SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE B1
Kiki Christensen’s daughter, Kailey Christensen, helped conceive the idea of using cups to spell out Sophie Stultz’s name in a fence by Albert Lea High School and her friend, Megan Vogt, made sure the task was complete while she attended the funeral service. Many others who participated in the project formed a human heart that stayed firmly tethered in place as the procession drove by. PHOTO COURTESY DAN BORLAND
SUPPORTING IN TIMES OF NEED Balloons honoring 8-year-old began with an idea; over 100 people volunteered By Kelly Wassenberg
kelly.wassenberg@albertleatribune.com
Like a cracked window or a shattered mirror — the hearts of the Stultz family were irrevocably broken when 8-year-old Sophie Stultz died last July. In the wake of such overwhelming grief, the family could have drowned in a sea of sorrow. Instead, they have managed to stay afloat due to their strong faith and the overwhelming amount of support shown to them by the community of Albert Lea. This support has been shown in many ways — kind words, warm embraces and with hundreds of pink balloons. Like many who heard of the child’s passing — but didn’t know the family personally — Albert Lea resident Jeanette Phillips felt compelled to do something to show the Stultz family her support. The first thing that came to her mind was a video her mother-in-law had shared with her in which a funeral procession route was lined with balloons. “I thought, ‘Why can’t Albert Lea come together and do something like this?’” Phillips said. So she went to work. It was July 5 and she was on a field trip to Valley Fair with her husband and three of her children who were in the marching band. With limited access to Wi-Fi, she sent out a call for volunteers to help with the project from the bus through Facebook Messenger. The response, she said, was instantaneous. Within minutes, she had received over 20 messages, which spiraled into over 100 by the time she was returned home that night. The flurry of donations of time and materials had Phillips creating a spreadsheet to keep track of much of the information, yet she admits some things were undoubtedly missed. The project branched out far beyond those on her friends list to make it hard to nail down the exact number of volunteers who ended up working to complete the task without fear of leaving someone out. Her husband, Aaron, speculated the numbers could be anywhere between 100 to 150 people. Was she surprised with the response? “Yes and no,” Phillips said. “It didn’t surprise me
Aaron and Jeanette Phillips, Kiki Christensen, Andrea Harves and Jennifer Hegel were just a few of the area residents who helped line the procession route for the funeral of 8-year-old Sophie Stultz. KELLY WASSENBERG/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
Volunteers helped blow up hundreds of pink and white balloons at the Albert Lea Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. PHOTO COURTESY DAN BORLAND
“When you teach, those kids become yours, and it’s like losing one of your own.” — Lakeview Elementary School teacher Kiki Christensen because it’s Albert Lea and we’re full of great people, but it did surprise me because I was like — wow. I didn’t expect it to be as bombarded as it was by balloons.” While there were a few different groups working to fill balloons the night before the funeral, Phillips worked
The Albert Lea Convention and Visitor’s Bureau was one of a few locations where balloons were readied the evening prior to Sophie Stultz’s funeral service. Balloons were then moved to more strategic places along the route for easy at the Albert Lea Conven- access the next morning. PHOTO COURTESY DAN BORLAND tion and Visitors Bureau, where she met volunteer little emptier and missing and they had a chance to view Dori Etheridge for the first one big, bright, beautiful the route afterwards, Harves time. smile.” said they all began to cry. “I saw Sophie almost Another location that “And I haven’t stopped every day walking past hosted a balloon-filling thinking about (the family) my house or playing in the event was the home of since,” Harves said. “You park,” said Etheridge, one Andrea Harves. While she just don’t forget.” As painful as the memoof the Stultz family’s neigh- did not know the family, bors. “She was such a beau- her husband, Albert Lea ries may be, the staff at Elementary tiful little girl filled with so police officer Tim Harves, Lakeview much joy and spunk.” knew Sophie ever so brief- School have memories too Etheridge said the bal- ly. He was one of the first dear to ever dream of letloon event was a way for to respond to the scene of ting go of. “Sophie was in my class, those feeling helpless and the crash the day Sophie saddened by Sophie’s loss died. and she was a beautiful With a group comprised spirit that just lit up the to get together and share something that in a small of her husband, parents, classroom,” said Kiki Chrisway would show the Stultz sister and her sister’s boy- tensen, Sophie’s secondfamily how much the com- friend, Harves’s group blew grade teacher. munity was grieving with up 800 balloons. With a few Phillips had personally them. extra sets of hands, they called her to ask her if she “Our neighborhood will lined their assigned route wanted to be a part of the never be the same,” she on Lakewood Avenue. project, to which she said, said. “It will always be a When the work was done “Absolutely.”
