Yesteryear
100 Years Ago
(April 20, 1923)
Leo Hennen escapes possible serious mishap behind Big Store
Leo Hennen had a narrow escape from a serious accident while in town on Wednesday morning. While in the act of cranking his car, it suddenly leaped forward, knocked him down, and climbed the concrete walk in the rear of the Big Store, butting squarely against the brick wall. Mr. Hennen's right arm was badly bruised from the wrist to the elbow.
Vandewalker wins 2nd grade arithmetic speed contest
The Minneota second-grade class in arithmetic had a speed contest on Tuesday. The work comprised 30 problems in addition, with four to five figures in each problem. Orrin Vandewalker won with a grade of 100 in eight minutes, while Olive Haugejorde was second with a grade of 100 in 11 minutes.
WWII motion picture shown here raises money for disabled veterans
A World War II motion picture entitled "Flashes of Action" was shown here to three well-filled houses Tuesday. This picture was brought here by the local Legion Post and the net proceeds of the shows, which amounted to $140, went to a fund for the erection of a hospital for disabled soldiers in Rochester, Minn. Legion officers are highly pleased with the success of this enterprise and an effort may be made to obtain another picture of a similar nature in the near future.
75 Years Ago
(April 16, 1948)
$61,000 raised for new hospital; pledges coming
Hospital funds, totaling over $61,000, are drawing interest at the present time; $31,000 having been invested in government bonds and over $30,000 having been placed on deposit at the local bank. The hospital fundraising committee also said that there is still $16,000 remaining in pledges to be paid, but pointed out that most of these pledges are not due yet.
Roller skating session to begin in Legion building
The first of a series of roller-skating sessions, which are now until the summer months, will take place in the new American Legion building here on Sunday afternoon. The first shift for skaters will be held at 1:30 p.m. and will run until 3:30 p.m. with the second shift starting 30 minutes later and running until 6 p.m. There will be one shift in the evening, starting at 8 p.m. and running until 10 p.m. Legionnaires who are in charge of roller skating say that they will provide music appropriate for skating and that they will have plenty of new skates on hand for roller enthusiasts.
Chairman of Board of Education names two school committees
Hans Grong, the Chair of the Board of Education, appointed two committees to look into school improvements at a meeting of the board on April 1, according to minutes of the meeting published this week. One of the committees is to consider means of improving the athletic field. Grong appointed Dr. C.E. Eastwold, L.W. Allen and Sherlock White to this committee. The other committee consists of Norman Olafson and Bernard Tillemans to investigate the feasibility of enlarging the school gymnasium.
50 Years Ago
(April 19, 1973)
Josephson is Argus Leader spelling contest champion
Douglas Josephson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Josephson of this community and an eighth grader in the local public school, won the grand championship of the 12th annual Sioux Falls Argus Leader spelling contest which was held at Augustana College last Saturday evening. Josephson spelled condone correctly to win the title. Josephson received a trophy and a $175 set of Encyclopedia Brittanica Junior reference books.
Minneota high school music students get "A's" in 5 events
Minneota high school musicians scored "A" ratings in five events last Thursday at the District 9 contest at Canby. Those individuals winning were Jeff Kompelien, vocal solo; Debbie Vandenbroecke, clarinet solo; Wanda Kopka, tenor saxophone solo; the mixed vocal group and the clarinet quartet also received the top rating. These youths are now qualified to compete in the state-regional music contest on May 5 in Redwood Falls.
Senior Center residents selling cross-like signs
The Senior Citizen Center of Minneota is selling cross-like signs with the wording "Christ is Risen" to residents of the community this week. The Senior Center is also giving a sign to the Minneota Manor and churches of this community. Mrs. Lawrence Hochstatter, the Senior Citizen Center director, said last week that she would be selling signs at the center all week to anyone desiring one.
25 Years Ago
(April 22, 1998)
Senior Citizens annual banquet set for April 26
The Minneota Senior Citizens have set Sunday, April 26 for their annual banquet and now is the time to pick up your tickets. DeVos Catering will be serving the meal that evening, so you are in for a real treat. Beef tips in gravy, plus all the trimmings, in on the menu.
Several businesses in Minneota, Ghent burglarized last week
A series of burglaries were reported this past week in the Minneota and Ghent areas. The Minneota Police Department and the Lyon County Sheriff's Office are now working together to solve these crimes. The incidences occurred last Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. Finnegan's Super Valu was entered through a small window in the front of the store and the burglars left through the back door. It was estimated that eight large bags of meat items, cigarettes and other food items were taken from the store. The store was also littered extensively. That same night, Minneota Medical Center and Minneota Chiropractic Clinic both had attempted break-ins. Two unnamed businesses in Ghent were also broken into that same night and officials are trying to determine if these were done by the same people.
Bloodmobile collects 71 pints; 9 first-time donors
On April 17, the Minneota Bloodmobile collected 71 usable pints of blood. There were 84 people presenting, with 10 deferred and three incompletes. There were nine first-time donors, including Kathleen DeSmet, Angie Laleman, Adam Przymus, Kristen Nelson, April VanLeeuwe, Jessica Goblirsch, Amy Fox, Nicole Haugen, and Jeremy Hoseck. Gallon pin winners were: Mike Breyfogle and Jackie Opdahl, 1 gallon; Omer Laleman, Don Diedrich and Mark Buysse, 5 gallons; Sam Smith, 6 gallons; and Marcus Wignes, 7 gallons.