2010 Year In Review by Albert Lea Tribune

Section B • Friday, December 31, 2010 • Albert Lea Tribune

Disasters and scandals topped a year of news Top 10 News By Tim Engstrom

tim.engstrom@albertleatribune.com

In an ordinary year, a homicide sentencing, the hiring of a city manager and the evacuation of a neighborhood most likely would be stories that make the top 10. In an ordinary year, a 200-megawatt wind farm would be the top story. In an ordinary year, there is a bad auto wreck on the list. But 2010 was no ordinary year. In fact, most years, we look back and remark on how newsy the year had been. This year blows the others out of the water. The Albert Lea area seemed to have natural disasters and embroiled leaders in abundance in 2010. And it was an election year. There is another point of interest: The top two stories broke within days of each other. Here are the Top 10 stories from 2010.

Storm chaser Michael Tillotson captured a June 17 tornado on camera and shared this image with the Albert Lea Tribune a week later. This tornado touched down as an EF4 one mile west northwest of Mansfield and headed in a northeasterly direction.

Deadly tornadoes devastate countryside

Dates come and go, but June 17, 2010, is a date that will stay in the minds of many Albert Lea Tribune readers for a generation. On that day, three thunderstorm cells produced tornadoes that devastated farms and homes in Faribault, Freeborn and Steele counties, including an EF4 tornado that killed a woman near Armstrong. That same day, tornadoes touched down in northern Minnesota, hitting Wadena. In all, Minnesota had 25 tornadoes on one day, two of them reaching EF4 status. In August, after piecing together what happened, the National Weather Service announced: “June 17, 2010, will go down as the day with the greatest single-day tornado total in Minnesota history.” The deadly one landed as an EF4 one mile northwest of Mansfield and headed in a northeasterly direction. It struck the rural home of Ron and Kathy Woodside, killing her and severely injuring him. Both were Tribune employees. The photographs of the no-man’s land were striking. Homes, trees, cars, barns all smashed. Structures were completely off their foundation. Farm animals wandered free. People climbed out of

Scott Schmeltzer/ Albert Lea Tribune

A farmer hauls a tree with his John Deere tractor. Neighbors helped neighbors clean up storm debris this summer.

KIMT

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

A stretcher rests atop the devastation at the Kerry and Ada Graves farmhouse west of Albert Lea on June 17. their basements to find a devastated countryside. Tiny Armstrong was the only named place to get a direct hit. Other tornadoes came near Kiester, Conger, Albert Lea, Clarks Grove, Geneva, Hollandale, Lerdal, Alden, Freeborn, Ellendale, Beaver Lake and Hope. The outpouring of support for tornado victims was remarkable. People came from across the region to remove debris from fields, clean up destroyed acreages, feed and shelter others and give comfort. And the countryside was filled with motorists who sought to tour the damage. Everyone in the Albert Lea Tribune coverage area has a story of where they were that evening. And nearly everyone has a story of how they helped in the days that followed. Minnesota ended up leading the nation in tornadoes for 2010, with 145. It typically sees 27 a year. Texas was second with 105. Iowa was 11th with 52.

Commissioner Linda Tuttle charged with theft Who could have imagined?

The KIMT radar at 7:10 p.m. June 17 showed multiple thunderstorm cells moving across the Albert Lea area. In 2008, voters in Free- of the Freeborn County born County Commisjail — to hear that she sioner District 5 showed faced one felony count of their confidence in Albert theft for about $48,000. Lea businesswoman LinReal estate agents, local da Tuttle by electing her lawyers, law enforcement to the Freeborn County officers and her husband Board of Commissioners. sat in the gallery to watch She was a former county the court proceeding. The recorder and owned Alpolice investigation albert Lea Abstract Co. leges that between JanuThen on June 22 — ary and June of this year coincidentally only days she took from six bank after the region suffered accounts to deal with tornado devastation — her gambling debt at the investigators with the Diamond Jo Casino seven Minnesota Division of In- miles west of Northwood, surance Fraud Prevention Iowa. The means by and the Albert Lea Police which she reportedly took Department parked a Uthe funds is called check Haul truck outside of her kiting. business and, with search Her casino card rewarrants in hand, loaded vealed that from Februher files and computers ary 2008 to June 2010, into the truck. Signs said she played $2.4 million “closed” and clients with on slot machines, getting appointments were dea little more than $2 milnied entry and answers. lion in payouts, leaving On June 24, she stood her $309,000 in the hole. before Freeborn County By July 1, the members District Court Judge of the Humane Society of Steven Schwab in a green Freeborn County learned jumpsuit — the color bad news. The $150,000 given to female inmates that an anonymous donor

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea Abstract shut its doors to the public sometime between 11 a.m. and noon June 22. Albert Lea and state investigators hauled files and computers to a truck for evidence. People who showed up for realty meetings were greeted by a closed sign.

gave the organization for construction of an addition to the animal shelter would most likely be gone for good. It had been in an escrow account with Albert Lea Abstract Co. The Humane Society spent the remainder of the year doing fundraisers to make up for the loss. On July 19, Tuttle again stood in court to hear 13 new charges, including racketeering and felony theft by swindle through her title company. The alleged theft grew to more than $1 million. Freeborn County commissioners received a letter July 21 from Tuttle saying her resignation would be effective Aug. 1. Tuttle’s lawyer, Kevin O’Connor Green, of Mankato, confirmed in November that he and the Steele County Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, were working on a settlement.