Christensen hosted a group of about 15 Lakeview teachers and support staff who were assigned to cover Richway Drive. The group did so in advance so they could still attend Sophie’s funeral service. For Christensen, participating in the project served a dual purpose. While she definitely wanted to support the family and let them know how much Sophie meant to so many people, she also needed a way to focus her energy on something positive. “When you teach, those kids become yours, and it’s like losing one of your own.” These individuals represent just a handful of those who worked to make the balloon event a success. “I’m honored to be a part of the community that they are a part of,” Phillips said of everyone who participated. Speaking on behalf of her family, Sarah Stultz, Sophie’s mother, said she is grateful for the efforts of Phillips and everyone else who chose to be a part of the project. “During such an emotionally draining and shocking experience of Sophie’s death, we found comfort in the actions of the community through these balloons,” Stultz said. “It touched our hearts knowing how thoughtful people were to do this and to find out all the work that went into preparing and getting the balloons in place.” The family had caught glimpses of the balloons on the way to the funeral service and assumed they were there in honor of Sophie. However, the full extent of the effort was not felt until they were riding in the funeral procession. Stultz’s memory of that day demonstrates the balloon event had its intended effect. “Thinking back about those balloons brings back all the overwhelming memories from that week,” Stultz said. “We felt and still feel so much love from the community. It has, without a doubt, made our journey easier to bear.” And she too has a message for all those who participated. “Thank you,” she said. “In the middle of a heartbreaking experience, it was such a sweet experience to be the recipient of all of this love and caring. It is something we will never forget.”
PAGE B2 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | COMMUNITY | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017
Workers use a hammer to put insulation in place at the new St. John’s on Fountain Lake complex. JARROD PETERSON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
JOSEPH CO. INVOLVED IN MAJOR PROJECTS By Jarrod Peterson
jarrod.peterson@albertleatribune.com
The Joseph Co. has been serving the communities of Austin, Albert Lea and communities in-between for over 51 years. The company has worked on many projects over the years — from building McDonald’s restaurants to grocery stores — Joseph Co. has done it all. Most recently, the company has been working on the new St. John’s on Fountain Lake facility in Albert Lea. It’s a $30 million project and Carter Wagner, president of Joseph Co., couldn’t be more proud to serve the community.
“The (St. John’s) owner and the board of directors deserve a lot of credit,” Wagner said. “They decided not to phase the project, but build the continuum of care in one project.” Continuum of care means independent living to assisted living to a fully-skilled nursing home. “They are doing it all at once,” Wagner said. Wagner is a native of Austin, where Joseph Co. is based, and graduated from the University of St. Thomas. After graduation, he worked a few jobs before coming back to Joseph Co., a company which was started by his dad, Joe, and business partner, Dale Beckel, in 1965.
When Wagner returned in 1987, the company employed only six people. Now, the company has grown to 48 employees, with seven people holding jobs in the office and the other 41 skilled in concrete, masonry, carpentry and structural steel erection. Wagner went back to school to get a degree in construction management before taking over as president of Joseph Co. in 1999. Since then, he has led many projects over the 18 years he has been in control. From building McDonald’s restaurants to Walgreens and Shopko stores, Wagner has had a hand in all of it.
Work is already completed on the assisted living and independent living facilities at the new St. John’s on Fountain Lake. Construction crews earlier this month were working on the nursing home.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE B3
ALDEN WOMAN PRACTICES NORWEGIAN ART
heritage traced back to the area where Rogaland was developed. This discovery solidified her interest in the Rogaland style. Haukoos taught classes for many years through Community Education and at the Sons of Norway barn — but noticed that attendance dwindled as society became focused more on consumerism. “It’s been such a throwaway society,” she said.
