10 Years Age – 2000

Taking the path of hockey and soccer, the Mandan School Board has voted in favor of making the Mandan club baseball a sanctioned high school sport. According to Superintendent Dr. Kent Hjelmstad, the sport will be entirely funded by the baseball booster club for the current season.

The Mandan Progress Organization has elected its new officers during their annual awards meeting held at the Seven Seas. Scott Volkert of the Finder and Mandan News was named the new president, with Dennis Rohr, Mandan’s police chief, to serve as vice president. Holly Miller is the treasurer. Directors are: Gene Veil, Kelly Stockert, Scott Thompson and Mary Van Sickle. The MPO organization helps to promote and orchestrate many community events, such as: the Buggies ‘n Blues car show and the Mandan Jaycees Rodeo, and is also responsible for the Christmas light display in Burlington Northern Park on West Main Street.

25 Years Ago – 1985

Supported by a unanimous vote, Raymond Knoll directed the first meeting of the Morton County Commission for 1985. Knoll fills the chairmanship held by Michael Schaaf, of Glen Ullin, who was defeated in his bid for reelection last November. Richard Bendish, Fort Rice, will serve as vice chairman. Other commissioners on the board are Rose Leingang, Henry Gustin and Robert Chase.

The outgoing governor Allan Olson and the incoming governor George Sinner were both featured speakers at the opening of North Dakota’s 49th Legislature session. Representing District 34, mostly Mandan, is Senator Corliss Mushik and Representatives Dan Ulmer and A.R. Shaw, with local District 53 being represented by Senator Walter Meyer and Representatives Les Gullickson and Tony Eckroth.

Tocker Pudwill, Mandan, has avenged a loss to Williston’s Pat Nowland at the Mandan Community Center Amateur Boxing Tournament. Fighting at 100 pounds in the 10-15 age group, he had lost a decision to Nowland the night before in Bismarck. According to Pudwill, the difference in the second bout was “I boxed him more.” Pudwill was also named outstanding boxer in the junior division. Other Mandan winners were: Keith Otto, 75-lb. class, and Scott Schwartz, 145-lb. class.

50 Years Ago – 1960

The latest development in the location of the Dakota Malting and Brewing Co. hit a new high in rumbling discontent this week after the Mandan Chamber of Commerce announced the postponement of its annual dinner meeting. Mandan businessmen were boycotting the meeting in response to an announcement by the brewing board’s chairman, Frank Gruye, of the company’s intention to locate in Bismarck instead of Mandan as was originally proposed. As a result, many angry Mandan residents, who had purchased shares, threatened lawsuits along with 20 Mandan tavern owners who also promised to not promote the new beer. The brewery was expected to employ up to 75 people and was to have been located near the olds sales ring in Syndicate.

Sue Heath, daughter of Mrs. W.G. Clement, of Mandan, has won first place and $100 in the sixth annual “Know Your State” contest held at the University of North Dakota. Sixty high school students from across the state competed on the UND campus at Grand Forks.

More than 100 sports fans saw the Mandan Braves wrestling team defeat a squad of matmen from Streeter, 43-15, at the Junior High School gym. This is Mandan’s first year of wrestling competition. Scoring pins for Mandan were: Ken Clouston, 112 lbs., Terry Dinderman, 138 lbs., Leroy Kary, 145 lbs., Dennis Johnson, 154 lbs., Larry Weigum, 165 lbs., Rod Gwyther, 175 lbs. and Lyle Frankl, unlimited.

75 Years Ago – 1935

The mercury slid below the 20 below zero mark for the fifth consecutive day of extreme subzero temperatures in the Mandan area, with the lowest reading at 29 below followed by a high of just 14 below zero. The dangerous subzero weather, accompanied by a stiff wind, brought traffic within Mandan to a near standstill and forced schools to also close as furnaces were unable to heat the classrooms, resulting in children and teachers wearing coats and mittens to class.

John Reis has announced the opening of a new tavern, named the “Old Heidelberg Inn” at 116 East Main St. The new entertainment establishment will feature “Genuine Blatz Beer,” along with dancing each evening to the music of the Five Aces.

A grand opening celebration is being held for the new studios of Mandan’s radio station KGCU. Their new home is in the balcony section of the Kennelly Furniture Store, 111 First Ave. N.W., and features a new and improved 250-watt transmitter along with space for two broadcast studios, a control room and a reception room for guests. KGCU’s former home was on the second floor of the Lewis and Clark Hotel.

100 Years Ago – 1910

“The Mandan City Commission on Monday evening, by a vote of three to two, decided to lay on the table the petition of about 150 citizens to compel the closing on Sundays of all pool rooms and places of amusement – principally the Topic Theater. The petitions were presented by Revs. Belsheim of the Lutheran church, McCurdy of the Presbyterian church and Taylor of the Methodist church.

“The agitation for the closing of these places had been going on quietly for some time, and on Sunday last, petitions were read from the pulpits of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches. Members of the congregations were then invited to affix their signatures at the close of the services. The petitions claimed that these Sunday openings were in violation of the state law, were a desecration of the Sabbath, were offensive to law abiding citizens and had a tendency to corrupt the youth.

“In the course of the discussion, the argument was advanced that the pool rooms offered virtually the only form of entertainment on Sunday afternoons for a large number of men and visitors to the city, that there was no disturbance created in these places, and that unless something was offered as a substitute for the moving pictures shows and the poolrooms as an attraction to the young people, other forms of amusement might be sought which would be more harmful.”

From the Mandan Pioneer in 1910. The Topic was located just west of the Lewis and Clark Hotel on Main Street.