A pipe bomber goes to prison, 32 years ago

In the summer of 1985, Earl Karr was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Minnesota judge, for possessing an explosive device. Karr actually planted about two dozen pipe bombs in four Midwestern states, including six found just in La Crosse prior to the Memorial Day weekend in 1984.   One bomb was discovered outside the cathedral downtown, and another near a slide at a playground.  Six people in all were injured by the explosives. Karr eventually received much longer prison sentences.
 
La Crosse County has a full-time administrator now, but in 1985, county board members turned down the idea, even after it had been recommended by a task force. Supervisor Norbert Nuttelman actually responded to the administrator plan by saying if the system “isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
 
Movie fans were introduced to Marty McFly and Doc Brown in the original “Back to the Future.” It was also the summer for “The Goonies”…Sylvester Stallone as “Rambo”…”Cocoon”…and “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Thirty-two years ago, 1985, yesterday in La Crosse.