Looking Back: 1987 - Benton places in top 10 at Miss Minnesota Pageant

One year ago

Even if Minnesota state government were to shut down in July, Minnesota West Community and Technical College could continue to operate on its reserves for as long as 2½ months.

Weg’s Blue and White Dairy hosted the fifth annual Nobles County Breakfast on the Farm, an event coordinated by the Nobles County Farm Bureau.

At Lakefield’s “Gone Hog Wild” Summerfest activities, Aubree Tidyman and Tyron Collins of Lakefield were crowned Little Miss and Little Mr. Lakefield, respectively, while Kari Jones and Tearza Brewer, both 14 and of Lakefield, shared the title of Miss Lakefield.

The Jackson City Council voted by roll call to adopt a resolution to dissolve the Jackson Police Department effective Sept. 1, 2011.

More than 170 descendants of Leonard and Margaret Gunderman gathered at the Glen and Kay Gunderman farm in rural Fulda for a 125th family reunion over the weekend.

The four-member general livestock judging team from Jackson County, having placed third at the National FFA Convention in October 2010, departed for the Royal Highland Show and livestock judging contest in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Five years ago

The Worthington King Turkey Day race team for the 2007 celebration was announced: Larry Iten, Matt Widboom, Chad Cummings and Cindy DeGroot.

Okoboji Summer Theatre opened its 50th anniversary season.

The price paid for bare farmland in Nobles County increased by an average of $400 per acre in 2006. Between October 2005 and September 2006, buyers paid an average of $2,900 per acre. The recorded low for that time period was a 40-acre sale at $1,760 per acre, while the high was $3,665 per acre for a 150.04 acre parcel.

The Worthington Area Professional Home Economists organization celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The Worthington Regional Hospital trustees accepted a $1 million contribution from the Worthington Regional Health Care Foundation for a portion of the Southwest Minnesota Radiation Center project.

The Mark Engelkes residence in Little Rock Township (rural Rushmore) was a total loss after fire engulfed the house.

The 11th annual Nobles County Relay for Life at the county fairgrounds raised roughly $71,000.

10 years ago

At least 4,500 people visited the new Prairie Justice Center in Worthington during its weekend open house. The facility was due to begin operations as of July 1.

The average value per acre of tillable land in Nobles County jumped from $1,496 in 2001 to $1,640 in 2002.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Pawlenty made a campaign stop in Worthington.

Two German university-age students from towns near Worthington’s German sister city of Crailsheim were spending two months as interns with the City of Worthington. They were Isabel Lanig and Kerstin Dornself.

Wilma Lindquist and Margaret Popp were the grand marshals for the Fulda Wood Duck parade.

The 2002 King Turkey Day race team members were announced: Paul Larson, Mick Eggers, Kami Lease and Kari Meyer.

25 years ago

Dr. Ross DeWitt, Worthington, the northeastern sales manager for Grand Laboratories Inc., of Freeman, S.D., was honored as Salesman of the Year for 1986.

Wilbur “Willie” Jacobs was selected the Worthington Regional Hospital June employee of the month.

Eighteen coal cars were strewn across the railroad tracks after a 110-car train carrying about 130 tons of coal derailed between Ninth Street and 11th Street in Sibley, Iowa. No one was injured.

Michael’s Restaurant, Worthington, advertised a Sunday buffet for Father’s Day featuring prime rib, walleye pike, French-fried onions, spaghetti and more — plus salad bar, rolls, garlic toast and choice of sundaes — for $6.95 for adults and $4.60 for children.

Playing this week at Worthington’s Northland Cinema were “Harry and the Hendersons,” “The Untouchables” and “Beverly Hills Cop II.”

The town of Slayton celebrated its centennial with a parade and other activities.

Marlae Benton, Miss Worthington, capped off her year-long reign at the 1987 Miss Minnesota pageant with a top-10 finish and selection as Miss Congeniality.

50 years ago

Rushmore’s assistant postmaster Marvin Ailts was selected Nobles County’s Father of the Year for 1962. Ailts, 36, was a father of four and was married to Lorraine. He, served as one of Nobles County’s gun safety instructors, was a graduate of Worthington Junior College and was a lifelong resident of Rushmore.

Terry Des Combaz, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Des Combaz of West Okabena Street, Worthington, caught a three-pound, 10½-ounce walleye at the power house location on Lake Okabena. He was casting with a blue doll fly when he got his big strike.

Alvin Graf, Worthington’s mayor from 1939-’47, died at the age of 62 at the local hospital following a lengthy illness.

A severe summer storm and “near-tornado” swept across the region Saturday night, causing a great deal of property damage and resulting in at least three storm-related injuries (according to Worthington Municipal Hospital reports). Among the storm’s many casualties was the large neon sign atop the Dairy Queen drive-in on Worthington’s Kragness Avenue, and the KWOA radio tower, a 330-foot Worthington landmark, fell to the ground in a twisted heap. In one section south of Wilmont, five inches of rain was recorded.

75 years ago

Visions of another dust storm, comparable to those which drove people in this part of the northwest frantic in 1934, were conjured up by an invasion in the area of a cloud of emigrant earth from somewhere in the deep South. Fine as the finest flour, the deposit sifted through every nook and cranny of homes, the downtown buildings, in the good old-fashioned way, and at its height the storm blotted objects a mile away from vision, and a distinctly eerie cast was given the daylight.

Silverbergs store, Worthington, was offering “three large dips” of ice cream for 5 cents, and “also bulk ice cream and cold drinks.”

Nobles County’s 4-H club camp was in progress at Chautauqua Park, opening with a vesper service. A candle-lighting ceremony and community singing followed the service at 8:30 p.m.

A total of 55,766 chicks were distributed by Worthington merchants during the sixth annual Chick Day this year, John Hoffman, secretary of the Civic and Commerce association, reported

The year’s corn crop was progressing well in the continued warm weather, and expectations were the crop would reach knee-high by the Fourth of July.

Tags: looking back, lifestyle, reminiscing