Progress 2020 Neighbors

Progress Neighbors

Albert Lea Tribune

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Dr. Mike Bjorklund of Clarks Grove Vet Clinic takes measurements in order to put casts on a lamb’s broken back legs in early February. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Caring for

AREA PETS Clarks Grove Vet Clinic takes care of all types of animals, including both livestock and companion animals

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

Clarks Grove Vet Clinic also boards dogs and cats. The dog pictured was recuperating at the clinc after having a diseased portion of its tail amputated.

C

LARKS GROVE — On a diseased tail, and before that surgimild, gray day in early cally removed pieces of a rubber toy February, a lamb drows- a dog had eaten. It’s all just another ily bleats while laying on day at the office for the veterinarian an exam and part-owner of the table at Clarks Grove clinic, and he wouldn’t Vet Clinic. have it any other way.

The lamb has been Bjorklund has pracsedated, as its two ticed in Clarks Grove back legs were broken for 30 years, after after being stepped on spending his first year by a large heifer, or a in the field at a clinic young female cow. in New Ulm. OriginalDr. Mike Bjorklund ly from Glenville, he is fitting the lamb’s obtained his Doctor legs for a cast, and the of Veterinary Mediveterinarian’s progcine degree from the nosis is that as long University of Minneas recovery instruc— Veterinarian sota. He said he first tions are followed and became interested in Mike Bjorklund since the lamb was pursuing veterinary brought in right away medicine in high for proper medical care, the young school, while dating the girl who animal should heal back to 100%.

A few hours beforehand, Bjorklund removed a portion of a great dane’s See CLINIC, Page 2

“(Vet techs) are the backbone of this clinic, just like nurses are the backbone of medicine.”

What’s inside?

Becker Auto adds towing Longtime Hayward business expands services to serve a need. Page 2

Conducive to learning Alden-Conger teacher finds success with variety of seating options in classroom. Page 3

Making an impact Clothes Closet in Wells gives back to numerous causes in the area. Page 6

Carrying on a mainstay Ellendale Cafe purchased; new owners hope to continue longtime business. Page 8

Page 2 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Progress 2020 | NEIGHBORS | saturday, February 29, 2020

Clinic Continued from Front Page

would eventually become his wife, Jackie. Her father was a dairy farmer, and Bjorklund ended up spending a lot of time on the farm and around the animals when they were dating in high school.

“She’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said.

Clarks Grove Vet Clinic was started in either the late 1950s or early ’60s

by Dr. Earl Thompson, Bjorklund said. Now, Clarks Grove Vet Clinic, as well as Waseca Vet Clinic, are owned by four partners, one of whom is Bjorklund, while the other three work out of Waseca.

The Waseca clinic was built new in 2001, and the Clarks Grove clinic was remodeled and added on to in 2006, he said. The remodel added a breakroom, three exam rooms, a large surgical suite as well as a large treatment area, a pharmacy, boarding facility and a treatment area with stables for horses.

Bjorklund is joined by four other veterinarians at the Clarks Grove clinic, three of whom work part time. The Clarks Grove clinic also employs eight veterinary technicians.

“They are the backbone of this clinic, just like nurses are the backbone of medicine,” Bjorklund said of the clinic’s vet techs. “We would be lost without them.”

When Bjorklund first started in Clarks Grove 30 years ago, he said about 70% of the animals the clinic treated were food animals or livestock and 30% were companion animals, such as dogs, cats or horses.

Now, the tables have turned, with about 75% of the animals the clinic sees being companion animals. Bjorklund attributed the drop in treating swine and cattle to a consolidation in the livestock industry — many places are farming more and more of only one or two kinds of animals, and hiring veterinarians that tend to specialize in those specific animals.

Bjorklund said any cattle the clinic treats are almost always done onsite at the respective farms, while 75% of the horses it treats are brought to the clinic.

He said they encourage

Becker Auto out of Hayward recently added a towing service on top of its used auto sales and mechanical shop.

The towing fleet is complete with five trucks and can tow vehicles up to the size of a semi. Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune

The lamb’s back legs were broken after it was stepped on by a large heifer, Bjorklund said. As long as they receive proper and prompt medical treatment, and care instructions are followed while they’re recovering, the veterinarian said young animals can heal back to 100%. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

By the numbers

30 Years Dr. Mike Bjorklund has been a veterinarian at Clarks Grove Vet Clinic

75 When the clinic treats horses, it encourages owners to bring the horses to the clinic, as it has a stables area where horses can be treated and cared for more efficiently and safely. horse owners to bring their animals there to use their facility, which makes treatment safer and more efficient. Dr. Tom Lang handles just about all of the swine the clinic treats, up to about 100 miles away, Bjorklund said. Most of the cattle the clinic treats are typically within 30 miles from the clinic. Beyond that, Bjorklund said the Clarks Grove clinic will treat any animal an owner is willing to bring in. The clinic has seen customers from as far as the Twin Cities, southern Iowa and the Wisconsin border, as Bjorklund said the clinic offers some specialized surgeries other clinics don’t, such as ACL repairs in dogs.

