Progress neighbors

PRogREss ALBERT LEA TRiBunE

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CommuniTy PAssion

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FEBRuARy 28, 2016

Neighbors

‘Not ready to give up on the town’ Bricelyn’s first year with new fire statiOn prOves a success Photos by Colleen Harrison Story by Sam Wilmes

B

RICELYN — Community leaders say a new fire hall in Bricelyn has helped quicken emergency response time and enhanced community spirit.

Bricelyn opened a new 5,280-square-foot fire hall on Main Street in June 2014 to house its volunteer fire and ambulance department.

The fire station cost $200,000 and holds six fire trucks.

See STATION, Page 2

What’s inside this section:

3

4

6

Playing an active role

Stepping up to the plate

A love of books

Glenville resident Jodi Attig is involved in all sorts of activities in her community.

Ellendale resident Mark Skroch returns to job as mayor after 15 years.

Connie Kenison has been the Northwood Public Library director for 27 years.

Page 2 | AlbertleAtribune.com | Progress 2016 | neighbors | sundAy, FebruAry 28, 2016

Hartland Public Works Supervisor Andy Flatness oversees the water treatment building that includes a filtration system that takes minerals out of the water. sAm Wilmes/ Albert leA tribune

Combined water treatment plant will help save money by sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

HaRtLanD — Local officials say a new water treatment plant built in Hartland is helping residents save money. as part of a 40-year joint venture between Hartland and Freeborn, the water treatment facility was built to pump water from Hartland to and from the city of Freeborn.

Hartland Public Works Supervisor andy Flatness said the venture will begin once Freeborn completes construction on its water mains. He expects the services to combine this summer. the facility presently is used to ensure safe drinking water for Hartland.

Hartland Mayor Kelly Routh said residents were the no. 1 priority in the joint venture.

“We’re trying to work together and make things more affordable for the residents,” Routh said. “if we tried to go at this alone, we couldn’t afford it.” the cities share ownership and the costs of the facility’s upkeep. the water treatment plant, completed in november 2013, cost approximately $1.2 million, and the water tower cost approximately $500,000.

Routh said the savings from the joint venture allowed Hartland to construct the new water tower. the welded structure of the water tower is in place.

Flatness said he expects the structure to be completed this summer.

Costs for the system — including a new treatment plant, water tower, water main and water meters, plus engineering costs — total about $6 million.

Hartland received a $1.23 million U.S. Department of agriculture Rural Development loan

and a $1.25 million Rural Development grant to help cover the city’s costs.

Flatness said the project took six to seven years to complete from the beginning stages of planning.

Routh said the loan and grant were huge, both to the cities and the state. “it just shows when they can combine two projects into one, it actually saves them quite a bit of money,” Routh said of the state.

He said the joint venture wouldn’t have been possible without the loan, because of the tax burden that would have been placed on the community’s residents. the connection enabling the joint venture will be completed this year. after ensuring the system runs properly, residents outside the two cities will be able to connect two years after the line is connected, Flatness said.

Freeborn received a $1.18 million Rural Development loan, a $1.4 million Rural Development grant and $630,000 in Small Cities Development funding. the Small Cities funding was part of a larger $980,000 grant given to the city.

Routh said the old water tower was from the 1920s and the tank was from the 1960s. “it was time to update it,” he said.

Why are you doing this for Hartland?

“We’re trying to work together and make things more affordable for the residents. If we tried to go at this alone, we couldn’t afford it.”

— Hartland Mayor Kelly Routh

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

All of the Bricelyn Fire Department’s equipment is housed in its new fire hall. colleen HArrison/Albert leA tribune

Station Continued from Front Page

Bricelyn Community Club helped pay for the kitchen, bathroom and meeting room of the facility. Bricelyn Fire Department, Seely and Brush Creek townships and the city of Bricelyn assisted in paying for the facility. the fire station, across the street from the old fire hall, has been used beyond its original intent for community events such as movies, a Fourth of July chicken feed, pancake breakfasts, a wedding dance and a groom’s supper. the hall includes a kitchen, big screen projector and other amenities.

Bricelyn Fire Chief Craig Stallkamp said the new fire hall has been a success. “it’s been used a lot more than we thought it was going to be by the community,” Stallkamp said.

“With the small towns getting smaller all of the time, losing businesses, it’s nice to see some new building going on Main Street.

We’re not ready to give up on the town.”

Bricelyn has 18 on its volunteer force that covers both ambulance and fire departments.

Bricelyn Fire Department had been looking at the site for the last 10 years.

Stallkamp said the fire department’s old station across the street hadn’t been updated and wasn’t up to code. new trucks had to be specially built to fit into the facility.

He said the fire department has increased its efficiency and space in its new facility, and vehicles have been able to get out of the building faster. the department covers a section that is six miles by

Craig Stallkamp, right, and Dan Klingbeil pose with one of the firetrucks inside of Bricelyn’s new fire hall. Stallkamp is the fire chief and Klingbeil is the mayor of Bricelyn, and is also a retired firefighter.

12 miles wide that covers the two townships and Bricelyn, as well as six miles in iowa.

Stallkamp and Bricelyn Mayor and retired firefighter Dan Klingbeil said the department usually responds in three to four minutes and serves an important purpose.

“Without something local, the response time is going to be basically too long to do much good,” Stallkamp said.

He said being a first responder in a small town is unique.

“You’re helping people you know,” Stallkamp said.

“You’re helping people you’ve grown up with, that you’ve known for your whole life. it’s a little different than the bigger city where you don’t know who

Why do you work in Bricelyn over a larger fire department?

“You’re helping people you know. You’re helping people you’ve grown up with, that you’ve known for your whole life. It’s a little different than the bigger city where you don’t know who you’re going to help.”

— Bricelyn Fire Chief Craig Stallkamp you’re going to help.”

Klingbeil said he is proud of the building. “i’m very proud of the guys who did the work,” Klingbeil said. “they went out and got the job done. it’s a nice building.”

Stallkamp hopes the building can draw new volunteers to the force. “there’s not a lot of younger people from the area anymore,” he said. “if we do get somebody moving in, they can see we have a nice new building,

they can see we’re proud of what we got.”

