10 years ago

PRESCOTT JOURNAL August 30, 2012 Early Deadline for next Journal The deadline for the September 6, 2012 edition of the Prescott Journal will be 2 p.m. Friday Aug. 31 because of the Labor Day holiday.

Thank you and have a safe and happy Labor Day!

Prescott Restaurants celebrate a year in business, thrive in spite of difficult economy by Louis Garcia It’s not a secret: the economy isn’t strong right now, people lose their jobs at an alarming rate, and the country is trying to slowly recover.

Despite all that, business owners in Prescott have been able to do just fine in the economic climate. In fact, two businesses have just reached the one-year mark this summer, and business is great.

“I knew opening right now wouldn’t be the best time to do it, but I assumed that if I could open up and keep my head above water while the economy flops itself back around-because it has to-then I’m already sitting on the other side of the fence I’m already an established business,” Aaron Wolf, owner and chef at Café Two14 said. “In four or five years when the economy bounces back around, and everybody starts up businesses, I’m already five years old, I’m already ahead of the game on that. And if the economy doesn’t switch around and we fall into an all-out depression, we’re all kind of in the same boat anyway.”

Letter to the Editor Pretty Prescott This letter to the editor is words of thankfulness for all the folks who help keep our community looking it’s very best.

I’m so proud to be from Prescott! Please take a minute to stop and thank the people who faithfully water the hanging plants daily.

Also, thanks to the wonderful people who donated the baskets.

The pink flowers and green sweet potato vines are stunning.

Also thanks for the CAP committee for caring for the huge flower pots around town.

Thanks also to the folks who keep the riverside clean and picked up, the folks that painted the gear house steps this summer and so many people who daily attempt to keep our community clean and beautiful.

Thanks to all the Welcome and Heritage board members who kept the center open all summer to make people, traveling through the area, feel welcome.

Thanks to the Chamber who keep the Welcome and Heritage Center open during the week.

Each of us contributing in some small way gives this community a place of beauty and makes me proud to call Prescott my home.

Thanks to Jerry Voje who keeps the clock in the clock tower up to the minute.

And thanks to anyone I’ve forgotten, blessings to all of you for everything you do to make our community welcoming to everyone.

Sincerely, Sally West 25 years ago PRESCOTT JOURNAL “Where the St. Croix Meets the Mississippi” August 7, 1997 Finding the medallion back in 1997 were Jacob and Lauren Ptacek, pictured on the front page with Jayne Brand of M& I Community State Bank, who presented a $200 check for finding the Medallion. This was the second time in a row that Jacob and Lauren had found the Medallion, also finding the 1996 Medal lion with their cousin Nick Ptacek. As it turned out, the Medallion was hidden under a wooden swing in Sunset Park.

Meanwhile with a fixed state budget and only three classrooms, the average class size at Malone Elementary for 1997-1998 was 30.3 students per class, some 20 percent over the desired size of 24 to 25 students per class. “All our rooms are full,” Malone Principal Scott Halverson said in the article by R. E. Herman. “There are no vacant rooms.” With the state budget set, school board members were tasked with finding a solution to the problem, another teacher projected to cost $45,000.

Finally in less-than-ideal news, the Journal reported that a number of Ellsworth and Prescott youth had been cited for underage drinking as part of the aftermath of a drinking party busted by the cops. One young person had tried and failed to flee officers through a cornfield, with Ellsworth’s finest in host pursuit. With eight citations issued at press time, more action was expected from the county district attorney’s office “sometime in the near future,” it was reported by R. E. Herman.

40 years ago PIERCE COUNTY HERALD September 2, 1982 Marriages: Stacy Jo Larson to Scott Crownhart Kay Brookshaw to James Aho Reported in an article by Blythe Bjerkeset, 18-year-old Karyl Lee Freier of Bay City had earned her pilot’s license. Instructed by Jim Cushing, Freier was reported to be one of the youngest pilots in the country, her parents paying $2,600 for the lessons considered as part of her “college education.”

