A Look Back At The Times

10 YEARS AGO

FEBRUARY 21, 2013

A Public Hearing was held Monday night prior to the regular Village Board meeting to discuss applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to help defray costs of the new well being drilled at the Hartzell Softball Field parking lot. The new well is being drilled and hopefully developed because the prior well developed extremely high arsenic levels and also contained sand issued. It is hoped a new method of drilling, along with deeper drilling, will alleviate both issues in the new well.

Community support is one of the things that makes the School District of Turtle Lake such a great place for students and staff. One of the Village of Turtle Lake businesses, Turtle Lake Physical Therapy, has been a great supporter of the school with their donations to the BackPack Program, participating in the Health Fairs, and a number of other activities. Recently, they collected hats, mittens, gloves, socks, and classroom supplies for the elementary students in need, items that have been in great demand this year. The administration, staff and students would like to thank Turtle Lake Physical Therapy for all their donations. Presenting the donations from Turtle Lake Physical Therapy were Tina Siebert, Melissa Waytasnek and Krista Anderson.

In today’s society there are still good samaritan’s out there, and one of them strolled into Lake Country Pizza in Turtle Lake recently. According to Jane Schradle, owner of Lake Country Pizza, on Sunday, February 10th a gentleman patronized the restaurant and ordered a single order of spaghetti to go. While waiting for his order the gentleman questioned the purpose of the tip jar that says “College Fund”. He asked how many of Lake Country Pizza employees attend college. When told four, he left a very generous tip of $400.00 and was on his way. No strings attached.

After sneaking past the Cameron Comets, 60-58, on Tuesday, February 12 the Lakers entertained the Clayton Bears last Friday for their regular season finale. The two teams previously met January 17th with the Bears pulling out a two-point, 46-44, overtime win after Zach Schradle sank a pair of freethrows with 3.2 seconds to go giving the Lakers their first conference loss of the season. This game would not be a repeat as the Bears took charge midway through the third quarter and cruised to a 45-27 win and sole possession of the conference crown. Casey Catlin led the Lakers with 8 points. John Lahti added 6.

After suffering a one-point loss in the final seconds of their first meeting with the Clayton Bears the Laker gals were looking to avenge the previous outcome. After playing to a 10-10 halftime score the Lakers were outscored 12-1 in the third quarter as the Bears rolled to a 33-17 win last Friday night on the Lakers’ home floor. Mariah Dietrich led the Lakers with 8. Kim Martin added 6.

 

20 YEARS AGO

FEBRUARY 20, 2003

Last Wednesday afternoon a group of snowmobilers passed through Turtle Lake on an annual trek north. Thirteen sleds from the Knapp Valley Riders, out of Knapp, Wisconsin, were on their way to. Port Wing, on the shores of Laker Superior. What made this group interesting was their snowmobiles, all from about 1970-72. The assortment of rides included Arctic Cat, Rupp, Massey-Ferguson, Scorpion, Johnson, Polaris, Yamaha and Northway. This annual trip usually includes 25 to 28 riders, but because of other commitments some of the members couldn’t make it.

After receiving the honor of becoming the 2002-03 Queen of the Lakes and Snows, one of the more interesting trips the queen gets to make is to the St. Paul Winter Carnival held in January. This year’s queen, Amber Scheps, had the opportunity and although the temperatures were the coldest they have been in quite some time, Amber reportedly had a great time.

Mark Wick, Bank of Turtle Lake representative, presented a donation in the amount of $1,000.00 to Turtle Lake Fire Chief Al Gabe for the purchase of two ice and cold water rescue suits. These suits are a one-piece suit of closed-cell neoprene and provide optimum buoyancy and insulation and are designed for rescue operations in extreme cold water and ice conditions. Equipped with face seal flaps, attached gloves and waterproof zipper and sealed seams, these suits cost approximately $400.00 apiece.

Kenton Olsvig was a regional champion at 130 lbs. and Luke Paulson (119), Lance Hougdahl (125) and Gabe Stoppelmoor (135) each finished second to qualify for the Somerset Sectional next Saturday. Bryant Rouzer (103) and Patrick O’Connell (152) each finished third. Tony Hellstern (140) and Matt Hjelle (160) were fourth and Logan Paulson (112), Nathan Flottum (145) and Alan Broker (189) each placed fifth for the Lakers.

