Column - 1987: Jacqui Donahue earns black belt in karate

Talk about it

The following is a collection of stories and other items that were included in Alexandria newspapers over the years.

100 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 1912

Firefighters had little or no wind to contend with in fighting another mysterious fire in a shed filled with straw near Frank Steven’s livery stable… The staff of the new school paper, The Alexandrian, consists of Helen Wedum, Lucille Boyd and Gust Sanstead… The post office handled 259 sacks of mail this week… Beginning January 1, all 4th-class mail must show a return address and bear the new special postage stamp. Ordinary stamps will not be allowed… The first real snowstorm of the season delivered two inches of snow. And just last week, the sprinkler hoses were used to settle all the dust… Liggett and Meyers Dukes Mixture chewing tobacco that sells for 5 cents each, contains a coupon redeemable for merchandise in their Premium Catalog.

50 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 1962

The Alexandria Jaycees, in the unique “Get out to vote” campaign, served pancake breakfasts to 500 Alexandrians at Garden Center… Joanne Hector was one of 585 Douglas County residents who donated blood to the Red Cross… Forty women from central Minnesota met to form Knute Nelson Home Auxiliary, dedicated to assist in the services to residents of the home. Mrs. Opal Martinson acted as temporary chairman… Seen on the Sports Page: Katfish Klippers: Ven you gerketchen der catfish unt dey gersticken in der finger – OUCH DUMBKOPF! Carry der fisherman’s pliers unt der shpines gersnippen off… Plans are under way to hold massive oral polio vaccine clinics for county residents this winter. The program will be sponsored by the public health department and assisted by the Alexandria Jaycees.

25 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 1987

Jacqui Donahue, wife of hockey coach Mike Donahue and a mother of two, earned a black belt in karate, the highest level in the ancient martial art of self-defense… The Brandon School District received a $1,000 grant to help implement a two-way radio system linking area schools… The Alexandria Cardinal girls cross country team claimed their second State Class AA championship in three years… The Douglas County Historical Society released its book entitled Douglas County in Pictures, a leatherette-bound book containing about 300 pictures of varieties of county life… Romayne Strand was one of three local teachers honored as Teacher of the Year. As a kindergarten teacher, she started more than 1,000 children out on the path of knowledge during her 20-year career.

10 YEARS AGO

NOVEMBER 2002

Bob Peper, a senior at Jefferson High School, is enrolled in the Employment Skills Seminar class, which allows him to leave school early to work at Baker’s Conoco Station. Participants in the program receive credit for supervised work experience in the community… The Alexandria Clinic, which built a larger facility five years ago, announced plans to expand the size by 50 percent. The summer of 2004 has been set for the $3 million project… The Douglas County Bar Association will present a commemorative plaque to Douglas County honoring Judge Paul Ballard for 30 years of service to the county… Eleanor Wilken celebrated her 106th birthday. She was married to Otto Wilken for 76 years. Her mother and grandmother both lived to be older than 100.

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Marge Van Gorp of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist to the Echo Press Opinion page.

Tags: opinion, columns