This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Rescuer dives for river youth at dam scene
Randy Benke was saved from a swollen river as fireman Larry Van Laningham waded into the water with a rescue rope. Benke lost his grip on the canoe and surfaced near Van Laningham who secured him. Both swam to a concrete pier as others had earlier been marooned downstream.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Larry van Laningham
Randy
van Laningham
Wapsipinicon River
Independence
Randy Benke
Monticello