10 years ago THE HASTINGS STARGAZETTE March 1, 2012 Profiled in a story for the first week of March 2012 by staff writer Katrina Styx, Hastings resident Ted Amundson was involved with the licensing and permitting process for two new nuclear power plants in Georgia, the first new plants to be licensed in 30 years. Saying that the Three Mile Island accident from 1979 had slowed down the permit process along with questions on the ability for nuclear power to compete with other to compete on the part of nuclear power, Amundson started his career at Prairie Island nuclear plant under Northern States Power (NSP) before becoming an independent nuclear contractor and consultant. Continuing the news update from 2012, residents were reminded to reserve their campsite at Lebanon Hills Campground by March 1 in order to get a chance to sleep out under the stars that summer. With area gas prices averaging $3.64 per gallon in the quad city area of Hastings, Red Wing, Cannon Falls and Farmington, gas wasn’t inexpensive, while a 21-year-old Maplewood man was sentenced to one year of jail and ten years probation for causing the death of a Minnesota State Patrol officer in a crash. Warned that he had to be to work at 6:25 a.m. after a history of late arrivals, the man was going from 83 to 89 miles per hour at the time of the crash, later pleading guilty (and thus waiving trial) in Washington County Court on November 18. Finishing out the news for 10 years back, report came in that the alleged misdemeanor theft charged against a Hastings officer would go to trial. With no trial date set at press time,the officer was alleged to have stolen a corkscrew from what is termed “a Hastings restaurant” in November of 2010. An off-duty Dakota County deputy saw the alleged theft take place and turned the officer in. Defense attorney Paul Engh, meanwhile, was reported to have said in the past that there was no evidence a crime had even been committed, with the presumption that if found innocent the officer would get their job back. 30 years ago THE HASTINGS STARGAZETTE April 2, 1992 It may or may not seem that long ago, but thirty years past the area was getting ready for a presidential primary vote, with ballots prepared for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party and Independent-Republican party in Minnesota. The first time that Hastings or the state more broadly had been part of a presidential primary since 1956, the story reported by staff writer Jane Lightbourn had Hastings City Clerk Barb Thompson described as optimistic on voter turnout. “Hastings always does pretty well,” Clerk Thompson reported of the vote. “We’re usually above the state (average).” Meanwhile in healthcare news, Dave Welch reported that John Junkman was retiring from a 30-year career as administrator at Regina Medical Complex, the official retirement date being June 30 while Junkman would reportedly use his extra vacation time to fill the gap between official retirement and his last day on the job. Reminded by director of human resources Judy Scott as having an innovative management style thatrespected employees and was a big reason behind the hospital’s success. “He respected you as a professional,” Scott said of Junkman at his retirement party. Closing out the update from 30 years past, Hastings mayor Mike Werner was said in a piece by Doug Schultz to be forming a panel to be looking at youth and community issues in the local area, The commission came after Timothy Mathiowetz was shot on March 7 of the present year, with community feeling reportedly unified in the aftermath. “We need to respond to this incident with compassion, understanding and determination,” Werner said of the shooting. “We need to take a pro-active approach to assure that we have done everything in our power to assure such a tragic event as this does not occur again. We need to find solutions, not just problems.” Working in a joint venture with school superintendent Ken LaCroix and city administrator Dave Osberg, Werner and the commission endeavored to do just that.