Looking Back: 2005 -- Gas station at 'Big Corner' is demolished

One year ago

The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System Board of Directors awarded a $16.5 million pipeline contract to Carstensen Contracting of Pipestone. It was the first contract awarded in the system since June 2012 due to a lack of funding, and included 18 miles of primarily 24-inch pipe that would run from the Minnesota/Iowa border to Luverne, allowing for water delivery to that city.

The Maple Lawn Senior Care Campus, Fulda, celebrated its 50th year.

Nearly two dozen area high school bands participated in the 64th annual Luverne Tri-State Band Festival.

Troy Appel, a 20+-year veteran of the Worthington Police Department, was named the city’s new director of public safety.

Worthington firefighters received a 1 percent increase in their pension when the Worthington City Council approved the benefit increase this week.

Five years ago

Worthington’s racing turkey, Paycheck, beat Ruby Begonia of Cuero, Texas, in the first leg of the Great Gobbler Gallop at the local King Turkey Day event. Paycheck clocked in at a rapid 37.5 seconds, while Ruby Begonia lagged with a time of 1:40.67.

Nobles County commissioners were exploring the idea of collaborating with Minnesota West to provide a new library facility on college-owned property.

District 518 school board members unanimously approved a $4.77 million levy limit for the coming year, which represented a roughly 2 percent increase over the previous year.

Bail was set at $2,500 each for two people allegedly involved in one or more burglaries in Rushmore on Sept. 15.

Flooding prompted Gov. Tim Pawlenty to declare a state of emergency for 35 Minnesota counties, including Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock. Recent rainfall totals ranged from 5.61 inches at Worthington to 5.94 at Jackson to 7.61 at Windom.

10 years ago

The Worthington Regional Hospital Board of Trustees agreed to move forward with plans for a radiation oncology facility, to be built on a portion of the hospital property currently occupied by the Southwest Mental Health Center. The radiation oncology facility was to be a joint venture, with Worthington Regional Hospital as the majority owner.

The Phillips 66 gas station at the intersection of U.S. 59 and Oxford Street, Worthington, was demolished Monday, with plans for a Walgreens store to open at the site in the spring or summer of 2006.

Nobles County commissioners approved Nobles County Director of Public Works Stephen Schnieder’s request to attempt salvaging the salt and sand left behind after an early morning fire on Sept. 4 destroyed two city-owned salt and sand storage buildings, along with the county’s salt/sand storage facility. Options for replacing the facilities were still being explored.

Former Storm Lake, Iowa, city administrator John Call was offered the position of Luverne city administrator on Tuesday evening following the final selection by the Luverne City Council at a special meeting.

25 years ago

The Slayton City Council decided against challenging the 1990 preliminary census count. The council did an unofficial recount of occupied and vacant Slayton houses and decided the discrepancy was too small to request a recount. The 1990 figure showed Slayton with a population of 2,147, versus the 2,420 community head count of 1980.

More than 75 children entered the King Turkey Day Kiddie Parade, organized by the Worthington Women of Today. Seven categories were judged by RSVP volunteers.

Cottonwood County residents were soon to begin a mandatory curbside recycling program. The Minnesota Legislature had mandated that each county must reduce the amount of waste it landfilled by at least 25 percent by January 1993.

The school boards of Adrian and Ellsworth signed an agreement to share superintendent and elementary principal duties. Superintendent LeRoy Domagala was to begin his duties with both districts on Sept. 24 while elementary principal Leonard Stover was to start Oct. 1.

50 years ago

Rain was falling for the 10th straight day in Worthington. The precipitation began the day after Turkey Day, and more than 1.52 inches had been recorded on the official gauge operated by J.V. Westerlund.

Advertised specials this week at Gordy’s Super Valu, Worthington, included a one-pound package of wieners for 49 cents, a two-pound can of Butter-Nut coffee for $1.39, a 100-pound bag of potatoes for $2.98, a 50-pound sack of Robin Hood flour for $3.59 and boneless beef stew meat for 59 cents a pound.

Fire extensively damaged four units of the Skyline Motel on Highways 16 and 71 at Jackson at about 11 p.m. Monday. Firemen blamed faulty wiring for the blaze. An additional two motel units were damaged by smoke. In all, the motel had 17 units.

Semi-finalists in the 11th annual National Merit Scholarship competition were announced; among them were Steven A. Hokeness of Worthington, Thomas P. Jensen of Round Lake and Paul B. Gotmer of Fulda.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Rutzen, Route 1, Worthington, had grown a 15-foot sunflower that had about 55 blooms on one stalk.

75 years ago

Leo Lester of Lismore was the successful bidder at an auction sale of the Daugherty farm on U.S. 16, about eight miles west of Worthington. The offering was cried by Col. Charles Raser of LeMars, Iowa, who knocked the place down to the purchaser at $86 per acre. Lester, a well-known Lismore grain elevator manager, said he purchased the farm as an investment, and as a possible future residence when he was ready to retire from the grain field.

Worthington perspired in summer heat this week, with the mercury rising to a high of 90 on Wednesday afternoon. The weatherman predicted scattered showers and cooler weather in another day, after a high of 86 on Thursday.

J.H. Butcher, 55, resident of Worthington since 1898, died at the Southwestern Minnesota sanatorium of tuberculosis. He had been battling the disease for the last two months but had failed rapidly. Butcher was born in Shelby County, Ill., on Sept. 26, 1884; he was survived by his wife Laura and their six children.

Henry Nelson, Ellsworth’s oldest citizen, celebrated his 95th birthday this past week. Due to Nelson’s advanced age, the event was quietly observed with only his immediate family present.

A fourth class of second-grade pupils would be started in the grade school building as a result of the heavy enrollment in that group, Worthington Superintendent E.A. Durbahn said. The second-grade enrollment hit a peak of 131 pupils, with 44 in each of two classes and 43 in a third. The size of those classes prompted the school board to add a fourth section.