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Council tables vote on airport road name
Published Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Bryan Hauschild asks the City Council to reconsider the naming of the airport road at the City Council meeting 5/19/08 Watch »
Fergus Falls city council members say they’ll consider multiple options for the renaming of the airport entrance road following a request from the facility’s manager Monday.
Specifically, manager Bryan Hauschild asked the council to consider naming the road after Joe Devorak, a World War II veteran and designated flight examiner who served as the airport manager and founded West Central Aerial Sprayers in 1948.
City staff had originally proposed the road be named for Einar Mickelson, a World War II veteran, Fergus Falls resident and namesake of the airfield. The move for an official street name comes as the city undertakes a series of upgrades to the airport road, including a three-inch overlay and new right turn lane — improvements approved at Monday’s council meeting.
Hauschild said about a dozen people had contacted him about the road name since last week, including three out-of-towners.
“Mr. Mickelson did great things for our country and China both,” he said, “but as far as someone who did something locally, I think Mr. Devorak did more than anyone.”
Mayor Russ Anderson was a friend of Devorak and remembers the pilot’s passion for children.
“He was a remarkable guy — an excellent pilot and a wonderful friend, too,” Anderson said. “I think this would be a great way to honor him.”
A Madison native, Devorak was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004, the same year of his death.
Council members and city staff said they would gather more input on potential road names and bring the subject back to a later meeting.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by sweetfergusgirl (anonymous) on May 20, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lucky Shol should definately be considered for this matter.
Posted by Flashbang (anonymous) on May 20, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sweetfergusgirl, if Lucky's name should be considered, please give some reasons. The reasons posted for Joe have been many. Let us hear yours for Lucky. I have no problem with putting his name in the hat, but let's hear why, that's what the Council will look at.
Posted by sweetfergusgirl (anonymous) on May 20, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was taken from an article in the Opinion & Comments portion of the Daily Journal that was written by Steve Wizarde. I'm quoting his wonderful words since I couldn't have worded it quite as eloquently.
"One of the driving forces behind the years of construction, airport lighting and expansion was a man known to many of you.
During the airport improvement project the airport manager and owner of West Central Airways was Lucky Shol.
Known to so many area residents either from the airport itself or by Lucky and Blanche Shol's prized Viking Cafe in downtown Fergus Falls, he is without question a man who deserves recognition for the endless time and energy he put in to making our airport one that will serve our community far into the future.
Lucky Shol poured his heart and soul into making Einar Mickelson Field a model airport.
The time he spent planning, coordinating, nurturing and grooming our beautiful airport would be measured in years. He was truly a man of vision and an asset to our community throughout his lifetime." -Steve Wizarde
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