By Deb Moldaschel
50 years ago – August 8, 1974
Eleven years ago when the Don Kruegers moved into their new home on Third Avenue Northeast the oven on their kitchen stove blew up. This morning, just a few weeks after the Kruegers moved into their new home on East St. Mary’s, the same thing happened. Firemen made a run to the Krueger home at 11 a.m. There was some smoke damage. “It was frightening,” Mrs. Krueger said. “I’m glad Don was home to help.”
A prowler Tuesday noon took about $175 in cash and $107 in checks from Pelzel’s TV store on West Main. Owner Jeff Pelzel said the prowler manager to jar open the back door which had been hooked.
35 years ago – August 10, 1989
Del Monte’s Sleepy Eye plant has been operating at peak capacity since the corn pack began Aug. 4, according to Production Manager Kerman Love. “We’re running every available hour except what we need for cleanup,” Love said, “we have been since we started.”
The Chamber of Commerce statue committee met with noted Native American artist JoAnne Bird to consider whether to commission her to create a larger-than-life likeness of the city’s namesake, Chief Sleepy Eye. Bird is one of several artists being considered.
20 years ago – August 12, 2004
Members of the Sleepy Eye FFA have created a corn maze as part of the Corn Daze celebration, located right behind the high school. “We started planning this in April. We cut the pattern June 21 and got most of it that day,” said John Lanoue, FFA instructor.
The City Council approved Police Chief Don “Pudge” Mickelson’s letter of notice announcing his retirement as of Oct. 29 after 32-plus years with the Sleepy Eye Police Department.
10 years ago – August 7, 2014
Maddy Helget, daughter of Terry and Tammy Helget, was among 47 candidates who attended the Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassadors program, July 21-26. One of Maddy’s favorite activities during Aquatennial week was the Meet the Candidates event, when each candidate shares about their community. Maddy dressed up as Linus, the Charles Schultz Peanuts character, named after his friend and Sleepy Eye native Linus Maurer.
The Inquiring Photographer asked kids what is the best thing they did this summer: Natalie Marti said hanging out with friends at the pool; Kya Krzmarzick said going on vacation to Lake Mary; Maddie Mathiowetz said visiting Disney World.