FORM OF PAINTING ORIGINATED IN THE MID-1700S By Ann Austin
news@albertleatribune.com
ALDEN — Art is a natural expression of a life lived fully for Jane Haukoos. Sitting in her studio, which happens to be her mother’s old home, Haukoos listens to pop music blaring while she practices the ancient art of rosemaling and runs several other homebased businesses. “I’m into too many things,” she said. Though she has many talents, rosemaling is her oldest love. Rosemaling is a form of painting that originated in Norway in the mid-1700s. Rural people would learn the art form and travel the countryside painting barns and furnishings to make a living or in trade for room and board. Rosemaling works in layers — starting with a base color and adding intentional shades of light and dark complementary colors until a nearly threedimensional image appears. Haukoos’s first encounter with rosemaling was as a young married woman. She and her husband, Steve, received a loveseat from their pastor, who happened to be known for his rosemaling. She asked him to paint the loveseat — but he suggested she do it herself since such a project would likely take him four years. Her first class was in 1976 at Folk Art School in the Vesterheim NorwegianAmerican Museum and Heritage Center in Decorah, Iowa.
Recently, though, she has experienced more interest in the ancient form of artwork and is planning to offer classes at her studio.
Jane Haukoos took her first class on rosemaling in 1976 at the Folk Art School in the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Heritage Center in Decorah, Iowa. ANN AUSTIN/FOR THE ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE The classes were intense, all day and somewhat exhausting. Students would break for dinner and treat themselves to drinks, then return to paint again. “We always felt like we could paint better after a glass of wine,” she said. The practice takes a steady hand, attention to detail and endurance. It could take all day to finish even a small piece of work, and the artist often suffers some stiffness or other physical pain. “It’s OK,” Haukoos said, “It’s a good hurt.” The result is what makes the work satisfying — they are truly beautiful works of art. She paints with oil paints, which are the traditional
medium to use. Oils are preferred over acrylic paints for their capacity to blend and mix colors while the art is being created. Oil paint isn’t cheap — a small tube costs approximately $8, but it can last quite a while, especially if placed in a cold space, such as a freezer. She also prefers to paint on wood. Artists have painted on ceramic and tin, but those materials are too slippery to have as much control. Haukoos has created works on commission, anything from small decorative items to borders on walls. However, she usually paints for gifts or as part of a class because the cost of creating items is pricier than people expect. A small wooden plate could cost as much as $50 for the time involved alone. “It’s so time consuming … you really need to have a passion for it,” she said. There are many different forms of rosemaling,
Haukoos said she enjoys using oil paints in her creations. depending on where in Norway the style took root. Some styles focus on geometric shapes and are asymmetrical, while others are floral or have baroque elements or scrollwork and are symmetrical.
Haukoos specializes in the Rogaland style, which focuses on floral elements and includes different images of tulips, stylized roses or daisies. After she had been painting for many years, Haukoos’s husband discovered his Norwegian
Classes would run for approximately eight weeks with initial instruction in painting the background and mixing paints, then focusing on how to paint a leaf, followed by how to paint additional designs and other techniques to use. It takes quite some time to develop the skill — each leaf involves three to four shades of a color. “People say, ‘I can’t do this right.’ Well, you don’t have as much practice as I do,” she said. The studio is ideal for running the many other businesses she and her husband offer, such as Memories Aloft, which is their dove-releasing business; as well as her personal passion, Flowers by Jane, which provides floral designs and decorations for weddings. She also sews and has recently made car seat covers, as well as elaborate shadowboxes on request. She said all of the activity keeps her healthy and happy. “I feel like I’m young,” she said. “I want to be having a good time.” The best way to contact Haukoos is to like her Facebook page “Memories Aloft & Flowers by Jane” or give her a call at 507874-2668. She has a flexible schedule to accommodate her clients and can make house calls, if preferred.
