This was Brainerd

20 years ago (1989)

Welcome to winter! It didn't arrive until late this afternoon, but the last day of fall was a doozy. It was as if someone pulled the plug and let all the cold in Canada flow southward. It was 28 below at the Brainerd DNR office and 32 below at the Crosslake dam.

30 years ago (1979)

Pressing tactics employed by Coach Roger Nibbe's Warrior girls restricted visiting Elk River to just four field goals in the first three quarters on the way to a 60-36 victory. Carol Laimer and Cindy Weber led Brainerd with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

40 years ago (1969)

Obert Benson, 56, Brainerd city clerk for the past eight years, died of an apparent heart attack at his home. He was a lifelong resident of Brainerd and a World War II veteran. He had served on the city council for 10 years before being named city clerk.

60 years ago (1949)

An all-time record in the amount of Christmas mail handled has been reached at the Brainerd Post Office according to postmaster Joe Dunn. Tuesday was the heaviest day in history, with 66,709 pieces handled. The biggest day last year was 40,372 pieces.

80 years ago (1929)

The Brainerd Board of Education at a meeting last evening accepted the new Washington High School subject to protective conditions and the correction of any flaws that may be found. The public may inspect the building on December 28 and 29.

100 years ago (1909)

The track of the Cuyuna Iron Range railroad is now laid to Aitkin and the crew is moving at 1-1/2 miles per day. They expect to be at Cuyuna by the first of the year. After the main line is laid they will proceed laying track to reach the Mississippi River at Palisade.