September floods inundate region Wet weather greeted students on the first day of school. Little did the parents, students or teachers who participate in this annual ceremony know that it wasn’t going to stop. In fact, 6 inches of rain fell in two days, Sept. 22 and 23. Albert Lea in September received 9.7 inches, when it averages 3.5 in that month. Gov. Tim Pawlenty declared a state of emergency for the counties of Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Watonwon and the southern parts of Scott and Dakota. Pawlently activated the National Guard, and he toured Truman, Pine Island and Owatonna. Schools in Wells, Alden and New Richland let out early. Interstate 35 and several highways and byways closed in the region. Many country roads were flooded. In Freeborn

4Continued

Page 2B • Albert Lea Tribune • Friday, December 31, 2010 YEAR IN REVIEW County, about 30 roads had flooding problems, with many closed with barricades, such as County Road 20 near the junction with County Road 24 northeast of Bath on the Steele County line. It was ruled impassable. Several boats on Fountain Lake escaped their moorage. Lake patrol officer Matt Levorson of the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office had to round them up and take them to City Beach. Katherine Island was submerged. Fish were pushed up and out of the parking-lot drain at McDonald’s. New Richland residents filled sandbags to prevent a tributary of Boot Creek from flooding parts of the city. Residents of the New Richland Care Center nursing home were evacuated Sept. 22, with their building sustaining $320,000 Michelle Haacke/Albert Lea Tribune in flood damages. Parks With waters rising in New Richland, men, women, boys and girls help fill sandbags the afternoon of Sept. 23 near the were completely imNew Richland Care Center as the residents battled rising waters in many places near a creek that flows through the city. mersed under water. The basement of Trapper’s Lanes became a pool. Other New Richland businesses were hit hard, too. Waseca Fire Chief Gary Conrath estimated about 50 volunteers and 30 area fire personnel had pitched in to help with the efforts. Trucks hauled in sand. People came from Geneva and other nearby places. Ellendale, Wells, Alden, Albert Lea and Austin all had their flood problems. Sewers backed up. Water spouted out of manhole covers. Some basements had leaks. Some filled with water. Parks, streets and lowlands were under water. Ellendale looked like it Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune had a river right through Tim Engstrom All of Fountain Lake’s Katherine Island but the bridge landing is under water on Sept. 24. town. /Albert Lea Tribune hit Freeborn County, The Albert Lea City gone over Wells, and After insurance, A crane with Barnhart a severe thunderstorm Council waived the fee power lines were down grants, sweat equity and Crane & Rigging steadies a brought hail and high for brush removal and there, too, along with a can-do spirit, the New section of a tower in August winds to Albert Lea. Then trees and power lines in allowed people to bring Richland Care Center during installation of the the next night, another their branches to a big many cities. For Albert reopened in December. Bent Tree Wind Farm. storm brought more pile at the Blazing Star Lea, it was straight-line hail and high winds. Landing. winds. when it began erecting Fortunately, no one was Through the summer The severe thundera 200-megawatt wind injured. and fall, the impact of storms occured on June farm. Summer and fall Trees were damaged. the storms became more 24 and 25, a Friday and were busy on the rural Branches were in the clear, as roofers who a Saturday. The headline roads northwest of Albert streets. Power lines were weren’t doing work for in the following Monday Lea. The goal was to down. A sunroom of one tornado victims were paper said “Enough!” complete the wind farm house in Albert Lea was busy working for homPeople wondered what in spring of 2011. blown right off. A tornaeowners in Albert Lea sort of madness would The numbers tell the A week and a day do was reported to have who needed new roofs as come from the sky next. story. There were 300 after the deadliest storm a result of the late June workers in the area at the storms. height of construction The summer continand 200 otherwise. The ued to be humid and turbines are Vestas V82 stormy, even with a torand 1.65 megawatts. This nado watch occuring in wind farm project will September. Many crops amount to 200 megasuffered storm damage. Then fall brought floods, but then fall brought some of the best outdoors weather of the year.