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PAGE B4 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | COMMUNITY | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017
A life in action
A.L. WOMAN A PART OF MANY EFFORTS, ENJOYS BEING BUSY By Dori Etheridge
news@albertleatribune.com
“I’m always saying, I’ll help if I can, then they have my phone number and they’ve got me.” Ruth Olson is an active lady in the Albert Lea community. You have probably seen her around, or maybe you have one of the calendars that feature her photography or have found one of the rocks she has painted. She moved to Albert Lea in 1970, but was born and raised in Austin. She considers Albert Lea and Austin both her hometown. She retired from Hormel, and about 10 years ago took her first painting class with Beth Tostensen, who got her interested in water color. She joined The Albert Lea Art Center before she
had ever taken an art class, after walking around and enjoying it. She said she wanted to help out, so her children got her a gift certificate so she could pay for her membership with the Art Center, where her work is now displayed.
Photography
Olson said she received her first camera when she was a child, and she still has it to this day. When she was a teenager she upgraded to a camera with a flash. Some of her photographs have won local awards and are featured in a local calendar. Accentura Credit Union picked the subject of the contest. The first year, she won the grand prize with
her photo featuring the wind turbines along Minnesota Highway 13 during a sunset. The first-prize winner is awarded money, and the credit union also puts your photo on the front cover. That year they also used two of her other photos in the calendar. The next year three of her photos were in the calendar. This year, she won grand champion again with a picture of the mermaid statue in Fountain Lake in the spring with all the pink flowers in bloom. She uses a Samsung point and shoot digital camera and gets some criticism for her simple camera, but she doesn’t let that deter her. “It is what you see that makes the photographer, not the camera,” she said. “If you see something that catches your eye, you have to stop and get it right then and there. You can’t say, ‘Oh Albert Lean Ruth Olson has lived in the city since 1970 but was born and raised in Austin. I”ll come back tomorrow,’ She is involved in numerous organizations and said she likes to stay busy. DORI ETHERIDGE/ FOR THE ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
“It is what you see that makes the photographer, not the Ham radio Olson is also a ham radio camera. If you see something operator. She has had her that catches your eye, you have license for 11 years. She was in REACT, which to stop and get it right then and Washington, DC.............April 1-9.......................$1239 is a citizens band radio club that does a lot of volunteer there. You can’t say, ‘Oh I”ll come Memorials: locally. • Guided tour of Gettysburg • Tour of the Capitol World War II work There was a big drill back tomorrow,’ because tomoron with REACT, the row the light will be different.” • Embassy Row • Gettysburg Battlefield Vietnam Wall going fire department, hospital because tomorrow the light will be different.”
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staff, the police department and ham radio crews. She wanted to know what the club was doing over there, what kind of radios they had and what the club was all about, so she went over and chatted with some of them and decided ham radio was something she wanted to learn about. There were some classes in Owatonna, so she went to the classes to prepare to get her ham radio license, and then passed the test. She went to see Larry Shaunce, and he became her Elmer, or mentor to learn the craft. Shaunce helped Olson get the right radio and equipment and get it all set up. Then she retired from REACT. She was president of the local ham radio club for three years. Shaunce runs a radio net every Sunday night to make sure everyone’s radio’s are operating correctly. She now takes turns in running the Sunday night net and the events that the ham radio operators are involved with.
— Albert Lean Ruth Olson
fun and a positive thing for families to get involved with to do something creative and get out of the house. There were families painting rocks together and people with their neighbors painting rocks. She decided to paint some rocks and hide them. She then found the Albert Lea Rocks page on Facebook, joined and was participating on launch day. The day it was launched she saw it and knew she wanted to get involved. She loves painting and found the children and families who were painting, hiding and finding these rocks were having a lot of fun. She continues to paint rocks, and earlier this month put out some Valentine’s Day rocks. Her favorite spots to hide rocks? She tries to hide her rocks downtown, in the Little Free Libraries, by the mermaid or near the Humane Society
of Freeborn County. She has a rock-painting class slated at the Art Center.
Audubon Society
She also belongs to the Albert Lea Audubon Society. The society has an Audubon park on Oregon Street, where they plant grasses and flowers for the bees. They mow and tend to the park and people can come and see the hives — though she warned them to be careful. There were two beehives last year, and this year there will be three hives. Each member got a jar of honey from the hives at the Audubon park.
Why get involved with the community?
