5 years ago

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021

Al Berube has spent the better part of a decade being an advocate for community banks across the state of Minnesota. That advocacy culminated in August when Berube wrapped up a one year term as chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota Chairman. As the chairman, Berube represented the interest of community banks across the state from communities a fraction of the size of New York Mills to some multi-billion dollar community banks in the Twin Cities and beyond. 

The New York Mills City Council received a brief look at what a new N Boardman Ave. could look like next year. During its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday night, the city council heard an update on next year’s N Boardman Ave. project from Michael Weber of Apex Engineering. Weber said the pavement along the road are in poor condition with quite a bit of cracking, some of it being pretty significant, which could be attributed to a structural deficiency.

When Jose Urbala crossed the U.S. Mexico border for the first time at the age of 17, he did so with the help of a coyote.  A coyote is not a canine down south. It is what they call a person who is paid to smuggle migrants into the U.S. Urbala arrived in the land of the free with intentions of working hard and making money. As is the story of many ill-gotten youthful adventures,  Urbala learned if he wanted to live the American Dream, he needed to play by the rules. The first step was obtaining a work visa, then a Green Card; then becoming a U.S. citizen.

35 years ago

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1991

Cole Grace and Co. at WCCO radio read Herald editions over broadcast airwaves. The Mythical Lake Wobegon and its creator, Garrison Keillor are not to be heard in this neck of the northland especially it you’re tuned to 830 on the AM radio dial. Instead try the real thing, served up Saturday mornings by a former Mills resident who has made his mark in radio broadcasting. Yes indeed folks, it’s the New York Mills News, freshly sliced from the pages of our very own Herald and read religiously at 6:10 a.m. most Saturdays by Cole Grace, a 1972  NYMHS graduate who works as an  engineer at WCCO. Grace and on-air companion Dave Lee (another small-towner from Hatton, N.D. who used to work at KFGO in Fargo), said they started reading the Mills news over the airwaves about three months ago. “We get a copy of the Herald along with copies of hundreds of other newspapers from throughout the state,” explained Grace. “During Dave (Lee’s) normal on-air time each  Saturday, he lets me read a little bit about Mills from the paper, including the correspondent columns and the bowling scores, as well as the fishing and horseshoe leagues. Heralding (no pun intended) the start of the news each Saturday is a highly appropriate tune penned by Marvin  Rainwater—“The Best Looking Women on God’s Green Earth are from New York Mills.” Then after that, Grace and Lee dive into the news for 5 or ten minutes, making sure to place the appropriate editorial commentary where it’s needed the most. Grace said part of the show’s charm involves the fact that very little (if any) planning goes into each brief broadcast. Most of the time, both he and Lee do the New York Mills News off-the-cuff, which helps keeps things creative.

Spending time with your child—a gift that can be never forgotten. Many parents spend only a few minutes a day in actual conversation with their children. Most of the time is spent telling their children what they are and are not permitted to do. Since little time may be spent in true communication, children may feel unimportant and feel that their  parents do not care about them. One gift that you can give this Christmas, and all year long, is your time. It does not cost and can be given every day. Time spent with children is far more valuable than words or presents. Listed below are some ways to give this gift of time:

1. When children bring papers home from school, take time to look at them. Talk positively about their efforts. Remember, these papers represent an invest-

ment of hard work.

2. Take time to read to children, This can be a time of sharing and relaxing together.

3.   Play with children. This will let them know that their world is important to you.

50 years ago

Thursday, Sept. 23, 1976

Ken Christianson, district information officer for the state highway department, reveals that the opening of US 10 as an expressway around New York Mills has been delayed. The work on the highway was to have been completed already, but delays by the sign company in erecting the new signage for the finished highway have twice forced the postponement of the route’s opening. Christianson comments that the work, which was to   have been completed this week, will not be done next week with the opening of the west bound route definitely set for Friday, Oct. 1.

DUMPERS are asked to take notice of the following notice from Melvin Ollie, custodian of the  city hall and city dump:  “Due to the no burning ban and fire hazard at the city dump, dumping will only be  permitted with an attendant present. Dumping hours remain as before: Tuesday 12-4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please bear with us until conditions improve.”- Melvin Ollie.