Nov. 8, 1982 – I got all my corn picked Sat.  It has turned warm again maybe the wheat will come up. 

Clipping - Thursday, December 30, 1982 - Dead Man Listed as Voting Nov. 2

Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1982 – I think it is Bob’s or Betty’s birthday today.  Grady Kurt (?) was killed in a plane wreck last night.  It got down to 21° last night.

Thursday & Friday – Nov. 25 & 26 – No School Thanksgiving Vacation.  Stephen & Suellyn came home over the days off.

Friday, Dec. 3, 1982 – It came a flood last night.  Ina is not having school today because their school is flooded. New Baden, Illinois was destroyed by a tornado last night.  Pictures today.  Coal truck came in today and it is pouring down rain.  He got stuck.  Called Doug Leech  he came and pushed him back to the building.  His auger would not carry the coal.  It is a mess.  He worked all day.  I left about 4 p.m.  He had very little unloaded.  I could not get home north of Belle Rive water over the road – had to go through Dahlgren.  I came to school Sat. at 9:30 non one was here unloading coal.  I bought seven pigs from Maurice Page $300.  Suppose to get them Monday after school.

Monday, Dec. 6, 1982 – All of the coal is not unloaded yet.  Warren said he was here Sunday trying to unload some.  It is turning cooler than what it was, around 40°.  Saturday was my 46^th birthday I think.  The preacher’s three kids were with us from Friday night until Sunday morning.  [Bob & Sandy Shook’s children, Matthew, Eric and Stephanie, related to Trixie Lathrop.]

Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1982 – It is a beautiful day today – the sun is brightly shining.

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 1983 – Today is Suellyn’s 19^th birthday.  She is leaving today to go skiing for a few days before going back to school.

Monday, Jan. 10, 1983 – Today is Barbara’s 45^th birthday.  I am sick – woke up Sunday morning with a sore throat – went to church, taught Sunday School class.  Barbara & Bob were out for birthday dinner – by the time they left I was feeling bad and just kept getting worse.  Had a terrible night – called Denise Strathman (?) to take my place but she was taking her son to the doctor.  So I decided to come to school and try to make it through.

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1983 – Board meeting tonight. Joy! Joy!  Wednesday, Jan. 12  appointment to take the MAT Test at 3 p.m. at Woody Hall Room B 204.  Have to pay $20 at Bursar’s Office in the basement of Woody Hall. 1:30 pm It is really snowing now.  Not sticking or accumulating much yet.

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 1983 – Notebook paper for class.  It is suppose to snow today.  Trixie took Bernard to the hospital today.  I have class tonight.  I am worn out – sick or something.  I woke up about 3:30 this morning thought that I was having trouble with my heart – still bothering me.

Thursday, Jan. 27, 1983 – I had a terrible night last night.  Couldn’t sleep.  I think my heart is causing me problems.  Right now I am sick at my stomach.  “Bear” Bryant died yesterday of a heart attack.  I left school after lunch and went to the doctor.  He said that my heart was okay, that I had some hormone problems.  He gave me a shot and some medicine, two X-rays and EKG $67. 

Tuesday, March 1, 1983 – It is sunshining and beautiful today.  I drove the old Buick today.  The gauge was on below empty I worried all the way to school that I would run out of gas.  I am down today just got paid yesterday, looked in the check book last night.  Trixie had spent nearly $300 from Penney’s Charge & Master Charge account.  I can never save or get ahead or ever keep up.  I have to buy nitrogen and clover seed for  my wheat, gasoline and fuel. 

Thursday, March 3, 1983 – It is a beautiful day today.  Suppose to get up around 80° today.  It was in the 70°s yesterday.  California is having tornados, floods, etc.

Friday, March 4, 1983 – It is warm today.  Dropped to only 57° last night.  It is suppose to rain today.  Trixie is going to get Suellyn today. On the way to school the power steering went out of the old green Buick – very hard to steer.

Monday, March 7, 1983 – It rained over the weekend and was cooler.  Very little accomplished.  Had Loker-Edmison spread nitrogen on my wheat.  Suellyn is home this week.  Trixie locked me out of the house Friday evening. 

Tuesday, March 8, 1983 – It is cloudy & damp today 40° suppose to get down to 30° or below tonight.

Monday, March 14, 1983 – I am sick, have a cold, feel terrible.  I started getting sick at the ballgame Friday night.  Following the game they had a party for Danny Cross and the girls.   I had to close after the kids until almost 11 o’clock.  I think I just wore out as I had something every night last week.  I lay around all day Sat. but had to go with Trixie to take Suellyn back to school.

Friday, March 25, 1983 – It is a sunshining beautiful day today.  It is suppose to rain tomorrow.  Last day of school before vacation.  Get off next week.

Monday – Friday, March 28 – April 1, 1983 – No school, Easter Break.

Monday, April 4, 1983 – Vacation is over – rained about all of vacation.  Barbara Bolton wrecked  her car Friday, April 1, broke her ankle in several places.  I took the MAT Thursday at SIU made a 56 – lots better than I suspected but I don’t really know how that compares.  Friday morning had two little calves.  It rained on them.  I got one in the barn Friday afternoon thought that it would be alright but it is about to die.  I don’t think it ever sucked.  Trixie is going to try to get something to feed it today.

Tuesday, April 5, 1983 – It is rainy & cloudy today. Trixie got some milk mix for the little calf.  Tried to feed it some last night and this morning.  It fights and cuts a buck.

Wednesday, April 6, 1983 – Folding stairway.  Rained pretty hard last night – water everywhere.  Little calf still alive – ate a little better this morning.  Trixie called me today, said that Blackie had a pretty Hereford calf.

Thursday, April 7, 1983 – The first goal of education is instruction not discipline.  Discipline should be taught at home by parents.

Tuesday, April 12, 1983 – How can I tell you all about giving and the reason for giving and things that will help you to grow?  We have kept you well-groomed with a nice tidy room and we have mentioned the Golden Rule.  You are a treasure that we could never measure these are the things we must tell children.  I am sure we have told you to mind your manners and get to a place on time.  We have told you to hang up your clothes and mommy and I are proud of your grades.  Did we make it clear?  Were you able to hear as you slipped through our home and our lives?  But remember that God has a plan for your life.  Just one more thing, whatever you do remember we love you.

Wednesday, April 13, 1983 – It rained.

Thursday, April 14, 1983 – It rained hard and lots last night.   

Friday, April 15, 1983 – My little calf was dead when I got home today.  I hauled it off Saturday.  I have been milking the cow each morning.  She and I are kinda nervous but get the job done. 

Monday, April 18, 1983 – We have class tonight – making up a missed class.  It snowed yesterday, started just after noon and snowed until dark. Snowed hard, big flakes, poured down.  Did not accumulate much as it was a little above freezing but the ground did turn white.

Tuesday, April 19, 1983 – Had class last night, dismissed at 6:30, because another class had to use the room.  Gave us a test that we had to complete by tomorrow night.  When do I have time to do it?  Went to visit Bernard after I got home.  He is looking older and thinner.  He is hurting and feeling quite badly.  It set a record for low last night 21°.

Wednesday, May 4, 1983 – Today is mom’s birthday.  It is sunny today, suppose to be beautiful & near 70°.  Class tonight.  I missed last week because of the flu.  Trixie went to the doctor yesterday.  She is to have a mammogram tomorrow.  Go get Suellyn Friday.

Thursday, May 5, 1983 – A beautiful day.  Suppose to get into the 70s.  Trixie is going to the doctor today then going on to Suellyn’s.  Staying the night with her and bringing her home tomorrow.

Friday, May 6, 1983 – Trixie called from Suellyn’s last night thought her mammogram turned out okay, gland problem.  Suellyn is coming home today.

Monday, May 9, 1983 – Sun is shining but is cool.  Stephen came home over the weekend, surprised everyone.  I am nervous today, worse than a pregnant guinea. 

Monday, May 16, 1983 – It poured rain Saturday.  I slept and laid around all day Sat. & Sun.   I should be rested up but I don’t feel all that great.  Trixie is to have lumps removed from her breast tomorrow.  Sun is suppose to shine today & tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 17, 1983 – It is suppose to be a beautiful day today in the 80’s.  Trixie is to have lumps removed from her breast today, this morning.  If it shows up to be cancer they will perform a mastectomy.

Wednesday, May 18, 1983 – Trixie got along alright, although she did not get into the operation room until after 11 am.  It was not malignant.  Thank God!  She is sore but seems to be getting along fairly well. It looks rainy, is suppose to rain.  I feel run down and run out.

Thursday, May 19, 1983 – Cloudy this morning.  Dismiss at 2:30 today.

Opdyke 1983-1984

Monday, Aug. 29, 1983 – Bernard went back to the hospital.  Nobel & Louise [Martin] came and got him yesterday.

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 1983 – First black astronaut blasted off this morning, also first night launching, 1:15 am.  Trixie called said thought that Bernard had had a stroke.

Thursday, Sept. 1, 1983 – Trixie called today, said Bernard had a tumor on his brain.

Friday, Sept. 2, 1983 – The U.S. is saying that Russia shot down the Korean plane with 269 people aboard.  [Mr. Thierry called last night said that Mrs. Johnson would not be here today.  That her car was hit by a run away caboose.  Henry Jackson died of a heart attack.]  There was a U.S. Representative, Larry McDonald from Georgia on the plane. 

Friday!  Stephen & Suellyn are coming home for the Labor Day weekend.  Bob, Debbie & her new husband.  Earl Neff is getting married tonight.  Trixie is playing.  Bean Days tomorrow.  Lathrop Reunion Sunday.

Monday, Sept. 5, 1983 – No School, Labor Day.  Bean Days Sat.  Stephen & Suellyn came home Friday night.  Went back Monday evening.  Stephen called said his car got hot.  The cap on reserve tank was gone.  Bob Lathrop was planning to come down but did not show up  Suellyn called said they called her.  Said Bob didn’t have enough money to come on and Debbie went to a wedding.  Russia did shoot down a Korean plane with 61 Americans on it.

