Ticket sales were brisk, and Capt. Paul Lester was planning to take the first public cruise on the Red River 25 years ago. He had been running private tours for the previous two weeks.
"We had 55 kids from Fordville in the rain and the sleet," he said.
All seven cruises for Mother's Day were sold out.
Also in May 1986, Interim Police Chief Chester "Chet" Paschke, 43, had taken the helm of a troubled police department. Chief James Clague took advantage of the Grand Forks City Council's offer to pay $60,000 and insurance benefits for five years.
And the Grand Forks County commissioners appointed Robert Rost as interim sheriff to replace Gordon Taylor. He was removed from office by Gov. George Sinner after a series of problems with drinking charges.
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Early in May 1986, precautions against the spread of measles were taken here. The Grand Forks Health Department asked citizens to avoid big gatherings. Dr. William Powers, county health officer, exempted tennis and golf teams from the ban, which was lifted May 9.
But the measles cases kept cropping up, and there was concern over whether the annual state track meet could be held. Eventually, there was an announcement from Joe Ford, the Grand Forks School District's athletic director, that it could take place.
At the end of May 1986, the Sorlie Bridge was closing for the summer for repairs. Traffic was to be diverted to the Kennedy Bridge for 80 days. The 57-year-old bridge was to undergo major deck replacement.
Greg Stennes, manager of Whitey's, was one of the East Grand Forks merchants planning to deal with the problem of the closed bridge and said he would feature "walk to lunch" specials.
More than 2,000 degrees were awarded during commencement at UND in May 1986. The speaker was a 1950 UND graduate who was CEO of American Telephone and Telegraph Co.
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On the lighter side of the news, the Herald ran a story saying:
Give George Schubert, Neil Reuter, Marv Cooley and Chip Lien a bouncing ball and a court to play on - and they will return with a state championship. All four are champions in at least one division.
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Schubert, Cooley and Reuter are state handball champions while Lien's expertise comes in racquetball, where he has won the state singles title six times.
Chi Chi's Mexican Restaurant at Columbia Mall was one of the popular restaurants 25 years ago. It was featuring a sirloin steak sandwich for $5.95. There were two Red Owl Country Stores -- one at 715 S. Washington St., and the other in East Grand Forks.
Gordy's café was going strong at 409 Gateway Drive with Ruth Jensen as proprietor. Bonanza was another popular spot at 1800 S. Washington. And the Elks Club on Belmont Road had a big following
