Adult Evening School Program presentation by Mrs. Zervins. Mr. and Mrs. Valentins Viktors Zervins and son Andris left Latvia, their native home in August 1944 and went to Germany. Mrs. Zervins worked in a German factory at manual labor for 13 hours per day. After the war she became secretary of one of the American camp doctors in the occupation zone under the UNRA program. Later she attended the University at Bonn, Germany and received her doctors degree in Russian and English Philology. In January 1950 the Zervins family left Germany under the displaced persons program and through the courtesy of the Lutheran church came to America and to Collins, Iowa. In her talk she said, little do we here in these United States realize the privileges and opportunities we have before us, nor do we appreciate the things we have here. She expressed the thought that we in the United States should exercise our right to vote. In comparing transportation among the rural people here and over there, the farming class there does not have cars and usually about 20 horses per each 100 people. In the displaced persons camp, there often were 6, 8 or 10,000 people in a camp. The living quarters were very cramped, often with 600 people in one block. There was work for only a few of those who wanted work; very few had any means to purchase their needs. Anyone who had cigarettes could get almost anything he or she wanted. Mrs. Zervins stated when the relief program ceases this summer it will be pathetic for the displaced persons.
Grade News - Kindergarten Last Wednesday we started a hike and ended it at the library. We enjoyed having Mrs. Kern tell us about the library and each one of us took a book home. 1st Grade We took an interesting trip to the Collins library Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Kern told us about the library and also read us the book, "Georgie." It was the first time most of us had been in the library and we were surprised to see so many books there for boys and girls. 2nd We drew pictures of "Signs of Spring" after our hike on Friday. We noticed several things including people on bicycles and playing in sand piles, jumping rope, building bonfires, plowing, skating, raking leaves, and many different kinds of birds and birds' nests.
Track Meets - Don Christians, coach, accompanied seven high school boys to Cedar Falls Saturday who were entered in the Teachers' college relays. Although not placing among the winners, the boys didn't take last place in any event, and gave a very good account of themselves. Reno Milligan showed up especially well. In the opinion of those who have seen the boys in action, they would make stiff competition with proper training and track facilities at home. Those who went to Cedar Falls were Kenneth Carroll, Reno Milligan, Carroll Smith, Larry Smith, Don Coughenour, Dick Cory, and John Duesbury. The same group, with the addition of Lonnie Boozell and Phil Holland, are entered in the Drake relays this weekend. (Insert 2005: Track team members were unable to place well enough in the preliminary events to qualify for the final events. Lonnie Boozell ran a strong race in the 100-yard dash, leading much of the race.)