Klingbeil, a Bricelyn native who vounteered seven years on the Eagan Fire Department and 21 on the Bricelyn Fire Department, said the fire hall is good for the community. “it’s beneficial to the community and to the townships that we serve,” Klingbeil said. “it has benefited everybody, i think.” “it keeps some of our identity.”

By the numbers 2014 Year the fire department and ambulance service moved into the new fire hall

5,280

Square feet in the fire hall

18 Volunteers Bricelyn has on its fire and ambulance service

The new fire hall is on Main Street in Bricelyn.

Find all of the area worship times each Friday on the

Faith page.

219 North Main Bricelyn MN 507-653-4100

Member FDIC

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sunday, february 28, 2016 | neigHBors | Progress 2016 | albertleatribune.com | Page 3

Jodi Attig, pictured in her scrapbooking room, is an avid scrapbooker and has been active with the annual scrapbooking fundraiser Crop for the Cure. colleen harrison/albert lea tribune

Playing a role in the Glenville community resident stays involved through schools, fundraisers

By Colleen Harrison colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

GLENVILLE — Jodi Attig has lived in Glenville for 15 years, and that’s where she plans to stay.

Attig is originally from the Northwood area, and moved to Glenville after she married her husband, John. She has been involved in her community in many different ways since she first moved to the area.

For the last eight years, Attig has helped run Crop for a Cure in Carpenter, Iowa. The event is a fundraiser for the Lyle Area Cancer organization. Attig said the event has raised over $ 50,000 — not including this past year’s event in November, for which numbers haven’t been released yet. The event is comprised of a number of people getting together to scrapbook, and also has silent and live auctions, chair massages for $1 a minute and other activities to benefit cancer research at both Mayo Clinic and the Hormel Institute. The event and its purpose are very personal for Attig, as she lost her father 15 years ago to cancer.

“Everybody’s been affected somehow,” she said. “It’s a fun way to get together and raise money for a good cause.”

There are several ways Attig can be spotted around the Glenville community. One of those ways is her part-time job as a rural postal carrier. She originally started at the Albert Lea post office in 2009 before switching to Glenville as a rural road carrier about two years ago. Attig said she’s a subcarrier, which means she mainly works Saturdays and during busy or shortstaffed times, such as holidays or when full-time

carriers are on vacation.

She said she has enjoyed the job, as it has been fun for her to meet different people through the office and to see different places around Glenville.

Another way Attig is seen around town is through different sporting events, where she can usually be found taking pictures. Attig clarified that she doesn’t consider herself to be a professional photographer, but said it’s a hobby she has been interested in since she was a child. She photographs several sporting events for the high school and elementary school, and has photographed team portraits, as well. Attig said she has also photographed weddings and some senior portraits.

“It’s a fun way to meet people,” she said. “I’ve always liked to take pictures, since I was younger.”

Attig is active with the school district in other ways, specifically through the athletic boosters, where she was the treasurer for eight years before deciding she just wanted to be an active member. She has also been heavily involved in organizing the group’s annual golf fundraiser, which she said is the main fundraiser for the school district’s athletics.

“If we want to keep sports in our schools, we need to have fundraisers,” she said.

Attig has always been a supporter of GlenvilleEmmons schools. When she first moved to the area from Northwood, her oldest daughter finished sixth grade in the

Manchester

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Northwood school district before transferring to Glenville-Emmons the following school year.

That daughter is now grown and living in Northwood with Attig’s two grandchildren. Attig has another daughter who’s a freshman at GlenvilleEmmons High School, as well as an 11-year-old son who’s also enrolled in the district. Attig said she’s a big believer in sending her children to the school district they live in.

“Our kids get the education they need,” she said. “There’s a lot of good people coming out of Glenville-Emmons.”

Attig likes that her children have easier access to one-on-one assistance with their teachers if they need it, as her daughter is in a class of 16 and her son is in a class of 26. Both of Attig’s younger children are on the honor roll.

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Years Crop for a Cure has been taking place in Carpenter, Iowa

Children Attig has, all of whom went to GlenvilleEmmons schools

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“When there’s someone in need, the community comes together,” she said. “It’s a nice, little community.”

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Why Attig lives in Glenville: Attig likes that Glenville is a small and close-knit community, and that people readily help out their neighbors when they can.

Along with her children, Attig is involved in her family’s church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle.

Attig is on the church council and takes photos during different church events.

Both of her younger children are active in Sunday school, and her 14-year-old daughter was recently confirmed at the church. Attig has also participated in the church’s Santa shop, where members make crafts and other items for children to buy for their parents for Christmas.

Attig and her family are

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Page 4 | albertleatribune.com | progreSS 2016 | neighBors | Sunday, february 28, 2016

ellendale mayor, 81, stePs uP to Plate Skroch back in poSition after 15-year hiatuS

By Kelly Wassenberg

kelly.wassenberg@albertleatribune.com

ELLENDALE — The golden years are often a time in which seniors enjoy their retirement — catching up with the grandchildren, finally getting around to reading all the books they’ve been stockpiling or perhaps traveling or spending the winter months somewhere the temperature never drops below freezing.

This is how some would spend their retirement, yet 81-year-old Mark Skroch spends his time serving another term as the mayor of Ellendale. It was a position he served in for 28 years between 1970 and 2000, which included a two year hiatus — and it’s a position he began serving again in 2015.

“I didn’t run again in 2000,” Skroch said. “I was retiring, but because of the circumstances I decided to run again,” What changed his mind?

“I raised my family here. I got my employment here. I taught school in this district for 37 years, and it’s been very good to me,” Skroch said. “I was kind of embarrassed by things that were going on, but no one wanted to step in and run.”

The embarrassment, according to Skroch, was the controversy surrounding the town’s previous mayor, who was charged with syphoning money out of a community fund for his own use.

For Skroch, the controversy was enough motivation to toss his name in the hat once more to ensure residents at least had the opportunity to pick a new mayor.

Stepping up to the plate was not new for him. When he first ran for office, a friend who worked as a

Mark Skroch, 81, is serving his 30th year as mayor of Ellendale, although all of his terms have not been consecutive. kelly WaSSenberg/albert lea tribune

Why Ellendale?

Skroch said he came for the job, but stayed because, “It’s a really friendly place to live.” newspaper editor hinted the mayor at the time was ready to call it a day. He stepped up to the plate back then, too.