Bjorklund said while the clinic offers quite a lot of services now, he hopes to continue to expand what the clinic offers in the future.

If Bjorklund had to pick a favorite area of what he practices, he

said it would be the surgery aspect, especially orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries. But, he said he loves just about every aspect of working with animals.

“I really do enjoy the appointments — the variety we see and the great clients we work with,” he said.

For Bjorklund, the most challenging part of the job initially was learning the office aspect. He said they don’t tend to teach veterinarians about managing personnel, managing taxes or handling disgruntled clients, but he said that’s knowledge he has gained on the job over time.

Another challenge to the job can be presenting clients with options depending on their budget to treat their animals.

Economic issues can dictate what they’re able to do at times.

“It’s a challenge to do the best we can with the least we have,” he said.

With a career spanning three decades, Bjorklund has his share of stories. One he recalled was when he went to a farm to vaccinate cattle.

The last heifer to vaccinate got so spooked it climbed a ladder into a hayloft of the barn. As Bjorklund and those assisting him went up into the loft after it, he said the cow was running at

Percentage of the animals the clinic sees that are companion animals, such as cats, dogs and horses

5 Number of veterinarians at the clinic, three of whom work part time them, essentially trying to hurt or kill them. So, one of the people Bjorklund was with started stacking hay bales under a loft door, while another person went up and spooked the cow enough that it ran over to where the loft door was, falling through and dropping about 15 feet onto the stacks of bales uninjured.

“It keeps life interesting, getting to work with not only great animals but great owners and great employees,” Bjorklund said.

The Clarks Grove Clinic, at 28088 770th Ave. in Clarks Grove, is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, and can be reached at 507-256-7237. The clinic also has 24/7 emergency services.

Becker Auto adds towing to its services

By Tyler Julson

tyler.julson@albertleatribune.com

HAYWARD — Since opening the doors to Becker Auto in 1989, Mark Becker has offered Hayward and the surrounding communities a used car lot and an automotive and mechanical shop. As of December, Becker Auto has now added towing to its list of services.

Becker said he got the idea after Allen’s Tow-NTravel was bought out, and having worked in the towing business before, he already had an idea of what he needed to do.

Becker has had two vehicles capable of towing in his fleet of vehicles for many years, but since he decided to start the towing service in December, he has added another three trucks. The trucks range in sizes and according to Becker, they can handle any size of vehicle up to a semi.

The addition of the service will also eventually add two to three new jobs to the business, he said.

“With Allen’s Towing getting bought out, that prompted us to get into it,” Becker said. “I’ve had two rollbacks for a long time anyway. We transported a lot of cars before, and towing kind of goes hand-in-hand. And we’re right next to the freeway, so that will be nice for customers.”

Before Becker added the service, anyone in need of towing around Hayward would need to go to Allen’s in Albert Lea or Midtown Towing in Austin.

Becker said he hopes by adding the towing service

it will be a nice convenience for the surrounding communities.

“We’ve been starting to get the idea out in the community,” Becker said.

“We’ve been advertising now and getting it out there that we’re doing this.

All the trucks are set up and ready to go. We’ve got five trucks that are ready to roll. I think once everybody knows we’re here, it’s going to be a big deal.”

Becker started his company in 1989 after getting encouraged to do it by people within the community. He said he has always been a car guy, and he started out hauling cars long before starting his shop.

He said owning his own business has a lot of perks, but his favorite aspect is all the people he gets to meet while in the shop and on the road.

By the numbers

1989 Year Becker Auto started in Hayward

5 Vehicles in Becker Auto’s towing fleet

2-3 New jobs expected to be added to accommodate towing services

What does Dr. Mike Bjorklund like about practicing as a veterinarian in Clarks Grove?

“I really do enjoy the appointments — the variety we see and the great clients we work with,” he said.

Mark Becker said Allen’s Tow-N-Travel being bought out and having experience in the towing business prompted him to add the service.

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saturday, February 29, 2020 | NEIGHBORS | Progress 2020 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Page 3

Stephanie Hallman, a fourth-grade teacher at Alden-Conger Elementary School, has been using flexible or alternative seating in her classroom for about four years. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Teacher allows various seating options in the classroom, sees success

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

ALDEN — Stephanie Hallman wants each of her students to have a comfortable classroom conducive to learning. For some students, that’s achieved at a traditional school desk and chair. For others, that could be laying on a yoga mat on the floor.

