Mar 12, 1945, Gene Richardson, 29, was fatally injured about 9:30 this morning when a part of a piece of heavy machinery fell upon him while he was at work at the Richardson sand and gravel pit near the home of his parents near Frankton.

May 3, 1945, Sergeant James Huggins, age 23, was reported by the War Department to have been killed in action May 3rd on Mindinao Island, Philippines.

Mar 11, 1946, death of I.E. Wilson 85, pioneer Orestes school teacher. Mr. Wilson was born and reared in Orestes, and was a member of one of the original pioneer families of the community.

June 20, 1946, Dave Cox Grocery Store to open in Alexandria soon.

Kid Kanteen opens at Harrison and Church St in Alexandria.

Sept 16, 1946, Orestes McMahan, 69, for whom the town of Orestes was named, died at his country home north of Orestes. He was born on Christmas Day, 1876, in the little village then known as Lowrys Switch, the son of Nathan and Ellen (McClead) McMahan. Not long after his birth, the town board decided to change the name of the town and asked for suggestions for the name. Mr. McMahan sent in his sons name, and upon its acceptance, the town became known as Orestes. Mr. McMahan was a farmer all his life and was never married. He resided on the home place north of Orestes with his two sisters. Pallbearers were Paul Swaim, George Morgan, Hugh Robinson, George Myers, Fred Emmons and George Mann.

September 16, 1946, Fire of undetermined completely destroyed the grandstand at the Armscamp Speedway at Alexandria tonight. Bernie Morgan, of Parker, who with his brother Lou are owners of the track, estimate the loss at approximately $20,000. The track was built in April of 1941 by Joe Armstrong and Frank Scampmorte of Anderson, and the track was first opened to the public in July of that year. Closed during 1943 and 1944, it was reopened in 1945 when the Office of Defense Transportation permitted a relaxation of war-time travel restrictions. In February of this year, the track was purchased by the present owners, who have held races there every Sunday night during the season. (NEWSPAPER PHOTOGRAPHS)

Sept 22, 1947, Keith and Thelma McClead were injured in a head on collision on St. Rd. 9, son Danny Keith McClead 1, died in the accident.

February 13, 1948, Harlan D. Plackard died in the family home at Orestes. He had spent his entire life there. He had driven a school bus since the fall of 1939 and served as an industrial arts instructor in the Alexandria High School.

April 18, 1948, Armscamp Speedway opened its 1948 racing season today when Leroy Warriner of Indianapolis led a field of twelve midget racers across the finish line in the 25 lap feature race of the afternoon. Potsy Goacher, of Anderson, opened the afternoons festivities by copping the five lap trophy dash in one minute and 19.7 seconds. Tom Cherry, of Muncie, and Leroy Warriner placed second and third respectively.

June 30, 1948, The citizens of Orestes have gotten together to construct a new town park. Contributions were received at the Orestes post office, Walkers grocery, and Grose market. Board members include Ralph King, chairman; Charles B. Welborn, clerk-treasurer; and Robert L. Blake, manager. Lights will be installed for night games.

July 12, 1948, Mulford (Muff) Davis, former Elwood High School, and University of Kentucky basketball star, has accepted the position as athletic director and basketball coach of Frankton High School. Davis has signed a one year contract and assumes his first coaching job when school opens in September. He attended Orestes and Frankton grade schools and graduated from Elwood High School in 1941, played four years varsity basketball at Elwood under Coach Hunk Francis. He enrolled in Kentucky in 1941, played four years varsity basketball under Adolph Rupp. Davis spent three and a half years in the armed forces in North Africa, Italy, France, and England. He is the son of Mrs. Fannie Davis and the late Charles D. Davis, of Orestes.

February 2, 1949,Lawrence Asbury Dumps Shaw, 68, lifelong resident of Orestes, was found dead in the garage of his Orestes home. Coroner George Albright of Anderson gave the cause of death as suicide by carbon monoxide gas. Relatives said Mr. Shaw had been in ill health for a number of months and had been forced to retire from his work in Anderson for that reason. He had served on the town board for many years and had built the store attached to the KP Building and the gasoline station.

May 2, 1949, Ralph King Sr., 72, of Orestes, suffered a broken vertebra when he fell from a power shovel at the Orestes gravel pit.

November 5, 1949, fire starting from an overheated stove caused considerable damage to the Christian Church at Orestes today and most of the furnishings inside of the building were destroyed. All of the seats, carpet, and the piano were burned but a new electric organ, which was purchased recently by the church, was removed from the church and was not damaged. A small boy whose name was not learned, discovered smoke coming from the church door and ran to the Orestes Voluntary Fire Department and the Alexandria Fire department responded to the call.

Dec 12, 1949, the Cunningham comets winning streak was halted at 35 games as the Indianapolis Presbyterian Tabernacle defeated the team 23-18 at Indianapolis.

Jan 24, 1950, a robbery of the Walkers Grocery at Orestes late Monday or early Tuesday morning netted the burglars 90 cartons of cigarettes and other merchandise totaling about $400. Items stolen were found in the possession of Jack Lee Sipe of Anderson, in Fort Wayne. He was immediately taken into custody Tuesday night and charged with the burglary.

June 26, 1950, Ralph King of Orestes and Grover Pruitt of Anderson, were arrested and charged with reckless homicide by Sheriff Joe Brogdon. The two men were involved in an accident south of Alexandria just north of the North Drive-In Theatre on State Road 9 early Saturday morning in which two persons burned to death and their baby died a short time later.

June 27, 1950, a meeting of 50 persons composed of parents and boys interested in scouting was held in the hall of the Orestes Knights of Pythias lodge. Attending were Willis Tappan, Robert Blake, Billy Abernathy, Ralph King, and Charles Welborn who represented the K.P. Lodge.

