News from the week of December 29, 1999Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Nothing drastic expected from Y2K computer bugs
Authorities take extra precautions New Year's Eve
Local authorities do not expect the much talked about "Y2K" computer issue to cause major problems when the New Year is rung in this weekend.
"I can not stress enough that we do not expect any major problems," comments Tracy Police Chief Bryan Hillger. "But we do want to be prepared in an emergency."
"We really don't expect any problems," said Lila Manguson of Tracy State Bank. Her bank, she said, has been preparing for Y2K for the past three years. "Everything has been tested and retested."
David Bau, University of Minnesota Extension Educator for Murray County, echoes similar sentiments.
"I'm confident that the New Year will come without major problems unless Mother Nature intervenes."
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The so-called Y2K problem stems from the decision made in the infancy of the computer industry, to use two-digits instead of four to denote dates. Two digits were used to conserve what was then very costly and bulky computer memory and storage. As a result, some older equipment using computer microchips could read the year 2000 as the year 1900 and fail. Newer equipment has been made to read four digits of a year and operate properly. Government entities and private industry have been working for several years to make sure that all older systems that rely on computer microchips and processors are updated and functioning properly when 1999 changes over to the year 2000. The New Year begins on Saturday.
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Utility companies have made extensive preparations for Y2K.
A statement from Northern States Power Company says that customers can expected reliable electrical service every day of the year—including Jan. 1, 2000. Company systems have been thoroughly tested.
"Our Year 2000 preparations take advantage of our reliable technology, while locating-reprogramming or replacing devices that could malfunction due to date logic that cannot handle the "00" in the date field."
NSP will have on hand more than double the normal megawatts of electricity needed for a New Year's day. Extra staff will be available for handle any problems.
"Our year 2000 goal is to make the probability of gas and electric disruptions due to Y2K no more likely than any other day."
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A statement from U.S. West says data and voice transmission services will not be affected "before, during, or after the rollover to the Year 2000."
The company states:
"We have taken thorough and speedy action to enable time-sensitive business processes to operation without failure into the Year 200. We intend to continue offering uninterrupted communications services to our customers, regardless of year, century, or millennium."
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Authorities suggest that people should prepare for Y2K as they would a winter storm. The President's Council on Year 2000 conversion suggests having adequate clothing, tools and supplies, flashlights, batteries, a battery-powered radio , a first-aid kit and a three-day supply of drinking water and food supplies on hand.
As a precautionary measure in Tracy, all police, street department, and city hall personnel will be on duty at 10 p.m. New Year's Eve. Fire and ambulance personnel will be on standby. Tracy City Hall and the Prairie Pavilion will be open during the roll-over from 1999 to 200. The Pavilion, the Public Works building and the Tracy Fire Hall, all have back-up generators, so they would have lights and heat in the event of a power outage. In an outage, people are invited to go to the Pavilion.
Home-purchase program offers no interest loan
• Families unable to otherwise buy own home targeted
Do you want to own your own home, but are held back by:
• Low income;
• Past credit problems;
• No down payment money?
If so, Western Community Action, Inc. and the Tracy Economic Development Authority may have a program for you.
Western Communication Action has just over $100,000 available to purchase and rehabilitate two homes in Tracy. Houses will then be sold on a contract for deed, with no interest, to eligible families. Monthly payments will be based on 25% of gross annual income. The payment is to include principal, property taxes and homeowners insurance.
Jill Houseman, housing coordinator for Western Community Action, said plans are to purchase two Tracy houses, for $30,000 each or less, and then invest necessary improvements into the house. The property would then be sold to an eligible buyer. The program is designed to assist families who could not otherwise afford to purchase a home due to past credit problems, lack of down payment or inability to find an affordable house.
To be eligible for the program, prospective home buyers must:
• Be a first-time home buyer. This is defined as not having owned a house in the past three years, or being a displaced homemaker or single parent.
• Be an "at risk" home-buyer (homeless, receiving public assistance or otherwise unable to afford home ownership.
