A Look Back

10 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
Barring any unforeseen legalities or circumstances, a private not-for-profit business will call the Turtle Lake Schools home. Monday evening the Turtle Lake school board, amid a cloud of questions and concerns regarding the proposed venture, approved a partnership with Cumberland Memorial Hospital that will bring an expansion of the hospital’s physical therapy operation to the Turtle Lake school.
School board President Scott Westlund has said in recent meetings he is all for looking for new revenue generating ventures for the school, especially in today’s world of budget cuts and continued financial hardships the schools are facing. And newly hired Administrator, Cheryl Baker, voiced similar sentiments when she says she is selfish for Turtle Lake schools and realizes the school will get remodeling done within its walls at no cost to the district.
Team Sunshine Fitness participated in the MS Mud Run Saturday, September 10 at Trollhaugen Ski Resort in Dresser. Nearly 3000 participants raised more than $500,000 for Mud Run MS Twin Cities. Team Sunshine Fitness, of Turtle Lake, along with all the other teams raised donations to help raise awareness, fund vital MS research, and support programs and services for more than 10,000 people living with MS right here in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Team members included Jackie Dibble, Roxanne Peterson, Jenny Swenson, Alissa Coomer, Kelly Kahl and Caroline Peterson. Team Sunshine Fitness was able to raise $640 for the MS Society.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will hold a public information meeting to discuss the study underway for Hwy. 8 from 15th Street to the Hay River in Polk and Barron County. The purpose of the study is to identify the preferred route for a future 4-lane Hwy.8 from 15th Street to the Hay River. The study limits include the section of Hwy. 8 through Turtle Lake and Almena. A previous public information meeting presented four potential alternative routes for Hwy. 8. Alternatives also include the potential for rerouting Hwy. 63 in the Turtle Lake area.
The Frederic Viking made it a two team race at the top of the Small Lakeland Conference when they handed the Lakers their first loss of the season last Friday night on the home field. Joining the Vikings on top is Shell Lake, both 4-0. The Lakers and Northwood/Solon Springs follow with identical 3-1 records. Hunter Cardinal led the Laker rushers with 101 yards on 12 carries, including a 64-yarder. John Lahti had 38 yards on 19 carries and a score. Lahti was six of 17 passing for 68 yards but suffered four interceptions. Tanner Arnold was three of 8 with one interception. The Viking won the contest 21-6.
The Laker volleyball team remained undefeated in conference play as they pushed their conference record to 4-0, 8-4 overall, with a 3-0 win over the Northwood Evergreens on the home floor. The win gave the Lakers a half game lead in the conference with Cameron and Clayton sitting at 3-0. Toria Westlund led the Laker hitters with 15 kills. Ashley Lahti had 23 assists while Sam Hatleli hed the servers with 8 aces.

20 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 13, 2001
Due to incidents that have occurred in the eastern part of the United States, the Barron County Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Government officials have alerted all county government agencies, county police departments, county airports and are alerting Barron County citizens to be on heightened alert for any suspicious persons or activities that they may observe. Any activities of this nature are to be reported to the Barron County Sheriff’s Department.
In 2001 the goal for the third annual Turtle Lake In-Line Skate Race, being held Sunday, September 16, is to attract local skaters and top 50 skaters. Recreations and intermediate rollerbladers are enticed to enter by being offered a discount on entries.
The Turtle Lake Knights of Columbus was presented the Complete Council Award. To earn this award a Council must be active in church, community, council, family and youth programs. Besides being involved in all these areas the Council also had to show a growth in membership. Grand Knight Nick Cordes accepted the award from State Deputy of Wisconsin, Carl Templin, at their annual Diocese meeting.
The Laker gals opened their regular season play with a home win Tuesday, September 4 against the St. Croix Falls Saints, then traveled to Clear Lake where they earned a five game match, winning the final three games after being down two games to none.
The Laker football squad kept their season record unblemished last Friday night as they cooled the Cameron Comets 46-20 at home. The game could have easily been a shutout, but the Comets managed their trio of scores against the Laker reserves, who saw action the final minutes of the third and the entire fourth.

