10 Years Ago

HASTINGS STAR-GAZETTE September 9, 2010 Open house on new bridge is Sept. 22 Trail work begins north of bridge area by Jane Lightbourn, Staff writer The public will be able to see visual representations of the new Highway 61 bridge and designs of the public art, which will be included at an open house from noon to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Hastings City Hall, 101 E. Fourth St.

Project leaders from Lunda/Ames will be present and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) will also have representatives to discuss the project.

Earlier this week, Mn/DOT installed a temporary barrier along the north end of southbound Highway 61. Soil borings were also completed in another area for the new bridge.

In addition to maintaining access for automobiles, the department is also committed to maintaining community access for those traveling by foot and bicycle. Crews have begun installing and paving a new bicycle and pedestrian trail north of the existing bridge. The trail will allow people to travel between downtown and all points north during the construction process… Tom Shannon of Hastings has a unique method of growing cucumbers (photo) by Katrina Styx, Staff writer Cucumber vines usually stay close to the ground, resting their fruit on the dirt and spreading out rather than up. Tom Shannon’s vines don’t.

Planted against a fence as well as a row of bushes, the cucumber plants have climbed upward, leaving their cucumbers to dangle in the air like giant pears.

Shannon is no stranger to gardening.

“I’ve gardened for years here,” he said.

He’s always gardened, he explained, but retirement has allowed him to do more. Shannon drove trucks for the school for 20 years, and also worked on construction. The past three years, however, he’s cut back. This year’s garden got downsized to the cucumbers, tomatoes, beans and peppers.

He has grown other extraordinary veggies before, including a 15-inch cabbage and some impressive zucchinis. He also raised a patch of sunflowers that grew up to about 15 feet.

There’s no real secret to his success. Shannon figures his home sits on good soil.

“It’s just the right ground,” he said. “I don’t even fertilize a lot. This is good ground.”

This is the first year the cucumbers have lifted off the ground, Shannon said, because this is the first year they’ve had something to climb…

30 Years Ago

HASTINGS STAR-GAZETTE September 13, 1990 Abandoned bikes sold at auction Sunday (photo) Each year police pick up dozens of abandoned bikes in all shapes, sizes, and manner of repair. A year’s worth of bicycles were auctioned on Sunday. See page 16B.

Primary results!!! See story below.

Cable TV company to be sold and will raise rates. See story on page 16A.

Prescott bridge dedication is set for Sept. 18. Story on 8B.

Local government prepared for high fuel prices to squeeze their budgets. Page 5A.

Opinion page/6A. Yesteryear/16B.

Election ’90. Trautmann, Hicks, Bond, Kaiser will be on city ballot in November.

SUMMARY: Local election watchers say there weren’t any surprises in Tuesday’s primary for two council-at-large seats, although elections, like horse races, are never sure bets.

by Steve Eide, staff writer The man who didn’t campaign at all won the most votes in Hastings’ primary election for the councilmember-at-large race.

Fred Trautmann, who sat out the race in a hospital bed, came in first, earning 1,005 votes. Trautmann, an incumbent councilmember-at-large, had a heart by-pass operation last week.

Paul Hicks racked up second place with 872 votes. Richard Bond came in third, 763 votes. Edith Kaiser was the fourth place finisher at 643 ballots marked for her.

These four candidates will compete for two councilmember- at-large positions in the general election, Nov. 6. The results mean that two other candidates are out of the race, Dennis Millerbernd with 324 votes, and Russ Priewart with 175.

All top four vote-getters were understandably pleased with the results. Trautmann, saying the election felt “wonderful,” also said, “I haven’t had any time to campaign.”

He ended speculation that his recent heart operation would prevent him from running in the general election, saying that he would run. He hadn’t, however, had any time to think about strategy… Hastings voters follow state, choose endorsed candidates SUMMARY: Hastings voters by and large Tuesday followed the pattern of the rest of the state in picking the candidates with party endorsement by Doug Schultz, editor Gubernatorial candidates DFL Gov. Rudy Perpich and Independent-Republican Jon Grunseth were the choice of Hastings voters Tuesday to face off in the November election.

