30 years ago

SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY BULLETIN July 16, 1992 Acting differently than others, Cottage Grove treated domestic violence according to a primary aggressor policy, with the party believed to have been the main aggressor in the matter being the one arrested for domestic violence calls, rather than all parties involved.

“I had heard of such a policy being practiced in Washington State and Wisconsin, but not anywhere else,” one person said in the police department philosophy under then Cottage Grove public safety director Dennis Cusick.

July 9, 1992

Sooner or later, things need maintenance, and for the bridge connecting Lower Grey Cloud to Cottage Grove, it was time for repairs 30 years ago. The question was, who would pay for it? That was a matter of dispute, with two options given: one in which the cost was split three ways between the Shiely company, island residents, and the city, and another in which the city picked up the whole cost. Reported by staff writer Doug Rock was the news that Island residents preferred the latter, with spokesperson Rod Hale speaking for the Islanders.

“Any issue relating to funding that is assessed to others should incorporate the doctrine of fairness and equity,” Hale noted in making the case for city payment. “It is poor public policy to do otherwise and one that will eventually cause citizens to lose faith in the democratic and elective process. We believe that all citizens of Cottage Grove benefit equally by the Grey Cloud Bridge,” he said. With nine island residents, only one of whom had visual contact with said bridge, and one public boat launch as well as the mine thrown in, the question of bridge replacement wasn’t one that could wait forever.

Meanwhile and in an apparent dig at the influence of television, a cartoon by Ray Hass stated, “like role model, like role player” and tied T.V. violence to the real world, with a recent shooting incident bringing things close to home.

40 years ago THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BULLETIN July 8, 1982 With phase 3 of a chemical dump study getting underway in Oakdale, part of the money would be used in relation to multi-aquifer wells, with contamination on the first level seeping to the other water bearing strata based on pressure and lower levels not being capped. Complicating the cleanup as well was that “at least 40” ditches had been dug in the area of the Abresch dump site, with water sampling continuing and a water risk assessment due the end of July from the state health department. 3M had reportedly conducted surface cleanup of the site and would continue, with materials burned at the Cottage Grove plant or else shipped out of state to a “hazardous waste dump,” the location otherwise unspecified.

Finally off updates from 40 years ago, staff writer Larry Cortese reported that a moratorium dispute at Newport had been buried, with Plan Commission head Elmer Engler reportedly saying the code was “weak” and in need of review, commission member Gill LaFaille calling an open storage provision “a little lenient.” The council had been given a great deal of discretion in the zoning code, but making regulations tighter was no guarantee that a particular concern would get by. City attorney Fred Knaak advised caution.

“I suggest we tread carefully lest we trample on the rights of others,” he was reported as saying at the time.

50 years ago THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BULLETIN June 29, 1972 Coming in for notice and mention the week of June 29 some 50 years ago, was the Woodward farmhouse on Point Douglas Drive. Settled by George Eugene Woodward in the 1850s, the farm grew and prospered, with Eleanor Woodward born in the house and later marrying Frank Belden, whose own family farm gave place to Thompson Grove in the course of history. The Woodward farm deemed a relic of a time since passed, Eleanor had fond memories of the house she was born in. “I always think of this house as a happy house,” she told the bulletin. “It has characteristics of a person to me.” Among the outbuildings of the farmhouse during its existence was a cheese factory, with second generation resident Forrest Woodward serving as postmaster at Langdon and running a general store with other business at St. Paul Park, commuting each day. Meanwhile a Supervalu was on the way, with groundbreaking in July. Frank and his wife Eleanor are buried today at Cottage Grove Cemetery, along with many family members.

Reported from Stillwater 156 years ago THE STILLWATER MESSENGER July 27, 1866 Motto: “Be just and fear not” At home: Those Strawberries. Mr. Preston Jackson, of Lakeland, has placed us under obligation to him for a basket of the largest and most delicious strawberries we have seen during the present season. They are of the Triumph de Grande variety, and cannot be excelled in point of excellence. Many thanks for the kind remembrance.

Deplorable casualty Eliza Ann Beals, age 26 and unable to swim, drowns while bathing with a friend in White Bear Lake. Burial is made in the cemetery by the lake. With thousands enjoying the water in recent years, Miss Beals was the first death by drowning. No memorial entry can be found at Find A Grave. Other records state she is buried at Union Cemetery.

Territorial dispatch 171 years ago THE DAKOTA FRIEND April 1851 English and Dakota Pa Mayazan. / My head aches.

Nape on pa kin en amapapi. / With their hands they struck me on the head.

Wicarinca hunr pa xdapi. Some old men are bald headed.

