Hurricane Andrew impacts local families 

August 30, 1962 – The Glenwood Laker football team would open its season against the Sauk Centre Mainstreeters at Sauk Centre. The Lakers were out to avenge their 15-13 loss to the ‘Streeters the previous year and also hoped to better their 1961 record of one win, one tie and seven losses. 

The Villard school was about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. George Susens, the first superintendent when the school was first reorganized in 1912, was to be present. William Linberg, current superintendent and chair of the anniversary celebration, announced that what amounted to an all-school reunion would be held during the observance. 

Dr. Jack Colvard, Glenwood chiropractor, would return to the city following service with the Armed Forces. He had been called up for duty during the Berlin Crisis. 

August 31, 1972 – Opening enrollment day for the Glenwood area school was the lowest on record for sometime. At 1,421, the enrollment was the lowest in none years. The Tribune pointed out, however, that some of the rapid increase in enrollment over the previous years had been due to the consolidation of many rural schools with the larger district. 

Karen Freeman, Pope County 4-H’er and the daughter of John and Mary Freeman of Rural Glenwood, was one of eight  girls named to the Minnesota State Fair  Dress Revue Court of Honor. She was then eligible to compete in the national contest. The county’s other entry in the state contest was Jamie Tweit, daughter of Herb and June Tweit. 

Marion Maher, a fifth grade teacher at Prospect Park Elementary school for five years, was named Pope County’s Outstanding Elementary Teacher and was also honored at the Minnesota State Fair.

Congressman Bob Bergland was due to visit Glenwood as one of his “Meet Your Congressman” stops  in the Seventh District. Persons who wanted to meet Bergland were asked to stop by even if they did not have specific questions of problems for him to handle. 

August 26, 1982 – Amy Anderson, the only new faculty person hired by the Glenwood school district, was the new counselor at the high school. She had a vocal music degree from Bemidji State University and her mater’s degree in counseling from Moorhead State. She replaced Richard Arnold who had become the administrator at a Christian school in Benson. 

Glenwood baritone Robert Bergman, at the time emcee for a musical production in Medora, N.D., was offered an audition with the New York Metropolitan Opera Co. Previously a machinist, Bergman had decided earlier to follow his first love – singing.

The Villard Merchants fast pitch softball team placed second in a state tournament. They defeated Mankato, a Duluth team and Fairmont team before falling to a Hutchinson group to claim second place. This would, however, allow them to continue in regional play. Among those participating were Steve Walker, Roger Albers, Dave Dziengel, Jim Henningson, Jim Cullen and Mike Klausen.

August 31, 1992 –  Hurricane Andrew was 1,500 miles from Glenwood, but it did have an impact on at least five local families. These families had relatives whom lived in the path of the devastating  storm. 

The Wetterling family and thousands of people throughout the United States continued to share the hope that Jerry and Patty Wetterlings son Jacob would return home. It would have been three years on October 22 that Jacob was abducted at gunpoint from St. Joseph. Jerry Wetterling and Linda Minney, a special agent for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension,spoke at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Villard about effective communication being the most important key to the safety of children. Close to 135 parents attended the program.

September 2, 2002 – Pope County Auditor Treasurer Mary Pischke gave the county’s Board of Commissioners a pretty dire account of the county’s finances at a budget meeting. She then discovered a mistake. Pischke originally told commissioners the budget request totaled just over $4.9 million, leaving a shortfall of about $1.4 million. The shortfall actually only totaled $479,717 after correcting the error. 

A photo appeared in the Tribune of the new Friends of the Glacial Lakes State Park group meeting at the park to organize. Park manager, Bret Grundmeier, talked to about 20 people under one of the shelters about how the group could operate. He said that a group like this one will show state officials that the park has good support in the area where it is located, which can lead to more fundraising. 

Also, pictured in the Tribune were Angela Reker, Geri DeCorsey, Steve Klick, Gail Johnson, Carole Chevalier and Lollie Bjornaraa for participating in the Longest Day of Golf, an annual event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Each hole on the course had a local business sponsor. Each golfer also had a sponsorship.

September 3, 2012 – Pete Ruegemer and his family hosted a field day event at their farm near Villard on Aug. 29, sponsored by Horizon Organic. The event highlighted several aspects of the Ruegemer farm, including the use of organic seed and robotic milking machines. 

Enrollment at Glacial Hills Elementary School in Starbuck is expected to be 118 when students start classes on Sept. 4, it was reported to GHES school board on Aug. 27 by Director Deb Mathias. 

Studio e architects has officially opened the doors of its new location at 19 East Minnesota Avenue in Glenwood. Stephanie Howe, owner of studio e architects, said the move from her former location in Alexandria has been on her mind for a long time.