This was Brainerd

20 years ago (1989)

Two Brainerd area families heaved a collective sigh of relief when word came that OS3 David Bellefeuille, 20, had escaped unhurt from the gun turret explosion on the USS Iowa. Forty-seven sailors died.

30 years ago (1979)

The Brainerd School Board accepted the low bid of $104,000 from Brainerd Construction for a building that will house space for concessions, lavatories and athletic storage at Don Adamson Field.

40 years ago (1969)

Two prisoners sawed their way out of the Crow Wing County Jail last night using a hack saw blade to cut through two bars on the west side of the building. Two other inmates in the cell block chose not to escape.

60 years ago (1949)

Rain and some snow over the weekend has not dampened the fire danger here, said Homer Whiting, state forestry supervisor. In the past two weeks there have been 52 grass and brush fires.

80 years ago (1929)

Motorists are advised to stay off Highway 18 from Borden Lake on to Garrison. The road from Brainerd to Borden Lake is fair, but the stretch to Garrison is impassable. Highway 2 to Aitkin is in fair condition.

100 years ago (1909)

A man said to have been named Robinson undertook to ride a log on the river. He was better at riding than guiding and it became stranded against the piers of the Laurel Street bridge. There being no boat, his friends hauled him onto the bridge with a rope.