Skroch’s dedication comes after being a part of the Ellendale community for much of his life. Born and raised on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, he noted the eldest brother planned to take it over, which led him and his other brother to pursue an education.

A year after his first teaching job in Houston, Minnesota, he was

drafted into the Army for another two years.

Upon his return, he found a job in Claremont teaching vocal music to elementary students for another year before finding the instrumental band position at NRHEG. He called it an “exact fit” with what he wanted to do. He liked the position so much, he stayed there for 37 years.

“I really enjoyed teaching,” he said. “Band is an elective; it’s not a required subject so the kids you have to work with, they choose that.

“I always held the standard kind of high, and I think the kids respected that and they worked really hard,” Skroch said.

He retired — from that position — at the age of 62.

As for his retirement from his mayoral position, he’s still unsure if he will seek reelection in 2017.

He said if his health is good, and no one steps up that is level-headed and has a real good interest in the community, he just might. In the meantime, Skroch plans to address a few street projects that have not yet been completed.

It’s all part of maintaining the city’s infrastructure, which is necessary for any town, regardless of its size. Other projects he has been involved in during his tenure include the building of a new municipal liquor store,

community hall, fire hall, maintenance building and various street projects.

The largest project, according to Skroch, was probably the development of the sanitary sewer system.

In retrospect, he looks back on his time as mayor and thinks things have gone well, while admitting there is always a few bumps in the road.

“Sometimes there are personal things that people get very upset about because it doesn’t fit their cup of tea, but you gotta consider the whole picture,” Skroch said. “That’s just part of the territory. You can’t please everybody all of the time. You just hope you’re doing the right thing

By the numbers 81 Years old

39 Years in teaching

30 Years as mayor

for the community as a whole.

“My basic policy is when you are spending other people’s money, the benefit has to justify the cost and you have to do what is best for the city as a whole.”

Church worship leader overcomes cancer, finds new purpose in life By sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

CLARKS GROVE — A cancer diagnosis can be devastating.

A worship leader at a local church has beaten the diagnosis and made a difference in both Clarks Grove and in Honduras.

Jeff Schei and his wife, Rachel, are heavily involved in First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove.

As the worship leader, Jeff Schei oversees all musical activities at the church and fills in as a preacher.

Rachel Schei teaches youth and is a fill-in teacher for Sunday school. The two have co-directed Bible school for the last seven years.

Rachel Schei, a Clarks Grove native, said her husband’s passion comes from his wanting to serve.

“He sees a need and wants to help,” she said.

Jeff Schei was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2006.

A former construction worker, he said he became worship leader after trying to get back into the construction business and realizing he didn’t have the endurance.

He soon found the position.

“I looked at the job description and thought I could do this,” he said. “It was an overwhelming calling to do it. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I thought it sounded like me.”

Rachel Schei disagreed.

“I thought he was crazy,” she said.

Jeff Schei hopes he can assist area residents in

Why are you helping people in Clarks Grove?

By the numbers

“Every community needs a place to find love, comfort and support. And unfortunately, a church is not always where that is sought. But hopefully the people in Clarks Grove and the surrounding area can know that they can come here, and they can come here just as they are.”

— First Baptist Church worship leader Jeff Schei finding love and acceptance through Jesus Christ.

“Every community needs a place to find love, comfort and support,” he said. “And unfortunately, a church is not always where that is sought. But hopefully the people in Clarks Grove and the surrounding area can know that they can come here, and they can come here just as they are.”

Jeff Schei began Shy Ministries in 2007.

He said God called him while he was recovering.

“It just came to me in the two months of laying in the bed,” he said.

He said he contacted the city of Clarks Grove. The city told him they could use groups of people to clean up garbage, and for a few years the organization did that by helping older people and doing other jobs.

Shy Ministries began yearly mission trips to Honduras in January 2008. Five people came on the first mission, 15 on the second.

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Jeff and Rachel Schei live near Fountain Lake. The couple is involved in First Baptist Church and ministry work. Sam WilmeS/albert lea tribune Jeff Schei said the mission trips began as ways to help the destitute build homes and gradually changed to helping the disabled and their families.

The Scheis’ oldest daughter, Rebecca, 17, has Down syndrome. Rachel Schei has taken a keen interest in helping children with disabilities in Honduras.

Students with special needs were placed in classrooms where they could be challenged, learn and meet goals. The missionaries would a meet with the families of the students with special needs, who sometimes didn’t have the information of the conditions of the students.

Although the couple hasn’t been able to attend

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the last few trips to Honduras to help children with special needs, they hope to in the near future.

Over the years, the trip has grown to include Shy Ministries and First Baptist Church.

Rachel Schei said her dream is to have a local long-term classroom and a teacher for children with special needs in

Honduras, as well as financial support.

Jeff Schei, 42, grew up in Adrian and spent the majority of his childhood in Elbow Lake. After graduating high school in 1992, he attended college at The College of St. Scholastica, where he graduated in 1997 and met his wife.

The couple married at First Baptist Church, Rachel Schei’s home church, in 1996.

They moved to Clarks Grove in 2000 so their children could be near their grandparents.

“It’s been great in many capacities,” Jeff Schei said.

“It’s nice the kids can grow up around their family.”

He said living in a smaller community has made the couple feel safer.

The couple has three children: Rebecca; Maddie, 15; and Josiah, 9.

They hope to take all three of their children to Honduras one day.

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Sunday, February 28, 2016 | neigHBors | ProgreSS 2016 | albertleatribune.com | Page 5

Cancer auction founders ‘do it all for the cause’

By Dustin Petersen

news@albertleatribune.com

Lajune and Dwayne “Whitey” Hagen recently moved to an apartment in Albert Lea, but the couple is perhaps best known in Geneva for their heavy involvement in the annual Geneva Cancer Auction, typically the second and third weekends in January.

Three generations of their family are now involved with the auction, with their son James serving as its CEO. Sons Greg and Keith also help, along with all of their spouses.

Even a few of their grandchildren are involved.

“Our kids are starting to take over for us,” Lajune Hagen said. “We’re getting older and have to step down a bit. We’re proud that they’re taking over for us.”

Funds raised at the auction are donated to raise money for cancer research — a passion for the Hagens.

Whitey Hagen’s brother died of cancer in 1983 at age 47.

Thanks to advances made in cancer research — partly due to fundraising — today there are greater means of treating cancer patients and helping them to survive longer.

