1920, 100 years ago: Miltona’s new garage is open for business – ready to wait on everybody with any make of car – stop in and let us look your car over. Perhaps you just need a little more gas or water so that you may enjoy your trip to destination without further trouble. Spend your vacation fishing in our beautiful lakes, and park your car with us. Courtesy to all is our motto. Ritten Bros., Miltona, Minn.
1970, 50 years ago: About that hefty increase in property tax bills: For the state as a whole, property taxes payable in 1970 total just under $873.5 million, up almost $109.3 million from 1969, with soaring school district levies accounting for 70.5% of the jump, according to a study report issued by the Minnesota Taxpayers Association. In Douglas County this year’s total property tax bill is nearly $4.2 million, an increase of $763,078 over 1969, with school district tax levies accounting for 58.85% of the increase.
A pack of dogs converged on the Fran Sherman Turkey Farm near Alexandria and destroyed about 80 birds. A. H. Sherman said that dogs destroyed 48 breeder hens last March and that “they usually strike two to three times a year.” Young turkeys killed in this recent attack were valued at $3 each.
1995, 25 years ago: Many Douglas County Hospital patients will be able to eliminate costly time and weary distance, thanks to the hospital’s participation in “Telemedicine Network,” the first service of its kind in the United States. The new system is called the “Allina/Rural Health Alliance Telemedicine Network,” started from a grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. The Rural Health Alliance is a consortium of eight rural hospitals in west-central Minnesota, including Douglas County. The network is designed to support itself as a commercial venture so that it will remain a long-term, viable health-care option to enhance rural communities and urban hospitals.
At least for the time being, Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies will continue to unlock the doors of drivers who find themselves locked out of their car. Sheriff Bill Ingebrigtsen said the service was part of “routine patrol,” and it’s a positive experience for both the deputy and the public.
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2010, 10 years ago: The Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum’s “History of Larson Boat Works” exhibit is underway. It follows the company from its beginnings in Paul Larson’s garage in the early 1900s through the transition to fiberglass boats in the 1960s and its emergence on the national scene as a leader in fiberglass runabout production and design. The Earl and Virginia Geiger family are the underwriters of the exhibit. Earl was Paul Larson’s partner during the early 1960s.
Larry Shellito will retire on Oct. 31 after seven years as head of the Minnesota National Guard.
Just for fun – 1995 – 25 years ago: Close to 3,000 dedicated country music fans attended the outdoor concert at the Runestone Ampitheatre in Parkers Prairie featuring Kenny Rogers with special guest Michelle Wright. Rogers — backed by a nine-piece brass section — performed classic hits from nearly four decades of music-making, entertaining the audience with country, jazz, swing, gospel, and even a bit of “psychedelic” pop. Tickets were $22 advanced, $26 at the gate and $35 box seats.
Sports trivia 2010 – 10 years ago: Alexandria senior Maggie Leland finished her high school career on a high note, winning the Minnesota State Class AAA girls’ golf title as she fired a day two 4-under par 69 at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids. Her two-day total of 143 was a new state tournament record, breaking a 29-year record low of 147 set by Jody Rosenthal of Hopkins, and was 3-under par for the two-day total.
Rachel Barduson of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist to the Echo Press Opinion page.
