Over the Years

60 YEARS AGO
August 13, 1948 — Hillsboro city supt. I.E. Lane reported that there was little difference in the quality of water between the city’s old wells and new ones. Tests conducted by UND labs showed a slighter degree of hardness and more sodium, which creates a greater laxative effect. The water sources will be blended in a new pump house, which was to be constructed as soon as materials were available.
Supt. Lars Grant announced that school in Hillsboro would start Tuesday, Sept. 7. Thirteen teachers were contracted to teach, including two new faculty members, Esther Halvorsen, 4th grade and James Holo, high school music.
50 YEARS AGO 
August 14, 1958 — The opening date for Hillsboro schools remained a question mark on the calendar. The school board tentatively chose Tuesday, September 2. On the recommendation of Supt. Lars Grant, the board kept the option of a later date, Monday, September 8 to allow contractors to finish remodeling work in the school’s science rooms and lavatories. A final decision would be made later.
40 YEARS AGO
August 15, 1968 — The names of all 142 swimmers who passed swimming tests at the Hillsboro municipal pool were listed on the front page of the Banner and included two “senior lifesavers,” Kathy Koering and Susan Kraby.
The Western Star passenger train was scheduled to stop in Hillsboro daily. The westbound train from St. Paul to Minot was to stop at 2:27 p.m. while the eastbound’s stop was slated at 12:20 p.m.
30 YEARS AGO
August 17, 1978 — Local law enforcement destroyed a marijuana field worth “at least $3,000.” The cultivated garden was discovered by an Elm River Township farmer on wasteland near the Red River. The spot was placed under 24-hour surveillance for four days. When no one was seen in the area, authorities cut down 340 pounds of marijuana plants, which stood eight to nine feet tall — “harvest height.” It was the biggest illegal planting ever found in Traill County, according to sheriff Richard Fisher. Participating in the “cut-down” were deputies Gary Hawkins and Rick Weigelt, N.D. Highway Patrolman Merle Haisley, game warden Lee Johnson and states attorney Dewel Viker. Hillsboro Banner editors Gary and Peggy Wright were invited along to document the incident for the local newspaper.
20 YEARS AGO
August 15, 1988 — Greg Storhoff was hired to replace Brad Sherwood as music teacher at Hillsboro High School. School board members also discussed the fate of the vo-ag program. The board accepted the resignation of vo-ag teacher Greg Tufte but weren’t comfortable hiring a replacement on such short notice. They discussed restructuring or eliminating the program but eventually voted to hire a replacement teacher for an 11-month, rather than 12-month contract.
10 YEARS AGO
August 15, 1998 — The annual old-time threshing crew harvested their two-acre plot of wheat north of Hillsboro using a 1930s era McCormick-Deering threshing machine. Ten men, most older than 75, have worked the field the old fashioned way for a decade.

— compiled by Michelle McLean