50 years ago

-Residents of District 549 will cast their ballots on Tuesday, on the issue of issuing bonds for the erection of a new 20 classroom elementary school. Continued overcrowding at the present building led to the proposed bond issue.

-Mike Bleichner, 4, was riding in a car with Mrs. T. Bolcer and returning from a birthday party when the front-opening door was caught by the wind. The boy fell onto the highway. He received a head cut, which required 11 stitches, and bruises.

-A car belonging to Lyle Moench, son-in-law of Louis Cihlar of Perham, was stolen from the Cihlar driveway and later recovered in a gravel pit near Detroit Lakes. It was not damaged. Taken from the car was a suitcase and a razor.

Perham Enterprise Bulletin, September 20, 1962

-Harley Karvonen of New York Mills has been selected as General Convention Chairman of the 60th Annual Convention of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association to be held in Minneapolis.

-Miss Gloria Bernu was awarded the title of Queen of the Harvest Festival. Other contestants were Betty Milbrandt (runner-up), Melody Greenwood, Carolyn Cooley and Annette Pajari.

-Emil Kytta brought several large potatoes into the office Wednesday. The largest weighed two pounds and measured 17 inches around. He has a whole garden full of these large Pontiacs.

New York Mills Herald, September 20, 1962

25 years ago

-The Perham-Dent School District will have ‘open enrollment’ for the 1988-89 school year, following adoption of the new policy at the school board’s regular meeting.

-36 acres of land have been purchased by the Perham-Dent School District to be used for future expansion.

-Ted and TJ Bergeron are participating in the Grand Nationals for the Manufacturers Walleye Circuit for the second year in a row. They placed 15th last year and are hoping for an even better finish this year.

Perham Enterprise Bulletin, September 17, 1987

-A trial date for Willys Lynn Ojala could be set within the next few dates after a request to move the trial outside of Otter Tail County was denied. He has pled not guilty to two counts of first degree murder in the shooting deaths of Steven and Janice Mursu.

-The New York Mills High School “Marching Eagles” turned in a very successful summer season, earning 3 first-place awards in four competition parades.

-Tom Van Erp, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Van Erp of Bluffton, is a member of the 1987 U of M, Morris football team. While playing for New York Mills he was a two-time team captain, twice named All-Conference, and was MVP.

New York Mills Herald, September 17, 1987

Compiled by Harriet Mattfeld