By Roz Weis,
Echoes of the Past: EIGHTY YEARS AGO: Paving of Highway No. 24 from Calmar to Lawler may be possible next year, according to report of the Iowa Highway Commission.
EIGHTY YEARS AGO: Paving of Highway No. 24 from Calmar to Lawler may be possible next year, according to report of the Iowa Highway Commission. Fred J. Carlson Company has just completed the paving of the road from New Hampton to Lawler, a distance of nine miles.
…The Baker rural country school put on a minstrel show in Glenwood Township the other day. Their teacher at #3 school is Miss Ardath Amundson. Among the pupils at the school are Orville Odden, LaVonne Rosendahl, Inez Bruvold, Arthur Odden, Norman Smith, Charles Odden, Vernon Odden, Paul Losen, Duane Vick, Earl Smith, Lynnette Rosendahl, Margaret Losen, Arlen Brynsaas and Mary Smith.
…Several more men were inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Des Moines, including Willard Branhagen and Telford Winger, both of this area. They will be at Fort Francis E. Warren in Wyoming for 13 weeks of their basic training.
…Night prowlers were spotted at Sattre the other day. Emmet Jacobson said he gave them a chase, but didn’t quite catch up to them. He got close enough to get their license number.
…Attendants to the new homecoming queen at Luther College were Decorah’s own Cathryn Seim, a blonde; and Elsie Siemers, a brunette from Ames. The new queen at Luther is Miss Lillian Stadvold.
…Fresh apples from this area are priced at 25 cents for five pounds at the Piggy Wiggly here in town. Other bargains from 1941 include: 50 pounds of flour for $1.35; three cans of pumpkin, 25 cents; one pound of butter for 37 cents; and two big cans of chili con carne, 25 cents.
…A total of 98 men have enlisted at the local U.S. Naval Station since Jan. 1.
…Robert Wickett, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Wickett of Mabel, Minn., sustained some bad hand injuries going through a fence while out hunting with a number of other boys. He also fractured a bone in his wrist.
…A 309-acre farm owned by Ed Pahl from near Ossian sold for nearly $80 an acre recently! Dr. Ray Topliff and Attorney W.H. Burling of Postville were the buyers.
SEVENTY YEARS AGO: Luther College has a new homecoming queen. Her name is Dorothy Olsen. Among her attendants is Helen Peterson of Decorah.
…Bob Rosholt was home from the University of Minnesota for homecoming festivities here recently.
SIXTY YEARS AGO: The 1961 Decorah High homecoming queen is Monica Murphy.
…South Winneshiek homecoming festivities last week featured a popular “Snake dance.” Queen candidates are Peggy Gilbert and Lorraine Borness.
…Sue Bernatz and Dulcy Mears are new coeditors of the Decorah High School’s Viking yearbook. Midge Kjome is associate editor.
FIFTY YEARS AGO: Helen Dahlen, Marsha Broghamer, Cathy Frana and Karen Lee are the queen candidates at the 1971 DHS homecoming. “Try to Remember” is this year’s homecoming theme. The rock group “Pooch” is providing dance music at the homecoming dance.
…Mark Webb, Gary Sacquitne, Craig Faldet, Dave Kemp and Kevin Zuck, along with Kerry and Ross Anderson, led the Decorah Vikings to a big win over the Comets of Charles City, 22-0.
…The Luther College football team stands alone at the top of the standings in the Iowa Conference with a 3-0 record to start the season.
…Friends and relatives of the late Fred Biermann gathered at Mary Christopher Park to dedicate the new park in memory of Biermann’s aunt, Mary Christopher.
…No objections were raised to the State Highway Commission’s plan to improve U.S. Highway 52 from Decorah to the Minnesota line.
…Refugee homes being established here by the Jaycees (with support from city police and local schools) will have Blue Stars displayed in front windows – designating the residents as Blue Star Homes.
…A field day demonstration at the Guy Leidahl-Carl Wennes farm east of town drew an estimated 3,000 people last week.
…Models at the Decorah Newcomers annual style show at Seiferts this fall are Cynthia Carlson, Georgeanne Eckheart, Mimi Baker, Jean Evans, Kathy Reed, Keri Finholt and Lorraine Hess. Hostesses are Judy Mikkelson, Cheryl Simes and Lucy Schempp.
FORTY YEARS AGO: John Sacquitne, a Luther College senior fullback from Decorah, carried the football 10 times in a 20-0 victory over Loras College at Dubuque. It was Luther’s first victory of the season.
…The Arena, a new business offering pinball and video games and a snack bar, has opened at 218 West Water St. George Brandt of Decorah is the store manager.
…The new Super 8 Motel south of Decorah is taking shape. The motel will have 30 modern units.
THIRTY YEARS AGO: Petro-n-Provisions, a convenience store at 1101 Montgomery Street, was the scene of an armed robbery recently. A Decorah woman sustained a gunshot wound during the robbery. She remains hospitalized. An intense manhunt involving 75 law enforcement officials from the area, a SWAT team, helicopter, airplane and bloodhounds resulted in the capture of the two male suspects.
…Guest speaker at the Decorah-Luther All Sports Club meeting next week is WHO Radio sports director Jim Zabel.
…Good news on the job front! Winneshiek County unemployment rate ranks as one of the LOWEST in the entire state, with only 1.8 percent of eligible workers without jobs this past month.
TWENTY YEARS AGO: Walmart executives have stated they plan to break ground yet this fall on a new Walmart Supercenter on the edge of town.
…Paul Meirick and Becky Busta are homecoming king and queen at Turkey Valley High School.
…KVIK Radio Station in Decorah has moved. The new address is 213 West Water Street in the downtown business district.
TEN YEARS AGO: The Decorah Community School Board is holding a special meeting regarding whole grade sharing agreement with North Winneshiek School.
…Decorah’s Eddie Macha celebrated his 80th birthday in an antique airplane that stalled during flight. The 1943 Boeing Stearman open cockpit plane landed safely at the local airport.
…Brad Johansen of Decorah High School is the high school assistant girls track coach of the year as voted by the Iowa Track and Field Coaches Association.
…Zachary Fromm, a Decorah native, has been named the new varsity women’s tennis coach at Dubuque Wahlert High School. He is currently engaged to Stephanie Sutton of Decorah.
…The Decorah Vikings (7-2 on the season) will take on Boone (5-4) in the first round of the Class 3A football playoffs at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls Oct. 26.
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