Blaine parents protest at District 11 busing plans

Over 200 angry parents from Blaine marched into Johnsville elementary school Thursday ready for a verbal battle with Dr. Erling O. Johnson, superintendent of schools in Anoka-Hennepin District 11.

Questions and comments kept coming for over two hours as Dr. Johnson tried to defend the school board’s decision to transport the children away from their area.

“Roosevelt junior high will be the eighth school my daughter has attended,” said one mother.

– 40 years ago,Aug. 28, 1970


59 fire calls answered in July

The Spring Lake Park - Mounds View fire department responded to 59 fire and emergency calls during July.

The calls included nine for fires or smoke odors in buildings, 24 grass or woods and other outdoor fires, nine vehicle fires, two calls for first aid or accidents, six downed or arcing power lines and gas leaks, and nine false alarms.

Five calls were answered on the 4th of July that included four grass fires and one call for smoke in an area that turned out to be caused by fireworks.

– 30 years ago, Aug. 29, 1980


MER trying to educate CB radio users, clean up air waves

Since its inception in 1980, the main goal for Minnesota Emergency Radio (MER) was to get aid to the public as quickly as possible. But with a significant increase in the misuse of citizen’s band (CB) radios, this task has been hampered through interference, false alarms and illegal boosters.

– 20 years ago, Aug. 31, 1990


• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

School election

The annual school election of the city of Anoka promised to pass off quietly, but it did not. Tickets bearing the names of R. W. Akin and Hans Nelson, directors for three years were printed, there being no other avowed candidates. Along in the afternoon there was lots of scratching done and things warmed up. When the ballots were counted Mr. Akin had 174 votes, Mr. Nelson 276 and A. J. Allison 122. It is said Mr. Allison’s name was used unbeknown to him.

– 100 years ago, Sept. 7, 1910


River blocked by vegetable growth that is eight feet deep will hold up men

An unusual phenomenon that is exciting much interest is the piling up of algal or some vegetable growth at the Pleasant Street bridge. The accumulation reached across the river for several hundred feet up stream and Sunday; the depth of the mass was found to be eight feet or more. Never before has this condition arisen so far as the Union knows.

– 75 years ago, Sept. 4, 1935


District 15 schools open Tuesday, Sept. 6

Schools of Independent School District No. 15 at Bethel, Cedar and St. Francis will open Tuesday morning, Sept. 6, for registration and assignment to classes. Buses will leave for home at about 1:30 p.m.

Teachers’ workshop meetings are scheduled and are being held on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 1 and 2 to arrange final plans on registration, curriculum, materials and administrative routine.

– 50 years ago, Sept. 2, 1960


‘Drive-in’ law considered

A proposed ordinance to put more teeth into dealing with problems at drive-in restaurants cleared its first hurdle with Anoka City Council Tuesday.

The ordinance was prepared at the request of Police Chief Andy Revering in response to citizen concerns about problems at drive-in restaurants, notably the Burger King, 123 West Main Street, where several arrests have been made.

– 25 years ago, Sept. 6, 1985



• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

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

County S. S. convention

The annual convention of the Anoka Co. Sunday School Association, was held at the chapel, commencing Aug. 25 at 8 p.m. and closed Aug. 26. The convention was called to order by the county president W. H. Palmer. After a short song service, the president introduced Rev. W. A. Rice of St. Francis, who spoke on how to make the temperance lessons more instructive. Rev. Rice was followed by A. M. Locker, state secretary.

– 100 years ago, Aug. 31, 1910


Scout covered wagoneers here Thursday vote our city hospitality unexcelled

The Covered Wagon troop of the Boy Scouts of this Area was in Anoka Thursday arriving at 2:30 p.m. After preliminary exercises on bridge square the wagon was driven to Riverside park where the tents, baggage and other supplies were unloaded.

The camp was set up and everything was in readiness for evening when the boys left for an hour’s swim at the Rice street beach.

– 75 years ago, Aug. 28, 1935


State hospital lacks personnel for guards

Three tubercular patients, one a convict facing 37 years behind bars, escaped from Anoka State hospital last week.

They cut their way through a ceiling in a washroom, made their way to the outside and to brief freedom.

All three were captured Monday, the convict in a stolen car near Cloquet, and his companions in St. Paul.

One came back willingly, one “very reluctantly,” and the convict…he didn’t like it either.

– 50 years ago, Aug. 26, 1960


Ramsey Days called off

Food and beer stands built by Ramsey Jaycees were up and ready for Ramsey Days, said Kathy McKnight, Jaycee member. But to their surprise the three-day event was canceled Aug. 22, the evening before it was to begin.

The third annual Ramsey Days was to raise money to improve existing softball fields in Ramsey.

Because of the cancellation, Marlene Looyen, Ramsey Park Board member, said matching funds up to $13,000 that Aid Association to Lutherans (ALL) was going to donate were lost.