Two big T-storms in a row

watts, which can power approximately 50,000 homes. The total weight of each turbine is more than 350,000 pounds. There will be 26 miles of access roads built in the county. The construction area covers 69 square miles. The project has 122 turbines. The height with one blade straight up is 397 feet. The bases are 74 feet tall and weigh more than 100,000 pounds. The blades are 131 feet long. The price tag: $400 million. The pedestal of each turbine is 15 feet deep and is cone-shaped in the ground. The largest part is 60 feet in diameter, and the entire pedestal has about 500 cubic yards of concrete, or enough to fill about 50 concrete trucks. The main crane erecting the turbines is more than 1 million pounds and has a 440-ton maximum lifting capacity. Alliant Energy also built two new operations buildings for the wind farm workers on the east side of Minnesota Highway 13 in Hartland. There will be about 20 full-time workers there once the wind farm is finished. One story of note during the construction happened Sept. 16, when a flatbed semitrailer hauling section of a Vestas wind turbine tower slipped into a shallow ditch of a gravel road. The gravel roads in southern Minnesota were saturated after heavy rains in mid-September. The truck was carrying the large tower section on gravel 695th Avenue north of Freeborn County Road 29 near West Freeborn Lutheran Church. It fell off near a turn in the road.

Broitzman, Larson sentenced to jail Two of eight certified nursing assistants in the three-year-old elder abuse case were charged as adults because they were older than 18 at the time of the crimes that

4Continued

Bent Tree Wind Farm goes up

Scott Schmeltzer/Albert Lea Tribune

A tree broke in two during the severe thunderstorms of June 24 and 25. It was one of many trees big and small around Albert Lea that fell that weekend.

Weeks after tornadoes changed the landscape in the Hartland-Manchester area of Freeborn County, Alliant Energy and contractor Barnhart Crane changed it once again

Ashley Stewart/Albert Lea Tribune

A Manitowoc crane lifts a wind turbine’s rotor to the top of its tower. The rotor-placing process only takes about 15 minutes, Alliant Energy senior safety manager Tom Moravec said.

Wishing You a Very Good Year! Here’s Hoping Your Year is Simply Golden! For all your visits this year, we are so grateful and we welcome the opportunity to serve you again in the year ahead.

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As we celebrate this new year, let’s remember to treat one another with kindness, love and understanding. We hope you’ll join us in the true spirit of the season with prayers of peace and goodwill toward all mankind.

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House District 27A candidate Rich Murray looks over election results Nov. 2 with supporters Keith Fligge and Paul Overgaard. Murray won the election against incumbent District 27A Rep. Robin Brown, but because the results were so close, there was an automatic recount. Sarah Stultz/ Albert Lea Tribune Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Water spouts from a manhole cover beneath a flowerpot in Ellendale on Thursday. A stream of water through the city collected into a pond in the backyards of Amanda Beech, Ron Leak and some other neighbors.

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson speaks to the news media Oct. 22 at the Freeborn County Courthouse after he met with members of the families of the victims in the elder abuse case. happened at Good Samaritan Society — a case that attracted national attention when it first came to light in August 2008. Four were charged as juveniles, and two weren’t charged. Both Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson struck plea deals in 2010 for their actions between January and May in 2008, sexually, physically and verbally taunting the vulnerable adults in their care at the nursing home. Freeborn County District Judge Steve Schwab sentenced Broitzman in October and Larson in December. Broitzman was sent to serve 60 days in jail right away — though she was able to get out after two-thirds of that time because of good behavior. Then she has to serve

Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

Then-Albert Lea City Manager Jim Norman works at his desk at City Hall on May 3, his first day as full-time city manager. He had completed his duties as the interim city administrator in Afton. her probation. Larson received the same sentence, serving jail immediately and missing Christmas with her family. Her next 60 days will begin July 22,

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Myrna Sorensen of Alden speaks to the news media about the sentencing of Ashton Larson, convicted of abusing helpless elderly patients in her care, on Dec. 22 at the Freeborn County Courthouse. Sorensen is a family member of one of the victims. another 60 days starting May 22, 2011, and yet abother 60 days Oct. 22, 2011. She can petition to waive the second two jail terms in writing 30 days prior to the start of each term depending on if she follows guidelines and is deemed suitable for probation. In other words, she could potentially only serve the first term. Schwab also sentenced Broitzman — who was convicted of three counts of disorderly conduct by a caregiver, all gross misdemeanors — to eight days of community service for each count, two of which must be served each month. She is required to complete a psychological assessment, submit letters of apology to the families of the three victims in the case, complete one-onone education with ElderCare Rights Alliance and meet with the victims’ families if they so choose to answer questions. In addition, she can have no direct or indirect contact with vulnerable adults unless she gets the prior approval of her probation agent and cannot be employed as a caregiver for the time of

Friday, December 31, 2010 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 3B

2011, and the third 60 days will begin Dec. 22, 2011.

