from the archives of the dodge county independent

50 years ago
September 5, 1973
Folmer Carlsen, Publisher
Patrol Testing For Noise Pollution
One motor vehicle out of 300 on Minnesota highways has flunked the noise pollution test during this season’s first four weeks of testing, a State Patrol report indicates. Testing started on July 11. Three teams took readings on 48,850 vehicles in all parts of the state, including trucks, buses, automobiles and motorcycles to determine the levels of their noise emissions. Troopers issued 115 warnings requiring correction of defects, and made 46 arrests. Vehicles of all types, including one big inter-city bus, were among those exceeding the legal limits of 90 decibels for large units and 86 decibels for others, at more than 35 miles per hour, or 88 and 82 decibels at 35 miles per hour or less. The higher limit approaches the noise of a boiler factory, while the lower limit approximates the noise made by a printing press.
30 years ago
September 1, 1993
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Bob Petersen wins ZVRC championship
Bob Petersen of Kasson won the Zumbro Valley Recreation Golf Mens Championship Saturday by one stroke over Steve Tibben, also of Kasson. Petersen carded a 27-hole total of 109, which is one over par. He had rounds of 36-36-37. Tibben shot rounds of 37-36-37 for a 110 total. Chuck Dahms, playing in his 33rd ZVRC Club tournament, finished third in the championship flight. Al Head won the first flight with rounds of 38-39. He defeated John Collins in a playoff for first by birdying the first hole of sudden death. Third was John Goetz. Winning the second flight was Jim Maxson with an 85, second was Mark Stevens and third Carl Ziemann. Winning the third flight was Larry Agerter who shot a 93. Second went to Bob Hilliard and third was Mike Berge. There were 48 entries in this year’s tournament. The nine golfers in the championship flight played 27 holes and 1st-3rd flights 18 holes.
20 years ago
September 3, 2003
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Dodge County Farm Bureau to hold crime forum
Drugs like cocaine and heroin flow into the United States from Mexico and South America, but another dangerous killer-methamphetamine-is becoming Minnesota’s largest homegrown health and societal menace. From farm fields to fish huts, methamphetamine labs are turning up all over in our rural communities. Why here? Experts attribute common, available ingredients, economics and meth’s high addiction rate as reasons the drug has exploded in the area. Anhydrous ammonia, one of the ingredients in meth, a common fertilizer kept on farms in our area, is the most difficult ingredient to obtain because it is regulated by the government. Thousand-gallon tanks are a common site around Dodge County in the spring and fall, when farmers fertilize their fields. Farm-supply stores rent hundreds of them to farmers who use it. At times, these tanks wait near fields for application, making them easy targets for anhydrous theft. Besides the theft, another issue to be addressed is community safety. Methamphetamine labs are highly explosive and toxic making clean up very expensive; taxing local resources. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, approximately 25 first responders each year are injured during meth lab related calls. The Dodge County Farm Bureau would like to invite you to participate in the program appropriately called, “I Smell Trouble” on September 10, 7:30 PM at Dodge Center American Legion. At this open forum, local law enforcement and narcotic specialists from Olmsted & Dodge County will visit with farmers and other attendees about meth labs in our rural communities, and how it puts us at risk. They will also provide participants with useful information on how they can help curtail this critical problem in our rural communities. For more information, please contact Ruth Meirick at (507) 383-1400 or (507) 527-2881.
10 years ago
September 4, 2013
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Marigold Days Quilt Show 2013
Summer, where has it gone? Even the weather seems fall like; a sure sign that Marigold Days will soon be celebrated in Mantorville. Be ready to come, have fun, eat, visit the shops, the flea market, the flower show and the quilt show, enjoy the music, watch the coronation and fishing contest, then have a piece of homemade pie at the Senior Center, view the car show, enjoy a Melodrama Friday and Saturday evenings and much more. Again this year the quilt show will be at the Opera House on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will also be a display of the Mantorville Restoration Association’s 50th year celebrating the preservation of historic buildings in Mantorville and a display and demo of painting in the Opera House. Anyone who enjoys sewing, creating quilts and similar projects, is invited to bring their work to the Opera House on Thursday and be a part of the Marigold Days Quilt Show. Anyone having questions is asked to call Nancy Naatz at 635-3161 or Julie Peterson 635-5872.