From the Mascot files

100 Years Ago
May 26, 1922

Island Lake farmer
injured burning trash
Fred Tibbits, a farmer in the Lake Island Township, met with a bad accident last Sunday while burning some rubbish in his yard. It appears that an empty gasoline tank supposedly containing some gas was too near the fire and exploded. Fragments of the oil tank struck Mr. Tibbits, breaking one of his legs below the knee and inflicting two deep flesh wounds. It wasn't a good couple of days for Tibbits, whose three-year-old grandchild broke an arm the day before.

Stillwater professor visits
over teacher concerns
With almost all of the Minneota school teachers electing not to return to teach next season for various reasons, there is a growing concern in the village. Professor Alvin Halvorson of Stillwater spent last Friday in Minneota to talk over matters with the board of education to see if he could help them solve their teacher shortage problem.

75 Years Ago
May 30, 1947

Over 2.5 million chicks
hatched at local plant
When the season comes to an end, more than 2,500,000 chicks will have been hatched by Dr. Kerr's Hatcheries here. Dr. Kerr said this week that about 1,000,000 three-week-old pullets have been produced at the hatchery this season. When the last batch of eggs are hatched and the last of the three-week-old chicks are boxed and shipped on July 7, the plant will close its doors at the end of the biggest year in its seven-year history. A total of 52 employees were on the payroll at the plant this past winter and spring when the plant was at its peak production. Besides the three hatchery buildings in Minneota, Dr. Kerr also has a large building in Taunton.

Minneota loses suit
against Fairbanks Co.
The Village of Minneota lost its suit against Fairbanks Morse Company of St. Paul and because of a clause in the contract the firm is not obligated to construct a $95,263 power plant. Judge Gustavus Loevinger of Ramsey County Court handed down that decision last week. Fairbanks Morse Co. had sought to keep the contract from being enforced, claiming that increased costs of material and labor had changed conditions so that it was impossible to fulfill the contract. The Village Council had brought the suit to force the St. Paul firm to go through with the contract which was signed in August of 1940.

Patten guest speaker at
Memorial Day program
F.J. Patten of Marshall will be the speaker for the Memorial Day exercises at the high school auditorium, which begin at 9:30 a.m. The parade will form at the Legion Hall at 9:15 a.m. and from there will march to the school building. Included in the parade will be veterans, Gold Star mothers, Legion Auxiliary members, Girl Scouts, and the high school band. Students in the third and fourth grade will perform a flag drill. After the program, the parade will again form and march to Hope Lutheran Church, and from there, to Hope Lutheran Cemetery where further ceremonies are to be held.

50 Years Ago
May 25, 1972

73 seniors to get
diplomas this week
Seventy-three members of the Minneota High School senior class of 1972 will receive diplomas during commencement exercises at the high school auditorium next Thursday evening. Participating in these senior class services will be four pastors of the area; Rev. John Thorstensen of Hope Lutheran; Rev. David Sorbel of St. Paul's Lutheran; Rev. Leo Goblirsch of St. Edward's Catholic; and Rev. Patrick Casey of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic of Taunton. Albert V. Hartle, the president and chief executive of Ottertail Power Co. is to deliver the commencement address.

2 men taken into
custody by police
Two men from the Minneapolis area were apprehended by Minneota police and the Lyon County Sheriff's Department last Wednesday following an attempted break-in of a tire rack at Dero's Standard Service Station here. Clarence Dero, the station proprietor, reported last week that apparently nothing had been taken from the rack. The two men alleged with the attempted burglary were noticed at the station by a member of this community and notified authorities. The men fled the scene and were found in barn northeast of Minneota.

Firemen alerted to
lightning blaze here
Minneota firemen were called to the home of Mrs. Judith Kompelien early last Monday afternoon after a bolt of lightning had entered the basement of her home on East Second Street. The lightning damaged the fuse box, set some basement studs on fire, caused considerable smoke damage, and burned electric wiring. There were no injuries reported. Lightning also caused some damage to electrical appliances at the Mrs. Margaret Traen home located next door to Mrs. Kompelien. A few houses down from there, lightning also caused damage to two electric motors at the home of Mrs. John Buretta.
25 Years Ago
May 28, 1997

Jaycees helping family
after arson, burglary
The Minneota Jaycees are reaching out to the Robert Prellwitz Jr. family this week, as they stage a benefit dance and raffle at the Minneota American Legion on Saturday, May 31. The investigation continues into the burglary and arson of the Prellwitz home on May 10. All proceeds will be given to the Prellwitz family and we can all thank the Jaycees for spearheading this benefit. Admission to the benefit dance is $5 with music provided by "Best Of" from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Minneota to graduate
54 seniors on Sunday
Minneota High School will graduate 54 students on Sunday afternoon at the high school this year. Eighteen students are graduating with Honors. Graduating with Highest Honors are Joel Hagen, Pete Janiszeski, Nicole Stiklestad, Bridget Kamies and Patrick Engels. The Class Motto this year is "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." The Class Song is "The River" by Garth Brooks and "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLaughlin.

Hagen, Jackson receive
Excellence Awards
Joel Hagen and Jessica Jackson, seniors at Minneota Public School, received Lettering for Excellence Awards this past week. The award is sponsored by the Minneota Academic Excellence Foundation and are given "In recognition of outstanding academic effort and achievement during this school year. You have achieved excellence and proven that hard work and determination count."