From Our Files

• March 13, 1947

Hartley radio fans were startled to hear a familiar name on the “Queen for a Day” broadcast. Lizzie Bierschenk, who was vacationing in Hollywood, Calif., was selected as one of the judges on the popular daytime program.

A light vote was cast during the Hartley regular school election. Abel Anderson and Harry Olhausen were elected to the board with 87 and 85 votes, respectively.

The five-day boys’ district basketball tournament held in the Hartley gymnasium was in every respect one of the most successful ever staged here. Total gates receipts were $2,208.50. Articles found after the crowds had left ranged from a man’s shoe to a lady’s skirt. Spectators guzzled about 4,500 bottles of pop, 4,000 ice cream bars and 2,500 bags of popcorn. Spencer nosed out Hartley, 28-24, during the final evening.

• March 9, 1972

Members of the Milford and Spirit Lake Kiwanis clubs joined with the Hartley Kiwanis group to discuss the possibility of interesting more boys in this area in soapbox derby competition. Attempts were being made to encourage local boys to participate.

Stop Light Lounge on the stoplight corner in Hartley was open for business. The former Parker building, last used as the library, was purchased by John Korenberg and Roger Crist and was completely remodeled.

A hearing for or against a proposed curb and gutter project was conducted by the town council. An area in northeast Hartley in the vicinity of Trinity United Church of Christ and also 7th Avenue West were included. The council voted to go forward with the $85,000 project, which included the addition of street paving in those areas.

• March 13, 1997

The Hartley Betterment Club began a fund for a new water slide at the swimming pool with a $1,000 donation. Club members felt the slide would be a great addition to the pool and would be enjoyed for many years. Total cost of the slide was approximately $5,300.

William Hutchinson, who had been the superintendent of the Hartley and Hartley-Melvin schools from 1973-84, was one of four administrators selected to receive the Bernie Saggau Award of Merit, the highest and most prestigious honor presented by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Hutchinson was superintendent at Estherville at the time.

The cost of lunches at the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School was increasing by 10 cents. The increase was necessary as the district was purchasing commodities previously provided by the government.

“From Our Files” is compiled by Sentinel-News sports editor/staff writer Mike Petersen.