Hallman, a teacher with Alden-Conger Elementary School for 16 years after being a substitute teacher for area schools for 12 years prior, first started implementing the different seating options — called flexible/flex or alternative seating — in her fourth-grade classroom about four years ago.

The first few items she got for the seating were purchased after she applied and then received a grant from Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services. Then she gradually obtained more funding through Alden-Conger’s parent-teacher organization to purchase the rest. Now, she has 42 different seating options for her 21 students — or 37 options without the inflatable rubber exercise balls the class is currently taking a break from using.

Hallman said she first got the idea to implement the seating choices after her day care and “mom experience.” She noticed that some children focused better by being able to still move or wiggle.”

“Our goal is to work hard and smart while at school, and then go home and have fun,” she said of her classroom mindset.

“We feel very special to

have flex seating.”

The different seating options in Hallman’s classroom include standing desks, desks that can raise or lower to different levels using a crank, hokki stools — stools that can wobble and sway, yoga mats and even a dining room table, among other options. Students’ movement is less restricted with a number of the choices, but Hallman said they know that if they fall over using any of the options or distract their classmates, they have to move on to another choice.

What works best for each student varies, Hallman said. When taking tests, one student works best at a traditional school desk isolated from others, with folders around her acting as a makeshift wall to help her focus on the task at hand.

Another focuses best laying on his or her stomach on a yoga mat while doing their work on a clipboard.

“It is a wonderful option,” Hallman said of students having different choices. “It doesn’t work for every kid, but it’s a great option that works for a lot of kids.”

After going over a general lesson plan for the next day, students are directed toward the end of each school day to figure out what kind of seating they think they’ll want to use the next day. They pick both a morning and afternoon option, and sign up on the class’s “matrix chart.”

Any conflicts over wanting the same option are settled via a round of rock, paper, scissors.

Women of Today is a community service organization, and the Glenville chapter has 22 members. Provided

Women of Today group fills community needs in Glenville

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

GLENVILLE — A group of area women have found fellowship while giving back to the community.

The Minnesota Women of Today organization has been around for 70 years, and the Glenville chapter has likely been around since the early 1980s, according to current members.

“We, the Women of Today, are service, growth and fellowship. We believe that through us great lessons can be learned, worthy deeds performed and a hand of fellowship extended to millions of women everywhere,” the Minnesota Women of Today creed reads.

“May we leave the world a better place because we lived and served within it.”

The Glenville area chapter meets once a month, typically on the third Thursday of the month, at the Glenville American Legion.

One of the annual activities the group runs is the area Santa shop, where they make, buy or accept donations of items children can then come through and buy as gifts for their family and friends. All the items are sold to the children for about $3 or less. There are also cookies and coffee for parents to enjoy while letting their children shop.

Santa usually makes an appearance, too, and this past Christmas, two children even used their money to buy the jolly old elf a gift.

“It takes a load off the parents,” said Linda Kral, a Women of Today member since 1993.

“They (the children) get a real feeling of accomplishment from it,” added Dianne Stevens, a newer addition to the group who joined last fall.

The group has also taken on beautification projects around the area, such as landscaping and putting up fall decorations. The group has donated to and

quality used cars reasonably priced

The Glenville Women of Today chapter routinely does community beautification projects, such as the fall 2018 one pictured. helped with fundraising for different causes and events, and hosts an annual craft and vendor

fair as well. Members also deliver May Day baskets

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Hallman said there are 42 different seating options in her classroom.

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Page 4 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Progress 2020 | NEIGHBORS | saturday, February 29, 2020

Investing in 2 local grocery stores

By Tyler Julson

tyler.julson@albertleatribune.com

Two years ago, Casey Connor bought David’s Foods in Lake Mills after working in the grocery store industry since high school. In November, Connor expanded his operations when he purchased Fallgatters in Northwood.

Connor had spent a few years running store operations at both Nelson’s and MarketPlace Foods in Albert Lea. After buying David’s, Connor continued to work at MarketPlace but decided to manage his stores full time when he bought Fallgatters.

Connor has made a lot of changes in the Lake Mills store since he took ownership and plans on doing the same thing in Northwood.

“We’ve invested pretty heavily in Lake Mills to make it a lot more modernized,” Connor said.

“We put all our meat and produce behind doors, we painted the whole store and we plan to do very similar things in Northwood. We’ve already bought the coolers. We’re

“It’s nice to know our vision and our work is making people happy.

