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Remember When Jan. 14, 2021

10 years ago (2011)
•On Saturday, Feb. 12, the Rock River Shivers will plunge into the polar-cold Minnesota water, and they are looking forward to “freezen’ for a reason.”
That reason is to raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota.
Shiver team members Evan Verbrugge, Daryl Fuerstenberg, Dan Nath, Chris Harnack and Michael DeJong will participate in the 14th annual Polar Bear Plunge when they leap into Hallet’s pond in St. Peter.
DeJong’s first Polar Plunge experience was in 2008; he jumped in on a negative-four-degree day.
“The water was actually warmer than the air,” he said.
Even though the team joked about DeJong’s willingness for a second jump, all agree that the plunges into freezing water are worth the significant funds raised for Special Olympics Minnesota.
The Rock River Shivers are making pledges for their upcoming jump, and they have so far raised $505 with the goal of $750 before the event.
 
25 years ago (1996)
•Luverne School Board members have signed a contract with Millennium Communications Inc., Minneapolis and Rochester, to provide Internet relay service to Luverne schools. The district plans to be on-line by the end of the month.
The school will have a T-1 connection that will enable to sell space to other school districts, the county and the city. The district had considered a smaller 56K line, but, according to Superintendent George Maurer a 56K line would not meet the needs of the district.
“With 75 people, we’ll pay for (T-1) equipment and break even after one year”, Maurer said.
By signing the contract, the district has agreed to pay $15,784 for installation, hardware and the first six months of service. Following that time, the district will pay for service on a month-to-month basis. The monthly fee to MillComm is $899.
 
50 years ago (1971)
•The year 1970 may have been a recession year generally, but the publicized money shortage is not reflected in the deposits in Rock County’s seven banks.
Deposits jumped $3,769,769 from January 1, 1970, to Dec. 31, 1970, to bring the total on deposit in the banks up to an all-time record of $33,670,056, according to figures in published statements of condition in this week’s Star-Herald.
During the same time period, loans increased $1,060,153 to hit the $19,023,456 mark.
Depositers weren’t just putting their money into checking accounts, the figures show. They had more in savings accounts, denoted in the statements as time deposits, than they had in demand deposits. Time deposits accounted for $19,549,443 while demand deposits totaled $14,120,612. Demand deposits were higher than they were a year ago by $2,008,114, while time deposits went up by a smaller margin, $1,256,659.
 
75 years ago (1946)
•Jasper—(By Jacqueline Tweeton)—A loud rumble heralded the fall of the stone facing from the entire west and part of the north sides of the frame building owned by Dr. E. D. Merkley, Jasper veterinarian, about 4 p.m. Friday. The east wall of Zenor’s Pool Hall, west of the Merkley building was bent inward by the force of the falling stone.
Dr. Merkley and another man had just entered Merkley’s office in the building when they heard the rumbling noise start in the back structure. It is thought that the freezing and thawing of the last few days caused the stone to loosen and fall. The Arlen Holiens who live upstairs were out of town at the time. A new facing is being planned for the Merkley building, which was not basically harmed.
 
100 years ago (1921)
•At a meeting of the directors of the Luverne Co-Operative Live Stock Shipping association held Tuesday afternoon, Fred Lutgens, for eleven years live stock buyer for Herman Fitzer, was elected manager of the shipping association.
Eight votes were cast in the selection of a manager, and Mr. Lutgens was elected on the first ballot, five votes having been cast for him, two for A. J. Leech, and one for W. E. Loose. Following the action of the directors Mr. Fitzer announced that he would retire from the live stock market in so far as buying hogs is concerned, if Mr. Lutgens could be induced to accept the appointment.
It was also voted that the association would transact its business at the Farmers National bank, and that if shippers desired their checks placed elsewhere, they should so instruct the manager.
Mr. Lutgens has accepted the managership of the shipping association and will assume his new duties next Monday.

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