Looking Back: 2003 - Minnesota West enrollment tops 1,000 for first time

One year ago

Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall visited Lakeside Lab and the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji, Iowa, this week.

At the recent annual Community Health Conference, Worthington's Karen Pfeifer received the Award for Outstanding Dedication to Local Public Health.

Sandra Dirks, a 1962 Worthington High School graduate, returned to Worthington in her work with Global Volunteers.

Deb Munsterman, an instructor at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, was named the Minnesota Small Business Management Instructor of the Year at a conference of the Minnesota Association of Small Business Management Instructors.

Five years ago

Tesfaye Mitslal, who headed the failed Awra Doro, Inc., chicken plant in Worthington, was ordered (as part of a plea agreement) to repay 49 former employees about $38,000 for bounced paychecks he issued.

For the first time ever, the student head count at Minnesota West Community and Technical College had surpassed 1,000, with 744 full-time equivalent students enrolled.

Earl Newburn, 89, died following a stroke. Newburn farmed for 34 years and had an extensive list of civic activities to his credit, including 25 years of perfect attendance at the Noon Kiwanis Club.

Nobles County law enforcement authorities busted their first methamphetamine lab in about three years on a raid at a home near Reading.

10 years ago

Prairie Fire Theatre directed dozens of area youths in a production of "The Wizard of Oz" at Worthington's Memorial Auditorium.

With a 27-7 win over Jackson County Central, the Worthington Trojans football team improved its season record to 5-0 overall, 4-0 in the conference.

Despite a heavy downpour, more than 100 people walked around Lake Okabena for the annual Heart Walk and raised more than $8,000 for the American Heart Association.

Becky Schilling recently opened The Coffee Nook within Heartsong Bookstore on Worthington's 10th Street.

Denise Steffl and Allen Drost were crowned the Worthington High School homecoming queen and king, respectively.

25 years ago

About 100 area Boy Scouts gathered at the Boy Scout campground near Lake Shetek over the weekend for the Fall Camporee. Many boys were working on their Indian Lore Badge at the camp-out, which included learning the techniques of teepee building.

More than 500 students attended the District 511 convention of the Future Homemakers of America at Worthington High School. The day ended with a style show put on by local clothing stores.

Doug Schafer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schafer, rural Slayton, was recognized as The Achievement Center's Employee of the Year.

A 17-year-old Brewster boy was bitten by a rabid bat in the middle of the day. He received a series of four shots to prevent rabies.

Minnesota Secretary of State Joan Growe stopped in Worthington while campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat.

50 years ago

Highway Patrolman Joel Brown was catapulted in his car by a speeding vehicle and "flew, flipped and flopped into the ditch in front of the Louis Greve farmstead (three miles east of Worthington on Hwy. 16)." Brown was held in place by his safety belt and dangled upside down as the auto landed on its top. He was able to crawl from the wreckage and escaped serious injury.

Ellsworth's homecoming queen was Margaret Ann Egan, attended by Mary Boyenga and Beth Railsbach.

A few items advertised for sale at the "friendly Sav-Mor Food Market" this week were five pounds of sugar for 49 cents, a two-pound box of Velveeta cheese for 69 cents, a one-pound can of Humpty Dumpty Alaska salmon for 49 cents, a 12-ounce bag of Hershey's chocolate chips for 49 cents and a three-pound package of Pillsbury's Buttermilk pancake mix for 45 cents.

Worthington High School's marching band earned an A rating in competition at the Luverne Tri-State Band Festival.

75 years ago

The board of education for the Worthington district adopted its budget for 1933-34, setting it $1,217 lower than the budget of a year earlier. The total estimated expenditures for the coming year were $74,657.50.

A heavy docket awaited the Tuesday opening of district court in Worthington, with the criminal calendar being the heaviest one in years -- 13 cases were listed. All were not expected to come to trial, but there would be several in which a jury would be called, said county attorney Arnold W. Brecht.

Playing at the New Grand Theatre were Cecil B. DeMille's "This Day and Age" and "Double Harness," the story of a temporary marriage, starring William Powell and Ann Harding.