Remember When June 29, 2023

10 years ago (2013)
•A container of biohazardous waste — presumably full of used hypodermis needles — recently showed up in a load of recycling material at Ketterling Services.
There is a recycling label clearly marked on the container, which also instructs users to dispose of biohazardous waste according to their hospital or municipal policy.
This creates a confusing message about how it should be disposed of, and Bill Ketterling of Ketterling Services said he’s concerned for the safety of Rock County Opportunities workers who must handle dangerous items that sometimes show up in the recycling stream.
According to Kristin Peterson, infection prevention and control practitioner for Sanford Luverne, patients are instructed to dispose of their used needles in a hard plastic container, such as a liquid laundry detergent bottle, and place it in the garbage.
This follows the Minnesota Department of Health recommendations for disposing medical waste.
 
25 years ago (1998)
•Luverne High School’s Sara Stegemann earned an honorable mention in a national media contest sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office on Smoking and Health. Sara entered an article in the contest headlined, “Joe Camel Sighted in Area,” which she’d written for the October edition of the LHS publication, the Echo.
She received notice of the award in early June. Echo adviser Roger Headrick suggested the topic and said she could contact Jennifer Thorp, media relations manager for the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, for more information.
 
50 years ago (1973)
•Two young Luverne athletes, Randy Kuechenmeister, 11, and Kurt Burmeister, 12, will be competing this weekend in the Western National AAU Wrestling Tournament in Missoula, Mont.
Randy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Kuechenmeister, captured the state title in the Midget Division’s 90-pound category. His seven rounds of action this spring during the tournament held in Minneapolis ended with only one loss and the least number of “Black Marks.”
Kurt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burmeister, Route 1, Luverne, earned a third place finish in the Jr. Division at heavyweight.
Randy left for the University of Montana with his family earlier this week while Kurt was scheduled to leave by chartered bus from Roseville on Wednesday.
 
75 years ago (1948)
•A new type of farm tractor that may prove to be the final threat to horses on the farm is now on display at Rapp Motor and Implement Co., local Allis-Chalmers dealers. Lloyd Rapp, owner, predicts it will replace that last team of horses on many farms by serving as a chore tractor, and that it will fill complete power needs on many other farms.
The new Allis-Chalmers model differs from previous tractor design in that it has a rear-mounted engine with implements attached in front within unobstructed view of the operator. Moving the engine to the rear keeps the front of the tractor clear for mounted implements, and of which can be attached or detached in five minutes. Even the plow is front-mounted.
Mr. Rapp points out that many farms keep one last team of horses for a few seasonal jobs, such as corn planting or hauling.
 
100 years ago (1923)
•During the progress of the annual picnic of the Sunday school at the First Dutch Reformed church of Steen, held Wednesday at the church grounds a shortly after between forty and fifty members of the congregation had taken shelter there to escape the drenching rain.
The bolt struck the steeple of the church, and ran down the outer wall. Many of the occupants of the buildings were severely shocked by the terrific force of the lightning, especially a number of young ladies and girls who were out at the entrance, immediately under the steeple.
Several of them were knocked down and badly dazed, and in the case of Harriet Nissink, of Clinton township, considerable effort was required to revive her.
It was at first thought  a number of the people in the church had been severely injured. Dr. Sherman, of this city, was called and assisted in resuscitating several, including Miss Nissink, after making the first drive there.
It was during the noon hour that the lightning struck.