A Look Back at The Times
10 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 22, 2011
Sunshine Community Fitness is creating a Positive Thinking and Exhilerating Goal Networking Group. Meetings will be held the second and fourth Monday of every month beginning Monday, January 9, 2012, from 6-7:30 p.m. Group meetings will be held at Lake Country Pizza on Hwy. 8 & 63 in Turtle Lake. This is an opportunity to network with positive-minded people.
A group of local Lions traveled around the Village of Turtle Lake and surrounding area Wednesday, December 14 delivering fruit baskets to 185 homes. The baskets were filled with apples, grapes, bananas and pears, decorated with a Merry Christmas card. One of the homeowners told the Lions, “I am sp thankful for this and all the other things your club does.”
The Lakers ran their early season record to 3-1 overall, 3-0 in conference, with a 57-50 home win over the Prairie Farm Panthers last Thursday, December 15. Three Laker shooters hit double figures, led by Kyle Steffen’s 17. Tanner Arnold added 13 and Casey Catlin had 12.
The Laker gals picked up a pair of conference wins this past week as they rolled over Prairie Farm 65-13 and then traveled to Shell Lake for a 46-34 win. Ashley Lahti, needing 25 points to reach the 1000 point milestone, hit a jumper jst inside the left elbow to give here 26 for the game and 1,001 for her career. She is the third Laker gal to reach the milestone. Debbie Carlson and Kirstan Rouzer also reached 1000 points in their high school careers.
Local gymnast, Kirstan Keppen, age 7, finished as the All-Around Champion at the Woodbury Royals Gymnastics Meet Sunday, December 11. In addition to her all-around title, Kirstan earned first places in the floor, bars, vault, and finished fourth on the beam. Then, to cap the day off Kirstan also won the handstand contest for her age division.
20 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 20, 2001
A local Turtle Lake company, SCI Enclosures, formerly Hartzell Mfg., has merged with Sanmina Corporation of San Jose, California. These two leading electronics contract manufacturers announced the completion of the merger after receiving approval from the stockholders, including the change of Sanmina’s corporate name to Sanmina – SCI Corporation. The Turtle Lake plant was one of 52 locations with SCI Systems prior to this new merger and now becomes part of a group of approximately 120 locations worldwide.
Ten elementary students completed the 10,000 basketball shot program sponsored by the Turtle Lake Booster Club. Students receiving their trophies were Kyle Wick, Anna Braml, Kayla Scheps, David Sollman, Holly Raffesberger, Tim Flanagan, Mark Flanagan, Adam King, Daniel Gross and Nathan Roemhild.
After beginning the year with three losses, the Laker gals rebounded this past week with a pair of team effort wins against Frederic and Northwood. The double-digit wins were the first of the season for the gals and brings them to a game under even. Amanda Hamble led the fals with 17 points against Frederic. Steph Hanson added 12 and Ascia Leaf chipped in 11. Beth Soldner earned scoring honors against Northwood with 18. Amanda Hamble added 12 and Jamie Hoffman chipped in 10.
The Turtle Lake/Clayton wrestlers picked up dual meet wins over both Clear Lake and Flambeau in a triangular meet at Flambeau last Thursday night. Bob Popenhagen and Kenton Olsvig scored pins to lead the Lakers to a 42-22 win over Clear Lake. In the Flambeau dual Travis Yoder, Bob Popenhage, Mike Knight and Tomy Hellstern won by pin. Luke Paulson scored a 16-0 tech fall and Kenton Olsvig won by major decision, 16-6.
The Lakers dropped a six-point game to the St. Croix Falls Saints last Monday evening, rebounded with a four-point win over the Frederic Vikings last Tuesday, and then ran out of gas against a very good Northwood squad last Thursday to fall two games under .500 for the season thus far.
30 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 19, 1991
Named to the Large Lakeland All-Conference team were Brian Thill, 1st team defensive back; Todd Richter, 2nd team defensive end; Ben Seiser, 2nd team running back; Ryan Shortess, 1st team linebacker; Kurt Olsvig, 2nd team defensive line; Kurt Molls, 1st team split end; Chris Warland, 1st team defensive lineman and 2nd team offensive tackle; and Jamie Torgerson, 2nd team running back.
