Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 11, 1987

Benton's pre-Centennial focus will involve weekly emphases until the actual celebration July 5. Something special is planned for each week until the event.

This Thursday evening, June 11, 100 red and white balloons will be released. They will contain a message telling the finders what to do to get a prize. Anyone finding one of these balloons will receive the prize by bringing the message contained in their balloon to Benton at the time of the Centennial.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 18, 1987

Plans are continuing for the Benton Centennial Sunday, July 5.

Tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m., a bell will be re-dedicated as part of the pre-centennial preparation.

Ground has been broken for a platform to support the former Methodist Church bell donated in 1890 by Sara and Summual WALLACE and their children, Lena, Margaret, Chester, Esther and Madge. The bell was taken down from the tower of the church in the middle 1950's because of deterioration of the tower. The church now is used as a community hall, where all of the Centennial preparations have taken place for over a year.

Melvis EIGHMY has restored the bell and Charles CALHOUN is working on laying the bricks. The bricks are bricks from the former bank and school buildings, and were donated by Larry BLUNCK and Dorothy MATTHEWS.

On the platform a cement stone from the school and a stone dated 1916 will be placed along with a stone with this year's date. After the Centennial, a time capsule will be placed inside.

The project was made possible by donations from Benton alumni and volunteers.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2012

  Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 09, 1987, Pages 1 & 7

Cooperating weather swelled the crowd as people from far and near celebrated the centennial of Benton Sunday.

A crowd estimated at more than 2,500 people shared the day in the community of 52, taking part in the number of activities during the busy day.

While all kinds of activities were available for entertainment, visiting with friends and seeing old friends for the first time in a number of years was a highlight for many.

Another of the highlights of the day was the large parade, lead by the Mount Ayr Community high school band, which traveled through the community.

The 45-minute parade featured everthing from floats, to queen candidates, to antique cars and tractors.

One float carried Benton's unique all woman town council along the parade route. Helen BLUNCK is mayor and present council members are Jerri GRAHAM, Dortha HALEY, Vi NICKELS, Karyn GRAHAM and Joan STRINGHAM. Mary SWANK serves as the town secretary-treasurer.

Trophies were awarded for the top three places in the parade following judging.

First place went to the Benton Centennial float, "100 Years of Magic in Benton." Second place went to Penny DeVAULT, who wore a 100-year-old black dress and rode her horse in an antique side saddle. Third place went to the "Honey of a Place to Bee" entry of Tracey CLOUGH of Des Moines. A little bee was being chased by a beekeeper on a unicycle in this entry.

Queen candidates from various communities in the county rode in the parade and the winner was announced following the parade.

Named queen of the Benton Centennial was Kelly GRAHAM of Benton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert GRAHAM.

Serving with her as prince and princess of the festivities were Larry LANE and Jessica GRAHAM.

Other queen candidates included Malinda STRINGHAM, Benton; Heather WALLACE, Benton; Angela ELLIOTT, Mount Ayr; Terri CLYMER, Tingley; Annette BLUNCK, Mount Ayr; Emily McALEXANDER, Beaconsfield; Stacy GARRETT, Diagonal; Janet REEVE, Maloy; Karla SWANK, Benton; and Leslie BARKER, Benton.

 Two other contests with a centennial theme included the beard contest and the centennial dress contest.

Elmer MOAKS (left), of Shannon City, won the longest beard contest, with Raymond KOONTZ of Sheridan, MO, placing second, and Randy ANDREWS of Benton third.

 Lucy RICKER wore a dress that was more than 150 years old and Penny DeVAULT won second with her outfit that was 100 years old to top that category of the dress contest.

DeVAULT placed first, RICKER (at right) second and Dorthy HALEY third in the most authentic section of the contest.

Lavice BARKER was judged as having the prettiest centennial dress. Louise FROST placed second and Wilmath NICHOLS was third in this section of the competition.

Athletic events were sprinkled in among the day's activities as well.

Winners in the centennial sack races included Casey JONES, Craig MELVIN, Blockton; Amanda SCOTT; Brent MELVIN, Blockton; Brad MELVIN, Blockton; Larry LANE, Benton; Heather WALLACE, Benton; Amy VARDAMAN, Mount Ayr; Audrey SWANK, Mount Ayr; and Kristi SMITH, Mount Ayr.

Another event for the younger set was the centennial pedal pull, which had competition in four age divisions.

Results included:

 0-5 years old -- tie for 1. between Chris SOBOTKA, Des Moines; Caine POORE, Mount Ayr; and Jacob STEVENSON, Clearfield. 2. Rachel McDANIEL, Redding. 3. Craig MELVIN, Blockton. 4. Alan BEEMER, Bedford.

6-8 years old -- tie for 1. between Joshua STEPHENSON, Clearfield, and Black McILRARY, Orient. 2. Jeremy PRITCHETT, Mount Ayr. 3. Michael KNOX, Clearfield. 4. Jeremy GRACE, Diagonal.

9-10 years old -- 1. Robby RILEY, Lenox. 2. Erin MAIN, Mount Ayr. 3. Chris WHITTINGTON, Diagonal. 4. Clint DREDGE, Mount Ayr.

11-12 years old -- tie for 1. between Brad MELVIN, Blockton, and John WHITTINGTON, Diagonal. 2. Eric WHITE, Benton.

Other contestants took part in a staple throw competition. Laverne WORTHINGTON of Mount Ayr placed first, Doyle STAMPER of Mount Ayr and Tabby GARRETT of Diagonal tied for second, and John WHITTINGTON of Diagonal was fourth in the contest. WORTHINGTON donated his first-place winnings back to the centennial.

[Page 7] One of the features of the later afternoon was the hot rod garden tractor pull held in the Benton Park.

Benton's community hall was the focus of much activity during the day, with the quilt show and historical displays housed inside. The new bell monument erected outside was dedicated in a special ceremony which opened the centennial observance. The bell originally hung in the Benton Methodist Church.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2012