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Topic: 1940's popularity contest finalists
Conf: Smith County Queries, Msg: 105829
From: Susan Shirley (susanfoxshirley@hotmail.com)
Date: 9/29/2007 11:24 AM

I have a fragment of a newspaper from around the time of Lebanon's 70th anniversary. The fragment was used as a bookmark in an Edna Ferber book from the 1920's. The only usable portion of this fragment states that a Popularity Contest is underway to choose a queen to reign in the anniversary festivities. A few names are readable in the list, and it appears they are in order of most likely to win: Janeen Hayward, Sharon McCaulley, Marlene Fisher, Lynda Thompson, Helen Seems, Mary Ann Lofstead, Margaret Woods, and Roberta Bohn. There is at least one more but the page was torn off so all that is readable is the first name Barbara.
Also readable on this fragment's other side is the statement that "our one claim to fame is being the geographic center" and encouraging people to mention it at every opportunity, in letters and so on.
Finally, it is mentioned that the newspaper is taking the opportunity to welcome a family to Lebanon. All that is left of the family's name is ODMAN. Goodman? Just a guess.