Tuesday, Sept. 6, 1983 – Trixie took 2 calves to market today, about like giving them away.

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 1983 – Board meeting tonight – Joy, Joy!!!  Trixie came over yesterday evening.  We went to Carbondale met with Dr. Dennis.  He knew very little, said that he would check things out and get back with me.  Ate supper at Ky. Fried Chicken.  Went shopping, bought about $100 worth of clothes, great, huh?

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1983 – It is nice & cool today, low of 49°. 

Friday, Sept. 23, 1983 – Lots of frost this morning.  Zella called around 6:30 this morning, asked if Trixie could take Bernard back to St. Louis to the hospital today.   Said that he had a bad night.  Was up every hour, swelling, etc. 

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 1983 – It is suppose to get hot today in the 80’s.  Trixie is taking Bernard back to the hospital today.  This is his regular time for treatment.

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 1983 – Saturday I picked a load of corn and combined my beans on Smith place.  They made about 7 bu. to the acre.

Monday – I worked on my combine and old wheat drill.  Drilled some wheat on Dad’s place.  Had trouble with drill, didn’t get it adjusted right, shoes would stop up, one disk would not turn and would drag up stuff.  I didn’t get started as soon as I wanted because they didn’t spread the fertilizer until around 3:30.  Stephen stayed and disked it.  I lack the north end.  It is suppose to rain this afternoon and I have Board meeting tonight.  I think that I will try to drill some this evening. 

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1983 – I finished drilling my wheat last night before board meeting.  It started raining as I went to board meeting.  Rained 1 1/2”.

Thursday & Friday, Oct. 27 & 28, 1983 – No school, Teachers’ Institute Mt. Vernon conference.  I combined on Olson Wednesday after school.  I went home early from conference combined and finished Olson on Thursday.  Went to Johnson on Friday finished combining on Saturday.  Combine would get hot when I would go with the wind.  Beans made about 11 bushels to the acre.  Trixie & I came to school Sunday but could not get upstairs as the stair door was locked & Mr. Lee has my key.

Monday, Oct. 31, 1983 – Last day of October.

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1983 – It is rainy, suppose to turn cold and bad today.  I am tired, sleepy, etc.  Had a ballgame last night, beat Summersville.  I had gotten a little pig from Ronnie [Shelton] Sat.  I was rushing around to see about getting the corn head home and I did not fix the gates in the barn as well as I should have and the pig got out and ran off.  Later in the evening she came running up through the yard.  We got her in and I fixed the gates.  She stayed all day Sunday & was still in Monday morning but I thought that she needed a companion.  So I asked Trixie to call Ronnie and see about getting one to go with her.  She did but it got away several times.  Ran off with the one I had now both are gone.

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1983 – Trixie found the little pigs and had them in the barn when I got home yesterday evening.  Thank God!  They had been down around Bernard’s.

Wednesday, Nov. 23, 1983 – Oblong boy marrying Normal girl.  Rain, Rain, Rain, lots of Rain.  Last day of school before Thanksgiving vacation, dismiss today at 2:30.

Thursday & Friday, Nov. 24 & 25, 1983 – No school Thanksgiving vacation.  Stephen & Suellyn came home Wednesday night went back Sunday afternoon.  Suellyn is undecided on her major.  I pray things will work out for her.  We took Bernard to the Mt. Vernon hospital Sat. night.  Got home around 1 pm Sun. morning.  Went to church Sun. no electricity.  [Brett] Brashear boy had hit a power pole at Clark’s curve.  Trixie is taking Zella to Mt. Vernon today (Mon.) planning on taking Bernard to St. Louis.

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1983 – It is snowing, snow on the ground.  Trixie went to get Suellyn, bad day for it.  Karen Newman went with her.  Board meeting last night.  Pictures today.  Ballgame last night.  Trixie called today, said the car would not run properly.  She limped into a gas station, she did not know what was wrong. She called back later, said that they put some gas treatment in the gas and it ran alright.  I just got home from school.  Trixie called said she was in Mt. Vernon, the cruise control stuck.  I drove Bernard’s car.  It was unstuck when I got there.  I drove it home.  Thank God, they made it back okay.  This has been quite a day, pictures, Christmas program, Trixie. 

Thursday, Dec. 15, 1983 – Payday, dismiss at 2:30, ballgame tonight at Bluford.  It is cold, snowing and roads little slick.

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 1983 – It is not as cold today, around 6° above now.  I do not know what the low was, as this has been a little hectic this morning.  I did not sleep very well last night, went to bed late.  Just got to sleep, Suellyn was watching a football game, Dallas & 49’ers, she started yelling.  Trixie yelled at her woke me up, scared half to death.  Woke up around 4 o’clock, stomach turning, etc., etc.  Bernard came home last evening.

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1983 – The roads & sidewalks are slick, icy, snowing slightly, suppose to accumulate 6 inches. I am tired and worn out today.  Two nights of ballgames, more than I can take.

Thursday, Dec. 22, 1983 – No school today, snow day.  Put basketball in treat.  Insulate heat pipes.  It started raining and freezing yesterday.  I got several calls about turning out early.  We were to have our Christmas party today, exchange gifts, etc.  We will do it Jan. 2.

Friday, Dec. 23, 1983 – No school, Christmas vacation.  

Poem pasted in book - Sunrise

The sun was pink on the snow-clad worldThe breath of the house from the chimney curledAs I made my way to the barn that dayTo water the cows and feed them hay.Had I not gone, I would never know
Pink sunrise on the silvery snow.-          Betty Antrim Toops

Monday – Friday, Dec. 26 – 30, 1983 – No school Christmas vacation.  It has been the coldest in history this early, 13° below zero.   Trixie & I went to Evansville Monday to celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary.  I was worried about our old car.  It doesn’t run right, shimmied, maybe the tires, cold and icy.  By the time I got to the hotel I had the worst headache I have ever had.  We came back the next day because when we got up it was snowing and the weather forecast was for cold, snow, freezing rain, etc., was afraid we would get snowed in, or old car would stall somewhere.

Monday, January 2, 1984 – No school today.

Thursday, Jan. 5, 1984 – Today is Suellyn’s 20^th birthday.  Isn’t that depressing?  Where has all the time gone?

Friday, Jan. 6, 1984 – It is beautiful this morning, clear, sunshiny, not very cold, upper 30’s.

Monday, Jan. 9, 1984 – Took Suellyn back to school yesterday, all day drive up and back.  Car did pretty well until we got into Normal, then it started dying at every stop light.  Suellyn has a new roommate, a black girl from Chicago.  The weather was beautiful over the weekend but is suppose to turn bad tonight, rain, snow and drop to 10°.  Owe $1500 plus interest to Millers on mortgage.  Can’t seem to come up with the money.  The story of my life.

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1984 – It rained and snowed some last night not very much, roads are slightly slick.  Today is Barbara’s 46^th birthday. 

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 1984 – It is 11° this morning. 

Thursday, Feb. 23, 1984 – Trixie called today said Bea [Lingafelter] was having her baby today [Mikel Lingafelter].  When I came home from school today the ambulance was leaving Bernard’s.  I went on down to Bernard’s.  Howard, Ruby, Marilyn and Trixie was there.  Trixie told me that Zella had called her and said that Bernard was dying, did not think that he would live to get to the hospital.  Zella wanted her to come over to the hospital.  She got a call to bring Bernard’s billfold. She drove down to Bernard’s and back off the culvert at his driveway.  I had to go down and jacked the front end of the car up.  George [Lathrop] and Harry Piper pushed it over sideways back on the drive.  We went to the hospital and Bernard was doing lots better.

Friday, Feb. 24, 1984 – Zella called Trixie to come and get Bernard from the hospital today.  Zella had stayed all night with him.

Monday, Feb. 27, 1984 – No school, snow day.  When I got up this morning it was not very bad, snowing some.  I got up at 5:30, started writing Scholastic Bowl questions.  I had said a little prayer about not having school today so I could get questions done, didn’t expect his.   Mr. Thierry called said no school.  I thought it was a little foolish, but as it turned out we couldn’t have had school.  It really snowed and blowed.  Wayne City buses had gone out before they decided not to have school, buses got stuck.  We got 8 or 9 inches of snow.  I took the cows 2 big bales of hay.  Sat.  I unloaded the cow feed from truck.  Hauled Bernard a load of rock and us a load, jumped the John Deere with truck, put emergency brake on.  It stuck.  I drove tractor to Olson to get a bale of hay with parking brake on all the way.  Sick. 

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1984 – No school, snow day.  New Hampshire primary today.  Got more snow last night, wind, drifting snow.  Fairfield said we received eleven inches of snow.  Gary Hart upset Walter Mondale in the New Hampshire primary today.  He got 40% of the vote, Mondale got 29%. 

Wednesday, Feb. 29, 1984 – No school, snow day.  No school again today, our road has never been cleared.  They bladed our road today.  We went to town, bought some groceries. (Points for tractor.)  After lunch we tried to go to school.  Allen Gaskill’s road had not been touched.  Went through by Melvin Chambliss’s old place.  Road bad, got to county line road it was terrible, could not drive through there.  Thought I would go on to Dahlgren.  Got to the next road and I could see a big truck cross-ways in the road stuck.  I thought I would drive down and help him get out, but I got stuck.  I walked down to the truck.  It was Sam Gowler, could not get him out.   Some other dudes came by, pulled him out with a pickup truck.  He had on chains.  Then they pushed me out.  I drove down to J.D. Wilkerson’s turned around, came back  home.  The mail had come.  We got our income tax refund.  Drove to town, deposited it in the bank.  Mr. Thierry called me later in the night, said that we would have no school Thursday or Friday. 

Thursday, March 1, 1984 – No school today.  I tried to jump the John Deerre this morning could not get it started so I decided to take little tractor over to Olson place to get a big bale of hay.  Before I got out of the barn lot it just died like the ignition was shut off.  I don’t know what happened.  I put the old condenser back on got it running.  Olson place ground was soft under snow, had some difficulty getting bale of hay.  We went to Fairfield bought a set of Michelin tires #320.10.  Ate dinner with Barbara at Druthers.  State Visitors were suppose to be at our school today.