30 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 12, 1991
The Knights of Columbus Council 78489 of Turtle Lake will hold their monthly Pancake and French Toast Breakfast this Sunday, September 15, at St. Ann Center in Turtle Lake. In conjunction with the breakfast the Knights will also hold their Summer Fishing Contest Awards Program, beginning at 10:30 a.m. All contest winners and business representatives awarding the plaques will be guests of the Knights at the breakfast.
Junior Division award winners include Billy Molls – Bluegill; Jason Tempel – Crappie; Tony Gehrman – Perch; Christopher Hutchins – Bass; Justin Tempel – Walleye; April Polenec – Northern.
A large number of Turtle Lake area residents and summer residents turned out to extend their best wishes for a happy retirement to F.F. “Swede” Anderson at a retirement Picnic Sunday, September 1 in the Village Park. Following a delicious potluck dinner, John Warland, Chief of Police and Swede’s successor, spoke briefly on the changing role of a police officer through the years and also presented an appreciation plaque to Swede that held his original badge, “Chief” bars, and patch. He also thanked Swede on behalf of all attending and the community for his 19-plus years of service and extended best wishes for many happy years of retirement.
Quarterback Brian Thill completed 8 of 11 passes, including 2 touchdowns and Kurt Molls caught 3 passes for 15 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Lakers rolled over the Luck Cardinals 28-0. After a delay if 45 minutes due to the sharp lightening the football contest got underway at 8:15 p.m. on the Turtle Lake field.
The Laker volleyball girls stayed out front in the West Lakeland Conference with a win over the Prairie Farm Panthers on the home floor. The Lakers won the contest by scores of 15-1, 15-3 and 15-13.

40 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 17, 1981
A motorcycle driven by Lawrence N. Kennedy, Cameron, collided with a pickup driven by Ingeborg Rosebauer, Turtle Lake, at the intersection of Hwy. 8 and Poplar Street. Rosebauer was stopped for traffic at the intersection and as she proceeded to cross the highway was struck by the motorcycle. Both vehicles were extensively damaged. Rosebauer was not injured in the mishap while Kennedy received broken wrists.
The 1981 Turtle Lake High School Junior Class just recently completed the annual magazine sale and went over their goal of 400 subscriptions by selling over 560 subscriptions. Last year’s class, which was also a larger class, sold approximately 400 subscriptions.
Top salespersons were Sharron Tosland (top seller), John Fredrick, Carol Coulombe, Brenda Lunda, Debra Flettre, Diane Bussewitz, Tony Checkalski, Deanna Nelson, Ray Blechinger, Fred Anderson, Stacy Burhop and Debbie Niemann.
The Lakers’ non-conference football record fell to 0-2 when the Luck Cardinals squeezed out a 13-12 win at Turtle Lake. Leading the Laker ground game was Todd Henck with 28 yards. Tom Hanson was the leading receiver with 55 yards Dale Hellstern completed 9 of 17 passes for 53 yards.

50 YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 16, 1971
Last Friday night the Red Carpet opened with a new owner, Jimmie Messicci, from the Twin City area. Jimmie has been a performer and recording artist almost all of his life. He plays the accordion with electric organ and drum attachments. You could very well say he is a “one man” orchestra. Jimmie will have live music and dancing every Friday and Saturday night, and on Sunday afternoons starting at 3:00 p.m.
On Thursday, September 9, the Turtle Lake Chapter of the Future Homemakers of America held their first general meeting. The program of work for the year was presented. Jackie Gazdik was elected out of the freshman class as Parliamentarian for the 1971-72 year. She was installed into her office by retiring Parliamentarian Sue Gores and President Sue Flottum. Mrs. Arnold Flottum was chosen as our Chapter Mother for the coming year.
The 6th Annual 4-H Horse Show was held September 11 and 12 in Madison. Mark Koser, son of Ralph Koser, received the Grand Champion in Western Horsemanship. He was one of the top 10 selected in Championship Pleasure. This is an honor he has won for 2 years in a row.
The United Methodist Church is celebrating its 1st Anniversary of the new church building on Sunday, September 19th. In honor of the occasion the bishop, Rev. Ralph Taylor Alton will be the guest speaker at the morning worship hour, 10:30 a.m. A fellowship dinner will follow with all friends and members of the church invited for the service and dinner.
HIGHLIGHTS – Last Sunday we took advantage of our fine weather to take a final fling at the regular trout season for 1971. With Mrs. Lange in charge of picnic arrangements we loaded our grandchildren in the old family car and headed for the Sioux River near Washburn. We didn’t exceed any limits, however, Mike Slack now claims some sort of championship as he again caught the first trout on the Sioux. He had previously bested his grandpa on both the Brule and Flag River so now we’re looking for some stream where we might possibly prove experience does pay off. In the meantime Mike keeps on collecting dough for the first fish caught. HAL.