Progress 2012 Neighbors

NEIGHBORS

Sunday, february 26, 2012

Remember

the Freeborn Yeomen Page 2

and their rivals,

the Emmons Eagles Page 6

Freeborn’s football team in 1949 finished 3-3-1 with wins over Albert Lea, Alden and Ellendale. The team’s roster included, from left, front row: Quentin Staloch, Donald Hass, Donald Much, Harold Knudson, Cortelyou Colvin and Luverne Koziolek. Second row: Manager Larry Bice, Robert Thompson, DeWayne Hagen, Francis Koziolek, Haakon Hanson, Donald Edwin, manager Roger Christenson and coach Paul Krueger. Third row: Dewane Wright, Joe Solberg, Robert Gray, Carl Hanson, Stanley Jensen, Donald Batt and Kenneth Stensrud. Back row: Benard Ignaszewske, Gudmund Nodland, Arthur Jordal, Milo Madson, John Schacher, Dale Crumb and Russel Anderson.

Emmons cheerleaders pose for a photo in the crow’s nest at the school’s football field for the 1975 yearbook. Included in the photo was Theresa Maher, Julie Larson, Peggy Helland, Robin Stenseth, Pam Hauge and Sandy Troe.

Neighbors by the numbers Albert Lea

Clarks Grove

2010 census: 18,016 Median age: 44 Households: 7,774 Housing units: 8,410 Square miles: 14.68 City Hall address: 515 Clark St. City Hall phone: (507) 3774300 Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Canadian Pacific), Union Pacific Highways: Interstate 90, Interstate 35, U.S. Highway 65, U.S. Highway 69, Minnesota Highway 13 Schools: Riverland Community College, Albert Lea High School, Southwest Middle School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Halverson Elementary School, Lakeview Elementary School, Sibley Elementary School, St. Theodore Catholic School, Brookside Education Center, The Children’s Center, United Preschool

2010 census: 706 Median age: 38.1 Households: 295 Housing units: 312 Square miles: 0.4 City Hall address: 101 N. Independence Ave. City Hall phone: (507) 2564106 Railroads: Union Pacific Highways: Interstate 35, Minnesota Highway 251 Schools: none; is in Albert Lea School District

Alden

Conger 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 Schools: none; is in AldenConger School District

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: (507) 8743620 Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Canadian Pacific) Highways: Interstate 90, Minnesota Highway 109 Schools: Alden-Conger Elementary and Secondary Schools

Ellendale

Bricelyn

Emmons

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: (507) 6534369 Railroads: both are Union Pacific Highways: Minnesota Highway 253 Schools: none; is in United South Central School District

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 GlenvilleEmmons School District

2010 census: 691 Median age: 39.6 Households: 296 Housing units: 317 Square miles: 0.9 City Hall address: 505 Second St. City Hall phone: (507) 6842681 Railroads: Union Pacific Highways: Interstate 35, Minnesota Highway 30 Schools: NRHEG Elementary School

Freeborn 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

Geneva 2010 census: 555 Median age: 38.3 Households: 220 Housing units: 228 Square miles: 0.4 City Hall address: 403 Fourth St. City Hall phone: (507) 2564192 Railroads: none Highways: Interstate 35 Schools: none; is in NRHEG 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: (507) 4483916 Railroads: Union Pacific and Cedar River Highways: U.S. Highway 65 Schools: Glenville-Emmons High School, Glenville-Emmons Elementary School

City hall phone: 889-4001 Railroads: none Highways: Minnesota Highway 251 Schools: Hollandale Christian School; is in Albert Lea School District

255th St. City hall phone: 826-3483 Railroads: Union Pacific Highways: Minnesota Highway 13 Schools: none; is in Albert Lea School District

Hartland

New Richland

2010 census: 315 Median age: 36.8 Households: 140 Housing units: 148 Square miles: 0.3 City hall address: 407 Broadway St. City hall phone: 845-2469 Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Canadian Pacific), Union Pacific Highways: Minnesota Highway 13 Schools: none; is in NRHEG School District

2010 census: 1,203 Median age: 43.8 Households: 487 Housing units: 531 Square miles: 0.6 City Hall address: 203 N. Broadway Ave., PO Box 57, New Richland, 56072 City Hall phone: (507) 4653514 Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Canadian Pacific) Highways: Minnesota Highway 13, Minnesota Highway 30 Schools: NRHEG Secondary School

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: (507) 2943161 Railroads: Union Pacific Highways: Minnesota Highway 22 Schools: none; is in United South Central School District

Hayward

Lake Mills, Iowa

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

2010 census: 2,100 Median age: 45.3 Households: 944 Housing units: 1,055 Square miles: 2.6 City Hall address: 105 W. Main St., Lake Mills, IA 50450 City Hall phone: (641) 5923251 Railroads: Union Pacific Highways: U.S. Highway 69, County Highway 105 Schools: Lake Mills Community School

Hollandale 2010 census: 303 Median age: 38.3 Households: 128 Housing units: 146 Square miles: 0.4 City hall address: 110 Park Ave. W.

Manchester 2010 census: 57 Median age: 36.8 Households: 26 Housing units: 30 Square miles: 0.1 City hall address: 70830

Northwood, Iowa 2010 census: 1,989 Median age: 44.2 Households: 885 Housing units: 1,004 Square miles: 3.8 City Hall address: 627 Central Ave. City Hall phone: (641) 3241075 Railroads: Union Pacific Highways: U.S. Highway 65, County Highway 105 Schools: Northwood-Kensett Elementary School, Northwood-Kensett Junior/Senior High School

Wells 2010 census: 2,343 Median age: 45.3 Households: 1,013 Housing units: 1,133 Square miles: 1.4 City hall address: 125 S. Broadway Ave. City hall phone: (507) 5536371 Railroads: Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (Canadian Pacific) Highways: Minnesota Highway 22, Minnesota Highway 109 Schools: United South Central High School, United South Central Middle School, United South Central Elementary School, St. Casimir Catholic School, Covenant Life School

Page 2 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 26, 2012 PROGRESS 2012

wells ON THE ROAD

Wells shines

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ELLS — When Albert Leans Kevin and Tami Weitzel looked at purchasing the Dairy Queen in Wells, they said they considered several factors.