Friday, March 2, 1984 – No school today, snowy roads.  I took the car to town had oil changed & greased.

Thursday, March 8, 1984 – No school.  Heard on the radio this morning that a big 36 inch Rend Lake water main broke last night.  Lots of schools are closing today.  The cooks and Trixie told me that the water Supt. called and said that he was shutting us down.  Mr. Thierry called me about 8:30 and said we would dismiss at 9 am and try to call it a day of school.  We are going to have the basketball tournament tonight.

Friday, March 9, 1984 – No school, water problems.  Did not have school today, but did have the girls’ basketball tournament.  Stephen was home when we got home from the ballgame.  Bernard Lathrop died today.  Zella called Trixie this morning said that he was in a coma.  She went down brought home his bed clothes to launder.  Later Zella called again and said that he was dying.  Trixie wanted to go right down.  I just took my time messing around told her it might be some time before he died, but he had just died by the time we got down there.  The nurse was getting in her car to leave.  Howard & Ruby, Ann Tannahill, George  & Rosemary [Lathrop] were there.  We stayed until after the ambulance came to get the body.  The funeral will not be until Monday because there is another funeral Sunday.

Monday, March 12, 1984 – It is snowing and bad today.  I came to school, taught my classes left at 11 am.  Bob Shook conducted the services for Bernard.  Suellyn came down with Gene Austin.  They went right back after the funeral because of the bad road conditions.  She called when she got home said roads were very bad had to drive about 35 mph.  Stephen didn’t go home.  Going to wait until tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 13, 1984 – Stephen went home today got back all right. 

Thursday, March 15, 1984 – It came a storm while we were in the church during the spelling bee.  I could feel the air pressure change.  I was scared that we might have a tornado as the conditions seemed right for one.  When we got to Keenes the railroad gates were down and flashing, no train.  We noticed the power was off at Wayne City & all around.  When we got to Glen McCormick’s the night lights began to come back on.  The power had been off for more than an hour.  

Friday, March 16, 1984 – I heard on the news this morning that Fairfield schools were closed.  Fairfield’s power was shut off when the storm last night blew down 13 big high line poles in the Aden Bottoms.  They don’t know when it will get back on.  On the way to school I saw Ed Ehrhart’s TV antenna was draped over the roof of his house.  Donna Hutchcraft Brown’s trailer was demolished.  A wagon at Sam Gowler’s was turned upside down.  Gerald Robertson’s barn door blown off.  Don Wilkey’s metal barn was torn to pieces roof strung all over the field in the road and across the road.  Steve Zedalis said that it tore their tractor up and Trena Overbey said that it busted the windows out of their house.  Knocked down their smoke stack, smoke came into their house and they had to move out.  Went to Grandpa’s.  End 3^rd quarter.

Monday-Friday, March 19-23, 1984 – Spring Break, no school.  Tues. March 20 – I went to Centralia to the Doctor about my eye.  I thought that they would cut off the growth on my eyelid, but she said it might be a skin cancer and she wanted an appointment later and that I would have to go to the hospital.  Might have to have some skin grafting, etc.  I hope I can stand the pain. 

Wednes. March 21 – Trixie went to prayer meeting this morning.  Wanda Gross prayed that my eye would heal.  I do too.  I came to school after dinner.  The ground was covered with snow this morning and still snowing, snowed all day, but began melting.

Mon., March 26, 1984 – Ruby [Gurley] Musteen died this morning.  The hospital called us around 4:30 am.  We had to go over and sign papers to have her released.

The 1984-1985 book is missing.

Opdyke 1985-1986

Fri., Sept. 13, 1985 – Friday the 13^th.

Mon., Sept. 16, 1985 – It is cool this morning.  In the 40’s.  Trixie is going to the doctor today.  She thinks that she has something seriously wrong.  I hope not.  I pray not.

Tues. Sept. 17, 1985 – Trixie did not go to the doctor.  She was called and told that the doctor had an emergency and could not come to Wayne City.

Mon., Sept. 23, 1985 – It is raining today.  Trixie went to the doctor today.  She called and said that the doctor thinks that she has an ulcer.  That is what I think also.  She is to go into the hospital for further checks. 

Tues. Sept. 24, 1985 – It is cool this morning, 39° the low.

Wednes., Sept. 25, 1985 – I took the beautiful dark red heifer to town last night to be butchered.  She weighed 1100 lbs.  Two guys who work with Stephen are buying her, 48¢ a lb.  I had quite a time loading and unloading as the tailgate on the truck broke off.  I also broke the handle out of my sledge hammer. The lights on the truck would not work, etc., etc.  Trixie went to the hospital today for test.  I hope and pray that she is okay.

Mon., Sept. 30, 1985 – Trixie came and taught K-4.

Tues., Oct. 1, 1985 – There was a light frost this morning 39°.

Wednes., Oct. 2, 1985 – Lots of frost this morning 33°.  Trixie’s in bed with the flu.  The Cardinals [won] last night in the 11^th inning 1-0.  They have a 2 game lead with 5 games left.

Thurs., Oct. 3, 1985 – It was not suppose to have gotten cold last night, but Fairfield gave 33° this morning.  I saw green soybeans turning brown, frost bitten, this morning.  I think it is getting the milo too.  Rock Hudson died yesterday of AIDS. 

Thurs., Oct. 10, 1985 – Trixie went to Evansville yesterday with Bonnie.  She left the car at Lear Ford to be worked on.  It is worse today than it was before they worked on it.  It died a number of times on the way here and flooded, black smoke pouring out.  I tried to combine last night.  Got the combine stopped up several times.  I suppose it is the green weeds.  The beans are full of weed seed, pretty discouraging.

Fri., Oct. 11, 1985 – I took the car over to Lear Ford at Fairfield and left it for them to work on.  Our government forced an Egyptian plane down in Sicily.  It was carrying the highjackers of that ship.  The highjackers are in custody of the Italian government.

Wednes., Oct. 16, 1985 – I woke up this morning around 3:30, bellyache diarrhea, my stomach is still aching.  I picked a load of corn last night after school.  I got along fairly well. 

Thurs., Oct. 17, 1985 – I combined some last night had trouble with the combine, a chain conveyor has too much slack and started catching on a piece of metal that has been scuffed up.  I will have to work on it tonight see if I can take out a chain length.  It is a pain to get to.  Stephen came home last night.  He and Trixie are going to Evansville today.  The Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals won their play offs last night.

Mon., Nov. 4, 1985 – I was sick over the weekend, diarrhea.  Mrs. Cook absent went to music meeting.  Trixie subbing for her.

Wednes., Nov. 20, 1985 – Got the calves to slaughter without too much trouble.

Thurs., Nov. 21, 1985 – It froze last night 25°.  It is suppose to rain tonight. Gorbachev  & Reagan summit ended.  Dismiss today at 2:30, teachers meeting.  Stephen’s birthday too but I forget it.  Trixie tried to call him tonight but could not get him.

Thurs. & Fri., Nov. 28 & 29, 1985 – No school, Thanksgiving vacation.  Wednesday night we went to Mt. Vernon to pick up Suellyn.  She was suppose to be in around 6 – 6:30.  She got in about 8:30. The lady she was riding with had car trouble at Centralia.  Thursday morning Stephen came down.  We ha d a big Thanksgiving dinner.  Zella came for dinner.  Thursday night we all went over to Barbara’s and Bonnie’s.  Friday morning the vet came out and we did the calves.  I was already not feeling too well.  All this finished me off I think.  I was sick all day Sat., Sat. night.  I went to church Sunday morning.  Did not feel well at all.  Stephen left right after noon.  Trixie took Suellyn to Mt. Vernon to meet her ride at 1:30.  They both called got back okay.  The weather is turning bad.

Mon., Dec. 2, 1985 – It was 10° this morning on our thermometer.  Wind chill 30° below, snow and wind blowing, not much snow.  I feel pretty bad, but I am going to try to make it.  The old car would hardly run died on the way over.  I didn’t think it would start.

Tues., Dec. 3, 1985 – I am feeling lots better, although I am feeling sleepy.  I woke up sometime before 2 a.m. cold.  Finally got up around 3 a.m., stirred the fire and lay on the couch and read, did not sleep.  It is still cold around 10°.

Wednes., Dec. 4, 1985 – My 49^th birthday.  It doesn’t seem possible.  I am such a kid!! Ha! Ha!  So much of the time I wonder what I am doing.  It is not as cold around 30°.  I feel some better still have it in the head & nose & throat.  I took  a bath last night for the first time in about a week.

Mon., Dec. 9, 1985 – Trixie is sick. 

Tues., Dec. 10, 1985 – Board meeting tonight.  It is raining again, bad, bad, bad.

Fri., Dec. 13, 1985 – It is snowing, cold and blowing.  The old car will not keep running continuously dying.  Last night was our Christmas dinner for the school employees.  We also received a 2% raise (Christmas present).  We are suppose to go get Suellyn tomorrow and the car will not run, o boy.  Mr. [Fred] Edwards called me this morning at  home, said he was going deer hunting today and that I could call school off if I wanted to.

Mon., Dec. 16, 1985 – Half of a day, you might say.  It started out Trixie was going to take the corn and get ground because I went Sat. and got Suellyn then she talked me into driving the truck to Dahlgren and she would come in the car.  When I got to Dahlgren she was not there.  I waited a while, she did not show up.  I decided that she probably was having trouble with the car so I started home expecting to meet her or find her on the way, but she was no where to be found.  I drove all the way home.  I was and still am so disgusted I could scream or beat on someone.  It seemed so simple before I left home.  She was to drive to Dahlgren.  I was to drive to Dahlgren.  She was to stay and get the corn ground.  I was to take the car and drive to school.  She was to bring the truck to Belle Rive and take the car and go shopping.  Well guess what?  She got to Dahlgren before I did.  She then drove to school thinking I had come on to school. 

Mon.-Fri., Dec. 23 – Jan. 3 – No school Christmas vacation.  Off school 16 days.  I don’t think I will be able to get back into the groove.

