Pam and Larry Goehring of New Richland weathered the September rains, then organized a benefit for flood victims.
Photo by Michelle Haacke/Graphic by Stacey Bahr
Flood Fighters
They organized an event that raised $23,000 for victims in New Richland; people keep giving Heroes: By Michelle Haacke
michelle.haacke@albertleatribune.com
NEW RICHLAND — The results from fundraising efforts to help folks in need after floodwaters ravaged the town of New Richland still astonishes Pam and Larry Goehring to this day. Pam, chairwoman of the New Richland Benefit Committee, and her husband and right-hand-man of operations, Larry, spearheaded fundraising efforts, which have now topped $49,000. “You can never underestimate the power of a community binding together to help each other,” said Pam. Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, is a day most people of New Richland will never forget. Twelve inches of rain fell that day, causing a drainage ditch that runs through the town to overflow. That same ditch flows into Boot Creek two miles west of town, and Boot Creek empties into the Le Sueur River three miles northwest of town. But the system wasn’t meant to carry
this much water away from the city at once, resulting in flooding. More than 125 homes were damaged, the New Richland Care Center was evacuated and several other businesses in town were temporarily shut down. Damages were estimated at $2 million. Because the town is not considered a flood zone, neither the residents nor the businesses had flood insurance. Because insurance typically won’t cover damages from floods, this meant homeowners and small business owners would be paying for these damages out of pocket. “We immediatedly thought people are going to need help with this,” Pam said. The following Monday, she and Larry set up a flood-relief fund account at the State Bank of New Richland. “Pam said we need to do a benefit,” Larry said. The planning for the New Richland Flood Relief Benefit started immediately. Pam, who had assisted in only one other benefit for an ill
classmate the prior year, got on her e-mail and Facebook accounts and began sending messages for help. About a week later, Pam had formed a committee of people to help plan a benefit. “From the very first meeting, we had a lot of individuals volunteer to help get food because they worked at Kwik Trip, Hy-Vee, Walmart and Mrs. Gerry’s,” Larry said. “By the second meeting, they had talked to their bosses, and we had all of the food donated.” People who weren’t getting food donations were getting items donated for the auction and money donated to help. “People just knew people who just knew people,” said Pam. And while their efforts were to benefit the people and businesses of New Richland, they had local businesses in turn trying to help out. “I said, ‘No, we’re trying to raise money to help you; we don’t want your donation,’ but they insisted,” said Pam. “It was just stunning to see the generosity.”
One local resident, an overthe-road trucker, solicited donations on his runs back and forth to the East Coast. The Facebook messages and e-mail messages begging people to donate “from the bottoms of our soggy hearts” resulted in donations and silent auction items from Florida to Washington, New York to Colorado and even California. “We had a lot of items from the professional sports teams in the Twin Cities,” Larry said. By the time of the benefit, Nov. 6, everything was in place, and everything from the food to the silent auction, live auction and bake sale items were donated. Pam said they ended up paying $200 for expenses incurred. The surprises came all night long. More than 700 people attended the event. The bake sale alone raised more than $1,000. At the end of the night, the Goehrings were astonished
4Goehrings, Page 7
Pam and Larry Goehring
Secret Identities: Pam is the chairwoman of New Richland Benefit Committee; Larry is retired and Pam’s right-hand man with the committee Base of operations: 211 First St. NW, New Richland Superpowers: They know a lot of people and were good at getting them all together for the New Richland Flood Relief Benefit in October. Kryptonite: They had little experience with putting on a benefit. Origin: Pam is originally from New Richland. Together, they have lived in the community for years and know many people through their involvement with a number of organizations, including the local food shelf. In just over one month’s time, Pam and Larry formed a flood-relief fund and organized the benefit to help those whose homes and businesses were damaged in the flooding on Sept. 22. Although the benefit was in November, they still receive donations to the flood relief fund. To date, their efforts have raised $42,200 to help the people of New Richland.
Inside Catching up with T.O.
Name that building
Injured Lake Mills football player Tyler Olson now goes to India to get stem cell injections in the hopes that the 19-year-old quadriplegic can walk again. He says, “I just want to be like everybody else.”
How well do you know your smalltown edifices? Put the names to the places in these Freeborn County communities: Twin Lakes, Emmons, Glenville, Hayward, Hollandale and Geneva.
Page 2 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 27, 2011 PROGRESS
T h e o n e . T h e o n l y.
T.O.
