Nixon/Clinton win mock elections at area schools

Nov. 1, 1962 – Birds were few and far between at the opening of the annual pheasant season. Commented game warden Walter Trippe, “It was just plain lousy.” Trippe added that it was possible that there were 30 to 25 percent fewer birds in the area than there had been the previous year. 

Among the county’s 4-Hers honored at the annual 4-H banquet were Martha McCrory, Cleo Reichmann, Carol Peterson, Karolyn and Kathryn Lee, Robert Espelien and Wayne Anderson. Leaders and adults receiving awards were Mrs. Stanley Wiger, Mrs. Harold Meyer, Elmer Rieland, Mrs. Orville Swenson, Mrs. Rudolf Lee, Mrs. Dan Gaffaney and E. E. Barsness.

The Starbuck Bucks came from behind on a Friday evening to tie Ortonville and therefore clinch a winning season. Bill Kyvig and Johnny Thorstad were cited by coach Rock Koepsell for extra effort during the game. 

Nov. 2, 1972 – Students in the area schools backed Richard Nixon in pre-election elections. They also approved Jon Haaven over Rep. Bob Bergland and Sen. Walter Mondale over Phil Hansen. The tallies at Glenwood’s Central High School appeared to parallel other schools in the area. 

Voters in four Pope County villages were to cast ballots as well. In Lowry incumbent Cal Smith was running against Wesley Brosh. Also in Lowry Leo Gahl was unopposed for mayor with Chuck Thompson and Cliff Mork unopposed for clerk and treasurer, respectively. In Starbuck Walt Trippe was running unopposed for his justice of the peace position. In Sedan there were no fillings for clerk or for  a trustee position. In Villard incumbent Char Nelson, ran for clerk, Clarence Buchholz for justice of the peace and Robert Pfeninger for village trustee.    

Nov. 4, 1982 – Glenwood was the subject of an article in Twin Cities magazine. Magazine editor John Hadowanic, spent several days in Glenwood researching his story. The headline and lead to the story read: “What if Sinclair Lewis had been born in Glenwood”? Maybe he would have preferred fishing in Lake Minnewaska and arguing with Jan Lecander, business woman; Lee Paulson, high school English teacher; Ivan Fossen, chief of police; Jim Kinney, Tribune Publisher; Mayor Don Schuab; Bill Peters of Peters Resort; and others. 

Paul Brandt retired after 23 years with Henry’s Candy Co. as the local delivery person for the company. Brandt was a familiar sight around the community in his bright orange truck. 

Nov. 2, 1992 –  Bill Clinton won the mock student election held at Minnewaska Area High School the previous week. MAHS students joined millions of other students across the nation by participating in Time magazine’s mock student election. 

It was election mania at the three elementary schools in Glenwood, Starbuck and Villard. Students in Glenwood practiced their right to vote by holding a mock election for president of the United States. (Starbuck and Villard schools had not yet voted.) Picture ballots were used to identify the name with the picture of candidates. President George Bush was the winner at E. N. Nordgaard Elementary School. 

Douglas J. Reker had been hired as administrator of the Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood and would assume his duties on Nov. 23.

Voters in Pope County would join the nation on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to make their choices for the office of president of the United States and other offices at the state and local levels.

Nov. 4, 2002 – Residents throughout Pope County will have an opportunity to cast something other than a fishing rod on Tuesday. The general election is here and county residents will be able to cast votes for their favorite candidates. 

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at all cities and the township of Leven, White Bear, Minnewaska, Glenwood and Walden. In townships of Westport, Reno, Ben Wade, New Prairie, Grove Lake, Bangor, Chippewa Falls, Barsness, Blue Mounds, Hoff, Langhei, Gilchrist, Lake Johanna, and Rolling Forks will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Voters who cannot make it to the polls can vote by way of absentee ballot. Absentee balloting must be done today at 5 p.m. at the county treasurer office. 

Nov. 5, 2012 – The new Minnewaska Leadership Program began this fall with a day-long team building experience at the Luther Crest Ropes Challenge Course, where students were encouraged to work as teams to successfully complete challenges. Funding for the students’ trip was provided by the Minnewaska Jaycees.

Pope County Fright Nights scares up funds for community project. This was the attraction’s second year of operation, sponsored  as a community project fundraiser by Glenwood & Beyond. The 2012 attraction doubled in size to include not only the true scare maze, but also a non-scary fun house maze and kid-friendly activities. 

The Minnewaska/Morris Gators participated in the West Central Conference tournament on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the university of Minnesota-Morris pool. Even though the Minnewaska-Morris swim team finished fifth out of five teams at the WCC meet, the Gators had many outstanding swims and were only 14 points behind third place Montevideo.