She said she is involved with the community for many reasons. “It interests me; it is fun; it makes people happy; it is creative,” she said.
Volunteering
Olson said she has volunteered with the Naeve Hospital Auxiliary for three years and got involved after listening to Party Line on KATE Radio. They were discussing the need for more volunteers at the gift shop. Though she has never worked in sales before, she said it is something she enjoys.
Albert Lea Rocks All of our tours depart from: Albert Lea, Austin, One day last summer Rochester, Dexter, St Charles, Winona, and La Crosse, WI. Olson said she noticed
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE B5
A.L. MAN FINDS INTEREST IN HAM RADIO DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCY, HAM RADIO OPERATORS ABLE TO SPRING INTO ACTION FOR OTHERS By Dori Etheridge
news@albertleatribune.com
June 17, 2010, was a Thursday, and it became the night of over 20 tornadoes that left in their wake widespread damage across several counties in Minnesota. A woman from Freeborn County lost her life, and several people whose entire farms and houses were destroyed along with livestock were shaken and devastated. It was the worst tornadic event for Freeborn County since Black Sunday in 1967. This is the type of event that allows local ham radio operators to help others with their years of practicing a hobby with practical real-life value. If you look at Larry
Shaunce’s Youtube channel, Radio Ham Guy, you can watch him in action in “the shack.” You can see Shaunce in the thick of the reports of tornado sightings, gas leaks, damages and getting the word out to all the people in the area who are licensed ham radio operators. Among the operators are those with mobile ham radio units who were actively spotting for tornadoes that night. You can hear the storm raging outside. Shaunce was born and raised in Albert Lea, and he got interested in radio at the age of 7 when his parents bought him a transistor radio for Christmas. It progressed to citizens band Larry Shaunce got interested in radio at the age of 7 when he received a transistor radio for Christmas. DORI ETHERIDGE/ See RADIO, Page B7 FOR THE ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
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PAGE B6 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | COMMUNITY | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 Administrative tax: $3.25 million
SHELL ROCK RIVER WATERSHED DISTRICT FUNDING SOURCES 2004-2017
Grants: $21.96 million
Sales tax: $15 million
GRAPHIC BY SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
WATERSHED DISTRICT PREPARES FOR NEXT DECADE OF PROJECTS DREDGING OF ALBERT LEA’S 2 MAJOR LAKES A TOP PRIORITY By Sam Wilmes
sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com
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Shell Rock River Watershed District officials have focused on cleaning area bodies of water for more than a decade. For the next 10 years, the organization hopes to dredge at least one local lake and continue the progress it has already made. “Obviously the big projects are to finish the Fountain Lake restoration and then we are going to move into Albert Lea Lake restoration,” said Administrator Brett Behnke. “But along with that, we have multiple (Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council) projects, and we’ll continue to work on flood hazard mitigation dollars and any other available grant opportunities that we have.” District officials are working through 12 permits they must secure to dredge Fountain Lake, a project Behnke needs to be successful for officials to dredge Albert Lea Lake. Officials hope a dredge enters Fountain Lake this summer. When the lake is dredged, a mixture of water and sediment will be pumped to a confined disposal facility, and the CDF will siphon off and settle the water. Officials have said dredging Albert Lea Lake will be more expensive than the $15 million Fountain Lake
project because of its size — Albert Lea Lake is approximately five times the size of Fountain Lake. Behnke said the timing of the project will depend on funding. Officials hope to renew the district’s half-percent sales tax for either 15 years or until $15 million has been collected for Fountain Lake dredging.
