Down Memory Lane

July 19, 1962 – Twelve new teachers were signed by the Glenwood school system. They were Marion Peterson, Judith Erickson, Edna Grove, Beth Zemke, Jean Sunde, Grace Gildemeister, Carol Bervee, Marguerite Norman, Kathryn Goldberg, Willis Schuler, Gerald Dahle and Frederick Melgarde. Other changes at the school included the first two farmers ever elected to the school board, Gordon Moe and Earl Fingerson. Other board members were Grant Hustad, Dr. Gordon Lee and James Gremmels.

Orvald P. Forbord, after serving only seven months of a two-year term as mayor of the city of GLenwood, resigned due to “business reasons.” Forbord also said it was because of a conflict of interest in regard to fuel oil and gasoline bids. He owned Forbord Oil Co.

Trinity Lutheran Church at Grove Lake was celebrating its 50th anniversary. The church was founded in 1912, under the direction of Pastor Kretchmar. Currently serving the church was the Rev. A.C. Warneke.

July 20, 1972 – Norman Nelson, a 12-year veteran of the Glenwood Police Department, was named chief of police of Glenwood. He succeeded Henry DeKok in the office. Nelson had been in Glenwood since 1960 when he moved his family here from Brooten.

The Rev. James L. Kragness of Glenwood Lutheran Church resigned from his position here to accept a call at Bethel Lutheran Church in Palatine, Ill., a Chicago suburb. Kragness had served the Glenwood church as assistant pastor and pastor for six of the previous 11 years.

Albert Bagstad of Glenwood was pictured on the Tribune’ssports page with his hero Harmon Killebrew on Albert’s 85th birthday. He was taken to a Twins game for the celebration and while there, got to meet the Twins’ slugger in person. Local sports news included Glenwood’s routing Hancock in Pomme de Terre League play by a score of 17-12, despite being out-hit 16-13. John Gloege drove in six runs. Tom Noss pitched for the win.

July 22, 1982 – A county man was charged with second degree murder in the death of an infant. The pathologist’s report concluded that the baby’s death was due to a blow to the head which caused a subdural hemotoma.

Filing continued for county offices. Filing thus far were Gerald Moe, Mark Hedner and Lloyd Ochocki for sheriff; Robert Walter, James F. Nelson and Bruce Obenland for county attorney; and Arleigh Lund, Arne Stoen and Herb Bly for county commission seats. Also filing were William Boyle for count auditor, David Troen for treasurer and Patricia Larson for recorder.

The Minnewaska Showstoppers production of Little Mary Sunshine was underway. Working on the production were director Lee Paulson, Kathy Ofstedal, Bruce Felt, Sandy Bergman, Tom Olson, Pam Brogla, Bruce Fingerson, John Griffin, Kris Gandrud, Jack Zitzmann, Charles Hellie and others.

July 20, 1992 – Glenwood was ready to embark on its 37th annual Waterama celebration. Pictured in the Tribune were Commodore Barb Sorenson, Admiral Jeff Hebeisen and Vice Commodore Wally Rajdl. 

The District No. 612 Board of Education approved the purchase of the Glenwood Veterans of Foreign Affairs building to be adapted and used for Early Childhood/Family Education (ECFE). Cost of the purchase and renovation was estimated to be less than $55,000 and could be used for ECFE, family school, adult basic education classes, the family literacy center and youth development programs.

The musical comedy, Once Upon a Mattress, was to be produced by the Minnewaska Showstoppers and directed by Lee Paulson. The production was performed on stage at the Minnewaska Area High School.

Whether 54 Pope County employees walked the picket line or not was still in limbo. The members of the Public and Law Enforcement Teamsters Local No. 320 had voted to strike, but before any employees walked off their jobs, union and county officials were going to meet in a final mediation session.

July 22, 2002 – Overseeing the 47th annual Waterama celebration were Admiral Mitch Critz, with assistance from John Gandrud, commodore, and Jill Solmonson, vice commodore. Reigning over the festival were 2002 Waterama Queen Heidi Schlueter, along with Alison Perryman, first princess, and Lindsay Lehtola, second princess. Minnewaska Showstoppers performed Some Enchanted Evening.

The Minnewaska Area Board of Education asked voters to pass an operating referendum with the intention of helping the district stay clear of statutory operating debt. The school board approved a resolution at the board meeting calling for a referendum that would generate about $607 per resident per pupil unit. That would translate to about $1 million each year for 10 years.

Henry and Carrie DeRoo celebrated 71 years of marriage at the Glenwood Retirement Village with friends, family and staff. They were married in the evening on July 16, 1931, on their parents’ farm in Iowa.

July 23, 2012 – The Minnewaska Area Schools Board of Education did not approve a recommendation for a new head boys’ basketball coach at it regular meeting last week. The district had been seeking a new coach since Phil Johnsrud submitted his resignation in March, but only had one applicant through the end of May.

The thunder cracked and the lightning was fierce, signaling the beginning of a long-awaited rain that fell over most of Pope County. Much of the county received close to two inches of rain in just a few hours.

Welcome to the 57th annual Waterama! Pictured in the Tribune were the 2012 Waterama family: Admiral Terri Richards and Rob Richards, Commodore Todd Roth and Patty Roth, Vice Commodore Jodi McGinty and Mike McGinty, First Princess Nikki Peper, Queen Tara Henrikson, Second Princess Kaylyn Oberg, Jr. Queen Isabelle Jipson and Jr. Princess Olivia Logan.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was investigating a report that a zebra mussel was found in Lake Minnewaska. On July 18, DNR snorkeling crews conducted a shoreline survey to confirm the presence of a zebra mussel population and determine the extent of any infestation. The immediate search did not turn up additional zebra mussels around the site where the first one was found attached to a boat seat mount that was submerged in four feet of water.