YESTERYEAR
100 Years Ago
(Nov. 16, 1923)
Burglars attempt to blow safe open at St. Leo's bank
For the second time in its history, the little bank at St. Leo, the First State Bank was burglarized Wednesday morning. The burglars were five in number and they began their operations about two o'clock in the morning. Between that hour and 3:10 a.m., they fired seven explosions and then evidently got scared and gave up. They had demolished the outer doors of the safe, but had not been able to get into the strong box where the money was kept. Shortly after the second explosion, Father Katouc, who lives across the street from the bank, awoke and turned on all the lights in his residence, both upstairs and downstairs, and he made all the racket he could in order to scare them away. He did not have a rifle or gun, but said if he did, he would have "tried to make some of those thieves sick". Aside from the wrecked safe, the bank did not lose anything.
Gislason speaks during Armistice Day observance
Minneota Attorney B.B. Gislason spoke on the Armistice Day observance in Ivanhoe on Monday. We are told by some Ivanhoe people that Mr. Gislason made a very effective talk. He began his career as an attorney in Lincoln County more than 20 years ago, before Ivanhoe was more than an "elevator and hitching post." He first practiced in Lake Benton, which was at the time the county seat of Lincoln County. When the county seat was moved to Ivanhoe, Mr. Gislason came to Minneota and has been engaged in the land and law business here.
75 Years Ago
(Nov. 19, 1948)
MBA to offer cash prizes for best-decorated home
The members of the Minnesota Businessmen's Association will offer three prizes this year, to residents of this community whose homes it considers as the best decorated for the Christmas season. Prizes of $15, $10 and $5 will be awarded by the association. Prizes are limited to local residences. Schools, clubs, churches, and committee members are not eligible. All decorating must be completed no later than Dec. 13. Consideration will be given to both outdoor and porch lighting.
Farmer injures back when truck rolls over in ditch
Frank Jerzak, who farms nine miles west of Minneota, was taken to the Tyler Hospital Sunday with serious back injuries suffered when the truck he was driving went into the ditch and rolled over. Not much is known about the accident except that Jerzak was removed from the scene of the accident and taken to the hospital in an Ivanhoe ambulance.
Minneota firemen called to fire at Wambeke farmsite
The Minneota Fire Department was called to the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. John Wambeke, one and one-half miles northeast of Minneota around 11 p.m. last Thursday to fight a fire which had broken out inside the farm home. The fire broke out in clothing on the floor of the dining room in the Wambeke home. The Wambekes were unable to determine the cause of the fire. It spread to the living room before the fire department arrived on the scene, but was extinguished when the crew arrived, preventing it from spreading to other rooms. No one was injured in the fire.
50 Years Ago
(Nov. 15, 1973)
Temperatures very springlike in Minneota over past week
Weather in Minneota this past week has been ideal for this time of the year. The Mascot's new thermometer arrived and was put into use on Saturday. Mel Breyfogle reports that the mercury rose as high as 70 degrees on Tuesday of this week and there was a trace of precipitation on that day, too. These are the figures for daily high and low temperatures for Minneota since last Saturday: Nov. 10, 44 high and 26 low; Nov. 11, 66 and 40; Nov. 12, 64 and 38; Nov. 13, 70 and 40.
Minneota Public Library to be open one night a week
Mrs. John H. Geiwitz, a member of the local public library board, announced this week that the library here would now be open Thursday evenings of every week from, 7-9 p.m. It will also be open as before on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons from 2-5 p.m.
Over 50 local kids attend Story Hour at Rotary Hall
Over 50 youngsters from pre-school to kindergarten, attended the Minneota Jaycees-sponsored story hour at the Rotary Hall last Saturday morning and a report shared is that the kids enjoyed every minute of it. The session was also attended by many mothers and older children. The children listened to Mrs. Albert Raeder read the stories. They also sang songs and did finger plays.
25 Years Ago
(Nov. 18, 1998)
City Council sets special meeting regarding local cable
The Minneota City Council is holding a special meeting on Nov. 30 and it is one that the community may want to get involved in. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the applications to transfer the city's cable television franchise from Mark Twain Cablevision to U.S. Cable. The current system is a limited Minnesota partnership, while the applying franchise is from Texas. People who attend the meeting will be able to voice their opinions, raise questions, and hear from the two interested parties.
Holiday Home Tour will include six local residences
Guild 6 of St. Edward Catholic Church has arranged for a Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 5, and the public is invited to take part. The homes included on the tour include: Jim and Corky DeCock, Bob and Barb Schulte, Dennis and Sandy Swedzinski, Dan and Terry VanKeulen, Mark and Janet VanKeulen, and Gaston and Dorothy Vlaminck.
Skillings named Little Sioux Coach of the Year; Fier MVP
Minneota football coach Joel Skillings was named the Little Sioux Conference Coach of the Year as he led the Vikings to the conference title.
Neil Fier was named the conference's Most Valuable Player after rushing for 789 yards and six touchdowns in conference games. Overall, he rushed for 1,932 yards this season.