“We all do it for the cause,” Lajune Hagen said.

Although the Geneva Cancer Auction officially began in 1985, Whitey said its roots go back at least 10 years earlier. Around 1975, Whitey Hagen and some coworkers stopped at Harold’s Bar after their shift at Wilson & Co., when someone came in with a live chicken — which Whitey auctioned off at the bar. The chicken was repeatedly re-donated and re-auctioned until someone suggested taking the chicken to Eddie’s Bar and

Shirts donated for the 2016 Geneva Cancer Auction.

Why do the Hagens live here?

Whitey and Lajune Hagen were both born and raised in the area. Although they recently moved to Albert Lea, From left, James, Lajune and Dwayne “Whitey” Hagen at Geneva Bar and Grill. James, they are still heavily involved in the Geneva community, one of Whitey and Lajune’s sons, now serves as CEO of the Geneva Cancer Auction. duStin particularly with the annual Geneva Cancer Auction. They stay in this area because, in addition to enjoying having PeterSen/For the albert lea tribune family and friends here, Lajune Hagen said, “We like auctioning it off there. The the owners. The couple is to relax before getting small towns.” group donated the auction also grateful for everyone ready for a mini-auction money to the cancer tele- else who helps to make the in April. thon, which led to Eddie’s auction possible.

Bar owner Pat Fitzgerald “It’s all volunteers,” allowing them to hold an Whitey Hagen said. “We Call Us For All Your Fuel Needs actual auction at the bar. get a lot of credit for doing • Diesel • Gasoline That first auction raised this, but the people in this $276. In both of the past two area have really gotten • LP Gas • Furnace years, the Geneva Cancer behind it and continue to Oil • Motor Oil Auction has raised over support it.” $100,000.

Cancer isn’t the only area We also carry tanks, pumps and Money brought in by the Lajune Hagen empha- of importance for Whitey. first cancer auction, held all petroleum related equipment sized that they don’t neces- He served with the U.S. in 1975 at Eddie’s Bar in sarily make it a goal for the Army during the Korean LOCALLY OWNED • 507-889-3891 Albert Lea auction to beat the previous War, and currently serves year’s take. as commander of the El“If it went down to lendale VFW. He said if he $80,000, we’d be satisfied,” had more time, he’d spend Autographed baseballs it working with veterans. she said.

Whitey Ford (of the New Along with their friends “Every veteran who York Yankees) gave to Hank and Judy Thompson wants to should have a mili- Whitey Hagen’s coworker’s — who at the time owned tary funeral,” he said. mother — one of which what is now Geneva Bar & Besides volunteering, she donated to one of the Celebrating 30 years Grill — Whitey and Lajune the Hagens also make use earliest auctions, selling for of serving you!

Hagen began holding the of their downtime. Their $1,000 Geneva Cancer Auction other activities have inthere in 1985. Since then, cluded fishing, bowling 28218 870th Ave the bar has had four differ- and playing cards. After Hollandale, MN Years Whitey and ent owners. Lajune Hagen this year’s auction, their said the bar has been great plans included visiting Lajune Hagen have been 507-889-8071 married over the years through all their daughter in Georgia

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By Cathy Hay

news@albertleatribune.com

HOLLANDALE — Enno Haan of Hollandale Christian School describes himself as a “teaching principal.” He is administrator of the private school and also teaches language arts, physical education and history to grades seven and eight.

“I’ve had the opportunity to be a full-time principal, but I can’t see myself in an office all day,” he said.

He prefers to be in the classroom, teaching and reaching junior high students.

“I’m like their spiritual grandfather,” Haan said.

“My passion is for them to know Jesus.”

This is Haan’s third year at the school. He started his career in Wisconsin, moved to northwest and central Iowa, and then back to Wisconsin before coming to Minnesota.

He graduated from Dordt College in Sioux Center in northwest Iowa, where his father served as the first president of the small private school. Haan pretty much grew up on the campus. The college takes its name from the historic Synod of Dordrecht, held in the Netherlands in the early 1600s.

Hollandale Christian School is also rooted in Dutch traditions and convictions.

The school opened in 1950, reflecting the decision of many immigrants to continue teaching their children from the Bible. The school moved from a three-room building north of Hollandale to its current building — originally the town’s public school — after several small towns consolidated into Albert Lea in the mid-1960s.

Its mission hangs above the gym doors: “To provide a Bible-based, Christ-centered education that develops academically prepared young people who embrace Christ’s call to transform the world.”

The school works with parents on a “tripod” approach to developing the whole child: home, school and church. Another threefold approach makes the school unique, Haan said, with a focus on developing the head, heart and hands, meaning academics, faith in Christ and service to others.

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Enno Haan is the “teaching principal” at Hollandale Christian School where grades kindergarten through eight learn with the Bible integrated into every subject. cathy hay/ For the albert lea tribune

The school consists of grades kindergarten through eight, with kindergarten now all-day, every-day. Reminiscent of one-room country schools, Hollandale combines grades one and two, three and four, five and six, and seven and eight, with each class having about 15 to 24 students.

After an enrollment high of 90 students a few years ago, the school now has 67 and is looking to increase that number. Students come from Albert Lea, Austin and the Hollandale area.

Like any other school in the area, it includes an office, gym, library, classrooms and playground. Also like other schools, students learn reading, math, history and other core subjects. They

also take standardized tests to measure their progress.

The teachers are all collegeeducated and licensed by the state of Minnesota.

Unlike public schools, the teachers here integrate the Bible into all subjects. Haan said he is excited when opening a history book to sees how the Lord’s provenance has shaped history. In science, God is the creator.

The school day opens and closes with prayer, with prayer also at lunch. Students are free to worship anytime, stopping to sing a song or write a letter to Jesus.

“You should see some of the beautiful letters these students write,” Haan said.

All the families and staff are Christian, the school

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board is made up of parents and all families make a commitment to support the school. In addition to paying tuition, parents volunteer to serve, from making lunch to working on committees.

Noting that students come from 18 churches, Haan emphasized that the Hollandale school is not affiliated with any specific church or Christian faith.

The school day runs 7:50 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. That means students are home by 3 p.m. see sCHooL, Page 10

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Page 6 | AlbertleAtribune.com | Progress 2016 | neighbors | sundAy, FebruAry 28, 2016

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a lifetime love of books leads to library career

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by sarah stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

NORTHWOOD — Connie Kenison loves reading.

