From the Mascot Files: 75, 50, and 25 years ago
75 Years Ago-July 24, 1942
Deputies Appointed
Plans for local wartime defense got under way in Minneota Tuesday when K. E. Jones, chief air raid warden of the local Defense Council, announced the appointment of Walter Johnson as his assistant. Mr. Jones’ next step in the organization was the appointment of wardens for each of seven districts in the village. Wardens for District 1 are H. J. Smishek, Octave Kesteloot and Sigurd J. Dahl. District 2 are Maurice Van Overbeke, Sherlock White and Elmer Meade. District No. 3 are Harvey Rafnson, Edward Finnegan, William Anderson and Herbert Lueth. District No. 4 are Emil DeSutter, Virgil Ufkin, C. E. Anderson and Harold Flemming. Distict 5 are Kenneth Kompelien, Gisle Johnson and H. F. Burdorf. District 6 are John A. Johnson, Julius Locy and Toby Swanson. District 7 are John O’Neal, Herb Anderson, Gordon Winge and Melvin Halvorson.
Scout of Honor Held
A Boy Scout Court of Honor was held at the city hall Tuesday evening of this week, at which several awards were made. Donald Stienessen was presented to the court by Scoutmaster C. E. Eastwold for examination for promotion to second class scout. The examination was very satisfactory and he was recommended by the court for promotion. Merit badges were presented to the following scouts; Iver Anderson, Marlow Engberg, Douglas Anderson and Harvey Flemming. Members of the court were Supt. H. C. Brown, Thos. Reinertson, E. F. McMillin and K. E. Jones.
Rural Youths Graduate
Lyon county commencement exercises for rural school graduates will be conducted July 30 in the high school auditorium in Marshall. Miss Jennie M. Frost, county superintendent of schools will present diplomas to 108 boys and girls. Following is a list from the Minneota area: Erling Komplien, Lloyd Smith, Betty Sigurdson, Gaston Vlaminck, Camiel Lanoue, Ruth Hammer, Donald Hammer, Irvin McDaniel, Lowell McDaniel, Ruby Orsen, Daniel Laleman, Omer Laleman, and Emy Lou Amundson.
50 Years Ago-July 27, 1967
Named Fairmont Bank President
Harris J. Sorensen, who served as president of the First State Bank of Minneota from 1960 to 1965 has been named president of the First National Bank of Fairmont, Minn., according to an article which appeared in a newspaper of that city recently. He succeeds Harvey N. Johnson, who had been president since 1943.
25 Years Ago-July 22, 1992
Local business owner has found hobby of a lifetime in skydiving
This is a story about one of our business people here in Minneota, Bill Ufkin, and his unusual hobby, skydiving. Bill and his wife, Alison, own and operate Ufkin’s Furniture and Appliance here in Minneota and are your average, everyday young couple you can do business with, have coffee with, go to church with and share a good joke with. They have two children, Tony and Emily, and enjoy family living in the area. Last year, the end of August, Bill and friends, Monte Yeo and Todd Hammer of Minneota and Paul Olson of Hendricks went to Sioux Falls, SD with the sole intent of taking the skydiving course offered at the airport. Who thought of the idea first was a little unclear, but all four wanted to experience the thrill of skydiving.
Kentucky 4-H group visits Minneota area
Several 4-H families hosted their Kentucky friends in Minneota area last week as part of an Interstate Exchange. Owsley County 4-H’ers from Boonville, Kentucky, experienced some northern hospitality while learning about life in Minnesota. 4-H’ers from Lyon and Yellow Medicine County spent a week last summer in Owsley County with many of the same 4-H families who came to Minnesota this summer.
Jim DeCock earns Rotary yearly award
The 1992 recipient of the Minneota Rotary Club’s annual Community Service Award is Jim DeCock. He was a charter member of the Minneota Lions Club and served as their first President. He was active in the construction of the Countryside Golf Course. He worked as a volunteer in the construction of the old pool and having been a member of the Community Education Council which operates the pool and having served on the committee which worked to approve the bond issue for construction of the new pool.