The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The Sharpe Weather Station is back where it started. It is now located at the west edge of La Harpe at the Ted Sharpe home, formerly the Jack Sharpe residence.
Jack and Mary Belle have decided to retire from weather reporting. Their son Ted thought it would be neat to keep it in the family, therefore he is the new "weather man".
What Jack thought in 1951 was a temporary job until they could find someone, proved to be a job for 52 years. Ted has grown up watching his Dad report the weather and is very familiar with the duties.
Bill Elliott, with the National Weather Service in Davenport, was in La Harpe Thursday to handle the transfer of the weather station to the present location.
Every morning at 7:00 a.m., the "weather box" has to be checked for the temperature and the rain gauge for precipitation which includes rain, snow fall, melted snow and snow on the ground.
Any snow in the gauge must be taken inside and melted to gather the measurement.
Any precipitation over .01 is called in by telephone.
Each day the high, low and present temperature has to be recorded. Three copies must be made - one to be sent to Davenport, one to the Mississippi River Drainage Area District, and one to be kept for their personal records.
The weather report is given to the "Quill" each week to be printed in the paper.