Laurel outlook., 1948-12-29


Worldwide peace. 1t was anothe
year of continued initiation, will
some encouraging indications il
the final month that the coming
year may witness a general level
ing off.
Locally, '48 saw the completion
of an important community pro.
ject, the construction of an athle,
tic field in which nearly every
body had some part, through
donations of cash, labor or ma
terial. The park cost about ST.
900 in money and several thous-
and more in free labor.
Another event in which Laurel
people Eel interested rs well as
the rest Of the nation and the
world at large, was the election
of Harry Truman to the presi-
dency of the United States. Re-
publicans, confident of success,
could scarcely believe they had
been defeated, while the Demo-
Gratis, who were nerved to expect
probable defeat of their 16-year-
old regime, were justifiably jubi-
liant. Truman, without the enthu-
siastic support of his party's
brass, became not only president
in his own right, but also the
real head of his party. His cleo
ton gave many political wise
acres an affliction popularity
known as red face.
A community project of much
less magnitude than the park
construction vas the purchase of
new uniforms for the high school
band, in which many organiza-
tions and individuals participated
by making cash donations.
The widened interest in sports,
particularly for young people,
continued in 1948. Various teams
attained distinction in the
district and state.
In January the city hall an
nounced that nearly $1,000,000
had been spent here in the pre-
six years for new con-
struction of homes and business
houses, including additions and
remodeling.
Representing the Youth Fellow
of the Methodist church, four
young people attended a world
conference in Cleveland, Ohio.
About 10000 from over the world
we're at the conference. !
The Commercial club elected /,
oliver Void president at its Jan.
o meeting. Near the middle Of
he year, Void became president !
# the Rotary club also.
John w. Bonner was here in :
.anuary to attend a convention ,
f the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Ouch later in the year he was f
lected governor of Montana. !
Rev. NJ. j. Wilcox, pastor of n
he Methodist church since July
GAP, transferred to Glendive and y
'as succeeded here by Rev. w. q
;. Gauer from Illinois.
Icy roads the last of January =
aused a number of motor vehi-
lie collisions. h
Speaking at a meeting of the G
.iwanis club, Fred Krieg of Bill a
ngs said the first white person n
nown to have visited this locali-
was Charles La Rae in 1901. p
In February the Commercial V
.ub started a campaign for 49,
DO to defray operating costs for h
lie year.
Calvin Frank was killed and r,
lree others injured in an acct v
ent south of Laurel.
A survey was conducted for c,
a four-lane highway east m
ON Laurel. The proposal was
1t definitely settled by highway n,
liberties. NJ
The district basketball tourna-
ent opened Feb. 10 and was won ot
Laurel, which later lost the 20
visional tourney at Hardin by
scratch in the last seconds of cr
deciding game.
An all-star team of the district w
aged here after the district
ornament as a benefit for the .
hletic park. cd
Ice jams in the Clarks Fork ia
'er damaged properties and
dangered others. ar
Laurel lodge of the Loyal ba
der of Moose was reinstated r.
rly in March. mo
The annual Red Cross solicita- no
n was conducted from door 20
Or. on
Ralph Wendt, Miss Hasmig an
iickian and John Lester, mem at
of the State university mu- !
faculty, presented a program DIN,
the Rotary club. Rotarians he,
wives from Red Lodge were -.
,sts. mr.
he first story about the first eff
ing robin was told early in {
rch.