“The goal of the Watershed District over the next 10 years, we’re going to clean up these lakes, period.” — Shell Rock River Watershed District Administrator Brett Behnke Behnke said a common misconception of the sales tax is that the $15 million comes immediately. The $15 million comes gradually through the use of the sales tax. “We’re working on creative, strategic funding opportunities so we can make that project a success, so we can move on to Albert Lea Lake,” Behnke said. Several district projects have been funded by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council. The district received $2.4 million the first year it applied for
funding and $1.4 million the second year. Funding typically starts July 1. “We’re out there seeking funding sources for proposed projects,” Behnke said. “But until you have the money in hand, it’s difficult to obtain the easements and planning the design of the projects.” Behnke said it is a balancing act between having good, shovel-ready projects and having the funding to conduct them. Officials must adjust planned projects to available funding. “There’s hundreds of projects we can do, but we look for the best project that is going to give us the most loading reduction or best habitat enhancement,” he said. “Whatever benefits our conservation priorities the best.” Behnke said though the district’s goal is to meet water monitoring standards measured by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, it has other goals. “Our real report card is our water monitoring and what the health of our lakes are,” he said. “So, the goal of the Watershed District over the next 10 years, we’re going to clean up these lakes, period. We’re going to push and do some things that are not the status quo, which we always have. But at the end of the day, we are going to have a cleaner, healthier lakes system for less money than the traditional view by the conservation agencies in the state of Minnesota.”
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General maintenance on Lake Chapeau, Wedge Creek, White Lake Outlet Creek, Goose Lake Outlet Creek and Pickerel Lake.
Land acquisitions to protect and re-establish native vegetation through the LessardSams Outdoor Heritage Council
$15 million
$327,750
Fountain Lake dredging
march 2, 3, 4, 5(m), 8, 9, 10 & 11 Showtimes 7:30 p.m. matinee (m) at 2 p.m.
$50,000 Yearly monitoring
$201,250
Establishing a wetland basin on an unnamed creek on Albert Lea Lake: LessardSams Outdoor Heritage Council
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Pickerel Lake dam replacement
Upper Twin Lake pumping station
Kill rough fish and reestablish native aquatic vegetation on Halls and Sugar Lake: LSOHC and DNR.
Varies by project Enhance water quality through restoration of aquatic plants, wildlife habitat and fisheries.
$825,610
Board of Soil and Water Resources Targeted Watershed Projects: Two wetland restorations, a two-stage ditch, streambank restoration and installing rock inlets and waterways
$50,000
$743,750
Lower Twin Lake fish barrier reclamation
Cost share each year on projects that include rain barrels, rock inlets, rain gardens and the industrial, commercial and municipal stormwater BMP Incentive Program
$243,570
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Wedge Creek wetland establishment
Flood mitigation
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE B7
Master Taxidermist Since 1990
Larry Shaunce has communicated with people as far as England, Japan, Russia and Sweden and haseven communicated with astronauts. DORI ETHERIDGE/FOR THE ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
RADIO Continued from Page B5
band radio, which is a completely different thing, and from there he went on to get interested in ham radio from another operator in Hollandale. He was 13 when he took his ham radio test. It is an FCC license. There is an entry level, but you are limited in what you can do, and it advances from there. Once you pass your test, you only have to renew your license and do not have to take the test again. Back when he took his test, Shaunce had to learn Morse code to pass the test. He currently holds the advanced class license. There is a local group that meets once a week on the air to test their equipment. One of the big things the local ham radio operators do is SkyWarn; they give the National Weather Service reports of what they see in real time. When you watch “The Weather Channel” and you hear local spotters are reporting funnel cloud activity in a certain area, that refers to the ham radio operators. Cell phones will go down when there is major activity, and the ham radios are still up and operational.
How does ham radio work?