Tancan owancaya mayazan. / My whole body is pained.

Hokxidan apa ixrta soksotapi. / Some boys have blue eyes.

Wicarincapi eca ixta mdezapi xni. / The eyes of old people are not clear.

Hi wicayazan eca terike. / It is hard to have the toothache.

Tuwe ceji jata eca, he zice. / It is bad to have a forked tongue.

Tuywe wicaxta ceji jata eca okinihan xni un. / The man whose tongue is forked is not respected.

Tuwe nape wakoyaka eca xice dakapi. / He who has sticky hands is hated.

Tuwe wamanu sa eca, Nape wakoyaka eciyapi. / It is said of a their that his hands are sticky.

Wicaxta kin siha nina wowiyunkiyapi. / Men make great use of their feet.

Law referred to committee for review.

The translation of the following, it will be seen, is not literal; but it is about as close as it can easily be made: (bilingual publication in English and Dakota) [a] In the House of Representatives, on the 10th Dec., 1850, Hon. H. H. Sibley introduced the following, which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs:* A Bill to provide for the punishment of crimes committed in the Indian country, within the limits of Minnesota Territory, and for the promotion of the civilization of the Indian… therein.

The first four sections of the bill provide for the apprehension of criminals, in the Indian country, within the limits of Minnesota Territory, by the military force of the United States, upon the requisition of the Governor of the Territory; and for the trial and punishment of all persons who shall be guilty of committing any crime on the lands belonging to the Indians, within the limits of said Territory, in the same manner as if the crime had been committed by a white man, within any district of country under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States.

Sec. 5. That it shall not be lawful for any military or other officer of the United States to inflict any punishment upon any Indian, (unless during the existence of actual hostilities between the United States and the tribe or nation to which said Indian may belong). Or other person without the limits of the country embraced by this act, except in the execution of the sentence of a court duly empowered to inflict the same; and whenever an offender or offenders against the provisions of this act shall be apprehended by a military or other force, he or they shall be conveyed immediately by the nearest safe and convenient route, and delivered up to the civil authority of the nearest judicial district of the Territory aforesaid, to be proceeded again in due course of law; PROVIDED, that no person who may be apprehended by a military or other force as aforesaid under the provisions of this act, shall be detained longer than five days after arrest and before removal. And all officers and soldiers who may have any such Indian or other person or persons in custody, shall treat them with all the humanity that the circumstances will permit; and every officer or solider who shall be guilty of maltreating any such person or persons while in custody, shall suffer such punishment as the proper civil tribunals or a court-martial shall direct, proportioned to the degree of the offense.

Sec. 6. That in no case after the passage of this act, shall it be lawful for any officer of the United States to withhold from any tribe or nation of Indians in the limits of the country embraced by this act, the annuities due them by the United States by virtue of treaty stipulations, whether in goods, money, or provisions.

Sec. 7. That so soon hereafter as the measures now contemplated for the extinguishment of the Indian title within any portion of the country embraced by this act, shall be completed and the different tribes or bands of Indians shall be permanently located, there shall be and there is hereby granted, in fee simple to each Indian, of whatever tribe, within the country embraced in this act, who is or may be the head of a family, or who shall settle upon and cultivate a portion of land for three consecutive years, a tract of land not exceeding forty acres, as the President of the United States may direct: Provided, That said tract so granted shall not be alienated or sold by said grantee unless by the special permission of the President, for good cause shown: And provided, further, That the location of the tract so granted shall be determined under the direction of the President, and a patent be issued to the grantee in accordance with the same.

Sec. 8. That any male Indian, of whatever nation or tribe embraced by this act, who shall adopt the dress and habits of the whites, and become sufficiently educated in the English language to read and understand it, and shall so desire, shall be admitted to all the rights and privileges of a citizen of the United States, without thereby forfeiting his individual claim, or that of his family, to annuities paid by the United States under treaty stipulations, to the tribe or nation of which he or they may appertain: Provided, however, That before such Indian shall be so admitted to the rights of citizenship, he shall be examined by a board, to consist of two or more judges of the United States courts, in said Territory of Minnesota; when, if such Indian shall be found duly qualified as aforesaid, (and not otherwise) he shall be entitled to a certificate of citizenship from the court authorized to issue the same, upon his taking an oath to support the Constitution of the Untied States and the organic act of the Territory as aforesaid; And provided further, That the recipient of said certificate of citizenship, so to be issued as aforesaid, shall not have the right to vote at any election in the Territory aforesaid, until the expiration of two years after the issue of said certificate.

*The Committee on Indian Affairs is still in existence, with present day information and members at https://indian.senate.gov)