Down Memory Lane

July 26, 1962-  Waterama was in the news with the seventh annual festivities about to get underway. Queen candidates included Betty Kay Dingwall, Dianne Probst, Bonajean Bartley, Carol Hustad, Beverly Schaub, Janet Holtberg, Luania Lewis, Gail Baukol, Diane Femrite, Patricia DeKok, Judith Rambeck, Mary Carlson, Nancy Billehus, Linda Dovel, Bonnie Dingwall and Patty Olson. 

A Waterama television special was expected to be highlighted by appearances from the candidates and Waterama Brass: Admiral Harvey Gloege, Commodore Mel Halverson, parade chair Jack Carlson, Queen Janice Lund, Princess Gail Swenson, and Junior Queen Patricia Graves. 

July 27, 1972  –  Sixteen queen candidates and the rest of the Glenwood area were gearing up for the 17th annual summer celebration, Waterama. Candidates included Joyce Femrite, Terri Hirschey, Jean Peterson, Patti Groninga, Mara Totushek, Susan LaQua, Gail Gades, Kathryn Aaberg, Jane DuBois, Kathy Reents, Marilyn Eliot, Shelby Jergenson, Debra Gandrud, Mary Stadsvold, Mary Overgaard, and Mary Beth Gaffaney. 

W.A. Winter, age 67, a prominent local attourney, died at the Glenwood hospital following a brief illness. He had come to Glenwood to practice law in 1942, and at the time of his death, was a partner in the firm Winter Nelson and Claeson. 

Heavy rains drenched the Glenwood area, but Pope County escaped the 12-inch deluge which struck further north. Up to five inches of rain did fall, however, in the Reno area. 

Salary negotiations between the board of education and the Glenwood teachers appeared to be headed for meditation. The board was offering a package with a 6.9 percent increase over two years. Teachers had asked for 12 percent  over two years.

July 29, 1982  –  Not even rain on Sunday morning and the threat of more rain dampened the spirit of the annual Waterama festivities. The hardest rain fell Sunday morning and was over by 11:15 a.m., with plenty of time for things to dry off a little before the big parade. The only casualty of the rain was the community church service which had to be moved indoors. New royalty for the year included queen Robin Rinken; princesses Carol Bowen and Patricia Morgan; and Deb Koubsky, Miss Congeniality. Tanya Koob was crowned junior Minnewaska queen  with Any Schroeder as junior princess. 

Among the Kiddie parade winners pictured in the Tribune were Luke Schumacher, Sarah, Matt and Dan Holland, Erich Winter and Kristen and Betsy Schager. Admiral Chuck McGinty reported that  he was “pleased overall” with the weekend. 

July 27, 1992 – TeresaWencel, daughter of David and Sharon Wencel of Glenwood, was crowned the new Waterama Queen Sunday in ceremonies which capped the 37th annual event. Named first princess was April Rae Mollers, while second princess was Lori Beth Listug. Ann Guggisberg was elected Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. Other Waterama royalty for the coming year were junior princess Sara Gandrud  and junior queen Melissa Anderson. The Waterama Brass for the coming year were admiral Barb Sorenson, commodore Wally Radjl, and vice commodore Barb Ostrander. 

A strike was averted and work progressed as usual on Wednesday morning  at the Pope County Courthouse. The 54 members of the Public and Law enforcement Teamsters Local No. 320 voted to accept the proposal offered by the county  following Tuesdays final two-hour meditation session. But in the process of “give and take,” some jobs would possibly be eliminated. 

July 29, 2002 – Waterama 2002 went down in history as the Waterama with the best fireworks, and perhaps, the most rain in recent memory. Megan Nygaard was the new Waterama Queen, along with Ashley Wink as first princess and Shana Danielson as second princess. Lindsay Braaten was named junior queen and Brooke Winter was named junior princess. Jeanne Olson was announced the winner of $1,000 from the 52 Club drawing. The Brass overseeing the 2003 Waterama would be John Gandrud, admiral; Jill Solmonson, commodore; and Pat Douvier, vice comodore. 

The Glenwood Gun Club was to have a new home due to airport expansion. New hangars would soon be encroaching upon the fire zones for the trap range at the airport. The new site was set for 195th Avenue North on Highway  55. 

July 30, 2012 – The new Glenwood Waterama Royal Court was decided this weekend, concluding the 57th Glenwood Waterama. From a group of eight candidates, Lexi Amundson was crowned Waterama Queen, Leandra Boysen was crowned First Princess, and Claire Middendorf was crowned second princess. Junior royalty were also named over the weekend with Brookyln Larson, daughter of Trevor and Jen Larson of Glenwood, named as Junior Princess, and Brenna Larson, daughter of Todd and Sara Larson of Glenwood, as Junior Queen. 

Abby Kreitlow has been searching for the Waterama medallions for four or five years; Friday morning she found the 2012 Waterama Medallion and claimed the $100 cash prize. Abby is from Glenwood and also a past Waterama Second Princess, so as former reigning royalty, she knows how important the Medallion Hunt is for generating excitement early in the week for lots of people in the area. On Friday, Abby was at the chamber door waiting for the morning clue, she grabbed her clue sheet and took off running for her car. After arriving at the Pope County Museum, she found the medallion by pushing a lever in the mailbox and, low and behold, there was the medallion. When asked how she felt, Abby said, “Earlier this week, Todd Stenstrud [former Waterama Admiral] told me that he had already found the medallion, and I was almost in tears. After about five minutes, he told me he was just kidding, but I almost gave up for this year. I’m sure glad that I didn’t.”