15 Years Ago HASTINGS STARGAZETTE July 13, 2006 Not a stand, but a lemonade wagon (photo with caption) On July 11, a warm Tuesday afternoon, friends Ryley Berzinski, 8, and Paige Ahrens, 9, pulled their lemonade supplies up and down the streets of their neighborhood in a wagon. A thirsty Waste Management employee happened to drive by while on his route, and the girls made their first 25-cents of the day, handing over a cup of cool pink lemonade to driver Shawn Poston. The day before, the girls sold “freezes” for 25 cents each to neighborhood friends and boasted sales of $15 for the day. They friends said they will sell treats all week and save up to use their earnings at the Hastings Rivertown Days carnival games this weekend.

Sixty Years later, World War II veteran gets his medals By Jane Lightbourn, Star-Gazette staff writer On Sunday, July 2, Wilfred Tri’s family drove him around Hastings for a better part of the afternoon, then suggested they stop at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1210 for some cool drinks. Nothing too much out of the ordinary, Tri thought at the time.

But that changed when the family walked into the VFW post.

“When I opened the door, it was kind of dark and there were lots of people inside,” Tri said. Many were friends and relatives, as well as members of the Hastings VFW and the Hastings American Legion posts.

Also, there was Marine Capt. Ken Casais. He was there to present some overdue ribbons and medals to Tri.

Tri served in the Marine Corps more than 60 years ago and had thought the medals and ribbons had disappeared. Actually, he never received several of them. And he hadn’t really given it much thought.

(story continues).

HASTINGS STAR-GAZETTE July 18, 1991 Hastings wanderer tells of experiences Tim Pearson of Hastings is walking to California. Periodically he will be sending us reports. We’ve got our first one! Page 13B.

Cemetery Caretaker Pete Likes of Hastings has been full-time caretaker for the St. Boniface and Guardian Angels Cemetery in Hastings since 1969. While digging graves is a big part of his job, it isn’t the only part. See story on page 5B.

Hastings dancer to “jam out” with famous rapper Hastings resident Amanda Truax and 32 other dancers will accompany rap singer “Gerardo” for a feature musical production during the Special Olympics. Story on page 16B.

Police, legal experts to offer crime forum SUMMARY: There has not been a rash of burglaries or murders, but Hastings’ crime fighters want to answer questions or address residents concerns regarding the safety of their community.

(story by intern Lori Kroontje housed at the City Hall Pioneer Room) Airport task force to meet July 19 The group with a long title, the Metropolitan Council’s New Airport Search Area Advisory Task Force, will meet July 19 to hear public response to data on proposed airport sites. The data, collected and presented by the Met Council and the task force, was released in June. Three potential sites for a new airport have been selected: the Anoka-Isanti-Chisago site, the Dakota County site, and the Dakota Scott Counties site….For more info, call Donna Mattson at 291-**** To receive a free copy of the report on the proposed sites, call the Metropolitan Council Data Center at 291-**** HASTINGS GAZETTE July 15, 1976 Kiwanians Gird For Steak Tues., Novak’s Lake St. Croix Home Members of the Hastings Kiwanis Club are advised that next week’s dinner meeting will be held at the Joe Novak Summer home on Lake St. Croix, and that those who dine should take their silverware or other impediments with them for eating comfort.

Because of parking space limitations, the club members should do their best to form pools for transfer, and there was talk of hiring a bus or van, with suggestions to be present at Nybo’s parking area at or before 6 p.m. Tuesday evening. Remember this was only talk, there was no confirmation because lack of time.

Jim Holmes or Franz Altpeter will have information. Call early.

During a special meeting of the City Council on Wednesday July 14, at 7:15 a.m., final approval was given on Community Development and preliminary LAWCON applications.

Funds to be received through the Community Developmnet Grant are earmarked for a Sanitary Sewer and Water project in the East Hastings area. Because of building problems resulting from near-surface bedrock, the utility project is estimated to cost $1,100,000, which is almost twice the amount of any similar project already installed in other parts of the city. Grant funds would help to defray the extra cost of the project.