Mon., Jan. 6, 1986 – New day, new year.  While cutting hedge trees on Olson place over the vacation time I was hit in the chest with a tree.  I thought it broke my breast bone but I guess it just bruised it. 

Thurs., Jan. 9, 1986 – It was 8° this morning, sun is shining and is suppose to warm up to low 40’s today.

Fri., Jan. 10, 1986 – It is not as cold around 24 this morning on the way to 50°.  Barbara’s birthday today.  I think she is 48 years old.  Is that possible?

Mon., Jan. 13, 1986 – We took Suellyn back to school yesterday.  Took her to Stephen’s ate lunch with him.  He took her on and we came back home.  A long day of driving, but it was a pretty sunshiny day.

Tues., Jan. 14, 1986 – It is suppose to be in the 40’s today and 50’s tomorrow.

Mon., Feb. 24, 1986 – Trixie is sick and has been all weekend.

Tues., Feb. 25, 1986 – I didn’t sleep much last night.  Went to bed at around 11 p.m. wok up at 3:30.

Mon., March 10, 1986 – Suellyn is home for a week, got her Sat. at Stephen’s taking her back Sunday. 

Wednes., April 9, 1986 – The next morning after Board meeting.  I am dead, didn’t get home until after midnight.  Work up around 1:30 a.m.  It is cold this morning.  I heard 39° but am not sure that was the low.  I called Trixie to come in to do the music. 

Thurs., April 10, 1986 – Trixie’s 46^th birthday today.  It got down to 32° last night.  I covered up my potatoes. 

Fri., April 11, 1986 – The only person I know that got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.  It is a beautiful day this morning, just gorgeous or whatever.  Trixie is taking a load of corn to Dahlgren today to get ground.  I hope she doesn’t have any trouble.  She called from Dahlgren.  Dexter had to come into the classroom and ask if I needed any cat food. 

Mon., April 14, 1986 – It was simply beautiful over the week-end.  I disked the Smith place and some on Olson’s.  It is suppse to rain and turn cooler today. 

Tues., April 15, 1986 – It is cold again this morning 37° our thermometer had about 35°.  We bombed Libya last night. 

Wednes., April 16, 1986 – It did not get as cold as I suspected that it would.  I think around 35°.  I covered my potatoes with straw last night thinking it would freeze.  Stephen came home yesterday and will be here for a  few days.  One plane and 2 men did not get back from the Libya air raid.

Thurs., April 17, 1986 – A beautiful day today.

Fri., 4-18-1986 – Beautiful day.  Mrs. Cook going to Rend Lake music festival today.  Trixie is teaching music today. 

Mon., April 21, 1986 – Stephen went back home yesterday.  It is cool this morning.  Suppose to freeze tonight.  I am to go to Springfield with the 7^th grade class.  I am looking forward to a great day.

Tues., April 29, 1986 – A beautiful day today.  Russia had a nuclear electrical plant accident.  They are reporting it as the worst ever.  Thousands are being evacuated. 

Wednes., April 30, 1986 – Rainy today.  Russia’s nuclear accident suppose to be worse than first seemed the more news we get the worse it seems.

Thurs., May 1, 1986 – A beautiful day in the making.  I disked some on Olson place last night.  Russia’s nuclear problem is still burning and speculation is high. 

Fri., May 2, 1986 – Beautiful day today.  Had 2 bull calves born yesterday.

Mon., May 5, 1986 – Went to Newburgh, Indiana yesterday with Glen and Leah Jackson to see Albert & Viola Carr.  Saw Jim, his wife, & Kevin also.  Albert has a nice place.  Did not know where they lived when we started out supposed that Leah and Glen did but they didn’t.  We finally stumbled into it.  I planted my corn Sat.  started Fri. after school, had trouble with the planter, had trouble all day Sat. 

Tues., May 6, 1986 – It is warm this morning 69°.  Suppose to get into the 80’s today and it is humid, rained a little last night chances of rain today.

Fri., May 9, 1986 – I went down to look at the corn this morning.  It is not good, one row did not plant among other things.  Suellyn graduates tomorrow.  Going up in the morning.  Mother’s Day program. 

Tues., May 13, 1986 – Wiper blades, apple tree spray, 13^th unlucky day.  I took a load of corn to Dahlgren this morning.  Trixie is supposed to follow me but got lost in the fog & dust but did get there.

Wednes., May 14, 1986 – I got home from Board meeting last night at 1:30 a.m. this morning.  They offered me a $2000 raise which is not as much as the teachers if you figure $600 raise plus a step $360 plus ½ of retirement. 

Thurs., May 15, 1986 – It came a good rain last night or early this morning and is suppose to rain more today. 

Fri., May 16, 1986 – Rainy – rained a lot yesterday, etc. 1.6 inches.  Trixie & Suellyn are going to Normal today to a genealogy seminar will be gone over the weekend.   Trixie called collect, of course when they asked me if I would accept a collect call from Trixie Lathrop, I thought that she was somewhere having car trouble. 

Thurs., May 29, 1986 –

Clipping - Ryan to Visit Belle Rive

Lt. Governor George H. Ryan will address Belle Rive Grade School pupils at 10:45 a.m. Thursday to discuss the Governor's Task Force on the Future of Rural Illinois.

He will begin the day at Fairview Heights and will also visit Lakeland College in Mattoon and Teutopolis High School.

The task force has been formed to assess the problems confronting rural Illinois.  

 Lt. Gov. George Ryan is to visit us today.  It will be a thrill a minute.  It rained all night.  Yesterday evening it came a flood while I was going home.  George Ryan is a very nice man.  The helicopter did not land on the school yard.  It landed on the church parking lot.  It did not get here at 10:45 it got here around 11:20.  Everything went fairly well except I didn’t know just what to expect or do.  It was hurry up.  He is running late.

Mon., June 2, 1986 – No school teachers’ workshop.  The weather turned cool last night 57° this morning.  Great.

Tues., June 3, 1986 – This is the day we have been looking for.  The last old day of school.  The end of another year.  We graduated another bunch last night.  Now start getting ready for next year.

The Bill Lathrop [clipping]:

RYAN VISITS BELLE RIVE – Lt. Gov. George Ryan, center wearing glasses, visited Belle Rive Thursday and spoke to pupils at the Belle Rive Grade School about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.  “Stay away from drugs and alcohol..  Someday you can be lieutenant governor, governor or even president . . . Just stay strong and remember these three words – ‘Just say no.’”  Ryan also spoke with Belle Rive officials about funding for water and sewer improvement plans.  Mt. Vernon Mayor Rolland Lewis was among local government officials in attendance.  Mt. Vernon Register News, May 30, 1986.

Opdyke 1986-1987

Tues., August 19, 1986 – no school.  I feel bad today because this morning another cow came in heat that has been bred before.  I think that the bull is no good and I don’t know what to do. 

Wednes. August 20, 1986 – no school.  Yesterday afternoon I went to Fairfield Lumber Yard and picked up a basketball goal post, drove my old truck, brought it to school this morning.  Trixie is going to help the church with the Almo [Farms] dinner.  The Field Day is tomorrow.  Our teachers’ workshop is tomorrow.  We are to meet at Opdyke at 9 a.m.  I don’t think I am ready for this.  It is a pretty, cool, nice morning.

Wednes., Aug. 27, 1986 – It is raining this morning. 

Thurs., Aug. 28, 1986 – It is cool this morning, set a new record for low on this date 48°.  Snowed in Michigan & frosted 35°.  Yesterday Bob Meddler 55 years old from Fairfield, Barnhill had both arms torn off at the shoulder by a power take off post hole digger.  I built a fire.  Isn’t that something to have a fire in August?

Tues., Sept. 2, 1986 – It is foggy & cloudy this morning as I am writing this about being foggy  I just remembered that I had left my lights on.  Thank God! For if in few minutes when people started coming in I never would have thought of it and they would have been on all day.  I got my grass seed sown on CRP acres. Stephen disked it in.  Stephen and Suellyn are going back this morning.  Trixie is taking a load of corn to be ground for the cows.  My bull is no good.  6 cows in heat over the weekend.  I am going to have to try and find a new bull.  I called Jim Williamson.  He said he would bring me a Brahma Sat., but he did not show up. 

Wednes., Sept. 3, 1986 – Nice day today.

Wednes., Sept. 10, 1986 – I am suppose to get a new bull today from Austin Farms, $800.  The one I have is unable to get the cows pregnant.  Jim Williamson, the guy I bought the first one from was going to bring me a bull but he never showed up.  It is cloudy and rainy looking and I feel blah, other than that it is a great day. 

Thurs., Sept. 11, 1986 – It looks like rain today and rain is being predicted up to 3 inches in some places.  I don’t feel well.  I had a terrible night.  I got my $800 bull yesterday evening.  Stephen called last night said he bought a new Ford truck. 

Fri., Sept. 12, 1986 – The first thing before teaching is to get students to be quiet and listen and follow directions.  I think you should also plan ahead what you are going to teach .  Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead, be quiet, be quiet, be quite, get organized.

Mon. Sept. 15, 1986 – Well I did it Saturday.  I went into debt $14,000 for a new car.  Isn’t that something?  We are to pick it up today after school at McLeansboro.  I picked my first load of corn Sat.  It is pretty dry. 

Mon., Oct. 6, 1986 – It rained over the weekend.  I didn’t get much done.  I picked a small load of corn Friday after school, one load Saturday.  The ground was soft.  I took part of load of new corn to have ground for the cows.  Merrell Neff brought our corn check to us Sunday morning.  The corn did well around 127 bu. per acre but the price was around $1.44.  I don’t remember for sure but all together $1250.  It is cool this morning and suppose to be in the 40’s tonight.  I have class tonight. 

Tues. Oct. 7, 1986 – It was 37° this morning I saw places looked like frost, cool.  I suffered through class last night.  New car’s heater would not heat up.  Trixie built a fire last night felt good this morning. 

Fri., 10-10-86 – I was late getting here this morning around 7:45.  I woke up at 3 a.m. this morning went to the couch.  Did not wake up until 6:59.  I have or am getting what everyone else has been passing around starting with a sore throat and not feeling well. 

