5 years ago

Monday, April 28, 2020

Citizen’s Advocate

The lights at Elmer Becker Park in Deer Creek came alive on Monday night in honor of the Be The Light Minnesota campaign to honor all of the students, staff and community members, as well as the Class of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lights at the baseball field were turned on at 8:20 p.m. This campaign takes place at football and baseball fields across the state each Monday night. 

The Henning School District has received its fair share of statewide and national news for its prowess on the basketball and volleyball courts. Now the district is receiving national headlines for its work inside the classroom. For the first time in school history, Henning School has been named to the U.S. News and World Report Best High School Rankings. The district finished second to only Fergus Falls in the region, and was ranked just ahead of Battle Lake School in Otter Tail County.

A pair of milestone events has essentially been put on hold for high school students across the nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While neither prom or graduation have been canceled, the likelihood that either event is held this year as it has in the past seems unlikely. Henning School Principal Thomas Williams said prom, which was originally scheduled in mid-April, has already been postponed. Among the options being discussed was having an informal prom in June or July at either Thumper Pond or another location nearby. 

25 years ago

Thursday, May 3, 2000

The Henning Advocate

Last week, the DARE helicopter arrived on the football field in Henning to the delight of students and other community members. Mark Fiskum took a look inside the helicopter as students filed by the massive air machine. The helicopter is flown by the National Guard, who visited Henning, Battle Lake and Fergus Falls schools to congratulate the school’s DARE graduates. Marvin Klever heard the chopper come into town and took a trip down memory lane. Klever worked on the same type of helicopters 50-years-ago and he said that hearing the blades cut across the sky last week “sent a chill down my spine.”

The Henning School Board recently dealt with several staff issues as the process of putting together next year’s budget begins. A survey had been conducted on campus in April and there were two issues that students seemed most concerned about. The first was their wish that the school would serve healthier meals. The second issue worrying the students was their belief that alcohol and cigarettes were too easily accessible to minors in Henning. They told those conducting the survey that something needed to be done about drug and alcohol abuse by minors in town.

“We’re hoping to be a benefit to the community.” Simply put, that is Opal Ronning’s newest mission—one she began as she opened the doors of Ronning’s Just Off Main on Monday morning. Opal and her husband Danny, who reside in Bertha, recently purchased the building, after seeing it for sale on a Sunday drive. She has happily served a steady list of already regular customers in the past few days. Ronning’s will satisfy those in the area with a sweet tooth. Six flavors of ice cream served in regular and waffle cones, pop, coffee, milk and an assortment of baked goods are available.

50 years ago

Thursday, May 1, 1975

The Henning Advocate

Members of the Henning High School choir are preparing this week for their Friday departure to Esko. Mr. Johnson, music director, and chaperones Mr. and Mrs. Len Dreyer and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Peterson will accompany the group.

St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ottertail will be dedicated at 9:30 a.m. worship services Sunday with Rev. August T. Mennicke of Brainerd speaking. The public is invited.

ENTERTAINMENT: Leaf Lakes Ballroom – Country Ramblers. Oakwood – Otto Richter and His Accordion.

75 years ago

Thursday, May 4, 1950

The Henning Advocate

Welcome news to local residents is that the final “go ahead” has been received on a new county road west of town from Highway 108 to the Butcher corner five miles from Henning. This was agreed upon at the city hall this Wednesday morning attended by Commissioners Stone, Gunderson and Hanson, county engineer Huber, property owners, town boards and the local road committee. According to G. C. Clement the right-of-ways have been secured and a good graded federal aid highway will be built over this stretch. Construction will be started about August 1st and no later than Sept. 1st.

The state highway patrol arrested Edward Kujala last week for speeding in Henning. He was brought before Justice Dana Wheeler and fined $13.

100 years ago

Thursday, April 30, 1925

The Henning Advocate

While hunting gophers, Harold Anderson’s 14-year-old son, Bert Anderson, accidentally shot himself through his hand on Saturday of last week. Doctor Nelson was called to dress the wound, and the lad is reported to be getting along nicely.

C. L. Barker, Henning, was presented with the cup offered by the Twin City Radio club for the best all-around amateur station in the Dakota division at the banquet at the Minnesota Union. Professor C. M. Jansky presented the trophy, Don Wallace will act as toastmaster. The cup, which is on display in the window of the City Drug, is a heavily liveried affair. It reads: “Presented by the radio record, Minneapolis to the best al around amateur radio station in the Dakota division A. R. R. L. C. L. Barker, 9ECU, 1924.” The three states of Dakota Division comprises Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Mr. Barker was surprised to say the least. In fact, he says that when he received the message on the decision he almost dropped from the chair.