Looking Back - 2006: Luverne's Palace Theater gets $100,000 grant

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One year ago

A Love INC office opened in Worthington, with Brian Frodermann serving as the executive director. Love INC networks local churches, church volunteers and community organizations to help people in need.

Jackson County Sheriff Roger Hawkinson confirmed the body found by a deer hunter was positively identified as that of 49-year-old Kelly William Fest, who had been missing since June.

JBS, Worthington’s largest energy consumer, recently implemented several energy-saving practices that resulted in lower energy usage and, thus, lower utility bills.

Prairie Elementary third-grade teacher Tom Woods was honored at the school’s Veterans Day program as the recipient of the National Citizenship Teacher Post Recognition Award.

The ninth annual Christmas House Walk, benefiting Hospice Cottage, Inc., featured the Worthington homes of Tanya and Dan Wagner, Helen Sandersfeld, Diane Graber and Rick and Julie Shrubb.

Five years ago

Denise Kennedy and Megan Prins were honored with the 2006 Friend of 4-H Award at the Nobles County 4-H Achievement banquet.

The renowned Vienna Boys Choir performed at Worthington’s Memorial Auditorium.

Minnesota’s First Lady, Mary Pawlenty, was the guest speaker at the 21st annual Windom American Legion Post 206 Veterans Day program at Windom High School.

The Palace Theater of Luverne was the recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society, announced Blue Mound Area Theater board chair Ben VanderKooi. The grant would fund major exterior tuck pointing work as well as new seats on the theater’s ground floor.

The fifth annual Christmas House Walk, benefiting Hospice Cottage Inc., took place. Worthington homes featured were those of Lori and Craig Nienkirk, Glen and Cindy Lonneman, Chris and Diane Dybevick, Al and Janice Oberloh and Ginger Reeves.

10 years ago

Ronald Porzio, director and chief executive officer of the VA Medical and Regional Office Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., delivered the keynote address at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.

Swift & Co. employees in Worthington raised $50,660 for the area United Way organization, surpassing their previous record of $43,900 raised in 1999.

A gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation brought 11 new computers to the Slayton Public Library.

Fulda-area entertainers performed “Made in the USA” at the Fulda Elementary gymnasium.

A recount was necessary to determine the outcome of Adrian’s $450-per-pupil operating levy ballot question, as initial results came in with less than one vote separating the “yeahs” from the “nays.”

25 years ago

A committee advocating for the downtown district of Worthington, led by businessman Dick Rickbeil, declared that the area would now be known as “Worthington City Center.” “It’s a new image for downtown Worthington, a new image for the center of the city…like a new set of clothes,” explained Rickbeil. In addition, closing hours at most City Center businesses were extended to 5:30 p.m. (rather than 5 p.m.) to better accommodate shoppers.

Advertised specials this week at Worthington’s Hy-Vee store included a 25-square-foot roll of aluminum foil, 57 cents; a half-gallon ice cream, $2.75; two 15-ounce cans of pumpkin, $1; an 18-count bag of apples, $3.39; and a one-pound package of Blue Bonnet stick margarine, 39 cents.

Featured recipes in this week’s “Mixing and Musing” column by Dorthy Rickers were California Lemon Meringue Pie and Cranberry Oatmeal Bread.

Ice on Lake Okabena, west of the power plant, was four to five inches thick (as of Nov. 18) and local ice fishermen were wasting no time setting up ice houses and trying their luck, despite wind, snow and sleet.

50 years ago

For two Worthington men, the deer season was over quickly. Dennis McNab and John Fauskee dropped a doe 10 minutes after sunrise on opening day while hunting near Garvin. While they were field-dressing the animal, a buck charged by and was added to the bag. Within 30 minutes of the opening gun, both deer were dressed out and the men were on their way home. Game warden Bert Getty reported 22 deer shot in Rock County, eight in Nobles County and 16 at the Talcot Lake refuge during the one-day season.

Veterans Day 1961 was observed in Worthington Saturday with traditional outdoor ceremonies at Courthouse Square and with a special luncheon.

“Shy Guy,” a comedy in three acts, was presented in the Ellsworth High School auditorium by members of the school’s junior class.

Swanson’s grocery store, Worthington, advertised the following items this week: a half-gallon of ice cream for 57 cents, a pound of Emperor grapes for 10 cents, two rings of bologna for 69 cents, two pounds of ground beef for 79 cents, 100 pounds of russet potatoes for $2.98, and a two-pound bag of macaroni for 29 cents.

75 years ago

After several weeks of waiting for material, work resumed on the Martin warehouse, located on 12th Street (Worthington) at the Omaha tracks.

Mrs. Clara Krukemeyer, a 90-year-old Brewster woman, had just completed an “Around the world” quilt. She had pieced approximately 50 quilts over the last eight years, doing all the work by hand. In addition, she had crocheted a number of rugs.

Among other winnings of the Nobles County exhibitors at the Junior Livestock show in St. Paul this past week was a medal awarded to Richard Saxon of the Indian Lake Progressives club for his long record as an exhibitor of meat animals. Saxon, finishing nine years of club work, had been represented with various livestock projects during his entire 4-H career.

Playing this week at the State Theatre was “Broadway Melody of 1936” starring Jack Benny, Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor.

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