Rodger and Colleen Bayless, Dahinda, Ill., will be honored at an open house, Sunday, Jan. 6, in observance of their 50th anniversary. Relatives and friends are invited to attend from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Geneseo Community Center, 541 E. North St., Geneseo. The couple also celebrated with a five-week road trip to Alaska in April and May. Colleen Cherry and Mr. Bayless were married June 30, 1962. Their children are Tamara Bayless, Bettendorf; Angela Hall, Moline; Melissa Six, deceased; Rodger Bayless II, Galesburg; and Joseph Bayless, Dahinda. They have eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Rodger retired in 2012.
Today is Wednesday, May 22, the 142nd day of 2013. There are 223 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: Large quantities of ice from LaCrosse and Lake Pepin are beingshipped on ice boats, towed by steamers to St. Louis and points below. 1888 -- 125 years ago: With the Mississippi River at 18 feet above the low water stage,Rock Island is waging a valiant fight to keep the river from flooding the entire city. 1913 -- 100 years ago: Approval has been given by the city commission for paving 45thStreet between 7th and 11th Avenues. 1938 -- 75 years ago: Herndon Wright, of East Moline, has won the discus-throw title, by aheave of more than 140 feet, to set a new high school record at Champaign. 1963 -- 50 years ago: With the Selective Service Law recently extended by Congress forfour more years, Mrs. Hazel Doris reminded young men that they must register withinfive days after attaining their 18th birthday. 1988 -- 25 years ago: Over 500 Quad-Cities area retired volunteers were honoredrecently for their community services at a Retired Senior Volunteer Program luncheonat Palmer Auditorium in Davenport. Guest speaker, William Moffitt, director of productengineering of Deere & Co., spoke about leadership and stressed the importance ofcommunity volunteers.