From the Mascot files
100 Years Ago
(March 3, 1922
Firemen respond to
barn fire; horse dies
A fire was discovered at might on Saturday in a small barn at the home of Ernest Magnuson. The fire was merely a smoldering one in some bedding and refuse behind the horses, but it had filled the barn with smoke and one of the horses suffocated and died. The fire alarm was sounded and there were soon enough people on the ground to do all that could be done.
Prominent Icelandic
doctor visits here
Dr. Jonas Kristjanson, one of the prominent physicians of Iceland, spend last Saturday in Minneota. Dr. Kristjanson came here from Winnipeg where he had been since the first part of January. He was planning to visit with his aunt, Mrs. Rosa Ousman, not realizing that she no longer living in Minneota. After spending the night here, Dr. Kristjanson went on his way to Rochester where he will spend some time visiting the Mayo Institutions.
75 Years Ago
(March 7, 1947)
Finnegan dies on
trip to California
John F. Finnegan, former mayor of Minneota and a member of this community since he came to the United States in 1880, died of a heart attack at St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles last Friday. He had been in failing health since last September. Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan were visiting relatives and friends in California when he was stricken. Finnegan worked at Geiwitz Hardware before buying a meat market and ran that business for 12 years before turning it over to his sons.
School to raise
price of lunches
Princes of hot lunch sold to students at the Minneota Public Schools will be raised from 12 cents to 15 cents, Superintendent R.T. Lovell said this week. Federal aid, which schools receive for their lunch programs, is being reduced this month and will be cut off entirely after March 31, Mr. Lovell said. Another reason for the hike in price is that the cost of food has been going up. Unless the present Congress decides to appropriate money for the lunch programs, schools will not receive any federal aid to help finance the project.
Successful fund drive
expected for hospital
Members of the Minneota Businessmen's Association hospital committee said this week that from all indications at the present time a hospital here was practically assured. Enthusiasm from the project is running high and committee members expect the fund drive to be successful. This week, $32,000 had been collected of the $80,000 goal and one township, Burton, already has reached its goal. The MBA is busy conducting its drive for funds in the village and plans on adding more members to assist them with the campaign.
50 Years Ago
(March 2, 1972)
Jackson laves his
position with M-G-T
Harold Jackson, the manager of the Minneota-Ghent-Taunton Oil Company for the past four years, has resigned from that position effective April 1. Don Boerboom, chairman of the board of directors of the cooperative, made the announcement this week. Mr. Jackson, who came to Minneota after the death of Norman Johnson, has accepted the post as district supervisor for Central Exchange. Albert E. Raeder of Webster, SD, has been retained as manager of the cooperative and will take over his new managerial duties in April.
Hammer dies after
named fan of year
William Hammer of Minneota was named the Basketball Fan of the Year last Friday. After Hammer was presented with an award before the start of the Minneota vs. Lake Benton game by co-captains Chuck Dalager and Dennis Fox. Shortly after the award presentation, Hammer suffered a fatal heart attack. Hammer had attended every Minneota basketball game this year, home and away.
Boerboom, Claeys are
Viking Snowball royalty
Scott Boerboom and Terri Claeys were elected the Minneota High School Snowball King and Queen and paraded down the auditorium floor at the school. Other members of the Snowball royalty were Mary Sanow, Jim Opdahl, Michelle Koppien, Gary Kronabetter, Joan DeSmet, Roger Thostenson, Faye Eischens, Larry Haugen, Sheree Boe, Tom Traen, Terri Sanow and Don Gorecki.
Vikings top Hendricks
in sub-district opener
Minneota won its first game in the first round of the subdistrict basketball tournament Monday evening in Ivanhoe, defeating Hendricks, 60-54. Steve Boerboom led Minneota with 26 points
25 Years Ago
(March 5, 1997)
SSU president is
Rotary special guest
Southwest State University president Doug Sweetland was the guest of the Minneota Rotary Club this past week. Sweetland told that his house burned down in September and that the college is undergoing the same budget it had four years ago and they had to cut 25 percent of the sports staff, most administrative supervisors, as they have been forced to move funding out of the non-academics to the academic area. High school seniors Shawna VanHecke and Matt Telste were also guests of the Rotary Club and each talked about their involvement at the high school.
Community Education
continues to offer more
The Minneota Community Education continues to offer many more activities and classes to residents as it gains popularity. In most cases, you will find that the cost is very low for the classes you will take. This is a wonderful way to find out more about your computer, how to make things for your home, or go on a trip that is interesting and informative.
GMT Women of Today
attend state convention
The Minnesota Women of Today Winter State Convention was held on Feb. 21-23 in Minneapolis. Attending from the Ghent-Minneota-Taunton (GMT) Women of Today were Kristen Trusty, Kathy Jirele and Barb Okrina. The GMT Chapter was acknowledged for growth for the third quarter, 100 percent retention for the third quarter, and for participating in the Operation 42 Project.
Ahlschlager breaks
school scoring record
Luke Ahlschlager, the son of Bruce and Diane Ahlschlager, broke the Minneota basketball scoring record with 930 points. Duane Kockelman had the previous record of 921 points that he set in 1995. Ahlschlager is a senior at Minneota High School.
This Day in History
March 3
1863 - Abraham Lincoln signs a measure creating the National Academy of Sciences.
1931 - “The Star Spangled Banner” becomes the national anthem of the United States as President Herbert Hoover signs a congressional resolution.
1960 - Lucille Ball files for divorce from her husband, Desi Arnaz, a day after they finished filming the last episode of “The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show.”
1985 - Coal miners in Britain vote to end a year-long strike that proves to be the longest and most violent walkout in British history.
1991 - Motorist Rodney King is severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video.
2002 - Voters in Switzerland approve joining the United Nations, abandoning almost 200 years of formal neutrality.
2019 - Multiple tornadoes tear through Georgia and Alabama, killing at least 23 people.