City manager allegedly abused city funds This one could top the list in terms of what was strange, and therefore it is somewhat difficult to summarize. The trial is slated for Jan. 11, so more facts are on the way.

For now, let’s review the twists and turns: Unable to strike a deal on pay with Alan Lanning of Pines North, Colo., the Albert Lea City Council on March 24 struck a deal to hire Afton City Administrator Jim Norman as the new Albert Lea city manager at a starting annual salary of $95,000. He began part-time April 12 and full-time May 3. On Aug. 9, the City Council members met in a special meeting to review allegations concerning the use of the city credit card during Norman’s relocation to Albert Lea. The charges were filed in Freeborn County District Court on Aug. 26. The Waseca County Attorney’s Office, which is handling the case for Freeborn County, charged the 56-year-old city manager with two felonies and one gross misdemeanor for what amounted to about $2,300 in purchases. The Waseca Police Department performed the investigation. Among the purchased items were a side-by-side refrigerator, groceries, shoes for his wife and hotel stays. He also received a monthly per diem for an automobile but allegedly bought gas with the card anyway. The investigation claimed Norman had financial 4Continued

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Page 4B • Albert Lea Tribune • Friday, December 31, 2010 YEAR IN REVIEW mayor the next week. Murtaugh said that if he had won in November, he would not have accepted the position.

10.

Missing man Jon Weiland found deceased Tim Engstrom/ Albert Lea Tribune

Freeborn County Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Nicole LaFrance carries an in-box Nov. 4 from the closet where the ballots are secured in bins. Chief Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Pat Martinson holds the door.

problems, including bad credit, based on the financial director Rhonda Moen’s comments to investigators. On Aug. 27, Norman was placed on paid leave. On Sept. 1, the search firm’s founder reiterated that Norman has good credit. For several weeks, people debated exactly what happened, some saying the city department heads wanted to oust their new boss, some saying Norman was caught red-handed, others saying the council acted too swiftly for a mere new-to-the-job error and Norman trying to communicate that it had been an honest mistake. He went public and claimed he was “broadsided” by the council and city officials. By the end of the September, the City Council and Norman severed their relationship, including the city requesting to drop the charges. The prosecutor, however, had no intentions to stop prosecuting the case. Moen left. On Oct. 25 began her new job as finance director for Owatonna. The council hired an interim city manager on Nov. 22. On Nov. 29, Norman pleaded not guilty to the charges, invoking his right to a speedy trial.

Election produces new officials

While many local seats in the Nov. 2 election went uncontested, the races that had competition provided upsets. Two elected officials who each had won two times prior lost. Career law-enforcement officer Mark Harig won elections in 2002 and 2006 for Freeborn County sheriff but lost to the office’s detective supervisor, Bob Kindler. Harig intends to retire when leaving office in January. Albert Lea High School art teacher Robin Brown won elections in the House District 27A seat in 2006 and 2008. She lost on Election Day by 57 votes to financial adviser Rich Murray. The Republican retook a seat his party had kept secure for a couple of decades before Democrat Brown held it for four years. Brown intends to focus on teaching. She said she cannot close the door on a future in politics. The difference in the District 27A race was within half of 1 percent, forcing a state-mandated recount.

Michelle Haacke/Albert Lea Tribune

“Where is Jon Weiland?” asked the Albert Lea Tribune in a headline on Sunday, April 11. A story by reporter Sarah Stultz rekindled interest among the public in finding a 43-year-old man from Britt, Iowa, who had not been seen in three months. He was last seen at Rathai’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Walters on the night of Dec. 19, 2009. Signs around the area still asked about him, but otherwise the search for him by authorities had been dropped. The story was reprinted April 12 in the Mason City Globe-Gazette. On April 13, Weiland’s body was found. Rose Villela of Thompson, Iowa, saw something red in a wooded area a mile north of Thompson. She went to the grocery store in town, remembered the story she had read, then decided she should meet her son at the location of the trees. They found Weiland’s body a distance from his red 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup. Weiland likely was traveling southbound on R34 when he left the road on a curve. He

