110 YEARS AGO

From April 16, 1915

Two women and two men have entered the contest for appointment to the postmastership at Cyrus, and the matter promises to give Secretary Bryan and President Wilson a chance to rack their brains or show what diplomacy can do. The women aspirants are young, handsome and clever, and the men are prominent and said to possess a political pull. Cyrus is deeply interested in the outcome. The candidates are the Misses Mabel Johnson and Helen Kittelson, Oscar Thompson and Alfred Solvie. – Morris Tribune.

Some of the business transacted at the council meeting April 8th: Motion was made and seconded and carried that the recorder put a notice in the Starbuck Times to the effect that all chickens and cattle be penned up and not allowed to run at large. Motion was made and carried that the old windmill tower from the schoolhouse be accepted and set up and equipped with the old bell to be used as an alarm in case of fire. Motion was made and carried that the pool rooms be closed at 10:00 p.m.

Specials for Friday and Saturday: 14 pounds granulated sugar, $1.00; 1-1b. can red Alaska salmon, 20¢; 1-1b. can salmon trout, 12¢; 1 dozen oranges, 25¢. Helland & Torguson.

100 YEARS AGO

From April 17, 1925

C.M. Pederson this week sold the Arthur Christenson 16-acre chicken ranch just south of the village to Theo. Hanson. Mr. Hanson will take possession about June 1. Mr. Christenson has been engaged in selling made-to-order suits for some time, and expects to continue with this.

Several of the teachers in the local school have rented the A.H. Dreyer cottage, known as Shady Rest, and plan to spend part of their time at the lake.

Edwin Stockland returned here on Wednesday from Holiday, N.D., where he has been the past three years. Edwin says Starbuck is the real place in which to live, and he plans to stay here if he can find work in this vicinity.

H.O. Kirkwold had the misfortune of losing two cows last week when they ventured out into the slough near the Hog’s Back. They were unable to reach the cows.

Miss Helen Nordberg completed her school term in District 92 last Friday. She had a program in the afternoon. Osmund Aslakson began teaching parochial school there on Monday.

90 YEARS AGO

From April 18, 1935

A.R. Schuetz, who has been agent at the Northern Pacific depot in Starbuck for the past 22 years has resigned his position and will move to Elk River next week to take over a similar position. Philip Mason, a relief agent will take over in Starbuck on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Chalenburg of Cyrus will move into the residence vacated by the Schuetz family.

Miss Inez June Sylvester, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Sylvester, and Ernest Nali, were united in marriage at the home of the bride’s parents on Thursday evening. April 11, Rev. G.O. Forde officiating. Miss Evelyn Sylvester was her sister’s attendant and the groom’s attendant was Mr. Burdette Naig.

Thursday and Friday of last week were warm beautiful days but Saturday was windy and cold, and the dust was blowing. However, this section of the country has fared better in this respect than the southwest where terrible dust storms have swept the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, eastern Colorado and Texas.

Funeral services for Andrew Sansness were held at the St. John’s Lutheran Church on Saturday, Rev. G.O. Forde officiating. Mr. Sansness is survived by eight children: Melvin, Gordon, Mrs. C.V. Gorder, Ellen, Clara, Ann, Josephine, Irene. One brother, Christian and six grandchildren also survive him.

Pope County has been given an allotment of 100 boys for CCC Camps. These boys will report at the Court House in Glenwood on April 23 at 8:30 o’clock.

B.O. Kleven of Starbuck, salesman for the Allis Chalmers Co. of Cleveland, received a telegram last week stating that he had won a $140 diamond ring in a salesmanship contest. Mr. Kleven sold more tractors and farm implements than any other agent in the United States over the same period last year.

How to replace Pope County’s farm windbreaks, seriously depleted by drought, insect attacks, old age and over-cutting, is one of the most serious problems confronting Pope County farmers, says N.P. Hanson, the county agent. An average of 90 percent of the windbreak trees have either died or been so seriously weakened that they will not live much longer.

70 YEARS AGO

From April 21, 1955

Deloris Stadsvold, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Stadsvold, will represent Starbuck at the 1955 session of Girls State, which will be held at the state fairgrounds in St. Paul June 16-23. To be eligible, a girl must be in the upper third of the Junior class scholastically, must be physically fit and have qualities of leadership, courage and honesty. The selection is made by the faculty and Legion Auxiliary. The Legion Auxiliary unit has sponsored three previous Girl Staters, namely, Miss Beverly Olson, 1952; Miss Allene Giesen, 1953; and Miss Toni Giesen, 1954.

