Quilt of Valor presented

Dec. 24, 1964 – The Starbuck School District, by a 29-vote margin, voted to spend $195,000 on an addition to its school. Though the weather was below freezing, 738 voters turned out. The addition would include junior and senior high school facilities, including a new library, science labs, home ec department and six classrooms.

Glenwood’s Santa Claus, Clint Torguson, was injured when he was struck by a car. Torguson suffered a severe fracture of his left leg and a cut on the head. He was expected to be hospitalized and at home for several weeks.

Ralph Cheeseman was elected president of the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce for 1965. He would succeed Clem Stumpf in the post. Jim Kinney was elected vice president of the organization.

Dec. 19, 1974 – Allan Halls, Sedan farmer and auctioneer, was elected chair of the Pope County ASC. He was to succeed Walter Kittleson, of Gilchrist Township who had held the post over many years. Lyle Foslien was elected vice president of the county ASC. Other county committee members were Oliver Nygaard, Obert Braaten and James Erickson.

Several fish house owners on Lake Minnewaska reported break-ins and small losses to the Pope County Sheriff’s Department.

The Laker cagers won their first by defeating Paynesville 77-55. The Lakers had been spurred by Ken Neumann’s 24-point in the first half.

Dec. 20, 1984 – The law firm of Marshall and Marshall, of Barrett, was hired to provide legal services for Pope County indigent residents who were appointed attorneys by the court. Kent Marshall of the firm had provided the low bid for the county. Robert Walters, of Glenwood, had also submitted a bid.

Glenwood water customers were to begin to read their own meters, according to city officials. City clerk David Wencel told the Tribune that the move was expected to save many hours of labor and therefore cut costs for the city.

Funeral services were held for Harold Hagen, a rural Starbuck farmer and businessman, who died at the age of 60 after a lengthy illness. Hagen had served as a rural spokesman during the power line controversy of the 1970s and later during hazardous waste site discussions in the early 1980s.

Dec. 19, 1994 – Members and supporters of Central Square had staged a living nativity scene in front of Central Square. Pictured in the scene were Lee Paulson, Josh and Beth Chapman, David Fischer, Carrie Nevitt and Jeri Zuber. Included with the display were a horse, cow and sheep.

Members of Chapter No. 235 of the Vietnam Veterans of America were pictured in the Tribune standing silently by a small dinner table set for one. It was part of the dedication program for the POW/MIA Memorial Highway which was sponsored by the Johnson-Roll-Dougherty Unit No. 187 of the Glenwood American Legion Auxiliary.

Area homes were pictured in the Tribune decorated with holiday lights. Featured were the Steve Jurek home in Starbuck, the Jeff and Mary Beth Schlueter home in Glenwood, the Greg and Shelly Peterson home in Starbuck and the Dennis and Mary Jo Paukert home in Villard.

Dec. 13, 2004 – Minnewaska Area High School choirs performed their 14th annual series of Christmas concerts. The concert choir, varsity choir, seventh and eighth-grade choirs, jazz choir II, women’s jazz choir, men’s jazz choir, women’s choir and various combinations of the groups performed 30 pieces in a concert that ran over an hour and a half.

Gary Schmidt, owner of Tanis Aircraft Services, and Richard Justice, of Alexandria, were killed on Thursday when Schmidt’s plane crashed just east of Glenwood, less than a mile away from the Glenwood Airport, on one of the first snowy and foggy nights the area had seen that season. 

Dec. 15, 2014 – Halls Farm, near Brooten, recently received top honors in the state for their dedication to conservation practices. When the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) named the finalists for the state’s 2014 Outstanding Conservationist Award, Halls Farm was chosen from our region. And at the 78th annual MASWCD meeting, held in Bloomington Dec. 7-8, the Halls were announced as the winner of the 2014 Outstanding Conservationist of the Year award.

The Minnesota Secretary of State recently released official voter turnout and voter registration numbers from last November’s general election; Pope County rose to the top in voter turnout. With 58 percent of eligible voters taking to the polls, the county outpaced the state average of just over 51 percent.

A Quilt of Valor was presented to Jon Stafsholt by his sister, Shelby Kostman, who, along with her California quilting club, had made the quilt. Quilts of Valor is a national organization with chapters all over the country that deliver hand-made quilts to comfort wounded soldiers or to those who have been touched by war. Stafsholt had served in Vietnam. 

Donner and Blitzen made a special stop in Glenwood last Thursday evening, offering free sleigh rides as part of the Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber “Magical Christmas in Glenwood.” Though they saved their flying skills for later, the reindeer gamely trotted up First Street SW with help from their friends from the Hemker Park and Zoo in Freeport. Children visiting the chamber also had a chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, make ornaments with ECFE staff and volunteers, try their hands at cookie decorating and color to their heart’s content.