History pulled from the pages

Compiled by Kris Leonhardt

100 years ago

Spontaneous combustion, originating in a greasy cloth. laid on the ledge of a kitchen door under a stair way, at the Julius Palowski home, 335 Fourth Avenue, resulted in a small fire. The north side company responded when an alarm was sent in.

The annual baccalaureate service at State Normal was held at the school auditorium. The sermon was delivered by Rev. James C. Hogan, pastor of St. Stephen’s Church, who was introduced by President John Sims.

20 years ago

Retired University of Wisconsin Basketball Coach Dick Bennett received one of two Distinguished Alumni Awards the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point presented. The university also honored Dorothy See of Wausau.

Three Stevens Point Area Senior High School students have won corporate-sponsored merit scholarships. Lindsay Bernhagen of Junction City, and Katie Cychosz and Nathan Ilten, of Stevens Point, received Mead Witter Foundation scholarships.

10 years ago

The first tornado since the early 1990s to cause any damage in Portage County tore a 20-mile path through the towns of Grant and Buena Vista.

Following an example set in King County, in Washington, Portage County Emergency Medical Services officials will implement measures over the next year designed to help improve survival rates of cardiac arrest patients.

About 30 guitarists and other musicians participated in the Mass Guitar Incident during the Portage County Arts Alliance’s sixth annual ArtsWalk in Stevens Point.