Citizen Involvement Program on Agenda, Bicentennial Meet A meeting will be held by the Hastings Bicentennial Commission on Wednesday, July 21st, 7:30 p.m. at the Hastings Public Library for all interested in working on a citizen involvement program for the city.

Discussion on the concept of the program will be held to determine if such a need exists. Member representatives of the various organizations contacted by mail and all interested persons of the area will take part in the discussion.

105 Years Ago HASTINGS DAILY GAZETTE July 18, 1916 (Days after a body is found on the river, a photo on the front page of the Daily Gazette shows a man being pushed off a passenger boat, with no commentary to accompany it). 115 Years Ago CANNON FALLS BEACON August 10, 1906 G. A. R. Information Headquarters of McKinley Post will be in Central High School buildings rooms C and H, located 4th ave. and 11th St., on 4th Ave. South and 6th Ave. North car line. This is a very convenient location and the best I could do. Cots and matresses are furnished, can buy double blankets for 50 cents at Union deport, or take from home. Furnish own towels. The Dept. will form at 10 a.m., Wednesday morning, for the parade, will march by post organizations, no regimental organizations. Let every comrade be present, whether you march or not, will be near line of march. The accomodations for comfort will be as good, where we form as any other place.

W. F. Deline, Adjt.

157 Years Ago Hastings in the Civil War HASTINGS CONSERVER August 9, 1864

The Seventh Regiment An interesting letter from Capt. Kennedy, under date of July 25th, in camp near Memphis, is before us, giving an account of their adventures since leaving Paducah, from which we can make but a few brief extracts.

“On the cars about noon while in Memphis, I met Harry Tripp, who is president of the steamboat association, headquarters at Memphis. Salary he informed me $4,000 per annum, but since that I am informed it is only $3,000. Either figure, considering the work, are very fair.”

“Two of my men were killed, Wm. Henderson, of Stanton, Goodhue County, Peter Gergen, of Hampton, was mortally wounded and Jacob Dounlinger wounded between the neck and shoulder blades, the ball passing through, but not injuring the spine. The boys fought splendidly, firing as many as sixty rounds, so that their guns got so hot they blistered their hands.”

Characteristic.

The following letter, written by President Lincoln to the so-called peace commissioners at Niagara Falls, deserve to be perpetuated in letters of gold. Of all his correspondence, none is more unique or to the point: Washington, July 18, 1864 To all whom it may concern: Any proposition which embraces the restoration of peace, the integrity of the whole Union, and the abandonment of slavery, and come by and with an authority that can control the armies now at war against the United States, will be met by liberal terms on substantial and collateral points; and the bearer thereof shall have safe conduct both ways.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

165 Years Ago DAKOTAWEEKLY JOURNAL Hastings, Minnesota June 24, 1856

From the Minnesotian.

MURDER.

OAK GROVE, June 13, 1856 Messrs. Editors: About six years ago Dr. Thomas S. Williamson, while living at Kaposia, took a little Dakota Indian girl into his family three years old, whom they named Susan. He kept, cared for, and instructed her in his family till the time of his removal to Yellow Medicine, when for the benefit of the child she was committed to the care of Hon. J. S. Norris, where she remained a member of his family till June 1855. + Since that time Susan has been living with Mr. M.S. Whallon, of Hennepin county, whose residence is on the Minnesota river, about one mile below Bloomington ferry. Susan had entirely lost the little knowledge of her native language which she had acquired before she was taken from her mother, and had become so changed that there was nothing to betray her origin except her strong-marked features. She was, in fact, the adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Whalion, under whose care she was making good progress in the knowledge of such things as would prepare her for usefulness, respectability and happiness here and hereafter.

(Susan is killed on June 12 by a band of males from a rival tribe, who raided the house she was at).

Will not those who have the authority and power to do it apprehend and bring offenders to justice? Can they do less? We trust they will do it, and to them we look for the protection of our children.

Yours in behalf of the injured, G. H. Pond