Blaine community school concept committee meets

The first meeting of the board of directors of the Blaine Community School Concept committee was held at Blaine city hall, Sunday, Nov. 16. The committee selected in October, in a meeting open to the public, has been charged with the responsibility of developing a pilot program for the project and setting guidelines for future activities to be carried on by the community school director.

 – 40 years ago, Nov. 21, 1969


Highway 10 drawings ready to be viewed

Conceptual drawings of relocated and upgraded Highway 10 will be exhibited at three locations in the next two weeks by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

The drawings will illustrate the type of facility that could be constructed and the two alternative drawings will include access points and frontage roads.

– 30 years ago, Nov. 23, 1979


Blaine council clears air, approves 1990 property tax levy

Blaine City Manager Don Poss attempted to clear the air at a public hearing Thursday on the city’s proposed 1990 annual budget in regard to the city’s role in setting property tax levies.

– 20 years ago, Nov. 24, 1989


SLP Lion Campbell receives first braille Helen Keller Award

Even though he is blind, Spring Lake Park Lions Club member Chuck Campbell sees his role in this world and the community through unique service and everything Lions International is all about.

– 10 years ago, Nov. 29, 1999



• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.

Junior-senior reception

The Juniors of the high school gave their annual reception to the Seniors in A. O. U. W. hall Friday evening. The main hall was decorated in pink and silver, the junior class colors. A beautiful effect was presented by pink streamers arranged in lattice form and caught at the intersections with rings of silver, making a canopy over the entire room. The door leading into the dining room had draperies of pink decorated with silver moons and stars.

– 100 years ago, Nov. 24, 1909


Eight graduates

Mrs. Graydon Colburn, who is superintendent of the cradle roll department of the Congregational Sunday school, had charge of the special graduation exercises Sunday morning. Those who graduated from the cradle roll department into the beginners class were: Lorraine Anderson, Dorothy Ann and Richard Rundquist, Irving Freeburg, John Ghostley, Earl Moline, Nancy Lou Gustafson and Theodore Omdahl.

– 75 years ago, Nov. 21, 1934


Deputies find notebook after $26,000 jewel theft

Sheriff’s deputies Tuesday found a red notebook which authorities hoped would furnish a lead to the men who abducted a Minneapolis diamond salesman and took nearly $30,000 in jewels and cash from him.

The book was found by Undersheriff Irv Barrett, Investigator Ray Baker and Deputy Clarence Lundberg near the spot in Fridley where a gunman released Alin B. Kaufman, 39, 2730 Quentin Ave., St. Louis Park.

– 50 years ago, Nov. 20, 1959


County assessing waste recovery

Anoka County will probably postpone its decision to site a location or vendor for the proposed waste burning facility until 1985, according to county administrators.

– 25 years ago, Nov. 23, 1984


• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.

City of Blaine October permits show decrease

The City of Blaine during the month of October issued 55 permits for a total valuation of $323,180. In comparison to last year, the total permits issued in 1968 were 75 with a valuation of $316,864.

The construction valuation for the year to date is $7,064,949 compared with the 1968 total of $5,841,492.

Nine contractor licenses were issued in October.

 – 40 years ago, Nov. 14, 1969


SLP council approves audit firm hiring

Following a long discussion Monday, Nov. 5, the Spring Lake Park City Council unanimously approved a motion by Councilman John Conde that the firm of Moen and Pentilla be retained to do the 1979 audit at a cost not to exceed $8,275 and further that the audit be completed by May 31, 1980.

– 30 years ago, Nov. 16, 1979


Redistricting, restructuring schools possible

The possibility of redistricting and restructuring the elementary schools in District 16 could become a reality by the 1990-91 school year.

At a special session, the District 16 School Board directed administration to establish a list of reasons why this action should take place and to implement a series of open hearings to gain community input.

– 20 years ago, Nov. 17, 1989


Push comes to pressure over issue of townhomes

Normally it’s three strikes and you’re out. But in Blaine’s case pitting adjacent residential homeowners against a proposed townhouse developer, it hasn’t even allowed Royal Oaks Realty to deliver a second pitch.

– 10 years ago, Nov. 12, 1999



• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.