Tyler Olson is working toward getting back on his feet By Andrew Dyrdal
tribsports@albertleatribune.com
LAKE MILLS, Iowa — Tyler Olson’s doctors think the 19-year-old quadriplegic will someday walk again. His stepfather, Bart Winter, expects him to. And the family is wasting no time or resource in making that happen. In January, Olson began a three-month stay at Nu Tech Mediworld in New Dehli, India, where he receives daily embryonic stem cell injections into his injured spinal column and rigorous physical therapy, which he refers to as “boot camp.” Accompanied by his sister, Kessa Olson, and lifetime friend, Luke Storby, Tyler Olson hopes he finds his legs in India, but he hasn’t been promised anything. “It’s a gamble,” Winter said, of the treatments Olson will receive in New Dehli. “It can cure him and it can literally kill him. We’re siding with aggressiveness rather than passivity.” Olson was injured in 2008 during his junior season on the Lake Mills football team. On Sept. 5 in Forest City, Iowa, Ol-
Hero: Tyler Olson Secret Identity: First-year student at North Iowa Area Community College Base of operations: Lake Mills Strength: positive attitude Kryptonite: ESPN’s “Sportscenter” Origin: Olson was born in Omaha, Neb. and moved to Lake Mills, Iowa when he was one years old. Olson began playing football when he was in seventh grade.
son tackled a Forest City running back on the first play from scrimmage. Olson’s head and shoulder jolted into the ball carrier’s thigh pad crushing his vertebrae and sending a bone fragment into his spinal cord. The tackle looked routine but as Olson laid on the field as flat as a pancake he couldn’t stand up. He was paralyzed from the chest down.
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“I heard a pop and was a little dazed,” Olson said, of the hit. “My friends were like ‘Get up’ and I said ‘I can’t move.’ I couldn’t tell if I was moving but I was trying really hard.” Luckily, Forest City was the only school in the North Iowa Conference that season to have a paramedic on site. Olson was given the necessary anti-swelling steroid within 43 minutes of his injury and received decompression surgery within four hours. “Outside of breaking his neck it happened in the perfect environment,” Winter said. Olson spent four months at St. Marys hospital in Rochester and has since received treatment in Mason City, Forest City and Lake Mills. Two and 1/2 years since the injury, Olson
has regained a numb feeling from his chest down, developed a stronger voice and has improved his ability to move his arms. His fingers don’t work so to grip something he uses his wrists.
Tyler Olson sits next to a wall of memorabilia in his bedroom. He has autographed jerseys, footballs and baseballs as well as posters from his junior season on the Lake Mills football team. The basement of his parents house has been converted into an apartment where Olson can watch TV and play video games with friends. He can sit in a hot tub or
Battling job loss
Andrew Dyrdal/ Albert Lea Tribune
work out with friends in an exercise room, where Olson’s buddies are able to lift weights alongside 4Olson, Page 5
By Michelle Haacke
michelle.haacke@albertleatribune.com
Hero: Marilyn Hoffman Secret identity: executive director, Lake Mills Chamber Development Corp. Base of Operations: Lake Mills, Iowa Superpowers: detail-oriented, compassion for people, positive personality Kryptonite: keeping up with new social networking forms of communication Affiliations: husband, Jerry, two daughters, one son and eight grandchildren Origin: She worked for the Lake Mills Graphic and then Winn-Worth Betco before becoming the first staff person at Lake Mills Chamber Development Corp. in 2001. The economicdevelopment agency was the former Lake Mills Chamber of Commerce and Lake Mills Development Group. By the numbers:
layoffs are 400 estimated because of downsizing
at the Cummins Filtra-
Michelle Haacke/Albert Lea Tribune
Marilyn Hoffman is the executive director of Lake Mills Chamber Development Corp. tion plant in Lake Mills, as it prepares to move a portion of its facility to Mexico. Although the company has delayed a major downsizing to the second business quarter of 2011, Cummins has already let more than 150 employees go. Cummins is projected to lay off another 200 workers in the spring.
1/4
of the workforce in Lake Mills — population 2,140 — will be affected by the layoffs. It’s estimated to affect 73 students in the Lake Mills school
district whose parents work at the plant, 35 married couples with both husband and wife working at the plant, 130 employees with Lake Mills addresses and 80 employees with Albert Lea addresses. people, Hoffman, 3 Mark Skaar of KIOW radio and Carol Peterson
of the Iowa State Extension Service, joined forces to form the Community Cares Coalition. With Lake Mills already reeling from layoffs at the Winnebago plant, Hoffman spearheaded this co-
alition to bring together local resources to assist people being laid off. categories of com7 munity support are represented in the CCC:
financial/budgeting assistance, food banks and food assistance, health/ medical/dental/family resources, housing, mental health/counseling, workforce/employment and utility assistance/ weatherization. More than 50 phone numbers of local people and agencies are listed in the CCC directory for those who need assistance to call.
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PROGRESS NEIGHBORS Sunday, February 27, 2011 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 3
Motor Grader Mojo By Sarah Stultz
sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com
Hero: Doug Jacobs Secret identity: grader, snowplower, corn and soybean farmer Base of operations: Manchester Township Superpowers: staying out of the ditch Kryptonite: eating candy bars while plowing snow Affiliations: wife, Diane, five grown children Origin: Ten years ago, a Manchester Township supervisor asked Jacobs if he wanted to become the township’s grader and snowplower. And he’s been doing it ever since. With 34 miles of roads in the township, he grades the gravel roads in the spring and summer and then clears them of snow in the winter. Thanks to Jacobs, township residents are able to travel the roads safely. He said during the winter, he goes by the state and county highway official’s rules as to when to go out and plow. If visibility is bad, he doesn’t go out. Usually, he said, he ventures out to clear the snow at 4 or 5 a.m.; other times, he waits until a storm passes and then goes out in the evening. “It’s kind of like snowmobiling — it’s a rush,” Jacobs said. He noted that while he tries not to go in the ditch, he has an agreement with Hartland Township to pull him out if it does happen. He offers the same service if the Hartland operator goes off the road.
Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Manchester Township’s grader and snowplow operator Doug Jacobs has worked for 10 years to make sure the roads in this township are passable.
NEW RICHLAND ON THE ROAD This feature publishes 4 times throughout the year. If you would like your New Richland area business advertised here, please call Catherine at (507) 379-3428.
Albert Lea • Ellendale • New Richland
Michelle Haacke/Albert Lea Tribune
Jeremy Parpart of New Richland stands next to a New Richland Fire Department firetruck.
Chief 2 Hats
Hero: Jeremy Parpart Secret Identity: assistant fire chief of the New Richland Fire Department and chief of the New Richland ambulance crew Base of Operations: New Richland Superpowers: getting resources together quickly Kryptonite: not knowing when rising waters would stop Affiliations: two sons Origin: Parpart was the leading force in coordinating the sandbagging operations that ultimately saved the New Richland Care Center when heavy rains on Sept. 22 caused the overflow of a drainage ditch that runs into Boot Creek.
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Within the span of an hour, he had used his resources to line up sandbags, sand, equipment and volunteers. “The water rose two feet within three hours and I said we need to get the people out of here,” he told officials just before the New Richland Care Center evacuated. The people Parpart called set a chain reaction in motion, calling more people for help, who then called even more people for even more help. “It was just unreal when the volunteers showed up,” he said. By the end of the day, more than 350 volunteers had bagged up more than 1,500 tons of sand. The work saved the nursing home for worse damage.
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Page 4 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 27, 2011 PROGRESS NEIGHBORS
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Kory Olson stands outside Worth Mutual Insurance in Manly, Iowa. Olson is an insurance agent and went into the family business with his dad and uncle.
The Booster Rocket
By Jon Theuer
tribsports@albertleatribune.com
originally selected had conflicting issues and had to step down from the committee. Olson then volunteered to take the position as president. “Kory stepped in as president when our former president stepped down,” committee member Troy Christensen said. “Kory is in town, he’s able to dedicate time to calling people and making contacts.” N-K girls’ coach Ryan Severson says since taking over Olson has done a wonderful job. “He was vice president at the start and then took over,” Severson said. “He’s doing a great job.” The committee usually tries to meet every week and discuss what project they can do during the week to help raise money. “For the most part we have been kind of meeting every week,” Olson said. “We will get over to one of the committee member’s houses and sit down and meet and discuss what our next project is going to be or our we going to a tailgate for this event.” As president, Olson said he really just conducts the meetings and makes sure to bring up the important things they need to talk about.
Hero: Kory Olson
NORTHWOOD, Iowa Secret identity: In— Kory Olson spends surance Agent, Worth most of his day in his Mutual Insurance office in Manly, Iowa, Workplace: Worth working as an agent for Mutual Insurance, Worth Mutual Insurance. Manly, Iowa When he’s not in his Superpowers: Mooffice, Olson is working tivated, Hard working, on another important Family oriented project close to his heart. Kryptonite: Likes Olson is the president sports. of the NorthwoodAffiliations: wife, Kensett Athletic Complex Sherry; sons Bryan, Committee. Its members Jayson and Shayne are busy raising money Origin: He went in hopes of securing into the family busithe funds to dramatiness with his dad and cally upgrade the athletic uncle, becoming an complex at Northwoodagent at Worth Mutual Kensett High School. Insurance. The current facilities at Northwood-Kensett High School, according makes everything run to Olson, haven’t been real smooth.” upgraded in nearly 40 Treasurer Kim years. Hengesteg said Olson’s Currently, the track at background having N-K High is a dirt track, grown up in Northwood, which Olson says gives along with raising three the athletes an unfair adkids who were involved vantage when competing with sports, is important against other schools. and he’s done a great job. “I think the only track “He originally comes meet we have on a dirt from here,” Kim track is our own,” Olson Hengesteg said. “He has said. “Most of the meets raised three kids, all of are on all-weather tracks. whom have been involved We just kind of have an in sports. He’s been a unfair advantage having great president for orgato practice on a dirt track nizing things and putting all the time.” them together.” Along with the track, While Olson holds the Olson said the role as president, bleachers and he says the whole press box are in committee plays a need of major huge role and that upgrading along everyone has done with the scorea great job. board at the “Our commitfootball field. tee has been so “The bleachgood,” Olson said. ers and the press “When we need box are in need something done it of major upgradgets done. We do ing,” Olson said. concession stands “And the scoreAndrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune at the football board, I’ve seen games and a lot The scoreboard at the Northwood-Kensett a picture of the of our parents are High School athletic facility looms in the backside of it and background as football players wait for football people. So it works, but it’s we called in one of the referee to spot a ball during a game in just about falling August. our