The Turtle Lake Lakers improved their non-conference record to 2-1 by defeating the Bruce Red Raiders at home on December 10 by a score of 52-39. Brian Thill paced the Lakers with 17 points. Todd Richter added 10.
Barron County snowmobile coordinator Jack Nedland announces the opening of the Barron County trail system as of Saturday, Deccember 14. Riders are urged to use caution on these trails as most segments are not groomed.
Jim Kasper of the Turtle Lake FFA Alumni presented a check to Pastor Tom Tarver for the Turtle Lake Food Pantry. Pastor Tarver also reported in addition to donations of food items, cash donations totaling $54.30 were received at the Ecumenical Service held Thanksgiving Eve.
40 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 24, 1981
State Treasurer Charles P. Smith, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, announced recently the disbursement of a state trust fund loan of $48,534.00 to the Village of Turtle Lake in Barron and Polk County for the laying of water mains. The trust funds were established at statehood and constitute revenues generated from the sale of land grant lands and from penal fines.
A Turtle Lake High School Senior, Bill Soldner, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Soldner of Turtle Lake, won first place in the Teen Division of the Polk County Sportsman’s Club annual Antler Contest, held in conjunction with the 1981 bow and gun deer hunting seasons. Bill’s entry, a 9 pt. rack, scored 107 points on an unofficial Boone & Crocket measurement.
Knights of Columbus of Turtle Lake sponsored “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest in Turtle Lake and Clayton Schools. The winners in grades 1 – 3 were: First place – Tim Curtis, Grade 3, Clayton. Second place – John Stahl, Grade 2, Clayton. Third Place – Megan Fredrick, Grade 2, Turtle Lake. Honorable Mention – Allison Black, Grade 2, Clayton. The winners in grades 4 – 6 were: First Place, Angie Fall, Grade 6, Clayton; Second Place – Tracey Pickard, Grade 5, Clayton; Third Place – Lori Fall, Grade 5, Clayton; Honorable Mention – Kondra Larson, Grade 5, Clayton.
Saturday, December 19, was the day of a huge wrestling tournament held at Barron. Wrestling action started at 11:00 a.m. and ended at 9:15 p.m. The only break during the day was a short 15 minute break in the evening. Wrestlers representing 16 different schools competed for the first place finish. Turtle Lake put up a good showing. Overall they placed 10th out of the 16 schools. Mark Carlson of Turtle Lake made it to the championship round. He placed second in the 185-pound weight class. Jim Palas (132) and Kevin Becker (119) both placed sixth in their weight classes.
The Turtle Lake Lakers played host to the Clear Lake Warriors Friday, December 18 and dropped a 57-51 decision on the home court. Only two players hit double figures. Mike Schradle hit for 28 points and Warrior Karl Klatt notched 32.
Behind a balanced team scoring the Lakerettes downed the Warriorettes 55-19 Thursday, December 17 on the home court. Sheri Hansen led the Lakerettes and all scorers with 12. Diane Bussewitz hit 9. Burns led Clear Lake with 11.
50 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 23, 1971
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Coleman, new owners of the former Big Loafer Bakery in Turtle Lake, decided to also change its name. Lake week they appealed to their friends and customers to suggest a new name. Mrs. James Wicklace was awarded a prize by Lois and Kenny Coleman for suggesting King Cole Bakery & Coffee Shop. There were several other entries with this same name, however, the entry of Mrs. Wicklace came in first.
The Turtle Lake Lakers were victimized by the Bruce Red Raiders last Friday night, dropping a 46 – 56 decision to the visiting team. Dan Tornio was the only man in double figures for the Lakers with 14 points as Bruce had three men in double figures.
A housing committee in Turtle Lake is starting work on submission of an application to the Barron County Housing Authority. As usual with all applications for housing, a need has to be documented showing that there are people, elderly and low-income families, in the area who would move in if such facilities were built. Also, are the people eligible under the income criteria? An example of an eligible family would be one earning less than $5200 for a family of four, and assets of less than $15,000.