10 years ago (2011)
•The Polar Plunge team of Evan Verbrugge, Daryl Fuerstenberg, Dan Nath, Chris Harnack and Michael DeJong doubled their goal of raising $750 before their plunge Saturday, Feb. 12
Through the Polar Plunge, the Rock River Shivers’ $1,480 donation directly benefits Special Olympics Minnesota.
This surpassed the initial goal of $750 and the second goal of $950.
This year was the 14th annual Polar Bear Plunge and the first for all of the team members except DeJong.
There were 14 Polar Plunge locations, and the Rock River Shivers group jumped into the freezing water of Hallett’s Pond in St. Peter.
A total of 375 plungers were registered at this location, raising $36,770.
This year more than 8,500 law enforcement officials plunged throughout the state raising more than $1 millions for Special Olympics.
25 years ago (1996)
•An electrical outage affected a wide area in Rock and Pipestone counties — from Holland to the Iowa border. The power went out at about 9:20 a.m. In Luverne, the outage lasted only 41 minutes, because a third option, feeder lines from Interstate Power and the Magnolia Substation, could be used.
According to Bruce Wilson, line supervisor for the city of Luverne, the outage was the result of two separate connections being down at the same time.
One of the problems was caused by high winds on Feb. 10. A three-position, pole-mounted, open-air switch near Pipestone that feeds Luverne was arcing. Luverne was switched over to the south circuit during repairs.
While Emblom Brothers, a contractor, was making repairs on the north switch, the south line six miles west of Rock Rapids broke.
According to L & O Power, Rock Rapids, the wheeling agent for the city, the break in the south line was probably due to stress or faulty cable.
Power on the L & O line was restored by 12:58 p.m., and the city of Luverne was back on the north feeder.
According to Wilson, “It’s not too often two main lines are ‘down’ simultaneously; however, we are fortunate we have a backup source of power to utilize when an emergency occurs.”
50 years ago (1971)
•The smiles grow wider at the Mary Jane Brown Home when residents know the Future Homemakers (FHA) girls are coming to call.
The Junior High FHA, girls, with their instructor, Joan Gertner, have been quietly going about this business of “spreading sunshine” for over a year now.
Miss Gertner had mixed emotions about the project when it was first suggested. She wondered if the residents would enjoy the visits and if the girls, after one or two visits, would lose interest.
She needn’t have given it a thought! The residents of the home and the junior high girls have taken to each other with mutual delight.
The young ladies sparkle through the halls, waving their “hellos,” as they go, finally stopping at the room of their very own “adopted” grandparent.
75 years ago (1946)
•A women’s division of the Luverne golf club has been organized in Luverne.
A tea was held at the home of Mrs. N. M. Manion Saturday afternoon, at which time some 20 ladies, most of them either golfers themselves or whose husbands are interested in the sport, were in attendance.
Mrs. M. C. Munson was elected president of the organization; Mrs. Gordon Elden, vice president; and Mrs. Reid Cleland, secretary-treasurer. Elected to the board of directors were: Mrs. N. M. Manion, Mrs. M. L. Kelsh and Mrs. O. W. Anderson.
The purpose and aim of the group is to interest more women in golf, and also to make improvements in the club house at the golf course.
They intend to hold social events at various times during the coming summer, and at the same time promoting the sport among the ladies and girls in the community.
100 years ago (1921)
•Although over seventy-five firms submitted bids for different phases of the work of erecting Luverne’s proposed new school building, and were sufficiently interested to send representatives here, no contracts were awarded by the Luverne school board at the meetings held Thursday and Friday of last week for the purpose of considering bids for the construction of the new building.
It was found that the lowest bids were from $40,000 to $50,000 above the bond issue of $350,000, which is available for payment for the new building; consequently the board did not accept any of the bids, and it is quite probable that it will be necessary to again call for bids at a later date.
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