arms and they down. It needs were there you “Just conducting the major upgrades.” know and it always gets meetings is the really The new upgrades done.” big part,” Olson said. would take care of all of Currently, Olson and “And trying to bring up those problems. They the N-K-AC committhe things that we need would include a new tee have raised close to track and upgrades to the to talk about at each $315,000 with donations meeting.” bleachers, press box and coming from the NorthSeveral people on the scoreboard at the football wood-Kensett school field among other things. committee and in the board, local businesses in community give Olson “Well, its going to be the community, alumni praise for the work he’s an eight-lane Olympic of Northwood-Kensett done. all-weather track,” Olson along with raising money “He’s got a good rapsaid. “The football field themselves in a different port with people, and is also going to take on variety of ways. some construction. It will he’s a good person to be Among the donations in charge and get things have a new scoreboard, the committee received done,” N-K football coach was from alumnus Paul new bleachers, just kind of an update on the whole and boys’ track coach Adams. Dave Capitani said. facility.” Adams donated Vice president Gary The Athletic Com$50,000 to the project Hennigar said everything and issued a challenge plex idea started in July runs very smooth with when the school board to alums and businesses Olson as president. members contacted the that if anyone matched “Everybody loves booster club and told the donation, either alone Kory,” Hennigar said. them they were interor as a group, he would “Having him as president maybe consider giving ested in this project and to see if they could help raise money. The booster club agreed and then went to work on organizing a committee to help. “We kind of picked out 10 to 12 people who we wanted to form a committee to spearhead the money involvement part of the project. The school has the say in the construction of the project, we’re just spearheading the fundraising part of it.” While Olson originally was slated to be the vice president of the committee, the president they
more toward the project. “The principal approached us and we had a tailgate just before the first football game,” Olson said. “He approached us then and said there was an anonymous donor out there that wanted to donate $50,000 and he’s been in contact with him through all this time. He wanted to remain anonymous. Just about three weeks ago he got a hold of the principal and said it’s time. If you want you can release my name and throw that challenge out there that if anybody matches this whether it is another alumnus or a business or a group of businesses or group of alumni or whatever. If anybody wanted to match it the challenge is out there that he would possibly give some more.” With this project, Olson feels not only will it help the school, but it will also help the community as well. “It just brings people into town,” Olson said of the track meets. “They’re not only spending money at the concession stand they’re all over. A track meet you know doesn’t just last an hour. When we go it usually starts at 4 and were leaving at 9:30. People are there for quite a while.” Along with helping the community, Olson feels this project will help make the school viable over the long haul. “It’s just kind of something everybody’s wanted to keep this school viable here,” Olson said. “If we just let it go, our chances of keeping this school as a viable school without merging with somebody are going to be gone.” Olson also hopes that with the completion of the track, the school will be able to host to eight or nine track meets a year and hopes to hold the conference meet at the track and other events, too. Olson says they will take donations right up to when they expect to start construction on the athletic complex which he hopes to start after the track season in May/June of 2012. If you would like to donate to the NorthwoodKensett Athletic Complex project, you can visit the Northwood-Kensett school website and click on boosters to get a donation form or you can send a check made out to NK-AC to treasurer Kim Hengesteg at NSB Bank, ATTN: Kim Hengesteg, PO Box 288 Northwood, Iowa 50489. All donations are tax deductible.
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PROGRESS NEIGHBORS Sunday, February 27, 2011 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 5
Adam Harringa/Albert Lea Tribune
Like Charlie’s Angels, the clerks at the Go-Pher Stop come to the rescue, only it is for many wary travelers on Interstate 35. They also lighten the day for many usual customers from the Clarks Grove area. Clarks Grove Go-Pher Stop clerks from left are Debra Moe, Sandi Schmidt, manager, and Christi Dawson. Schmidt said the group enjoys a laid-back work environment that includes sometimes pulling pranks on their usual customers.
The Clerks of Clarks Grove
Heroes: Debra Moe, Sandi Schmidt, Christi Dawson, Levi Waltz, Sara Jo Luna, André Converse, Terra Miller and Brady Ebert Secret identities: Gas station clerks Base of operations: Go-Pher Stop, Clarks Grove Superpowers: The clerks make the Go-Pher Stop the place to go in Clarks Grove by offering a friendly, small-town atmosphere and they’re always up for sharing a laugh with customers. Kryptonite: Some of the clerks take having fun seriously, by playing pranks on the regulars. However, Schmidt, the manager, says customers are quick to return the favor. Affiliations: The Clarks Grove Go-Pher Stop is owned by Jennie and Bruce Nielsen of Hartland. The Nielsens own two other gas stations. Origin: The Go-Pher Stop was originally The Fisherman Stop, and the Nielsens purchased the station in 2001.
