Hospital makeover one room at a time

September 13, 1962 – A 20-year-old Starbuck man became Pope County’s first highway fatality when he died at the Glenwood Community Hospital following an accident earlier in the month. He had apparently fallen asleep at the wheel of his car.

The 75th annual Pope County Fair was about to get underway with 4-Hers and other county residents preparing their exhibits. The Rogers Bros. Show, the Swenson Thrillcade (featuring special car and motorcycle stunts), Roy Van Dyke and the annual Pope County Poultry Association show were expected to highlight the fair. 

Arguments for and against the closing of the Glenwood Northern Pacific depot were expected to be heard during a hearing on that issue. The Minnesota State Railroad and Warehouse Commission called the hearing following a request from NP which said that the depot didn’t do enough business to justify its continued operation. 

September 14, 1972 – Chuck Bullock was once more elected chair of the Cliff Mork, Jim Gilman, Rosemarie Tomes and Ken Kost along with board memebers Jim Stradtman, Harlan Long, Lois Korbel, Joe Rosenfield and David Tostenson. The Laker Boosters and other community organizations must have had an effect. The Lakers defeated Elbow Lake 41-8 to snap two-game losing streak. 

The Glenwood cross-country team participated in an invitational at Little Falls and placed fifth out of 22 teams. Runners included Dale Kramer, Rick Wheeler, Curt Bol, Dave Wittiko, Nate Lund, Dan Moe and Tim Kramer in varsity competition.

September 9, 1982 – The Tribune featured a story on raising buckwheat in the county. Villard Elevator manager Harry Husmann said that the Japanese were the biggest customers for the grain. 

The annual Pope County picnic, spponsored by merchants from Glenwood, Starbuck, Villard, Cyrus, and Lowry, was to be held at Barsness Park in Glenwood. Over 2,000 people were expected to attend. 

Landowners in the southern part of this county who were affected by the state-imposed split mill tax were told at a meeting of the Pope County Board of Commissioners that they probably were stuck with it. The split mill tax occurred when school districts crossed county lines. 

The rooms at Glacial Ridge Hospital were taking a new look with new beds, wall units for oxygen and suction and other improvements. Cost of the project, which was expected to be completed one room at a time, was around $50,000. 

September 14, 1992 –  A 12-year-old Starbuck youth was in University of Minnesota Hospitals after a farm accident. Danny Anderson, son of Marvin and Sandy Anderson, was with his father at the Gilman Anderson farm when he reportedly fell into a gravity box of grain. 

The Glenwood City Commission “cut the fat” off the city’s proposed 1993 budget. City Administrator David Wencel presented the commission with a budget that was 2.5 percent higher the 1992 budget. 

With two special budget meetings completed and another one scheduled for later, the Pope County Board of Commissioners continued to work on the 1993 county budget. The board received 1993 budget requests in excess of $300,000 over the 1992 approved budget and had spent a considerable amount of time trying to trim where they could, despite freedom from levy limitations. 

September 16, 2002 – Pictured in the tribune were MAHS homecoming royalty standing on  and in front of Russ Musselman’s “ converti-van,” a van he recently converted into a convertible. They included Ashley Olson, Kecia Ihnen, Kari Blair, Katie Moe, Elaine Vandenburgh, Mesa Berry, Angela Reker, Sarah Olson, Lindsay Morrissey, Kassie Skurat, Kelsey Zuber, Amber Dziengel, Jesse Ringdahl, Scott Faehnrich, Paul Suckstofrr, Jacob Beecher, Jared Olson, Sean Gremmels, Jacob Bryce, Justin Pederson, John Shirkey, John Wigdahl, Justin Douvier and Russ Musselman. 

September 17, 2012 – Last week fourth-graders at Minnewaska Area Elementary School had a chance to dig in and husk the ears of corn that ended up on their lunch trays. The effort was part of “Farm to School,” a program that connects schools with local farms. 

After weeks of budget discussions between board members and county departments, Pope County commissioners brought the information together last Tuesday in an effort to close the county’s budget shortfall for 2013. That figure had risen to -$663,754 after adjustments to budget estimates.