1920, 100 years ago: On account of bad roads, we were not able to see all who have poultry to sell. We are going to load a car of dressed poultry at Evansville, G.N. Depot. We will pay the highest market prices consistent with square dealing the same as in former years. Bring in all the dressed poultry you can. We want turkeys especially. O.C. Kimball & Co.
1970, 50 years ago: The Life Science program at Central Jr. High is changing as new techniques, equipment and information become available. Three hundred fifteen 7th grade science students participate in laboratory activities and the new listening center where the students listen to tape recordings of specific topics and corrections for lab activities, or view slides or movies without disturbing the other students. There are 10 stations, each with a switch for selecting either of two tapes running simultaneously, allowing teachers to work with other students in other areas.
A charter application for a third bank in Alexandria was approved by the State Commerce Commission. It will be called the Community State Bank of Alexandria and will go into the Fluegal Building across from Schwartzwald Motors.
In anticipation of a nationwide railway strike that would hamper the delivery of Christmas, the Alexandria Post Office had one of its busiest days, said postmaster David Steinley.
1995, 25 years ago: As temperatures started nose-diving from 20 degrees above zero to 14 degrees below and winds were clocked at 50 miles per hour at the airport, drifting snow caused visibility to be near zero at times. A total of 7.8 inches of snow fell, keeping area merchants busy. Ollie’s Service in Alexandria sold more than 30 snow blowers, noted Earl Anderson, owner of Ollie’s.
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A total of $32,000 was raised at the annual Jingle Bells Telethon on KCCO-TV in Alexandria. The next day, 600 food baskets were delivered by volunteers to residents in a six-county area. Sponsored by the Alexandria Jaycees, the annual telethon is nearly a half-century old.
Local and state highway personnel are reminding Minnesotans that it’s against the law to push snow into the street when you are cleaning your driveway. According to Douglas County Parks Superintendent Al Leiffort, violations are considered a misdemeanor but civil penalties may also apply if the placement of snow creates a hazard, such as a slippery area or a frozen rut or bump which contributes to a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident.
2010, 10 years ago: Snow dumped another four to five inches on the city, the kind of snow that is heavy and takes some serious shoveling or snow-blowing to remove. According to city street department’s snow removal policy, snow may be thrown onto driveways and sidewalks during the department’s snow removal process. The policy adds, “The street department works to minimize this but there is no way to remove the snow from the street and not have this occur.”
Just for fun 1970 – 50 years ago: Big Ole is resplendent in his Christmas garb again. There’s quite a bit of material that goes into his Santa suit, like 100 yards of red, 10 yards of white, 5 of black and 10 of brown, which adds up to 125 yards of cloth.
Sports trivia 1970 – 50 years ago: Mike Bah was named the Most Valuable Player in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference. Bah, a senior from Evansville, was co-captain of Mike Simpson’s Minnesota-Morris title football team and is the first person in Cougar history to receive the honor. He led in punting, punt returns, kick-off returns, receptions and scoring, setting and breaking school records along the way.
Rachel Barduson of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist to the Echo Press Opinion page.