Everyone takes pride in their grocery store. I want everyone in town to feel proud about their grocery store.”

— Casey Connor

going to tear out the front wall and bring produce up front. We’ll be able to offer a lot fresher products and more variety with that.”

Connor said everything that has changed in Lake Mills has turned out nicely for the community and believes that since the Northwood community is similar, the changes will reflect positively again.

Casey Connor has owned David’s Grocery Store in Lake Mills for two years and just purchased Fallgatters in Northwood this past November. Tyler Julson/Albert Lea Tribune He said one of the biggest challenges will be modernizing the building in which Fallgatters is located. He said it is a little older than David’s and might need a little more work, but Connor said the changes will come in many different phases.

While Connor said there may be some small disadvantages to being in a small community, they are not enough to outweigh the positives. He talked about the perks of owning a small business in tightknit communities.

“We can make the big decisions here,” Connor said. “We don’t need to reach out to a corporate branch. We decide. Another thing is our profit goes back into the community.

The profit doesn’t leave our store to go down to a big headquarters somewhere — the profit stays here. We’ve invested in Lake Mills as much as a corporate store, and we’re going to do the same in Northwood.”

Connor took over as owner of Fallgatters in Northwood Nov. 4. Connor has already made a handful of changes and has plans to make many more.

There are many services and goods Connor said both stores have either already started or plan to offer in the future. David’s has already started offering a catering service, and

Connor bought David’s in Lake Mills in 2017 after working for Nelson’s and MarketPlace in Albert Lea for a number of years.

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Fallgatters plans to open one soon. David’s also recently added a deli, and depending on its success, Fallgatters will look into adding one as well. Connor said they are also looking into opening an ice cream shop.

Above all, Connor said it’s about finding out what people in the community want and catering to that.

“We’ve got a lot of good compliments from people

here in Northwood, and the same way with Lake Mills,” Connor said. “It’s nice to know our vision and our work is making people happy. Everyone takes pride in their grocery store. I want everyone in town to feel proud about their grocery store.

“We’re excited to be here, and we’ve got a great staff. I think both stores are going to benefit off each other now.”

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saturday, February 29, 2020 | NEIGHBORS | Progress 2020 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Page 5

origins of communities

New Richland started when Mpls./St. Louis Railroad reached area

New Richland native Orrie Anthony owns Straight River Electric, and bought out Hartland Electric in November. Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Owatonna business expands, purchases Hartland Electric

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

A chance summer job turned into a full on career for one New Richland native.

Orrie Anthony ended up working as an electrician’s apprentice the summer after he graduated from NRHEG, and said he liked it well enough to continue.

Anthony worked for different shops in Owatonna, Mankato and Waseca, and was 23 years old when he obtained his journeyman license.

In 2016, Anthony decided to strike out on his own and started his own business, Straight River Electric. While the business has a shop in Owatonna and Anthony runs the office side out of his home in Owatonna, Straight River Electric has a coverage area that spans at least five different counties, from Albert Lea to Waldorf, to Waseca and Owatonna and down the Interstate 35 corridor.

“We really cover a lot of ground,” Anthony said.

Anthony, now 31, said his time working for different businesses before starting his own was “a blessing in disguise,” as it helped him learn how others do things, including what works when running a business and what doesn’t.

For example, working for smaller shops taught him how to be more resourceful, he said.

Anthony and his wife are looking to move into the country, somewhere between Owatonna and the New Richland area.

His ties to the area led him to be connected with Hartland Electric owner Lonnie Korman, whose children Anthony went to school with growing up, and who was also looking to sell Hartland Electric.

As Anthony said he didn’t want to buy the Hartland Electric building, there were some things to work out, but the two men made a deal in November 2019. Straight River Electric bought out Hartland Electric, taking

2016

By the numbers

2019

60-70

Year Orrie Anthony started his own business, Straight River Electric

Year Straight River Electric bought out Hartland Electric

Hours a week Anthony tends to average working

on the business’s clients, as well as buying the shop’s work van and hiring on its other electrician, Aaron Chicos, who Anthony said had worked there for 20 years.

“He’s really kind of the cornerstone of the whole deal,” Anthony said of Chicos, who he said brings great relationships with Hartland area customers to the business.

In addition to Chicos, Anthony also has a parttime apprentice working for him, Braden Routh, who’s going through electrician courses at Riverland Community College in Albert Lea. Anthony said he is glad to have those ties to Hartland now, as acquiring Hartland Electric just about doubled his business through Straight River Electric. As Anthony and his wife are looking to move to the area, he said he is considering finding a shop in the New Richland area to rent or buy to run Straight River Electric out of.

