20 years ago: February News 26, 2004
using the latest technology Band Director David Caesar’s motivation for using computers in Litchfield High School’s music program goes beyond just using the latest technology. But Caesar believes his SmartMusic, an inexpensive computer program that runs on his basic PC, can help band students become better players faster. “The only reason I use this is because it’s the best way I know,” Caesar said. The program’s song bank includes several different music method books that Caesar uses for private and group lessons. The $20 program comes with a small microphone that is placed on a student’s instrument and displays a score on a monitor as the student plays. Notes that are played correctly are shown as green notes, and notes that are played incorrectly are shown as red notes. “This doesn’t replace me, but it certainly helps me,” Caesar said.
Foster Butterwick of Litchfield I had never seen my grandson Nate Miller play hockey until I saw the Disney movie “Miracle” at the Hollywood Theater in town. Miller, an Anoka resident, was a hockey player at the University of Minnesota, played two years in the American Hockey League, and is playing the role of John Harrington, wearing No. 28, in a movie currently in theaters. “Miracle” tells the story of how the American Olympic hockey team, coached by Herb Brooks, defeated a seemingly invincible Soviet team and won the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Miller, 27, is the son of Gary and Nancy Miller, and Nancy is the daughter of Butterwick. Butterwick, 95, had never seen his grandson play hockey in person. It was the first time he saw Nate play when his daughter brought him to see the movie. “He was kind of excited about that,” said Butterwick, who was Litchfield’s pharmacist for many years until he retired in 1987.
Litchfield wrestler wins third straight title They captured the Section 5AA championship with a stunning 53-13 victory over Annandale/Maple Lake in the sectional final at Litchfield High School. “I was very impressed with the way the kids wrestled. This is the best wrestling we’ve had all year,” Litchfield coach Chip Rankin said. “I think our experience showed tonight.” Second-seeded Litchfield advanced to the final with a 29-22 victory over third-seeded Dassel-Cokato. The Chargers defeated the then-state No. 1 Dragons, 37-34, in December.
Persistence paid off for the Litchfield girls basketball team. The Dragons defeated Annandale and Glencoe Silver Lake in one week to secure a share of the program’s first Wright County Conference title. This was coach Bill Huener’s second conference title in the six seasons he has led the program. The Dragons won the West Central Conference North Championship in Huehner’s first season as coach.
75 years ago: March 3, 1949 News
current food cravings A shipment to the war-torn European region concluded Tuesday with two truckloads of baby formula paid for by funds raised in Meeker County through the efforts of the Christian Rural Overseas Program. County residents raised $9,400 and one and a half cars were purchased. The remaining half of the load was covered by state organizations. Both cars had signs indicating they were from Meeker County. The rail car was bound for New Orleans for shipment overseas. Andrew Quinn, chairman of the county effort, spoke briefly about the success of the fundraiser in Meeker as the car departed. The Rev. Edward Gebhardt has been secretary of the county group along with Wm. Maggie becomes treasurer. In two cars he carried 225 barrels, from which he estimated he could produce 140,000 gallons of milk, which was processed at the District 1 factory here. .
City Engineer John Oster completed a project last week to refinish all of Litchfield’s street signs. All road signs are now legible with new black letters on a white background. These signs have long needed changes to make them easier to read.
Regular military service will be carried out Sunday evening, March 6, at Zion Lutheran Church. The church’s pastor, Reverend BL Duckstad, who was a military chaplain during the last war, conducts the service in the same way he once did for soldiers. The soldiers’ favorite hymns will be sung and a sermon will be given for military personnel.
95 years ago: News of March 2, 1929
February broke records It took place in the court clerk’s office, said Carney Kellner, the office’s director. Not a single marriage license was issued during the month. Kellner said he looked through records going back many years and could not find any other month in which this statistic was recorded. This cannot be explained unless love in February is less consuming than in other months. Maybe the Meeker County couple is waiting for June to start.
An announcement was made from Washington. Lichfield is said to be on the tentative list for a new post office building. I hope this is not a mistake in the review. Litchfield has been named to such lists many times in the past, but since the results have not come in, the magazine will not make a big headline out of this announcement. We will wait until the funds are appropriated by the government.
13 girls in teacher training class Litchfield schools will begin teaching practice at local schools on Monday and will continue for two weeks. The young teachers and the schools they belong to are: Harriet Anderson, District 78; Tilly Barca, 8 years old. Clara Bergström, 36 years old. Mildred Blombreg, 4 years old. Bernice Borden and Lucille McGraw, Greenleaf School. Helen Carroll, 11 years old. Ella Curtis, 76 years old. Martyr Grendal, 94 years old. Mae Nelson, 50 years old. Mildred Nelson, 77 years old. Ethel Nelson, 38 years old. and Evelyn Amblerhocker, 24.
big cottonwood tree He fell prey to a log splitter’s ax behind Red Owl’s store on Tuesday and is now gone. The tree was large, over three feet in diameter. No more cotton strewn on the streets and in downtown stores like we do every year. The tree was an old tree and a downtown landmark.
Larson children living in Acton In the morning, he is taken to school in a cutter driven by his father. However, in the evening, Mr. Larson hitches the horse to the cutter and drives him alone to the schoolhouse, about a mile away, stopping when the horse reaches the school. If there is no one outside to see him, he will whine until he is noticed. There is a lot of excitement in the neighborhood. The horse is 18 years old and his name is “Buddy.” It makes us think that animals are not as stupid as commonly thought.
134 years ago: News of March 1, 1890
I would appreciate it if you could point it out. Increased interest in libraries among educators in the county. At the time, Litchfield High School had the only library in the county, and I’m glad that time has passed. Similar supplies are now being provided to at least seven of his districts in rural areas. Outside of Litchfield, Collingwood schools have the most expansive libraries, and now Grove City has caught up. The latter school held entertainment last Saturday and raised a total of $28 for library purposes, to which the state will add a total of $10. The school already had a library worth $65.
County doctor position Judging by last Thursday’s spat between doctors, that must be highly desirable. Doctors. Bissell and Kaufman ended up getting the plums, with the former taking care of the towns of Dassel, Kingston, Collingwood, and Ellsworth on a salary of $100 a year, and the latter taking charge of the rest of the county. I ended up withdrawing $149.50 as my salary. The above price includes medication, but surgery costs will be charged separately.
Mayor Branham and his wife also entertained us. The Dramatic Society met on Tuesday and we gather that it was reportedly one of the most enjoyable meetings the organization has ever held. One of the novel features was a blindfolded drawing contest in which artists drew pictures. Dr. Bissell and Mr. Campbell won the award for Best Photography.
And now a new innovation is coming By counting time. The standard time changes made five or six years ago were quite radical, but now proposals are being made to take the idea even further. It is proposed to do away with AM and PM when noting the time. Hours will be from 1:00 to 24:00. The idea is smart and supported by 222 U.S. railroads. With the support of these great organizations, it’s probably only a matter of time before a new format is established.