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75 Years Ago - June 2, 1949 RANDOLPH – Displaced persons from stricken European areas arrived in Randolph the past week and have been settled on farms in this community through the efforts of Rev. Herman J. Kaup, St. Frances pastor for the Arch-Diocese of Omaha, outside of the city of Omaha.
The first to arrive here was a Polish family, whose former home was in Wilna, Poland. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Caeslaw Mankiewicz and two daughters, one two years old and one nine months old, was settled on the Hilary Hosch farm northeast of Randolph where they will be housed in their own house. Mr. Makiewicz speaks English, and is an experienced farm worker and carpenter.
He served four years with the Polish air forces and was shot down by the Germans September 1, 1939, and severely burned. The wounds he suffered when he was shot down did not heal for a year and during that time he was employed on a farm. In September 1942, he was apprehended by the Gestapo and imprisoned for a year.
From there he was sent to Germany for work on a farm from a displaced persons camp. The family arrived in New York last Saturday and were particularly impressed by the attitude of the Americans, for in Europe Mr. Makiewicz reports everyone lives in fear of the Russians. *** RANDOLPH – The Harry Pate residence, two blocks southwest of St. John’s Lutheran church, was gutted by fire of unknown origin Saturday night, badly damaging the south half of the house and destroying most of the household furnishings.
The fire was discovered by a passing motorist and the alarm turned in shortly after 10:30. It is believed the fire had been burning for some time as neighbors reported having smelled wood smoke for sometime before, but could not determine its origin.
The fire started in the south room, a living room and that part of the house was gutted, and all furnishings lost.
The loss is partially covered by insurance.
60 Years Ago - May 28, 1964 YANKTON, S.D. – Vernon Wattier narrowly escaped drowning in the Lewis and Clark lake Tuesday afternoon, May 19, when he suffered cramps while swimming during an outing with his classmates, the seniors of St. Frances High School.
Quick response to his distress call, by serial of his companions attributed to his rescue. Jerome Dickes succeeded in bringing Vernon to the surface after he had gone under the water.
Paul Sauser administered mouth to mouth respiration to revive the youth.
Judy Backhaus, Marsha Van Slyke, Bill Schaeufele and Rev. Daniel Galas, sponsor, also assisted in the rescue. *** RANDOLPH – John Casal, who has been appointed manager of the Randolph swimming pool, states the pool will open Monday, June 1, weather permitting.
The season will last until August 31.
John wishes to announce that he has just completed a 30-hour water safety instruction course at Sioux City, Ia.
He has qualified to conduct a full Red Cross lesson program for children and adults. Red Cross certificates will be issued to the individuals completing their swimming courses.
Lessons will be given free to all who purchase season tickets. Those without season tickets will be charged $1.00 to take lessons this season. Dates for the lesson program and water safety aid course will be announced at a later time.
50 Years Ago - May 30, 1974 RANDOLPH – An open house at the new VFW home will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9. Coffee, cookies and lemonade will be served.
The new VFW home, located east of the First State Bank was purchased in 1973 from the late Dr. G.E. Peters Estate. The building was the former offices of Dr. Peters.
The entrance room remains the same, with new floor covering and drapes added.
Partitions were removed making a large dining area with a kitchen built in the northwest corner. Cupboards are built on two walls of the kitchen.
The room is furnished with two stoves, a refrigerator, sink, garbage disposal and a serving window. *** RANDOLPH – A large crowd attended the Randolph High School Commencement exercises at the school auditorium Tuesday evening, May 21.
Awards were presented by Neil Kluver, superintendent of schools. Dan Backer received the valedictorian award in addition to being named recipient of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy award.
Sheri Tunink was named salutatorian.
Sheryl Helsing was awarded the Eva May Strathman scholarship. Certificates of Merit awarded by the Board of education were presented to Cindy Rohde for essay writing and to Wes Beltz as a student athlete with the highest academic average.
