Days Gone By

Talk about it

The community lost one of its favorites this week when Ed Cina, 82, died unexpectedly. “He was one of those rare individuals you don’t forget,” said DeWayne Meyer of his former high school teacher and basketball coach. He had the same outgoing personality in the classroom and on the basketball court.” Cina taught chemistry, general science, physics, aeronautics and physical science at River Falls High School for more than 40 years. For 15 years he met with friends — Bill Junkman, Larry Potton, John Traynor, Don Matzek, Wayne Rudesill, Byron James, Dale Viney, Howard Walior and Lloyd Johnson every morning for coffee, as he had on the day he died.

Locals Chuck Andrea and son Tim took top honors and all prize money at a muskie tournament held in Minnesota.

In a story featuring Dave Blummel and his wife Sandra it was explained the mix of Aves Taxidermy and Cheese was the result of his father’s world champion cheese and Dave’s taxidermy business. The cheese was not made on site, but in Stanley and offered for sale at the business.

Lunch tickets at the schools this year were priced at $1.25 per meal or five for $5.

The population of River Falls is 8,376; just a little over 1,000 since the last census. Roberts grew 66% to 805, Spring Valley slightly decreased; Hudson is up 19% and North Hudson is up 31% for a total of 8,000. St. Croix County is up 25%; Pierce is up 12%.

Ginger Flowers won the golf club championship; runner-up was Gail Magee and consolation champion was Rae Farley.

“Star Wars” was playing at Falls Theatre.

Due to many requests the Pierce County register of deeds was to start providing property transfers to local newspapers for publication.

Footings were being poured for the new roller rink that Doug Jenkins is building north of town just across Hwy. 35 from the Ken Sumner home.

Largest family at the Town & Country Day was that of Mr. and Mrs. William Sukowatey with children Barbara, Jean, Elizabeth, Margaret, Joan, Larry, Gary, Joe and Diane in tow.

The second teen hop was set with weekend with Bob Smith as master of ceremonies. Youth were reminded that no girls in jeans or boys in off-the-hip trousers will be admitted.

The body of Phil Cudd, who was killed in France during World War II, is being returned from overseas and will be buried in the Beldenville cemetery.

Fire swept through three buildings on the George Riter farm, destroying the buildings and crops and machinery they contained.

Tim Miller of Alaska, who broke his leg while visiting his grandmother Mrs. Ella Taylor, and was thus hospitalized, was the guest of the Lions Club at the first American circus he had ever seen.

James Richards was to open a new Mobil gas station on South Main, the most modern station in the city.

School sale at H&K Variety store included tablets, two for nine cents; Thermos junior lunch kits with bottle, $1.29; spiral bound notebooks, five cents; pocket knives, 10 cents and 25 cents; plain lawn handkerchiefs two for five cents; and bloomers from 19 to 25 cents.

A barn dance was scheduled at the Steve Huppert farm seven miles southwest of River Falls. Music will be by Roy Morrow’s orchestra.

At the J. W. Allard store, men’s all-wool suits are selling for $23.50 while the George M. Stewart shop advertised printed silk summer dresses for $8.

Pat Hunter can be reached at phunter@rivertowns.net, or call the River Falls Journal, 425-1561

Tags: days gone by, river falls history, opinion, columns