Looking Back
News from Bertha's and Hewitt's Pasts
25 Years Ago
March 25, 1998
Bertha-Hewitt High School Senior Marshall Rach is the individual champion of the 1998 State High School League Wrestling Tournament in the 135-pound weight class. Rach comes from a family of wrestlers and says he knew he liked it from the moment he began wrestling in first grade. Last week, Rach wrestled in the Minnesota-Wisconsin tournament and defeated the Wisconsin state champion. Rach will wrestle at the National High School Wrestling Tournament in Pennsylvania from March 26-29. He will wrestle in the 130-pound weight class.
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Hay was still smoldering at the John Ritari farm on Saturday afternoon. The Hewitt, Verndale, and Bertha fire departments responded to a fire at the Ritari farm on the night of Thursday, March 19. The barn, hay, and five head of cattle were destroyed by the fire. Firemen controlled the fire, and a backhoe moved the fire away from other outbuildings. Hewitt Fire Chief Steve Tritsch believes the fire was started by faulty wiring.
75 Years Ago
March 25, 1948
Karl Bottemiller was named valedictorian of the 1948 Bertha High School graduation class. His twin sister, Kathryn, was named salutatorian. Other honor students were Dorothy Milbrath, Robert Mullin, Ellen Maine, Grace Johnson, Marilyn Bottemiller, Jo An Hof, William Johnson, Mary Evelyn Perkins, Robert Franklin and Maxine Carlson.
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The Bertha Commercial Club honored the high school athletes at their annual dinner. The guest speaker was none other than former pitcher of the famous Bertha baseball team of the 1920s, John Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson recounted his experiences in Bertha, telling the audience about athletes, parents, commercial club members, and others. He considers Bertha as his hometown. John came from Chicago to visit his many friends.