Math Masters team shows impressive numbers

May 3, 1962 – Joel Nason retired after serving  31 years with the post office. He described the days when there was no overtime and “there were many Christmas Eves when we didn’t finish up until 8:30 or 9:30 p.m.” He had worked as a letter carrier and clerk under four post-masters, Mrs. G.C. Wollan, Katherine Burns, Mike Wollan and C.P. Femrite. He was a graduate of Glenwood High School and had served in the Navy in WWI.

A Hawaiian theme decorated the annual prom. Chosen best mixers for the event were Paul Swenson and Sylvia Femrite, who received their awards from the 1961 best mixers, Ken Moe and Patty DeKok. Swenson and Femrite and seniors, Dick Swisher and Martha Achter, led the Grand March. A banquet held at the Sacred Heart church preceded the dance.

Barbara Carlson, valedictorian, and Myron Hedlin, salutatorian, were named to head the Glenwood High School class of 1962. Carlson had, the week before, been named a National Merit Scholar and planned to attend Macalester College. Among his activities, Hedlin served as president of the student council.

May 4, 1972 – Earl Swanson of Swanson’s Inlet Camp on Lake Minnewaska was pictured in the Tribune surveying the damage the ice-out left on his shore the previous week. Resort owners were planning for the start of the 1972 fishing season.

Four Glenwood High School musicians were selected to All-State programs. Named to the All-State Orchestra was Helen Twite, string bass, Susan Iverson, percussion, and Susan Lock, oboe. They were to play with the All-State Band with Karen Dunham as an alternate bassoonist, GHS musicians had also just won 14 stars in state-area competition.

Newly elected officers for the Glenwood Community Hospital Auxiliary were Jean Mattson, president; Helen Olson, vice president; Marilyn Yackel, secretary; and Fran Hegna, treasurer. The group was planning its spring tea and fundraiser.

May 6, 1982 – Glacial Ridge Hospital announced that it would expand its service to Brooten by leaving a back-up vehicle in that city to be manned from there by trained Brooten personnel. Local hospital officials said that this move should cut response time in Brooten to seven or eight minutes.

Spring field work was in high gear on Pope County farms, but farmers were not very optimistic. The Tribune reported that the mood of pessimism was nationwide among farmers and was due to high interest rates, low prices and the weakness of the economy in general. Farmers were finding off-the-farm jobs and some local long-time farming names were just going out of business.

Glenwood/Lowry FFA members were honored at the annual banquet. Among those were Rod Stoen and Lynn Peterson, named top Greenhands. Ronald Carsten and Ron Stoen were named honorary chapter members. Scott McIver received the Star Chapter Farmer award. Leadership awards went to Pam Wohlman, Melanie Wohlman and Donita Hamlin.

May 4, 1992 – Tammy Hovendick, daughter of Ron and Carol Hovendick of Starbuck, was named Pope County Dairy Princess. Named attendants were Heather Nissen, daughter of Norman and Donna Nissen of Hancock, and Angie Hacker, daughter of Donald and Janet Hacker of Hancock.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services was concerned about the care of the state’s aging population. In the 10-year period (1980 to 1990) the percent of senior citizens over the age of 85 increased by 30 percent in Minnesota. Within the next 20 years that number was expected to increase 64 percent.

Resort owners in Pope County prepared for the busy season. However, several owners indicated disappointment with the earlier opener for fishing this year and the higher level of Lake Minnewaska. The fishing opener is usually scheduled the weekend closest to May 15, but with the opener a week earlier, resorts reported slower business for this weekend.

May 6, 2002 – The Pope County Board of Commissioners updated its emergency operations plan as part of a statewide effort to increase preparedness for disease outbreaks, civil emergencies and natural disasters. In particular, the county adopted an “annex” to its response related to dealing with pandemic illnesses. “Every county in Minnesota is doing this,” said Nikki Lasota, with Pope County Public Health. “The purpose is to be prepared for a large communicable disease that threatens the public.”

Mary Lehtola was the first Pope County resident to receive the American Legion’s Blue Star Service Banner, given to American families who have relatives serving on active duty during times of war. Pope County Director of Veteran Services, Dick Mollers, presented the banner.

Central Square hosted a dog show on Saturday, May 11 in conjunction with National Pet Week. Sponsored by Glacial Ridge Vet Clinic, the dog show included a variety of events with at least ten local owners of various breeds of dogs, who showcased their pets for the audience.

May 7, 2012 – A tornado was  reported on the ground in the Brooten area and heavy rains and hail were also reported in the massive storm that moved through the state on May Day. 

Thirteen high school students from across the state of Minnesota participated in the Minnesota House of Representatives High School Page Program. Connor Doebbert, a Minnewaska Area High School junior, was one of them.

Long-time Glenwood Rotarian Ralph Fritz was honored for giving more than $5,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Fritz received his 5th Paul Harris pin from Linda Roles, past District Governor for Rotary.

The Minnewaska fifth-grade Math Masters team competed in Alexandria on April 27 and came away with impressive numbers. Out of 35 teams, the Minnewaska Blue team placed 3rd and the Minnewaska Green team placed 18th. Out of 181 individual participants, Peyton Kolstoe placed 7th in the fact drill and 3rd in individual competition.

MAES kindergartners had the chance to watch up close as chicks hatched from eggs. The students had been learning about the life cycle of chickens.