Straight River Electric covers a wide range of electrical work, from residential and commercial to industrial and agricultural. Residential and agricultural work makes up the majority of the business’s workload, Anthony said, and he personally enjoys the agriculture work the most, especially control work and bin and driver setups. While Anthony didn’t grow up on a farm, he said he worked on a hog farm in high school and was around other farms growing up. He knows how the whole ag system works.

“If hog barns didn’t smell I’d like them even more,” he said jokingly.

There’s no typical work

day or work week when it comes to being an electrician, Anthony said, and he typically averages a 60- to 70-hour work week himself. Those hours do fluctuate, and August through New Year’s tends to be the busiest season for Straight River Electric. Making sure there’s enough work for his employees is always in the back of his mind, Anthony said, but thankfully that has not been a problem at all for his business.

He said he finds it challenging when bidding for jobs and seeing some electricians or businesses undercut other bids due to not having a thorough-enough understanding of the national electrical code. Anthony said he holds himself to a high standard with his knowledge of the electrical code, and that can sometimes be difficult to explain to customers, as the code takes continuous education for electricians

to understand themselves.

While running his own business comes with its own challenges, Anthony said he likes that he has the freedom to decide what direction he takes Straight River Electric in, and what equipment he and his employees use. He said it helps them to serve their customers better, as it helps them examine and execute the jobs they take on.

With a noticeable shortage expected and already evident in some trade or skill jobs, Anthony said there are good jobs to be had as an electrician, and there’s a noticeable need in areas where shops are closing due to owners and employees retiring.

“There seemed to be shoes to fill, and I’m glad to do it,” he said.

Straight River Electric can be reached at straightriverelectric@ gmail.com or on its Straight River Electric, LLC Facebook page.

Origins of communities

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The village of Hollandale was incorporated in 1934, with the first election held on March 10, 1934.

Several schools were built throughout the years, along with four churches.

Businesses over the years have consisted of a grocery store, a gas station, a hardware store, a tavern, a bank, an implement dealer, a post office, a beauty shop, an electrician, a machine shop and others.

The population at the 2010 census was 303 people.

— Information from “Freeborn County Heritage”

supported a depot, two banks, two blacksmiths, three hotels, a school, a jeweler, a flour mill, a newspaper, several meat markets and grocery stores, a creamery, a cheese factory, farm implements, a Ford dealership, cafes, a poultry and egg factory, a movie theater and other businesses.

In 1882, members of the Congregational church built the first house of worship in the village, and other churches have included All Saints Catholic, Trinity Lutheran and St. Peter’s Lutheran.

Preserving the history of the community has been a goal of the New Richland Area Historical Society.

The city is in Waseca County and had a population of 1,203 at the 2010 census.

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Hollandale had as many as 400 farm families at the start Hollandale was started as a dream of George H. Payne of Payne Investment Co. in 1918, after he was drawn to the 15,000 acres of swamp land in the county.

The land was drained in 1923, and farms were sold starting in 1924.

Average farms were 20 acres, and families lived the distance of two city blocks apart.

About 400 farm families, many of Dutch descent, settled in the area, producing onions, potatoes, carrots, celery, cabbage and sugar beets, according to the book.

There were also a few dairy farmers.

Like other towns in the area, New Richland’s origins center around the railroad: in this case, the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, which reached the area in 1877.

According to “History of New Richland Wilton Villages,” published by the Waseca County Historical Society and compiled

by Herman Peterson and the New Richland Star, the founding fathers of New Richland worked toward the betterment of the community with an eye on progress and the promise of a bright future for all.

There have been all types of merchants, including ones who sold dry goods, medicines, furniture, coal, hardware, lumber, harnesses and leather goods.

According to the city’s website, the village

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Page 6 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Progress 2020 | NEIGHBORS | saturday, February 29, 2020

Clothes Closet making an impact Nonprofit thrift store’s mission is to love God, serve others

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

WELLS — Proceeds from a nonprofit thrift store in Wells are impacting people from many walks of life throughout the region.

Formed in 1987 through a ministerial association, Clothes Closet moved to its present location on South Broadway in Wells in August 2011. From its inception, it has been run solely by volunteers and has depended on donations.

Volunteer coordinator Rita Bebler said at the start clothes were free or required only a small contribution, and the organization depended on donations for utilities, rent and other costs.

As the years passed and the organization grew, its outreach and impact on the community grew, as well.

It sells clothing of all sizes, as well as coats, bedding, curtains, kitchen items, books, toys, crafts, knick-knacks, decorations, jewelry, vintage items and other miscellaneous items. Most clothing items are marked between $1 and $3.

