1949: Randolph teen taken hostage by gunmen
75 Years Ago - June 9, 1949 RANDOLPH – Billy Walz, 16, Randolph youth, was one of eight hostages taken the first of the week by three Minneapolis gunmen, who used seven cars and covered parts of four states in 72 hours, while groups of policemen and patrolmen threw up road blocks and conducted exhaustive search.
But it was nature that finally ended the chase, after the oldest of the three gunmen had given himself up at West Point Monday afternoon. The other two, with a hitchhiker they had picked up, were injured and later captured when their car crashed into a bridge wash-out just over the line in Kansas.
Arthur Bistrom, 37, was the first to give himself up, and after being lodged in the jail at West Point was arraigned before United States Commissioner George W. Dittrack at Norfolk on a charge of kidnapping a North Dakota police officer. The two are still in the hospital at Marysville, Kans. Carl Bistrom, 27, brother of Arthur, was the most seriously injured and was still unconscious 18 hours after the crash but the third and youngest gunman, Allen Hartman, 20, was not seriously hurt. *** RANDOLPH – The new grandstand being erected at Randolph Community Park is well underway and over half completed this week. It is hoped that the structure may be completed within the next two weeks.
Plans are being made for a formal opening at some future date.
The new grandstand will seat approximately 800. It is of steel posts on concrete base, with plank seats, which have back rests.
60 Years Ago - June 4, 1964 RANDOLPH – Neil Kluver, Randolph High coach, had the thrill of a short visit with New York Manager Yogi Berra, in a chance meeting while Mr. Kluver was in Kansas City, Mo., to see the Yankees play ball on Saturday and Sunday.
Following the Saturday night game, Mr. Kluver was sitting in the lobby of the Muellbach Hotel reading a newspaper when he observed a man at a nearby telephone placing a call to New York City.
When he turned around, Mr. Kluver immediately recognized him as Mr. Berra. Mr. Kluver rose up and asked Yogi for his autograph, and to his embarrassment found he had no pen with him.
A pen was obtained and Mr. Kluver enjoyed visiting with Mr. Berra while the Yankee manager was waiting for his phone call to be completed. *** RANDOLPH – The proposed estimated budget of the Randolph Public School for the next term continues to reflect a national trend - that education costs are still going up.
Although the budget for the 1964-65 term is higher, the tax call is the same as last year, and it is expect that school tax will be no higher than last year.
The budget which has been adopted by the Board of Education is $138,339.00, which compares to $127,254.00 last year. *** RANDOLPH – Mrs. Bessie Boughn was honored Thursday, upon her retirement as a U.S. Post office clerk in Randolph for 25 years.
A luncheon given in her honor was attended by postal employees, their wives and Mrs. Boughn’s immediate family. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Andersen and family of Onawa,Ia., Mr. and Mrs. Keith Boughn and family of Wayne, Morris McGrew of Sholes, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Weber, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Boughn and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Dean McGrew, Mrs. Janet O’Sullivan and family, Zack Boughn and Kenneth Rosenbach.
A gold watch was presented Mrs. Boughn, gift of the local postal employees.
50 Years Ago - June 6, 1974 RANDOLPH – A break-in at the West Randolph Ballroom was reported to the Pierce County authorities on Thursday afternoon.
The break-in, according to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Young, owners of the business, said that 15 cases of beer, an undetermined amount of pennies and various kinds of gum were taken by the thieves. *** RANDOLPH – Mr. and Mrs. Gary Osborn, who will manage the Randolph Swimming Pool again this year, have announced that the pool will open on Sunday, June 9, weather permitting.
Season tickets will be $9.00 per individual; and family season tickets will be $28.00. Daily rates are 75c for adults, 50c for children ages 10-18, and 35c for those under 10 years of age.
The small children’s wading pool is free and unsupervised by the pool staff. Parents are to accompany children using the wading pool. *** RANDOLPH – A new typesetting machine was installed in the Times this past week.
