This Week in 1999, 25 years ago: Being ranked first in the state’s polls may be a tough act to live up to, but the Cardinal boys’ swim team has had no problem with that pressure this year. The Big Red tankers, who recently captured their sixth straight Central Lakes Conference title by a record-setting margin, are looking ahead in hopes of bringing home their fourth straight Section 8AA title. Returning to aid the squad will be four swimmers who earned All-American honors last season. Mark Atwood, who was also the Section 8AA Swimmer of the Year last season, will be joined by Erik Esbjornsson, Kyle Weimer and Luke Vestrum, all of whom earned those high honors at state. These four splashers also earned All-State honors, along with Adam Gess and Reed Ziegler, all of whom are in the line-up for Friday’s meet. All six swimmers have been record-breakers for Alexandria this season along with Matt Kleine, another top scorer for the Cards who will also be in this weekend’s line-up.

1974, 50 years ago: County-wide, multi-channel television service may become a possibility as city and county officials discussed such a proposal with a representative from an electronics firm that constructs so-called UHF (Ultra High Frequency) translator systems. Pending the results of an on-site inspection of communities already served by UHF television reception, the Douglas County Commissioners appeared favorable in joining the City of Alexandria in splitting the cost of a feasibility engineering study and survey. Simply stated, UHF television is a method whereby distant television stations (Minneapolis-St. Paul in this case), could be received on home television sets from signals transmitted through the air, as opposed to direct cable hookups. A series of three towers would be erected to get the television signals to Douglas County – one near Albany, another near Sauk Centre, and one in the middle of Douglas County, near Garfield.

1999, 25 years ago: Gordie Billmark of Billmark’s Lakes Area Insurance, Inc., has been named a Melvin Jones Fellow by Lions Clubs International Foundation in recognition of his commitment to serving the world community. Named for the founder of Lions Clubs International, Melvin Jones, the fellowship is the foundation’s highest honor. It is recognition of a commitment to humanitarian service. Billmark is a member of the Alexandria Evening Lions Club.

2014, 10 years ago: Parkers Prairie residents are working hard to replace the city’s 37-year-old community swimming pool. The pool was built in 1977 and has started to deteriorate. It also does not meet government requirements for accessibility. That is why the West Central Initiative/Parkers Prairie Swimming Pool Fund has formed and is helping raise $1.8 million for a new aquatic facility.

ALDI, a global supermarket chain based in Germany, plans to open a store in Alexandria. Plans call for a 17,000 square foot building with a canopy that will be built south of 50th Avenue West, between Fleet Farm and Culver’s. The estimated cost of the project is $800,000.

Just for Fun – 1949, 75 years ago: Douglas County paid out $1,571 in bounty fees during 1948. A local aviator, Darwin Olson, copped first honors. While hunting from his plane, he knocked over enough fox to collect $268 and added one wolf for an additional $15.

Oscar Swenson of rural Alexandria sold what was somewhat of a record sow at the D & D Sales pavilion. Swenson’s pig, which hasn’t met the two-year mark yet, weighed in at a hefty 790 pounds. It sold for $129.19.

Sports trivia – 2014, 10 years ago: For the second consecutive season, the Alexandria girls’ hockey team is going to the State Girls’ Hockey Tournament in St. Paul. The Cardinals wrapped up another Section 6A title by beating Fergus Falls 4-1 in St. Cloud.

Rachel Barduson of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist to the Echo Press Opinion page.