Ely Elementary gets a new coal-powered furnace...Clayton Enga became chairman of the Pierce County Commission and the Good Samaritan Hospital Board of Directors approved major renovation work at the Haaland Home. These were some of news stories making headlines in January of 1983. Here's a few more.

January 5, 1983—A new court system began in Pierce County under a reorganizational plan set by the N.D. Legislation. The county no longer has a county judge and county justice. Instead, one judgeship has been created to handle cases in Pierce and McHenry counties. Rugby attorney John McClintock was elected to serve in that judgeship.

January 12, 1983—Jim and Barb Fowler purchased the Hub restaurant, supper club and pub from long-time owners Ken and Betty Hillman. The Hillmans will continue to operate the motel. The Fowlers, from Williston, will be co-managers of the restaurant and supper club. The Hillmans had the Hub complex since 1969, and in 1975 added on to the Hub Standard and opened a bottle shop.

January 19, 1983—A Rolette teen stared down three hunters holding loaded shotguns and won the battle. Kelly Johnson confronted three hunters who were shutting geese illegally. Johnson heard gun shots and confronted the men with his cousin, Shane Yoder. He told his cousin to go call the sheriff while Johnson stayed with the men. The men reportedly tried to bribe Johnson, but he didn't budge and eventually the three hunters were arrested. Johnson, an avid hunter, was upset that the men were violating hunting laws.

January 26, 1983—Rugby made medical history when it became the smallest city in the state, and perhaps the upper Midwest, to have a hospital with an operating CT scanning device. Officials from Johnson Clinic and the Good Samaritan Hospital ran the first CT scans — a pelvic examination. The second involved a brain scan.

Playing at the Centre Cinema: First Blood (Sylvester Stallone)...Jimmy The Kid (Gary Coleman)...Barbarosa (Willie Nelson)...Class Reunion.

More News Nuggets Goodyear Wrangler all-season radial tires were selling for $89 apiece at Pierce Tire Inc..A Stihl pure chain saw was selling for $509 at Miltenberger Sales and Service...A six pack of Pepsi Free cost $1.99 at Budget Corner...A 1981 Ford Mustang was selling for $6,000 at McGuire's.

Last answer: Glen Pfau

Person of Interest: This former Rugby Vocational Agriculture Instructor was honored by North Dakota State University for serving many years as State FFA Advisor and State Supervisor of Vocational Agriculture.