25 Years Ago - 1985

This week the Staples Theatre will feature “City Heat” starring Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds.

The number of births in Todd County continued a four-year downward trend in 1984, with 42 fewer births than in 1983. The total births for the past four years were 310.

50 Years Ago - 1960

At the annual meeting of the Staples Fire Department held last Thursday, Earle A. Black was elected fire chief for the coming year. He has been a member since 1947.

Assuming his duties Jan. 4, as Speech, English and Dramatics instructor at Staples high school was Guy Vena, a recent graduate of Bemidji State College. He replaced Peter Peterson who resigned for health reasons.

REMINISCENCES: At one time Staples was known for its immense railroading operations which pretty much regulated our local economy. In 1959, and throughout the ‘60’s, while we waited for the railroad to vacate, we struggled for economic survival by trying to attract new industry. We had some success but we slowly became a city dependant on our residents finding work in other towns. We have become a retail community similar in some ways to a tourist community but are dependant on the allegiance of its residents to shop here. The thing is, we live here but mostly we work in other towns. Staples is no longer a self supporting community. We don’t employ people as much as we try to sell to them. So why do we stay?

Since the loss of the railroad many felt an affinity to Staples and stayed due to what can only be pride in our town and of our community spirit and accomplishments. We had people on the school board, in the chamber of commerce and on the city council who were rooted here and maintained the spirit.

Since and even before Staples became a city we had a school district. It was a source of pride then that we sent our children out into the world well prepared by the quality of their education. We were from Staples where you could become a well-rounded individual by going to our schools. We had a national award winning reputation in Mike Matanich’s tool and die design and machine shop training. Our school system was not only recognized academically but became renowned in the state for the extra mile they went to provide activities like sports, becoming state champions year after year. There was a time when, if you completed the commercial courses taught by Miss Gladys Dodge and graduated, you were automatically hired anywhere, even Minneapolis or St. Paul. Tough courses but if you passed you were already on a higher standard than elsewhere.

For as long as Staples has had a music program they have excelled in band and choir. Staples aced all the state competitions and became known for a phenomenal music program. We were blessed with some of the best directors who are themselves, award winning teachers. The community supported these efforts in fact they demanded exceptional results from our school.

Today, teachers are struggling just like the public in trying to maintain these standards while being told there is no money to maintain these programs. We are losing pride in our schools. Too many jobs were lost in our schools while too many plans were implemented at a cost so great the students suffered. Too often those implementing these plans have moved on to other towns leaving us to carry on a self defeating program while even more changes are being planned.

The people living in our community but working elsewhere are being cheated out of the chance to help much. As commuters, they find the time to see family but there is time for little else. Those who are lucky enough to work here are being used up by being spread to thin, so great is the need. We have found ourselves spending money to decorate empty store fronts while trying to project an image of a prosperous downtown and community. Maybe money should be spent as incentives for industry. We need to be what we are trying to project, we need less show and more substance.

We need to remember the important things now, in the past and for the future are the things we need to give to our children. We need to provide for them economically, academically, artistically and socially. We need to remember the pride we had. We need to remember who we are and what is important to us. We need to try to hold on to our identity and remember why many long time residents are still here and realize that our identity and achievements are what