Wells, Kevin said, is a self-sufKorner Mart stores in Albert Lea, purchased the restaurant on Nov. 7 for an undisclosed price.

The previous owners had operated it for 23 years.

So far, it’s proven a success.

“We’re going to keep the same great products and continue giving the same fast, friendly service,” he said.

Andrea Neubauer, executive director of the Wells Chamber of Commerce, said the fact that a longtime business changed owners — instead of closing — is an indication of a positive business climate in Wells.

She said there are a couple of other new business owners in town, and the storefronts in the downtown are full.

“I think in Wells we have always supported the local businesses and that more and more people realize the local businesses are what keep the small towns going,” Neubauer said. “Wells is just a good location to have those businesses.”

Add that in with having two state highways running through town, and she said the small city gets a lot of people from out of town stopping in.

On Dec. 19, longtime

Another major boost to the Wells business climate could come this year with the potential opening of Singleteary Foods Solutions. dentist Gary Hagen’s office was purchased

by Midwest Dental out of Mondovi, Wis., with dentist Paul Carlson.

Hagen is retiring and Carlson recently graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in Iowa City, Iowa.

“We are very lucky that we have somebody here who could fill Dr. Hagen’s spot,” said Pat Stenzel, the receptionist at the business. “He’s doing a fantastic job.”

She said she and others in the community are happy to have a dentist in their community — something that’s not always the case in small towns.

Because they’ve been so busy, the business takes patients from a 15-mile

ficient community with its own school system and driving businesses throughout town. It has its own grocery store, and people from many surrounding smaller communities come through.

With those factors in mind, the Weitzels, who own the two

The downtown storefronts in Wells were all full in January, something Wells Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrea Neubauer said was a sign of a positive business climate in the community. — Andrew Dyrdal radius, but eventually they’d like to open that up to people further away.

Jody Wegner, owner of the Wells estate sales business Aunt Pearl’s Attic, said most of the times she’s in town, she has to take “a loop or two” to find a parking spot.

“I think people are trying really hard to support the local economy,” Wegner said.

She said her own business in the last year has been “exceptional,” noting that she has clients within an 80-mile radius, with the majority of her sales in 2011 coming from Wells.

Though a lot of her success has come because more people are looking for quality items at a reasonable cost, her business is also based largely on word of mouth.

Another major boost to the Wells business climate could come this year with the potential opening of Singleteary Food Solutions, a meat processor out of Garland, Texas, which has announced it will open in the former Wells Co-Pack

processing plant.

Neubauer said according to the latest information she has heard, the company still plans on opening. The projection is to employ 200 to 250 employees after three or four years.

“I think we’re going to have a good year this year and hopefully Singleteary will get up and running,” she said.

In the meantime, people can expect to see a few changes at places such as the Dairy Queen and Midwest Dental, which are still transitioning under their new ownership.

The DQ Grill & Chill, as it is called now, will undergo a modernization still this winter, including updating the dining room and other amenities.

Stenzel reassured the dental patients that other than the new dentist at Midwest Dental, things will stay pretty much the same.

“All the employees are the same,” she said. “The only one who’s different is the dentist.”

— Sarah Stultz

Looking back at the Freeborn Yeomen

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Freeborn High School’s girls’ basketball team in 1910 included, from left, Edna Brooks, Ruth Miller, Hannah Sorenson, Ella Hunte, Lorna Purdie and Gladys Callahan.

The Freebon Yeomen girls’ golf team won its fourth consecutive Border League title in 1987 after shooting a 453 at the conference meet in Freeborn. Pictured, from left: Becky Reis, Gretchen Anderson, Susan Christensen, Donna Jacobs, Mary Schuster, Traci Jorgenson and Mr. Nelson.

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Freeborn’s basketball team recorded one of its best seasons in 1960 after finishing 16-3 overall and 13-1 in the Border League en route to a conference championship. Tim Schultz and Harold Pierce were named All-Conference, and Jim Beach was an honorable mention.

Photos from the Freeborn County Historical Museum

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Freeborn High School seniors voted to the All-Conference team admire in 1970 the championship trophy that was awarded to the team at the Quarterback Club banquet.

Coach Paul Eidsness is holding the trophy that the team presented to him to show their appreciation for his role in coaching them to a 7-2 record.

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PROGRESS 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 3

Dean Morgan, owner of Morgan’s Meat Market in New Richland, stands in the store’s new showroom.

Morgan said the flooding in some ways turned out to be a blessing so that he could work on some of his business goals, including building a new showroom. — Kelli Lageson

Recover,

restart and do even better

N

EW RICHLAND — Dean Morgan remembers it well, the days before, during and after flooding shut down his business for about three months.

He recalls heavy rain, of a few inches, on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010. Then came Thursday, with about 11 inches of rain. He remembers water running through the streets but staying below the curb — until it jumped the curb and started seeping into Morgan’s Meat Market on Ash Avenue.

“It came up so fast,” Morgan said. “You know you try to keep your store clean and in a matter of eight hours it was all ruined.”

Now, almost a year and a half later, he thinks the flooding may have been a sort of blessing. It had always been a dream of his to change the store’s showroom, but it was one of those back-burnertype ideas.

Timeline

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Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010: Twelve inches of rain fell and caused a drainage ditch that runs through New Richland to overflow.

