New Glenwood Clinic building finished

Dec. 26, 1963 – The Unc Anderson home was given the top prize in the city’s Christmas lighting contest, sponsored by the Jaycees. Second place went to the Harold Brundins with honorable mentions to the Ernest Pedersons, George Larsons, Harold Eastlunds, William Klevans and Merlin Gades. 

Fifty-five county residents met to become involved in a Rural Areas Development Committee. Among the first presenters were H.S. Rosholt, chair of the county committee, and Leroy Knutson, chair of the Soil and Water Conservation board. Among the subcommittees set up by the new organization were those for industrial-commercial, land use, wildlife, recreation and human resources.

An extra Soo Line freight was rounding a curve about four miles west of Glenwood when the bands holding a flatcar of lumber broke, scattering the boards over the Hwy. No. 55 right-of-way. The number was reloaded on a car and went on its way. 

Dec. 27, 1973 – Many concerns had been on the minds of county residents during 1973 but none more important than healthcare. A new Glenwood clinic building was finished, two doctors were found and the hospital issue involving Starbuck and Glenwood certificate of need applications and the location of the county’s hospital or hospitals was still unresolved.

Also in the news in 1973 was continued industrial development and a bountiful harvest for area farmers. 

Tragedy was also in the news with the Tribune reporting four highway fatalities, the death of two “grand old men,” Carol Torguson and Lewis Haroldson, and a farm accident fatality. 

In the national news, there were the “Watergate” revelations, the resignation of the vice president and other political upheavals and a fuel shortage. 

Dec. 29, 1983 – Blizzard-style winds had sent the wind chill factor as low as 60 to 100 degrees below zero for the Christmas Holiday. The thermometer read only about 25 below zero on Christmas Eve, but the winds kept many travelers from making the trip home. Local businesses were selling out of things like Nipco heaters, batteries, jumper cables, moon boots and snowblowers. By Christmas day the winds had subsided some, and the temperature made it all the way up to five below. 

The Polar Bear Club, mostly under the direction of Dr. Kim Gugisberg, was planning to initiate new members on New Year’s Day when several local Jaycees were to take the plunge into the icy waters of Lake Minnewaska. The event was planned as a Jaycee fundraiser with monies to go to a reforestation project. 

The big local news stories for the 1983 year included the search for oil in eastern Pope County, the presentation of a commissioned piece by Libby Larsen during the Minnesota Orchestra’s performance at the Terrace Mill, the closing of the Lowry school by the Glenwood-Lowry district for economic reasons, two summer storms which wreaked havoc in the area and the construction of the Cyrus Elevator’s new facility in Glenwood. 

Dec. 27, 1993 – Since 1900 there had been only three Pope County treasurers. Effective Dec. 31, 1993, David Troen was to end his career as the tax collector. He had worked for the county for nearly 34 years and as treasurer for 23 years. 

For the second straight year, Greg Nelson of Starbuck, a junior at the Minnesota Academy for the Deaf in Faribault, had received honorable mention All-American football honors. At 6 feet tall and 245 pounds, he was a three-year starter in the line for the Trojans. 

It had taken just a few minutes for the Pope County Board of Commissioners to approve its 1994 levy, but the action did not take place until the commissioners made some adjustments, which reduced the increase to 2.98 percent. The net levy approved by the board was $2,362,697 which was $68,419 higher than that for taxes payable in 1993.

Dec. 22, 2003 – A feasibility study to determine if a $30 million retail development might be built in Glenwood was a possibility. The development, which would be located on Pope County Fairgrounds property along Minnesota Avenue, would feature retail stores, a hotel and swimming pool, a movie theater, condominiums and a restaurant on the top floor of the seven-story complex. 

The Glenwood City Commission was once again waiting to find out if the ground would be broken on a new Lakeside Ballroom. The plan being considered was to build a new Lakeside at a cost of $2.3 million. At that cost, however, there was a $900,000 gap between funds available for the project and the cost of building. 

Dec. 23, 2013 – After a long process of crunching numbers and weighing options, the Pope County Board of Commissioners reached the final stages of 2014 planning, setting the 2014 budget and levy at their Dec. 17 meeting. Total budgeting expenditures were set at $16,686,965 – 7.5 percent increase over 2013. To help attain that number, the board raised the property tax levy by 4.99 percent, a move which is expected to generate $8,551,723 for county programs and expenses.

 Art students at Minnewaska Area High School transformed room E161 into a gallery bursting with color and creativity. The first semester art show opened Dec. 16 with a reception for families, friends and community members. Seventy-one students participated in the art show; twenty-two students were awarded blue ribbons for their exceptional work.

The Minnewaska Area Board of Education formally accepted the resignation of Bruce Anderson who had served on the board for 11 years. Board member Chad Christianson was pictured in the Tribune presenting Anderson with a school bell in honor of his 11 years of service.