One year ago
Xcel Energy and enXco announced plans to construct a 201-megawatt wind farm in Nobles County. The $500 million-plus project, slated for completion in 2010, was to include 134 1.5-megawatt General Electric wind turbines, capable of producing enough power to serve approximately 66,500 homes.
Two Murray County barns made it a clean sweep in the first-ever Minnesota Barn of the Year contest sponsored by the Friends of Minnesota Barns. The grand prize in the family-owned division went to Lee Leysen, while first place in the group-owned division was Murray County, owner of the historic red barn on the Murray County Fairgrounds in Slayton.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place for the new Worthington Area YMCA and City of Worthington Aquatics Center on the grounds of Minnesota West Community and Technical College. The new facility was expected to open in the fall of 2009.
Five years ago
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Worthington's Swift & Co. plant hosted an invitation-only open house that included tours of the facility's recently completed 80,000 square-foot addition. The expansion included two new cafeterias, plus expanded spaces for the parts, health services and safety departments.
In Tuesday's only challenged Worthington City Council race, Mike Woll defeated Jim Elsing for the alderman-at-large position, garnering 57 percent of the vote.
Logan Abrego, 10, Worthington, was the only Minnesota youth to win a ride in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile for his winning entry in the company's "Oh, I wish..." essay contest.
The Rushmore fire department received an $111,849 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the purchase of 21 sets of new turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatuses.
10 years ago
A total of 1,330 ballots was cast in the District 518 Board of Education election, which resulted in the election of Jason Turner, Gordon Moore and Connie Burchill to four-year seats on the school board.
The Rev. Paul Moore, a 1982 Worthington High School graduate and son of Chuck and Jackie Moore, Worthington, was the featured speaker at the second annual Celebration of Human Rights event on the campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
Southwest Star Concept High School's FFA teams placed second (nursery/landscape team), fifth (agriculture sales team) and sixth (floriculture team) at the recent 1999 National FFA convention in Louisville, Ky.
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25 years ago
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra performed at Worthington's Memorial Auditorium this weekend. Cellist Peter Howard was a featured soloist at the concert.
Worthington's Sears store had a grand opening celebration, marking its move from the downtown area to Times Square at 1820 Oxford St.
The Worthington High School football team logged a 21-8 Section 2A playoff victory over Marshall Saturday at Mankato State University, boosting its season record to 10-1 and keeping the team in contention for a possible trip to the Metrodome. Brian Iverson and Craig Hayenga blocked first-quarter punts that led to touchdowns on the cold, breezy day.
The Brewster senior class presented "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," while Ellsworth High School presented the comedy "Charley's Aunt" this weekend.
50 years ago
With cornpicking about 25 percent completed (as of Nov. 2), Ross L. Huntsinger, Nobles County agent, predicted a county crop in the neighborhood of 8,00,000 bushels, the lowest volume in the past four years. He based his conclusions on an average of 42 bushels per acre, compared with the 49 in 1958.
The three-county Southwestern Mental Health Center in Luverne opened its doors for the first time this week "and already has as much work as it can handle," according to Dr. John E. Teahan, clinical psychologist.
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The new Dr. Arnold Memorial Hospital in Adrian was ready for its first patients this week.
The first snowstorm of the season settled on Worthington and across the region on the night of Nov. 4. By dawn the snowfall totaled three inches, and the temperature was 15 degrees.
75 years ago
Only two pupils in the entire Worthington school system won places on the "A" honor roll for the first six-week period, it was announced this week. Marian Mellgren in the junior class and Frances Deitrich in the fourth grade were the two receiving the highest award.
With the designation of Worthington as a transient center, transients are assured of food for one meal while stopping in town and, as a result, county relief worker Helen Leach urged the people of the city to refuse to give food to transients. "If they feed those who come to their doors or give money to panhandlers, it will only encourage them to stay in the city," she pointed out. After receiving their free meal, transients could either register for one of the work camps or be sent to their homes.
Superintendent Bernard Heppner of Bigelow was elected president of the Nobles County Schoolmasters' Association at the organization's recent meeting.