Prior to obtaining her license, Freier had to fly solo on a three-leg trip, flying to Fairmount, Minnesota, Waterloo, Iowa, and back to Red Wing Airport. Freier would have to renew her license every two years, having learned to fly in a rented Cessna 172. A commercial license, meanwhile, would mean Freier could fly passengers for profit, something she was reportedly looking into.

55 years ago RIVER FALLS JOURNAL September 7, 1967 Starting the first week of September some 55 years ago, the Wisconsin State University at River Falls (WSU-RF) was set to open with an estimated enrollment of near 4,000 students, with 2,400 already registered as of Tuesday at North Hall.

As to lower-tiered education, the numbers were fluctuating, with a rise of 36 in the K – 6 grades for 951 total elementary enrollment, a drop of 18 in middle school for 343 students, and a rise of three students to 467 for senior high, defined as grades 10 thru 12.

As to other educational options, the Ames Lab School for K through 9 had a total enrollment of 265 students, while St. Bridget’s had 306 students spread out over Kindergarten to eighth grade.

Last but not least, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Kohl were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at Ezekiel Lutheran Church, while Lutheran youth had just returned from Holden Village in Chelan Washington, a retreat owned jointly by a trio of Lutheran synods: the American Lutheran Church (ALC), Lutheran Church in American (LCA) and Lutheran Church –

Missouri Synod. The first two bodies would lat er merge two decades later to form the ELCA, or Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

70 years ago RIVER FALLS JOURNAL September 4, 1952 Coming in for note some 70 years ago, one Lawrence C. of St. Paul was sitting in the county jail at Pierce after reportedly smashing a car window at Prescott.

The motorist just 25 years old, had a breakdown while en route from New Hampshire to the Twin Cities. Throwing a bottle at his own vehicle after it failed to fix, the bottle instead went through the large window of Pure Oil station, resulting in trouble with the law. All told, Lawrence’s relatives were trying to raise a reported $180 while he sat in lockup, of which $36.66 pertained to a fine, and $135 to restitution for the window smashed. Meanwhile and representing a change long-term, the Public Service Commission had received a request from the railroad to stop mail drops at Prescott, the intention to make these drops only at La Crosse and Prairie du Chien.

With a public hearing on the matter scheduled at the courthouse September 19, the paper noted that it came at a poor time for the citizen’s peace of mind, the interstate bridge being closed for repairs as well.

115 years ago RIVER FALLS JOURNAL September 5, 1907 How it works.

In viewing the effects of the little tornado that tore things loose on the 18th last month. One will see the wind did not accomplish these results by a straight pull against obstacles in its path. It is evident that the wind was definitely cyclonic, or whirling swiftly on a vertical axis moving forward…Reflection shows that the

vertical pressure at the center of the cyclone will be different from that at the margin, so that coming suddenly upon the Lutheran church, for instance, the release of pressure on the outside of the church would result in the inside air’s forcing the shingles ou, as actually took place, just as the tea-kettle lid is forced off when steam pressure within exceeds air pressure from without.

160 years ago PRESCOTT JOURNAL September 3, 1862 Local News.

Rumor says our county seat might soon be moved to Prescott, not by a vote of the people, but by an act; not an “enabling act”-that was tried and failed; not by any act of the Legislature-it would not budge for that; but by an act, real or imagined, of the Chippewas.

The Indian Scare The ridiculous Indian excitement in the county is over. The massacre in Minnesota is a frightful thing, but the idea of danger in Pierce County was too preposterous to be entertained. The event of the excitement in Pierce County was a stampede from Beldenville to River Falls, while not an Indian was within 50 miles. A correspondent sends us a description from which we can take only an extract.

It was a ridiculous sight to see Beldenville marshal its forces and march to River Falls Stronghold. The forces consisted of ox teams laden with stoves, kettles, pork, potatoes, women and children too numerous to mention, trunks, bundles of bed clothes, and three men. Beldenville is a deserted city.

(Note: More on this time is available at www.usdakotawar.org. The panic described was not limited to Beldenville or Pierce County, with events outpacing understanding).