Looking Back: Thieves ignite blaze at Pipestone plant

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One year ago

The Worthington City Council discussed public nuisance issues and possible rental housing ordinance amendments during a special Wednesday morning meeting.

The pending shutdown of Minnesota state government cast a negative pall over area state parks, as they anticipated halting services despite a steady influx of campers on a daily basis.

Tom Volk, Brewster, was recognized as “Father of the Year” by the Minnesota Twins after his teen-age daughter, Sadie, penned an essay “What My Father Means to Me” for the Twins’ annual Father’s Day essay contest. The essay contest, organized by the National Center for Fathering, garnered 7,324 essays statewide.

The 15th annual Nobles County Relay for Life event raised roughly $75,000.

The Honor Flight Southwest Minnesota board decides there would be a fourth and final flight departing from the Luverne hub for the dates Sept. 30-Oct. 1. More than 80 applications had already been received for the flight.

Five years ago

A Family Video store opened on Worthington’s Humiston Avenue.

Maurices celebrated the grand opening of its women’s fashion retail store at 1151 Ryan’s Road, Worthington.

The second of three people charged in the Iona cemetery vandalism case pleaded guilty in Murray County this week.

John and Gloria Widboom’s farm north of Worthington was the 2002 site of the Farm Bureau-sponsored “Breakfast on the Farm” event.

Caryl Busman retired after 10 years as director of the Murray County Historical Museum.

Shetek Lutheran Ministries celebrated its 60th year with a quilt auction fundraiser.

Ian Fleace, 14, Worthington, competed in the National Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo in Gallup, N.M.

10 years ago

Ben and Krista Petersen were the new owners of Slumberland Furniture, Worthington.

The Rev. Ronald Yungmann retired after serving Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Okabena and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lakefield for the past 13 years.

Worthington postmaster Chuck Vos said the local post office had plenty of stamps on hand as the rate for mailing a letter increased this week from 34 cents to 37 cents.

Specials at Worthington’s Hy-Vee this week included a half-gallon of Hy-Vee ice cream for 88 cents, a half-gallon of Blue Bunny lemonade for 58 cents, Lay’s and Ruffles chips at two for $4, and a 24-pack of Pepsi for $3.85.

John Widvey, the District 518 superintendent, announced his intention to retire as of Jan. 31, 2003. Widvey had been District 518 superintendent for six years and his educational career spanned 38 years.

25 years ago

Daily Globe staff writer Jill Callison won third place in the National Presswomen Communications Contest, sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women, Inc. The award was for Callison’s story about Jason Gaes, a young boy suffering from cancer.

Justin Dekker, son of William and Maribeth Dekker, Worthington, wrote the winning essay for Area 5 Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District’s annual essay contest. Dekker was a sophomore at Worthington High School.

Westbrook residents celebrated Hospital Days with music in the park, a variety show and a parade.

Recipes in this week’s “Mixing and Musing” column by Dorthy Rickers included Sate of Pork, Dilled Salmon Grill, Broccoli Salad, County Fair Potato Salad, Best-in-the-West Barbecued Bean Bake, and Moist Buttermilk Chocolate Cake.

A new metal cross was mounted atop the tall spire at First Lutheran Church in Worthington. Dick and Bruce Duba, former Worthington firemen, completed the installation work in less than one hour.

Ron Scharpen, previously manager of Snyder Drug on Worthington’s Oxford Street, announced he had purchased the business from Gary Ploeger of Pipestone.

50 years ago

Work was under way on a new, $600,000 school addition in Jackson. The addition was to provide expanded facilities for the athletic program, home economics department, industrial arts and agricultural shops. A new cafeteria and an arts room were also planned.

Fire, apparently started by thieves trying to open a safe with a cutting torch, did extensive damage to the Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Pipestone early Sunday. An unidentified caller notified the fire department at 4:20 a.m. Sunday; firemen battled the stubborn fire for more than three hours before bringing it under control.

Damage in excess of $10,000 was reported early Sunday when an empty milk truck struck a bridge on Highway 9 about two miles east of the Highway 59 junction. The driver, who was traveling alone, told police he may have fallen asleep at the wheel. He suffered a broken foot, broken knee, multiple cuts and bruises and possible rib injuries.

A barn fire at the Wayne Boots farm, Rushmore, killed 19 hogs and destroyed the barn. However, firemen were able to prevent the spread of flames to other buildings.

Advertised specials at Worthington’s Red Owl this week included a five-pound tin of Armour’s Star canned ham, $3.49; six 21-ounce cans of Van Camp’s pork & beans, $1; seven six-ounce cans of frozen orange juice, $1; fresh chicken fryers, 25 cents a pound (29 cents a pound if “cut-up and pan-ready”); ripe Texas watermelons, 79 cents each; and one dozen Sunkist lemons, 49 cents.

75 years ago

Showing this week at Worthington’s Grand Theatre was “You Can’t Beat Love,” starring Joan Fontaine and Preston Foster, and “The Devil is Driving.”

Judge Charles A. Flinn announced in a letter to the various clerks of court in the Thirteenth district, and the members of the county bar, that he expected to leave on a vacation July 1 and would be gone the balance of the month. Attorneys in Rock, Pipestone and Murray counties would be accommodated by Judge Albert E. Enerson of Marshall and Judge A. B. Gislason of New Ulm. Nobles and Cottonwood County lawyers would submit their affairs to Judge Julius E. Haycraft of Fairmont. Judge Flinn expected to be back in the district by Aug. 2.

An advertisement this week for Harper’s Fashion Shop, Worthington, included Gabardine slacks for $1, culottes for $1.98, sport shirts for 79 cents and $1, house coats or beach coats for $1.98, halters for 69 cents, shorts for 89 cents and sport hankies for 25 cents. The ad urged, “Things you’ll need for the 4th.”

Rickbeil Hardware, Worthington, was having a sale for its 24th birthday.

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