That ditch flows into Boot Creek two miles west of town, which empties into Le Sueur River three miles northwest of town. More than 125 homes were damaged and businesses shut down. Damages were estimated at $2 million.

Friday, Sept. 24, 2010: Sandbagging operations on Sept.

23 and this date successfully protected the New Richland Care Center. Residents were evacuated to other care centers in southern Minnesota.

Several streets remained underwater.

Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010: Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency visited Freeborn County. Preliminary estimates showed there was about $189,708 in damages to infrastructure countywide. Estimates did not include damage to private homes.

Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010: New Richland Benefit Committee holds a New Richland Flood Relief Benefit that resulted in about $49,000 donated to help flood victims in the town.

Mid-December: Six businesses in New Richland were chosen to receive grant funding from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Those are New Richland Care Center, Morgan’s Meat Market, New Richland Auto Repair, Midwest Repairables Inc., Aspen Car Wash and Trapper’s Lanes.

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010: President Barack Obama signs a major disaster declaration ordering federal aid to supplement recovery efforts in Freeborn County and 20 other counties in Minnesota.

“It threw us behind, but there were no lasting effects,” Morgan said.

After the flooding there was knee-high water in the building, and Morgan decided to completely overhaul the business.

The retail area was closed for three months, and butchering was down for about a month. With the roof and much of the building damaged, Morgan got to start from scratch. The retail showroom was moved to another part of the building to expand the space and to allow the processing part to be more separate.

He said he knew some people didn’t enjoy seeing the meat processing the way the business was set up before.

“The business has actually improved a lot from the way it was

before,” Morgan said.

“It just makes it a better shopping experience as opposed to the way it was before.”

The New Richland Care Center was another badly-damaged building because of the flooding that September. About 50 residents were evacuated from the building to other cities in southern Minnesota.

Despite a massive sandbagging effort with more than 350 students, residents and emergency personnel volunteers, water seeped into the building. About four to six inches of water flooded through the entire building, causing damage to sheetrock, carpeting and heating and cooling units.

Administrator Mikenzi Hebel said the hardest

Saturday, Sept.

24, 2011: The New Richland Care Center held a ceremony to mark the one-year anniversary of the flooding.

Late December 2010: The New Richland Care Center reopened after being closed for three months.

The site had suffered damages of about $320,000. Morgan’s Meat Market reopens its retail store after being closed for three months. Its butchering operations were down for one month after the flooding.

part of the flooding was having to make residents go to other facilities.

“We have a support system here that others don’t have,” Hebel said.

“The hardest part is they really are our family and they had to go start out new.”

During the three months the facility was closed sheet rock and carpeting were replaced.

The facility also had to be disinfected and repainted. Hebel said air conditioning and heating units in residential rooms were replaced as well.

The New Richland Care Center and Morgan’s Meat Market were among six businesses in that city chosen to receive grant funding from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. The care center received $4,500,

the meat market received $4,500, and others receiving funds were New Richland Auto Repair, Midwest Repairables Inc., Aspen Car Wash and Trapper’s Lanes.

Some businesses were able to make claims with insurance, but since the area wasn’t considered a flood zone, most didn’t have insurance specifically for flooding. Pam Goehring, with the help of her husband, Larry, decided to do something to help those without insurance. They organized a New Richland Flood Relief Benefit that raised about $49,000.

“You can never underestimate the power of a community binding together to help each other,” Goehring said.

— Kelli Lageson

A moose of a reputation …

ELLENDALE — A more than 90-year-old moose perches above the canned vegetables at Lerberg’s Food in Ellendale, awing young children as they step into the grocery store.

“Their eyes get big when they walk underneath it, that’s for sure,” said Ross Sletten, the store’s current owner.

Lerberg’s Food, which opened in 1901, sits off Interstate 35 and attracts customers from surrounding towns of New Richland, Geneva and Clarks Grove.

The moose head, which was “bagged” in 1919, has been a local attraction ever since it was mounted on the wall the following year.

Sletten, who began working in the store at 13 years old, said he remembers his own daunted reaction as a 3- or 4-year-old when he saw the moose for the first time.

The moose, a local attraction, was shot by former owner Andy Lerberg’s grandfather in northern Minnesota in 1919 and commuted back to Ellendale by train.

Lerberg said the meat was given away and the head, which until recently also held the rifle that shot it between its antlers, was mounted in the family grocery store.

Ross Sletten, left, and Andy Lerberg hold the rifle Lerberg’s grandfather used to shoot the moose that has been mounted on the wall at Lerberg’s Food in Ellendale for over 90 years.

The moose, a local attraction, perches above the canned vegetables at Lerberg’s Food.

Over the years, the moose has undergone yearly vacuuming and even an eye transplant.

“It wasn’t cataracts!” Lerberg joked.

Sletten said back when Lerberg’s wife owned the gift shop next door, they would prank kids by alluding that the rest of the moose was sticking out on the other side.

Sletten kept the mounted moose head intact when he bought the store from Andy Lerberg in 2007.

He said he wanted to preserve the original corner grocery store, which features three narrow aisles and a wooden floor. The first store was opened in 1901 and the current one revealed in 1914, Sletten said.

“You don’t see a grocery store like this anymore,” he said.

Sletten is the first outside the family to own the store. It was opened by Lerberg’s grandfather and passed through his aunt and uncle and his parents before landing in his lap from 1972 till 2007.

Sletten “has been here so long he’s one of the family,” Lerberg said.

In May, the five-year anniversary of Slutten’s purchase of the store will come. He said he plans to hold a coloring contest for children and take suggestions for the name of the moose.

— Jill Jensen

Page 4 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 26, 2012 PROGRESS 2012

Meet

the perfect kindergarten teacher

Deb Louters sits with her kindergartners in a circle in early January. They use “letter people” to learn the alphabet. — Jill Jensen

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OLLANDALE — “What’s special about Mr. N?” Deb Louters asks her kindergarten class, as she holds up a doll plush, complete with a bike horn for a nose.

