From Our Files

• July 22, 1948

Power spraying equipment again made the rounds of the Hartley business section, spraying backs and fronts of the buildings for continued protection against disease-carrying flies. Heat followed by heavy rains tended to destroy the potency of the DDT spray.

A damaging hail and windstorm swept in from the northwest. Most extensive damage in the immediate area was reported south of Melvin where crops were virtually wiped out, a number of buildings blown down, trees uprooted and some poultry and hogs were killed. Out of the hail area, including farms to the south of Hartley, the strong wind blew down much of the uncut grain.

Leo Rasmussen (Lee Gordon) was the manager of a new radio station at Storm Lake. He had been employed at Hart Field in Spencer.

• July 19, 1973

A group of area residents enjoyed the first legal Bingo game in Hartley. It was the climax to the Lucky Days promotion. Visitors to the community took away all the prizes which were donated by Hartley businesses.

Western Engineering Co. was the successful bidder for paving on Central Avenue and First Street Southeast in Hartley. Their bid of $12,437 was approximately $2,000 less than the bid submitted by Rohlin Construction Co. Work was to be completed in September.

Mrs. Lawrence Bethke assumed the responsibility of the Hartley police radio after hours and the weekend during which the town clerk’s office was closed. The equipment was moved to the Bethke home.

The town council was informed that no definite agreement had been reached on a land exchange at the Hartley airport, but the committee working on the project felt confident that one could be negotiated.

• July 23, 1998

One of the pine trees in the backyard of the home of Lee and Leone Manley was turned into a large bear, thanks to the artistry of “The Chain Saw Sculptor Man.” It was Lee’s idea to have Duane Nelson, of Jackson, Minn., transform the 10-foot trunk into an extraordinary backyard statue. It took Nelson approximately seven hours to complete the project. Only breaks needed due to the heat kept him from finishing it two hours earlier.

Bids for interest rates on capital loan notes and school bonds issued by the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School were lower than expected. The effective interest rate for the $640,000 issue of capital loan notes was 4.294 percent, and the rate for the $2.99 million in school bonds was 4.5365. The anticipated rate for both was 4.75 percent. Interest costs to maturity for the two issues were $107,132 and $1,293,507, respectively.

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