• Agree to abide by a good neighbor police.
• Attend a six-hour home buyer training program.
• Not exceed income buildings.
Income qualifications are based on a sliding scale. For example, single person can not earn more than $23,300. A family of two can have gross earnings of up to $26,600. A family of four can make no more than $33,300. The limit for a family of six is $38,600.
For more information, Houseman can be contacted at 1-800-658-2448, extension 136. In Tracy, people can contact Con Rettmer, Tracy Economic Development director; Pastor Edsel Miller or Alda Mae Brewster.
Funding for the program is coming from Western Community Action. The City of Tracy has agreed to sponsor the program in Tracy.
City property tax levy hike to be smaller than truth-in-taxation figures
The Year 2000 property tax finalized this month by Tracy City Council members is 5.5% higher than the city's 1999 levy.
The levy increases spending much less than a preliminary levy and budget approved by council members in September. That levy, which was used to calculate the figures on "truth-in-taxation" statements mailed to property owners last week, called for a 9.3% increase.
Next year's $405,515 property tax levy has three parts: debt service, $246,336; permanent improvement, $10,000 and general fund, $149,178.
The debt service fund, set to increase 4.9% from this year, goes to pay principle and interest on debt the city has taken out to finance street improvement projects since 1988. The permanent improvement fund, which is the same as last year, is used for small, unexpected projects that may come up during the year. The general fund levy, which shows a 7% increase from this year, is used for general government expenses.
Farewell to the 1900s
Tracy on the brink of a new century
In the grand sweep of history, the passing of 100 years is little more than an eye blink. Yet the passing of the last year in the 1900s makes us pause and take notice. For in the minds of most, the clickover from 1999 to the year 2000 is the beginning of a new century and a new millennium. Whether the new century really begins on Jan. 1, 2000 or 2001 matters little. A new era is beginning.
The sameness and strangeness of the past fascinates as we look back. We wonder about the people who have preceded us, and those unborn generations who will follow.
Snapshots of Tracy life over the past 100 years, as recorded in local newspaper columns, appear below. Some items describe major life-changing events, others are only interesting happenings. Many important events aren't mentioned at all. This is not a complete chronicle of the 1900s. No attempt was made to select the most important news events of the past 100 years. The intent is only to provide a only a short slide show about this small corner of the world during the 1900s.
Louwagie to represent Lyon County
Lyon County Farm Bureau member Tim Louwagie was selected as a 1999 representative of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Farmer Idea Exchange. He will receive an expense-paid trip to the AFBF annual meeting in Houston, Texas in January. His invention, the 'Dairy Friendly Tire Waterer,' will be highlighted at the AFBF "Showcase" where he will compete for national honors.
Louwagie converted a large mining-type tire to a waterer, which is compatible to large animal livestock operations. The concept is useful anywhere that a nonsiphoning design is desired and where freezing or below freezing temperatures exist for an extended interval. The tire waterer saves an estimated $15-45 per month depending on weather conditions with additional savings on maintenance costs.
"I'm really looking forward to going to the AFBF meeting in Houston with my wife, Kim," said Louwagie. "It is an honor and pleasure to represent Minnesota."
Son receives dad's flag
A St. James man received a special gift this summer - the flag that had been draped over his father's casket 50 years ago
Roger Johnson was just two years old when his father, Alro Johnson, serving in the United States armed forces, was killed on Okinawa on april 30, 1945 during World War II. Then his body was returned to the United States in 1949, an American flag covered the casket. The flag was given to Alro's mother, Nettie Johnson.
This summer, the flag was given to Roger and his mother, Opal (Johnson) Horsman of Tracy. Roger thought his mother should have the flag, but Opal insisted that Roger should keep it so he could passit on to his children.
Opal Johnson remarried after Alro's death in World War II. On June 13, 1968, she and her second husband, the late Glen Horsman, lost all theier possessions in a tornado that destroyed their farm home southwest of Tracy. Mrs. Horsman, who works at GH Plumbing & Heating, now lives in Tracy.