DECEMBER 12

20 years ago (1992)

Retired Gen. John W. Vessey, who now lives near Garrison, was among 10 prominent Americans awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor by Pres. Bush. In awarding the Presidential Medal of Honor, he noted Vessey as the last of the WWII four-stars to retire.

30 years ago (1982)

Solid defensive play, limiting Alexandria to just 19 points in the second half, gave the Warrior boys a 59-51 season opening win Friday. On Saturday, Coach Mike Morgan’s team made it back-to-back wins, taking their home opener against Bemidji, 75-63.

40 years ago (1972)

The Brainerd School Board voted to transfer three deeds for property in the former Baxter School District to the Village of Baxter, thus ending a controversy from 1969. One parcel is designated for a playground, the others for access to it.

60 years ago (1952)

Two Minneapolis men were dunked in the icy waters of Mille Lacs Lake and five others were stranded for two hours when wind caused an 8-foot break in the ice. One man swam the break, then walked to shore. The other took shelter in a fish house and built a fire.

80 years ago (1932)

Two teams composed of American Legion members will go into the wilderness near Brainerd on Sunday for the annual rabbit shoot. The two teams will compete for bragging rights, and all rabbits are donated to the Community Relief Fund for the needy.

100 years ago (1912)

On Tuesday night burglars forced open the basement windows of St. Francis Catholic Church and robbed the poor box. It is not known what amount was extracted from the receptacle. A man must be lost of all sense of decency to think of robbing a poor box.