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Remember When Feb. 27, 2020

10 years ago (2000)
•Joel Johnson and his wife, Maggie, both grew up in Watertown, S.D.
And, now, the couple is  growing into business ownership together.
“I love it,” Joel said. “I have yet to meet a person in Luverne that I didn’t like … everybody’s nice.”
The Johnsons bought Wayne’s Body Shop from Wayne Walgrave at the beginning of the year.
The business is located on West Hatting Street just off South Highway 75 in Luverne.
Joel had heard about the business opportunity through a neighbor and, with 18 years of body shop experience, decided to pursue the purchase.
“I had heard Wayne was looking to retire,” he said. “We met and worked out a favorable agreement.”
On Jan. 4 the Johnsons took over and Walgrave began retirement after 45 years of running the business.
Joel said the small-town feel along with Wayne’s “good clientele and good reputation” has made for smooth sailing through the first month.
 
25 years ago (1995)
•Rock climbing as a sport is gaining popularity in the Blue Mounds State Park and in park systems statewide. To protect both the climbers and park resources, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has drafted a statewide rock climbing policy.
Most climbers enjoy the sport for the challenge and the beauty of nature and are careful to preserve natural rock surfaces. Others, however, may drill permanent hardware into rock surfaces for anchors, remove natural vegetation on climbing routes, mark routes with brightly colored chalk or rearrange large rocks or boulders for their own purposes.
Though Blue Mounds State Park officials say they have had few problems with climbers in general, they agree joining the DNR’s policy statement is a good idea for everyone involved.
 
50 years ago (1970)
•Two brothers, one a senior and one a sophomore in Luverne high school, were selected as the Star Chapter Farmer and the Star Green Hand members of the Luverne Future Farmers of America. Gary Overgaard, president of the Luverne chapter, was accorded the Star Chapter Farmer degree, the highest honor that can be conferred by a local chapter. Glenn Overgaard was picked for the Star Green hand award, which was presented this year for the first time to a student who has completed one year of vocational agriculture and FFA. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Overgaard, R. 2 Luverne.
The Honorary Farmer degree, presented annually to an adult who has been instrumental in furthering the causes of the FFA, was presented this year to Garland Anderson, Luverne, longtime Luverne FFA adviser who this year is in the adult phase of vocational agriculture instruction at Luverne high school.
 
75 years ago (1945)
•Lack of help on most farms with the result that many farmers cut down on the number of cows kept for milking purposes, was reflected in the annual manufacturing report of the Luverne Cooperative Creamery read at Tuesday’s stockholders’ meeting held here.
The creamery manufactured 883,709 pounds of butter during 1944, which is 147,001 pounds less than was manufactured in 1943. Louis Gilbertston, creamery manager, stated that none of the drop can be attributed to the fact that patrons sold whole milk instead of butterfat, as this has been true in only a few cases where the local creamery was concerned. Mainly, he said, it was due to a decrease in the amount of butterfat produced.
 
100 years ago (1920)
•Announcement of the sale of a controlling interest in the First National bank of Beaver Creek, was made this week by President M. O. Page.
The purchasers are A. L. Vennum and C. C. Laufman, of Sioux Falls, both men of wide experience is banking, who are identified with the Security National bank of Sioux Falls.
This transfer is one of the most important made in the banking circles of the county during recent years, for the bank has a capital of $30,000, and a surplus of $16,000.

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