Turning Back the Pages - Week of April 9

100 Years Ago (1926)

Robbers broke into the high school building last night and cracked the vault in the superintendent’s office. From the appearances, it was the work of local talent. However there was someone in the gang who knew how a combination lock was made and operated. They entered the building through the year. They evidently climbed the fire escape, threw  bolt through the window and unhooked the latch and raised the window. They entered the class room to the south of Supt. Hilliard’s office. They ransacked the manual training room for tools and evidently brought some sledges and bars with them. They also left old coats used to muffle the sound while pounding the combination of the vault door off. The robbers obtained about fifty dollars which belonged to the school funds collected by the pupils.

The Allen Furniture Company, which has been here for several years, has decided to close out their entire stock of furniture and rugs. Mr. Allen says everything goes including the store cat.

75 Years Ago (1951)

Photo: New city councilmen are pictured following their first meeting in the council chambers of the city hall. From left are H. R. Soper, councilman second ward; C. V. Kilgore, councilman-at-large; Ronald Prior, councilman first ward; Dr. L. F. Hoffman, councilman third ward and Frank Rodger, councilman-at-large. All of the men are serving their first term as council members.

Corwin Keith of Estherville has been named chairman of public information for the Emmet County Red Cross chapter, according to an announcement from the Red Cross Midwestern headquarters in St. Louis. Keith said he eels the Red Cross needs the support of everyone now more than ever before due to the tremendous job the organization is doing in Korea. He cited that the organization has turned over more than 175,000 pints of blood for Korean wounded and military, stockpiling since it was first called upon to supply blood to the armed forces in August.

50 Years Ago (1976)

Laura Kenney, postmaster of Dolliver, was recently elected Iowa State President of the National League of Postmasters at the state convention in Sioux City. Mrs. Kenney will be the state president for over 600 postal workers across the state of Iowa. Mrs. Kenney considers keeping open local post offices as a top priority and she is outspoken on the subject.

Lincoln Central Athletic Director Terry Koebernick resigned from all positions effective at the end of the current school year. Koebernick, who at one time or another has coached every sport at LC, has been with the school since 1969. This current school year, he coached the Hawk football team to a 4-5 record. He also coached the girls’ basketball team and is currently the coach of the girls’ track team. Last summer, he coached Lincoln Central to the State line conference baseball title and the first sectional title in the school’s history.

25 Years Ago (2001)

At the request of the Sweet Corn Daze Planning Committee, the Estherville Parks and Recreation board unanimously agreed to waive the “No bear” policy at Thoreson Park for two days in August. The committee is planning a two-day, 10 team softball tournament on Aug. 4-5. We want a fun tournament that competitive and for the whole family,” said Lyle Hevern.

Lakeland’s all-time girls scorer and rebounder will play for head coach Brian Radtke and the Iowa Lakes Community college women’s basketball team next season after signing a letter of intent this week. Brant scored 1,055 points and grabbed 897 rebounds over her four-year high school career at Lakeland. In the 2000-01 campaign the 6-foot senior scored 19.8 points and pulled down 12.2 rebounds per game. She also shot 58 percent from the field, making 143-of-243 and shot 67 percent from the free throw line, making 70-of-104..

20 Years Ago (2006)

Estherville Lincoln Central students were climbing the wall, literally, on Thursday. The local National Guard unit brought in a rock-climbing apparatus for ELC’s physical education classes. Sergeant Chad Jones said the device is often used as a recruiting tool. Students spent the day trying out the approximately 25-foot structure. Obviously, many students struggled to climb a few feet while the elite made it to the top where they hit a buzzer to announce their accomplishment.

The Emmet County Conservation Board reviewed possible sites for the planned nature center at Wolden Park on Thursday. While no final decision was made, board members gave preference to a spot near the eastern entrance of the park. Advantages of the spot include a view of High Lake, proximity to a prairie area as well as the lakeshore trail to Peterson Point Historic Farmstead.

15 Years Ago (2011)

A second Estherville Lincoln Central administrator will be leaving the district at the end of the school year. ELC middle school principal Mike Peterson has submitted his resignation, which the school board will act on at Monday’s meeting. Peterson’s resignation comes on the heels of superintendent Dick Magnuson’s retirement. In his resignation letter, Peterson said he has accepted a position as superintendent of Wapello community Schools.

Runners of all ages and abilities are invited to the first-ever Team Amy Run Saturday May 7. The race starts and finishes at the corner of North Seventh Street and First Avenue north. The race is in honor of Amy Jensen, standout Estherville Lincoln Central runner who passed away after a long and courageous battle against cancer. Amy’s mother, Terri Hanson, said Amy had told her she wanted any memorial money from her passing to go toward a youth center.

10 Years Ago (2016)

At its meeting Tuesday, the Emmet County Board of Supervisors approved costs of a new roof for the old armory building located on the Emmet County Fairgrounds. Steve Schomaker with the Emmet County Fair Board presented two bids for the roof. Supervisors approved the low bid of $36,000 from Opie’s Construction.

First-place finishes by Makayla Hardman and Olivia Marlow paced North Union to a fourth-place finish at the Spirit Lake Co-Ed Invitational on Tuesday. Hardman won the 100-meter dash in 13.75 seconds and Marlow won the 400-meter dash in 1:04.54. Hardman also had a second-place finish in the 200-meter dash in 28.80 seconds.