By the numbers
1
The number of gas stations in the town of Clarks Grove, which has a population of 734, according to the 2000 US Census. Just east of the town, the Go-Pher Stop gas station and convenience store has been a fixture, with its mammoth walleye statue easily visible from Interstate 35.
5.7
The number of miles from the intersection of Interstate 90 and Interstate 35 to the GoPher Stop. The gas station is located just west of exit 18 on Interstate 35.
2001
The year Bruce and Jennie Nielsen purchased the Go-Pher Stop. Prior to that, it was called Boyer’s Gopher Stop. The building was originally The Fisherman Stop, which had an archery range and fishing supplies while also serving as a gas station. The giant walleye statue that still stands outside the station originally marked The Fisherman Stop.
3
The number of gas stations owned by the Nielsen’s. They also own a Cenex gas
About the Go-Pher Stop:
“It is a small business, and we’re a small corporation, and because it’s a small group of people, it’s a good location,” Jennie said. “It’s homey,” Schmidt added. “A lot of [the atmosphere] is based on the customers we have come in here, but it’s also because of our personalities.” Once every few weeks, the
Go-Pher Stop employees pull a prank on a customer or coworker. Schmidt is the first to admit the employees are known around Clarks Grove for their practical jokes. Everything from greasing door handles to wrapping a vehicle in plastic wrap; Schmidt said they are always up for a little fun. A lot of times, Schmidt said customers
will get them back, too. “We come into work, and it’s a spur-of-the-moment thing,” Schmidt said. “We decide who we’re going to pick on, and that’s our victim. “It’s a laid-back environment. All I care is that we get our work done, but you also have to have time to play around.”
By Adam Harringa
adam.harringa@albertleatribune.com
station in Hartland and the Gopher Stop North in Ellendale. “But of course, our store is the best,” Schmidt said jokingly.
7
The number of employees at the Go-Pher Stop, which includes manager Sandi Schmidt of Albert Lea, Debra Moe of Alden, Christi Dawson of Hartland, André Converse and Terra Miller of Freeborn,
and Levi Waltz, Sara Jo Luna and Brady Ebert, all of Clarks Grove.
11
The number of combined years experience for Go-Pher Stop employees. Schmidt, who is Bruce Nielsen’s sibling, has worked for him on and off for five years. Jennie Nielsen said the Go-Pher has a good atmosphere for a small town.
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The gazebo in Hartland is one of the newest gazebos in Freeborn County. It is near a mural. The two were part of a townwide beautification effort. intersection in the middle of town at a four-way stop. Artist Steve DeLaitsch painted the mural on the Olson Excavating building, 615 Broadway Ave. Adjacent to the building is a green space that was forfeited by back taxes. Soon it will be a park with walkways, landscaping and a gazebo. “It’s kind of a city project,” said city council-
woman Linda Pederson. The project, she said, was made possible through many local businesses and people. Work will be done by 4-H students, the gazebo was donated by Larry Nelson of L&D Ag Services, Matt Staloch donated the labor for the gazebo construction, Nancy Skophammer of Farmers State Bank donated trees and residents came together
for a spaghetti dinner to help raise funds for the muralist. The city residents wanted to make the area a park “so people could sit and enjoy it, so that’s what we’re doing with it,” Pederson said. The project started in 2006 when Freeborn County approached Hartland about acquiring the land at Johnson and Broadway.
Olson: Will stem cells grow spinal cord nerves?
Continued from Front Page him while he uses an electronic stimulation bike to help circulation and prevent atrophy in his legs and arms. His room is filled with gifted memorabilia including signed jerseys, footballs and baseballs of some of his favorite players and posters from when he played football, basketball and baseball for Lake Mills. He has a pad any 19-year-old would envy, but still doesn’t have his legs — that’s where New Dehli comes in. “I just want to be like
Dr. Tom Metzdorff Dr. Scott Lang Dr. Carey Prigge
ATV & Snowmobiles
Hartland heroes create small park
HARTLAND — A small park at the main intersection of Hartland and across from Farmers State Bank evolved in 2009 in what had been an empty lot. And what resulted is a new gazebo, flower gardens and a wall with murals of past scenes in Hartland. Years ago this lot was the site of Sibilrud’s Grocery. In time, the grocery store ceased operations and the lot eventually became city property. The heroes who created this compact park are the City Council, the volunteers who donated their time to this project, and the people who provided the financial donations and grants that made this park possible. Over the past few years, the city has undergone a beautification process. Corners have been spruced, landscaping has been planted and a gazebo will be built. A large part of the project is a park, mural and gazebo on the corner of Johnson Street and Broadway Avenue — an
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everybody else,” Olson said. “To be successful and have a family someday.” Olson works with Dr. Geeta Schraff, director of the fertility clinic at Nu Tech Mediworld. From one donated embryo, she has reproduced stem cells and treated more than 600 patients. Olson is her latest and the embryonic stem cells that are introduced into his spinal column will hopefully be a catalyst in reproducing nerves, creating a bypass around the injured area so that his brain can finally again
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Page 6 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 27, 2011 PROGRESS NEIGHBORS
The Council of Super Students
Hero: Jazzlyn Johnson
Hero: Oakley Baker
Secret identity: NRHEG fourth-grade student Base of operations: Hollandale
Secret identity: NRHEG sixth-grade student Base of operations: Geneva
Hero: Hero: Maci Surat Ben Lewer Secret identity: NRHEG sixth-grade student Base of operations: New Richland
Heroes: All NRHEG Elementary School students Secret identity: represented on this page by the NRHEG Elementary School Student Council Superpowers: willing to help people in need; feel heartache for children with leukemia and lymphoma Weaknesses: spaghetti, chocolate or gum Affiliations: All students at NRHEG Elementary School are like family. Origin: They were elected to the Student Council by their classmates at the start of the school year. With these powers in January, they collected the money raised from their classmates and give the pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars to Principal Doug Anderson.
