I wondered what was taking place in the Mancos Valley the week I was born - the last week of July 1934.

Your attention is invited to the following amendment to the U.S. postal laws - No ale, beer, wine or intoxicating liquor of whatever kind shall be introduced under any pretense into the Indian country.

John Dillinger, arch criminal, was killed last Friday night in an encounter with federal agents as he was leaving a Chicago picture show.

Supt. James M. Carpenter has been selected to conduct summer school at Sharon Springs, Kansas the last week of August. (James was a brother of Samuel Carpenter who was a well known attorney in the Mancos Valley. His wife Jennie was one of the first white women to visit Mesa Verde. She was the local representative for the American Red Cross for many years.)

Mrs. Louis Paquin has for house guests this week her little brother and sister of Dolores. (Theresa Roessler married Louis Paquin in 1887. Louis was one of the early cowboys who settled in the Mancos Valley in 1876.)

George Menefee and brother Lee Reddert. Fred was a prominent Mancos Valley veterinarian Fred passed away in 1925 and Lottie in 2001.)

Mrs. Susie Mauler and George had dinner at the Charles Menefee home Saturday. George was a Mancos rancher all of his life. He died in a tractor rollover in McElmo Canyon.)

Clarence Robbins, son of Vern Robbins, was badly shook up in a minor accident at the Skoog ranch last week. (Clarence served in the Pacific as a marine during WWII. He married Rowena Gaddis in 1943. Clarence passed away in 1995.)

James Wesley Sheek, the year-old son of Wiley Sheek, was accidentally drowned in a partly filled boiler of water Thursday morning at their place in East Canyon.

Miss Mary Giles returned home Saturday from a short visit in Durango. (Jim Riffey of Cortez was one of her nephews. Mary passed away in 1955.)

Miss Ada Brittain returned home recently from the Johnson hospital in Cortez where she was on duty as a nurse for several weeks. (The Johnson hospital was located east of where City Market is located.)

John Stewart, 69, died at the Johnson hospital in Cortez following an operation Sunday night.

Darrel Ellis is an historian of the Mancos Valley. Email him at dnrls@q.com.