Mandan was experience a resurgence of civic service, with a record number of fraternal and service clubs and members. The trend was evident in the number and size of New Year celebrations around the city including parties at the downtown Elks building, the Moose Home, Knights of Columbus (KC) Hall, American Legion Hall, Veterans of Foreign Wars Club, Eagles Club and the Revelers Club which celebrated at the Mandan Country Club.
After several prior attempts, the citizens of Mandan in a margin of almost two to one approved the move to Central Standard Time on a year round basis. Mandan will switch time zones May 15.
A record-breaking 74 degrees on March 28 hastened the breakup of the ice on the Missouri River on April 5. A huge ice jam on the Heart River resulted in water backing up over Highway 10 to a depth of two feet, forcing the closure of floodgates and stopping all traffic to Bismarck. With more than 400 Republican conventioners staying in Mandan, the Northern Pacific Railway came to the rescue by adding a half dozen special commuter trains between Mandan and Bismarck to transport the delegates to and from the convention center.
A new gymnasium and more classrooms were added to Mandan's Senior High School building's north side. The gym in the $290,000 structure seats more than 2,000 people for basketball games and includes storage areas and complete athletic facilities including showers, lockers, etc.
1961
With the stay-at-home mom the norm, Morton County boasted no less than five homemakers clubs including the Rock Haven Homakers Club, Amont Homemakers Club, Fort McKeen Club Big Bend Homemakers Club and the Highland Homakers Club.
1965
Interstate 94 was completed including the second river crossing via the Grant Marsh Bridge. Like in most North Dakota cities, traffic was diverted off Main Street / ND Highway 10. The downtown central business district on both sides of the river would eventually be suffer with the migration of retail stores to stand alone shopping centers or commerical areas along interstate routes.
1966
North Dakota experienced the "Storm of the Century" from March 2 to March 4 when a late spring blizzard struck the state. Over 22 inches of snow fell on the area. The Mandan Pioneer ran a special souvenir edition of the event.
