Douglas County Past: Bold robber holds up car barn
Feb. 4—Jan. 26, 1924
Bold robbery at car barn
His face hidden by a false brown mustache and beard and flourishing a blued steel revolver, a lone burglar at 8:25 o'clock last night held up two employes of the Duluth Street Railway company at the car barn office, 314 Ogden avenue, and made his getaway with $521.50 in paper and silver money.
Melvin A. Olson and Axel L. Wanholm, clerks, were in the office when the man entered by the front door. He commanded the two to throw up their hands and then made his way behind the gate of the desk of the office to the cash drawers. He backed Olson and Wanholm into the office of Superintendent Alfred Williams at the point of his weapon and then rapidly filled his pockets with the money which was in the drawers.
A thorough combing of the neighborhood failed to reveal any trace of the hold-up man, but a fairly good description was obtained by the police. The man wore a long dark overcoat, appeared to be about 26 years of age, was 5 feet 10 inches in height and weighed about 165 pounds.
Jan. 27, 1994, Telegram
Peer mediation resolving conflicts at Solon Springs
SOLON SPRINGS — Solon Springs High School Principal Jane Berger came to the district from a big city school on the East Coast. She hints at big differences between the two environments, but the schools do have one thing in common — teens in conflict.
In an attempt to promote an atmosphere of peace and harmony throughout the St. Croix District, Berger and her staff created an event called Peace Week, held recently.
One district program offered to sixth through 12th grade volunteers was the peer mediation program, which equipped students with the tools to effectively mediate disputes between their peers.
Three student mediators explained some of the tools they were given.
"You can't give advice," Britta Martinson said. "The problem is their responsibility. We just have to get them talking and try to get them to figure out solutions to their conflict."
"High school students are used to the old system. You get sent to the office, suspended or disciplined, and you come back to the same old fight. This way the kids have got to work it out," said Aaron Maas.
According to Tiffany Cordts, "The goal is to get together and discuss the problem, and ask if there might be a solution. One person sits on each side of a table and tells their versions. It's a process."
"In the beginning, they're talking to a mediator. In the end they're talking to each other," Maas said.
Husband of area native to discuss 'Habitat' on TV
MAPLE — The husband of a Maple native will appear on the NBC "Today Show" Friday morning to discuss his work with "Habitat for Humanity."
David Schnell and how wife, the former Sheila Winkka, have been working with Habitat for over 10 years to provide housing for disadvantaged people in the United States and abroad.
Schnell is one of the program's top administrators, working with former President Jimmy Carter, according to relatives here, and his wife volunteers her services to arrange meals for those involved in the construction work.
"Sometimes there's over 600 people to be fed during a project," said Sheila's aunt, Jeanne Kallinen, Lake Nebagamon.
Jan. 28, 1924
Charged with beating child
Otto Lieb, Solon Springs, when arraigned in municipal court this morning on a charge of inhuman treatment of a child, pleaded not guilty before Judge F.S. Parker and was granted an adjournment until January 30 at 2 p.m. His bail was set at $500 and in default he was committed to the county jail to await trial.
Lieb is alleged to have mistreated his six-year-old daughter, Martha, when he disciplined her for cutting up clothing belonging to a neighbor with whom she is staying. The little girl, it is said, slashed clothing with the scissors and when her father was informed of her actions he flew into a rage and beat her brutally.
The mother of the family of five children died last September and at that time the children were committed to the care of a neighbor.
Jan. 28, 1994
Spartan swimmers coast to 72-21 victory over CEC
CLOQUET — Hot water and all, the Superior Senior High School Spartans captured first places in 11 of 12 events. Thursday afternoon on their way to a 72-21 thrashing of the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton swimming team in a Lake Superior Conference dual meet held at the Cloquet pool.
"In addition to winning 11 events, we had 40 best times out of 67 total entries," commented SSHS Head Coach Mike Pahlen.
"The pool water at Cloquet was very warm and the boys said they felt like they were overheated in their races. Considering the hot water, the team swam well. I was especially pleased with the two career best times that Casey Nye turned in. Kurt DeKiep narrowly missed setting a new Cloquet pool record in the 50-yard freestyle by one-tenth of a second. Chad Lundeen, Scott Nacey and Steve Larrabee each had three career best times."
In the 200-yard medley relay, John Melcher, Brad Stone, Lundeen and Heath Cordts took first with a time of 1:52.80. Superior also took third and fifth in that event with Larrabee, Cory Elkington, Rik Sommerville and Troy Heytens finishing in 2:07.19 and Ted Lehman, Matt Duffy, Chad Pfau and Tom Larson finishing in 2:20.06.
Jan. 29, 1924
Crash victims will recover
Five Superior people narrowly escaped injury yesterday afternoon when a Studebaker sedan driven by Gordon Gee turned turtle on the ice of Superior bay near the foot of Garfield avenue yesterday at 2:30 p.m. The five are:
Gordon Gee, 1905 North 18th street, who is in St. Mary's hospital with a wrenched back. Mrs. Frank Kidder is at St. Mary's with a fractured hip bone. Mrs. W.F. McGraw, 1517 Tower avenue, in St. Mary's hospital with an injury over her left eye and a possible fracture of the hip. Miss C. Kidder, who was uninjured and Cecil R. Fitzpatrick, 1028 Banks avenue, who was also uninjured, are at their homes.
The car, according to the occupants, was proceeding across the ice near the Duluth side when it skidded, struck a series of bumps on the ice and turned completely over, with its wheels in the air.
Superior news in brief
New location — The Bear Shoe works, formerly operated at 1211 Tower avenue by Charles Bear and forced to move to make room for new hotel, is now located at 801 Tower avenue. Mr. Bear owns the building.
Jan. 29, 1994
City Council to debate early police retirements
Superior City Councilors will review an early retirement plan for up to six police officers when they meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Mayor Herbert Bergson has proposed a plan that would affect six officers. He would make his offer available to any police officer who reaches the age of 50 in 1994. It would allow Field Supervisor Bill Cronin to retire three months early, Field Supervisor Derrald Souja five months early, Det. John McLaughlin six months early, Det. Alex Kotter eight months early, Det. Leo Blatt 13 months early and Det. Bill Braman 36 months early.
According to Tim Nelson, the city's finance director, Bergson's plan would provide estimated savings of between $86,000 and $102,000 over a two-year period.
Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library.