Looking Back - 1936: Winter weather hammers area

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One year ago

The City of Worthington announced that Prairie View Golf Links would be operated by Dakota Golf Management, in cooperation with the city, for the 2011 golf season. The city would continue to maintain the course, but Dakota would manage the clubhouse, hire a golf professional and sell food and beverages.

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources was awarded more than $10 million in state grants from Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund to complete projects that help protect streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater. The Nobles County Soil and Water Conservation District was to receive the largest grant in the region—$162,000 for a shoreline restoration project on the east basin of Lake Ocheda.

Property taxes in Worthington were to increase by 3.2 percent in 2011, the Worthington City Council decided this week.

Clean-up continued locally and across the region after 10 inches of snow was dumped, with winds up to 60 miles per hour and a near 36 hours of paralysis resulting. Fortunately, no weather-related fatalities occurred.

Five years ago

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement swept through six Swift and Company plants nationwide early Tuesday and conducted enforcement actions involving illegal immigration and identity theft. At Worthington’s Swift plant, 230 people were arrested; more than 1,280 were apprehended across the U.S.

Third-graders at Prairie Elementary School in Worthington “read for 2007” with visiting family members. Reading for exactly 33 minutes and 27 seconds — to total 2,007 seconds — was a good way to prepare students for the new year, figured teacher Deb Heck.

More than 1,000 people gathered at Worthington’s St. Mary’s Catholic Church to honor one of Mexico’s most beloved saints, the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Randy Buntjer, Duane Mulder, Jim Von Holtum and J.J. Von Holtum leased the Slayton Auction Barn to form the Slayton Auction Center, L.L.C., and planned to conduct weekly hay and straw auctions each Thursday at noon.

10 years ago

A public dedication ceremony took place for Windom’s new middle school and newly remodeled high school. Sen. Jim Vickerman spoke, and music was provided by the Windom Area High School band and choir. The project was the result of a $17.7 million bond referendum that district voters narrowly passed in December 1998.

Mike Reck opened Stephanie’s restaurant and lounge at Worthington’s Expo Inn.

Exterior work was completed at the new strip mall on Ryan’s Road, Worthington, but the company leasing out the property was waiting for tenants to submit plans for the future stores’ insides. About 80 percent of the building had been leased to seven tenants.

The first wind turbine in Nobles County was likely to be towering over the countryside by Christmas. Construction was under way on a 1.5 megawatt turbine one mile west of Wilmont.

25 years ago

Unisys Corporation announced it would close its Jackson operation in June 1987, with around 280 jobs to be eliminated. After the closing, the building that housed the plant would be placed on the market for sale.

Ice fishing houses were appearing on Lake Okabena. Among recent catches was an 11-pound walleye brought in by Cal Seegers of Worthington.

Thirteen Hills-Beaver Creek High School students entered a knowledge quiz played on a computer and placed 17th in the nation in their category. The 200 “very tough” questions tested their knowledge on 15 different topics, ranging from literature, art and music to physical science, math and current events. About 1,500 schools entered the contest.

“A Festival of Christmas Music” was hosted at Worthington High School, with six choirs, a woodwind choir and the WHS Chamber Orchestra all performing. More than 500 students participated in the program.

A crowd of more than 500 people attended the spectacle of All-Star wrestling at the Jackson Middle School.

Recipes in this week’s “Mixing and Musing” column by Dorthy Rickers included Unbaked Fruit Cake, Cranberry Nut Bread, Herb Seasoning and Sherried Walnuts.

50 years ago

For the second straight year, the winning ways of a Magnolia girl brought her the state championship in the junior division of the 1961 Make It Yourself with Wool contest. Karen Colwell, 16-year-old junior at Ellsworth High School, was to represent the state in the national contest at Salt Lake City, Utah.

The second big snowstorm in as many days, brewed in the southwest part of the nation, swept into the Midwest. Hardest hit was central Iowa, southeastern Minnesota and most of Wisconsin. In the Worthington area, snowfall ranged from two to four inches, with restricted visibility and slippery roads.

Temperatures dipped to bone-chilling levels, with Worthington posting an official reading of 11 below zero while LeMars, Iowa, had an official temp of 25 below zero.

The Worthington Jaycees made arrangements to have children talk with Santa on the telephone from Dec. 21-23. Children were urged to “plan their conversations in advance so they will not require more than a few minutes of Santa’s time.”

75 years ago

Following up its weekend invasion of snow and zero temperatures, winter clamped down with a heavier hand upon southwestern Minnesota Sunday and Monday, with temperatures plunging well below zero and more snow falling. The lowest temperature recorded was 9 below zero Sunday morning, and snowfall for the weekend totaled 3.9 inches.

Fraternity Lodge No. 101, A. F. & A.M., had its annual election of officers last night. Elected were Howard Baker, worshipful master; Hardy Rickbeil, senior warden; J. G. Duncan, junior warden; L. A. Hons, secretary; Edmund D. Swanberg, treasurer; W. C. Thom, senior deacon; G. A. Benson, senior steward; and Jas. G. Reed, chaplain.

Worthington Creamery and Produce Company celebrated its 25th anniversary. Two cents a pound above market price on chickens, ducks and geese was offered Monday, Dec. 14, in observation of the anniversary.

Violet and Daisy Hilton, the world’s two most famous Siamese twins, were in Worthington this week.

Tags: looking back, lifestyle, columns, reminiscing