Biographical Information: Sheldon was born and raised in Minneapolis. In 1970, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. After graduating, he was the editor of two weekly newspapers and was with Associated Press before becoming state editor of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader in 1971. He went on to be associate editor of the Minnesota Motorist Magazine and became AAA's public relations manager. He was hired as Cooperative Power Association's public relations manager in 1977. Subjects discussed: Background. Status of project upon being hired as public relations manager of CPA. Dealing with Le Seur County suit and southern line. Routing and siting powerline-impact and usefulness of state laws; AC vs. DC line; towers; expense and cost to consumer. Development of project-Fallkirk Mining Company; Minnesota vs. North Dakota as plant site. Management study of CPA. Vandalism. Health issues. Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. As public relations manager-initial reaction to situation; steps taken to deal with situation; relationship to management; working with opposition. Science court. Possibility of merging CPA and UPA. CPA's image. Media's handling of events. How problems could have been avoided. Long-term impact on cooperative structure. Personal impact.
Biographical Information: Schumacher was a farmer in Glenwood, Minnesota. He served as State Representative from District 15a during the 1975-1976 session and served on the Health and Welfare, Higher Education, and Transportation committees. Subjects discussed: Situation upon entering office as state representative in 1974. Handling of hearings. Need for increase in energy. Role as representative. Lack of response to concerns of farmers by utilities and the legislature. Health and safety factors. Impact of issues on area. Reasons for confrontation by opposition. Solution to the powerline issue via court decision. Possible changes in powerline future. Uniqueness of controversy.
Biographical Information: Schrom was a native of Albany, Minnesota, where he lived and owned a farm at the time of the interview. In 1970 he was elected to the State Senate. He served on a number of commissions including Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Labor and Commerce. Subjects discussed: Background. Power Plant Siting Act. Why controversy arose. Eminent domain-validity of; use by utilities. Conflict of role as legislator and stance on controversy. Health hazard issues. Tower placement and section lines. Public hearings. Farm bill. Alternatives to line-coal. Future energy needs. Issue over declaring a moratorium. View of opposition-its tactics; organization of; impact on community. Role of Governor Perpich. Impact of costs of powerline and vandalism for citizens.
Biographical Information: The Rutledges were farmers in Lowry, Minnesota. They were members of the opposition groups Families Are Concerned Too and Save Our Countryside. Subjects discussed: Learning about the powerline project. Becoming involved in the controversy. Involvement with Families Are Concerned Too. Issues in controversy-changes in; section lines; health concerns. Science court. Involvement of legislature-Power Plant Siting Act. Reaction of power cooperatives to opposition. Reasons for confrontations. Governor's Anderson and Perpich. Court involvement. Necessity for line. Power needs-necessity for line; alternatives. Working with the government. Role of the media. Implications of powerline issue for more lines. Living with the powerline.
Biographical Information: Richardson resided in Morris, Minnesota. He was a retired farmer and a member of the Agralite Cooperative board of directors. Subjects discussed: Development of telephone cooperatives. Development of Rural Electrification Administration and involvement. People's inital resistance to electricity in the l930s and '40s. History of Agralite Cooperative. Role as director of Agralite. Input of cooperative members and board of directors. Cooperative procedure to site lines. Views on powerline controversy. Issue over dissemination of information to farmers regarding powerline. Increase in number of lines vs. alternative energy sources. Health and safety issues. Concerns over early powerlines and current ones. Cost and delay concerns for cooperatives regarding energy sources. Future needs for electricity. Usefulness of protest.
Recommends that most hailstorm relief supplies be in the form of feed for teams, and that it be distributed from the towns of Stephen, Argyle, and Warren, Minnesota.
Letter from chairman of Board of County Commissioners, Marshall County, asking for an apportionment of seed grain to distribute to farmers who lost crops in 1886 hailstorms.
Powell asks Gov. McGill's secretary to try to arrange for hailstorm relief supplies intended for nearby towns to be left at Warren for distribution; distribution should not be done by the county commissioners.
Dakota County atlas, 55 pages of colored maps, 48 cm. Scale of tounship maps 1:31,680. 2 inches to the mile. Patron's Directory is located on pages 53-55. Drawn from actual survey and county records by Bertine F. Pinkney.
Biographical Information: Pick was a native of Wisconsin. She moved to Minneapolis in 1975 to attend school and work. While attending school on and off, she taught in special programs for emotionally disturbed children, worked in the theater, and with the tenants union. She became involved in the powerline controversy and moved to Lowry in 1978 to work in the issue full-time. Subjects discussed: Background. Becoming involved in the controversy. Media-image produced regarding issues; newspaper vs. TV coverage; relationship of media to protesters and to utilities. Relationship of current movements to involvement in previous groups. Health and safety issues. North American Coal Co. and realtionship to UPA and CPA. Government Accounting Office investigation and possible recourse for opposition. Cooperative as representative of the people. Routing of line and siting law. Political involvement by opposition. Reactions of residents to outsiders involvement. Role in struggle. Purpose of confrontations. Science court. Legal defense record-court record; decision by jury vs. judge; grand jury investigation; supreme court decision. Security methods instigated. Darrell Mulroy and utilities. Easement compensation. Effect of line on people. Effectiveness of how opposition was organized. Future of powerline controversy. Future energy needs.
Biographical Information: Olson earned a degree from the University of Minnesota in international relations. While he was in graduate school, he became involved in the anti-war movement of the 60s. He was a potter and taught pottery in a neighborhood craft program. He was an opponent and protest organizer of the powerline.
Biographical Information: Olhoft was a state Senator from Herman, Minnesota. Subjects discussed: Background. The Power Plant Siting Act-reason for creating; problems with act; amendments. Environmental Quality Board-effectiveness of; role of; responsiveness to public; hearings. Effectiveness of citizen's committees. Eminent domain and land use. Energy situation and alternatives to deal with future. Legislative role in supporting energy alternatives. Effect of controversy on job as Senator. Role of Governors Anderson and Perpich.