Mon., Oct. 13, 1986 – No school today Columbus Day.  It rained hard all morning.  It was cloudy Saturday, beans tough.  I worked on combine and picker Sat. morning.  Picked a big load of corn, unloaded what I could in the crib.  It is full.  Stephen came down Friday night.  He helped me.  I tried to combine in the afternoon didn’t get along very well had to drive slow, beans were tough, lots of weeds.  Finally got a truck full.  Combine kept breaking slats.  Started to home the hydraulic hose sprung a leak the header went to the ground.  I had to walk home.  Went Monday to Fairfield bought hose and parts, battery, only could get 4 slats.  Have board meeting tonight, great joy.

Tues., Oct. 14, 1986 – This will seem like Monday all day long.  Steve & Trix are going to Evansville today. 

Wednes., Oct. 15, 1986 – I had a bad night last night.  I have been trying for several days to get the cold, sore throat, and fever everyone else has had.  I think I have it now.  And I have to go to class tonight.  This will be the finishing touch.  If it isn’t then tomorrow morning they are coming to get my calves.  I will have to chase cows around.  Stephen is taking a load of beans to town this morning.  It was cool this morning 33°.

Wednes., Oct. 22, 1986 - I got one truck load of beans combined last night.  They are predicting rain for tonight.

Thurs., Oct. 23, 1986 – It rained slightly last night.  It is cloudy this morning and more rain is predicted.  I combined a truck load of beans last night.  Trixie is selling them today.

Thurs., Oct. 30, 1986 – No school Mt. Vernon conference.  Picked the rest of my corn last night, a big, big wagon load.  Today went to Teachers’ Conference had class P.R.I.D.E.  Ate lunch came home combined the rest of the beans on Olson place. 

Fri., Oct. 31, 1986 – No school Mt. Vernon conference.  Went to teachers’ conference first session, came home early.  Went to Smith place thought that I could combine the 9 acres but there were so many weeds, etc. did not get finished.  Went back Sat. finished up got a little over one hopper all total about 120 bu. bad, bad, bad. 

Mon., Nov. 3, 1986 – Monday again, the rat race starts.  It is cloudy today and is suppose to rain tonight & tomorrow.  Have class tonight.  I saw two deer this morning as I was coming to school.  They were along the Allen Gaskill road, ran out in front of the car. 

Tues., Nov. 4, 1986 – It is misting this morning on the way to class night a deer ran out in front of me just before I got to the Keenes Road.  Today is election day – Bill O’Daniel is running for State Senator. 

Mon., Nov. 10, 1986 – No school today parent-teach conferences.  It froze last night -30°.  The first this year.  I guess winter is on the way.  Stephen came down Sat. and is to be down a few days.  I really don’t know how long.  He and Trixie went shopping today.  I have class tonight and I do not have my lessons completed. 

Thurs. & Fri., Nov. 27 & 28 – No school.  Stephen & Suellyn were home for the holidays, still home when I left this morning.

Mon., Dec. 1, 1986 – Vacation is over, back to work.  It is raining today, bad, bad.  Tonight is the last night of my class, great.  Cary Grant died, 82 years old. 

Thurs., Dec. 4, 1986 – This is it my 50th, a milestone, yes, yes, yes.  The sun is shining, little cold but nice 29°.  Barbara called me this morning. 

Fri., Dec. 5, 1986 – It is cold 20° but sunny & clear.  It is Friday.  It has been a long week.  Fred [Edwards] came down yesterday.  I asked him what would they do with me if I gave up being Principal.  He said that if they hired Mrs. Cross as Principal I could teach kindergarten.

Mon., Dec. 8, 1986 – It is raining, foggy, bad.  Trixie left Sat. morning to Suellyn’s.  I think they are coming home Thursday. 

Wednes., Dec. 10, 1986 – It is cold.  I think low around 20° sun is shining now. 

Thurs., Dec. 11, 1986 – Trixie called last night said that she would not be home until tomorrow now. 

Fri., Dec. 12, 1986 – Cold but the sun is shining, pretty.  Trixie & Suellyn are suppose to come home today. 

Mon., Dec. 15, 1986 – Sun is shining  cold 25° suppose to warm up and rain. I haven’t been feeling very well have fever blisters.  I can’t see out of my glasses.  It is a pain. 

Thurs., Dec. 18, 1986 – This seems like the longest week.  Will it ever get over?  Yes and another one will start. 

Fri., Dec. 19, 1986 – I am worn out this morning, couldn’t sleep then when I did get to sleep, Trixie got sick and was throwing up all night.  Today is Bud Bennett’s birthday. 

Mon., Jan. 5, 1987 – Back to school.  Isn’t that something?  I have a pain in my left side and gut that really hurts.  It started Jan. 1 I think.  I keep hoping & praying that it will go away.  It will be hard to stop writing 1986.  Today is Suellyn’s birthday.  I forgot to sign her card.

Mon., Jan. 12, 1987 – We took Suellyn back yesterday took her to Stephen’s, then he took her on.  Roads were pretty good but we saw lots of cars and truck in ditches and turned over.  I woke up Sat. morning with a bigger, sorer lump on my left jaw.  Still is swollen and sore. 

Tues., Jan. 13, 1987 – Sun is shining this morning & it is suppose to get up into the 50’s today.  It was in the 40’s yesterday. 

Wednes., Jan. 14, 1987 – It is raining this morning.  I got my inheritance from Zella Lathrop’s Estate yesterday $500. 

Wednes., Feb. 11, 1987 – Beautiful sun shiny morning.  No school tomorrow great!  It seems like I don’t want to come to school anymore.

Thurs., Feb. 12, 1987 – No school Lincoln’s Birthday.  It was a beautiful day today.  I hauled hay from Dad’s old barn to feed my cows.  Cut limbs off trees apple, etc.  Cut big limbs off big oak in Dad’s woods. 

Tues., Feb. 17, 1987 – No school today still icy & snowy.  Stayed home again today – getting cabin fever.  Today, close to McLeansboro, seven people were killed when they pulled out on the highway in front of a big truck, 4 adults & 3 children. 

Wednes., Feb. 18, 1987 – I got up early this morning.  I thought that I was getting up at 5:30 instead it was 4:30.  I didn’t discover it was not 5:30 until after I had messed around in the house & listed to the radio trying to find out if school’s were going to close today, went outside, fed the cows, got into the car to bring it to the house – turned on the radio – the announcer said that it was 5 a.m.  I could hardly believe it.  I wish that I could tell time.  There is about 2 to 3 inches of snow on the ground but I think that we can have school.  I am wondering if Glen McCormick got mixed up on the time also because he went by a little after 5.  Well I made it to school, roads slick, just have to be careful. 

Thurs., March 5, 1987 – It is cloudy today, sprinkled some this morning.  Trixie is going to Suellyn’s today, coming back tomorrow.

Thurs., March 12, 1987 – Sun is shining today beautiful morning.

Tues., 3-17-87 – It is cloudy, windy, big storm out west coming this way.  I had class last night, did not get out until after 9 p.m.  after 10 before I got to bed.  I am tired, dragging today.  I will be glad when I can get home and rest, but I have a Scholastic Bowl match today after school so there goes that.  St. Patrick’s Day – Dorothy’s 47^th birthday.

Wednes., March 18, 1987 – Rained in the night, suppose to storm today.  I am all washed out.  I just can’t take it anymore.  Trip Sunday taking Suellyn home, class Monday night, Scholastic Bowl Tuesday night. 

Mon., March 23, 1987 – If you think school is boring, wait until you are sitting around the unemployment office.  I am nervous this morning.  I didn’t sleep very well last night probably because I ate fried chicken for dinner, ate M & M’s and popcorn for supper.  I have to set up a time for a teacher evaluation, and I did not complete my assignment for tonight’s class.  The weather is pretty nice. The sun is shining this morning.  It rained yesterday suppose to storm tonight and tomorrow.

Tues., March 24, 1987 – It is raining this morning I made it through class last night.  We are to be positive this week, isn’t that a lick in the head?  I have been this way for so long that I really do not want to change.  Oh well.  Dean Martin’s son is missing suspected plane crash. 

Thurs., April 2, 1987 – I am all tired out, no energy, no pep.  I can’t figure it out.  I don’t do any work.  I got to bed early lots of rest.

Fri., April 3, 1987 – Sun is shining this morning, but the record for lowest temperature was broken last night 22°.

Mon., April 6, 1987 – I am nearly dead this morning.  I have been sick since last Thursday.  Attended the basketball banquet Friday night.  Didn’t do anything Sat., didn’t go to church yesterday. Yesterday evening I had the worst headache I have ever had in my life.  I hope I make it through the day and I have class tonight.  Help me Lord.  Trixie is taking a load of corn to get ground.  I am going to give S.R.A. test today and do very little else.  I heard on the radio this morning where an old couple 75 & 76 yrs. old spent a week or 2 in a car in a snowbank covered with snow before someone found them.  They were still alive. 

Tues., April 7, 1987 – Thank you, Lord.  I feel so much better this morning.  I am not well yet, but I think that I am on my way.  I went home early yesterday as soon after 3 as I could get away.  I went to bed until after 4, went to class, made it through class.  Teacher let us out early about 8:30.  It has warmed up some, nice.  Crazy me I went out and played softball today – now I am all tired out again. 

Fri., April 10, 1987 – This is Trixie’s birthday.  I forgot it until I got to school this morning.  I had thought of it early before she got up, but then forgot later.  I was not feeling so well, got up at 2:30, laid on the couch, over slept.  Did not feed the calves. 

Mon. – Fri., April 13-17 – No school this week, spring break.  It rained almost every day during our time off.  It turned pretty Friday.

Mon., April 20, 1987 – Vacation is over back at.  It is suppose to get 88° today.  I am not ready for school.  J.D. Shields’ wife died.

