Coming in for report some 30 years ago, two women were among eight recruits to the Hastings Fire Department. By the end of the year Sandy Boesl and B. J. Stockton going to be on the Hastings Fire Department, which—though not considering themselves feminists, was helped along for one by an out-of-town challenger.

“I met a firefighter, not from Hastings, who told me he didn’t think a woman could be a firefighter,” Boesl shared. “It’s a challenge like that that only makes me want to prove people like that wrong.”

Prior to recruitment to the Hastings Fire Department, Boesl had been employed at Regina Medical Center.

In the news for a site at what was once Nininger township, meanwhile, a new church building was planned. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton had passed the City Planning Commission and was due to go before the

55 years ago

THE HASTINGS GAZETTE

February 8, 1968 Named an outstanding farmer back in 1968 was 34-year-old John Conzemius. The Douglas township Farmer had won the award for Outstanding Young Farmer at the Hastings Jaycees banquet, reportedly farming more than 750 acres, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Conzemius of rural Cannon Falls. An active member of his church and following the latest soil conservation techniques, Conzemius left two acres of standing corn to provide food for birds and other wildlife.

What food cost at the grocery store: Chuck Steak 49 cents per lb.

Spare Ribs 49 cents per lb.

California Navel Oranges

80 years ago THE HASTINGS GAZETTE February 5, 1943 A long distance call between Miss Pauline E. Niedre of the Panama Canal Zone and her grandmother Mrs. Lena Hart of Hastings, is officially the longest distance call on record for the Hastings Telephone Company, per its manager Mrs. J. F. Stedwell.

Delayed for the holidays and also on account of wartime censorship, the call from Miss Niedre came after she had left for the Canal Zone in September of 1941, to be a teacher at Margarita, some four miles from Cristobal, a coastal town on the Atlantic side of the zone.

Back home at Hastings, meanwhile, the First Baptist Church had undertaken to honor 31 servicemen with a board containing their names, dedicated and placed in the church on Sunday morning. The gold framed list of names was complemented by another list of sons and friends of the church on the opposite side, with pastor R. F. McIlnay reading the names of the servicemen in groups. Miss Mabel Erickson was reportedly the designer

104 years ago THE HASTINGS GAZETTE February 16, 1918 Delinquent Tax List State of Minnesota, county of Dakota—District Court, first judicial district.

The state of Minnesota, to all persons, companies, or corporations who have or claim any estate, right, title, or interest in claim to, or lien upon any of the several parcels of land hereto attached.

The list of taxes and penalties on real property for the county of Dakota remaining delinquent on the first Monday in January, 1918, has been filed in the officer of the clerk of district court of said county, of which what hereto attached is a copy.

Signed T. S. Ryan Clerk of the district court of the County of Dakota 145 years ago HASTINGS UNION February 7, 1877 Minnesota statehouse news.

Some of the “wise men” of the Legislature are opposed to publishing the laws in the newspaper. Last year, we were annoyed with men inquiring at this office for supplements containing the laws. The amount it costs the state for publishing through the press is but a small item, but “if ignorance