Through the money it raises from sales at the thrift store, it spends only about 10% on operating costs — things like rent, shelving and utilities, Bebler said. The remainder of the funds are given back to various causes in the community.

The organization’s outreach spans from the Iowa border on the south to Minnesota Highway 30 on the north between Albert Lea and Blue Earth. It covers two private schools and three public school districts and helps students in need with milk money and being able to participate in school trips, she said. It also helps with food and clothing as needed.

It provides gas cards for patients in cancer centers at hospitals in Blue Earth, Albert Lea and Mankato and gives between $300 and $500 to new cancer or dialysis patients for them to use on food, gas and hotel expenses when traveling to and from treatments.

In addition, Clothes Closet gives assistance to about 25 people a month for utilities, and works with the Faribault County Human Services Department, providing gas cards for people who are stranded, along with other types of assistance as needed.

Clothes Closet volunteers sort through clothes donated at the store in late January. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

By the numbers

6,755 Volunteer hours through Clothes Closet in 2019

44 Volunteers at Clothes Closet in 2019

$500 Amount given to each area fire and ambulance department in 2019 In all of these instances, it relies on social workers to connect them with the people in need, she said.

It also works with Meals on Wheels and a few area food shelves to provide food and personal items and has started giving area fire and ambulance departments $500 each annually.

“Our outreach is phenomenal, but it’s phenomenal because we are so well supported by donations,” said Bebler, who has been with the organization for about 15 years and has played a lead role for the last 10 years.

She said Clothes Closet doesn’t usually take cash donations but makes all of its money from the sales at the store. It receives donations from people as far away as Albert Lea, Fairmont, Waseca and

A group of volunteers at Clothes Closet in Wells stands underneath the nonprofit’s motto painted on the wall above one of the windows: “Love God, serve others.” The organization is run entirely by volunteers.

Clothes Closet in Wells includes much more than just clothes. It also sells household items, decorations, toys, books, bedding, curtains and jewelry, to name a few.

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Blue Earth.

Bebler attributed this to the fact that people like what they’re doing with the money they make from the store and give to people and organizations over such a wide area.

The organization logged 6,755 volunteer hours in 2019 from 44 volunteers, with a majority of the hours coming from about 13 volunteers. Volunteers must be in good physical shape, be willing to work hard and be pleasant to

interact with.

The Clothes Closet motto is “Love God, serve others.”

In addition to helping people in the region, Clothes Closet has also donated clothes in Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Kenya and Texas.

The store is open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Saturday of each month.

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A room in the basement of Clothes Closet in Wells features all Christmas items.

Emmons incorporated in 1899 Emmons was named after G.H. Emmons, who first came to the land in 1856.

Two years later, a school district was organized, and in 1880, G.H. Emmons’ son started a store there, but after finding out the railroad was not going to stop there, moved the store a mile south to Norman,

Iowa. The store was moved back to Emmons in 1886.

After that happened, an elevator was put up and a mercantile and hardware store was opened, followed by a lumber yard.

The city was incorporated in 1899, and G.H. Emmons served as mayor from 1899 through 1905.

saturday, February 29, 2020 | NEIGHBORS | Progress 2020 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Page 7

providing fun for younger families Group of Freeborn residents raise money for playground after new families move to town

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

FREEBORN — After more than three years of fundraising by a group of volunteers, the city of Freeborn will soon benefit from new playground equipment for area children.

Freeborn City Councilor Jim Beach said talk of getting the new equipment started when several younger families with children moved into town.

He estimated there were about 40 children in the small community in northwestern Freeborn County.

Beach said the city previously had decent playground equipment, but it was worn out and next to the old Freeborn school, which has had break-ins and vandalism over the years.

“The equipment over there didn’t meet the standards we need now,” Beach said.

A group of volunteers decided to meet every Wednesday starting in July 2016 for a meat raffle at TB3’s and has faithfully done so ever since, raising about $40,000, as of

This rendering shows what the new playground in Freeborn is expected to look like. Provided mid-January with raffle sales and donations.

Sharon Honstad, one of the volunteers, said the cost of the new GameTime commercial park equipment and ground work to get it in place is $60,000 through Minnesota Wisconsin Playground.

She said the city agreed to purchase the equipment early at a cheaper winter

“We have had some really good supporters.”

— Sharon Honstad price, so the equipment has already been ordered as the group continues to

fundraise for the remaining funds.

The meat raffles have included 10 to 15 meat packs a week, rotating between meet from Conger Meat Market in Conger and Morgan’s Meat Market in New Richland.

“We have had some really good supporters,” Honstad said.