A busy week last week resulted in a single win and a pair of losses for the Laker gals as they try to get tuned up for the upcoming tournaments. Against non-conference for, Cumberland, the gals watched a slow first half spell their demise as they dropped a twenty-one point contest to the Beavers. The girls rebounded on Tuesday night at home with a convincing 73-27 win over the Frederic Vikings. Then on Thursday the girls headed to Clayton but ran out of steam, dropping the game 54-40. In the win against Frederic Steph Hanson led all scorers with 17. Amanda Hamble added 15, Acsia Leaf had 11 and Beth Soldner chipped in 10.

The Lakers were on the road to Clayton and Clear Lake this past week and were handed a pair of huge losses as the winless streak continues. On Thursday the guys traveled to top-ranked Clayton and were handed a 69-14 defeat. The Lakers then traveled to Clear Lake on Friday night and another dismal performance led to a huge double-digit loss as the Warriors handed it to the Lakers, 66-16. Nate Warner led the Lakers with 8 against Clayton while Josh Orf led the way against Clear Lake with 5.

 

30 YEARS AGO

FEBRUARY 18, 1993

Officers of the Turtle Lake Police Department and the Barron County Sheriff’s Department were called to the Holiday Stationstore in Turtle Lake late last Thursday afternoon after being notified on an attempted hold-up and shooting in the station’s parking lot. Woodrow Bitney, 75, of Shell Lake, entered the station to report he had been shot in a robbery attempt. Officers at the scene did recover a spent .38 caliber bullet that was lodged in the door of the victim’s car as well as a glove reported to have been dropped by the robber.

A total of 105 Village of Turtle Lake resients turned out to express their choice of candidates, whose names will be placed on the Spring Election ballot for the position of Village President. Candidates seeking the position and the votes they received were: LeRoy Anderson – 21; James Braastad – 37; and Dennis Zemke – 41. James Braastad and Dennis Zenke will have their names placed on the ballot for the April election.

Jesse Hoff (103) defeated Steve Antczak of Cameron by a score of 5-4 to claim the Regional Championship on Saturday. Antczak had beaten Hoff in overtime in both the dual meet and in the conference finals. Kurt Olsvig (135) and Ryan Shortess (145) also won regional championships, both by pinning their way through the tournament. All first and second place wrestlers from the regional advance to the sectional tournament next Saturday at Somerset.

The Laker girls basketball team has added three more wins and one loss to their 1992-93 record in the past two weeks. Julie Koenig and Jessie Nottom, with 20 and 14 points respectively, scored more points than the entire Northwoods Evergreens from Minong on Thursday, February 4, as the Lakers handed the Evergreens a 64-30 loss. Turtle Lake’s loss came at the hands of the Shell Lake Lakers on Monday, February 8, in a game played at Shell Lake. Jolene Danca and Jessie Nortom led Turtle Lake with 11 points each. The Lakers also handed the Clayton Bears a 60-50 loss and managed to edge the Cameron Comets 58-56.

The Laker boys basketball team added four wins in the past two weeks to their record to keep them on top of the West Lakeland Conference. Jamie Torgerson led all scorers with 18 points in the Lakers’ 73-68 win over Prairie Farm. Jesse Nitchey and Todd Richter added 12 and 10 points respectively. On Tuesday, February 8 the “battle of the Lakers” took place in Turtle Lake. Jeremy Schradle came off the bench in the final period to score 11 points to pace the Lakers in the final period in a 73-54 win. On Friday the Lakers hosted the Clayton Bears. Four Lakers hit double figures, led by Jerry Gamache with 14 in a 74-46 win. Jesse Nitchey and Todd Richter had 13 each and Brian Scribner added 10. On Monday evening the Lakers traveled to Luck and came away with an 85-72 non-conference win. Todd Richter led the Lakers with 17. Jamie Torgerson had 15, Jesse Nitchey had 12 and Jerry Gamache and Jason Fredericks finished with 10 each.

