Remember When Nov. 5, 2020

10 years ago (2010)
•Luverne Graphic Arts instructor Bill Thompson’s middle school Lego Mindstorms builders have surpassed the typical store-bought set. Their Lego creations move by themselves.
This Lego engineering is part of Thompson’s new Robotics encore class offered to seventh- and eighth-graders.
Their Lego Mindstorms kits have more than 500 pieces each, computer bricks, motors and ultra-sonic light and sound sensors. “There are so many things you can build … there are many types of robots they can create,” Thompson said.
The kits were purchased with learning incentives, including a grant from the Luverne School Foundation.
 
25 years ago (1995)
•Ellsworth School District residents turned in record numbers Tuesday night to vote on the proposed $100,000 referendum to maintain school operations.
The referendum passed decidedly with 353 yes votes and 146 no votes for a total of 499 votes. “That’s probably a record for this district,” said school consultant Gordon LeBoutillier.
He said 50 of those residents cast their votes by absentee ballots.
What the passing of the referendum means is the district will be able to continue operating for another five years. If it had failed, the district would not have been able to continue operating independently beyond two years.
 
50 years ago (1970)
•A person would expect a math major to be good with numbers. Tom Dahlberg, sophomore fullback for the Gustavus Adolphus College football team, is a math major, and he is very good with numbers. Tom, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dahlberg of 513 North Freeman, Luverne, has, with less than two full seasons under his belt, established himself as one of the best running backs in the history of Gustavus football.
Last Saturday Tom led the NAIA sixth-ranked Golden Gusties against the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, and he ran away with game honors. The powerful fullback was called on 29 times and he responded by gaining 208 yards and scoring one touchdown as his team claimed a 41-15 victory. …
Only once in the 1970 season has Tom failed to gain over 100 yards in a game. For the eight games thus far he has averaged 127.5 yards per contest. Which breaks down further to 5.2 yards per carry. He has also scored eleven touchdowns for the Golden Gusties.
Tom Dahlberg is a math major. Tom Dahlberg is a football fullback. Tom Dahlberg likes to add up numbers, both in the classroom and on the field.
 
75 years ago (1945)
•Gleaming new 1946 Chevrolets sounding an appealing note in sleek, modern styling, and embodying the latest results of new engineering progress, are on display at Connell Chevrolet in Luverne. Due to the uncertainty of delivery Mr. Connell was not sure he’d have a model to show Saturday and consequently did not advertise the fact last week.
“The new models mark an outstanding step in Chevrolet’s progress as top producer in the automotive industry”, said Mr. Connell of the Connell Chevrolet. “More Chevrolets than any other motor car were sold in 10 out of the last 11 years of prewar automotive production.
 
100 years ago (1920)
•Concerning “The Old Homestead,” which comes to the Palace theatre next Monday, it is said that to witness it is to really breathe the atmosphere of the New Hampshire hills, to meet the good folks at Swanzey is to touch life where it is sweet and wholesome.
The story begins in a scene showing the old homestead of the Whitcombs. Here the audience makes the acquaintance of Uncle Josh, Aunt Matilda, the Ganzey boy, Rickety Ann, dear old Cy Prime and Seth Perkins, whose rather belated courtship of Aunt Matilda furnishes much quaint comedy.