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

September 1, 1965

Football cheerleaders chosen: Cheerleading advisor Lynn Johnson announced the seven cheerleaders chosen for the football season following tryouts. They were: Jan Tiedeman, Cheryl Carlson, Sue Blohm, Jan Grimmer, Linda Mourning, Pam Busse and Linda Bremer. The girls will alternate games with five cheering at each.

Boy Scout conference founder: Mr. and Mrs. William G. Fisher of Prior Lake were instrumental in conducting the 5th annual national Lutheran Boy Scout Conference held at a 137,000-acre ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Fisher founded the program in 1960 through the Lutheran Brotherhood Fraternal Insurance Society. More than 2,200 scouts and their family members attended the conference.

Equestrian honors: Jessie Kop, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kop, was the recipient of the 4-H Club Horsemanship Trophy at the Scott County Fair held in Jordan. She performed with her Tennessee Walker. The award recognized riding ability and was presented during the Parade of Champions. She was a member of the Credit River Comets 4-H Club.

Start to the football season: The Prior Lake High School football team kicked off the season with 31 boys showing up for the first practice. Coach Gene Nei said he was disappointed with the low number of candidates trying out for the squad when compared to the previous year, but added the spirit shown was very gratifying. Eleven returning lettermen were: Ronald Arndt, Joe Hess, Mike Keckeisen, James Mickley, Ronald Olson, David Radanke, Duane Schesso, Richard Sheehan, Ronald Tieben, Bruce Thomas and Patrick White. Assistant coaches were Mike Jerabek and James Bernstein.

Published 40 years ago

Sept. 2, 1985

Large city tax increases: The proposed 1986 operating budget of $3.1 million for the City of Prior Lake represented a 12% increase over the previous year’s $2.7 million total, or $344,995. In the previous year, the council approved an increase of 17%, but a fire department referendum represented 8% of the increase. Five primary reasons were cited for the large increase: lakeshore property purchase that would be incorporated into Sand Point Beach, a new computer system at city hall, hiring of a full-time economic development director, hiring of an additional police officer and a park maintenance person, and infiltration fill to seal cracks allowing water to leak into the sewer system.

Management award: Russ Swanson, manager of the Prior Lake PDQ on Highway 13, was named the 1985 “Manager of the Year” by the corporation’s headquarters located in Madison, Wisc.

Big attendance draw in first year: In its inaugural season, Canterbury Downs, Minnesota’s first pari-mutuel race track, was among the national’s top 10 tracks in daily average attendance at the mid-way point of the season. The $20 million facility opened its doors on June 26 and played host to more than 555,000 racing fans during its first 41 days of operation.

Published 20 years ago

September 3, 2005

Lots of mail deliveries: Veteran postman Bill Dueffert retired after working at the Prior Lake Post Office for 30 years. During his tenure, the route schedule grew from five routes and 21, and the facility averaged 4,000 customer visits every week. In 2005, the local post office was responsible for delivering to 9,725 addresses in the city of Prior Lake, along with portions of Credit River and Spring Lake townships.

That was one big pumpkin: A local seventh-grader, Dana Thomas, was surprised throughout the summer months when a pumpkin continued to grow. By the end of August, it already weighed nearly 100 pounds and was 69 inches in diameter. While she was not a contender for a world record, she said she was looking forward to having the biggest jack-o-lantern on the block for Halloween.