 

40 YEARS AGO

FEBRUARY 17, 1983

The Turtle Lake wrestlers ended their season with 5th place at the Regional Tournament in St. Croix Falls Saturday, February 12th. In the heavyweight class, Dan Heidtke placed second to advance to the Sectional Tournament in Glenwood City this coming Saturday, February 19. Other place winners at the Regional Tournament were Jim Arnold at 126 lbs. and Geno Graf at 145 lbs. each winning 4th, Jim Palas at 132 lbs. and Fred Graf at 138 lbs. each winning 3rd.

The new softball field in Turtle Lake is well on its way to becoming a reality. Noreen Hammer, Chairperson of the Turtle Lake Ballfield Committee, has announced upcoming events regarding the field. The first fundraiser will be a Softball Benefit Dance on Saturday evening, April 2, 1983, at the Turtle Lake Legion Hall. A goal of $5,000 raised through the dance has been set.

Two Turtle Lake men were injured at approximately 12 noon on Sunday, February 13, when the roof of a two-story barn they were going to tear down collapsed on them. Vernon Hoffman, 55, and his son Jeff, 24, were inside the structure on the Lahti farm approximately one-half mile west of the Twin Town Cheese Factory south of Almena when the accident occurred. They were taken by ambulace to Cumberland Memorial Hospital where Jeff remains a patient recovering from a back fracture and bruises. Vernon was transported to Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake with multiple fractures of his ribs and legs.

The Turtle Lake Lakerettes suffered their first loss of the season, 52-49, at the hands of Siren last Thursday evening, February 10, at Siren. Sheri Hansen led the Lakerettes with 15 points. Debbie Carlson added 12. Trailing 38-33 going into the final period the Lakerettes made their run but came up short.

Thursday, February 10, the Turtle Lake Lakers traveled to Siren for Lakeland Conference basketball action and handed the Dragons a 60-55 defeat. John Hinck led the Lakers and took game scoring honors with 23 points, followed by Mike Schradle with 16 and Mitch Dietrich with 10.

 

50 YEARS AGO

FEBRUARY 15, 1973

Approximately six weeks ago A.J. Perrault, Village President, received a letter from Hartzell Manufacturing, Inc., Plastics Division, stating that Turtle Lake, along with several surrounding communities, was under consideration for the construction of a new facility to house their present operation. On Thursday, February 8, a luncheon meeting was held by the Village Board, Industrial Development Corporation and individual businessmen, and Hartzell’s representative, Gary Jacobs, at which time a proposal was presented to Mr. Jacobs by A.J. Perrault and Rodney Becker.

Several shots were fired at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Leisz  near Moon Lake at approximately 5:00 a.m. Saturday, February 10. A snowmobile in the yard received one slug and the right front tire of Mrs. Leisz’s car was punctured by a bullet. Several shots were fired at the house where Mrs. Leisz was sleeping. One large caliber slug penetrated three doors and lodged in the kitchen wall and several smaller slugs were imbedded in the front of the dwelling. An investigation is underway at the present time.

The 5th Original Snowmobile Rodeo will be held this Sunday, February 18 at Corktown in Almena. Paul Heller, originator and sponsor of the event, states that this event is planned for the amateur and everyday snowmobilers of the area. Events that are being planned include a Rescue Race, Three person Relay, Pole Weaving, Barrel Race, Shovel Race, Egg and Spoon Race, Powder Puff, Senior Citizen Race for those 40 and over and Junior Barrel Race for those 12 and under. Paul’s famous broasted chicken will be available at the tavern or as carry-out.

Last Friday and Saturday, February 9-10, the Turtle Lake wrestling squad competed with 11 other schools in the WIAA Regional Wrestling Tournament in Amery. An all-time attendance record for regional tournaments was set with 2966 persons attending to watch 144 young men pit their wrestling skills against each other to gain one of the 24 berths in the Sectional Tournament to be held at River Falls this coming weekend, February 17-18. Three of the 24 berths were gained by our Lakers, Jim Mewes at 105 lbs., Ken Sorum at 138 lbs. and Brad Ostermann at 145 lbs. They each captured second place at their respective weight classes.

Tuesday night our Lakers journeyed 70 miles to play the Holcombe Chieftains on their home floor. The final score was 64-38 in favor of the Holcombe Chieftains. Jim Dunemann and Mark Dietrich led the Laker scoring with 6 points each. Tom Erickson, Lynn Fredrick and Richard Carter had 5 points each.