“Noisy nose!” they reply.

The “letter people” made an appearance at the end of her Jan. 6 allday kindergarten class to reinforce the letters her students have learned thus far.

A new doll, whether it be Mrs. I (itch) or Mr. F (funny feet), is introduced each week to teach students the alphabet.

Louters estimated the dolls were 29 years old, the exact amount of time she’s spent teaching kindergarten at Hollandale Christian School.

She said her class is like a “typical kindergarten,” except they have Bible readings and throughout the day talk about their values — why God wants them to do this or that.

“We embrace our kids with love because Jesus loved us first,” Louters said.

She said a Christian school also allows children to have other Christian adults as role models, one of the rea-

Timeline 1949: Louters born

1970: married Pete Louters

1967: graduated from Albert Lea High School

sons she and her husband Pete sent their own kids to Hollandale Christian School.

Louters demonstrated that Jan. 6, as seven kindergarteners attempted to transform white paper into snowflakes. She explained why it’s OK if snowflakes aren’t “perfect” or why they aren’t exactly the same.

“It doesn’t matter if our snowflakes are different because God made us all different,” she said.

Louters graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1957 and attended Northwestern College, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1971.

She said she has aways known she wanted to be a teacher.

“I just have a passion for little children,” she

1973-1983: Had four children: Tony, Michelle, Phil and Kim

1971: graduated from Northwestern College

1983: Began teaching kindergarten at Hollandale Christian School

said. “They love school.

They love to learn. They love their teacher. I really love it.”

She even had two of her children — Phil and Kim — in her classroom.

“They always called me… teacher,” she said.

She said kindergarten, which runs all day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, was perfect for her to be home and raise her family the remaining days.

Now that her children are all grown up and have children of their own, Louters spends her free days reading and gardening.

“I grow kids during the school year and I grow plants during the summer,” she joked.

She said because she can’t be near her 11 grandchildren as often

as she wants to be, her kindergarten class is like a “little family here.”

When students walk into the kindergarten room, they see vines dripping from the ceiling and a wooden play structure dubbed “the jungle hut” in the corner.

Louters decorates her classroom each year with a different theme like the ocean or bugs. She said teaching kindergarten gives her the chance to be creative.

Colleen Thompson, a senior at Albert Lea High School, remembers the rainforest theme during her year in Louters’ kindergarten classroom well.

Though she recollects many different activities — nap time, the letter people, being a dandelion in the spring musical — from her kindergarten year, she said the most important lesson Louters taught was who Jesus is.

“I didn’t know it back then, but I’m so grateful to have started my faith journey at such a young age,” Thompson said.

She said she stops by each year to visit Louters, who was “the perfect kindergarten teacher.”

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PROGRESS 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 5

Watch for the Little Ones demand that school bus laws not only catch up to the rest of the country but hopefully lead! Copy and repost.”

— Kim Koenigs

N

“As Christmas gets closer and closer please take a minute to remember and say a prayer for my sister, Kari Halverson, and all the other families celebrating the holidays without their kiddos this year. Christmas was one of Kadyn’s favorite times of the year and it’s so hard to bake the cookies, wrap the presents, sing carols and trim the tree knowing we cant have her there this year to be with …”

— Brandi Boles

ORTHWOOD, Iowa — There is a page on Facebook that is tangential to the effort spearheaded by Northwood-Kensett residents to pass more stringent laws for passing school buses.

The page is called Watch for the Little Ones.

It and the lobbying effort come in the wake of the death of Kadyn Halverson, a 7-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a driver who didn’t stop for the bus when it was picking up the girl on a rural blacktop.

Iowa has the seventhlightest school bus laws in the nation, and Kari Halverson, mother of Kadyn, wants to do something about it.

She has the help of Kim Koenigs, executive director of the Worth County Development Authority, and several other people across Iowa. The bill is Senate File 2021.

The page, as of midJanuary, had 3,224 “likes” and is likely to garner many more during the 2012 Iowa legislative session. Here are many of the comments on the Watch for the Little Ones page on Facebook: “It’s time! Let’s speak out for our angel and rock the Capitol to pass Kadyn’s Law! Keep the e-mails going to our legislators — how can they not hear us?! Thank you everyone for your support over the past few months — our family would not be where we are today without each of you supporting us! Also, I need lots of prayers — not much into politics so this is way out of my comfort zone!”

— Kathy Meyer

“I just want to say I am so very sorry for your loss. As a mother I couldn’t even imagine, but I write this as a school bus driver. I can tell you my bus has both a stop sign with lights and a stop arm. I can’t tell you how many times people run my reds, and even though I have an aid it is still very scary. People claim they can’t see our reds. I just don’t understand how can you miss a big yellow bus with blinking lights stopped in the road. Just saying what makes me so angry is if I get a car’s plate number and turn it in New York state sends them a don’tdo-that-again letter and that’s it unless a cop sees it. That’s not right. They should get a fine no matter what …”

— Laura Summers Smith “I called the police one day when I saw a teenager pass a stopped school bus with the stop sign out, and I was told nothing would be done unless the bus driver also called it in! I think that is a bunch of crap!

I gave them the license plate also and was told they would try to find the person and talk to them.

A child could have been killed that day!”

— Carmen Jepsen “As we get ready to go to session I am asking that you change your profile picture to the one I have on mine to show support for Kadyn’s Law. It’s another way we in Iowa can show support and band together and

“Last year this exact same thing happened here at our neighbor’s bus stop. The only difference was her sister pushed across the street to avoid being hit.

The driver of the car was never caught. Our children have to cross the street after school.

Our bus driver (who’s the best) implemented a plan of action. No one

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The Worth County Historical Society sign has a historical look to it.

crosses the street until he motions them across.

