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News from the week of July 12, 2000 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

 

Walnut Grove Pioneer Fest includes Civil War display, Laura look-a-like contest

The Walnut Grove Pioneer Festival kicks off two weekends of musical entertainment Saturday.

Times and dates for “Pioneer Festival 2000” are Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16; and Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23; from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. The festival is held on at the Wilder pageant site, a mile southwest of Walnut Grove.

A “Laura Look-a-Like” contest and a demonstration of Civil War artifacts are added Pioneer Fest attractions Saturday. Dave Doubler, Walnut Grove, will give a “Live-fire Civil War Artillery” demonstration and display at 1 and 3 p.m. The Laura Look-a-Like contest is at 3:30 p.m.


Wheels museum seeks additional volunteer hosts

Do you enjoy getting out and talking with people?

Was history one of your favorite subjects in school? Do you enjoy looking at antiques and collectibles? Does thinking about “good old days?” get your heart pumping? Would you like to learn about local history, and be able to share your knowledge to others?

If so, the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum has the perfect job for you.

The Tracy museum is looking for volunteers to help greet visitors and serve as museum guides. A free training session has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 18, 7 p.m., at the museum.


Tracy AFS students head home

On the front porch of the Jim and Mary Malmberg home hangs a small, wooden flag of white and blue, the flag of Finland. Above the flag is a sign bearing one simple word--“Welcome.”

Welcome is exactly what the Malmberg's AFS foreign exchange student, Noora Rasanen, felt soon after her arrival in Tracy last fall. After a year of life in America, Noora is heading home.

Rasanen isn't sure if she's ready to leave her American family or all of the friends she has made in Tracy.

“I don't know if I'm excited to go home,” says Noora. “I guess life will go on, but it will be different.”

Also heading for home this week is Madalena Seabra, a Portuguese student who spent the past year with the Tom and Joan Gervais family. She could not be reached for an interview prior to her departure.


Electric motor repair business opens in Downtown Tracy

“The fluorescent orange sign outside says it all,” smiles Brandon Peterson, owner and operator of Tracy's newest business, Pete's Electric Motor Repair. “It hurt my eyes to paint it!”

The sign announces the presence of Peterson's new business, located in the west side of the Hebig's Electric building on South Street.

The repair shop, which opened last Wednesday, is Peterson's first step out on his own. “I worked for somebody for a while after school, but then decided to go out on my own. I'm liking it so far,” said Peterson.


Tasseling time finds corn looking good

Whoever said corn should be "knee-high by the Fourth of July" must not have lived in Southwestern Minnesota. One week after the unofficial midpoint of summer, area corn isn't just well above th knees in many fields, it is beginning to tassel--and right on time says a local crop observer.

Bob Byrnes, Lyon County extension educator, says corn, for the most part, is right on track with past crops.

"The tasseling of corn in mid-July is right on schedule with crops of recent years. We may even be a little ahead of the average this year."

As corn tassels, farmers know that the plant has reached the midpoint of its maturity. Byrnes says, "Considering now the midpoint of the corn's maturity, the calculated date of full maturity would be the first or second week of September, right around Labor Day."


Roaring Lyons celebrate 50 years with weekend event

The Roaring Lyons Motorcycle Club of Amiret will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this weekend.

The celebration gets underway Saturday, July 15 at 2 p.m. All members and former members are invited.

The Roaring Lyons have over 40 local members. But former members from as far away as California are expected to come for this weekend's festivities.