Hastings residents who voted in Tuesday’s primary election seemed to follow those in the rest of the state in choosing the party-endorsed candidates to be on the ballot in November.

A total of 2,184 people voted in Tuesday’s election, representing about 25 percent of the 8,494 voters registered as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. Another 192 people registered at the polls. There were about 1,058 ballots cast on the IR side and about 1,113 on the DFL side. There were several Hastings voters in Washington County not counted in those totals… 56 Years Ago HASTINGS GAZETTE Thursday, September 24, 1964 Prescott Man Dies As Car Overturns Death came instantly Sunday evening to Michael J. Larkin, 40, of Prescott, Wis., when his car overturned on Hwy. 29, five miles northeast of Prescott.

Larkin apparently was thrown from his car and killed when the car rolled over on him. Death was caused by chest injuries, according to the Pierce county sheriff’s office.

His body was taken to Prock’s Funeral Home in Prescott. He is survived by his wife, Vivian.

Basswood Grove Centennial Oct. 4 A centennial celebration at St. Mary’s Episcopal church, Basswood Grove, in Denmark township, is being planned for Sunday, Oct. 4, church leaders announced this week.

However, Episcopalism Bishop Kellogg plans to honor the church’s centennial one week earlier by being present at the 11 a.m. Communion service this coming Sunday. A conflict in his schedule reportedly makes it impossible for him to attend the Oct. 4 celebration.

SEN. McCARTHY IS SURPRISE GUEST AT DINNER HERE HONORING HIS WIFE Abigail McCarthy, wife of Sen. Eugene McCarthy, was the guest of honor at a dinner Friday evening at the Hastings Country Club.

About 175 persons, including “a lot of converts from the other party,” were on hand to welcome the Senator’s wife.

Her visit to Hastings marked the end of a grueling threeday tour that covered much of the state. She chose to end the tour in Hastings “because the people were always so friendly here,” when she visited in 1958 with her husband, in 1960 with Muriel Humphrey, and in 1962 with Florence Rolvaag.

114 Years Ago CANNON FALLS BEACON September 28, 1906 School Notes The Senior class met after school last Friday evening and elected the following officers: pres., Miss Agnes Imberg, to be assisted in case of emergency by Theo. Roosevelt; vice presidents, Miss Harriet Bill and Mr. Early English Chancer; secretary, Miss Letitia Holland (the office of private secretary has not been filled yet); treasurer, Mr. Alva Conley, who will in the future be the wealthiest member of the Senior class, (unless he abscond); sargent-at-arms Mr. Aloysius Ryan, who was elected on the strength of his muscle. Undoubtedly, the Seniors will do something in the future, so beware!

157 Years Ago THE HASTINGS CONSERVER September 22, 1863 Notice.—We are requested to notify the young people not to forget their prayer meeting at Methodist Church on Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock.

For Representative.

Mr. Rohse having declined to become a candidate for representative, the committee, after consultation with a number of our citizens, have substituted instead P. Van Auken, of Hastings, a good man and one who will be elected.

Henry L. Moss, esq., of Cannon Falls has been appointed United States District Attorney for the district of Minnesota in place of George A. Nourse, resigned. Mr. Moss held the same office in territorial days, and performed the duties acceptably.

Territorial Dispatch 162 Years 11 Months Ago THE EMIGRANT AID AND JOURNAL City of Nininger, Dakota County, Minnesota Territory November 7, 1857 A Score of Printers.

In this office are engaged twenty printers. Only look at them! In ages ranging from twenty to forty: in size and complexion from the ordinary stout (to a variety of appearances). One we believe, has preached sermons; another has lectured to crowded houses. Another has served in Mexico with General Scott. A sixth has been a stump orator, member of the Legislature, ‘out West,’ and fought a duel, we believe. Three have practiced medicine…One served with General Houston in the Texas Revolution, and one in the Canadian Rebellion. Six or eight have edited or published newspapers in various parts of the United States…They are live men, good, practical printers, speaking various languages, and form a newspaper corps hard to surpass or equal.—(Cincinnati Unionist).