In addition to the raffle,

origins of communities

Geneva’s origins center around post office Settled in 1856, Geneva was started around a post office by Edwin C. Stacy, the first postmaster there and the first probate judge for the county.

The city, and the adjoining lake and township, were named in remembrance of Geneva, New York.

The post office was first in the old Goodnature house south of the present senior apartments, and was later put into the big store.

In 1952, a new building was constructed north of the store, housing a barbershop and post office, but in 1979, the post office

was moved to the house behind the Standard Station, which was destroyed by fire in 1987.

Over the years, Geneva has had hotel, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a hardware store, a creamery, a cigar store, a gas station, a meat market, a restaurant,

The same year, a post office opened and a general merchandise and grocery store was constructed.

In 1881, a wagon shop and an engine house were added to the blacksmith shop.

By 1910, Manchester had a town hall and a firemen’s hall, a bank, a creamery, Farmers Mutual Insurance

Co., a railroad station, a post office, a hotel, an elevator, a hardware store, a general store and a blacksmith shop.

In 1916, Evangelical Lutheran Church was constructed, and at about the same time a two-room school was built. In the 1950s, the school consolidated with Albert Lea. The city was

Women

to make every meeting.

The group is large enough that individuals can break off into smaller groups to work on different projects; not everyone has to be working on the same thing.

“It’s always good to get new people,” Kral said.

“We don’t take attendance,” Golbuff added.

“You do what you can.”

The group sometimes has speakers at its meetings, and have hosted speakers from Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, Albert Lea Public Library and Freeborn County nurses, among others, and even took a self defense class during one meeting. They also will plan their own fun nights, such as going out to a movie or having a spa night, or getting together for margaritas and drawing.

While the group works to spend time helping others, the women participating get something out of it, too.

“We do it for the benefit

“These are friendships we wouldn’t have without this group. It’s fun to have people you get to know through helping others.” of the community,” Golbuff said.

“These are friendships we wouldn’t have without this group,” Kral added.

“It’s fun to have people you get to know through helping others.”

The Glenville chapter of Women of Today has 22 members and is in District 11 — along with chapters from Blooming Prairie, Byron and Straight River.

The reasons the 22 women

have joined vary somewhat; Stevens had more time on her hands after retiring, some were mothers with young children when they joined and needed some more time with adults, and others were new to the Glenville area and wanted to get to know more people.

While the reasons for joining may differ, the reasons for staying with the group remain fairly universal: fellowship.

“The organization also gives us the opportunity to find individual growth,” Golbuff said, something she saw when Karen Hagen, a fellow member since 2003, served as chapter president one year and came into her own to knock the job out of the park, Golbuff said.

The women have all found fellowship in going through everything together and through sharing their own experiences, they said.

“We’re here to support each other,” Kral said.

by getting their work done.

“It’s about helping them figure out what they need to get the job done,” she said.

When thinking of concerns when considering flex seating, Hallman said some wonder where students will keep their things if they’re not using

the typical school desk.

Hallman has her students put their items in buckets that move with them, which they call their lockers. She said teachers need to be more relaxed to implement alternative seating choices, and that she herself has had to let go of some

control since applying flex seating in her classroom.

The seating choices make her classroom feel less institutional, Hallman said, and more comfortable.

“I think, overall, when kids have choice, it’s easier to teach,” she said.

“We try to make it fun.”

Continued from Page 3

While a lot of students sometimes want to sit with their friends, Hallman said she reminds them that their main objective to being in school is to learn

Faith page.

PHILLIP OR MARK MORREIM

The village of Manchester was originally platted in 1882 by Ole Peterson and was again platted and surveyed in 1898 by H.W. Fish.

It was named after a town in Illinois where early settler Mathias Anderson came.

In 1877, a grain elevator was erected, and a year later a blacksmith shop opened.

Seating

Find all of the area worship times each Friday on the

— Information from “Freeborn County Heritage”

Manchester named after another town in Illinois

to senior residents, donate school supplies at the beginning of the school year and sponsor families in need around different holidays, among other community service efforts.

The group also painted the back room of the Glenville Legion to show appreciation for usage of the room for Women of Today meetings, and has been involved with domestic violence awareness efforts.

“Whenever the community has a need,” said Cindy Golbuff, who has been a member since 1999 and is a state delegate with Women of Today, and said any money the group makes goes back into the community.

“We’re always open to new ideas,” Kral said.

The group is always looking to welcome new members, and understands not everyone will be able

Beach and Honstad encouraged people to come out to the meat raffles at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday night indefinitely at TB3’s to help raise the remaining needed money.

Donations are also still being accepted via check made out to the city of Freeborn, designated for playground equipment, at Freeborn City Hall.

a grocery store, a tavern and a feed mill, among others.