Market Day

Next Saturday is Market Day in Anoka. There will be music, a parade, and other attractions of a high order are promised. The country has been covered with advertising and a big crowd is expected. The biggest attractions of the Market day are the many bargains offered by our wide awake merchants. These merchants have announcements of interest to everyone in today’s Union.

– 100 years ago, Nov. 17, 1909


Troop 3 Girl Scouts

The final plans for the monthly scout dinner were made at the regular scout meeting Monday, Nov. 12, at the armory. The Junior Philolectian committee members who will help are: Mrs. Wayne Ridge, Mrs. B. J. Witte, Jr., Mrs. Cortes Reed, Mrs. Oscar Wilcox and Mrs. Kenneth Smith.

The patrols have decided to have competition in attendance record. Each patrol leader will endeavor to see that each of her members is present.

– 75 years ago, Nov. 14, 1934


Senior high addition apace with schedule

The addition to the Anoka senior high school is keeping step with schedule of completion and it is expected that the addition will be ready for occupancy when school starts in the fall of 1960.

All of the structural work will be done by December 10 with the exterior masonry scheduled for completion by January 1st. Last item before completion is the painting and decorating and this will be done about August 1st of next year.

– 50 years ago, Nov. 13, 1959


Snow removal possible

About three years ago Anoka started enforcing an ordinance that requires sidewalks to be cleared of snow and ice within certain hours after a snowfall.

Those who did not comply, or at least some of them, were tagged. Sometimes the city cleaned the walk and charged for the service.

– 25 years ago, Nov. 16, 1984



• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.

Next District 16 School Board meeting Nov. 18

The next meeting of the School District 16 Board of Education will be Nov. 18, at 7 p.m., in the Board room.

The Board will meeting with coordinators of English and Social Studies departments of the high school and high school administration on the contents and materials covered in these areas Nov. 6, in the Board room.

– 40 years ago, Nov. 7, 1969


Gambling ordinances receive first reading

First readings were held on an ordinance relating to the licensing and regulating use of authorized gambling devices in the city of Blaine at the Nov. 1 council meeting.

The ordinances had previously been on the agenda Sept. 6, but first reading was postponed to allow further information to be gathered on license fees and administrative time required for auditing the monthly reports and whether licenses should be for a year period or specific events.

– 30 years ago, Nov. 9, 1979


Transportation troubles in District 16

With more than a $50,000 deficit already projected by the end of the school year in its transportation budget, the District 16 School Board decided the fates of two transportation issues: out-of-district special education transportation and cold weather busing.

– 20 years ago, Nov. 10, 1989


Fires burn 500 acres, incur numerous costs

Arson fires in Blaine and surrounding communities are continuing to cost local and state agencies, cities, schools and insurance companies thousands of dollars, as well as a lot of headaches and hundreds on hundreds of hours of manpower.

– 10 years ago, Nov. 5, 1999



• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.

Anoka’s first market day

Anoka is to have a market day!

The first of a series of monthly market days will be held Saturday, November 20th. Read the big ad on page three.

Max Zimmerman, the booster market day man, has been very busy the past week getting acquainted with Anoka business men and making detailed arrangements for the big day.

– 100 years ago, Nov. 10, 1909


Election news

The weather was ideal for a heavy vote yesterday and returns are slow in coming in.

The latest reports on the governorship give Floyd Olson a lead over Martin Nelson of 25,000 with 1500 precincts in. There are 3,700 precincts in the state. The vote on governor at this hour, 7 a.m., is Olson 121,342; Nelson, 95,831; Reagan 32,677. This gives Olson an estimated plurality of 50,000 to 75,000.

– 75 years ago, Nov. 7, 1934


Traffic signal at 7th and Main

City Manager C. Rudolf Johnson reported to the Anoka City Commission Monday night that the Minnesota Highway Department has accepted the recommendations of the City Commission that a traffic control signal be installed at the intersection of Seventh avenue and Main street in Anoka. The request was made for such a signal over a year ago and the state has, in the interim, made a traffic count study there and recommended the signal.

– 50 years ago, Nov. 6, 1959


Aerial fire truck plans ordered

Anoka City Council Monday ordered plans and specifications for a 110-foot aerial ladder fire truck, an item Fire Chief Jake Strouse has been seeking the past five years.

Chief Strouse and others have explained over the years that a ladder fire truck is needed for taller area buildings their present equipment cannot reach.

– 25 years ago, Nov. 9, 1984


• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.