He says he might have to be a stop a few seconds longer, but it sure beats time at a funeral. I thank God every day he is my kids’ driver.”

— Robin Thompson McCloskey “From Minnesota: My three children were

almost hit by a passing car that did not stop for a bus at that moment. One of the children, luckily dropped something, so they did not cross the road. The car never stopped, and it went by too fast to get their driver’s license. Children just asssume they will stop — some do not.”

— Amy Petry

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Northwood Lumber • Ashland Davis & Rollex Vinyl Siding • Merillat Cabinets • Anderson Windows 512 W. Central Ave. Northwood, IA

641-324-1215

728 Central Ave, Northwood, IA Reservations 641-324-1052 Mark & Rhonda, Owners

• Featuring the best prime rib in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota Open Thursday-Saturday 5-9pm, Sunday 7am-1pm

Northwood True Value Start right, start here with all your hardware needs.

Northwood, Iowa 641-324-1763

96 10th Street North Adjacent to VerHelst Drug

• Carpet • Vinyl • Laminate • Ceramic Tile • Wood

• Draperies • Hunter Douglas Window Fashions • Benjamin Moore Paints

Northland Custom Interiors FREE ESTIMATES M-F 9-5, Sat. 10-12 or by appointment

847 Central Avenue Northwood, Iowa 50459

(641) 324-2077

The joys of local tourism

INJECTion TECHnology DIESEL SERVICE

TravelIowa.com is the website where the Iowa Tourism Office lists things to do, attractions, landmarks, recreation and historical routes.

Here are attractions listed for Lake Mills and Northwood: • Country School Museum, Lake Mills.

• Family Aquatic Center, Lake Mills.

• Promise of America Monument, Lake Mills.

• Top of Iowa Welcome Center, Northwood.

• Worth County Historical Society Museum, Northwood.

Here are some gems within driving distance: • Hobo Museum & Hobo Gift Shop, Britt.

• Lady of the Lake, Clear Lake.

• Winnebago Industries Visitor Center, Forest City.

• Fort Musuem & Frontier Village, Fort Dodge.

• Lime Creek Nature Center, Mason City.

• Fossil & Prairie Park, Rockford.

• St. Ansgar Heritage Museum.

• Arnolds Park Amusement Park.

• Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center, Le Mars.

• Red Barn Model Railroad Museum, Dundee.

• Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah.

• Little Brown Church, Nashua.

Also Turbocharger Sales and Service Hwy 65 North, Northwood, IA

complete diesel fuel injection service farm - industrial - automotive

6 Point Zero L Power Stroke Service 641-324-2010

OVER 41 YEARS OF KEYBOARD SALES AND SERVICE

RODGERS CHURCH ORGANS Kawai, Young Chang Kurzweil, Kawai and Roland Digital Pianos Trade-ins Welcome, Used & Rebuilt Pianos Piano, Pipe & Electronic Organ Service

DEWEY KRUGER MUSIC Duane (Dewey) Kruger, Owner

715 Central Ave., Northwood, IA

Toll Free # 1-800-933-5830

641-324-1300

deweykrugermusic.com

4712 Wheelerwood Rd., Northwood, IA

641-323-7500

www.hiexpress.com/northwood-iowa

Northwood TheatRE Movie times Mon-Sat at 7pm & Sunday at 4pm Prices: Adults $4, Children (ages 3-18) $3, 2 and under are free Specials:

Monday: Free popcorn if you bring your own container Tuesday: Receive a free small pop if you donate a canned good to Manna Thursday: BOGO on pop and popcorn.

740 Central Ave. Northwood, IA 641-324-0064 www.northwoodtheatre.com

Page 6 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 26, 2012 PROGRESS 2012 Images from the Freeborn County Historical Museum and the Emmons Library

Looking back s n o m m E e h t at Eagles l

— Andrew Dyrda

The 1974 Emmons baseball team won the Border League championship. Pictured is, front row, from left: Gay Iverson, Bruce Davidson, Paul Boettcher, Rusy Helland, Deon Thompson and Scott Hacker. Back row: Kenny Helland, Mark Martinson, Loring Stead, Rich Hacker, Joe Lair and Cliff Wuerflein.

The Emmons Eagles cheerleading squad in 1977 included, from left, Judy Jensen, Annette Rasmusson, Laurel Olson, Cindy Beaver and Debbie Huntley.

An Emmons High School softball jersey.

This Emmons High School cheerleading uniform was worn in 1957 by Ruth (Rasmusson) Christenson.

This page out of Emmons High School’s 1973 yearbook shows a collage of basketball photos.

Celebrating 19 years in Business!

Hours: M-F, 9-5; Evenings & Saturdays by appointment.

Photographer’s choice Darcy Sime shares pictures from the Alden-Conger area

• Farm • Crop • Auto • Homeowners • Umbrellas • Liability • Small Business Insurance • Life Insurance

Donna Nelson and Brady Gooden, Agents 21290 680th Ave., Alden, MN 56009 donnadnelsonins@hughes.net 507.874.3419 Fax 507.874.3920 Custom Drying, Grinding, Mixing Feed • Seed • Grain Farm Supplies “Alden by Lightning Light”

www.ncountrycoop.com Alden, MN • 874-3421

Make your wedding reception a truly exceptional event!

• Groom’s Suppers, Wedding Anniversaries, etc.

• Will do catering for any size group, from full sit down meals to sandwiches, salads and desserts made to go.

