Betty E. Clark will celebrate her 85th birthday with an open house on Saturday, March 9, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Moline. Friends and relatives are invited to attend from 2 to 4 p.m. No gifts, please. The former Betty E. Bjornson was born March 9, 1928, in Kewanee. She married Judge Walter E. Clark on Dec. 17, 1955, in Kewanee. He passed away Jan. 4, 2004. Her children are William (Beverly) Buckley, Moline; B.J. (Larry) Sanders, Moline; Carl (Sandy) Clark, Hampton; Gregory Clark, Florida; the Rev. Michel (Karen) Clark, Knoxville, Ill.; and Liz (Jerry Glogowski), East Moline. Betty was employed at Lutheran Hospital in the business office and retired from the Rock Island County Clerk's Office as chief deputy after 22 years of service. She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Moline.
Today is Saturday, May 25, the 145th day of 2013. There are 220 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: The annual review of the fire department of this city took placeyesterday and made a fine showing with machines and hose carts in tip-top order. 1888 -- 125 years ago: Last night's prayer meeting at Central Presbyterian Church wascalled off due to water in the basement, residue of last week's flood. 1913 -- 100 years ago: The junior class of Rock Island High School will hold a riverexcursion on the steamer St. Paul next Tuesday. 1938 -- 75 years ago: The 75th Anniversary of the Rock Island Arsenal today finds thenation's largest ordinance manufacturing plant filling many important orders for the army. 1963 -- 50 years ago: Miss Patrice Daly, Rock Island, a senior at Rock Island HighSchool, won second place in the recent state public speaking contest held in Peoria underthe auspices of the Knights of Pythias. 1988 -- 25 years ago: Hampton's sesquicentennial committee and the Hampton HistoricalSociety have scheduled a full slate of activities, which will be held throughout the year, to celebrate the village's 150th birthday. The first celebration will be the Memorial Dayprogram at 10 a.m. May 30, at the Brettun and Black Store Museum on River Road. Therewill be a sesquicentennial display.