Dave Nolander shakes the hand of Bob Kindler, who was elected sheriff Nov. 2. Between them is Gene Peters and on the right is Ken Peters. assistant editor at the Albert Lea Tribune, died Aug. 7 at a Rochester hospital following a battle with cancer. Having successfully fought off breast cancer two years ago, she had recently been diagnosed with cancer in her spine, pelvis, liver and brain. She had been at the hospital for a little over two weeks. She died on her 24th anniversary of working at the Tribune. She used her maiden name, McShane, for her byline. She could often be found writing stories about arts, entertainSarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune ment, religion and even House District 27A Rep. Robin Brown, second from left, along with other Freeborn other people similar to County DFLers, watch a television with election results the night of Nov. 2 at America’s herself who were battling Best Value Inn. 4Continued cancer or illness. She handled a large share of the pagination responFreeborn County sibilities, and a lot of Deputy Court her work entailed taking Administrator submitted material from Debra Miller, readers — check passings, Albert Lea City engagement announceCouncil member ments, event briefs and Larry Anderson such — and getting them and Freeborn into print. County comMike Murtaugh garmissioners Jim nered more votes than Nelson and Glen Mathiason swear Vern Rasmussen and an oath Nov. 5 to John Severtson in the start the Canvass Aug. 10 primary election. Murtaugh and RasmusBoard meeting. sen advanced to the genTim Engstrom/ eral election. Rasmussen Jon Weiland Albert Lea Tribune won on Nov. 2, becoming and Tim Walz had chalElection Day also lengers but managed to brought other changes. remain in office, in spite Minnesota elected a new of sweeping wins by governor; Democrat Republicans for seats in Mark Dayton defeated St. Paul and Washington. Republican Tom EmSparks, state senator for mer and IP candidate District 27, defeated forTom Horner. The marmer Austin school board gin between Dayton member Kathy Green, and Emmer also was and Walz, representaclose enough to require tive for the 1st District a recount. The recount of Minnesota, beat state for both races took place Rep. Randy Demmer of Nov. 29, and no initial Hayfield. outcome changed. Albert Lea elected a new mayor. Vern Rasmussen was victorious over Mike Murtaugh, who was on the ballot but had withdrawn from campaigning. Rasmussen was sworn into office Nov. 10, becoming the city’s seventh mayor in the years 2000-2010. Democrats Dan Sparks On Sept. 16, Albert Lea Intersection of W. Main and Hwy 13 across from Nelson’s. Mayor Mike Murtaugh Hours: M-F 8 to 5, Sat 8 to 4 • 373-3161 • www.alseed.com tendered his resignation via e-mail to city staff. A city news release the next day said his resignation would be effective Sept. 19. A week earlier, Murtaugh had suspended his campaign for re-election. There were two major reasons why his stepped down from the office and the campaign: He wanted to spend more time raising daughters Erin and Tierney in the wake of his wife’s passing. Geri Murtaugh Geri Murtaugh, the

Mayor’s wife dies; mayor resigns

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Tribune employee Adam Harringa presents a basket to Curt Clarambeau, who outbid everyone else for that item at a silent auction the Tribune held to raise funds to pay the medical bills incurred with Geri Murtaugh’s cancer fight.

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Friday, December 31, 2010 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 5B

Peggy Senzarino/Mason City Globe-Gazette

Jon Weiland paints a motorcycle part. This photo was part of a feature the Mason City newspaper did in 2003 on Weiland’s painting talents. apparently lost control and hit several trees. The family of Jon Weiland sent a letter to the Tribune, thanking the newspaper for its role in helping to find the man and to everyone

Runners-up

The top 20 news stories were selected by the news staff at the Albert Lea Tribune. Runners-up were: 11. Businessman Paul Field places camera in bathroom 12. Chad Gulbertson sentenced to life for Jody Morrow homicide 13. Albert Lea school board realigns the schools 14. Reid Nelson fakeinsurance charges/rental fraud charges 15. Twins hot dogs

who took time to search for him. Britt Mayor David Mitchell said though the news of Weiland’s death was a “tragedy for the entire community,” everyone could move forward.

Brie Cohen/Albert Lea Tribune

now made in A.L. under Schweigert label 16. Legacy Riders crowd downtown A.L./ Legion cmdr. visits 17. Victoria Simonsen departs/council hires new city manager 18. Emmons farmer make manure heart, story goes global 19. Homes evacuated during arsenic cloud scare 20. High-speed pursuit down Broadway ends on South Margaretha On this page are photographs related to the runners-up.

Outgoing City Manager Victoria Simonsen chats with Scott Hanna, a captain with the Albert Lea Fire Department, during the open house for Simonsen in the council chambers at City Hall in February.

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

It became a point of local pride in 2010 when news came out that the hot dogs served at Target Field during Minnesota Twins baseball games would be made in Albert Lea.

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Ryan Lony, 9, kicks a soccer ball toward Matthew Mendoza, 11, at City Arena on May 1 shortly before midnight. Kids played soccer while adults sat and talked. They were at City Arena because they had been evacuated from the neighborhood at the south end of Margaretha Avenue for fear of a possible arsenic cloud. People learned hazardous cargo moves up and down Interstate 35 daily.

Tales from Exit 22 Read Al Batt’s column every Wednesday in the Albert Lea Tribune

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Drop Off Your Christmas Trees Before

January 15, 2011

Christmas Tree Disposal Sites:

Bart Berven/Albert Lea Fire Department

Motorcycles with the American Legion Legacy Ride flood Broadway Avenue in Albert Lea on Aug. 24.

