How Time Flies for August 24, 2008:

100 years ago

Aug. 24, 1908: Fire destroyed the grain elevator at Ballard. About 10,000 bushels of oats burned with it. It is believed the blaze was touched off by a passing Chicago & Alton passenger train. (Ballard, between Lexington and Chenoa, lost its most recent elevator in 2006.)

75 years ago

Aug. 24, 1933: The Waldo Mennonite Church between Gridley and Flanagan burned down. Origin of the fire is undetermined. The 1906 building was valued at $8to $10,000 but was not insured. Gridley firemen managed to save the parking sheds nearby.

50 years ago

Aug. 24, 1958: The Bloomington school board decided to cut off bus service to all able bodied students. The move would save $4,000. Service will be retained for special education students. (At the time, Bloomington had only three school buses.)

25 years ago

Aug. 24, 1983: Lexington's Patton Cabin, which was restored and dedicated to the city in 1969, is slowly deteriorating. The 1829 structure is one of McLean County's oldest buildings. It still has most of its original logs and will require $10,000 to restore it to its 1969 condition.