Salute to Excellence, Page 2 • Geography Bee, Page 7 • Conference Champs, Page 1B Paynesville “Darkside,” Page 6 Press www.paynesvillearea.com Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Pinewood Derby, Page 11 Volume 129, No. 4 Briefs 1975 BLIZZARD Locals recall “the Storm of the Century” Movement limited to snowmobiles by famous 1975 January blizzard ‘Warm Your Hearts Praise Concert’ will be held on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. in the Paynesville Area Schools auditorium. The concert will feature uplifting music from various local church choirs, worship bands, and ensembles. Ticket sales from this concert will benefit the local foodshelf at the Paynesville Community Service Center. The center hopes to replenish their needs after the holidays. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the Paynesville Community Education office, at Teal’s Market, at Central Minnesota Credit Union, at Bloom Coffee and Floral, and at the door. By Brian Haines Minnesotans are exceptionally accustomed to winter storms. Many remember the Halloween blizzard of 1991, and most have some knowledge of the Armistice Day blizzard in 1940, but only one storm is labeled as the Blizzard of the Century. In January 1975, residents of Paynesville felt the full effect of Mother Nature when close to two feet of snow and 20-foot high drifts brought Paynesville to a sudden halt. It’s been referred to as the Super Bowl blizzard, and it ranks high on the list of Minnesota’s worst snow storms. “It seems like we used to get more snow back then,” said longtime resident Harold Fangmeier, as he was about to go out and clear a dusting of snow from his driveway. “It just doesn’t seem like we get as much these days.” Called the worst blizzard since 1888, the “Storm of the Century” dumped 18 inches of snow on Paynesville and saw wind gusts up to 70 mph. With a statewide death toll of 14, the storm sticks in the memories of those who witnessed it firsthand. “It was the worst storm I’ve ever seen, even worse than 1940,” said another longtime Paynesville resident Harlan Beek, who witnessed the storm’s full fury. “It took days for people to dig out; it started out as a light but wet snow, then it really blew hard on Friday and Saturday.” The snow began to fall on Thursday, Jan. 9, 1975, and did Concert to raise funds for foodshelf PAHS to hold annual Sweetfest Press File Photo In the aftermath of “the Storm of the Century” in January 1975, Paynesville residents had to dig out from 15-foot snow drifts, left by 18 inches of snow and 70-mph winds. Some rural residents were without power for 30 hours. not subside until Sunday. Schools closed early on Thursday (and remained closed on Friday). “They said the buses couldn’t get any further. When I saw the bus pull into our driveway, I was afraid that I was going to have a house full of kids for the weekend,” said Marlene Christle, who was living on a rural farm south of Paynesville at the time. “Luckily they were able to get all the kids in our neighborhood home. I don’t know what I would have done with all those kids.” As the weekend dawned, the wind began to blow with full In the wake of the storm, snowmobiles (shown at the high school, atop another large snowdrift) were used for transportation and by the police to patrol the city streets. BLIZZARD– see page 3 SAUK RIVER Paynesville Area High School will hold its annual Sweetfest coronation on Friday, Feb. 13, at approximately 2 p.m. A dance will be held that evening from 9 to 11 p.m. Senior Sweetfest candidates are Heather Arnold, Breanne Ashton, Brooke Caldwell, Trent Gertken, Hayden Hengel, Shelby Rue, Brandon Schleper, Lexi Skoglund, Mitchell Weidner, and Anthony Wendlandt. Winter parking ban in effect in city The overnight parking ban on all city streets is in effect. The parking ban on residential streets started on Saturday, Nov. 1, and will last until the end of March. On all residential streets, the overnight parking ban starts at 1 a.m. and lasts until 6 a.m. On downtown streets, the year-round parking ban starts at 3 a.m. and lasts until 6 a.m. Fines are $10 for the first and second offenses and $25 for additional offenses. MPCA looking for comments on watershed restoration MPCA report summarizes scientific studies about watershed The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is seeking comments on a watershed restoration and protection report for the Sauk River Watershed. The report, known as a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS), summarizes moni- toring and water quality improvement projects completed over the past several years and identifies strategies necessary to restore and protect the Sauk River Watershed. A public comment period began on Tuesday, Jan. 20, and continues through Thursday, Feb. 19. The Sauk River Watershed begins just outside of Alexandria, with Lake Osakis, and includes the cities of Sauk Centre, Melrose, and Cold Spring. In this area, it includes the cities of Eden Valley, Roscoe, and Richmond and the Sauk River Chain of Lakes, including the connected Vails Lake, Eden Lake, Brown’s Lake, and Long Lake. The Sauk River drains into the Mississippi River near St. Cloud. Required by the state Clean Water Legacy Act, a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy summarizes scientific studies of a major watershed including the physical, chemical, and biological assessment of the water quality; identification of impairments and water bodies in need of protection; identifica- tion of biotic stressors and sources of pollution; and proposed strategies and actions designed to achieve and maintain water quality standards and goals. The draft report is available on the Sauk River Watershed webpage or at the St. Paul MPCA office, 520 Lafayette Road N. Comments may be submitted to Scott Lucas, MPCA, 7678 College Road, Baxter, MN 56425, or by e-mail to [email protected], by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19. For more information, call Lucas at 218-316-3874 or toll- free at 800-657-3864. Written comments must include (1) a statement of your interest in the draft WRAPS report; (2) a statement of the action you wish the MPCA to take, including specific references to sections of the draft WRAPS that you believe should be changed; and (3) specific reasons supporting your position. More information on all of Minnesota’s 81 major watersheds is available at the MPCA watershed webpage (www.pca. state.mn.us/jsrie74). AIS TRAINING Effective July 1, state law requires training for boat trailers Movement to alter – or repeal – AIS required training alive at capitol By Brian Haines DNR Photo By July 1, 2015, the DNR will require new AIS training for boat trailers, with a special decal to afix to the trailer. To prevent the spread of AIS, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, state law also requires that boat owners remove all vegetation from their trailer when leaving the water. It’s a familiar scene on Lake Koronis every summer, hundreds of boaters enjoying one of Minnesota’s beautiful lakes. However, in recent years a new menace has emerged on Minnesota lakes and rivers. Aquatic invasive species (AIS), particularly zebra mussels, are posing a serious threat to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Effective July 1, 2015, the State of Minnesota is scheduled to have a new law to address the spread of AIS. After that date, any person trailering watercraft in the state must take a mandated training course and complete a test on the dangers of AIS. Upon completion, boaters will be given a decal to be placed on their trailers, being visible to AIS inspectors and conservation officers. TRAINING– see page 11 $1 Paynesville Press 211 Washburne Avenue, P.O. Box 54, Paynesville, MN 56362 Phone: 320-243-3772 Fax: 320-243-4492 www.paynesvillearea.com Copyright 2015 • Two Sections Index Blotter 2 Corrections 2 Salute to Excellence 2 1975 Blizzard 3 This Week in History 3 Viewpoint 4 Here’s What I Think 5 History Column 5 Weather 5 Business Brief 6 One-Act Play Preview 6 Way Back When 6 Foster Grandparents 7 Geography Bee 7 School News 7 Under the Big Green Roof 8 Community Events 9 What’s Cookin’ 9 Entertainment 10 Dorian Festival 11 Pinewood Derby 11 Wrestling Salute 12 Sports 1B, 3B, 7B, & 8B Real Estate 2B Basketball 3B Classifieds 4B Public Notices 5B-7B Gymnastics 8B
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