Thursday, February 23, 2012

Volume 95; Number 36

www.bladepublishing.net

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

Staples Township organized in1849

By Rin Porter treaties were violated by the U.S. along the Minnesota River, the Staples Township is located in Congress, the Bureau of Indian Dakota Conflict of 1862 broke out. the northeast corner of Todd Affairs, and white settlers who Most early settlers in Todd County County, on the border with Wadena refused to honor the boundaries of left the area during the Dakota County, between Villard Conflict. The settlers and Bartlett Townships. It returned after the Civil includes the Dower Lake War, between 1866 and State Wildlife Management 1870, and included many Area and several lakes. Civil War veterans who The city of Staples is locatobtained homestead ed at the northeast corner grants as a reward for of the township. About 600 their military service. people live in Staples The Northern Pacific Township today. Railroad Company Staples Township was obtained land in settled mostly after the Minnesota during the Civil War. When Minnesota 1860s, graded it, and built became an organized terria railroad line from St tory in 1849, most of Paul to Fargo through the Minnesota was Indian land areas now known as owned and occupied by varVillard and Staples ious Dakota and Ojibwe Townships during the bands. During the decade early 1870s. Also during after 1849, treaties were that decade, settlers from negotiated with the bands Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, for the sale of most of the and other states migrated lands, and reservations to Minnesota. The railwere set aside for Indian road was a very important bands. The State of part of peoples decisions Francis M Jenkins was an early Minnesota was admitted to about where to live and Supervisor of Staples Township. the Union in 1858, and where to locate businesses Todd County was organized as one Indian land agreed to in the in the early days. of the first few counties, also in treaties. As a result of the governIn June 1881, a petition was 1858. ments delay in providing food and Continued on page 20. However, most of the new money to the Dakota bands living

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By Tim King Dean Meiners discussed his proposed buggy-licensing ordinance with Todd County Commissioners at their planning session Tuesday February 14. Commissioners do not take votes at planning sessions. Meiners said the ordinance he was proposing was from LaGrange County in Indiana. LaGrange County has had an of horse drawn wagons in Amish buggy licensing ordi- parades. nance for more that thirty years, Following Meiners presentaaccording to Meiners. Using tion County Attorney Charles our roads is a privilege not a Rassmussen stated that he right, Meiners said. believed Todd County had the Meiners proposed ordinance legal authority to permit horse would charge an initial $100 drawn buggies. He said farm registration fee for each buggy. equipment was exempt from At the time of the registration licensing under state law. each buggy would receive a nonCommissioner David Kircher transferable vehicle identifica- told Meiners he had had a numtion number. Every year after ber of calls and visits from peothat each buggy would be ple who were opposed to the charged a $60.00 licensing fee. ordinance Meiners was proposBuggies would be issued a ing. He also pointed out the reflective license plate. The ordinance would need a lot of plate would have an annual work before it could be legally license tab affixed to it similar adopted in Todd County. to those on automotive license Commissioner Mark Blessing plates. Meiners said he believed told Meiners that he too had the license plate would cost the calls opposing the ordinance. county less than four dollars per Meiners asked Blessing how plate. A lot of people are saying many calls he had received and this ordinance would be for hay who they were from. He quesracks and farm equipment, tioned whether Blessing actualMeiners said. Thats not true. ly received calls in opposition to Meiners also said the ordi- the proposed ordinance. I guess nance he was proposing would not apply to the recreational use Continued on page 20.

Todd County unlikely to adopt Amish buggy license Ordinance

Coaches vs Cancer Pink Out Night

Coaches vs Cancer hosted a Pink Out Night at the Browerville School on February 18 with huge community support. In addition to a boys and gir.s basketball game against Nevis, many fundraising events, including raffle prizes, and a paper airplane toss, raised funds for the American Cancer Society. The evening ended with a dance at the shool for students, and a live DJ and Raffle drawings at the Browerville Liquor Store for adults.

WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Wed. Feb. 22 Partly Cloudy 36/24 Thur. Feb. 23 Snow Showers 33/18 Fri. Feb. 24 Flurries 25/9 Sat. Feb. 25 Mostly Sunny 25/15 Sun. Feb. 26 Snow Showers 22/11 Mon. Feb. 27 Partly Cloudy 22/6