That passion started as a young child when she attended the public library in Cresco, Iowa, and it has lasted her a lifetime.

Her interest grew as a young adult when she worked as a library assistant when her family moved to California. Then, she earned her child education degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and after a few other jobs, she was hired as a library assistant 29 years ago for Northwood Public Library.

The job advanced into that of a director two years later, and she has been doing it ever since.

“I like the interaction with all my patrons and the people who come into the library,” Kenison said. “It’s not just a place to come in and get books. You come in and talk. You get to know a lot of really, really cool people.”

She called her job a “dream come true.”

Northwood Public Library has a circulation of about 23,000. The first part

Why Northwood?

“It’s lots less busy. You don’t have to worry about getting on the road and driving. I have a lot of family who lives here and great friends. I’ve been living here about 40 years.

I’ve always just liked the rural part — the not so busy part. You get to know people.”

— Connie Kenison

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Northwood Public Library has a circulation of about 23,000. sArAh stultz/Albert leA tribune of the present library was built in 1972 and the second half in 1986.

She said there have been a lot of changes since she first started, but perhaps the biggest change is in information technology. She said the library’s system was automated in 2011.

The library belongs to a library system in northeast Iowa and shares with about 70 other libraries.

There are seven libraries in Worth County that also work closely together.

The library has everything from books to newspapers, magazines and books on tape. She said it does not have DVDs, but she offers story time with the children on a regular schedule.

The Northwood library is also known for its large print collection.

Kenison said her favorite

Neighbors by the Numbers lake mills

Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Cana2010 census: 2,100 dian Pacific) Median age: 45.3 Highways: Minnesota Households: 944 Highway 13, Minnesota Housing units: 1,055 Highway 30 Square miles: 2.6 Schools: NRHEG SecondCity Hall address: 105 W. Main St., Lake Mills, IA 50450 ary School City Hall phone: northwood 641-592-3251 2010 census: 1,989 Railroads: Union Pacific Median age: 44.2 Highways: U.S. Highway Households: 885 69, County Highway 105 Housing units: 1,004 Schools: Lake Mills ComSquare miles: 3.8 munity School City Hall address: 627 Central Ave. new richland City Hall phone: 2010 census: 1,203 641-324-1075 Median age: 43.8 Railroads: Union Pacific Households: 487 Highways: U.S. Highway Housing units: 531 65, County Highway 105 Square miles: 0.6 Schools: NorthwoodCity Hall address: 203 N. Broadway Ave., PO Box 57, Kensett Elementary School, Northwood-Kensett Junior/ New Richland, 56072 City Hall phone: 465-3514 Senior High School

part over the years has been to meet people who come in.

Kenison lives on a century farm right outside of Northwood with her husband, Brian. Together they have three children.

Outside of work, she said she enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren and traveling. Most of her family lives in California, so she travels there at least once a year.

She is the treasurer of the Northwood-Kensett Community Education Foundation, which was established to provide extracurricular activities that the school couldn’t provide.

She also belongs to a craft and garden club and volunteers at the local movie theater.

She said she likes the small-town feel of Northwood and the opportunity she

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By the numbers 2 Employees who work at Northwood Public Library

23,000 Circulation at Northwood Public Library

1972 Year the first part of the library was built has had to meet new people.

“I’ve been living here about 40 years,” she said.

“I’ve always just liked the rural part — the not so busy part. You get to know people.”

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Sunday, February 28, 2016 | neigHBors | ProgreSS 2016 | albertleatribune.com | Page 7

Stories bind together both past and present Freeborn residents By the numbers

By Cathy Hay

news@albertleatribune.com

FREEBORN — Bonnie Schuster is helping hold the Freeborn community together with ink and firstclass stamps. She publishes the Freeborn Frisbee, a quarterly publication that usually spans 10 pages or “whatever will go with a first-class stamp.”

Passionate about her community, history and storytelling, Schuster started the Frisbee in 1998 and recently mailed her 72nd edition. Her subscriber list numbers almost 600 addresses near and far.

She decided to start the Frisbee because the town of 295 sits in between four newspapers, none of which covers all of Freeborn’s news. With her four children grown, she had the time and interest.

“I wanted to give back to the community, and I’m too old to be on the fire and rescue,” she said with a grin.

Newspapers ewin her blood, having worked on both her high school and college newspapers and serving as the student newspaper adviser when teaching in Albert Lea. “There’s just something about finding that story and wanting to share it,” Schuster said. “It just makes your fingers tingle.”

Her fingers were tingling recently with the contentious issue of replacing the dam on Freeborn Lake. The current dam is fractured and leaking, so something needs to be done.

“Freeborn Lake holds us together,” Schuster said.

“We no longer have a school or church, so it’s the lake that holds us together.”

One could also say the

1998 Year Schuster started the Freeborn Frisbee

72

Editions published

600 Subscribers

Bonnie Schuster is full of energy and ideas, also quick to smile and offer a cup of coffee.

She started publishing the Freeborn Frisbee 18 years ago. “When it ceases to be fun, then I’m going to quit,” she said. cathy hay/For the albert lea tribune Frisbee holds the community together — whether residents are still in Freeborn or have moved away with common experiences, history and interests all preserved in the newspaper pages.

The Frisbee keeps information on local issues flowing to subscribers, along with senior citizen profiles, historical notes from area newspapers, community group minutes, event announcements and excerpts of area residents’ diaries.

The November 2015 edition: • Profiled Keith Redman, formerly of Freeborn and currently of Albert Lea • Noted the Freeborn FFA was the birthplace of the

“There’s just something about finding that story and wanting to share it. It just makes your fingers tingle.”

— Freeborn resident Bonnie schuster statewide FFA corn drive in the mid-1950s • Reprinted excerpts of an alcoholic veterinarian’s writings for the New Richland Star while jailed in the

early 1900s • Looked back at the winter of 1936 when snowblocked roads led to stranded students being taken in by townspeople and a school bus driver, accompanied by several Freeborn men, wading two miles through snow back to town after having to abandon the bus Schuster, originally from Milroy in western Minnesota, came to Albert Lea after graduating from Mankato State University to teach business and history at Central Junior High.