Miss Allene Giesen, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A.F. Giesen, has been engaged as a Red Cross swimming instructor at the Starbuck public beach, according to Mrs. William Merrill, water safety chairman. Miss Giesen is well qualified for this position, having taken the Red Cross instructor’s course at Marquette University in Illinois, where she is a student.

Jacob Harestad, accompanied by his sister, Miss Jorgine Harestad, will leave from Minneapolis on April 27 for New York. From there they will embark on the S.S. Stavangerfjord for Norway. They will visit four sisters and one brother during their four-month stay in Norway.

60 YEARS AGO

From April 22, 1965

At the meeting of the VFW Auxiliary on April 19, the following officers were elected: Pres., Mrs. Herman Mortenson; Sr. vice president, Mrs. Hans Stangeland; Jr. vice president, Mrs. Richard Gregersen; Secretary, Mrs. James Olson; Treasurer, Mrs. Ernest Nali; Chaplain, Mrs. Gordon Hagestuen; Conductress, Mrs. Chester Baukol; Guard, Mrs. Clarence Espelien; Trustees, Mrs. Iris Huntley, Mrs. Bill Spark and Mrs. Bill Lindberg; Patriotic Instructor, Mrs. Dorothy Anderson; Musician, Mrs. Sanford Wilson, Historian, Mrs. John Norby; Banner Bearer, Mrs. Norman Aslakson; Color Bearers, Mrs. Lyle Disrud, Mrs. Ellsworth Berg, Mrs. Charles Pfeiffer and Mrs. Lloyd Hanson.

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Branby sold their restaurant in Lowry known as Cookie Cafe to Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Swenson of Stillwater.

Spring quarter enrollment at UMM totals 775, an increase of 25.6 percent over a year ago.

Tickets for a fundraising project were distributed to members of the Lions Club on Monday evening and are now being sold for a drawing on May 15, with a portable television set and a transistor radio as prizes. Purpose of the project is to earn money to help finance a trip by the Starbuck School. Band to Moorhead on June 13 to march in the Dist. 5 Lions Convention parade.

The Cub Scouts held their pack meeting Monday evening; and the following boys received awards: Jon Fennie, Robert Jergenson, Wesley Schultz-Bobcat pins, David Wollan and Michael Erickson-Wolf badges, Frederick Stevens-Gold and silver arrow, Rodney Pederson-Two silver arrows; Craig Hagen-Gold arrow; Steven Wilson-Recruiters stripes.

50 YEARS AGO

From April 16, 1975

Nearly 200 years ago, a shot was fired that was heard around the world and started the Revolutionary War….. last Thursday, the Central Minnesota Health Planning Council rendered a decision that “electrified” residents of Western Pope County and hopefully will nearly end a 3-year-long struggle to update local health care facilities. The CMHPC by a 19-1 vote, approved a “Certificate of Need” application by the Pope County Hospital District to build a new 19-bed hospital adjacent to the Minnewaska Lutheran Home.

After several postponements because of weather, interested citizens in having a golf course for Starbuck, met Monday evening at the Old Tyme Theatre. Corbin Corson acted as the temporary chairman of the group. Discussion mainly centered on how to proceed such as where the course should be located, construction costs, and financing.

Mrs. Eric [Gladys] Aaberg has been an employee of the Starbuck Clinic for the past 18 years and her responsibility was keeping the clinic neat and clean. From reports given to the Times, in all those 18 years, she missed work only one day. In recognition of her faithfulness and excellent work, Drs. F.D. Bucher and A.R. Zempel decided to stage a dinner in her honor upon her retirement. The dinner was held at the Minnewaska House last Wednesday evening and attended by members of the entire staff of the clinic. In the photos above, Gladys was presented a gift as a token of remembrance. In the Times, the picture on the left shows her as the doctors handed her the box. Center photo she discovers a beautiful watch and on the right, she completely broke down and was speechless for the recognition given to her.