Call

507-265-3265

Conger Inn Catering & Party Shop

“Through a Golden Tunnel”

“Dressed in Frost”

“Freeborn Lake Sunset”

“The Gold at the End of the Rainbow”

Conger, Minnesota

Conger Meat Market 100 William Ave, Conger • 265-3340 Northbridge Mall, Albert Lea • 377-1556

Fresh and Frozen Meats Many Homemade Sausages Custom Processing Venison Processing Beef Bundles

PROGRESS 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 7

Honoring the eastern

Faribault County

veterans (and western Freeborn County vets, too)

Gordon Hansen, left, and Maynard Heitner hope to start building a veterans memorial on a lot in Wells in the fall. The two started planning the project in the summer of 2010. — Brandi Hagen

I

n May of 2010, two longtime friends attended a Memorial Day service at a cemetery.

Gordon Hansen, now 89 years old, and Maynard Heitner, 85, felt as though the memorial, not the service itself, was inadequate for those who have served in the military.

Over coffee, which happens several times a week between the two, Hansen and Heitner decided they wanted to erect in Wells their own veterans’ memorial for veterans in eastern Faribault County and western Freeborn County.

When built, the memorial will honor veterans of all wars for the communites of Alden, Bricelyn, Easton, Delavan, Freeborn, Kiester, Minnesota Lake, Walters and Wells.

Hansen, a Navy veteran and retired superintendent from the Wells school district, and

V

Heitner, a retired funeral director from Wells, thought rather than sharing the idea to get some other folks to head the project they might as well start on the work themselves.

To figure out what they should be doing, the two traveled within a 75-mile radius of Wells, visiting other memorials.

The most impressive one they found was at Arlington Park in Lake Mills, Iowa. So, they started drawing up plans with similar features.

With estimates of at least $200,000, Hansen and Heitner looked to donations from individuals, businesses and organizations to help with the construction.

As of a meeting on Jan. 9, the project has raised $24,000, a small portion of what is needed.

Where others may make cuts to save on cost, the two men don’t believe in doing so.

“We’re not trying to cut corners,” Heitner said. “We’re not trying to spend money. We’re trying to have a very respectable veterans’ memorial.”

Hansen agreed with Heitner.

“We have to do a topquality job or not do it at all,” Hansen said.

The details for the project have been figured out for quite some time. It is hoped that construction can start in the fall. The memorial will be placed on a lot in downtown Wells, a location central to other towns that will be included.

A circular concrete base will be poured with a U.S. flag flying in the center.

Placed on the concrete will be four black granite walls, which will hold an estimated 300 names per side. The men chose granite because it weathers better than brick would.

Planning for the future,

Heitner and Hansen are going to have extra foundations poured so when the four walls are full of names, additional ones can be placed where they want them, even if they aren’t around to supervise.

There will be three entrances to the park with statues of infantrymen placed at each. A gazebo and benches will also be added to allow people time to reflect or meet as groups.

With just about everything planned, the only thing left to do before the construction process can begin is collect the rest of the necessary finances.

The men hope people understand that as donations are collected for the memorial, “it’s not an obligation, it’s an opportunity.”

Going into the project, Hansen said they had no idea that it would take as much time as it has.

Heitner said he has

A night out in Glenville

enturing outside the city limits of Albert Lea to find interesting dining experiences has been an enjoyable pastime for me. I recently planned such an outing with my two best friends, Lisa Amundson and Kristin Kyllo. Our destination of choice for this trip was Glenville.

Glenville is about six miles southeast of Albert Lea and features two restaurant and bar establishments, the Glenville American Legion Club and The Office Bar & Restaurant. Both establishments are open daily to the public. After a brief consensus, we decided to try out the Office Bar & Restaurant.

The setting inside the restaurant is updated and comfortable. There were ample tables available for patrons to dine in the bar or in a separate dining room. We chose to sit in the bar area along with several patrons who were enjoying conversation. The bar area was decorated for all tastes with Minnesota sports memorabilia as well as vintage inspired Harley-Davidson signs. The bar area features a pool table, darts, Foosball, several televisions and a jukebox.

We were quickly greeted with

The Office Bar & Restaurant has had its name much longer than the TV show “The Office.” — Laura Lunde

NICK'S Used Cars

Trading Post Dependability Since 1950 Gordonsville, MN 56036

507-448-3302 Call today for a FREE estimate to upgrade from fuses to a breaker panel.

License Bonded • Insured BRAD MILLER 11016 755th Ave., Glenville, MN Cell: 507-391-0798 Fax: 448-0038

menus and beverages. Kyllo and Amundson selected the homemade beer-battered pepperjack cheese curds as an appetizer while I added boneless chicken wings tossed in Wild Turkey Struttin’ Sauce (a sweet whiskey glaze) to our order.

These made for excellent selections.

Vance and Cyndy Mickelson, owners of The Office Bar & Restaurant, happened to be available during our visit. Cyndy shared with me that their cheese curds are cut right off the block of cheese and then dipped in homemade beer batter. In fact, their menu features a wide assortment of homemade dishes. There are many reasonably priced sandwiches and hamburger choices including the option of a side dish like french fries, homemade Office chips, tater tots, side salad, coleslaw or macaroni salad.

They have nightly specials of burger baskets, Mexican cuisine, pasta, fish fry, chicken, steak and Vance’s Specialty BBQ Ribs on Saturdays. We selected our meals from the sandwich menu and enjoyed our appetizers with a tap beer served in a Mason jar.

4Office, Page 10

kept a log of how much time they have spent planning the memorial and without counting the coffee dates that turned into planning, the men have had more than 50 formal meetings thus far.

Even though they have spent a great amount of time in the past year

and a half planning, they aren’t in it for the personal glory.

“We just think it’s something that ought to be done,” said Hansen.

“If somebody says, well who started this and someone else says, I don’t know, that’s OK by us,” Heitner said.

— Brandi Hagen

The Square Yard, Inc. Service in every square yard

Residential and Commercial Sales and Installation of: Carpet , Vinyl ,Hardwood ,Laminate, Tile Floors & Showers, Heated Floors, Blinds & Shades.

