YESTERYEAR
100 Years Ago
(Dec. 21, 1923)
Postal workers get to take Christmas off for first time
For the first time since the installation of the rural mail service, the carriers will be allowed their Christmas holiday this year. The order has just been issued, which permits them to take Christmas Day off, and the boys at the local office assure us that then intend to make use of the privilege. The carriers here say that they appreciate the privilege of carrying mail on Christmas Day all right, but that the holiday will look too good for them to surrender it. So, the patrons of the routes will not receive any mail on Christmas Day. It will be the first Christmas Day that the carriers have not gone out.
Rye’s overcoat stolen off radiator of his car
On the night that Mr. Townely spoke in Minneota, O.E. Rye had his overcoat stolen off the radiator of his car. Ole says that someone probably thought he was taking his own coat off his own car, as all Fords look alike and a black coat is a black coat in the dark; but he thinks the fellow should have discovered the mistake by this time next year Ole says he is going to trade his car off for an another model so as to prevent mistakes like this from happening.
75 Years Ago
(Dec. 24, 1948)
Coleman residence is winner of decorating, lighting contest
The residence of Mrs. Mary Coleman was awarded the first prize of $15 in the home decorating and lighting contest, it was announced early this week by the Minneota Businessmen’s Association, who sponsored the contest. Second prize of $10 was awarded to Mr. and Mrs. V.V. Gislason, and third prize of $5 was merited by Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Haas. Checks have been mailed to each of the winners.
Mrs. Westdal receives surprise Christmas gift from stranger
There is a sign in Minnie’s Coffee Shop which reads “Pay As You Go and if You Can’t Pay, Don’t Go.” Despite her warning to customers, Mrs. Minnie Westdal, owner of the coffee shop, has never allowed a patron to leave her premises on an empty stomach. It has been her practice never to refuse a man a bite to eat, whether or not he is able to pay. One such poverty-stricken stranger appeared in the coffee shop last summer. He was unable to pay in cash for the dinner he was served, but he has repaid the kindness which was tendered him. On Thursday morning, Minnie received a box of candy and a Christmas card from the unknown patron. The label on the package said it came from Cresco, Iowa. The card read: “Countless good wishes for Christmas from a guy you fed when he was dead broke last summer. Thanks a million for doing it and I hope you have a Merry Christmas.” The card was unsigned.
Young local girl injured when sled hits barbed wire fence
Kathleen Nuy, four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nuy, was seriously injured when the sled on which she was coasting ran into a barbed wire fence near her home south of Minneota late Monday afternoon. The child received severe lacerations of the lower face and lip as a result of the accident. Kathleen was coasting on a hill near her home with a cousin at the time. She was taken directly to Dr. S.D. Wolstan’s office for treatment, and although her injuries were serious, she was not hospitalized.
50 Years Ago
(Dec. 20, 1973)
Porter woman qualifies for Pillsbury Bake-off
Mrs. Emil Jerzak of rural Porter has been notified that she is one of this state’s 10 women to be selected for the Pillsbury Milling Company’s Bake-off Contest, which this year is to be held in Phoeniz, Arizona in February.
Jaycees Story Hour coloring contest winners announced
The winners of the Minneota Jaycees coloring contest, held in conjunction with the recent series of Saturday Story Hours, were recently announced. The winners are Greg Loyson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Loyson; Shelly DeSutter, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene DeSutter; Steve VanOverbeke, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent VanOverbeke; and Marc Bot, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Bot.
25 Years Ago
(Dec. 23, 1998)
Tanner Skillings gets surprise signed football at Vikings game
Tanner Skillings received a welcome surprise at the Minnesota Vikings game at the Metrodome this past Sunday. Attending the game with his brother, Christian, and his father, Joel, Tanner was selected to receive a special surprise in his seat during the game. In the second quarter, Tanner was handed a signed football by Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham, with cameras rolling and his picture flashing on the large screen.
Minneota, Marshall men charged in drug bust raid
Joseph Lanners, 39, of rural Minneota, and Parrish Goethe, 31, of Marshall, appeared in Lyon County District Court last Monday before Judge George Harrelson, where each man was charged with two counts of controlled substance crime in the First Degree, possession and sale. Each count is a felony charge and the men each face two maximum sentences of 30 years imprisonment, $1 million fine, or both. The raid was conducted last Thursday at J & L Unlimited, the business owned by Lanners on his farm site three miles west of Minneota.