Four sports eliminated by MAHS board

May 17, 1962 – The state of Minnesota announced that it would develop a new state park in Pope County. The area south of Starbuck around Signalness Lake was under consideration, and the park was expected to called Signalness State Park.

Damage was high from a “baby twister” which cut a path through the Glenwood area, flattening barns and buildings, toppling trees and causing other heavy property damage. The storm missed both Starbuck and Sedan, but damage was high in the Glenwood and Villard areas. Barsness Township was hit especially hard. The storm struck at about 10:45 p.m.

Villard school district voters re-elected incumbents, Harry Husmann and Albert Peterson. In a light election, only 44 voters turned out to cast their ballots.

May 18, 1972 – A Langhei township youth was killed as a result of a car/motorcycle crash south of Starbuck. This was the second county highway fatality of the year.

The late spring experienced by the area disappeared in a heat wave which struck with temperatures in the upper 80s and lower 90s. Prior to that, daytime temps had been in the 40s and 50s. Farmers were behind schedule and the Tribune thought this weather was just what was needed to get things up-to-date.

Bob Robards, Elaine Bennett and Dick Kaus were elected to the Glenwood school board. Pacing the candidates was Bennett, who garnered 743 votes in her first try for public office. Robards was an incumbent member of the board; Kaus was elected with a strong write-in campaign and 550 votes. Incumbent Pierce Serrin was defeated in his bid for the board; he received 446 votes.

May 20, 1982 – The 91st annual commencement exercises at Glenwood High School were scheduled to be held in the traditional way. The two top students chosen by their peers to be the class speakers were Ken Kaina and Chris Morris. Other honor students were Denise Austin, Heidi Bennett, Marcia Brandt, Lisa Conley, Pamela Dahl, Theresa DeMorrett, Pamela Dorn, Patricia Eklo, Stephanie Floen, Barbara Heieie, Deborah Koubsky, Day Lecander, Kathryn Lyslo, Krista Matison, Nancy Olson, Donald Ostrander, Janet Paulzine, Jacqueline Peterson, Karen Pladson, Robin Rinkin, Nancy Rippe, Julie Rosten, Ann Stackpool, Brenda Tanis, Lisa Torgerson, Renae Tostenson, Rosemarie Viergutz, Darla Wharton and Ruth Whittemore. Elaine Bennett and Dave Thostenson, members of the school board who had children graduating, would present the diplomas.

May 18, 1992 – The committee that investigated the attendance problem in the three elementary districts presented a report to meeting of the Joint Powers, Glenwood-Lowry, Starbuck and Villard school districts, recommending that a math, science and technology magnet school be established at Starbuck Elementary School.

Close to 700 area residents attended the grand opening of the Pope County Museum on Sunday to view the many displays of antiques and artifacts. Pictured in the Tribune was Merlin Peterson, who was in charge of the museum’s new design. The project was a tribute to Ethel Nelson, Carrie Fingerson and Col. J.H. Peterson.

Lyle Foltz, the director of veteran affairs and rehabilitation for the Minnesota American Legion, was the guest speaker at the Memorial Day program. The program was held at the bandshell in the Glenwood city park. The Minnewaska Area High School band provided the music.

As students, teachers and parents walked up to the doors of Minnewaska Area High School, they were greeted by a car which was involved in a fatal accident. The car and a hearse, displayed by Hoplin Funeral Home, were a reminder of what drugs can do. David Buker, a chemical dependency counselor at Little Falls High School, spoke to students on drug awareness.

May 20, 2002 – Area citizens gathered at Central Square in Glenwood to honor the nation’s war dead for Memorial Day. Robert G. Friesen, who served in the United States Army for a total of 23 years on active duty and in the military reserves, delivered the Memorial Day address. The program began with the presentation of the colors by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, followed by the pledge of allegiance.

DeeAnn Johnson, a second grade teacher at E.N. Nordgaard Elementary School, was named the 2002 Educator of the Year at a special assembly. Presenting the award to Johnson was Debbie Hoven, a kindergarten teacher at ENN and 2000 recipient of the award. Johnson’s teaching career started in 1983 in Bemidji. She came to ENN three years later and had been there ever since.

About 90 percent of Minnewaska Area sophomores passed the Basic Skills Test writing test given by the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning. Minnewaska’s 90.1 passing percentage was down from the 97 passing percentage of last year’s class. All students in Minnesota must pass the writing test to graduate from high school.

May 21, 2012 – By a 5-2 vote the Board of Education of Minnewaska Area Schools decided to eliminate four sports at a special meeting called just to consider sports reductions. The board heard a brief presentation by Activities Director Bill Mills before hearing two hours of support for the five sports on the cut list: boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ cross country, and boys’ tennis. About 100 people attended the meeting. In the end the motion spared boys’ tennis.

MAHS music department was the benefactor of a bequest of over $60,000 from John Patrick (Pat) and Janice Kelleher. One of the ways the gift would be used would be to update the auditorium lighting and sound systems – plans that had been talked about for a long time, but set aside because the money wasn’t there.

Local postal carries collected 1,697 pounds of food as well as cash during their annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. The local effort was part of a national effort by the National Association of Letter Carriers conducted across the country. Pictured in the Tribune were: postal carrier James Weaver, Jan Braaten, Darlene Christman, Ron Sin, Dennis Jones and postal carrier Mark Olson.

A flag pole and flag were dedicated on May 12 at Yankee Cemetery, located north of Starbuck on 180th street, near the Allen Nygaard farm. A flag-raising ceremony was conducted by Jon Nygaard, Paul Holtberg, Bob Friesen, Keith Nygaard, Dennis Carstens and Roger Hermanson.