50 years ago — 1961

• Forty-two candidates reported for the 1961 Albert Lea High School football team. Returning letterwinners were Byron Boer, Jeff Brooke, Frank Fretheim, Wayne Mortensen, Tom McKey, Bruce Palmer and Dan Jahns.
• Paul “Butch” Westrum, of Albert Lea, signed a pro contract with the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League.
• The Albert Lea Packers defeated Mason City 7-4 in a Southern Minnesota League baseball game. Myron Hoffman picked up the win and Paul Ehrhard and Dick Anderson each had two hits.

25 years ago — 1986

• The Albert Lea High School girls’ tennis team defeated Fairmont 6-1. Winners in singles matches for Albert Lea were Jenny Volkenant at No. 2, Kelli Laumann at No. 3 and Mellissa Nistler at No. 4. Doubles winners were Mary Brownlow and Val Lindeman at No. 1, Mindy Rice and Tiffany Freese at No. 2 and Angie O’Byrne and Jill Gaetze at No. 3.
• Harold “Gabby” Pierce began his first year as head football coach at Wells-Easton High School after 21 years as head coach at Bricelyn. Thirteen letterwinners reported for practice from the 0-8 record of the 1960 team including Steve Bushlack, Al Warmka, Mike Yonkey, Ned Rucker, Dave Linder, Corey Peterson, Dennis Decker, Beto Gutierrez, B. J. Fisher, Mike Walsh, Tim Warmka and Dave Lindely.
• Kirby Puckett had four hits and three RBIs for the Minnesota Twins in their 7-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

10 years ago — 2001

• The Albert Lea High School girls’ tennis team defeated Mankato West 6-1. Winners for Albert Lea were Danielle Jacobs at No. 1 singles, Elizabeth Schreiber at No. 2 singles, Karen Leonard at No. 3 singles, Becky Birkhofer at No. 4 singles, Nikki Rafdal and Ashley Helgerson at No. 2 doubles and Amanda Rose and Nicole Merfeld at No. 3 doubles.
• Nancy Peterson of Albert Lea scored a hole-in-one on the 99-yard tenth hole at the Albert Lea Country Club using a 7 iron.