10 Years Ago – 2000

The Mandan Chiefs, coached by Randy Will, clinched the West Region Baseball title after defeating Williston, in a western conference double header. The Chiefs had only to win one game out of the next four when the Chiefs met and lost the first two games with Dickinson. Next up was a two-game battle with Williston. In the first game, the two were tied in the seventh inning when a single by Nate Lighthizer drove in Tate Meyhoff, which clinched the western division conference title. Mandan went on to also defeat Williston in the evening’s second game, the Chiefs ended their regular season, 14-6 and 40-23 overall.

In a unanimous decision of a four round-fight at the North Dakota State Fair, Mandan’s Shelby Pudwill defeated Delbert Chasing Hawk of Pine Ridge, S.D., improving Pudwill’s record to 12-1-1.

25 Years Ago – 1985

North Dakota scored 875 points to finish 15th at the High School National Finals Rodeo held at Rapid City, S.D. Texas won the team title, after competing against more than 30 states and two Canadian provinces. Mandan’s David Berg finished fourth in the Bareback event and received a buckle and a plaque. Brian Hartman, who took first in saddle bronc at the state finals in New Salem, ended with another fifth place finish at the national event. Others Mandan participants were Dean Breuer, Glenn Renner and Lisa Schaff.

Chris Boehm of Mandan hit a hole-in-one with a four-iron at the Municipal Golf Course on Saturday, July 27. Witnesses were Bill Block, Mel Miller and Harney Just. “It was my first one in 45 years of playing,” said an elated Boehm. 

The Big Bend Homemakers Club of Flasher is celebrating their 50th anniversary. The club was organized with 14 members at Big Bend School in May 1935 by R.C. Newcomer, Morton County Agent. Its name was derived from the big bend the river takes in that area. Of the original 14 members, Alice Toman and Josie Novotny still maintain their Homemakers Club membership.

50 Years Ago – 1960

The Bill’s Super Value amateur baseball team defeated the Carson Indies, 3-0, this week in a contest which gave Mandan pitcher Bill Bragg a no-hitter and, with the exception of four walks and a hit batter coupled with three errors by his teammates, a perfect game.

Bragg mustered 12 strikeouts, facing 35 batters in his nine innings of play; only 10 Carson players reached first base. Bill’s scored all their runs in the third inning. Howard Koch was the “Big Gun” for Bill’s, hitting 2 for 4.

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Mandan policemen and their families and members of the city commission and their families were guests at the annual policemen’s picnic on a Sunday afternoon at the home of Chief of Police and Mrs. Earl Vredenburg, east of the city. More than 40 persons were present for the steak fry. Special entertainment included guitar music by Patrolmen Armin Lennick and Bill Blotsky, plus singing by Sgt. George Doll and Patrolman Ed Wingenbach.

The first wheat of the 1960 season has been brought into Mandan and marketed at the Occident Elevator, according to Al Fasching, elevator manager. A.C. Graner and sons, south of Mandan in the Huff vicinity, brought in the first load, which graded the average of 60 pounds to the bushel. Yield per acre was 20 bushels.

Mrs. C.F. (Jane) Ellis, of Mandan, is this year’s first golfer to shoot a hole-in-one on the Apple Creek Country Club in Bismarck. The feat happened on the 87-yard Number Seven hole, using a seven-iron. Mrs. Ellis was playing in a foursome on July 27 during the Ladies Day events at the club.

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Miss Loretta Rosita Schmidt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Schmidt, and Paul J. Joersz, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Joersz, Sr., exchanged wedding vows at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Saturday, July 23, in a nuptial mass performed by Father Treinen.

The bride, carrying a bouquet of white carnations and pink roses, wore a floor-length gown of nylon tulle over taffeta. Her queen’s crown of seed pearls and sequins held her veil of French illusion.

Miss Agnes Marking, Bismarck, was maid of honor. Serving as bridesmaids were Delores Zander and Marlene Schmidt, both of Mandan. Their identical gowns were of street length blue organza over taffeta. They also wore blue veiled crowns and carried bouquets of white carnations.

Casper Schmidt, brother of the bride, was best man. Groomsmen were Leonard Beckler, Mandan, cousin of the bride, and Melvin Bobb, Minneapolis.

The bride attended Mandan High School and Bismarck Junior College and is employed at First National Bank of Mandan. The groom is a graduate of New Salem High School, served two years in the U.S. Army and is employed by the State Highway Department.

Miss Loretta Rosita Schmidt and Paul J. Joersz, Jr., who were married on July 23, 1960. Submitted photo

75 Years Ago – 1935

As flood waters receded in Mandan, hundreds of gardens, muddied lawns and water-soaked homes were seen. The stench from the rotting vegetation was especially strong due to excessive heat and humidity in the area. Riverside Park remains closed; no band concerts are being planned for several weeks. Ten south side families are being cared for in the new Memorial Building by the local Red Cross, and three families have temporary quarters in one of the schools. Flood damage in Mandan is estimated at $40,000.

To combat the hoards of mosquitoes now covering the entire city due to the flooding, crude oil is being spread over ponds, sloughs and potholes in and near Mandan in an effort to kill the hatching pests. Local filling stations are providing waste oil for the citywide project; the crude is being distributed by federal relief employees and the city’s health service workers.

Hundreds of Mandan residents were able to see the full stage of the eclipse of the moon this past week. Beginning at 8:30, the watchers could plainly see the shadow of the earth pass across the face of the moon until it was totally obscured. The moon then turned a rich copper shade and early in the morning, there was a great, round, coppery background around the moon. 

100 Years Ago – 1910

“LaRue Shaw, while at work on the Fraser farm fixing a hay rake to which a team was attached, was quite badly injured by the horses starting to run away and dragging him for quite a distance. He was considerably bruised by coming in contact with a stump at a twenty-mile gait. While the injuries are not serious, he will be laid up for some weeks.”

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“The Railroad Hospital operated by Drs. Dutton and Russell of Spokane, Wash., is to be abolished and the railroad patients taken care of at the Mandan hospital. The doctors and their assistants are busy at this time packing the equipment for shipment back to Spokane. It was decided to abandon the hospital, since the Mandan Hospital is finished and is amply able to care for any unfortunates.”

(To contact Diane, email dboit4thosedays@aol.com)