Remember When March 28, 2019

10 years ago (2009)
•The city of Luverne may have to pay $40,000 to help clean up contaminated soil in Raleigh, N.C.
The city became part of federal Superfund litigation because more than 25 years ago Luverne did business with a company that sold and serviced oil-filled electrical transformers.
Ward Transformer Sales and Service reportedly caused widespread PCB contamination in the early 1980s when it improperly disposed of oil in the Raleigh area.
Since the company lacks resources to pay for the cleanup, litigators are seeking compensation from those who did business with Ward.
According to the company’s record, Luverne is on that list for a one-time refurbishing of a transformer in 1983.
Phase 1 of the cleanup cost is $55 million, and 230 businesses and municipalities are on the list of liable entities.
Through a complex formula of sharing the cost, Luverne’s share of Phase 1 is $40,000. The largest amount for one entity is $3.7 million.
 
25 years ago (1994)
•When crews reconstructed County Road 5 west of Luverne last year, the topsoil on Loren Forrest’s farm land suffered.
To help revitalize that land, Forrest requested the city dump its compost on his land.
The compost, consisting primarily of grass clippings and leaves, will help the soil by providing food for worms, according to Forrest. “The worms feed on soil residue,” he said. “I think it’s going to be good for the soil and the soil structure.”
Forrest has about 350 acres of land near Luverne on which he plans to spread the compost.
 
50 years ago (1969)
•Only the governor’s signature is needed now to assure building of the tourist information center on I-90, just west of the Minnesota-South Dakota boundary. The Minnesota House of Representatives passed and sent to the governor a bill authorizing the construction of the center.
While it would be located in South Dakota, on a site originally designated for a truck weighing station, the center will be operated by the Minnesota Highway Department. There, east bound tourists will be able to secure information on Minnesota highways, camp grounds, resorts and other vacation information.
 
75 years ago (1944)
•Parents of boys who have air rifles were urged this week by Mayor H. L. Fay to caution their sons not to shoot at or kill robins and other returning song birds.
“Several complaints have come to me the past week that boys are killing the birds,” Mr. Fay said, “and any steps taken by parents which might keep these boys from harming our birds will be greatly appreciated by all bird lovers. Should complaints continue to be forthcoming, it will be necessary to take more drastic steps against those who do not need this warning.”
 
100 years ago (1919)
•There is little room for argument against the proposition that the people of Rock county want a memorial in honor of the boys who offered their lives in the world war. It is a testimonial of love and gratitude that everyone feels should be accorded, and at the earliest possible date. While the matter appears to drag, this is due almost wholly to the fact that it has not been possible to center sentiment upon a project that at once appeared appropriate and feasible.
With suggestions the order of the day, the Herald would like to propose that a Memorial Park be added to the projects under consideration. In the matter of appropriateness, feasibility, and benefits to be derived by all of the people of the county, nothing in the Herald’s opinion, will so completely fill the bill as a park, which could be a thing of beauty, comfort and pleasure — a playground for children, large and small, and a place of rest and pleasure for the older people.