Renil VanOverbeke, left, of Minneota ducks to avoid a hit by Norm Witte of Bird Island during their light heavyweight Golden Gloves district title fight on Feb. 2, 1947 in Redwood Falls. Witte won by decision.

From the Mascot files

100 Years Ago
(Feb. 3, 1922)

Train stalled due
to heavy snow
Our first experience of snowbound trains this winter was Wednesday when the evening train did not appear and it was learned that it had not left Tracy. There was a heavy snowfall on Tuesday, and Wednesday it drifted. Although it was not pleasant weather to be out in, it still could hardly be called bad weather when compared to a real Minnesota blizzard. Wednesday morning's train, due at 5:20 a.m., did not arrive here until sometime in the afternoon, meaning we were without mail for about 30 hours.

Fire siren to be
tested next week
There will be a test of the fire siren sometime next week. The siren will be set to go off sometime after midnight, but people are asked not to disturb themselves unless they hear the fire bell at the same time. If there is a fire, the fire bell will be rung. This is just a test of the siren, which is here on trial and the council wants to find out what it amounts to and the only way to do it is to see if it will awaken people.

75 Years Ago
(Feb. 7, 1947)

Firemen called twice
for car accident, fire
Minneota firemen were called to fires in town during the week, the first on Sunday afternoon when W.H. Evan's automobile caught fire, and then again on Monday afternoon when soot in the chimney at Finnegan Brothers' Meat Market began to blaze. The motor on Evans' car was badly damaged but the interior and upholstery of the vehicle escaped damage. Evans had started the car, which was standing in front of his residence, and had gone into the house to let the car warm up. Looking out the window a few minutes later, he saw the front of the automobile was a mass of flames. At Finnegan's, no damage was done by the blaze.

Icelandic government
honors K.V. Bjornson
For his outstanding work in Iceland during the war, particularly by his labors in acquainting the American soldiers with the land and its people, K. Valdimar Bjornson was awarded the Grand Knight's Cross, Order of the Falcon, by the Icelandic government. The medal was presented to Bjornson in New York this past December by the Icelandic ambassador to the United States, Thor Thors. Bjornson now resides in Minneapolis.

$637 raised in sale
of Christmas Seals
Outstanding community cooperation given in the 1946 tuberculosis Christmas Seal campaign was praised this week by local chairman Mrs. E.M. Amundson, who said that residents of this community contributed $637.37 to the fight against this dreaded disease.

50 Years Ago
(Feb. 3, 1972)

Girl, 2, drives car
into mayor's vehicle
A youngster gave her sister a short, thrilling ride in Minneota's business section around 6 p.m. Sunday night, but it hadn't been planned at all the way it happened. Mrs. Al Eggermont of Marshall was driving west on First Street and parked the family car while she ran into Dero's Recreation in purchase of cigarettes, leaving her two daughters, ages 2 and 9, in the vehicle while she went to make her purchase. While the two children were left alone, the 2-year-old managed to pull the lever which sets the car in motion and away the two girls went for over a half a block, around the corner to Jefferson Street and into a station wagon that was parked there. No one was injured and the vehicle's operator is likely the youngest driver ever in Minneota history. The station wagon happened to belong to Mayor Harold Schwartz, which suffered about $100 damage.

Over 350 attend
Crop Show here
Over 350 people attended the Tri-County Crop Show held in the Minneota Legion building last Wednesday. This was the 19th annual event and those in attendance viewed 194 crop and egg exhibits that were displayed by 71 exhibitors. The educational program, conducted by County Extension agent Ray Newell, included a presentation on "Twelve Years of Soybean Research in the Southwest" by Wally Nelson, director of the Lamberton Experiment Station.

25 Years Ago
(Feb. 5, 1997)

Rusty's Cafe honored
by Pork Producers
Rusty's Corner Cafe in Taunton has been chosen as the Lyon County Pork Producer's Restaurant of the Year. A plaque now hangs in the restaurant in recognition of this award. Each year, the restaurants in Lyon County receive application from the Pork Producers. They are to list the pork products they use, try to determine what percentage of pork constitutes their menus, and how much pork is actually consumed at their establishment. Rusty Rhymer said that a lot of pork is served at his restaurant, accounting for about 35 percent of the restaurant's sales. Pork chops and pork roast are featured weekly for noon meals, while barbecued pork ribs are a Friday night feature.

Academic Challenge in
progress at high school
The Minneota Public School is in the midst of an "Academic Challenge" contest. The team consists of seniors Kayla Ahern, Joel Hagen and Paul DeCock; juniors Ross Eischens and Sara Van Moorlehem, and sophomore Jacob Murray. The team is coached by Ralph Hagen and defeated Redwood Valley in its first competition recently. Students are questioned on random topics. They work together after school, but rely on current events to capture a broader knowledge.

Welsh, Engels elected
Sno-Ball royalty here
Students at Minneota High School elected Travis Welsh and Gina Engels as their choices for Sno-Ball King and Queen, respectively during the week's festivities. Crown bearers were Tara Moen and Alex Buysse, both first graders in the public school. The students are participating in Spirit Week this week and will hold a dance on Saturday night in the high school gymnasium.

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Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492