Serving The Area since 1986

www.thesquareyard.net Located on Hwy 22, Kiester

Free in Home Estimates 877-680-7450

It's not just a phrase, it's our PROMISE. As your local full service cooperative, we know that your business or farming operation requires hard work and dedication. That's why we take pride in having knowledgeable, hardworking employees, that are dedicated to being your most valued partner; helping your reach new levels of success. Let WFS work with you to make your operation successful.

KEE LANES

504 W. State KIEster 294-3986

Newly remodeled and bar service available soon!

SHORT STOP • 24 hour pay at the pump • E85 & Blender pumps now available Hwy. 65 South, Glenville

507-448-3547

Knutson Oil Co./H&K Propane

Where good service is our way of business 448-3914

251 W. Main St. P.O. Box 125 Glenville, MN

448-3474 fax Larry & Robert

Specializing in Tires, Brakes, Oil Changes & Light Mechanics

507-448-3717

COM-TEC Land Mobile Radio Service WES WEBB

Glenville Plumbing

TIM'S AUTO & TIRE

1-507-448-2902

Phone: 448-0003

Glenville, MN

310 Hwy. 65SW • Glenville, MN

Page 8 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 26, 2012 PROGRESS 2012

Then & Now

Myrtle 1988

Myrtle 2012

There Is A Difference Clarks Grove Cooperative Creamery in the 1930s

• Agri-Business • Equine • Suburban • Urban • Custom Design • Commercial Your Local Dealer Is:

Broskoff Structures 601Central Ave. N. Geneva 507-256-7501

WE ARE ALL ABOUT AWESOME FOOD!

LOCAL LOCKER/FARM TO TABLE TUESDAY - COOK'S CHOICE WEDNESDAY - WALLEYE DINNER THURSDAY - STEAK & SHRIMP OR SEAFOOD PLATTER FRIDAY - ALL YOU CAN EAT FISH FRY OR PRIME RIB SATURDAY - PRIME RIB OR BBQ RIBS

Downtown Geneva 507-256-4501 georgesof geneva.com

Sprinkler Systems Core Aeration • Broadleaf Weed Control Liquid Fertilizing • Crabgrass Control Clarks Grove Cooperative Creamery 2012

FREE analysis & estimate

507-373-2217

ATV & Snowmobiles SALES • ACCESSORIES • SERVICE

Share our passion.

ROYAL SPORTS 105 W. Main Clarks Grove, MN 56016 (507) 256-7596

www.royalsports.us

Clarks Grove-Waseca Veterinary Clinic LLP clarks grove office Dog & Cat 28088 770th Ave. Boarding Clarks Grove, MN (507) 256-7237 • Portable X-ray machine • Ultrasound Unit Dr. Tom A. Lang • Science Diet pet food Dr. Dennis L. Nelson • Small animal orthopedics Dr. Mike Bjorklund • 24 hour emergency Dr. Jennifer A. Bauer service

waseca office 1400 State St. South Waseca, MN (507) 835-1700 Dr. Tom Metzdorff Dr. Scott Lang Dr. Carey Prigge

Country Care Boarding Kennel “We’ll give your pet the loving care it needs while you’re on the vacation you need.”

Cats or dogs welcome, very comfortable cat quarters, large outdoor runs, controlled air, heated, very clean.

Call (507) 826-3510 Anytime Barb & Roger Hoeve (Owners) 3 miles north & 1 mile west of HyVee on County Road 25

Now offering in-home pet care (and other in-home services while you are away)

Geneva State Bank about 1950

74745 255th St. • Clarks Grove, MN barbhoeve@gmail.com

Knowledgeable staff, quality help and a friendly smile!

Judy, Debbie & Bonnie Bill May, Owner & Exterior Paints Serving You With Quality •• Interior Plumbing & Electrical Supplies Hardware Since 1903 •• Farm Air Compressors • Clothing • Tools

Clarks Grove Hardware

Clarks Grove • 256-7249

Geneva State Bank 2012 (now Commerce Bank)

PROGRESS 2012

Sunday, February 26, 2012 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 9

Celebrating 101 Years of Business!

Hayward Cooperative Hayward, MN 507-373-6439

Grain • Fertilizer • Chemicals • Tires

STORAGE 4 sizes available 8’x12’ 10’x15’ 10’x20’ 10’x24’ Pallets available

IRON WORKS STEEL FABRICATION Box 535 Hayward, MN

373-0465 Hayward Hardware about 1910

Fax: 373-1939

Stop by and check out our new building!

Becker Auto

Sales & Transport Mark & Joan

80944 County Rd. 46 • Hayward, MN 56043

507-373-3170 Cell: 507-676-0192 Find us at www.findcars.com

Custom Processing & Retail Meats todd & cheryl enderson

Owners

P.O. Box 308 Hayward, MN (507) 373-8966 Hayward Hardware 2012

KOA Kampground 84259 County Road 46 Hayward, MN 56043

507-373-5170

SPECIALIZING IN SEPTIC SYSTEMS DESIGN~INSTALLATION~SEEDING • Conservation Construction • Land Drainage • Wildlife Ponds • Road Boring • Backhoeing • Consulting

PHILLIP OR MARK MORREIM 71610 263rd St • Albert Lea • Office (507) 826-3449 Home (507) 373-1971 or Cell (507) 330-1889

Manchester State Bank about 1910

Farmers Mutual Insurance of Manchester, MN Since 1876

City/Rural Farm/Residential • Farm Pkgs.

