DCI History August 18, 2022

10 years ago
August 22, 2012
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
 
The Friends of the Library monthly Hot Reads series recently presented Michael Eckers, local author and historian. Eckers, dressed as General Sibley, related events that led up to the 1862 Dakota Conflict along the Minnesota River. Thirty-seven people attended the library event where Eckers compared and contrasted both sides of the Dakota Conflict. During the summer of 1862 many men had left to fight in the Civil War, leaving the area’s women, old men and children very vulnerable. The Dakota Indians realized this was their only chance to get back their land, which was stolen the previous year. Atrocities were committed by both Indians and white men. Not all of the Dakota Nation was at war with the settlers. A large group of ‘friendlies’ protected settlers from being killed during the conflict. The end of the Dakota War resulted in the execution of 38 Indians, who were hung in Mankato.
The last summer melodrama of the 40th season, “How Now Brown Cow” or “Don’t Bully Me,” is a comedy written and directed by Sandra Hennings Miller with Roberta Peterson tickling the ivories. Throw out all ideas of Shakespearean comedies and tragedies for this play. We have our valiant bumpkin hero Willie Shakes (played by Ben Peters) who’s trying to win the heart of our lovely heroine Rosie Fodder (Erika Miller) while mending the broken heart of his little sister Juliet (Kristina Harfmann) who was devastated by the untimely demise of their parents. Meanwhile, behind our good man’s back, we have our villain, the step-uncle of the hero, Silas Sinwell (Jacob Quam), who is trying to swindle the ranch left by his deceased step-brother for all it’s got, and also deal with his own issues. He is doing his best to woo our heroine’s mother, Hazel (Heidi Riffle) to increase his profit and also deal with his once-accomplice Raven Hornsby (Liz Olive) by trying to marry her off to the town’s butcher, Oscar Meyer (Dan Peters). Herd yourselves down to see for yourself what the fruits of their labor shall look like and milk it for all it’s got!
 
20 years ago
August 21, 2002
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
 
Contractors are scrambling to get work done for the start of the 2002-03 school year. The teachers are scheduled to report Monday, August 26 and school begins Tuesday, September 3 following the traditional Labor Day holiday. Plumbers on strike for Quality Mechanical are back at work and the pressure is on to get all of the ventilation upgrade completed as part of a major air quality project in the high school. Workers are making room for outdoor vents that are a part of the new system. Also, and electrical worker is above the ceiling tile making changes to upgrade the quality of air in the ventilation system.
A house and garage north of Mantorville were destroyed by fire on Aug. 9. Pine Island and Mantorville fire departments responded to the call at 12:49 p.m. at the residence of Barb and Kieth Smith on 255th Ave. in Milton Township. A Sheriff’s Department spokesperson said the fire apparently started in the garage and spread to the house. A car and a motor home were also lost. The state fire marshall inspected the site August 12, and said every indication points to an accidental fire. The Smiths recently built a new house on the same property, and had moved most of their possessions out of the house that was destroyed.
 
30 years ago
August 19, 1992
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
 
J. R.’s Place, owned by Burt and Enner Fjerstad nearly 10 years, has been sold to Pete Galuska of Rochester. Galuska has previously served as manager at the former Byron Municipal Liquor Store. The sale of the business was effective at midnight Friday, August 14. The business has remained closed since then for extensive remodeling inside. Once the inside is done, Galuska said he intends to start on the outside. The business will be reopened Thursday morning (August 20). The new owner said he was thinking of having a “name the bar” contest as a way of promoting the new business. He also plans to do a great deal of other promotions in an effort to draw business.
Dr. Dale Perau has recently joined the staff of the Dodge Veterinary Clinic in Dodge Center. Dr. Perau and his wife Jane, have three children, Matthew 9, Scott 6, and Alyssa, 2. They are making their home in Dodge Center. Dr. Perau and his wife are from Austin, Minnesota. He graduated from the Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. After graduation, he worked for the Carriage House Animal Hospital for one year and then the Dodge Veterinary Clinic in Hayfield for five years. He moved to Michigan in 1985 and was employed by the State Road Veterinary Clinic, an equine exclusive practice that included equine farm practice and in-clinic surgical practice. The last three years he has been working in private practice at the Detroit Race course, a thoroughbred race track.
 
50 years ago
August 23, 1972
Folmer Carlsen, Publisher
 
The Kasson Ladies’ Softball Team was the Champion of the Slow Pitch Tournament at Byron held Sunday August 20th. The Kasson team won three straight games, beating Kenyon 6 to 3, Mantorville 7 to 5, and Byron 10 to 5. Zeta Hawkins pitched the first game, and Charlotte Robinett pitched the next two. Good pitching and good defense was the key to the three wins. A three-run homer by Zeta Hawkins in the Mantorville game was the big hit for Kasson. This tournament closes out the season for the Kasson Ladies.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Syverson returned Thursday night from a three-week trip to England where they visited relatives and friends. They flew to London and from there travelled up to the Northeast to Durham, where Mrs. Syverson’s parents live. After spending a week there they travelled to the Southwest to Devon where they visited a sister and brother-in-law and then back to London before returning home.