40 Years Ago - May 31, 1984 RANDOLPH – The Colors led the parade to the Randolph City Auditorium on Monday morning prior to the program that commemorated this year’s Memorial Day.
Residents of Randolph as well as the rest of the nation took time out on Monday to remember, pause in prayer and to place floral tributes on graves while flags flew at half staff.
The program at the Randolph City Auditorium had Lavern Scott serving as master of ceremonies with musical selections being played by the Randolph High School Band.
The invocation and benediction was given by Rev. C.A. Sandy Carpenter and the welcome by Jim Riedel.
Mrs. Vic Caster presented the Voice of Democracy winners before Maria Grovas gave the main speech of the day.
30 Years Ago - June 1, 1994 RANDOLPH – This year’s Kiddie Corner Preschool graduates could be Randolph’s last, if a new location isn’t found for the center.
Its present location, a rented building in downtown Randolph, is one block west of First State Bank on the north side of the street.
Because of the building’s need for improvements, tenant and preschool teacher Nena Korth said she’s searching for another location.
She said she won’t be able to be certified with the building in its present condition. *** RANDOLPH – School board members gathered to open bids for the new west school building addition, May 25, 4 p.m.
Bids were tabled pending more information, however one of the two companies bidding will be selected before the expected June 6 construction state date. Completion is expected in early August.
Another school board meeting is expected sometime before June 6 to finalize the bidding.
20 Years Ago - June 2, 2004 RANDOLPH – After serving in Iraq for one year, Specialist Casey Sullivan returned home, April 22.
The 2002 Randolph High School graduate served in Iraq April 2003-04 with the 1057 Army National Guard Truck Company based out of Chadron.
Sullivan joined the National Guard May 23, 2002. His plans to attend Chadron State College directed him to join the Guard there. After completing basic and advanced individual training, Sullivan decided to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He requested a transfer in November to join the Guards in Wayne but his transfer was denied. He later found out that plans were already being made for the 1057 TC to be deployed to Iraq. *** RANDOLPH – One of the largest crowds in recent years joined in Memorial Day services on Monday at the Randolph High School commons area to commemorate the contributions of area service personnel.
The Alvin Kessler VFW Post 5545 conducted ceremonies at the high school as well as at each of the three local cemeteries.
Following a welcome by Mayor Gordon Boatman, Geraldine Caster presented Voice of Democracy Awards to Sheila Korth, first place; and Rachel Lewis, second place. Korth presented her speech to the audience.
10 Years Ago - May 28, 2014 RANDOLPH – Community officials are inviting the public to a town hall meeting June 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the city auditorium. The meeting will be held immediately following the monthly city council meeting at city hall, so Mayor Schutt and council members can also be on hand for the event.
The June 4 presentation will cover the newly proposed zoning codes. The proposed codes will be a part of the Comprehensive Plan being constructed for Randolph by the mayor-appointed Planning Committee. Zoning codes are a necessary part of organized community planning. Among other things, zoning codes identify geographic areas for residential and commercial development. Building codes and organized planning for community growth is blueprinted into the zone text.
The town hall meeting is an opportunity for the public to meet with community leaders to offer input for the proposed zoning code. When finished, the zoning will be passed into ordinance by the city council making Randolph eligible for new programs designed for community development. Numerous programs are not eligible to communities without a Comprehensive Plan. The plan demonstrates the community has “skin in the game” for organized, efficient growth in the future. *** HARTINGTON – Close to 5,000 notices showing a change in valuation will be in the mail Friday.
Owners of ag land will see an increase in valuation according to Cedar County Assessor Don Hoesing.
“All of the ag land is going up irrigated, dry crop and grassland. The increase is between 25 to 45 percent. Grassland is taking a big jump from where the value had been. Dry cropland is also going up a lot,” Hoesing said. “The raise for irrigated land is around 25 percent. We didn’t have very many sales on irrigated ground to work with.”
