From the Mascot Files: 75, 50, and 25 years ago
75 Years Ago-March 19, 1943
Minneota Cagers win consolation
After dropping their opening game to Balaton, the Minneota high school basketball team, under the direction of Coach Miles Nelson, defeated Hendricks and Tracy to win the consolation championship of the district tourney held in the Marshall gym last week.
Aux. Arlene Hanson chosen for radio training course
Auxiliary Arlene F. Hanson of Minneota has completed her basic training at the first Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and has been selected for specialist training in the army radio school at Kansas City, Missouri.
Record March storm paralyzes Northwest
A record spring blizzard, in which the weather man threw the whole book at a defenseless Minnesota, paralyzed traffic throughout the entire northwest for three days this week. Mail service, suspended in Minneota for two days, was finally restored at 11 a.m. Thursday. Local telephone communications, unlike those of many neighboring towns, were never completely severed.
50 Years Ago-March 21, 1968
Announces date for ‘Josephson Day’
Members of the Minneota Businessmen’s association learned from James DeCock, member of the committee handling details, that “Les Josephson Day” would be held Saturday, April 27.
Bowler bowls a 638 series
Lorraine Dick, who bowls for Dero Standard team, had the distinction of being the first woman bowler in Minneota to ever bowl a 600 series, when she bowled 638 on Monday night.
MHS: 7 winners in speech meet
In the sub-district speech contest, held at Ivanhoe on Tuesday, March 19, Minneota had seven winners. The following are the contestants who will go to the district contest which will be held at Marshall on Tuesday, March 26: humorous, Fraser Geiwitz, Larry Langsweirdt, Eric Heggeseth; serious interpretation, Laurie Wigness; memorized oratory, Gladys Myhre, Janet Christianson, Lois Josefson.
25 Years Ago-March 24, 1993
Speech team participate in two meets
Some junior high members were at a meet at Heron Lake-Okabena-Lakefield. The team placed fifth out of 16. Jennifer Flood earned a first place with Original Oratory, John Fier was second in Creative Expression and Kristi Coover was second in Informative Speaking to lead the local team. Senior members participated at Montevideo, where they place 4th as a team. Eric Alleckson secured a 3rd in Creative Expression, Nicki Coover a 4th in Informative and Arra Ross a 4th in Serious Poetry.
Auxiliary chooses Girl’s State representative
Rachel Rabaey has been chosen as this year’s representative to the annual Girls’ State program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. The alternate is Nicole Coequyt. Rachel will attend the 47th annual event in June at Bethel College to learn more about our government and how it works.
Local schools participate in math contest
The Southwest Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition was held March 2 at SSU. This is a competition for junior high math students. Thirteen area schools participated. The Minneota Public School team was comprised of Kayla Ahern, Ted Bottleberghe, Joel Hagen and Bridget Kamies. Alternates were Jessica Jackson and Jennifer Thostenson. The team was coached by Judy Hagen. The St. Edward Catholic School team was comprised of Pat Engels, Brad Heggeseth, Ryan Roles and Shawnna VanHecke. Alternates were Sharen Gossen, Chris DeSutter, Doug Stienessen, Val Bottelberghe, Paul DeCock and Paul Timmerman. The team was coached by Brenda Verschelde and Joan DeSutter. Minneota Public team placed 4th and St. Edward’s 6th. In the individual competition, with 52 students competing, Joel Hagen place 3rd, Ted Bottelberghe 5th, and Pat Engels 7th. The top ten competed in the Countdown Round, which Ted Bottelberghe placed second.