Tues., April 21, 1987 – It is a beautiful sunny morning.  I am worried.  I think my mind is going.  I keep forgetting things and it is getting worse.  Yesterday in class I couldn’t think of the students’ names – called them by their brother or sister’s names.  Then last night at class my mind would not function on the lesson and then I walked out with my assignment did not leave it with the teacher.  I discovered it this morning when I picked up my books.  My mind is still on vacation. 

Mon., May 4, 1987 – Today is Mom’s birthday – 1912.  It always meant something special to me.  It rained  yesterday nice shower.  I disked and spread fertilizer for corn Sat.  I did not work on my lessons yesterday.  Have class tonight.  I will really be glad when I get this class behind me.  I know that is an awful way to live but this one is really bugging me. 

Tues., May 5, 1987 – I listened to the news this morning on T.V. and I got school late 7:45.  Well I lived through another class last night.  I don’t know if I will make it through to the end or not.  I hope so.  It seems llots of things are happening and need to be done right at the last of school.  It is a beautiful day this morning.  This is the day the Lord has made. 

Wednes., May 6, 1987 – It is pretty this morning.

Thursday, May 7, 1987 – It is simply gorgeous this morning. 

Fri., May 8, 1987 – A beautiful day.  Trixie left this morning to go get Suellyn, said that she won’t be back until . . .

Mon., May 11, 1987 – Glen McCormick has a dead calf in Randy [Trotter’s] field.  I saw it as I came past this morning.  I got my little corn patch planted Sat.  I used my new 6 row planter.  I got the rows too close together in most places and I think I planted it too deep.  Trixie and Suellyn came home yesterday.  Class tonight.  I will be glad when they are all over with. 

Mon., May 18, 1987 – Tonight is my last night for my class.  I will be glad when it is over.  It bugs me more than anything.  We are to eat at Bonanza.  I do not have my lesson.  We took Suellyn to meet Stephen.  She is staying with him this week.  I planted 5 acres of beans Sat.  Had some trouble with my tractor.  Had to go to Albion get a fuel filter.  Welch’s has closed gone out of business.  My ground I decided was too dry to plant anymore but Donnie Bennett and Randy Trotter both planted yesterday. 

Tues., May 19, 1987 – I had my last class last night.  Thank you, God, it is over.  We met at Bonanza.  The teacher hung on and on.  She kept us until after 8 o’clock.  I feel a great relief.  It is cloudy, hazy this morning.  We got a little rain yesterday, chances for rain today.  It would be good if we got some.  Trixie is going with Phyllis Thompson to St. Louis to the Dr. today.

Mon., June 1, 1987 – Teacher’s workshop.  It rained Saturday .6 inch.  Nice rain although I didn’t get much work done.  I cultivated a little bit of my corn.  It looks like rain today.  They are giving 50% chances.  Graduation was Friday night.  Betty Beehn died Sat. morning her funeral is today.  Trixie is to sing for the funeral.

Tues., June 2, 1987 – Well this is the day we have been looking for.  The last day is here.  In a way it is kind of sad.  Just think it doesn’t seem all that long that were just starting, now that it is all over. 

Prayer - 
Prayer for ProtectionThe light of God surrounds me; The love of God enfolds me;The power of God protects me;The presence of God watches over me.Wherever I am, God is!

Opdyke 1987-1988

Wednes., Sept. 2, 1987 – It is cool this morning, nice.  It dropped to 48° last night.  I got to school early this morning.  Later I went to the restroom and the fly on pants broke.  I had to drive home and change pants, got back about 8:30.  What a time!  Something I have dreamed happening and thinking that I should keep an extra set of clothes at school just in case.

Mon., Sept. 7, 1987 – No school Labor Day.  Stephen came down about noon Sat. went back afternoon Monday.  Suellyn didn’t come home.  I mowed hay east of the house Sat.  The sickle was so dull I had to change it.  Mon. Stephen raked hay.  Ronnie [Shelton] baled 13 bales.  It did pretty well.  It has a lot of water grass, etc. some lespedeza.  Trixie and I shucked and picked up 2 rows opening up the corn field.  Then we picked a big load of corn.  I didn’t unload it.  I want to do more work on the crib.  I hauled in some of my hay but still have 5 bales in the field.  As I was putting some plastic around one bale something bit or stung the starch out of me on the eyelid, the stomach.  I guess it was ants but it was the worst I have ever had. 

Tues., Sept. 8, 1987 – Today will seem like Monday all day.  Trixie went on a church trip to Effingham.  It is raining in St. Louis this morning. Rain is predicted for here today.  We need a good rain as all the grass is drying up. 10 a.m. it came a little shower.

Thurs., Sept. 17, 1987 – We received a good rain last night over an inch.  I picked a big load of corn after school yesterday.  My crib is nearly full.  I will have to kick the corn down before I can put anymore in it.  Lyman Porter died yesterday.  His funeral will be tomorrow.  I am planning to take the day off if I can make the arrangements. 

Fri., Sept. 18, 1987 – Taking a personal day, Lyman Porter’s funeral. 

Mon., Sept. 21, 1987 – Well back at school.  I feel lost after missing Friday.  I didn’t get much done over the weekend.  I was going to get the old combine going but the battery is dead.  We went with Glen Jackson & Glen Talbert to Albert Carr’s 50^th wedding anniversary yesterday.

Tues., Sept. 22, 1987 – Weather is outstandingly beautiful.  Sam White had a log fall off a truck onto him severely fractured arm in the Springfield Hospital. Trixie is taking a load of corn today.  Stephen is in Colorado, New Mexico, etc.

Wednes., Sept. 23, 1987 – The weather is nice about 50°.  I got my old combine started last night.  Tried to combine on Dad’s place.  The weeds have taken the beans.  I ran 2 or 3 rounds with the little clean out door on the auger open strung beans all around the field.  Got the combine stopped up with weeds, bean vines, etc.

Thurs., Sept. 24, 1987 – Another beautiful day – like paradise.  I combined some last night.  The combine had broken a slat but I didn’t take time to fix what was causing it because I wanted to a load for Trixie to take to town today.  Well  I broke more slats.  I don’t know how many but I am afraid it is several as I was working on the combine last night Trixie saw huge billows of smoke to the south.  She thought it was oil well.  I looked and told her it was Leon Rich’s combine.  She went to see, came back and said that it was his house, but it turned out that she did not go all the way over and it was his combine.  I saw 4 deer in the bean field across the front of Lottie Hines’ house. 

Mon., Oct. 5, 1987 – It is cool this morning, but was cooler yesterday morning.  Fairfield gave 29° Sunday morning a new record low for this date.  There was a big frost.  I combined some Friday evening, some Sat.  Trixie was gone all day so I had to haul the beans in and did not get as much combined as possible.  Also my old combine has lost about all of its power and will  hardly pull itself.  I have to take only 2 rows at a time and sometimes one in the cockle burrs.  I drove by Smith place yesterday and it is terrible one huge gigantic weed patch.  I will have to wait until later to combine them.

Tues., Oct. 6, 1987 – It is cloudy & dreary this morning.  Where has all our beautiful weather gone?  It sprinkled last night.  I did not combine any.  I hooked up the disk and disked the weed patch on Dad’s.  Trixie is expecting Stephen to come in from his California trip today. 

Mon., Oct. 19, 1987 – It is cloudy & rainy looking this morning rain is predicted then turning cold.  Our good weather has probably ended.  It was nice over the weekend.  I finished combining my beans Sat.  Those on Smith place made about 10 bu. per acre, pretty poor and full of weeds.  Trixie left this morning for New Mexico, Methodist women trip.

Tues., Oct. 20, 1987 – It is cloudy & rainy this morning.  It rained lightly early this morning.  The stock market dropped the greatest (509 points) in history yesterday and is expected to drop again today.  I took a load of beans to the elevator yesterday after school and had to bring them back home because they were full up.

Tues., Oct. 27, 1987 – The sun is shining this morning it is beautiful.  Pictures are to be taken today, a great day!  Nancy Reagan’s mother died yesterday.  The stock market had its 2^nd biggest drop in history yesterday – 159 points or there abouts.

Wednes. Oct. 28, 1987 – The sun is shining today, but it is a little cold 35°.  Trixie is suppose to come home sometime today.  We are to have our Halloween party this afternoon and dismiss at 2 p.m.  Payday.  No school tomorrow or Friday. 

Mon., Nov. 16, 1987 – It is raining this morning and is suppose to be heavy rain tonight and tomorrow.  I think the bad weather is here. Turning colder by the weekend.

Tues., Nov. 17, 1987 – It rained last night, not much.  It is cloudy and rainy this morning.  Is suppose to turn cold today.  The cows were in the wheat last night when I got home from school.  I thought I could call them and they would come to feed about half of them came, the rest paid no attention.  I chased  & chased & chased until I was about dead before I could get them out the half I had out got back in.  I finally had to go to the house and get Trixie to help me.  Then we had a hard time getting them out.  Wouldn’t you know they would get in there when it rained and the field was muddy.  They tore up a lot of wheat. 

Thurs., Dec. 3, 1987 – Cloudy but warm 40° although suppose to start turning colder tonight.

Fri., Dec. 4, 1987 – Today is my 51^st birthday.  Isn’t that a lick?  I am past being a kid anymore I think.  I woke up this morning at 2 a.m. sick my stomach killing me.  I have a diarrhea.  Gorbachev coming to the U.S. to sign a treaty to do away with some nuclear arms.

Mon., Dec. 7, 1987 – Pearl Harbor Day.  Cloudy, rainy, Trixie is sick, has what I had I think.  It was a beautiful day Sat. but I did not feel like doing very much.  Although the vet came and I got my calves taken care of. 

Tues., Dec. 8, 1987 – Rainy, cloudy this morning.  Trixie is taking the old Ford to Fairfield this morning to be worked on, noise & grinding in front wheel.

Wednes., Dec. 9, 1987 – Sun is shining, beautiful day.  The brakes had to be replaced on the Old Ford cost nearly $300.  Dwight David Talbert is in the hospital in serious condition from a car accident. 

Thurs., 12-10-87 – Sunny but cold.  Trixie is getting corn ground today.