Hero: Sierra Johnson Photos by Tim Engstrom Cutouts by Stacey Bahr
Secret identity: NRHEG fourth-grade student Base of operations: Hollandale
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Secret identity: NRHEG fifth-grade student Base of operations: New Richland
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Hero: Chris Stenzel Secret identity: NRHEG fifth-grade student Base of operations: New Richland
Pennies for Patients By Tim Engstrom
tim.engstrom@albertleatribune.com
ELLENDALE — In January, the 500 students at New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Elementary School pooled their coins and bills in a fundraiser called Pennies for Patients. The goal of the community service project was to raise $500 with just spare change, and the funds would go toward the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Each day on the week of Jan. 10, students brought different money: Monday was pennies. Tuesday was nickels. Wednesday was dimes. Thursday was quarters. Friday was dollars. In the early 1960s, only 1 in 25 children survived leukemia. Today, more than 8 in 10 with acute lymphocytic leukemia survive. However, leukemia still causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20.
Hero: Kyra Possin
Secret identity: NRHEG fifth-grade student Base of operations: New Richland
Alden’s Keepers
Hero: Gloria I. Peterson
Hero: Jeanette Lorenz
Secret identity: presiSecret identity: vice president of the Community Historical Society dent of the Community Base of operations: Alden Historical Society Superpowers: determination Base of operations: Kryptonite: eating Alden Affiliations: three daughters, 12 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren Superpowers: ability Origin: Lorenz was elected to the Community Historical Society in the fall to laugh of 2009. She has lived in Alden for seven years. Kryptonite: keeping positive Affiliations: husband, Dean; three children; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; dog, Harry Origin: After Alden residents Ruben Schmidt and Lois Hemmingsen retired from the Community Historical Society in the fall of 2009, Peterson and her officers were elected to the historical society’s board, which operates a museum with historical artifacts and memorabilia from Alden. Peterson said the museum was close to being shut down, and in the spring of 2010, the board members began work to spruce up and reorganize the building. A new front display Secret idenarea was constructed on tity: secretary of the building, a new back the Commudoor was installed and nity Historical the building was cleaned Society in-depth. Base of A new sign was also operations: Alden placed on the front of the Superpowers: learnbuilding, a new storage ing to compromise, area was organized in looking for good ways to By Sarah Stultz the upper level and the sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com do things economically, upstairs rooms were wall- Photo by Sarah Stultz writing papered or painted. Cutout by Stacey Bahr Kryptonite: gets upset Six new display cases when people don’t show were also made by stutheir support dents at Alden-Conger Affiliations: 14 chilSchool, among other Secret identity: treasurer of the Community Hisdren, 28 grandchildren, improvements. torical Society 11 great-grandchildren The museum contains Base of operations: Alden Origin: Meyer, who got pieces unique to Alden’s Superpowers: balancing the checkbook, paying involved with the historihistory and its residents. bills, taking old things and cleaning them up cal society in the fall of “I think we’ve surprised Kryptonite: loves chocolate, sometimes is a little 2009, has always loved the community with short on patience history. She said she what’s in here,” Peterson Affiliations: husband, Jim, seven children, 15 loves genealogy, too. said. “We have some grandchildren, two great-grandchildren She emphasized the things even larger museOrigin: Bute was elected to the Community Historisociety’s mission stateums don’t have.” cal Society in the fall of 2009. ment: “Preserving the “I have always enjoyed history, passing things from past for the future.” the past onto the younger people,” she said.
Hero: Phyllis Meyer
Hero: Marg Bute
PROGRESS NEIGHBORS Sunday, February 27, 2011 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 7
The Almighty Good W. Freeborn Lutheran Church provided meals for tornado victims for 10 days By Kelli Lageson
kelli.lageson@albertleatribune.com
While West Freeborn Lutheran Church wasn’t hit or damaged at all during the June 17 tornadoes, much of the surrounding area was. Congregants from the church, like the Christophersons and Millers, wanted to help their neighbors but were unsure how to do so. After one tornado victim mentioned needing bathroom facilities, Dale said he’d use his key to open up the church. Just after that church members thought they’d serve a meal on June 18. The few who started the meals had no idea that more than 50 people would eventually help by volunteering and donating money and food. The church ended up hosting meals each day for 10 days after the tornadoes. Jane said she liked being able to see tornado victims, their neighbors, talking with each other so they knew they weren’t the only ones struggling. Dale said the people whose homes were destroyed didn’t have any
Heroes: Curtis and Shirley Miller Base of operations: near Freeborn Superpowers: Shirley put together meals, recruited volunteers and helped feed tornado victims at West Freeborn Church last June. Kryptonite: Shirley described not knowing who all needed help was a struggle. Curtis said it was hard to know where to start when helping people.
