THAT
REMINDS ME |
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For people who lived in Grand
Forks 25 years ago, status was having a dry basement. Frustration for many was
the lawsuit delaying construction of the Columbia Road Overpass. Gasoline
prices were approaching an alarming $1 a gallon here. And Dutch Elm disease was
discovered in the trees. |
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Basements were drying out after
spring flooding. The City Ccouncil got a report that more than half of the
damage from high waters of April was sustained in the area flooded by the
English Coulee. Damage to property in Grand Forks was $3.4 million, and the
area flooded by the coulee accounted for $1.8 million damage. The figure did
not include damage to personal property such as furniture or damage to public
buildings. |
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One station in Grand Forks was
selling unleaded gas at 96.7 cents. While fuel supplies were tight all over
North Dakota, the Herald reported farmers should have adequate gasoline and
diesel oil to harvest their crops, according to Myron Just, state commissioner
of agriculture. Some farmers had built fuel storage facilities and were able to
draw on their own supplies during the critical spring planting period. |
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The bruised and battered
Columbia Road Overpass proposal faced still another threat. It came in the form
of a lawsuit from a UND faculty member, who was an ardent foe of the plan. The
Board of Higher Education had already agreed to support the overpass on the
condition that demands by UND President Clifford were met by the city. Clifford
and Mayor C.P. O'Neill already had reached agreements. |
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In an editorial, the Herald
said the overpass was in a state of "suspended animation" while the
environmental impact statement demanded by the lawsuit was being prepared. |
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Dutch Elm disease, which was
full blown in Fargo, was detected in the city early in July. By the end of July
1979, 29 more trees were found to have the disease. |
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* * * |
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Around the area: |
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* At Warsaw, N.D., repair of
the fire-damaged St. Stanislaus Catholic Church was under way. Directing the
project was Louis De Nardo of St. Paul. Behind the work of the crew of eight
was $316,000 in insurance, which the Rev. Stanislaus Duda expected would be
enough to cover the repairs. In addition, there were gifts including a $5,000
check from two Polish businessmen in Chicago. |
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* Crookston was celebrating its
100th birthday. Events included a display at Northwest Experiment Station of
horse powered farming methods. |
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Names in the news 25 years ago: |
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* John "Gino"
Gasparini, head hockey coach at UND, was named top collegiate coach of the year
by North Dakota Sportscasters and Writers. His team won its first conference
championship since 1967 and had an 11 to 1 record. Gasparini was also Western
Collegiate Hockey Association coach of the year. |
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* Gerald Hamerlik, who had been
a member of the Grand Forks School Board for nine years, was appointed to come
back on the board for a one-year term. He was fulfilling the vacancy created
when James Winter, who had been elected, moved to Valley City. |
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* Dr. Brian Briggs and Dr.
William Watson joined the staff of the Orthopaedic Clinic, 960 S. Columbia
Road. Both had served their residencies at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. |
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* Curt Magnuson succeeded Pat
Maddock as president of the Grand Forks Library Board. |
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* The engagement of Elizabeth
Quesnell and Peter Bouley was announced by their parents. Oct. 13 was chosen as
their wedding date. |
Reach Marilyn Hagerty at
mhagerty@gfherald.com
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