From Our Files
1997: Blizzard shuts down NWI, stranding several
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• Jan. 16, 1947
A cow belonging to Fred Fairchild, of Moneta, was instantly killed when struck by a car driven by Dwight Lorenzen, also of Moneta. Fairchild was driving several cows along the county road when the Lorenzen car struck the animal.
Writing under the penname of Jon Winston, J.W. Harold, superintendent of the Hartley Public Schools, wrote a book entitled “Ripples from These Trouble Waters.” The first printing sold out in three months. It dealt with the trials and troubles of a public school teacher.
Mrs. Emma Ridinger, a former Hartley resident, was a member of a corporation that purchased the Ella Hammer shop at Spencer. Mrs. Ridinger, who was born and educated in Hartley and for several years was employed here, had been employed at Poole’s in Spencer.
• Jan. 13, 1972
Janelle Carney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Carney of Hartley, was the first baby of the year born at the Hartley Community Hospital. Janelle Catherine was born Jan. 4. She had three sisters at home.
Seventy local girls became official members of the Girl Scouts and Brownies at an investiture service. Leaders for the newly-activated group were Jan Christensen, Ruth Back, Jan Hennings, Bev Kramme, Sharon Van Briesen, Judy Henely, Donna Carney, Carol Haycraft, Pat Jenkins and Mitzi Wagner. The Hartley girls were sponsored by the local Kiwanians.
The Hartley school board voted to make five courses mandatory for grades 10-12 on a trial basis during the next school year. The fifth course selected from a large number of electives could be on a pass-fail basis with no grade given.
• Jan. 16, 1997
Wild northwest winds whipped snow everywhere during a blizzard that caused a virtual standstill in northwest Iowa and the Dakotas. H-M-S schools were shut down for two days and mail service was also stopped as blocked highways prevented mail from being delivered to the local office. Highway 18 was blocked between Hartley and Sanborn and numerous people were stranded in Hartley, as well as in area farm houses and churches.
One motorist, Don Jongerius of Orange City, drove into a ditch near Hartley and could not be reached by rescue crews for 20 hours. The sheriff’s office maintained contact with him as he had a cellular phone. Another stranded motorist, Joe Schwartz of Denison, was rescued from his car but had to spend the night on a cot in the county jail. Schwartz felt he was well-treated but was glad he did not have to spend another night on an uncomfortable cot.
“From Our Files” is compiled by Sentinel-News sports editor/staff writer Mike Petersen.
