Chicken Thieves at Houston
Chicken thieves have of late been making raids upon some of the coops in the vicinity of Houston. A little over a week ago O. L. Kerr, of that village, lost twenty chickens. On Monday night of this week C. M. Wick, of near that village, had seventy five chickens, six ducks and two turkeys taken. Tuesday morning he went to Piqua from where in company with Chief of Police Adams he went to Fletcher where it was found that a load of poultry answering the description of his had been disposed of by C. J. Hoechst, who had been given a check for $20.45 in payment for same. Mr. Wick identified the poultry as his own and was given a bill of it, a part of the poultry and a part payment in money. Just before Mr. Wick called Chief Adams had received a letter from M. W. Thomas making inquiry as to the whereabouts of Hoechst who was wanted for embezzlement. It seems that early in the season Hoechst had been employed by Thomas to buy poultry and had been advanced $100 by him. He had made but one delivery amounting to $18, and never afterward showed up. Hoechst was located Tuesday night at the home of his brother in Piqua and Wednesday morning he was taken to St. Paris by the Marshal of that village on the charge of embezzlement.
Sidney Daily News, February 14, 1899

Maccabees Had a Good Time Last Evening
The Shie building was the scene of a large swarm of Maccabees last evening. The occasion was a 6 o'clock dinner and entertainment given by the Maccabees of this city. It was an excellent dinner and was well served. Over three hundred people were served. Most of those who took dinner remained for the entertainment and many others came in for it alone. The room was crowded. The program rendered was an interesting one. Bonnie Yoakam gave a recitation, "The Switchman," and Bessie Skeer sang a song, "The Way of the World." Two songs were sung by a club composed of the following little boys and girls: Clemens Frey, Goldie Griffis, Mildred Dill, Stella Fry, Edna Schneeberger, Hazel McCune, Zelpha Elliott, John Martin. Mrs. Marie Johnston, Lady Commander of the local hive, gave an address on behalf of the Lady Maccabees. She gave a brief history of the order of Lady Maccabees. The order originated in Muskegon, Michigan, and the Michigan State Hive was organized in May 1890. In July 1892, the first hive was organized in Ohio. It was in Cleveland.

In 1894 the first Ohio State Hive was organized. Ohio now has a membership of over 11,000. In October 1892, the Supreme Hive was organized. The aggregate membership now with all its branches is 100,000. The work of the Maccabees is a striking example of what the women can do. N. Wilbur, Deputy Supreme Commander, gave an address on behalf of the Knights of the Maccabees. He spoke of the growth of the order and its object both from a social and from an insurance standpoint. At the close of Mr. Wilbur's address the cake walkers, Earl Herzstam and James Perkinson, appeared and amused the crowd with a colored cake walk. The Piqua guard team, consisting of twenty-five Lady Maccabees, then gave the Maccabee drill. Their spelling of L.O.T.M. and making the bee hive was very pretty. Music was furnished by the Regal Mandolin Club. Besides the Piqua Maccabee team there were quite a large number of other Maccabees up from Piqua. A number of Maccabees from Quincy and Wapakoneta were also present.
Sidney Daily News, February 24, 1899

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