Twenty five years ago today, a blizzard with 15 inches of snow hit Grand Forks. And there was more snow predicted.
Flights were canceled. Highways closed. The blizzard surprised the weather bureau here, and the Herald said it was going down as "one for the books."
Three buffalo photographed by Eric Hylden of the Herald were shown huddling from the cold on the James Earl farm west of Grand Forks.
A warm front bringing mild temperatures moved through this region on Jan. 18, 1989.
This was North Dakota's Centennial Year and a high school centennial band appeared at the Rose Bowl under direction of Dale Koppelman.
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People in the news 25 years ago included William Dando, one of the best known UND professors. He announced plans to hit the roads -- when they cleared. He was accepting a position with Indiana State University at Terre Haute. Dando was chairman of the UND geography department and had done extensive research on drought and famines in the Soviet Union.
Dick Wold, chief executive at First National Bank, received the Henry Havig Award for leadership at the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner. Donald Larsen was recognized as the new board chairman.
The Grand Forks Chamber went on record favoring an increase in the 5.5 sales tax and in favor of Sunday openings. Spokesmen were Ken Svedjan, Don Larsen and Bob Gustafson.
And Jonathan "Jack" Page became the 77th Illustrious Potentate of the Kem Temple of the Shrine.
There was a roasting and toasting of Earl Strinden who was ending 22 years of service in the state legislature in 1989. Newspapers called it the beginning of a new saga of the legislature. He had served as House Majority Leader. About 100 acquaintances showed up with good natured chiding of the Grand Forks Republican for losing his campaign for U.S. Senate against Sen. Quentin Burdick. They also joked about his ability to talk like a statesman even after the reporters had gone home.
Other names in the news in January 1989:
• John Schmisek, Grand Forks assistant auditor, was welcomed back to the city. He had made a brief move to Minnesota and wanted to return after finding he believed the schools better here. And the local school board rescinded Schmisek's resignation.
• Cliff and Anita Olson announced their Olson Garden Center was up for sale and they were retiring. The business was opened here by his late father Louis Olson and W.L. Hoover in 1924.
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• George Stavetig and Keith Berger were sworn is as Grand Forks County Commissioners. William "Spud" Murphy was elected chairman.
• The late Ray Duggen, a former UND student in 1910 and 1911, left a $1 million endowment to the UND Medical School.
• And Jack Alston, the city's pigeon trapper, came through and cleared out 1,200 rock doves -- the fancy name for pigeons.
Depending on which source of statistics was used, the North Dakota population was expected to grow to 736,000 or shrink to 629,000 in 1989.
(Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or by telephone at 701-772-1055)