Drop off anytime in the parking lot North of the City Pound. Located in Frank Hall park. Look for signs.

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Richard David Scheib’s purple minivans rests against a fire hydrant on South Margaretha Avenue at the end of a police chase down Broadway Avenue. The chase took a few turns through the neighborhood’s streets before police caught Scheib after a foot chase into a field.

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Page 6B • Albert Lea Tribune • Friday, December 31, 2010 YEAR IN REVIEW

Bulldogs’ historic run led the sports season

Top 10 Sports By Andrew Dyrdal

tribsports@albertleatribune.com

The 2010 sports season was a busy one with many stories of both defeat and triumph. Northwood-Kensett saw its 4x200-meter relay team win a state championship and the Lake Mills volleyball team was one win away from a state title as well. In Minnesota, the Glenville-Emmons football team upset one of the top-ranked teams in the state and reached a section final for the first time in school history. Albert Lea track standout Chrissy Monson placed third in the 3,200-meter race at the state meet and finished sixth in the 1,600, and New Richland-Hartland-EllendaleGeneva’s David Lindell finished third at the state wrestling meet. Athletes weren’t the only local sports figures making headlines in 2010. Albert Lea boys’ hockey head coach Roy Nystrom won his 617th career game and moved into fourth nationally in all-time high school hockey coaching wins, passing his idol Willard Ikola. Away from the court, rink and field, the Albert Lea Athletics Hall of Fame announced its inaugural class and held a banquet a Wedgewood Cove Golf Club, and the Albert Lea Thunder packed its bags and left City Arena for Amarillo, Texas. Here are the top sports stories of 2010:

Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune

Lake Mills Bulldogs fans join volleyball players and crowd the court at Clear Lake High School after the Bulldogs were announced district champions and advanced to the state tournament. The Bulldogs finished the season 45-2 after losing to Western Christian in the state championship game.

Lake Mills volleyball team finishes 45-2, state runner-up

A year removed from leading the Lake Mills volleyball team to their second-winningest season in school history, head coach Jim Boehmer had high expectations for 2010. The season turned out to be better than he ever imagined. After starting the season unranked, the Bulldogs slowly crept up to No. 6 in the state after finishing 39-1 during the regular season and eclipsing the previous school record of 38 wins.

Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune

Lake Mills’ senior Amanda Lampman hits a ball over the net during the state championship match on Nov. 13. But they weren’t done there. After losing in four straight district finals, the Bulldogs found themselves a game away from their first state tournament berth in nine years against Sumner-Freder-

Members of the Lake Mills volleyball team celebrate in Clear Lake, Iowa, after advancing to the state tournament.

icksburg in Clear Lake, Iowa, on Nov. 2. The Bulldogs dug themselves an early hole and trailed two sets to one before rallying to force a fifth set. Down 9-6 in the fifth set, junior setter Morgan Fjelstad served nine straight points and the Bulldogs celebrated their fourth state tournament berth in school history. As one of the smallest schools in Class 2A, the Bulldogs were considered a longshot to win even a game at state. The Bulldogs opened the tournament against No. 9-ranked Pella Christian, a more experienced and tested team, but swept P.C. 3-0 and notched the program’s first ever victory in the state tournament. Lake Mills faced an

even greater test in the semifinals against No. 3-ranked Mediapolis but got the same result — a 3-0 sweep into the state championship match. The Bulldogs rallied from late deficits in the first two sets against Mediapolis and received a 17 kills, 13 digs performance from Tribune Player of the Year Josie Brackey. Boehmer thought he might be “dreaming” and his players cheered with hundreds of community members after the win. In the championship match, the Bulldogs faced Western Christian, the most storied program in Iowa and constant at the top of the state’s ranking. The Bulldogs opened the title match strong, leading 10-3 and eventually 23-21 against the Wolfpack, but lost 28-26, 25-16 and 25-12. The Bulldogs’ Brackey and Fjelstad were named to the all-state tournament team after the historic run.

Albert Lea Thunder leave town After a rocky two-year stint in Albert Lea, the Thunder hockey team’s roster was sold to the Amarillo Bulls on May 26, an expansion franchise in Amarillo, Texas. The move came after the North American Hockey League discovered Thunder owner Barry Soskin engaged in a pay-to-play model with several players. The league ordered Soskin to pay $400,000 to keep his league membership after he failed to post the $200,000 league-required cash bond at the start of the

Sincere thanks & well wishes go out to all my clients, friends & neighbors. I look forward to working with you in the New Year

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The Albert Lea Thunder’s Derek Docken skates with the past last season at City Arena. 2009-10 season. The league also made Soskin repay all money taken through the pay-toplay agreement and pay a $50,000 fine. Albert Lea made a last ditch effort to bring a new NAHL to town but that fell through when Terry Hughes’ application did not go through with the league. It was estimated that eight players were involved in the pay-toplay agreement and that Soskin owed $100,000 to the players’ families. After leaving Albert Lea and City Arena, part of the Thunder’s roster was signed by the Bulls. The Bulls were very successful in their first season, going 19-5-2 through Dec. 28.

