Excerpts from past Tracy newspapers
May 19, 1966 — Work is progressing steadily on construction of the new Garvin Corners service station and cafe being built by John Visker. Overall size of the concrete block building is 24x75 feet. The two-stall service room walls and roof are up. The office is to be located between the stalls and 24x24 restaurant on the west side. Visker said earlier this week that the old station will be moved to rear of the lot and south of the new station and be remodeled as living quarters for John Bruns, station operator. Underground tanks, hoist and pumps probably will be installed next week.
Obituaries: Lawrence Larson
May 17, 1956 — An evening hunting excursion by two Walnut Grove schoolboys ended in death Tuesday. Arion Liebl, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Liebl, was killed instantly by a bullet from a .22 pistol belonging to Joseph Friend, 16, son of Mrs. Donald Friend of Walnut Grove. W. A. Brand, Redwood county coroner, said Wednesday that he and other investigating officials had agreed that the death was accidental. According to reports, the two boys took the pistol and went out about 6:30 p. m. Tuesday to hunt pigeons southwest of town. Friend was reportedly aiming the gun and steadying it on a fence post when Liebl, standing behind him, saw a flock of pigeons approaching and shouted “Here come some.” When Friend whirled around, his sleeve caught in the barbed wire fence, causing him to accidentally fire the gun. The bullet struck Liebl in the heart. Friend ran about a quarter-mile back to town and went to the home of W. C. Ferguson, Walnut Grove doctor. Ferguson was not home, so he went to James Sawyer, a dentist. Sawyer accompanied the boy back to the scene, then returned and notified authorities. Dr. R. R. Remsberg of Tracy was called. He said the boy probably died within two or three minutes after being shot.
Obituaries: Charles Deal, Joseph Seltz
May 13, 1976 — In approximately 25 minutes Monday evening, principal’s secretary Mary Jo Olson resigned from her position and told the Walnut Grove School Board its school system “is badly in need of change.” A crowd estimated at 150 persons turned out at Monday’s regular board meeting, coming by special invitation from Olson who announced by letter plans of resignation and her reasons. “My experience working under this administration for the past two years has proved to me that this system is no longer serving the best interests of the students (grades 7-12) of Walnut Grove High School,” Mrs. Olson said in her letter of resignation. “I refuse to contribute to this situation in any way.”
Obituaries: Herman Fischer, Walter Anderson
May 21, 1986 — Brad Salmon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Salmon, was named valedictorian and Jim Eischens, son of Mr. and Mrs. Omar Eischens, was named salutatorian of the Class of 1986 at Senior Award Day ceremonies in the high school auditorium last week. In addition, others honored for ranking in the top ten percent academically of the 86-member class were: Jill Richardson, Jim West, Leann Richardson, Mark Peterson, Brenda Hamilton, and Kris Krueger.
Obituaries: Rose Hansen, Arlene Purdy, Rose Ourada, Lincoln Anderson
May 15, 1996 — The City of Tracy is proceeding with legal action against about 30 property owners who are alleged to have violated the city’s nuisance ordinance. The apparent violations range from debris scattered around yards to unlicensed vehicles. The Tracy City Council will conduct a public hearing on the alleged violations May 24. At the hearing, council members will consider evidence collected by the Tracy Police Department.
Obituaries: John Mariner, Ella Thorson, Beatrice Deslauriers, Phyllis Winger, Mae Christensen
May 17, 2006 — Crossroads College in Rochester has honored a retired Tracy pastor. College officials dedicated Homer Dobson Hall on May 5. “Homer has been a longtime supporter of the college and our mission,” said Michael Benson, Crossroads College president. “Our board of trustees felt it was fitting to honor him in this way.” Benson said that Dobson’s support for the college goes back “many years.” Pastor Dobson, who retired as the pastor at the Tracy Church of Christ in 2001, said he felt honored by the college, but added that he preferred to keep a low profile Obituaries: Jeanne Gervais, Larry Hyatt