Tues., Dec. 15, 1987 – It is windy this morning and all night.  It rained and lightning.  Tornados and snow storms all around us.  St. Louis, Chicago airports closed with snow.  I am feeling better this morning.  I did not go to board meeting last night because I have the flu.

Wednes., Dec. 16, 1987 – Bill Lathrop – absent – sick.  I had to stay home today the flue finally got me down.  I went as long as I could.  I thought that I could make it but I didn’t.  Now I know that I would have been better off if I had stayed home on Monday.  “What should have done” seems to be clearer than “what should I do.”  Trixie went over and unlocked the school.  Trixie called the Doctor and got some medicine for me.  It is hurting my stomach but maybe I will get over the flu.

Thurs., Dec. 17, 1987 – Bill Lathrop – absent – sick.  I am planning on staying home today. 

Fri., Dec. 18, 1987 – Well I am back but not all that great. 

Tues., Jan. 5, 1987 – Suellyn’s 24^th birthday.  Isn’t that something?  It is cold, cold, cold this morning 5° and I was up chasing cows at 2:30 this morning.  2 cows got out woke me up bawling.

Wednes., Jan. 6, 1988 – Gary Hart & Jim Bakker a team that can score.  It is cold this morning 0°.  I drove the old car today.  It died 4 to 5 times this morning. 

Thurs., Jan. 7, 1988 – It is snowing this morning and is still cold 8°.  Suppose to get 1 to 3 inches of snow.  I hope it doesn’t snow so much that we have to call off school.  I don’t think it will.   School was called off at 2 p.m. today because of the snow. 

Fri., Jan. 8, 1988 – It is still cold 0° this morning.  We did not get very much snow maybe an inch or so.  Trixie called me today said that there was one of the heifers was stranded on the ice on the pond had fallen down, back legs spread out.  She called Glen McCormick and he came down and pulled her off.  She got up and hobble to the barn. 

Fri., Jan. 15, 1988 – I went to the funeral home last night to see Mrs. [Ivy] Braddy.  Did not stay long  I was worn out from the night before. 

Mon., Jan. 18, 1988 – No school Martin Luther King’s birthday.

Wednes., Jan. 27, 1988 – It is about 8° this morning suppose to warm up some today.  I don’t have class tonight.  Praise the Lord!  I did not do the chores this morning, left them for Trixie.  I felt like I was getting a sore throat and hurting in my chest.  I feel better now but the flu is so bad in our school.  I can’t see how I will escape it. 

Thurs., Jan. 28, 1988 – 2 years ago today the Challenger blew up.  Sunny today suppose to get into the 40’s.  It is around 23° now.  I don’t know what to do.  I don’t feel so great. 

Mon., March 7, 1988 – No school Casimir Pulaski Day.  Suellyn came home over the weekend.  Trixie and I attended the Rend Lake Symphony Performance at First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon Sunday.

Tues., March 8, 1988 – It is a beautiful day and was yesterday.

Fri., March 11, 1985 [sic] – It is a beautiful sunny Friday morning. 

Mon., March 14, 1988 –

Clipping - [Pat] Robertson at R[end] L[ake] C[ollege] Saturday

It snowed lightly last night.  The ground is dusted with snow.  20° this morning, winter is back.  Suellyn was down over the weekend.  Trixie was all out of sorts yesterday.  Got into it with the preacher we didn’t go to church last night.  I got a  letter from Bonnie.  She and Ivan are going back to Bangladesh.  Ivan is leaving April 1.

Wednes., March 23, 1988 – It is sunny, partly cloudy, beautiful morning, suppose to get up to 80° - 50° now.  Class at Salem tonight.  I woke up about 4 o’clock this morning.  After I got home last night Trixie noticed the radiator leaking on the Ford.

Thurs., March 24, 1988 – It is warm, 50°, cloudy and is suppose to rain today, tonight and tomorrow.  I lived through another class last night although it was painful.  I started the Ford up this morning and it seems to be leaking from the bottom  hose or the radiator or the water pump. 

Fri., March 25, 1988 – Friday the sun is shining a beautiful morning after raining & storming last night.  The grass is greener.  The last day of school before Spring Break.  Isn’t that something?  Trixie took the car to Chuck’s yesterday.  It was that water hose, something like $30 worth.  We dismiss at 2 p.m.  Have an Easter Egg Hunt.   

Mon. – Fri., March 28 – April 1 – No school Easter break. 

Monday – March 28 I saw 4 deer this morning go across the back (north) of our field. 

Tues. March 29 – I got my income tax returns done.  I owe app. $1500 more in taxes.

Wednes. – March 30 – I went to Fairfield sign 20 acres of Dad’s place up into 10 year conservation program.

Fri. – April 1 – I am at school.  It is raining, rained all day yesterday.  Nora Mae Wilton died her funeral is today at Belle Rive Baptist Church.  We went to the funeral home last night.  There were lots of people there and lots I knew.

Sat. I sowed some more of my clover.  Got all done except the north part of the field.  I about walked my legs off.

Mon., April 4, 1988 – Well vacation is over and I am back at school.  I don’t think I am ready for this.  Stephen & Suellyn were home over the weekend.  Stephen is unhappy with his job and Suellyn is not going to graduate.  Isn’t that a lick?  It is a pretty morning.  We are on fast time now.  I had planned to do so much while I was off but it rained most of the time. 

Tues., April 5, 1988 – It is a beautiful sun shiny morning, suppose to get up to a near record high today.  I sowed some grass seed last night after school.  I am so sore this morning I can hardly move.

Wednes., April 6, 1988 – It is raining and colder this morning.  Class tonight depressing.  I spend too much time worrying about things but I don’t think I can change.  Bonnie Holler was at our house last night when I got home from school.  She ate supper with us and visited.  Just after she left Grant Lathrop came and visited a long time while his son fished in the pond. 

Thurs., April 7, 1988 – It is sunny this morning looks like it is going to be a nice day.  I made it through class somehow last night.  I have to give my speech April 27.  Time will be here before I am ready.  I saw Jim Lathrop in Salem last night and talked to him for a little while.

Fri., April 8, 1988 – The sun is shining beautifully this morning the air is crisp and it is to warm to near 70’s.  I got home about 10 p.m. last night from negotiations meeting. 

Mon., April 11, 1988 – I feel bad this morning – nothing new for Monday mornings.  The sun is shining.  It is cool around 40°.  I built a fire this morning.  It was a beautiful day Saturday.  I finished sowing grass seed in the wheat.  At least I got over all the ground.  Board meeting tonight.  Yesterday was Trixie’s birthday, 48 years old.  Isn’t that something?  We went to Barbara’s for dinner.  I didn’t do any studying for my class. 

Mon., April 18, 1988 – The weather was beautiful over the weekend.  It rained some in the night last night and is cloudy & rainy this morning.  I worried all week end over my class paper and speech.  Didn’t work much just worried until I was almost sick.  The U.S. shot Iranian oil well platforms last night.

Tues., April 19, 1988 – The sun is shining but is cold.  Fairfield gave 29°.  The U.S. blew up 2 Iranian oil platforms and sank six of their ships in the Persian Gulf early Monday morning.  I have a dental appointment today at 4 p.m.  I stayed at school last night until about 6:30 working on my paper and speech, did not get it completed and am running out of material.  I think it will be a disaster but surely will not be the end of the world like I have been thinking.  The world will still turn of course I may not pass the class or get to be principal anymore but I surely with God’s help survive.

Wednes., May 4, 1988 – Today is Mom’s birthday.  She would be 74 years old.  It was always a special day for her.  It brings tears to my eyes and sadness in my heart when I remember her.  It rained slightly last night and early this morning.  We could use lots more.  Edmison had spread my fertilizer on the corn ground Monday.  I disked it in last night.  The ground was very dry.  The little rain will help.  I have class tonight.  I will be glad when it is over.  One more night after tonight, final exam. 

Thurs., May 5, 1988 – It is a beautiful sunny morning.  We got very little rain.  I got through another class. One more to go.  Final Exam Monday night, May 9.  I got my paper back A+ Excellent.  I had a few typing errors.  I was embarrassed.  I got A+ on my speech.

Opdyke 1988-1989

Mon., Sept. 5, 1988 – No school Labor Day.  Suellyn came home Thursday went back today. Stephen came down Friday night.  Is going back Wednesday.  The weather is nice and was over the weekend.  I didn’t get much accomplished.  Sat., we went and drove all over Southern Illinois.  Sun & Mon. I read on my book from this class I am taking.  It is so complicated that I can’t understand it.  I don’t know what I am going to do.  Whatever. 

Tues., Sept. 6, 1988 – It was 42° this morning in Fairfield.  Set a record for the low on the this date.  I am a nervous wreck I think mainly because of this class that I am taking at Salem.  (God help me.)

Mon. Sept. 19, 1988 – Monday – Trixie & I went to Carbondale yesterday.  Looked up information for my class.  It rained while we were gone a little over an inch.  Get organized man.  Get with it.  Just heard that J.D. Shields was killed in a car wreck this morning on old Hwy.  15 east of airport entrance road.  Ran into a bridge abutment 7:30 this morning.  How could it happen?  There is some speculation he could have had a heart attack. 

Tues., Sept. 20, 1988 – It is a beautiful morning this morning.  It is cooled off and the humidity is down.  I feel pretty good this morning.  That is probably a bad sign.  J.D. Shields visitation is tonight starting at 5 p.m. in the High School Gym.  Trixie is going to Mt. Carmel with Karol Brown today. 

Fri., Oct. 21, 1988 – It’s raining.  The Dodgers won the World Series last night.  The firemen are coming today to present a program. 

Mon., Oct. 24, 1988 – It is cool this morning 36°.  It rained about 1 inch Saturday night.  Trixie went to Albion and got the parts for the picker Sat.  We worked 2 to 3 hrs. Friday night getting it back together.  I think that I put the chain in backwards, but I picked corn with it Sat. anyway, 3 loads.  The corn is not all that good but lots better than I thought last summer during those hot dry days.  Trixie took a load of corn to Dahlgren Sat.  I busted the thumb nail back on my thumb and it is sore.  We went to Carbondale (S.I.U.) yesterday looked up some more stuff on my paper.  Revival started last night.  Roger Russell evangelist.

