Excerpts from past Tracy newspapers
Sept. 13, 1956 — Enrollment of more pupils that anticipated in Joint Independent Consolidated School District 30 of Tracy necessitates adding another 42-passenger bus to the fleet of 15 school transport units, Supt. George Borneman announced early this week. A congested district south of Garvin, old district 98, and school district 42 reveals the need for another bus to transport 65 more pupils — in addition to those already being served. Bids on another bus will be received by the board of education Thursday, Sept. 20. In order to straighten out the transport problem. Superintendent Borneman said another route is being established east of Tracy and a larger unit is being dispatched to serve the area south of Garvin.
Sept. 17, 1966 — Friday was an eventful day at the beautiful new Christian Manor nursing home as the first residents were admitted following the previous day inspection and approval by the state department of health. Ten persons were admitted on Friday, with Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Hanson of Osage, Iowa, as one of the first registrants. One person was admitted Saturday and two each on Monday and Tuesday to make a total of 15 to date. Rev. Homer Dobson explained it was planned to admit residents gradually to give personnel the opportuntiy to cope with problems and make for a smoother operation in the various departments. The 67-bed nursing home staff numbers about 20 with Miss Eleanor Hewitt as supervisor of nurses. All three wings are now in use, with the south wing being utilized for the first time Tuesday.
Obituaries: Roy Williamson, Mrs. Claus Nicholson
Sept. 9, 1976 — Numerous merchandise specials and a drawing for gift certificates are featured at a three-day grand opening at the new Ben Franklin Store in Tracy. Store owner Ray Hlavka, who purchased the business, formerly Kirkpatrick’s Variety from Bruce Kirkpatrick in the spring, asks customers to refer to a special ad supplement inside this week’s Headlight. The store has gone under an extensive interior face-lift since Hlavka assumed ownership. “Every department has been changed and re-organized to make it more convenient for the customer to shop with ease,” Hlavka said.
Obituaries: Irene Nybo, Olaf Lindstrom, Harvey Downing, Arnold Kalass
Sept. 17, 1986 — Homecoming candidates have been selected at Tracy High School. They are: Julie West, Pam Nackerud, Peggy Reiter, Marcia Hannasch, Shari Heidebrink, Karl Campbell, Steve Mickelson, John Griffith, Tom Nelson and Richard Stanek. Seventhgrade crown bearer will be Jenni Dold.
Obituaries: Carl Peterson, Evelyn Sheets “Bing” Lang, Lucy Klein, Sylvia Holden
Sept. 11, 1996 — Jim Miller has been named the new executive director for Twin Circle Apartments. The Tracy Housing and Redevelopment Authority made the selection Monday, after interviewing three candidates. Ten people applied. In his new position, Miller will be responsible for collecting rents, renting apartments and keeping financial records for the 48unit Twin Circle Apartment complex. Miller, a 1972 graduate of Tracy High School, owns and operates James A. Miller Realty, which he opened last fall. Miller stressed that the real estate business would continue unchanged, except for an adjustment of hours.
Obituaries: Rick Arndt
Sept. 13, 2006 — A threeway mayoral race is set in Tracy this fall. First-term city council member Sandi Rettmer filed for the mayoral race just before the 5 p.m. Tuesday filing deadline. She joins Marv Van Acker and incumbent Mayor Steve Ferrazzano as mayoral candidates. Ferrazzano and Van Acker both filed earlier for the four-year term. Van Acker ran unsuccessfully against Ferrazzano for mayor four years ago. Ferrazzano is serving his first term as mayor.
Obituaries: Ruth Prouty, Ruth Rongstad
Sept. 14, 2016 — The City of Tracy and the Economic Development Authority now have a figure to plug into a state loan application for demolishing the former Masonic Temple building. Tara Onken, EDA coordinator, said last week that an area contractor has given a $290,000 preliminary estimate for razing the building, disposing of rubble, and restoring the lot with clean fill. The estimate was given after an on-site inspection of the building. “They couldn’t believe how well-built it was,” Onken said of the 1926, 22,000 square foot building. Some portions of the building were discovered to have poured concrete interior walls.
Obituaries: James Kragh