Albert Lea Athletics Hall of Fame announces inaugural class After more than a year of planning and six months of deliberating over nominess, the Albert Lea Athletics Hall of Fame comitee announced its inagural class in June and

held it’s first ever banquet on July 9 at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club. The Class of 2010 included two coaches and eight athletes. The banquet also honored Albert Lea’s 11 state championship teams. The inductees were coaches Leroy Maas and Jim Gustafson, and athletes Tom Jean, Vinny Cerrato, Jeri (Domes) Porter, Jay Gustafson, Gary DeRoos, Greg Shoff, Ben Woodside and Clayton “Bumper” Westrum. The idea for the Hall of Fame stemmed from the Albert Lea Education Association, Keith Fligge and Craig Ludtke. The purpose was to honor Albert Lea’s exathletes and raise money to reduce the cost of student participation in Albert Lea athletics. All inductees spoke at the banquet, besides Woodside who was in France competing in the French National Basketball Association. Cerrato was the banquet’s keynote spearker. The former vice president of football operations for the Washington Redskins spoke about his his coaches and teammates for his success during

4Continued

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high school, college and as an executive at the professional level. Cerrato credited Albert Lea as a place that helped him grow and develop and Cerrato spoke admirably of legendary football coach Jim Gustafson and wrestling coach LeRoy Maas, calling them the “godfathers” of their respective sports. Cerrato also called former Tigers football players and 2010 inductees Greg Shoff and Jay Gustafson his role models growing up as he watched them both play in Albert Lea, and later, Shoff at the University of Minnesota. Cerrato Cerrato then told stories of his life after graduating from Albert Lea High School. He recalled recruiting trips with iconic former Notre Dame football coach, Lou Holtz, drafting Terrell Owens to the San Francisco 49ers and being in the hospital with the family of Washington Redskin Sean Taylor, the night he was shot and killed in Miami. Former Albert Lea head basketball coach Orrie Jirele served as the banquet’s master of ceremonies and introduced each speaker while making a few cracks about them along the way, saying he hadn’t seen so many jocks in one place since the Nike Convention and, with Jim Gustafson and Mass in attendence, Jirele felt pretty young that night.

Roy Nystrom moves to 4th all-time in high school hockey coaching wins

After coaching high school boys’ hockey for 45 years, 38 in Albert Lea, Roy Nystrom made history. Nystrom notched his 617th career coaching victory on Dec. 8 with a 7-4 win against the Rochester John Marshall Rockets in Rochester. Win No. 617 was the team’s third on the season and propelled Nystrom to fourth all-time nationally. But it was the coach Nystrom leapfrogged that made the story special. Nystrom passed Willard Ikola’s record of 615 wins, all which came in Minnesota as Ikola became the legendary coach of Edina High School. Nystrom and Ikola both were raised in

YEAR IN REVIEW

Friday, December 31, 2010 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 7B relay teams to the state tournament but thought about bringing home a championship. The relay team entered the title race with the best qualifying time in Class 1A and shaved four seconds off their time over the course of the year after coming together in mid-April. The same group also Northwood-Kensett’s qualified for the finals of 4x200-meter relay team the 4x100-meter relay was the only team to win and set a school record a state championship lowith a time of 43.88 cally this season. seconds, 12 one hunThe team, consisting dreths of a second better of Nik Werner, Jayson than the previous school Olson, Spencer Capitani record. and Sam Arnold won the The 4x100 team qualirace on May 21 in 1 minfied for the finals with ute and 31.76 seconds, the third-best overall three seconds faster time. The top four relay than the previous school teams were seperated by record, and 3/10 second less than 3/10 second. faster than second place In championship heat, Belle Plaine. the 4x100 team missed The relayers were the winning a second state first N-K team to win championship by just una state championship Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune der 1 1/2 seconds, placing since the 1980s and the Vinny Cerrato, a 1972 graduate of Albert Lea High School and former vice president of runner-up. football operations for the Washington Redskins, speaks from the podium at Wedgewood season-long journey to The foursome had a state title surprised Golf Club at the inaugural Albert Lea Athletics Hall of Fame banquet on July 9. a finals time of 43.48 even their coach, Dave seconds falling just short Belisle, of Rhode Island, is Capitani. of Madrid, with a time of the all-time leader with an At the beginning of the almost untouchable 897 season Capitani envi4Continued wins. sioned he could get some

