Remember When Dec. 23, 2021

10 years ago (2011)
•It was 1968. Magnolia High School graduate Jerry Hoff had been home from Vietnam for three days when Smith Furniture owner Larry Brinkman called him with a job offer.
Hoff learned how to install flooring while working at Smith Furniture for the next five years.
When Bob Davis was looking to sell his floor covering business in 1973, Hoff was the buyer. “I’ve been in business ever since,” Hoff said.
Industry veterans warned him that flooring installers can expect their knees to tolerate no more than two years in the business, but Hoff said he’s been fortunate.
“I’ve lasted more than three times that. My knees are still good and I don’t have any back trouble,” he said, “but I don’t have the strength I used to have.”
“I’ve been trying to slow down over the last couple of years,” he said. “Quitting was a hard decision, because people keep calling me, but I just feel it’s time to quit.”
 
25 years ago (1996)
•After 18 years on the Rock County Board of Commissioners, Willis J. Brakke will retire at the end of the month.
“The past 18 years have been the most enjoyable years of my life,” Brakke told the Star Herald in a recent interview. “I enjoyed government service and the satisfaction that I might be doing some good for others.”
At age 74, Brakke decided not to file for re-election to the board. In a three-way race for his seat, Bob Jarchow was elected in November and will assume Brakke’s duties in January.
He said the decision not to run again for election was one of the hardest things he’s ever done. “I’m going to miss the feeling of belonging to the county family. I was a commissioner, and I was proud of it,” Brakke said.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•Beaver Creek’s new village well was completed the past week, Mayor Robert Melton announced. This is the first phase of the sewer-water improvement project begun this fall by the village.
A temporary pump and motor are now in place, and the well is now producing in excess of 100 gallons per minute, with water being pumped from the 185-foot level. The water is now being tested by the State Department of Health, and while results have not been returned, it appears that the quality will be comparable to the excellent water quality the village has enjoyed from its other wells, Mayor Melton said. A pump house will be built and fluoridation equipment installed before the water will be used.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•It wasn’t bad enough that Pete Gibson’s car had been laid up in the garage for repairs for a week. To add to the troubles of the Beaver Creek rural mail carrier the car caught on fire, when garagemen were working on it, and another week’s time will be required to repair the damage.
While being pushed last Thursday afternoon, some gasoline ignited and the car caught on fire on Beaver Creek’s Main street. Flames shot fifteen feet and more in the air before the blaze could be extinguished.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•The Omaha depot and the offices of the two farmers’ elevators at Beaver Creek were entered by thieves Monday night, but so far as is known they secured only two dollars in cash, which was taken from the cash drawer in the depot office.
A sack of mail in the depot that had been received from the east-bound night train was cut open and the contents rifled, but it is not obtained. The checking of the mail in the sack, however, has not yet been completed.
While the offices of the elevators were thoroughly ransacked, no money or articles of value were obtained.
A box car was broken into by the thieves, but the only thing taken was a box of Christmas candy.
The robbery was discovered Tuesday morning by W. C. Lenz, station agent at Beaver Creek, and the general opinion is that it was the work of “local talent.”