The other day I got a call from Jim Sayer, a friend and reader, about the previous column where I mentioned the PNA kids fishing derby out at Lake LaGrange years ago.

Jim said it brought back a memory to him as he was one of the kids who won a prize.

He wasn’t sure how old he was.

He said he and another kid each caught a couple of small bass. It was considered a tie, and for the prize they had a pie-eating contest and the winner would get th prize.

He said he was given a rhubarb pie — a pie he hated — and he traded his pie to the other fellow for his peach pie.

Evidently, Jim loved peach pie as he won the pie-eating contest and his prize was a Heddon fishing rod.

I can’t remember if Jim told me the name of the other contestant.

In 1931, Fred Hoppe of Dowagiac set a record at the Dowagiac golf course (now the Elks course) for the long route.

He made the rounds in 36, 38 and 37, respectively. (If I recall, Mr. Hoppe was the manager there.)

Remember the Dowagiac “barbershoppers” who used to have their “barbershop parade?” (I remember they were good singers.)

Remember how on the back page of our old Daily News, following Berenice Vanderburg’s column, there used to be little notes of things going on in the city, club meetings, etc.?

Accidents were also reported.

Also, all the births and deaths. Hospital news of the admissions and discharges, telling whether the patient was in for surgery or just medical.

The news from the justice court, for instance, in 1954, Chief of Police Paul Spencer reported three Dowagiac women pleaded guilty on charges of drinking in a public place.

Fines were $12.10, $8.10 and $7.10. (I won’t say who these ladies were.)

Many years ago there was a man by the name of Golden who resided in a shack close to Pine Lake. He was a fellow no one cared about and he cared little for no one. He did little evil or good in this world and loved fishing and hunting. He owned not a foot of land, and when he was ready to migrate he did the same as birds do.

Way back in the early years many deer had a good “run” around Pine Lake.

It was common to see six or more on a tramp foraging on the shocks of corn at night.

There was one huge buck called Old Golden from the fact Mr. Golden tried to kill, but never could. Nor was any other local hunter able to bag the big buck, either.