April 30, 1951, Race driver Paul Camp was fatally injured in a crash at Armscamp Speedway.

April 30, 1951, Orestes Volunteer Fire Department extinguished a fire at the Walker Grocery in Orestes at 4:45 a.m.

Mar 20, 1953, Julius A. (Boss) Walker, 72, widely-known Orestes grocer, died suddenly yesterday at 2:45 p.m. in his automobile at 27th and Main in Elwood. He came to Orestes in 1904 from Advance, N.C. and had been a grocer for 17 years.

May 24, 1953, dedication services were held at the new Orestes Christian Church today as Rev. William Y. Pearcy addressed the congregation. The building fund for the new structure was started in January 1948 under the ministry of the late Rev. V. Hays Miller. In August 1952 under the present pastors ministry, the ground was broken and the new building begun. The Cornerstone Laying service was held Sept. 7, 1952, with Dr. O.L. Shelton, dean of the School of Religion, Butler University, as guest speaker. In the new building the auditorium seats 150 with two overflow rooms for extra seating when needed. The new church has a full basement and two classrooms downstairs with extra classrooms on the first floor. The pastors study is also on the first floor. Last year the church also purchased a parsonage for the pastor and is a nine-room home adjoining the church lot. Rev. Guy is in his second year pastorate at the church. Following the dedication, visitors inspected the church.

June 6, 1953, Alexandrias newest sporting attraction, the Lions Clubs Littlest 500 received its baptism of fire last night at Armscamp Speedway. Harold Granger copped the Junior High class A feature race. Tom Willis won the grade school feature. The Junior High relay race was won by Harold Granger, Danny Custer, and Clark.

July 30 to Aug 7, 1953, work started today on construction of a proposed $91,755 addition to the Orestes School.

May 14, 1954, The Orestes PTA and the Knights of Pythias will put on a basketball game in the newly completed Orestes School gym to help finance several PTA projects. A preliminary contest will start at 7p.m. between two teams from the eighth grade of Orestes School. The PTA vs. K of P tilt will begin approximately 8:15 p.m. The PTA team will be captained by Bob Walker, whose Walker Transfer Team took several honors during the past season, Claude Willis will also play for the PTA team. The Orestes K of P team will include Eulen Walker and Clyde Granger, former Alexandria players and Arthur Gooding, a former Frankton player. Also scheduled to see action for the K of P are Wayne Delinger, Charles Welborn, and Ralph Reavis. Bill Foster and Walter Carver will referee the contest. Admittance will be 60 cents for adults and 30 cents for grade school children.

May 14, 1954, Orestes Schools new gymnasium was dedicated today following a carry-in supper to which the public has been invited. A supper was be held at 6:30 p.m. in the schools newly constructed gym and is sponsored by Orestes Parent-Teachers Association as the final meeting of the year. Following the supper was a presentation of keys to Township Trustee Jason Grose and Orestes Principal Willis Tappan by the architects of the new structure. The eighth grade boys received basketball letters and the eighth grade class program was given.

The 1954 Orestes graduates are: Ermal Allen Jr., William J. Barth, Helen I. Bronner, Linda Lee Brooks, Elaine Buckles, Charles A. Clark, Clara F. Clevenger, Kay Cox, Judith K. Deines, Herman L. Doster, Liddie M. Gilliam, H. Yvonna Gregory, Maireen L. Harrison, Norma J. Hayes, Virginia K. Hendrix, Danny P. Hobbs, June Ann Hocker, Janice L. Idlewine, Charles Kettery, Betty Lou King, Larry N. Lawson, Sam A. Malicoat, Dennis L. Pratt, Linda K. Shrake, Jerry Schacht, Sharon Smith, Joyce Ann Smith, Larry Spooner, Jim Stinefield, David L. Tulowitzky, Eleanor L. Tulowitzky, and Janice S. Walker.

Music for the evening was provided by the school band and entertainment followed the brief dedication ceremonies. The new Orestes structure which is attached to the original building, includes the gym, two standard class rooms, two rest rooms, two shower rooms and an automatic oil heating system to take care of the new wing. The gym has a standard size junior high floor with bleachers on both sides to seat 500 persons. It is designed for use as a basketball court, a community center, and a recreation room for the Orestes children to play in.

June 10, 1954, Jimmy King, Tom Leach, Bruce Boston, and Tom Willis, won the four lap bicycle relay race at Armscamp. Tommy Leach won the 5th grade race. Danny Davis and Bruce Boston finished one two respectively in the sixth grade race. Tom Willis won the seventh grade race and Jimmy Hartwell finished runner up.

June 24, 1954, Shorty Burdsall is hired as the Alexandria High School Basketball Coach.

July 18, 1954, Five Orestes residents were shaken up in an auto accident in Fort Recovery, Ohio. Larry Delinger, Also in Delingers car were Jack and Glen Waymire, both of near Orestes, Sonny Waymire, visiting from Florida, and Bobby Bebee, of near Orestes.

Nov 4, 1954, First Basketball Games in the New Gym
The Orestes Cyclones scored 38 points tonight against Jim Teeters College Corner teams 14 to win the opening game of the 1954-55 season and their first game on their new gym court at Orestes. Orestes Tom Willis was the high scorer with 13 field goals and four free throws to give him the astounding total of 30 points for the evening. Waymire of College Corner racked up 11 to make him the second high man of the evening. In the preliminary game, the Orestes B team lost to College Corner 19 to 11. Besides Willis, other cyclones suited for the game were: Harris, Rector, Waymire, Hartwell, Vestal, DeVore, and Weaver.