On this day in music, May 14, 1998, it was the end of an era when 82-year-old Frank Sinatra died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, following a heart attack. Known as the “Chairman of the Board” and later “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” the singer and actor was among the most popular entertainers in the 1940s–1960s. Today, he remains one of the world’s best-selling recording artists. Sinatra first rose to fame in 1940 with “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” and signed to Columbia Records in 1943. During his lengthy career, he placed over 25 Top 40 singles, including 1966’s chart-topper, “Strangers In the Night.” Among his many honors, Sinatra won 11 Grammys and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985.
In 2015, legendary blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist B.B. King died in Las Vegas at age 89. One of the most influential bluesmen and guitarists in history, the Mississippi-born artist (often called “The King of the Blues”) was revered for his innovative style on the electric guitar. Even towards the end of his long and prolific career, the hard-working artist was known to perform more than 200 concerts per year, while in his younger day, he could be seen at shows nearly every day of the year. King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and won more than a dozen Grammy Awards.
In 1988, Led Zeppelin reunited for Atlantic Records’ 40th-anniversary party at Madison Square Garden, appearing with drummer Jason Bonham, who stood in for his late father, John Bonham. Their second reunion since splitting, the band’s performance was disorganized and tense, as Jimmy Page and Robert Plant had argued about playing “Stairway to Heaven” prior to performing. Page described the appearance as “one big disappointment” and Plant agreed, noting that “the gig was foul.” Foreigner, Genesis, Ben E. King, and Wilson Pickett were among the other acts taking the stage.
In 2000, 60-year-old Tom Jones’ 34th album, Reload, topped the UK album chart, making him the oldest singer to earn a No.1 album with new material in Britain. The highest-selling album of his career, Reload featured his dancefloor smash with Mousse T, “Sex Bomb,” a No.3 hit in the UK.
In 1983, Spandau Ballet scored their first and only UK No.1 album with True. Released on March 4, 1983, the new wave group’s third studio album peaked at No.19 on the US Billboard 200, while its title track hit No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2002, musical We Will Rock You opened at London’s Dominion Theatre. A collaboration between playwright Ben Elton and Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor, the musical is based around the band’s songs. It would soon become the longest-running musical at the Dominion.
BORN ON MAY 14
1936: Bobby Darin
1943: Jack Bruce (Cream)
1952: David Byrne (Talking Heads)
1971: Danny Wood (New Kids On the Block)
1973: Natalie Appleton (All Saints)
1979: Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys)
1996: Martin Garrix
At 07:11 Monday evening, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a crash near the intersection of CSAH 17 and 360th Street in Forest Prairie Township. A pickup truck driven by 77-year-old Jerome Kuechle of rural Watkins was located off the roadway having sustained heavy damage believed to be from the vehicle rolling over. The driver and sole occupant was transported to CentraCare Paynesville Hospital by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol is believed to be a factor and the incident remains under investigation. Watkins Ambulance assisted at the scene.
On Monday morning at 1:31, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house fire in the 39000 block of MN Highway 4 in Union Grove Township. Meeker County Deputies, Paynesville Fire Department, Eden Valley Fire Department, Grove City Fire Department, and CentraCare Ambulance all responded to the scene. Upon arriving, deputies saw that the house was fully engulfed in flames. Deputies learned the house was owned by 67-year-old Denise Nohner and 54-year-old Brian Nohner of Paynesville. Both Denise and Brian were in the house when they noticed the fire; however, both were able to get out of the house safely. It is believed that a cigarette that was outside of the house caused the outside of the house to start on fire and then spread to the inside. Both homeowners were checked over by CentraCare ambulance and were cleared with no injuries. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the home owners.
On Friday morning at 10:55, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house fire. Meeker County Deputies, Eden Valley Police, Eden Valley Fire Department, Watkins Fire Department and Litchfield Fire Department responded to the 60000 block of 380 Street in Manannah Township. Upon arrival, the house was found fully engulfed in flames. The homeowners are 23-year-old Emma Frovarp and 31-year-old Jorge Gomez. No one was in the residence at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation with the State Fire Marshal.
Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. The co-op will have an appreciation event next Wednesday, May 21st, following the annual meeting for its electric customers and the Vibrant Broadband subscribers from 12:30-to-6 p.m.
Meeker Cooperative CEO Luke Johnson says local farmers and area leaders formed the co-op back in 1935. He says cities had electricity, but not the rural residents and it was quite an effort with all of the labor done by hand and with money being in short supply.
Johnson says Meeker Cooperative has evolved over the years with the latest big development being the installation of Vibrant Broadband fiber optic infrastructure beginning in 2018 to provide internet to rural areas and other under-served areas just like the electricity installation 90 years ago. He says Meeker Cooperative has 8,000 electric customers and over 6,600 Vibrant subscribers, and they will have exhibits and demonstrations for them to see next Wednesday – along with door prizes.
Meeker Cooperative Executive Coordinator Mary Alice Holm says next Wednesday’s event from 12:30-to-6 will include Wattenhofer pork chops, beans, potato salad, chips, cookie and water – served at the warehouse at 1725 East Highway 12 in Litchfield. She says they will have their safety demonstration trailer there and other interesting displays.
Holm says one of the programs started at Meeker Cooperative in the 1990s was Operation Round-up in which customers may round up their bills and employees may round down their paychecks with the money going into a fund which is then distributed in grants to various non-profit groups and school scholarships around the area. She says over $1.1-million has been given out over the years, and the application deadline for the latest round of grants is approaching July 3rd.