Editor and Publisher: Barbara and Reider Tommeraas
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1949
Along The Side
Clever! Our nomination for the cleverest valentine idea goes to Hank Gerken. He sent a valentine to his granddaughter and addressed the envelope with a penny (for Penny Butlin,) Mazeppa, Minn. It reached the young lady promptly, too.
Wrong Again! Our timing is usually off, and never more so than last week. We were writing this column last Tuesday and mentioned with tongue in cheek that we were grateful to the Commercial Club for letting us enjoy the Christmas street decorations for such an extended period. Sure enough, before the paper came out, the decorations were down!
Long Distance Cake The cake-baking fame of Mrs. E. Hofschulte has long been recognized in Mazeppa, but now it is really getting around. Last week, at the request of his mother, Mrs. Jane Almeter of Goodhue, Mrs. Hofschulte baked a birthday cake for Kenneth Almeter and sent it to him at Washington, D.C. She packed popcorn around it, and is waiting for word as to how it survived the long trip.
Local News Mr. and Mrs. Norbert Sand and sons moved from the apartment over Gregwire Electric to the Vincent Schmitt home the first part of the week. Miss Minnie Sheldon received word of the death of Mrs. Dick Sheldon on February 4. She was the former Valeria Spicer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Spicer, formerly of Mazeppa. Burial was February 7 at Spokane, Washington.
Large Crowd Attends FRS Meeting Wednesday The system by which the school survey committee proceeded in its report on school reorganization in the county was labeled “autocracy in action” by Rev. Scharlemann at a meeting of Friends of the Rural Schools in the Legion hall Wednesday evening. About 150 were present, many from this community, indicating much interest in the matter. He concluded by saying that the rural schools are the foundations of democracy, and the survey committees had been masterminded by those “behind the curtain,” who wish to abolish them. “Johnny cannot make the progress in the larger schools because of overcrowding---cannot become the successful attorney he might have from the “little red school,” he added. Mr. Wooley of Rochester then spoke. He brought out the point that the cost per pupil was set at $110. by law. “Extended vigilance is the price we must pay for freedom,” Mr. Wooley stated. He pointed out that the number of administrative units would be greatly reduced, as an example. He concluded by answering questions from the floor. Mrs. Ven Maas asked whether he believed in any reorganization whatsoever, and he said he did but on a much more gradual basis. A.A. Hoffman asked that the county survey report be mentioned, so that both sides of the issue could be heard. Mrs. Joe Sibley then asked where the proposed school in this district would be located. Richard Roth then answered by enumerating the elementary schools which would remain open, as well as others which might be maintained, and explained parts of the survey report. Rev. Scharlemann interrupted to say that school reorganization not the will of the people, but stems from Washington and beyond that, Moscow. That statement was immediately and vigorously challenged. Other questions brought out the transportation problem, number of pupils per teachers, cost of reorganization, equalization of education, as both sides of question were discussed in several heated arguments.
Council Votes Liquor Election At a meeting held last Thursday evening at the city hall, the village council went on record to hold a special election March 8 to settle the liquor problem. The voters will then decide whether they are for or against a bond issue for the purpose of establishing a municipal liquor store. J.N. Searles, council member and chairman of the newly-appointed liquor committee, reviewed the whole situation, pointing out both advantages and disadvantages, and the many factors involved. Problems in the establishment of a store mentioned were housing, securing a manager, cost and the hiring of employees. Mr. Searles also pointed out that a municipal store would not lower taxes, but rather keep them at the present level, with profits, if any, used for civic improvements. He stated that according to financial statements from other villages with municipal stores, income derived from taxes alone was not sufficient for normal operation.Other means of revenue, higher taxes and license fees, and the possibility of a larger income from the municipal light plant also were discussed. Local operators who were present stated that higher license fee could not be paid by them at this time. (Present license is $1600 per year for each place). The light plant, it was pointed out, could increase earnings by the sale of excess power, if that were possible, with resultant benefits to the community. The number of votes necessary to carry the bond issue is five-eighths of the total vote cast.