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 29, 1965
At the movies: The Prior Lake Drive-In Theater on Highway 13 was showing these movies on the big outdoor screen: “Pajama Party,” in color, starring Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello; “Four for Texas,” “Blue Hawaii,” in color, starring Elvis Presley; “Killers” and “Black Sabbath.”
Prior Lake hosts “Bucket Brigade”: The Second Annual Bucket Brigade Contest, sponsored by the Prior Lake Volunteer Fire Department, was being held on Dakota Street by the Village Hall. Invitations were issued to 31 area fire departments. The tournament was promoted as a contest from “the good old days” when the main source for combatting a fire was a bucket brigade, a far cry from today’s modern means and top grade equipment, according to the newspaper story. The team that filled the 97-gallon truck in the shortest amount of time was the winner. KSMM-Radio in Shakopee was to broadcast the event live.
150 register for summer fun: Registration for the summer recreation program hit the 150 mark. Activities included baseball, basketball, volleyball, tumbling and trampoline. Three periods of swimming lessons were to be held at the Sunset Beach Resort. The programs were being sponsored by the Village of Prior Lake and the local school district.
Published 40 years ago
July 1, 1985
Naval Academy appointee: Kelly Brown, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Brown of Prior Lake, accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. The June 1983 graduate of Prior Lake High School was nominated for the appointment by Minnesota Congressman Bill Frenzel.
Band heads east: The Prior Lake High School band traveled to Washington, D.C. where members performed at the White House Ellipse and the Pentagon’s Center Court. The trip included stops at Mount Vernon, Valley Forge and Arlington National Cemetery.
City job posting: The City of Prior Lake posted a job opening for an “Executive Secretary” to the City Manager. Qualified candidates were to have excellent written and oral communication skills, above-average word processing and data processing skills, Dictaphone and shorthand experience. Salary range was $1,350 to $1,450 per month.
Published 20 years ago
July 2, 2005
School enrollment up: The Prior Lake-Savage Area School District already had 250 additional students enrolled for classes in the fall but anticipated several hundred more being registered by the time school would start. The district had 6,314 students registered as of June 15. That was compared to 6,059 in January of that year.
Fire damages church: Only half an hour after more than 400 children left a vacation bible school program on the evening of June 23, smoke filled Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church to the point firefighters needed air packs to enter the building. Prior Lake Fire Chief Bruce Sames said the fire was reported as starting in a transformer. When the fire department arrived, smoke was coming out of the building and was caused by a total meltdown of the electrical control cabinet.
PL tops Chaska team: Backed by a complete game shutout from Bill Gabler, the Prior Lake Jays rebounded from a pair of losses to Chaska with a 3-0 victory over the Shakopee Indians. Gabler allowed eight hits and a walk, but no one got past second base all night. He struck out four batters and was helped by three double-plays.
