Over the Years

50 YEARS AGO
November 22, 1956 — Hillsboro city officials accepted a land offer from the local park board for an eight-acre site in the southwest corner of town to build a new armory. In talks with state National Guard officials, another site was discussed — on the south edge of town along Hwy. 81. The state also hinted that Hillsboro may lose its Guard unit and funding for the armory because the unit was under strength and soldiers here could be transferred to another unit.
Volunteer labor made short work of laying a base for a new driveway at the Hillsboro Community Hospital. Donated equipment cut away sod and prepared ground for the curved, one-way lane. Galen Jeffers led a crew, which included Ralph Byars, Bob Benson, Merlin Grage, Elmer Sorum, Paul Rotvold and Ron Mehl. The county soil conservation unit had surveyed and staked the project free of charge.

40 YEARS AGO
November 23, 1966 — Three 4-H leaders from Traill County were honored for 20 years of service to the youth organization — Ardell Strand of Portland, Leonard Muller of Hillsboro and Ted Peterson of Buxton.
Hillsboro businesses planned to be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings during the three weeks before Christmas to accommodate holiday shoppers.

30 YEARS AGO
November 25, 1976 — State representative Herb Anderson decided not to ask for a recount after losing by 24 votes to incumbent state senator Gilman Strand. Anderson expressed concern that, with election officials hand-counting ballots until 4 a.m. in some precincts, an inaccurate count was possible. In some large precincts, elections judges admitted they abandoned cross-checks to save time. Anderson urged election officials to correct these irregularities that could open to door to voter fraud.
Schipper Construction was awarded the snow removal contract for the City of Hillsboro.
By a 610-604 vote, American Crystal Sugar shareholders voted down a plan to merge with Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Coop of Renville.

20 YEARS AGO
November 24, 1986 — On a 3-2 vote, Hillsboro city commissioners approved a gaming permit at the Paddlewheel to be operated by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation of North Dakota. Owner Ray Gordon had tried for several years to have a local charity operate gaming in his restaurant and lounge but had been unsuccessful. The commission had turned down all previous applications, preferring to let the Hillsboro Vets Club run the only gaming operation in town.
Ilene Kyllo opened Ilene’s Market, a new grocery store in Galesburg, N.D., to serve the town of 200 people.

10 YEARS AGO
November 25, 1996 — The Hillsboro Burros settled for runner-up in the state nine-man football championship, losing to New England-Regent 23-6 in the Fargodome.
Subs-N-Stuff was set to open at the Superpumper station in Hillsboro. Burger King and the Cenex C-store planned to open in a week.
A benefit dinner was planned for former HHS principal Rick Alfson to help him in his battle against lung cancer.

— compiled by Michelle McLean

50 YEARS AGO
November 8, 1956 — Traill County voters favored Republicans in the General Election, casting ballots for incumbent President Dwight D. Eisenhower and gubernatorial candidate John E. Davis. A record number of Hillsboro voters turned out with 691 votes cast in the city.
In the tightest local race, Howard Kaldor nosed out Irvin Nesvig in the race for Traill County Sheriff. The winner was determined at 1:30 a.m. Election Night when Mayville City threw its support behind Kaldor, giving him the victory, 2585 to 2376.
Dr. D.N. Mergens met with Hillsboro city commissioners on behalf of the Civic and Commerce Association to suggest that a city planning board be formed to “establish and maintain a policy for future building in the city.” The Banner supported the idea in its weekly editorial — “Some sort of planning should be done for future building throughout the city as a whole. The city is to expand — and it must apparently — if it is to survive.”
40 YEARS AGO
November 9, 1966 — Hillsboro city commissioners reissued a beer license for the Viking Cafe. Closed for several months, the building was owned by Bill Jeffers and his wife, who planned to offer card tables but not serve food. Commissioners asked if the building could again be used as the bus depot. The Jeffers said they would consider it.
Darla Anderson, a part-time Hillsboro resident, was writing a children’s book entitled “Mr. Spider.” The 23-year-old mother split her time between North Dakota and Yarnell, Ariz., where she also pursued a passion for insect collecting. A number of the scorpions she had collected were donated to the American Museum of Natural History.
30 YEARS AGO
November 11, 1976 — To avoid lengthy court litigation, Traill County commissioners agreed to a 75-percent, four-year tax exemption for American Crystal Sugar’s Hillsboro processing plant. Commisioners had been pushing for a 60-percent exemption after the local growers’ cooperative plant merged with American Crystal Sugar Co. in 1975. The new plant was originally given a 100-percent exemption as a new business when it was built in 1974 but the county revoked that when ACSC, an established company based in Moorhead, Minn., entered the picture.
Hillsboro’s Day Care Center, a parent-run facility, faced serious financial woes and may be forced to close by the end of the year. With 15 children enrolled, there were only three full-time children plus as many as 30 families using the center for “drop-ins.” The use didn’t generate the necessary income to meet expenses.
20 YEARS AGO
November 10, 1986 — Traill County voters elected three new county commissioners — Tom Eblen, Olaf Flaten and write-in candidate Everett Thoreson. Commissioner Sidney Rosholt of Buxton held off a challenge by Vernell Knodle of Caledonia. Rosholt won by just 18 votes. Seven other incumbents also won re-election in the county.
10 YEARS AGO
November 11, 1996 — Democrats won District 20 Legislative seats in the General Election. Senator Elroy Lindaas was re-elected as was Representative Ole Aarsvold. Democratic newcomer Carol Niemeier beat out Republican candidates Tom Moe and Susan Stibbe for the second House seat.
— compiled by Michelle McLean