She met Lowell Schuster and they married 50 years ago, settling down to farm right outside Freeborn.

“Farming holds you to the land,” she said.

Though retired from farming, she and her husband still live among the farm fields southwest of Freeborn.

Reflecting the ag base of Freeborn and her family, the Frisbee is published four times a year around the farming schedule: Feb. 1 before planting preparation, May 1 after corn is planted, Aug. 1 before harvest and Nov. 1 after harvest.

The Frisbee is a hobby, though a serious one, for Schuster. To subscribe, people simply provide a name, address and donation to help cover postage and other costs. Farmers State Bank pays for the printing, which is done at Arrow Printing. The bank was originally Freeborn State Bank, where an employee and Schuster tried photocopying that first edition 18 years ago.

They quickly discovered that professional printing was preferred.

“They’ve supported me all the way on this,” Schuster said of the bank.

She also depends on volunteers like Gail Savick, who helps with birth and death announcements, and the late Tracy Christensen, who contributed her collection of history in books, articles and

family knowledge before her death in 2014. Linda Evenson, librarian at the Freeborn County Historical Society museum, is a great resource for many stories.

“I’m not a blue blood so I need to be accurate, and that means research,” Schuster said, meaning she was not born and raised in Freeborn.

As she pores through the archives at the museum, she’s always looking for byproducts — bits and pieces that will later make a story.

That’s how the “West Freeborn Lutheran Church Deaths and/or Cemetery Burials, compilation from 1860-2015,” and “Freeborn Cemetery, 1858-2010,” books came to be, with another one almost done. The books, which are resources for people studying genealogy, are available at the museum library.

In her own words, Schuster is not a “techie,” though she uses a computer to write and layout the newspaper.

“When the computer doesn’t do what I think it should, then the kids have to help me,” she said.

She has stopped worrying about sentence structure, verb tense and typos.

The readers don’t seem to mind and they’re getting the message, Schuster said. She also applies the golden rule to reporting, not publishing anything she wouldn’t want printed about herself.

“My goal is to share the private and public events, and the community history,” she said. “I’m grateful for the generosity of the community — their stories and their financial support.”

To contact the Frisbee, send an email to lbcpmm@ bevcomm.net or a note to Box 175, Freeborn, MN 56032.

Visit albertleatribune.com for the latest news

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Lyssa Warmka has remodeled her office since taking over the Farmers Insurance office in Wells. Kelly WaSSenberg/albert

lea tribune

Wells native returns to area to raise family, begins new career path as insurance agent

By Kelly Wassenberg

kelly.wassenberg@albertleatribune.com

WELLS – Somewhere far away from the hustle and bustle of city life, where you know your neighbors and they know you.

On a farm in a town like this is where Lyssa Warmka and her husband, Jade, wanted their son, Hudson, to grow up in. After 12 years away, the couple packed up their things in Hastings and moved to an acreage just five miles of north that once belonged to

Jade Warmka’s uncle.

Jade Warmka now works for Faribault County. Lyssa Warmka is now a third-generation business owner in Wells. Her grandfather owned Larson Ford for 25 years, her mother owned Tibodeau Painting for 35 years and she became the new owner of Farmers Insurance in Wells in September.

“It’s kind of exciting to be a business owner in Wells,” she said.

Yet, the venture she began last summer wasn’t

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Warmka said Brandenburg told her she was retiring and had something to talk to her about. Brandenburg had three other agents who wanted to take over the agency, but she wanted someone from Wells that people would know and trust.

“She said I was her pick,” Warmka said.

Despite her lack of experience in the insurance industry, she accepted see WeLLs, Page 8

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part of a plotted-out journey. After returning to Wells, Warmka wasn’t sure where her career path would lead. Her background was in sales, having worked at Nordstrom for eight years.

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page 8 | AlbertleAtribune.com | Progress 2016 | neighBors | sundAy, FebruAry 28, 2016

NEIgHBoRS By tHE NuMBERS emmons

hayward

2010 census: 391 Median age: 43.4 Households: 174 Housing units: 190 Square miles: 0.8 City hall address: 219 Main St. City hall phone: 297-5707 Railroads: none Highways: U.S. Highway 69 Schools: none; is in Glenville-Emmons School District

2010 census: 250 Median age: 44.5 Households: 114 Housing units: 123 Square miles: 0.6 City hall address: 107 County Road 26 City hall phone: 373-1222 Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Canadian Pacific) Highways: Interstate 90 Schools: none; is in Albert Lea school district

freeborn

hollandale

2010 census: 297 Median age: 38.9 Households: 120 Housing units: 130 Square miles: 0.2 City hall address: 402 Park St. City hall phone: 863-2204 Railroads: none Highways: none Schools: none; is in United South Central School District

glenville

2010 census: 643 Median age: 44.2 Households: 278 Housing units: 290 Square miles: 2.2 City Hall address: 221 W. Main St. City Hall phone: 448-3916 Railroads: Union Pacific and Cedar River Highways: U.S. Highway 65 Schools: GlenvilleEmmons High School, Glenville-Emmons Elementary School

2010 census: 303 Median age: 38.3 Households: 128 Housing units: 146 Square miles: 0.4 City hall address: 110 Park Ave. W. City hall phone: 889-4001 Railroads: none Highways: Minnesota Highway 251 Schools: Hollandale Christian School; is in Albert Lea school district Mark Heggestad has been the chairman of Borderfest in Emmons for seven years. sArAh stultz/Albert leA tribune

Kiester

2010 census: 501 Median age: 47.8 Households: 246 Housing units: 281 Square miles: 0.4 City hall address: 116 N. Main St. City hall phone: 294-3161 Railroads: Union Pacific Highways: Minnesota Highway 22 Schools: none; is in United South Central School District

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Man finds passion while leading suMMer festival By sarah stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

Seeing people have a good time.

That’s what Mark Heggestad of Emmons said is his payoff as chairman of Borderfest for the past nine years.

Heggestad moved to Emmons in October 2001.

He said he liked the community and wanted his future children to be in a smaller school district. He liked that parents could choose from multiple districts for their children.

He and his wife, Ann, had just married the year before and eventually had two children: Sarah, now 12, and Lloyd, 6.

Heggestad said he started volunteering for different things with Borderfest, the city’s summer festival, and one thing led to another. In 2007, he became chairman of the planning committee and has been doing it ever since.

