Lakeside Ballroom burned to the ground

June 6, 1963 – The annual 4-H Field Day produced a number of champions. Pictured in the Tribune representing their club at the awards ceremony were Phil MacIver and Helen Odegaard of the Ben Wade Blazers, Ann Anderson and Judy Anderson, also of Ben Wade, Darrell Espelien and Duane Tollefson of the Langhei Aces and Allen Loen and Norma Tellefson, also of Langhei.

Ten boxcars derailed in the Soo Line railroad yards as the result of a switchman’s failure to insert a pin to lock the switch. Highway traffic was detoured at the Hwy. No. 29 North crossing through Lowry on Hwy. No. 114. One loaded grain car nearly missed hitting Harley Torfin as it jumped the rails. This was the second major derailment in the local boards in a period of nine months. 

One of Glenwood’s older businesses, the Ben Franklin Store, was sold by its owner C.K. Potter, to W.H. Ohland of Wausau, Wisc., and his two sons, Dean and James. Manager of the Glenwood store was to be Harlan Long. Potter had operated the variety store since he purchased it in 1935.

Heavy rains, light hail and a “baby twister” hit Pope County. Subsoil moisture was considered “more than adequate” and temperatures of 85-plus degrees encouraged the corn.

June 7, 1973 – Among those 4-Hers participating in the annual Field Day were Sam Jensen, Andy Pederson, Louise Nyhammer, Julie Hanson, Brian Banister, Luverne Forbord, Denise Tharaldson, Jill Brenden, Paul Larson, Paul Pederson, Alan Walker, Gordon Moen, Curt Svenning, Michelle Swensrud, Patty Amundson, Mark Cihlar and dozens of others. 

Scholarship winners named at the annual graduation ceremonies at Glenwood High School were Robert Schluter, Joseph Pitzen, Sharon Gerde, Pual Bennette, Susan Lock, Susan Iverson, Helen Twite and Philip Serrin.

Students named to the final “A” honor roll for the year were 10th grade: Julie Hanson, Les LaCroix, Mike Stackpool, Peggy Schumacher and Brenda Witikko; 11th grade: James Bennett, Elizabeth Bowen, Deborah Churchill, Sherry Dahlseng, Greg Dvorsak and Greg McIver; and 12th grade: Paul Bennett, Deborah Boelke, Pamela Erickson, Susan Iverson, Susan Lock, Mitch Long, Tom Mork, Joe Pitzen and Robert Schluter.

June 2, 1983 – Brooklyn Center police notified the Hoplin Funeral Home that its hearse was missing before Hoplin even knew it was gone. Brooklyn Center authorities spotted the vehicle in an apartment building parking lot.

John Griffin, a veteran of the United States Navy and commander of the Glenwood VFW Post No. 3815, was the featured speaker at the annual Memorial Day observance. Griffin emphasized the number of Americans who died in war and called for wars to end. 

Robert D. McLeod, founder and current owner of Glenwood’s large potash storage and transfer facility died. He had apparently fallen in his Lake Minnewaska home. Internment was to be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

June 7, 1993 – Sounds of the big band era were to fill the Lakeside Ballroom on Saturday evening, June 12, during the fifth annual Heritage Ball sponsored by the Ann Bickle Heritage House. Honorees were Howard and Viola Williams of Glenwood and Arne and Dorie Pederson of Starbuck.

A mild earthquake rumbled through Pope County. The quake shook homes and buildings for about four or five second sat approximately 8:29 p.m. on Friday, June 4. Many area residents said the quake sounded like thunder as their homes shook. The U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo., measured the earthquake at 4.1 on the Richter scale.

A total of 114 units of blood were donated during a type O bloodmobile held at Glenwood Lutheran Church by the St. Paul Regional Red Cross Blood Service. The special collection of “the universal blood” drew donors from, throughout Pope County.

June 9, 2003 – The Lakeside Ballroom, a Landmark in Glenwood and West Central Minnesota for nearly a century, burned to the ground. The ballroom was just about to host another wedding reception when the ballroom manager, Bob Mattson, smelled smoke. Mattson quickly located the source of the smoke, sent the dozen or so people getting ready for the wedding reception from the building, and called the fire department of which he was a member.

June 3, 2013 – As of today, there’s a new healthcare option in Glenwood. The Walk-in Clinic, located at Glenwood Medical Center, officially opened its doors this morning, June 3, at 7 a.m. The Walk-in Clinic provides a convenience the area hasn’t had until this point – a place to go to be seen immediately, no appointment necessary, for common ailments and minor injuries. 

Healthcare providers will have access to a new continuum of technology management solutions across the “big three” health providers in the community – clinic, hospital and post-acute care facilities – with Healthland’s acquisition of American Health Tech (AHT), it was announced last week. 

The Minnewaska Area High School gym was filled to capacity with family and friends on May 31 as the Class of 2013 participated in commencement exercises. The ceremony honoring Minnewaska’s seniors included speakers, musical selectionsand the conferring of diplomas. At the conclusion, caps were tossed to a wave of applause. The Class of 2013 includes graduates from MAHS, Minnewaska Day treatment and Minnewaska Alternative Options High School.