Business owners were urging Grand Forks to build pedestrian skywalks to link downtown buildings 25 years ago.
John Norby, president of Norby's department store, said he thought the project should be spearheaded by the City Council. Howard Marquardt, a vice president of First National Bank, said, "The idea of the skywalks is to rejuvenate the downtown area."
The council earlier had voted $30,000 in Community Development money for a second story skywalk over Fourth Street between Norbys and the First National Bank.
The city at that time suspended downtown parking fees.
At the same time, an estimated $1.29 million expansion of the Grand Forks International Airport terminal was endorsed by the city's public service committee. The backing was subject to the completion of project plans by Schoen Associates, a Grand Forks architectural and design firm.
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The building would be 24,136 square feet, including 9,000 square feet to accommodate future second-story and ground-level expansion, according to the designer Bill Kobetsky.
Despite roughly 22,000 trees lining Grand Forks residential berms, the lack of trees on city thoroughfares was drawing attention in 1984. John Staley, city forestry superintendent, said he had developed a plan for foliage along the city's well-traveled routes. The trees would be planted in phases using forestry program money.
Hugo's held a grand reopening of the East Grand Forks store that was doubled in size with Jess Westrem as manager. Former Grand Forks Mayor Hugo Magnuson was founder of the Hugo markets. His son, Curt, was general manager of the stores.
Other supermarkets in Grand Forks at the time included Albertson's.
Many were caught up in the biennial benefit for United Hospital, called High Fever Follies. Members of the committee included Dick Olson, Ted Black, Edward Lander, Arnie Horpedahl, Dr. Dean Midboe and Dr. Ronald Bergom.
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Names in the news in May 1985:
** R.T. Adams of Fisher, Minn., died at age 96. He had been president of Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers for several years.
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** Mike Jacobs was named executive editor of the Herald when Beverly Kees, who held that position, moved to a similar post with the Gary, Ind., Post-Tribune. Mike Maidenberg was publisher of the Herald, then owned by Knight-Ridder.
** Carl Miller, 50, UND athletic director since 1976, resigned to accept a similar post at the University of Pacific in Stockton, Calif. George Schubert, UND institutional representative, said Miller's major accomplishment at UND was advancement of women's athletics.
Helen Smiley was named by UND President Tom Clifford to take over as interim athletic director.
** Curt Kreun won a second three-year term on the East Grand Forks school board. Also re-elected was Ordean Thompson.