The new machine, which is called a Compuwriter Junior will undoubtedly be an improvement in the production of the weekly issue of The Times.
In addition to the varied type styles that can be produced by using the machine for newspaper publishing, it will be used in producing job work done by The Times.
40 Years Ago - June 7, 1984 RANDOLPH – Monday and Tuesday were the sign-up days for the Summer Youth Program. A total of 82 boys and girls reported to Brett Rissler, who is once again the director of the summer program.
Sign-up was light this summer as last year 115 youngsters reported. Anyone still wishing to play should contact Mr. Rissler as soon as possible.
Seventeen boys have signed up to play T-ball. Sign-up for the Little League fast-pitch boys totaled 18. Fifteen girls have signed up for girls T-ball while only 14 girls signed up for fast-pitch softball. Junior and Senior division girls also showed a light turnout as only 10 have signed up for the Juniors and only eight for the Seniors.
30 Years Ago - June 8, 1994 RANDOLPH – School board members plan to sign a construction contract for a new building addition on the west school campus Monday June 13, 8 p.m. with construction to begin as soon as possible.
Construction had been expected to start June 6, however more information was needed on building options.
Two companies bidding included McHan Construction with a base bid of $3,754,555 and Radec Construction with a base bid of $3,962,055.
Board members indicated they will sign a contract with McHan Construction at their regular meeting Monday, June 13. *** RANDOLPH – Honey Fest V will buzz into town this weekend.
Beginning on Friday evening, June 10, the traditional honey bee will be painted on the town square in front of First State Bank.
Other activities include the Honey Walk/Run; the Honey Fest Scramble at the Randolph Community Golf Course; pie and ice cream social; junior parade through downtown Randolph; the “Bee Bash” Adult Obstacle course; and the R-Club Women’s Alumni Sand Volleyball Tournament.
20 Years Ago - June 9, 2004 RANDOLPH – A new face might be looking into your mouth as Dr. Benny Aitken opens a dental practice in Randolph and Wausa, June 14 and June 16, respectively.
Aitken will offer basic restorative services, dentures, extractions, root canals, preventive, bleaching, crowns and bridges. He will be at the Randolph office Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and the Wausa office Wendesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Residing in Wausa, he looks forward to being a part of the Randolph and Wausa communities and serving the residents. *** RANDOLPH – The Randolph City Council approved the installation of a video camera in the Randolph City Police vehicle at their regular meeting on June 2.
Randolph recently received the video camera through a grant. The expense of the installation of the camera was approved by the city council. *** RANDOLPH – After nine years of growing her hair, Kathryn Kuchta cut her hair for the first time. Her loss will help others as she donates her mane to Locks of Love.
The daughter of Jim and Janet Kuchta of Randolph, Kathryn allowed her aunt, Diane Kuchta, also of Randolph, to cut almost 16 inches off her 26-inch long hair.
She is sending her braid of hair to Locks of Love to help make a headpiece for a child who has lost their hair due to medical reasons.
10 Years Ago - June 11, 2014 RANDOLPH – Over 60 local residents showed up at a Town Hall meeting June 4 to learn more about zoning proposals that will become part of a Comprehensive plan if adopted by the Randolph City Council.
A number of questions were asked and some opinions were expressed at the nearly two-hour meeting.
Gary Van Meter, Randolph Community Development Director, was happy to see so many people attend the Town Hall Meeting. *** RANDOLPH – The city’s ordinance on pit bull dogs needs to be addressed according to City Attorney Lance Carlson.
The city currently has an ordinance that says pit bulls are not allowed within the city limits.
The ordinance needs to clarify if dogs that are only part pit bulls are affected by the ordinance.
The ordinance will be addressed at the City Council meeting in July. *** RANDOLPH – One of the oldest cancer survivors who attends the Relay for Life in Cedar County said she feels blessed to have fought and beat the disease.
Marlene Sellon, a lifelong resident of Randolph, has been a cancer survivor for 50 years this week.