• Home Owners

826-3425

Dave Pederson, Manager

Manchester-Hartland Telephone Co. 826-3212 Community Service Since 1903

Manchester State Bank 2012

World's Best Tractor Manuals

Downtown Manchester • 507-826-3666 Home of Jensprint Contact us for all your printing needs

JORDAHL MEATS

Manchester, MN “Where Meat Is Our Only Business and Quality Our Main Concern”

507-826-3418 • Wholesale • Retail

Twin Lakes State Bank 1968

Twin Lakes State Bank 2012 (now Citizens State Bank)

Page 10 • Albert Lea Tribune • Sunday, February 26, 2012 PROGRESS 2012 Lake Mills volleyball coach Jim Boehmer speaks with his players during a game in the fall of 2011. — Andrew Dyrdal

Setting L a course for success $1,000 Finder’s Fee

To anyone that helps bring in a new business to Lake Mills, Iowa.

The business must:

Establish a business in Lake Mills employing at least 10 people.

Call for information on housing and new business Have an average starting wage of at least $10 per hour. incentive programs Lake Mills Chamber Make a capital investment Development Corperation of at least $500,000 203 North First Ave.W. Lake Mills has available buildings Lake Mills, IA and workforce due to an industry E-mail: lmcdc@wctatel.net relocating jobs outside the U.S. A Great Place to Live and Work

Family Dental Center Dr. Keith A. Johnson 641-592-2200

Dr. Scott Bosacker 641-592-1100

206 E. Main Lake Mills, IA 50450

AKE MILLS, IOWA — For the last 14 years, kids as young as fourth grade have been able to give volleyball a try in the Lake Mills school district.

Lake Mills volleyball coach Jim Boehmer and Stu Vold, from Mason City, started the Northern Lights volleyball league to introduce girls in fourth through sixth grade to the game to let them succeed and have fun while trying it out before it gets to the competitive stage.

With about 120 girls playing volleyball last season in grades four through 12, the program seems to be working.

To have success while playing, the rules are tweaked depending

on the grade level.

“We try to adjust the rules so they can feel good about what they’re doing,” Boehmer said.

“We can teach them the correct technique if we move them up so they can get it over the net.

If we try to have them back up all the way, then their technique breaks down.”

The net is lowered and the serving distance is changed depending on the grade levels. Also in the fourth grade, the girls use lighter balls. During games, no statistics but the score are kept and that’s simply to know

By the time they are seniors, the girls who started volleyball when they were in fourth grade will have played nine seasons of volleyball.

Glenville

Continued from Page 7 Cyndy visited with us about some of the recent additions and updates that they have made to the restaurant. I was very in-

when to rotate. Boehmer said during rotation every girl plays every position, one girl in and one girl out.

In spite of what other coaches believe about long practices being better than short ones, Boehmer has shortened practices for the younger players to 45 minutes instead of a typical 90.

He said if it’s less than an hour, it keeps them excited to come back; they don’t go home thinking about how exhausted they are.

“If I hear, ‘Are we done yet?’ I know I’ve practiced too long,” Boehmer said. “I want them to get in the car and complain to their parents this way, ‘He didn’t let us hit. We better get to do this next time.’ That sounds like a kid who wants to be there.”

With up to eight teams of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, the gym can seem like a madhouse at times.

But with the help of assistant coach Ree Pederson-Moore and the high school volleyball players, it becomes an organized event. The

terested to learn that The Office offers full service catering with a full menu selection and full liquor service. She said this is handy for graduations,

LP & Refined Fuels Diesel Fuel Lake Mills

1-800-590-4206

Lake Mills, Iowa

641-592-4206

It didn’t happen overnight Jim Boehmer started to coach volleyball 20 years ago. He started doing it at Lake Mills because a position was open and his wife talked him into doing it together. Six years into his coaching career, he started up the Northern Lights league.

He has been to the state tournament with his high school team three times.

Each year, even though enrollment drops, the number of participants in volleyball generally goes up.

“By building up the numbers, you build up your competition within the room,” Boehmer said.

“There are times when I think I could put two varsity teams on the floor in some of our tournaments and we’d be playing ourselves in the finals.” volleyball season for the fourth- through sixthgraders lasts about five weeks with a goal of two practices a week.

“Last year, we had almost 90 percent of all the girls in the fourth-, fifthand sixth-graders on a youth volleyball team,” Boehmer said. “That’s the number I’m most proud of with my whole program. It’s supposed to be for the kids.”

As the girls get older, the rules conform more closely to regulation volleyball, and girls begin to figure out whether they want to continue with the sport.

“That’s for them to decide,” Boehmer said.

“Just like an elective class, they have to decide what they want to take. It should be their choice. It gets hard enough for them later on in high school when competing for playing time is a whole new ball of wax.”

By the time they are seniors, the girls who started volleyball when they were in fourth grade will have played nine seasons of volleyball. They literally will have touched a volleyball hundreds of thousands of times.

— Brandi Hagen

weddings, birthdays and other occasions.

Our food soon arrived and we did our best to tackle the generous portions of sandwiches and sides. We each left with a takeout box of homemade goodness and many fond memories of the friendly staff and delicious food from The Office.

On the way home, we planned our next visit to The Office — the Sunday breakfast buffet! The buffet features many homemade items, including cinnamon French toast.

At $6.95 for adults, this seems like an unbeatable

breakfast opportunity.

The Office will celebrate 32 years of business on March 31. It is one of the best-kept dining secrets in the area. Vance and Cyndy Mickelson have devoted themselves to making this a comfortable and enjoyable environment. They are open three meals a day, seven days a week. The homemade food is reasonably priced and delicious. If you find yourself looking for a new dining destination, put The Office in your GPS and take drive a few short minutes to Glenville.

— Laura Lunde

for supporting my education at Lake Mills Community School!

“Through our collective efforts we are committed to teaching & learning for all.”

Think Locally, Act Globally.

Our students enjoy the benefits of small, friendly classes which are supplemented by on-line education from around the state, the nation, and the world.

Home of the

Lake Mills Community School

102 South 4th Ave. East • Lake Mills, IA 50450-1628

641-592-0881