Jordan Cub Scouts met to hold their Pinewood Derby Monday evening. The derby was held at Jordan Elementary School.

Seventy years ago, Hahn's Store in Jordan sold Minnesota-grown potatoes at 23 cents for a 15-pound bag.

For more information, read the Looking Back column in the Jan. 8 issue of the Jordan Independent. Read it online in the Print Edition section, or subscribe by going to www.jordannews.com/subscribe.

Seventy years ago, several local organizations donated money for a sound movie projector.

For more information, read the Looking Back column in the Dec. 25 issue of the Jordan Independent. Read it online in the Print Edition section, or subscribe by going to www.jordannews.com/subscribe.

Ruth Anne Maddox, a staff writer for the Shakopee Valley News
who was killed in a domestic incident in November, was posthumously named the Southwest Newspapers 2008 Journalist of the Year last Friday.

The award annually recognizes outstanding contributions by the reporters and editors who staff Southwest Newspapers’ seven weekly newspapers: Chanhassen Villager, Chaska Herald, Eden Prairie News, Jordan Independent, Prior Lake American, Savage Pacer and the Valley News.

The publisher of the Jordan Independent has also been named publisher of the Shakopee Valley News by Southwest Newspapers.

Laurie Hartmann, a Prior Lake resident, succeeds Stan Rolfsrud, who has retired after 35 years with the company. He will keep the honorary title of publisher emeritus.

Fifty years ago, Washington acknowledged the Jordan Commercial Club's protest in regard to discontinuing trains through Jordan.

For more information, read the Looking Back column in the Dec. 4 issue of the Jordan Independent. Read it online in the Print Edition section, or subscribe by going to www.jordannews.com/subscribe.

ST. PETER -- The Center for Rural Policy & Development today released its latest edition of the Rural Minnesota Journal. The new 145-page volume contains eight articles examining the challenges and advances for women in rural Minnesota.

“Author after author found that these women face unique challenges when it comes to caring for their children and their elderly parents, finding a job or even navigating the health care system,” said Brad Finstad, executive director of the Center for Rural Policy & Development.

The most inspirational event annually for the Jordan Lions Club seems to be the food basket for the needy program.

Last year, the Lions handed out 164 baskets to needy families from the Jordan area and could surpass the record total this year with the state of the economy.

Area churches are signing families up earlier this year to compensate for it and are getting more returns than usual. The deadline to sign up is today, Dec. 1, with distribution on Dec. 9.