The city, in Freeborn County, had a population of 555 at the 2010 census.

origins of communities

Continued from Page 3

TB3’s also typically has a burger or taco special each Wednesday night to help bring in more people to support the cause.

Honstad and Beach said the volunteers would love to eventually raise money for a shelter at the park as well, to provide a space for parents to sit out of the sun and for families to utilize for picnics or parties.

— Linda Kral

incorporated in 1947, and water mains were installed the same year. In 1952, a tornado destroyed several businesses and homes.

The city’s population was listed at 57 in the 2010 census.

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— Information from “Freeborn County Heritage”

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Page 8 | AlbertLeaTribune.com | Progress 2020 | NEIGHBORS | saturday, February 29, 2020

Russ Goette and Patti Carlson took over Ellendale Cafe mid-January. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

Carrying on a longtime Ellendale mainstay there in the 1960s and said the cafe is much the same as it was then.

He has known all of the owners since 1965.

They said they didn’t think it would be right to change the name, so they will keep it as it has remained all these years.

The couple said right now they are the cafe’s only employees, though they will consider adding more employees if things get busier.

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

ELLENDALE — New owners purchased Ellendale Cafe in January with hopes of continuing a longstanding business in the community.

Ellendale Mayor Russ Goette and his fiancee, Patti Carlson, moved to the city in 2013 after living for a time in Oregon and the Twin Cities.

Carlson said they had been through enough big-city life, so they decided to move back where Goette was born and raised.

“I love it,” Carlson said.

“Everyone’s so nice.”

Six years later, the couple said they started looking around at cafes in the area, including in Albert Lea, Hartland and Owatonna, but ultimately decided to move ahead with Ellendale Cafe in their own community.

Former owner Judy Davidson’s last day was Jan. 14, and then Goette and Carlson began the next day. Davidson had owned the business for more than 25 years.

Goette and Carlson have expanded the cafe’s hours and are starting different features each day of the week. Taco Tuesday is on Tuesdays, stir fry is on Wednesdays, fried chicken on Thursdays, fish on Fridays and pasta on Saturdays. Sundays feature a chef’s choice from 1 to 3 p.m.

The menu, otherwise, is staying the same with plans for some possible additions in the future.

“The customers have been fantastic,” Carlson said. “Things are going well.”

The cafe serves people

ELLENDALE ADVERTISING Are you looking to promote your business?

Call Chelsey Belrichard at 507-379-3428 chelsey.bellrichard@albertleatribune.com Ellendale Cafe has been a mainstay on Fifth Avenue in Ellendale for many years.

By the numbers

2013 Year Russ Goette and Patti Carlson moved to Ellendale not only from Ellendale but also the surrounding communities, including Geneva, Hope, New

4 Years Goette has served as mayor Richland and Hollandale.

Goette estimated the cafe has been in the building since the 1920s or 1930s

15 Day in January Goette and Carlson took over Ellendale Cafe and noted the building was constructed in 1910. He recalled his great-grandmother working as a baker

origins of communities

Conger named after Iowa representative Conger, known as “the biggest little town in Minnesota,” was named after a man from Iowa named E.H. Conger.

According to the “Freeborn County Heritage” book, Conger was possibly a state representative or senator. He later became an ambassador to China.

The site was originally located between the Fred Miller and Albert Krueger farms in Alden Township.

The book stated in 1898 construction of the railroad was started, and the line was extended from

Ellendale Cafe is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

It is at 205 W. Fifth Ave. Aside from the cafe and Goette’s role as mayor, the couple said they enjoy spending time with family and grandchildren and are involved at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale and the historical society.

Estherville, Iowa, to Albert Lea. It was completed in 1902.

After the tracks were laid, Miller suggested a village be built and gave Townsite Co. the option to purchase four acres of land.

In 1901, the depot was built, and by 1902 there was an elevator, saloon and general store, which housed the telephone and post offices.

The village was incorporated in 1934 with Charles Sprenger the first mayor.

The railroad was discontinued in 1975, according to the book.

Bricelyn at first named Brice Named for John Brice, a businessman from Mason City who helped establish the rail lines in the area, Bricelyn was incorporated in July 1903 and separated from the township in March 1912.

According to the

Faribault County website, the town was at first named Brice. Postmaster K.O. Sandum suggested Brice’s wife’s name, which he thought to be Evelyn. It was later discovered her name was Minnie.

BRICELYN INSURANCE AGENCY Come in and visit with Ron Erickson or Ann Jensen for all your insurance needs.

Located in the back of Farmer’s Trust and Savings Bank Box 367 • Phone 653-4400