Borderfest started out as a three-day event — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — but has scaled back to where it will only be one day this year.

There will be a parade, possibly a children’s pedal pull, and a car, tractor and motorcycle cruise with a cruise to follow.

As of press time, no evening entertainment was scheduled.

Last year, Heggestad and the group brought in Hitchville, a seven-member country band out of Minneapolis that has opened for acts such as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Blake Shelton, among others. Also playing were Confederate Railroad and the All BS Band.

“The quality in entertainment we had was

WELLS Continued from Page 7

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Brandenburg’s offer.

“When Karen called me, I couldn’t pass it up. It was such an amazing opportunity,” she said.

Brandenburg confirmed she was indeed her choice for replacing her. Not only had Brandenburg known her since she was born, she said Warmka was a business savvy person who knew a lot of her customers.

“And I knew everyone would like her,” Brandenburg said.

Warmka now manages approximately 750 Farmers Insurance auto, home and life insurance policies, while Brandenburg works from home on Blue Cross Blue Shield policies, health supplements and farmers policies through Traveler’s Insurance.

Warmka stated she will eventually buy these accounts from Brandenburg but is focusing on her current client list first.

Prior to Brandenburg’s proposal, she didn’t have any experience in insurance. She completed a week-long training session in California before training for another three weeks in Rochester. By the

Hitchville, a seven-member country band out of Minneapolis, was one of the bands to perform at Borderfest in Emmons in 2015. Provided phenomenal,” he said.

Heggestad said he hopes Borderfest can be an opportunity to showcase Emmons and to let people know what is there.

He said many people don’t know that Emmons has its own gas station with tire service, an American Legion post and even a fire department.

Heggestad said he has been involved with the Emmons Fire Department since mid-2003. The department has monthly trainings and meetings and organizes a few major

fundraisers a year.

Heggestad is also a member of the Sons of the American Legion.

He said he got his desire to be active in the community from his mother.

“She’s very active in a lot of different things she does,” he said. “I just feel if you want good things to happen in your community, you have to be involved in one way, shape or form.”

He said he likes the small-town atmosphere in Emmons, that most people know each other and that everyone typically watches

Why Emmons?

Heggestad said he likes the Emmons community and the opportunity to be part of a smaller school district.

Parents can choose from several school districts for their children, including GlenvilleEmmons, Albert Lea and Lake Mills, to name a few. out for each other “I just enjoy this community,” he said.

A self employed truck driver, Heggestad said he is on the road 80 percent of the week.

By the numbers 2001 Year Heggestad moved to Emmons

2003 Year Heggestad joined the Emmons Fire Department

2 Children of Heggestad

By the numbers 3 Generations of Warmka’s family who have owned businesses in Wells

750

Accounts Warmka is now managing

12 Years of being away before returning home

Lyssa Warmka, left, is new to the agency; however, Jackie (Brandenburg) Wetzel, center, has worked at Farmers Inend of the summer, she was surance in Wells for 18 years. Wetzel assists Warmka with licensed with the state and the day-to-day dealings of the agency including networkhad trained with Farming with NuStar Realty Realtor Kimberly Huper, right. Kelly ers Insurance to become WAssenberg/Albert leA tribune certified.

Warmka didn’t stop there, want to assume that Farm- also calling customers though. ers Insurance customers to go over their needs to “Primarily I did a lot of would stay with her after insure their insurance politraining with Farmers, al- the business transferred cies have kept up to date though I did come in this hands. with the changing needs summer and job shadow “There are a lot of options customers often have.

Karen to meet the custom- for people — especially for She is also investing her ers,” she said. this small of a town — for time in her community.

Warmka felt this was people to go for insurance,” Warmka is a member of really important. She she said. the Wells Area Jaycees, wanted to know her customWarmka is immersing a member of the church ers, to recognize their faces herself in the job. She council at Good Shepherd and to build a relationship has introduced herself Lutheran Church and is with them. to all of the policy hold- anxiously awaiting the op“I wanted to earn the cus- ers through a letter she portunity to volunteer to tomers’ trust and business,” mailed out when she took read with students at United she said, noting she didn’t over the business. She is South Central.

Sunday, February 28, 2016 | neighBors | ProgreSS 2016 | albertleatribune.com | PAge 9

Alden food shelf, students team up for project

By Kelly Wassenberg

kelly.wassenberg@albertleatribune.com

A crowded household of 11, full of love and hand-medowns. Most of what gets put on the table was raised near the barn or grown in the garden.

It was a way of life for Rosie Rasmussen, who grew up on a farm outside of Hayward.

“Something like that makes you who you are,” she said.

Much has changed since those days. Rasmussen, now 77, graduated from high school in Albert Lea before attending nursing school. She got married and raised her family in Alden, where her children would be raised and graduate from high school. Years later, she would move to Albert Lea, but even 18 years later still attended church and many other functions in the town she raised her family.

Filled with family and friends, the town of Alden still feels like home. After so many years of taking care of others, the need to continue to do so is engrained her being.

Memories of her parents struggling to make ends meet were just one of the reasons she stepped forward when the pastors at the local churches in Alden asked for volunteers to come to a meeting discuss the start of the Alden Area Food Shelf.

Rasmussen said she never thought she would be the shelf’s director, but since its founding in 2003 she has done just that. In the beginning, Barb Stenzel was her co-director, but she has taken on the duties of directing the food shelf solo for the last two years with the help of volunteers.

Despite losing her co-director, Rasmussen has not only continued to run the program at the Alden Area Food Shelf, but to expand it outside the doors of Redeemer Lutheran Church where it is housed.

Once teachers came to her with stories of children coming up to them and requesting food because they were hungry, she saw a need that the food shelf could fulfill and set out on doing just that.

After contacting a representative from Channel One Regional Food Bank in Rochester, Rasmussen arranged a meeting with Linnea Petersen, Alden-Conger’s elementary dean of students, to present the idea of starting a backpack program at the school last spring.

“Parents are definitely thankful for the program,” Petersen said.

The teachers are also thankful as it is hard for the students to concentrate on reading, writing and arithmetic when they’re hungry, she said.

According to Rasmussen, the food shelf has great volunteers, but not enough to implement the program.

