Record breaking 9 foot lefse was rolled out

July 4, 1963 – A sturdy elm tree on the boulevard on Oak Street saved two Glenwood homes from damage when a truck carrying a house being moved lost its drive shaft. The truck and house backed up about 100 feet into the elm tree. 

A fire at Sylvan Spring Farm in Minnewaska Township destroyed a chicken barn shortly before 14,000 baby chicks were due to arrive. Jerry and Gordon Clark, owners of the farm, found homes for the chicks in neighbors’ barns and other buildings.

Several members of the local Boy Scouts were off to scout camp near Park Rapids. They included Charles MacIver, Tony Ogdahl, Tom Peterson, Steven Tauber, Gary Erickson, Tony Olson, Eric Halvorson, Patrick Gaffaney, William Warfield, Dennis Tauber, Paul Spencer, Francis Jaeger, Mark Hoplin, Glen Schmiesing, Jim Sherlin and Bruce Eastburg.

July 5, 1973 – The new municipal building for the city of Glenwood was dedicated despite the absence of the guest speaker for the day. Congressman Bob Bergland was scheduled to appear but was unable to leave Washington. 

The city was also presented with a new flag and flag pole at the building. Making the presentation were Stan Dokken, Ed Mattson and Merv Felt and auxiliary members Mrs. Harley Torfin, Mrs. Stan Selvog, Mrs. Alfred Anderson and Mrs. Marvin Feigum. Accepting for the city was Mayor Oliver Hoplin.

Two Olympia, Wash., families stopped in Glenwood on their bicycle trip across the country. The two families (two dads, two moms and six kids) were riding from Olympia to Boston, Mass. One of the dads flew in to meet them on the weekends. The others had encountered hard mountain riding, bears and other obstacles but still claimed to be having a wonderful time. 

July 7, 1983 – Al Krapes, 101-year-old resident of the Glenwood Retirement Home, rode in the parade to celebrate the centennial of the city of Villard.

It was over 9 feet in length in either direction. Larry Kittelson made the basic dough and several Starbuck area men rolled the world’s largest lefse onto the world’s largest lefse grill to help observe the centennial of the city of Starbuck. Even the Pillsbury Doughboy made a trip to Starbuck to see the big Scandinavian “delicacy.” The lefse was served to the waiting crowd, many of whom said “mama’s” was better. 

The Tribune was filled with pictures from the two centennial celebrations and a Minnesota Orchestra appearance. 

July 5, 1993 – Campaign signs for the July 6 rezoning election had begun to pop up throughout the city of Glenwood. City residents were to go to the polls at city hall to decide whether three residential lots on Minnesota Avenue should be rezoned to commercial. The request to rezone was made earlier in the year by Casey’s General Stores, Inc., a chain of over 800 convenience stores  in the upper Midwest.

Pictured on the front page of the Tribune was the Minnewaska High School swing choir making a return visit to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for Dairy Night at the Dome. The choir sang the national anthem just prior to the Minnesota Twins-Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. Also taking part in the ceremonies was David Thompson, of Starbuck, president of the Minnesota American Dairy Association, who gave a few remarks just prior to the start of the game. 

Minnewaska Area High School seniors Andy Dziengel, Kit Pennie and Paul Moe were honored for their accomplishments the past season of the baseball diamond and in the classroom after all three were named to the Academic All-State honorable mention baseball team. 

July 7, 2003 – It’s early in July, but Lyle Katzenmeyer was already looking forward to the start of school next fall. He had felt this way before, when serving as elementary principal at Villard and Starbuck schools, but this year took on added significance because he would be principal at the Minnewaska High School.

Fundraising for the rebuilding of the Lakeside Ballroom was underway. Dennis Martinson and Richard Gandrud were serving as honorary co-chairs of the drive while Barbara Marquardt was serving as executive director. Present committee members included Ruth Gunderson, Sandy Holverson, Dodie Johnsrud, Ron Just, Norma Lea, Terri Richards, Cody Rogahn, Paul Trill, Bonnie Wagner, Terry Wagner and Jon Yarbrough. 

July 1, 2013 – There’s something for everyone to enjoy at Heritage Days. The 31st Annual Heritage Days celebration in Starbuck starts Wednesday, July 3 and runs through Sunday, July 7. The Great Oz movie will kick off activities on Wednesday in Starbuck City Park at 9:30 p.m. Heritage Days activities will wrap up Sunday with a community church service at 10 a.m. with Shalom Lutheran Church serving a community dinner in the city park at 11 a.m. 

The thunderstorm that hit Pope County in the early-morning hours on June 21, dropped more than 6 inches between midnight and 2 a.m., according to Glenwood Public Works Director Dave Perryman. About 8 inches of rain fell on the city in two days he said. 

It was the amount of rain that fell so quickly that caused the flooding problems over Highway 28-29, the Pope County Fairgrounds and the 4th and 5th street NW areas between Lake Minnewaska and the fairgrounds. That kind of rainfall in two hours also caused storm water and sanitary backups into many homes in the city, Perryman explained.