10 YEARS AGO: NEWS FROM THE ISSUE OF JULY 8, 2009
The American Legion welcomed a new commander to the Nelsan-Horton Post No. 104 in Litchfield with the installation of Sgt. John McCann on Monday. McCann, an Iraq War veteran and a 1984 LHS grad, has been a member of the local post for 15 years and recently served as vice commander. In that office he has been in charge of membership and has been responsible for signing up 53 new members for the post. The post now has 366 members. McCann is no stranger to recruiting. As a National Guard recruiter, he was ranked second in the state.
Shopping opportunities for Litchfield area residents are about to shrink. Pamida Inc. confirmed this week that the store in the Litchfield shopping center will close in September. “Its a sign of the times,” said Dean Williamson, Pamida vice president of human resources based in Omaha. “There has been other communities where we have been forced to close stores — its really sort of heartbreaking.”
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Mike Hirman as jail administer. Hirman recently retired after serving as Meeker County Sheriff for 23 years. Sheriff Jeff Norlin, in recommending the appointment, said the position was widely advertised but drew just five applicants of which a Hirman was by far the best qualified. In response to County Attorney Stephanie Beckman’s question of why there were so few applicants, County Administrator Paul Virnig noted that the pay for the position was well below what is paid for similar work in other counties.
20 YEARS AGO: NEWS FROM THE ISSUE OF JULY 8, 1999
A day of fun at an area lake ended tragically when a 38-year-old Litchfield man apparently drowned Sunday in Lake Manuella. He had been riding an inflatable “torpedo,” which was being towed behind a boat when he fell. Meeker County Sheriff’s Office personnel were still searching for the body Wednesday morning with dogs and divers involved. The victim, who did not know how to swim, was not wearing a life jacket. On Tuesday the sheriff’s department had enlisted the help of a State Patrol plane in the search.
Selected from a field of 65 applicants, Myron Dvorak was hired as the new superintendent of Meeker County parks. Bob Hermann, parks board chairman, told the Meeker County Board six finalists had been interviewed with Dvorak as the final selection. Dvorak has worked for many years as service manager at Holt Motors. Hermann said Dvorak’s “good people’s skills” were a strong factor in his selection.
Marcia Provenchar, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Van Provenchar, graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth with a bachelor of art degree in health sciences with highest honors. She was also a member of the varsity women’s basketball team and an outstanding scholar athlete.
Lehigh University conferred degrees at the school’s 131st commencement. Katie Couric of NBC News was the principal speaker. Among graduates was Erik Martin Drange of Litchfield, who was awarded a bachelor’s of science.
50 YEARS AGO: NEWS FROM THE ISSUE OF JULY 2, 1969
The new Miss Litchfield, who was crowned Saturday night at the annual Watercade coronation event, is a brainy and attractive 17-year-old who was ranked number one academically in the LHS graduating class of 1969. Judy is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Nelson. A talented pianist, Judy took first place in the talent division of queen competition with a piano solo. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota this fall on a $6,000 teamsters scholarship she recently won. She is the oldest of five children. She has two sisters Janice, 15, and Jill, 14, and two brothers Bruce, 9, and Brad, 4.
Want to give the next generation something to remember you by 100 years hence? Here is your chance — for just a buck. During Centennial Week Thursday, July 10 at 3 p.m, Governor Harold LeVander will seal the lid on a capsule, which is in Central Park to be opened July 11, 2069. Actually, the capsule is a 10-gallon milk can provided by First District Association. After Governor LeVander officially puts the lid on the cream can, a foot more of concrete will be poured on top of the can. Its already in the ground encased by six inches of solid cement. Any Litchfield citizen may pen a note or picture or memento to go in the capsule for a buck. The materials should be brought to the Centennial office.
St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ, Forest City will welcome its new pastor the Rev. Edwin Johnson at the 10:30 service Sunday. Rev. Johnson comes to Forest City after 17 years at the St. Anthony Congregational Church in St. Paul. He is a graduate of Yankton College and the University of South Dakota.
Nathan, the small son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kuehl Jr., incurred a broken leg last Thursday while playing at the home of his parents.
69 YEARS AGO: NEWS FROM THE ISSUE OF JULY 3, 1969
A record crowd turned out last Thursday at the third annual Twilight Dairy Meeting at the Edwin Johnson farm in Greenleaf. Despite a temperature of a little over 50 degrees, about 250-300 people milled around the farm, taking part in the judging contest, watching the movies from specially set up bleachers, buying pop sold by the Star Lake 4-H club and, finally, enjoying the fine coffee served up by the Cosmos Commercial Club. A large group competed in the judging contest with Jerome Mattison, a Greenleaf farmer, taking first place in the men’s group with Mrs. Aloys Westrup of Harvey first in the women’s group.
Farmers breathed a sigh of relief Sunday when rain brought the first respite from one of the driest Junes since 1918. This June the power plant pumped almost 16 million gallons of water while last year during June only 11 million gallons were pumped. Bill Steinberg of the water department points that water waste in Litchfield has dropped considerably with improvements in the water main system. In only two other years has rainfall in June been lighter than this year — in 1933 it was practically the same, and in 1918 it was just about half.
The son of a former Litchfield man, Sgt. Maurice Olson of Minneapolis, has been missing in flight in the Korean War since last Thursday. The missing flyer is the son of Carl F. Olson, a former buttermaker here, and the neighbor of Mrs. Arnold Klien and Mrs. Levi Holmgren. He is also grandson of Mrs. Anna E. Olson of Litchfield. Sgt. Olson was an aerial gunner who had been credited with hitting at least six Russian made tanks in his last combat mission.
A week ago Saturday section foreman Alix Lindquist found a tie plate between the railroad tracks near the station. It had been run over and pushed between the tracks. According to employees of the railroad, it could have derailed the train that struck it. It is a strip of steel that rides under the rail fastened to the ties. Officials are investigating. Freights have been rolling again since last Friday, according to John Drotzz, telegraph operator, for the first time since a week ago Monday as the strike continues.
115 YEARS AGO: NEWS FROM THE ISSUE OF JUNE 10, 1904
The Litchfield Band met with a royal reception in Grove City last Friday evening where they went in honor of Otto Anderberg, whose birthday occurred on that date and who has been a faithful member of that organization. The park and street had been decorated for the occasion, and the people of Grove City had left nothing undone to make it pleasant and entertaining for our band boys. Speeches were made in the park by Ed. Al Sanders. M.P. Madson, Henry Thompson and others, and a banquet was served at the Grove House after the concert.
Leap year is about half gone, and there are still a number of kind, gentle, considerate and lonely bachelors around our town.
E.W. Randall, secretary of the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, visited with Litchfied friends Wednesday, and in conversation with a representative of the Review, took occasion to remark on the general air of prosperity that was everywhere evidenced here. He said that Meeker County was way up in the procession of banner counties in the state and predicted that the time would come when it would have few equals and no superiors as an agricultural community.
A general picnic will be held July 4 at Julius Jacobsen’s in Cosmos on the east shore of Thompson Lake. A bowery will be erected, and good music furnished for all who care to dance. Races and a ball game are also on the slate, and lunch will be available on the grounds during the afternoon.
The word is that there are still quite a number of big bass in Lake Ripley waiting to be caught.
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