They use radio directly, radio over the air waves and there are many different frequencies. They use frequencies like radio stations, but different. The radio waves propagate through
Upcoming amateur radio license exam dates • March 15: 7 p.m., Glenville Fire Department • May 17: 7 p.m. Glenville Fire Department • Aug. 16: 7 p.m., Glenville Fire Department • Nov. 15: 7 p.m., Glenville Fire Department the ether, the ionosphere. SkyWave is global. In the daytime the sun activates the ionosphere. The sun does a lot of things to the atmosphere — some frequencies are better during the day, and some are better at night, which explains why you are able to listen to radio stations from all over the U.S. through a transistor radio, especially at night. Night signals, like low frequency AM radio, spread out more at night. The walls of the Shack are covered with maps that contain all the ham radio operators all over the world. Each country has a different call sign. You get a call sign when you get your license and you keep it forever. There are times when Shaunce will hear about events before they hit the mainstream news, especially when there are earthquakes, floods or hurricanes. During these weather events ham operators will often be there to let people know if loved ones are all right. Providing communication when phones are down is part of the appeal of the public service aspect of being a ham radio operator. Shaunce has local activity on 24/7, and for an hour or two in the evening he tunes into the global signals. Has he ever picked up
anything strange? “Oh yea, there is a spy radio network that just gives out numbers. You will hear 5, 1, 3, etc. and it is some kind of code. A lot of them are Cuban. It is called a numbers station. It started during the Cold War. It is a mystery, but it is thought they don’t want to use a cellphone because it is trackable.” Shaunce has also communicated with shuttle astronauts and people in England, Russia, Japan and Sweden. The number of ham radio operators has steadily increased over the years. He said it is a fun hobby. The technology is on the forefront, and you can meet and talk to people from all over the world. It is also a public service. There are portable ham radios and there are repeaters around that could pick up your signal when you are not able to get a cell phone signal. Shaunce said he would never travel without a cellphone and his portable ham radio. People’s lives have been saved by having a portable ham radio on when hiking in remote areas. Shaunce is available to help anyone who wants to get into ham radio. He can be reached by email at shaunce@deskmedia.com.
Featured faces of the last year
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John Hegel has owned Main Street Pizza in Lake Mills for about 3 1/2 years. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
job placement for our career and technical program graduates
40+
student organizations and clubs
Who WE Are! 4 national rankings
since 2012, including ranking in the top 10% in the nation for student success.
See our insert in today’s paper!
Bob Furland, who works for the city of Albert Lea, was featured in June. At that time, he had worked for the city for 18 years. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
$1 million in scholarships awarded to our students annually
PAGE B8 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | COMMUNITY | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017
PROUDLY
100% EMPLOYEE OWNED
PROVIDING MANUFACTURING SOLUTIONS AND SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1972!
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE B9
Featured faces of the last year
YOUR KIND OF
PLACE Featuring over 950 slots and video poker machines. Plus live blackjack, craps, roulette, poker room and more!
Kim Nelson is the new executive director at the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
Chris Withers was in his sixth year as a tennis coach, but it was his first year as a head coach of the Albert Lea girls’ tennis team. JARROD PETERSON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE.
Albert Lean Amanda Irvine and her family participated in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s in September. Irvine said she walks in memory of her grandfather, Wayne Weiss, who died from the disease when he was 68. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
Dine at our award winning restaurants. Elegant dining at Woodfire Grille or casual dining at The Kitchen Buffet.
Dance and listen live as national and regional acts perform at the Big Wheel Bar every weekend.
Tami Alphs is the new director of special services at Albert Lea Area Schools. SAM WILMES/
ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
Shane Koepke began as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church last fall. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA
TRIBUNE
Rest your head at one of our hotels. Accommodations include the Country Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express.
LOCATED ON I-35 AT THE IA/MN BORDER EXIT 214.
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PAGE B10 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | COMMUNITY | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017
Working at Cargill is an opportunity to thrive – a place to develop your career to the fullest while engaging in meaningful work that makes a positive impact around the globe. You will be proud to work for a company with a strong history of ethics and a purpose of nourishing people. We offer a diverse, supportive environment where you will grow personally and professionally as you learn from some of the most talented people in your field. With more than 150 years of experience, Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. We have 150,000 employees in over 65 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work.
To learn more about Cargill in Albert Lea, visit: www.cargill.com/albertlea Cargill is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vet.
intellicents - Albert Lea, MN Formerly Alliance Benefit Group
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Auto Glass Replacement and Repair
COMMERCIAL - INDUSTRIAL - RESIDENTIAL
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• Commercial Storefronts • Overhead Doors • Entry Doors & Hardware • Mobile Locksmith • Mobile Glass & Door Repair • Auto Glass • Custom Glass Shower Enclosures • Mirrors • Thermal Units 316 Main Court | Albert Lea (Next to Fleet Farm) Office: (507) 373-9446 | Cell: (507) 402-1618 Email: southernlockandglass@gmail.com Web: www.southernlockandglass.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/southernlock
Located at: 316 Main Court - Albert Lea (next to Fleet Farm)