Hero: The Rev. Dennis Frank Base of operations: Hartland Strengths: Listening, inquiring and finding people Weaknesses: Dennis said it was often hard to find his congregants because they’d stay with family members and it was hard to ask them questions because they’d talked about the destruction so much. power to keep food cold, had no electricity and no running water. The church was kept open so they could use the bathroom, wash up and grab some food. He said as soon as word got around about the meals neighbors starting pitching in. “Then the food starting coming in,” Dale said. Shirley said they had to ask people to stop bringing food at one point, because so much had already been delivered. Dennis said he was amazed the church wasn’t harmed, and glad that people could have a place to come that was clean and had resources they needed. “We’re so glad the church was still here,” Shirley said. The Sunday after the tornadoes hit the church had already planned a concert and meal, which they still held. Dennis said he invited everyone to take a break from their hard work cleaning up, to come in informal clothes and have some fellowship after the concert over a meal. People eventually started donating money to the church, which they didn’t need because people were also donating all the food.
Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune
Dale Christopherson, Jane Christopherson, Dennis Frank, Shirley Miller and Curtis Miller pose for a photo in West Freeborn Lutheran Church’s kitchen where they served meals for days after the June 17 tornadoes.
Heroes: Dale and Jane Christopherson Base of operations: near Freeborn Superpowers: Dale neglected the cleanup needed at his farm to help neighbors who had been hit worse. Jane helped organize the meals held at West Freeborn Lutheran Church after the tornadoes hit. Kryptonite: Dale said seeing so much destruction made it overwhelming when trying to help others. Jane said she often didn’t know where to start when trying to help a victim.
Submitted photo
What they didn’t use for supplies they donated equally to the Freeborn County Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Volunteers said they wanted to help others because they understood
People visit and eat at West Freeborn Lutheran Church near the end of June after tornadoes devastated much of the country surrounding the church. the randomness of the tornadoes, and they know it could happen again someday. The church also advertised that they
The Handy Helper Man Whether teaching shop or helping tornado victims, he is there
tornado victims to look through the photos they have. They’ve reconnected many people with photos and would like to continue to do so.
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Hero: Sam Hintz Base of operations: Conger Superpowers: Hintz said the fire department’s operating procedures helped everything go smoothly after the tornadoes hit in June. He said each firefighter was assigned certain roads, and they went to every house in their coverage area within 15 minutes.
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Origin: Hintz is just one of the group of Conger firefighters who were out checking on people in their coverage area immediately after tornadoes touched down. He said he can’t remember what time he went to bed that night, but the next day they were again working to help people. Hintz installed a generator for a few homes on his block, and firefighters had many odd jobs like rounding up loose cattle. “We had a crisis center in the fire hall,” Hintz said. Various suppers and lunches were served and the fire hall served as a place people could come to clean up, use the bathroom and get a meal. Hintz said the community members pulled together to create a place where anyone could get help. “It’s pretty amazing the way the community came all together,” Hintz said. He said even as soon as a few hours after the tornadoes hit people were bringing food and supplies to the fire hall to have available for those who might need them.
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Kryptonite: Trees and power lines in the roads made it difficult for the firefighters to get around after the storms on June 17. Hintz also said the power was out in Conger, which meant their radios didn’t work for a period of time.
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Goehrings: Money raised so far exceeds $49,000 Continued from Page 1 when they learned the event had raised $23,000. “We were just shocked. We thought maybe $10,000 if we were lucky, but never dreamed it would be what it was,” Pam said. The flood-relief fund set up at the State Bank of New Richland has topped $20,000 and continues
would collect any found photos, which they are still doing. They encourage anyone to drop off photos they’ve found, and they encourage all
to receive donations. To date, the total money raised exceeds $49,000. Pam said that 116 checks ranging from $115 to $1,000 have been doled out to people and businesses in New Richland. The New Richland Ministerial Association is in charge of divvying up the funds.
Looking back, they remember all of the work involved in getting everyone organized and coordinated. When asked if they will head up another benefit in the future, Pam and Larry both let out hearty chuckles, in unison. “If it’s for the right cause, we’d definitely do another one,” said Larry.
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Page 8 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 27, 2011 PROGRESS NEIGHBORS
Name that building!
Do you get around the county? By Tim Engstrom tim.engstrom@albertleatribune.com
I snapped photos of buildings — some from straight on and some from unexpected angles — in Emmons, Geneva, Glenville, Hayward, Hollandale and Twin Lakes. Can you pair names in the list below to the appropriate structures?
