Years Gone By

5 years ago: 

• Hartig Drug opened its doors in downtown Monticello on Jan. 5. The chain is headquartered in Dubuque. Long Drug closed its doors at the same location in December 2014. Hartig hopes to expand its prescription drug offerings to those on a variety of insurance plans. Many of the Long Drug employees chose to stay on with Hartig Drug coming in. (1/14/2015) 

• After 16 years/four terms as a Jones County Supervisor, Joe Cruise retired at the end of 2014. Jon Zirkelbach was voted into the District 3 seat. Cruise took part in four elections as the only Democratic candidate. He never saw opposition during the Primaries. Cruise liked that the entire county could vote for all of the supervisors, not just those living in that district. During his years on board, Cruise continued to farm near Scotch Grove and work as an auctioneer for Paul Glenn. (1/14/2015) 

10 years ago: 

• Monticello City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen swore in new city council members and mayor on Dec. 5. The new city officials are Don “Ho” Miyagawa, John Sauser, Tom Yeoman, and Dave Goedken. (1/13/2010) 

• The Monticello wrestling team won its fourth tournament of the season and remains unbeaten as a team. They swept the Maquoketa Valley Wildcat Invitational on Jan. 9. Six Monticello wrestlers went 5-0, and three went 4-0. Coach Heath Holub said the Panthers will face their toughest test at the Solon Invitational on Jan. 16. (1/13/2010)

25 years ago:

• The Monticello girls basketball team traveled two hours in the snow on Jan. 6 to blow away Camanche 55- 31. Kelly Brockhohn scored 21 points; Sonya Rieniets, 17. The Panthers are now 2-4 in the Big Bend Conference, 2-7 overall. (1/11/1995)

• The Monticello High School and Middle School welcomed a new addition: A bigger and better computer lab. The additional equipment and computers came from the Monticello School Foundation. High School Principal Keith Stamp said it’s now possible for entire classes to use the lab. They went from having 11 computers and two printers to 23 computers and three printers. (1/11/1995)

50 years ago:

• A new heart care center is being added to John McDonald Hospital. Four nurses have received specialized training to operate the equipment: Mrs. Fred Diehl, Mrs. Gary Aitchison, Mrs. Joe Brunkan, and Mrs. Arvin Woeste. The patient is hooked by electrodes to a monitor above the bed. The nurse on duty can then watch the pattern of the heart beat on the machine. Two patients can be supervised at one time. (1/8/1970)

• There is a change of ownership of Hargrave Cleaners. Arnold Seitz of Cascade purchased the business from Glenn Hargrave. Seitz worked for his father, Ray, at Seitz Cleaners in Cascade. There will be no personnel changes under the new ownership. Hargrave operated the business for 31 years. It moved to its present location (315. E. First St.) in 1947. (1/8/1970)

100 years ago:

• The basketball game between Monticello and Center Junction last Saturday resulted in favor of Monticello with a score of 46-23. (1/8/1920)

• The Monticello public schools will not open until Monday, Jan. 19. The announcement was made by Superintendent L.W. Dunlap to correct an erroneous idea that spread around town that schools were to open next Monday, Jan. 12. (1/8/1920)