Looking Back - 2007: Pipestone Area student is national royalty

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One year ago

Eric Fisher, director of AGCO Jackson operations, officially announced that the company would expand its Jackson facility. AGCO planned to break ground in mid-May on a 75,000 square-foot addition to its tractor assembly building; more than 100 jobs were expected to be created as a result of the expansion.

Fourth-generation farmer Jim Willers of Beaver Creek was one of a handful of area farmers to be featured in a new campaign launched by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association to educate consumers about the people who grow their food.

Worthington High School seniors Ellen Dudley and Brandon Berger were the female and male recipients, respectively, of the District 518 Academics, Arts and Athletics (AAA) award.

Minnesota Soybean Processors of Brewster was awarded nearly $400,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds to help offset the cost of soybeans used in the production of biodiesel. The funds, authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, were funded through the USDA’s bioenergy program for advanced biofuels.

Five years ago

The Dakota Chamber Orchestra performed at Luverne’s historic Palace Theater.

An early morning fire claimed the two-story Lakefield home of Jonathan Hall, despite the efforts of three fire departments with approximately 30 firefighters. Hall was uninjured.

Five juveniles were implicated in the Jan. 7 burglary at Jim’s Standard station in Brewster, a spokesman for the Nobles County Sheriff’s Office said.

Members of the Fulda Game and Fish Club prepared 2,000 pounds of carp for the annual Fish-A-Rama at Fulda’s Legion Hall.

After being open only a few weeks, Avalon Beauty Academy had 16 students enrolled, owner Kim Schroeder reported.

Pipestone Area High School senior Amber Schmidt was named the National Polled Hereford Queen at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. Schmidt was selected from a field of nine state queen finalists.

10 years ago

“Zee’s Your Final Answer,” a horse owned by Carroll and Judy Koepsell, Worthington, was named the No. 1 yearling gelding Pony of the Americas in the nation.

A proposed soybean processing plant in Brewster could require $5-6 million in water and wastewater improvements, the Brewster city clerk said.

Three years of controversy came to a close as the Nobles County Board of Commissioners quashed plans for a proposed recreational trail from Worthington to Rock County.

The Rev. Bruce Carlson was serving as interim pastor at Worthington’s American Lutheran Church.

Mark Novotny, owner of Luverne’s True Value Hardware, said he wouldn’t rebuild the store due to the high costs involved. The business was gutted by a fire (arson was suspected) in December.

Worthington High School juniors Dan Viessman and Blaine Anderson, along with senior alternate Jordan Skog, qualified for the state debate tournament. It marked the first time in 10 years that WHS had sent debaters from sectionals to state competition.

25 years ago

Fred Davis Jr., Worthington, won a free trip for two on a seven-day cruise down the eastern seaboard of Mexico. The cruise was the grand prize of the Three Amigos Taco John’s Sweepstakes. “I only signed up once but I don’t remember when,” said Davis, 27, who said he isn’t a regular Taco John’s customer but likes their food.

Duane Walburg of Faith Christian High School was the Daily Globe Athlete of the Week for his hustle on the basketball floor. Walburg was the school’s all-time scoring leader with well over 500 points.

Advertised specials at Worthington’s Hy-Vee store this week included four avocados for $1, two six-count packages of Old Home English muffins for $1, three eight-packs of 16-ounce Pepsi bottles for $4, a 42-ounce box of quick oats for $1, and a 20-ounce can of Wilderness apple pie mix for $1.

Edward Clark, Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce president, resigned. Darlene Lyon, the Chamber’s administrative assistant and membership development director, was appointed as interim Chamber manager while a successor was sought.

50 years ago

Worthington’s Diane Kramer — the reigning Princess Kay of the Milky Way — attended the Edgerton Dairy meeting at which four Region 11 officers were elected.

Some of the advertised specials at Swanson’s grocery this week included three dozen Grade “A” large eggs, $1; a quart-jar of Kraft Miracle Whip, 39 cents; two pounds of ground beef, 79 cents; a 10-ounce jar of B-Z Brand Pure strawberry preserves, 19 cents; and a 16-ounce can of Vet Brand dog food, 7 cents.

A total of 60 bottles of wine and liquor was stolen in a break-in at the Rushmore liquor store Friday night. The Nobles County Sheriff’s Office said the intruders pried open a door to the building housing the liquor store and fire hall and then forced a second door to enter the store. They also took a small amount of change from the cash register.

Worthington firemen quickly extinguished a blaze in a vacant house at 808 Milton Ave. Friday evening. The house was owned by Joe Heyl of Pipestone; the fire was reported to have started in the home’s rear entry, and a neighbor spotted it and called the firemen.

Lowell Horstman, Bigelow township farmer, was given the first annual Milt Landes award for the farmer doing the best job of soil conservation during the past year in the Okabena-Ocheda Watershed District.

75 years ago

Worthington Kiwanians gathered for a 6:30 p.m. dinner meeting in the Empire room at the Hotel Thompson in honor of the 22nd anniversary of Kiwanis International. The attendees heard an address on northern Europe by the Rev. Msgr. Joseph Mangan of Pipestone. The Rev. Mangan, an active Kiwanian, had recently toured the northern European countries.

Wendell Butcher, a senior and grid star at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Butcher, Worthington, had “definitely turned down the offer of a contract with the New York Giants professional team, which was tendered him just before the holidays.” Butcher had decided in favor of “sticking by his school work.”

Mrs. Harold E. Davidson was reelected president of the Community Club at its annual business meeting. Also reelected to office was Julia Hyland, treasurer. New officers were Mrs. L. M. Herbert, vice president, and Mrs. C. E. Mobeck, treasurer.

Snow, whipped up by a rising wind into clouds which made driving hazardous, operated to cut the crowd considerably at the annual meeting of the Nobles County Co-operative Oil company Wednesday afternoon. In addition, two members of the Daily Times staff had vivid stories of their adventure after having fought their way, with three other men, over five miles of drifted highways in a raging Wednesday night blizzard to bring aid to 13 other motorists marooned on Hwy. 59 north of Worthington.

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