That’s where Alden-Conger High School students help out. One of the study hall periods at the school has adopted the project. Along with a couple staff members, students voluntarily go next door to the church with plastic totes and bring the food for the program to the school so they can pack it.

Each bag contains eight items that will make two hot meals, fruit cups, snacks, a juice box and a shelf stable carton of milk to help supplement the participant’s diet over the weekend. The

Rosie Rasmussen, director of the Alden Area Food Shelf, right, came to Alden-Conger Elementary Dean of Students Linnea Petersen with the idea of starting the backpack program. Students pack bags that are loaded into totes and later picked up by teachers to deliver to participants. Kelly WaSSenberg/albert lea tribune

By the numbers 8 Items included in the backpack program bags sent home with students

54 Students participating in the backpack program

12 Years of service Rasmussen has had, either serving as co-director or director of the Alden Area Food Shelf students then place the bags in coded containers that are later picked up by teachers and discretely tucked into the backpacks of elementary and middle school students who have signed up for the program. About 54 students are serviced by the program.

Inside the bags parents will also find information on the Alden Area Food Shelf to make sure they know the shelf is there if they need it.

Rasmussen gives herself little credit for the success of the program. Alden-Conger Superintendent Brian Shanks processes the requests for participation in the program, and students

A typical backpack program bag contains about eight items, including a shelf stable carton of milk, juice box, two hot meal items, fruit and snacks. Kelly WaSSenberg/albert lea tribune and staff take care of the implementation process.

She said she only orders the food.

According to Petersen, she has done so much more.

“We are very thankful for Rosie and the Alden Area Food Shelf for getting this

started for us,” Petersen said.

Why does she continue with the program despite not living there? Rasmussen still considers herself a part of the Alden community, as it is filled with so many friends and family members.

Students who give up their study hall to fill bags for the backpack program do so voluntarily. Provided

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Students in one of the high school study hall classes can volunteer to pack food for the backpack prorgram. Provided

2010 census: 661 Median age: 39.9 Households: 268 Housing units: 292 Square miles: 1.0 City Hall address: 174 N. Broadway St. City Hall phone: 874-3620 Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Canadian Pacific) Highways: Interstate 90, Minnesota Highway 109 Schools: Alden-Conger

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Schools: none; is in Alden-Conger School District

Conger

Bricelyn

2010 census: 146 Median age: 32.7 Households: 62 Housing units: 69 Square miles: 0.1 City hall address: 51 School St. City hall phone: 265-3435.

Railroads: none Highways: none

Tell us about the news in your neighborhood

507.379.3433

email: Sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

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2010 census: 365 Median age: 47.9 Households: 168 Housing units: 197

Square miles: 0.3 City Hall address: 309 N. Main St. City Hall phone: 653-4369 Railroads: both are Union Pacific Highways: Minnesota Highway 253

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PAge 10 | AlbertleAtribune.com | Progress 2016 | neighbors | sundAy, FebruAry 28, 2016

A rising business leAder by sarah stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

LAKE MILLS — Longstanding family ties and a sense of community led one Lake Mills graduate to pursue a career in her hometown.

Cassie Johnson, 24, started as the executive director of the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corp. in August.

Johnson graduated from the Lake Mills school district in 2009 and attended North Iowa Area Community College and Iowa State University, graduating in 2013 and earning two majors — one in business marketing and another in business management.

After graduation, she started working in marketing at Waldorf College in January 2014 and did general marketing for the college, media coordination, graphic design, event planning and also helped with the college’s website.

“When I was working in Forest City, I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to get back into Lake Mills somehow,” Johnson said. “Around the same time, I wanted to get more involved in the community and then saw this job opening. The timing was right.”

She said she likes the sense of community in Lake Mills.

In August, she accepted the job as the executive director of the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corp. She runs the organization with a board of directors.

She attends city council meetings, meets with perspective business owners and researches available land and buildings. She also helps plan community events, such as July Jubilee and a holiday festival.

She maintains the website for all of Lake Mills, posting information about the city and the chamber. The organization is funded by the city, but acts separately.

The chamber is a community resource for many, providing information and selling movie theater gift certificates and Lake Mills

need to apply to the school, including a reference from their church and an interview. While its educational cost per student is $6,000 a school year, tuition is $4,000. The administration understands that finances can be an issue and is willing to work with families, haan said. Contributions from alumni, churches and supporters of Christian education all help subsidize the school.

Continued from Page 5

or arrive at Austin and Albert Lea schools for sports. Private school students in middle grades can participate in public school sports. For example, hollandale students take part in cross country, football and swimming. Private school students can also use public school transportation, so many hollandale students ride buses home.

All classes are self-contained, though students move around a bit and have different teachers for some subjects, like computer lab. haan himself raised his five children in private Years of teaching for Christian schools, all in Haan self-contained classrooms.

The hollandale school is a member of Christian Schools International, Percentage of Hollanwhich offers services such dale Christian School stuas curriculum and training. dents who go on to higher For more information learning after high school about hollandale Christian School, call 507-889-3321 or visit www.hollandalechrisYear the school opened tian.org. To enroll, families

By the numbers 32

93

Cassie Johnson, a Lake Mills native, took over as the executive director of the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corp. in August. sArAh stultz/Albert leA tribune Chamber Bucks.

Johnson said in 2015, the chamber had 86 members.

She hopes to grow that number this year.

Looking to the future, she also said she would like to see some changes in the chamber structure and the services it provides because of the changes taking place in the business world.

“We need to update what we’re doing, make way for younger entrepreneurs who are doing business differently,” she said.

This will need to be done by working closely with businesses and the chamber’s board of directors, she said.

She also hopes the chamber website can be a source of information for current and prospective businesses.

She said she has enjoyed

Why does she choose to live and work in Lake Mills?

“I like the sense of community here. There’s lots of people who are willing to help. There’s lots of encouragement and support.”

— Cassie Johnson

her time in her new position thus far, and she looks forward to expanding her skills and learning more about economic development. She appreciates how supportive the city’s residents are of its businesses.

Johnson, the daughter of

Eric and Kathy Christianson, married her husband, Michael, in August. Michael Johnson is also from Lake Mills and is a farmer.

The chamber is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mondays through Fridays or by appointment.

1950

A GreAt PlAce to live And Work

Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation

By the numbers 86

2009

Members of the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corp. in 2015

Year Johnson graduated from Lake Mills HIgh School

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