10 years ago (2010)
•As the maiden voyage of Honor Flight Southwest Minnesota takes off this weekend, it will carry 110 veterans from Rock, Nobles, Pipestone and Murray counties.
Honor Flight exists to ensure World War II veterans have a chance to see the national World War II memorial that was built in Washington, D. C., in their honor.
When the flight departs, all attention will be on the veterans, but for at least one of the guardians, it will be a trip of a lifetime.
Rock County Historical Society President Betty Mann will be a guardian on the flight. That means she’ll help take care of one or two of the aging veterans on board.
But she’s no spring chicken herself. She’ll turn 80 years old on Saturday, May 1, while she’s in D. C. with the Honor Flight group.
“A lot of people don’t want to admit that they’re 80, but I don’t regret a bit the age that I am,” she said. “I have a full life, and you have to make the best of every day that you have.
25 years ago (1995)
•While walking his dog Saturday afternoon, Arnie Vink, Luverne, noticed a large pile of garbage carelessly dumped in a creek by the Rock River near their home.
Heaped into the creek were two television sets, an old portable stereo, two kitchen chairs, fluorescent ceiling fixtures with mercuric bulbs still attached, two old and broken car batteries, a vacuum cleaner, a bag of clay pigeons, a girl’s 10-speed bike and a third-place trophy from the 1987 local BMX championship races.
Concerned the batteries and light fixtures would cause environmental damage, Vink waded into the creek up to his waist and hauled the items up on the creek bank near the road.
“I piled all that stuff up there, hoping that whoever threw it would drive by and at least feel a little bit guilty,” Vink said. “I’m getting awful tired of people dumping their garbage. … This isn’t the first time I’ve been in there picking stuff out of that creek.”
His wife, Gloria, took the BMX trophy home, since that was the only piece of garbage that may be used to identify the litterers. Then they called Rock County Law Environmental Officer Rick Dillon Monday morning.
Strangely, however, when Dillon went out to inspect the site Monday morning, all the garbage was gone except the two deteriorating car batteries. “It was probably the same people who dumped it earlier who picked it up after Arnie hauled it all up by the road,” Dillon said. “Our concern is that it gets hauled to a legal solid waste disposal facility and not another ditch.”
50 years ago (1970)
•The mother of eight children, who was born and raised in Rock County, has been named its “Mother of the Year” for 1970.
Representing all mothers of the county this year is Mrs. Nelson (Clara) Sandager of Hills. The nominating letter was written by her friend, Mrs. Vernon Danielson, also of Hills. …
It is fitting that Rock County’s “Mother of the Year” should be Mrs. Nels Sandager of Hills. For she was born and has lived all her life in the county she represents.
75 years ago (1945)
•The War in Europe is over!
That was the good news which brought joy to millions the world around, Monday morning, May 7.
All morning long, Monday, Rock county residents remained beside their radios, tense and hushed, listening to the flood of bulletins coming over the air. They first heard that the “unconditional surrender” order issued by Admiral Doenitz was “unconfirmed.”
Then at about 8:37 a.m., they heard their radio announcers shouting “the war is over, the war is over, the unconditional surrender has been officially confirmed.”
100 years ago (1920)
•At a meeting between Mayor C. O. Wright and the police officers in the Mayor’s office last evening, the policemen were instructed that beginning tomorrow, May 1st, the traffic laws are to be strictly enforced. Under the instructions given by the Mayor, muffler cut-out fiends are to receive particular attention, and the laws are to be enforced with absolute impartiality.
In discussing the meeting Mayor Wright declared that the traffic laws will be strictly enforced, and if necessary special motorcycle officers will be put on duty in the various parts of the city to apprehend offenders. It is understood that in this work the Mayor has the unanimous support of the members of the council.
The beginning of the crusade against traffic law violators was fixed for tomorrow in order that some warning might be given to motor car drivers.
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