Emmons __ American Legion Post 317 __ Emmons Library __ Emmons Lutheran __ Northern Country Co-op __ Pheasant Links __ Security Bank Minnesota
Geneva __ Broskoff Structures __ Commerce Bank __ Community Lutheran Church __ Geneva Bar & Grill __ Geneva Community Center __ Park Apartments __ Richards Wood Products __ Southern Minnesota Electric __ Tyson
Glenville __ Com-Tec __ First Lutheran Church __ Glenville-Emmons Elementary School
A.
K.
B.
__ Glenville-Emmons High School __ Glenville Grain __ Larry’s 65 Mobile __ Minne-Soy-Ta Nice __ Poet Biorefining __ SoyMor __ The Office
L.
M.
C.
Hayward __ Becker Auto __ Blazing Star Trail restrooms __ Garden Diva __ Hayward Apartments __ Hayward Cooperative __ Hayward Village Center __ Lou-Rich __ Nick’s Country Store __ Shell Rock Ag
N.
O. D.
Hollandale __ Ag Power Enterprises __ Conservative Congregational Church __ Hollandale Christian School __ Hollandale Heritage Huis __ Hollandale Rest Area __ Jones Storage __ Three-In-1
E.
P.
Twin Lakes __ Bauer’s Storage __ Citizens State Bank __ Mattson’s Lawn & Garden __ St. James Catholic Church __ Twin Lakes Substation
F.
Q.
See the answers on Page 10 of this section.
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PROGRESS NEIGHBORS Sunday, February 27, 2011 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 9
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Page 10 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 27, 2011 PROGRESS NEIGHBORS
Answers to the quiz! Here is the answer key for the “Name that building!” feature on pages 8 and 9. A. Emmons Library B. Richards Wood Products C. Southern Minnesota Electric D. Geneva Community Center E. Emmons Lutheran Church F. Hayward Cooperative G. Bauer’s Storage H. The Office I. Nick’s Country Store J. Hollandale Christian School K. Hayward Village Center L. Shell Rock Ag M. Community Lutheran Church N. Geneva Bar & Grill O. Northern Country Co-op P. Hollandale Rest Area Q. Mattson’s Lawn & Garden R. Twin Lakes Substation S. Garden Diva T. Com-Tec U. Jones’ Storage
V. Glenville-Emmons Elementary School W. Minne-Soy-Ta Nice X. American Legion Post 317 Y. Ag Power Enterprises Z. Hayward Apartments AA. Lou-Rich BB. Commerce Bank CC. Pheasant Links DD. Larry’s 65 Mobile EE. Poet Biorefining FF. Security Bank Minnesota GG. SoyMor HH. First Lutheran Church II. St. James Catholic Church JJ. Hollandale Heritage Huis KK. Tyson LL. Blazing Star Trail restrooms MM. Conservative Congregational Church NN. Citizens State Bank OO. Glenville Grain PP. Park Apartments QQ. Becker Auto RR. Three-In-1 SS. Broskoff Structures TT. Glenville-Emmons High School
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Hero: Mike Pyzick Secret identity: fire chief Base of operations: Wells Fire Department Superpowers: organization, quick thinking, fire scene operations and safety for other firefighters Kryptonite: the new changes of mandatory training, certification and reports Affiliations: wife, Carrie, son, Sam, 15, and daughter, Morgan, 11 Origin: Pyzick first volunteered as a firefighter when he was asked in 1993. He later became rescue captain for seven years followed by chief for the past six years.
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lifestyles@albertleatribune.com
“It’s not a one-man show,” Pyzick said. He credits his fellow officers and 25 other firefighters for their hard work and making his job much easier. The worst call he has been to was on Jan. 15, 2010. A flashover occurred at a home at 500 First Ave. SW, Wells. During the flashover Pyzick along with three fellow
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firefighters were involved. He was blown three feet from the north door. The other three hugged the floor in the kitchen while the compression passed over them. All four came out safe from the flashover. The initial fire was caused when a poorly thrown cigarette missed a 5-gallon bucket of sand. The flashover occurred when the firefighters put water on the fire, throwing sparks into the attic hitting a combination of toxins waiting for ignition.
He said he doesn’t mind the fire calls, but the car collisions are the worst because of the extrication and not knowing what they will come upon. With openings coming soon at the Wells Fire Department he encourages residents to apply. “It does take a lot of time but the rewards are worth it,” Pyzick said. He said it’s a victory getting to save neighboring homes from damage during a fire, saving lives and helping the community.
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Brie Cohen/Albert Lea Tribune
Firefighters spray water on the house at 500 First Ave SW in Wells from a bucket attached to a fire truck on the afternoon of Jan. 15, 2010.
Wells firefighters battle a blaze on Jan. 15, 2010, that started out as a flashover.
Cold temperatures made water turn to ice fast on Jan. 15, 2010. Neighbors gathered to watch the firefighters.
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