Editor’s note: The weekly “Prior Lake in the Past” column contains summary excerpts of news items published in the Prior Lake American during decades from the past. We hope our readers enjoy remembering those people and events mentioned in the articles, and this feature provides historical perspective about how much the community has changed over the decades.
Prior Lake American
Published 60 years ago
June 28, 1966
Top poppy saleswoman: Mrs. Vince Mahoney received the Prior Lake VFW Auxiliary Post 6208 Silver Award for top poppy saleswoman. She distributed a total of 325 poppies of the 1,745 total that were sold. Every contribution benefited veterans’ welfare and rehabilitation programs.
Equestrian stand-outs: David and John Lindstrom, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Lindstrom of Prior Lake, earned 13 ribbons on June 18 at the Novice Horse Show sponsored by the Hoof Beats Saddle Club of Bloomington, held at the Wes Brown Stables. David rode Shirlou, an American Saddlebred-Quarter Horse cross mare, and placed in seven classes. Johnny, riding his pony, Dusty Dapples, placed in six classes. The saddle club sponsored four horse shows throughout the year which were designed to give riders experience and training to enable them to compete in some of the many horse shows scheduled throughout the state.
Published 38 years ago
June 27, 1988
City among highest taxed: Prior Lake remained one of the highest taxed cities in the metropolitan area, according to a study released by the Citizen’s League. Of the 95 metropolitan cities with populations over 2,500, it ranked third in taxes owed on an $80,000 home. In the previous year, the city ranked fourth.
Dangerous road prompts special meeting: Sen. Bob Schmitz scheduled an emergency meeting of state and local transportation officials to discuss ways in which Highway 13 could be made safer. The meeting followed the death of a fourth local resident that occurred on the highway in the previous year. Letters to the editor published that week included pleas from local residents to consider lowering the speed limit and adding more turn lanes to the highway.
Helping to curb crime: Jim Speiker of the Prior Lake Optimist Club presented a $500 check to the Prior Lake Police Department’s community Crime Fund as part of “Respect for Law Week.” During the meeting, Detective Greg Zollner was named “Officer of the Year” for the local department.
Pedaling for hours and hours: Four Prior Lake friends – Frank Wicker, Leroy Horn, Don Brown and Roger Brown – participated in the Paul Bunyan Double Century Bike Race with one goal: to finish. Despite the 25 mph winds and 90-degree weather they encountered, the quartet accomplished what it had set out to do. The 202-mile race started at Anoka High School, went to Mille Lacs Lake and then back to the high school. It took the four riders a total of 17.5 hours to complete the feat.
Published 20 years ago
June 24, 2006
Gold medal runner: Laker freshman Paige Kuplic placed fifth in the 100-meter dash at the Class AA state track and field meet. She also took 12th in the 200-meter dash. She had previously won the Missota Conference title in the 100 and captured runner-up honors in both the 100- and 200-meter events.
Limiting internet use in school: The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board considered updating its policy on student use of information technology. The proposal stated internet access would be limited to educational uses, that use of the system is a privilege and included a list of unacceptable uses. Parents and students would be required to sign an internet use agreement. Board members also discussed whether students using their own computers in school should be regulated.