Tues., Oct. 25, 1988 – Pictures today.  Isn’t that great news?  It is sprinkling rain this morning.  Revival at church.  I thas been good thus far.  Barbara was there last night.

Clipping - 
Rev. Roger Russell Revival ServiceA Revival Service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Wayne City, beginning October 23 and continuing through October 28.  Services each evening at 7 p.m.  
Evangelist is Rev. Roger Russell, of Centralia, former pastor of Ellen Moore Methodist Church.  Mr. and Mrs. Tammer Saliba in charge of special music.
Everyone invited.  Come and join us for an evening of worship and good singing. 

Wednes., Oct. 26, 1988 – Class tonight.  I am to give my great presentation.  I will be glad when it is over.  Mt. Vernon conference Thursday & Friday.

Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 27 & 28, 1988 – No school Mt. Vernon conference.  I had a good 2 days.  I gave my speech in class Wednesday night.  Glad to get that over with. 

Mon., Oct. 31, 1988 – Monday – back to school.  I finished picking my corn Saturday night.  I about froze before I got through.  Yesterday evening I took a steer and a hog to Clark’s to be butchered.  It is going to take me a while to get back into the groove of school.  I had a good day yesterday, rested, slept.  I did not study.  Time changed back to standard time, had more time this morning which I like, but less time tonight will not be so good.  By Nov. 30 I have to have a paper for my class.  I haven’t started yet.

Wednes., Nov. 30, 1988 – Well this is the day, I have to turn in my paper & I suppose talk on it.  I am not prepared.  So what is going to happen to me?  It is cloudy this morning.  The last day of November.

Thurs., Dec. 1, 1988 – It snowed some last night.  I gave my talk and turned in my paper last night.  I didn’t have to talk much.  One more meeting – we are going to have a party.  I took Trixie this morning to meet a lady to go to New York City. 

Clipping - Michael Beehn Named W.C. Senior of Month

Fri., Dec. 2, 1998 – Trixie called me “collect” last night from “New York Hotel room.”  I am going to Mt. Vernon this morning.  Admin’s meeting breakfast. 

Mon., Dec. 5, 1988 – Cool this morning, in the 20’s.  Sun is shining.  It was beautiful Sat. & Sun. I combined some Sat. Didn’t quite get a hopper of beans & morning glory seeds on about 6 acres.  My 52^nd birthday was yesterday.  Isn’t that something?  I think my youth is gone, but where?  Trixie told me that Dorothy Talbert was going to invite me to dinner.  She didn’t.  Barbara called me yesterday morning asked me over.  I told her I thought that I would be invited Dorothy’s.  Trixie for some reason decided to come home early from New York.  I wasn’t home.  I was out walking trying to find Rock Bluff.  She tried to call me then she called Dorothy thinking that I was there.  Dorothy ended up driving to Mt. Vernon to get here.  Isn’t that a lick?

Thurs., Dec. 8, 1988 – Well I attended my last class meeting last night.  I got my paper back, had good comments.  I don’t understand why.  We met in Mt. Vernon at Marjorie Long’s house.  We had all kinds of food, drinks, treats, etc.   Jack & Rachel Martin came to our house yesterday afternoon around 4:30 stayed all night, were still in bed when I left this morning.  Trixie said that Glen, Dorothy & Philip Talbert were there while I was gone.  There was a big earthquake in Russia yesterday.  Gorbachev is leaving the U.S. early today to go back home because of the earthquake.  At least 50 children were killed in one school. 

Fri., Dec. 9, 1988 – Friday!!! The sun is shining.  It was around 20° this morning. 

Thurs., Dec. 22, 1988 – I stayed home today, sick.  I didn’t go to the Christmas Dinner last night.  I had a terrible night.  It is misting rain.  I got the check for my calves today. They were not as big as I thought they would be, 4 weighed 4905 ave. 1226 lbs.  One weighed 1150 lbs. after trucking, etc. had $3912.55.  I got my grade from that class I took – “B”.  I had planned on going to the Christmas Dinner right up to the last minute.  Then I was feeling so bad I called Mr. Edwards and told him I wasn’t able to make it.  I sent Trixie to Dexter’s with the Certificates of Recognition.  Trixie also went to school Thursday and got my Christmas presents and my check. 

Mon. – Fri., Dec. 26 – 30 – No school Christmas vacation.  Well I got lots of presents for Christmas and I finally got over the flu.  We had some good days and some not so good.  We got seven inches of snow.  I think It was Tuesday morning before daylight. 

Mon., Jan. 2, 1989 – No school today New Years’ Holiday.  I came to school today.  It is all clean and nice.  Snow is still on.  We will start back to school tomorrow.  It will be a big change for me.  Barbara called me yesterday said that Bonnie had been in the hospital for eleven days in Bangkok. 

Wednes., Jan. 25, 1989 – Bill Lathrop absent ½ day.  Trixie called me said that she was sick.  I went home at 11:30 and took her to the Doctor.  He said it was the high blood pressure medicine that she was taking.  It has not rained yet but I believe it will today.  It is foggy, cloudy, misty.  I was late getting to the Building Committee meeting last night.  Mike Beehn has figured that it will cost $150,000 to build a new church.  Had Bible Study after the meeting, got out around 8:30.  Dorothy & Glen Talbert came out to see Trixie, stayed until about 10:30.  I am tired and sleepy this morning.  Trixie says she is worse, maybe the staying up was not so good for her, but she acted like she was feeling good last night. 

Fri., Jan. 27, 1989 – I thought Trixie was getting better, but when I got home yesterday evening she said that she was feeling worse and she made an appointment to see Dr. Thompson today & Alice McCormick is going to take her.  It is a beautiful day this morning, a little cool 29° but the sun is shining and it is to warm up into the 50’s. 

Mon., Jan. 30, 1989 – The sun is shining.  It is suppose to warm up into the 50’s.

Tues., Jan. 31, 1989 – Last day of January.  Isn’t that something?  The sun is shining.  It is beautiful.  It is suppose to break a record for warm temp today, 68°.  Trixie called the Doctor yesterday.  She has an appointment for Wednesday but she couldn’t wait that long.  She got some more and different medicine. 

Wednes., Feb. 1, 1989 – The sun is shining but the cold is coming from Alaska is suppose to start arriving this afternoon.  It is in the 50’s now.  Trixie is going to church, hair dresser & doctor today. 

Mon., 4-3-89 – It is still raining.  It came another flood last night.  It just simply poured.  Bonnie, my sister is home from Bangladesh.  She is at Jackie [Hogue’s], came in Saturday, I think. 

Tues., 4-4-89 – It came the worst rain storm we have ever had last night.  It came in sheets and volumes, hail the size of golf balls.  Water was pouring, roaring over and down the road between us and Randy Trotter’s. 

Fri., 4-7-89 – The sun is shining this morning.  It looks like it is going to be a pretty day although rain is predicted 70% chance.

Mon., April 10, 1989 – Idella Robertson sub.  Today is Trixie’s 49^th birthday.  Can you believe that?  It doesn’t seem right does it?  I went to a sale north east of Dahlgren, Nance, Willow Spring Farm.  Sat. & Sun. bought 2 glass plates.  It is a pretty place.  It was cold.  Mrs. Cross was there. 

Mon., 4-17-1989 – It was a beautiful weekend, warm and sunny.  Trixie was gone to a retreat. She left Friday, came back yesterday.  60% chance of rain today.  We had our athletic banquet Sat. night.  Everything went okay.  Suellyn came with me.  I didn’t shave this morning.  I was getting ready to when Mrs. Trotter called. Then I spent a half hour calling for a sub.  I did not get one until I got to school.  Anyway in all the hustle, etc. I forgot to shave.  Isn’t that a lick?  The first time in 31 years.  Had 2 new calves over the weekend, have 4 now.  Today is income tax day.  We owe around $1700 Fed. & State.  I wrote trying to borrow money from Equitable, haven’t heard from this yet. 

Tues., April 18, 1989 – It is cloudy and gloomy this morning and I am tired and feel blah.  I didn’t sleep very well last night.  Cows bawling, dogs barking, etc. I woke up around 4 o’clock, got up at 5:30.  Loaded my 2 pigs in the truck.  Trixie is to take them to the Sale Barn today.  I got a $2500 loan from Equitable Insurance yesterday.  Maybe now that check for the taxes won’t bounce.  Thanks and praise to God!  A week ago I did not know how I was going to get the money to pay them. 

Fri., May 5, 1989 – It rained slightly yesterday (3 tenths).  Things are wet and green this morning but we need more rain, possible rain today. 

Mon., May 8, 1989 – It is cool this morning about 40’s.  It was really cold Saturday, the wind blowing.  I planted my corn and nearly froze to death.  It snowed in some places in Wayne Co.  Yesterday was a beautiful day. The sun shone and it warmed up. Trixie and I took a walk.  We walked north from our house to the road 1 mile north and then walked west to Meta Kittle’s road then came back south through by Katherine Nicklasson’s and down the old road.  Being gone all day Fri. messes me up today and then we have Board Meeting tomorrow night doesn’t help any.  The Atlantis Space Shuttle is to come  home today. 

[no date]

Clipping -
Somewhere I read a story of a woman who wanted a divorce.  She went to the courthouse and appeared before the judge.  The judge reviewed her petition and asked, "Do you have grounds?"  The woman looked at him quizzically and said, "Grounds?  Well, yes, your Honor, we do have about an acre and a half."  "No," said the judge, "what I mean is, Do you have a grudge?"  The bewildered woman replied, "No, we just have a carport."  The judge was becoming frustrated. "You're not getting the point," he said.  "Does he beat you up?"  The woman replied, "Oh, no.  I'm up at 6:30 and he doesn't get up until 7:00."  The judge was exasperated.  He looked at the woman and asked: "Look, Lady, why are you here?  What reason do you have for wanting a divorce?"  The woman replied, "Because my husband and I have a communication problem."