Editor’s note: The weekly “Prior Lake in the Past” column contains summary excerpts of news items published in the Prior Lake American during the same week 60, 40 and 20 years ago. We hope our readers enjoy remembering those who are mentioned from years past, and this feature provides historical perspective about how much the community has changed over the decades.
Prior Lake American
Published 60 years ago
June 1, 1965
Diplomas awarded as seniors graduate: Fifty Prior Lake High School seniors were awarded a diploma during commencement exercises held in the school auditorium. Speakers at the 13th annual event include Tiiu Lukk and Cynthia Marshall, members of the senior class and the National Honor Society. The Tousignant Memorial Award trophy was presented by Edward Keckeisen to Leslie Carpenter as the “All-Around Athlete.”
Two graduate from St. Catherine’s College: Miss Sharon Cress, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roland Cress of Credit River, and Miss Carol Stromwall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Stromwall of Prior Lake, graduated from the St. Catherine’s College School of Nursing in St. Paul. Cress will enter the Naval Nurse Corps and be stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Waukegan, Ill. Stromwall has volunteered for Peace Corps duties in the fall, after working during summer months at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee.
Hired by Northwest Orient Airlines: Miss Kathryn Kortsch of Prior Lake recently joined Northwest Orient Airlines for a a career in air transportation as a stewardess. She is the daughter of Mrs. C.M. Bircher of Prior Lake. After completing five weeks of specialized training, she was assigned to the airline’s home base in the Twin Cities area.
Published 40 years ago
June 3, 1985
Class of ’85 has 213 graduates: Commencement exercises for the Class of 1985 were held in the gold gymnasium at Prior Lake High School on May 31. Diplomas were awarded to a total of 213 graduates. Senior Peter Kempf delivered the opening remarks and welcome, while other speakers included Mark Keel and Jeffrey Rylander. Following commencement, seniors attended an all-night party at the high school that had a “MASH 85” theme reminiscent of the former popular television series.
Metropolitan Council appointees: Willard Brandt of Spring Lake Township, Mayor Don Tillman of Jordan and Ed Townsend of Belle Plaine were appointed by the Metropolitan Council to serve on its new Rural Issues Task Force. The group was charged with identifying challenges facing rural communities, families and farmers in the extended metropolitan area.
Top sports honors awarded: Seniors Liz Mee was the 1985 winner of the Kemper Award, while Chris Rooney received the Tousignant Award. Mee earned multiple letters in tennis, basketball and softball during her high school career. Rooney was awarded a total of nine letters in football, basketball and baseball while being named all-conference twice as quarterback for the Lakers football team.
Published 20 years ago
June 4, 2005
Heroic efforts following boating accident: Andy Wolfram, 28, and Tony Voight, 26, both of Prior Lake, were praised for their efforts in trying to save three who died after striking a moored barge while boating on the Minnesota River. Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson called their efforts “heroic,” despite the tragic outcome.
New stadium used for commencement: Dan Patch Stadium at the new Prior Lake High School was to be used the first time ever on June 10 for the annual commencement service. Class valedictorian was Megan Brandeland; salutatorians were Kristin Krebs and Elizabeth Sames.
Top contender in national spelling bee: Eighth-grader Hannah Smith from Prior Lake made it into the top 16 of the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee held in Washington, D.C. The 14-year-old aced the word “nemathelminthes,” defined as a large phylum of round, unsegmented worms. She was the only Minnesota contestant to make it past the sixth round.