40 YEARS AGO

From April 17, 1985

Kristen Tollefson, daughter of Dave and Aileen Tollefson was selected as 1985 representative to Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary of the Magnus Grondahl Post 325 of Starbuck. Haley Unke, daughter of Earle and Reit Runquist was named alternate.

Births: A daughter, Maggie Rae to Tim and Barbara (LaQua) Meyers of Eagan April 12; a son, Randall Carl to Vince and Carol (Lundebrek) Simonson of Spicer March 29.

Funeral services for Gordon Anondson, 58, were held from the Lutheran Church of Hope in Anchorage, Alaska. He is survived by his wife, Loretta; and a son, David.

Kim Haugen, daughter of William and Sara Haugen of Farwell was named the 1984 representative to Girls State sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary at Cyrus. Named alternate was Barbara Marquette, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Myles Marquette.

Olga Dingwall was named the 1985 Lowry Senior Citizen of the Year, sponsored by the Lowry Lions Club. 

30 YEARS AGO

From April 19, 1995

As the weather was not conducive to an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, Starbuck Area Chamber of Commerce Board members moved into the Starbuck Depot, where they distributed 140 Easter bags of goodies to the boys and girls. Chamber reps included Jan Wahlquist, Matt Pederson, Curt Bredeson and LeAnn Chlian. 

Sixty-four Starbuck Elementary sixth graders graduated from the D.A.R.E. program at ceremonies held at the Starbuck Elementary gym on Monday, April 10. Starbuck Chief of Police Bruce Gilbertson welcomed the graduates and guests. Following a slide presentation, essays were delivered by Anne Brown, David Feigum, Sarah Gulso, Kevin Lehtola, Amy Rooney and Taya Staples. Certificates of graduation were presented by Gilbertson and Starbuck teacher Dyanne Parsons. Special entertainment, “Magic and Mystery” was performed by Ryan Ogaard.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently recognized cities, industries and plant operators who met the agency’s criteria for excellent operation of wastewater treatment plants during 1994, including the city of Starbuck, who was represented by City Water and Maintenance Superintendent Gary Koos, pictured with Lt. Governor Joanna Benson and MPCA Commissioner Chuck Williams, More than 200 facilities won awards for excellence at the 58th annual Wastewater Operations Seminar, held this year in Bloomington from March 22-24. The seminar brings together wastewater operators from all over the state for training and professional education.

20 YEARS AGO

From April 20, 2005 

Starbuck Police Chief Hal Henning has submitted his resignation contingent upon his passing his physical for a new position in Wisconsin. Henning has accepted a position in Campbell, adjacent to LaCrosse. His last day of work would be May 14.

FOCUS’s first effort to restore elementary classes to Starbuck Elementary School (SES) was to be on the agenda for the Minnewaska Area Schools Board of Education meeting last Tuesday. At its meeting last Monday, FOCUS members talked about that presentation and other efforts to keep classes in Starbuck. “We are requesting the school district to be our charter sponsor,” said Rev. Phil Reimers. “It shows our desire for unity in the school district.” Reimers said that the request would be for a charter school for grades K-4 so as not to interfere with the district’s plan to have fifth and sixth grades at MAS.

Frank and Elaine Koubsky were honored as “Citizens of the Year” by the Lowry Lions Club. The annual award, was presented to the Koubskys by Lowry Lions President Dennis Jones at a special dinner ceremony at the Lowry Community Center last Thursday.

10 YEARS AGO

From April 22, 2015 

Wes Torguson was pictured in the Times standing beside ten flower stands he made after being commissioned by the Project Starbuck Beautification Committee last fall. A big thanks to Wes for his talent! The flower stands will soon have pots filled with flowers to grace the streets of Starbuck. George Rud’s grandparents lived in Starbuck, which led George to donate funds for sprucing up our city. A September town meeting represented by youth groups, service organizations, chamber and council members and interested parties influenced the committee’s decision. We are all “players” in keeping Starbuck beautiful!

Two members of the Minnewaska Area High School speech team took top honors at the Minnesota State High School League state speech competition held on Friday, April 17 at Lakeville North High School in the Twin Cities metro area. Junior Collin Stumpf placed 7th in creative expression, and senior Cole Mercier placed 8th in storytelling. Other members of the speech team making state-level competition were Greta Serrin, humorous; Anna Haus, storytelling; and Karissa LaMont, original oratory.