Excerpts from past Tracy newspapers
Feb. 16, 1956 — Robert B. Whipple, former Tracy resident and graduate of the local high school, will be honored Saturday to receive the first Thomas F. Burnhart Memorial scholarship in the University of of Minnesota school of Journalism. Selection was made by a committee of the Minnesota Editorial association and the School of Journalism faculty. The coveted award to “Bob,”third generation of a weekly newspaper family, will be made during the annual convention of the editorial association at which Mr. and Mrs. Vic Keul of this newspaper will be represented this weekend at Lowry hotel, St. Paul.
Obituaries: Thomas Nelson, Nellie Jones, Mthaias Hofstader
Feb. 17, 1966 — Fire early yesterday morning destroyed a large chicken-hog shed on the Howard Klein farm two and one-half miles southeast of Milroy. Lost also in the blaze, discovered by Mr. Klein about 7:45 a.m. while doing chores, were 25 small pigs and about 40 laying hens. Three sows and five small pigs were saved. The Milroy fire department first was called, and later the Lucan department was summoned to help control and prevent spread of the fire to other farm buildings.
Obituaries: Mrs. A.J. Zender, Rebecca Jo Onken, Anna A. Bach
Feb. 12, 1976 — A new public works director was hired and three pieces of snow removal equipment were purchased Monday night by the Tracy City Council but only after careful debate and some unusually tight voting. Donald Polzine, 32, a member of the city water department at Worthington for the past nine years, was hired as the public works director, a position which combines the duties of the late Emil Paul (water superintendent) and one of street commissioner.
Obituaries: Mabel Jones, Melvin Klasse Feb. 18, 1986 — The city of Garvin has completed its switch to the rural water system. Ninety meters were installed, with 65 on the line at the present time. According to Mayor Jim Julien, everyone who now has rural water is very glad they are hooked up. “Taste is no problem to get used to, we sure like it.” He reported there were only two people in the town who didn’t hook up to the water. The better water was needed in the area for a long time. The rural water system was put in through a grant. However, to get the rural water into the town of Garvin, the residents had to assume the cost of 11 miles of line. This cost is being paid by an increase in taxes.
Obituaries: Clifford Strand, Charles Smith, Mabel Parcells, Jay Kirk, Irving Hippe
Feb. 14, 1996 — Katherine Lien feels something special has happened in her life. She was recently blessed by Pope John Paul II. “I was the only one in our group who he blessed. I guess he thought I needed it or something,” said the Tracy woman. Lien went on a tour to Rome and the Holy Land with a group of 30 people from Minnesota. They were given an audience with the Pope at the Vatican. “I went forward with a group of people and we all attempted to kiss his hand. I kissed his hand and called him Your Highness. He reached out and put a hand on my forehead and blessed me,” Mrs, Lien recalled. “I cried tears of joy. I was overwhelmed.”
Obituaries: Wyman Tadd, Charlotte Saxhaug, Simon Sanderson
Feb. 15, 2006 — After a six-week absence, a Postal Service collection box is back in Garvin. The Postal Service — citing low mail volume — removed Garvin’s only community mailbox on Dec. 22. But after a flurry of protests from business owners and town residents, the Postal Service returned the collection box to Garvin on Feb. 3. Garvin people are pleased. “It’s important to a small town, to have a secure place to mail a letter,” said Kathy Schmidt, of Kathy’s Cut & Curl Beauty Shop. “We’re happy to have it back,” said Jan Bornitz of the Bornitz Financial Service office in Garvin. “We just want to make sure that it stays where it is.”
Obituaries: Robert Danielowski, Sr., Grace Osland
Feb. 17, 2016 — The First United Methodist Church of Tracy is looking for a new minister. Pastor Craig Haberman, who has served the congregation since the summer of 2010, has been appointed to serve as the interim pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Alexandria beginning April 15. He will deliver his farewell sermon in Tracy on April 10. The Tracy clergyman says he has enjoyed his years in Tracy.
Obituaries: Arolene Olson, Myron Buetow