– 25 years ago, Aug. 30, 1985


• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

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

Blaine Jaycees request high school in Blaine

The Board of Education of Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 Tuesday evening discussed proposed sites for the third District 11 senior high school to be built in the Blaine area, and received a resolution from the Blaine Jaycees requesting that the school be located in Blaine and be named Blaine High School. Two sites have been under study for the new high school by the board.

– 40 years ago, Aug. 21, 1970


Community ed program meets opposition

A proposed Community Education program met opposition at the Spring Lake Park council meeting Monday.

The program, drafted by Jim Petron, School District 16 Athletic Director, is designed to give surrounding communities the opportunity to share services and therefore, cut costs.

“What we have is a case of a guy trying to invent a job,” Mayor Ballstadt said. “For years we’ve had volunteers who have done a good job in running community services. But now, this guy comes in and wants twice as much money as our recreation director.”

– 30 years ago, Aug. 22, 1980


Same boundaries kept intact as bow hunting season in Blaine gets underway on Sept. 15

The city of Blaine will be retaining the same boundaries as last year for the 1990 Bow and Arrow Deer Hunting Season. The State of Minnesota has established the dates for the hunting season as running from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31, 1990. The boundaries are limited to that portion of Blaine bounded on the west by Lexington Avenue and bounded on the east by Sunset Avenue; and bounded on the south by 117th Avenue and bounded on the north by 132nd Avenue.

– 20 years ago, Aug. 24, 1990


• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Missing lad found in field

Oscar Knibbe, employed on the O. A. Harrington farm east of Anoka, better known as the T. F. Pratt farm, disappeared Thursday from the place, leaving his work. A gun was also missing and it was feared the lad, who is eighteen years of age, had met with an accident when he did not return next morning, and a searching party scoured the country in the vicinity. Search was kept up Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sunday afternoon late, Knibbe’s brother was circling a corn field when his dogs suddenly turned and ran to the wind right towards the center of the field.

– 100 years ago, Aug. 24, 1910


Around Anoka where the tall corn grows

Gillespie’s store offered prizes last week for the tallest corn brought to the store for exhibition. There were thirty-eight persons who entered the contest, and Leonard Dahlheimer, route 1, Anoka, won first with corn nearly 13 feet tall. J. R. Christensen, Elk River, was second with corn 12 ft. 6 in. and William Frantz was third with corn 12 ft. 73/4 in.

– 75 years ago, Aug. 21, 1935


Plans being made to open GAR home

Representatives of the Ladies of the GAR appeared before the Anoka City Commission Monday evening to ask the Commission for an extension of time in which to attempt to formulate plans for re-opening the Anoka GAR Home on West Main Street. The Commission agreed to extend the period 60 days until October 20 during which no action will be taken by the city to dispose of the property.

– 50 years ago, Aug. 19, 1960


Volunteers lay 6,000 yards of sod

A project has left area volunteers feeling good over how quickly a major problem can be solved when people help each other.

The project was the successful sodding of 6,000 yards of newly-irrigated playing fields at Lincoln Elementary, Anoka. Karen Kooda, a member of the Lincoln Elementary parent-teacher organization said 61 volunteers donated their time and hard work after 5 p.m. Au. 14, 15 and 16.

On the first day, 30 volunteers laid 2,000 yards of sod in one and a half hours; on the second night, 40 volunteers laid 3,000 yards in one and a half hours; and the third evening, 10 people laid 1,000 yards in one and a half hours.

– 25 years ago, Aug. 23, 1985


• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

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

Low income housing in Blaine draws protests

Low income housing drew protests from a number of those Blaine residents attending the Aug. 6 Blaine Council meeting.

The low income housing constructed and under construction in the city came under attack following approval (in a 2 to 1 vote) of Donnay’s Northwood 2nd Addition. Objecting residents drew their chief council support from Don Knoll who voted against approval of the second addition based on the low income housing constructed in the previously approved plat which was not mentioned at the time of approval.

– 40 years ago,Aug. 14, 1970


Pioneer family descendants gather for reunion

“Thank God for family” the name tags read and family members filled the back yard at 9316 Jamestown St. N.E., Blaine where picnic tables were placed under striped awning and then spilled over into the house, garage, front and side yards.

Laughter and calls of greeting resounded as new family members arrived and many met relatives they had not seen in years, or for some had never met.

– 30 years ago, Aug. 15, 1980


Award-winning vocational rehab service grows in SLP

In less than ten months existence a Spring Lake Park rehabilitation program serving the metro area has earned statewide recognition for its employment services for people with mental health disabilities.

Last October a group of professionals formally launched Minnesota Mainstream, which offers an area alternative to traditional vocational rehabilitation and job placement services.

– 20 years ago, Aug. 17, 1990



• Compiled by Kelly Johnson