Remember When

Excerpts from past Tracy newspapers Oct. 4, 1956 — Tricounty folks bought — and presumably ate — a lot of peanuts Saturday during their visits to Tracy. No one counted the peanuts, but the proceeds of the sale sponsored by the Tracy Kiwanis club, was reported to have been $225. The Kiwanis Kids’ Day is nation-wide promotion, with the funds going for some worthy cause for America’s children. Here, the Kiwanians had dedicated the proceeds of the sale to the new playfield In Greenwood, and the money will go for the purchase of equipment to be used there. According to Arvid Carlson, sales chairman for the Kiwanis club, the response was excellent. The Kiwanians had been optimistic in their peanut purchases, Mr. Carlson said. But by Saturday night’, the “all sold” sign was hung out. Grading and leveling operations were recently started at the area in Greenwood where the playfield and picnic area will be located. Equipment will be purchased during the winter months, and will be installed for use during the coming summer.

Obituaries: Leo Polaschek

Oct. 6, 1966 — “One Gift Works Many Wonders” is the slogan for the Tracy Community Chest campaign that opens today to raise $7,000 for 24 worthwhile participating charitable agencies and for local charities and community recreational services. Final plans for the all-in-one drive were outlined to 16 zone and group leaders by Drive Co-Chairmen Marlin Meyer and Wayne Giese at an organizational “pep rally” held Thursday evening in the bank’s community room. Meyer briefed zone chairmen about the campaign, emphasizing the importance that donors be asked to increase their donations a small amount over last year in order to attain the realistic quota established for the many agencies.

Obituaries: Beryl Haycraft, Olga Rolland

Sept. 30, 1976 — A stern statement was issued this week by Tracy Fire Chief Lloyd (Bud) Whaley to persons who call the Tracy Dispatch Center to ask the location of a fire. Whaley said the center was flooded with many unnecessary calls Saturday evening when an alarm was turned in on a barn fire at the Walter Westphal farm near Amiret. While some calls were made to actually report the fire, most were what officials consider “nuisance” calls by persons asking the fire location. “We don’t need help from these people,” Whaley said. “They should not call the dispatchers because they are too busy.” Whaley said there were so many calls that the regular dispatcher had lo call for back-up help in order to adequately handle both the telephone and radio traffic.

Obituaries: Henry Sorbel, Jennifer Graf, Ralph Sheets

Oct. 8, 1986 — Milroy Public School’s Bonnie Doyle was honored recently by being named a semi-finalist in the Minnesota Teachers of the Year contest. “I love working in the library. It gives me the chance to work with the students individually, teaching them skills in using a library, and learning to be comfortable using the library,” she explained.

Obituaries: Rosella Keul, Florence Meyer, Mabel Nelson

Oct. 2, 1996 — The former Brix Drug building in Downtown Tracy became even emptier last week, following an auction to sell store fixtures. The 4,240 square-foot store had already been bared of its merchandise, in a going out-of-business sale that began last April. The store closed in May. “It’s hard to see it go.” said retired pharmacist Chuck Friberg, who operated Brix Drug, with his wife, Peggy, for 29 years. “We had hoped that we would be able to turn the store over to someone else.” Efforts to attract another drug store operation for the building have been unsuccessful. Friberg said that he hung onto the store fixtures over the summer in hopes that it would make it easier for another drug store, or retail operation, to move into the building.

Obituaries: Elisa VanDeWiele, Irene Wieme

Oct. 4, 2006 — A new pastor will be installed at Tracy Lutheran Church Sunday. Rev. Elton Jorde, 50, comes to Tracy from McIntosh, where he has served for the past seven years. He and his wife, Karen, have two high school age daughters: Rachel and Elisabeth. “It’s good to be here,” Pastor Jorde said early this week. “I’m looking forward to getting started.” The clergyman was introduced to Tracy Lutheran members Sunday. He delivered his farewell sermon in McIntosh on Sept. 24.

Obituaries: Lois Rodriquez, Bernice Bergman, Lorraine Meyer

Oct. 5, 2016 — Prairie View Senior Living celebrated its 50th aniversary Thursday, by serving a community dinner to 150 people. Prairie View had its start with the opening of the Christian Manor in 1966. Pastor Homer Dobson, the original administrator of the Christian Manor, was invited to give an invocation.

Obituaries: Janice Dunk