NorthwoodKensett’s 4x200meter relay team wins state track championship

Clayton “Bumper” Westrum laughs with his wife Dee at the Albert Lea Athletics Hall of Fame banquet in July. Eveleth and the Tigers coach has followed Ikola’s career intently his entire life. Nystrom called Ikola an “icon” of Minnesota hockey and mentioned how special it is to be in the same coaching arena as a man he aspired to be like. Nystrom has coached alongside his son David for 20 years and was joined this season by Jonny Breuer, the all-time leading points scorer in Albert Lea boys’ hockey history. The three coaches hugged each other as the

horn sounded in Rochester, sealing Nystrom’s historic win. Nystrom expressed relief after the win, saying he was glad the chase to No. 617 is over. But Nystrom is still in line to break more coaching records as he is just a fews wins away from Ron Baum’s 623 wins in Michigan and a few years away from Edward Burns’ 695 wins in Massachusetts. In order to be No. 1 though, Nystrom will have to coach well into the next decade and beyond as Bill

Jon Theuer/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea boys’ hockey coach Roy Nystrom leans in to talk to his players on Dec. 8 against Rochester John Marshall.

Nick Gerhardt/Albert Lea Tribune

Northwood-Kensett’s 4x200-meter track team member Sam Arnold competes during the Iowa state track meet on May 21 in Des Moines, Iowa.

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Page 8B • Albert Lea Tribune • Friday, December 31, 2010 YEAR IN REVIEW

Brie Cohen/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea wrestler Trevor Rasmussen lifts an opponents leg in the 2010 state wrestling tournament in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune

Chrissy Monson chases Chaska’s Kaila Urick into the second to last lap of the 3,200-meter run June 11 at the state track meet. Monson caught Urick to claim third place and also finished sixth in the 1,600-meter race.

Chrissy Monson places 3rd, 6th at state track meet

Albert Lea running standout Chrissy Monson

will be the first to tell you her cross country season didn’t end or start as well as she hoped. The sophomore suffered stress fractures in her legs and missed much of the fall cross country season recovering and slowly trying to regain her speed and stamina. Just a few weeks

after returning the cross country team, Monson heroically won a section championship with a career-high time and advanced to the state meet for the third consecutive year. Eyeing a state title, Monson finished in 41st place in 15 minutes and 21.5 seconds. In tears, Monson admitted she had

a “bad day.” She certainly didn’t have a bad year. On June 11, Monson won third place in the state 3,200-meter race at Hamline University in St. Paul. In fourth place going into the final 200 meters, Monson kicked it into high gear and edged Kaila Urick, of Chaska, by .17

Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea’s Chrissy Monson stands on the medal podium following the 3,200-meter run on June 11 in St. Paul.

seconds. Monson finished the race in 10 minutes and 49.61 seconds, shattering the school record. Albert Lea track head coach Margo Wayne called the third place run “an unexplainable feat,” as Monson dropped a staggering 18 seconds off her previous best 3,200-meter time, a mark she set a week prior. Monson broke another school record at state on June 12, running the 1,600-meter race in 5:02.58 en route to a sixth place finish, even though her legs were tired from the previous day’s events.

place in the top five. At 140 pounds, No. 7-ranked senior Trevor Rasmussen earned fifth place with a 5-4 decision over Centennial’s Andre Dorschner. Rasmussen finished 35-11 on the season and made up for last year’s disappointing state tournament where he lost when he lost his only match by a fall. Rasmussen used a third-period escape to beat Dorschner, who tied the match with a near fall and nearly picked up more points when he had Rasmussen on his back temporarily. Sixth-ranked Dalton Westerlund joined Rasmussen as the only two Tigers to win their final match at the state tournament. Westerlund put Eden Prairie’s Tony Skjefte in a half nelson near the end of the mat and earned a fall in just two minutes and 35 seconds. Westerlund finished the season 34-11 after finishing in fourth place the season before. The Tigers’ Cory Hansen placed for the third consecutive season

in 2010, finishing fourth after falling to Hastings’ Colton LaChance in the third-place match. The meeting between Hansen and LaChance was the second of the tournament but Hansen fell 10-5 and finished 40-6 on the season. Hansen scored more takedowns but LaChance effectively countered his other attempts to beat his for the third time that season.

Albert Lea diver Karli Kriewall places 5th at state, highest in school history Before 2010, Albert Lea hadn’t sent a diver to the state diving meet in 18 years. Karli Kriewall broke that streak this season but didn’t stop there. At the state diving preliminaries on Nov. 18, Kriewall, a sophomore, positioned herself in fifth

3 Albert Lea wrestlers place in top 5 at state The Albert Lea wrestling team was held out of the state tournament in 2010, losing to Owatonna in the section final, but sent five individual wrestlers to the Xcel Center in St. Paul and saw three

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Albert Lea diver Karli Kriewall receives a fifth-place medal Nov. 19 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. place after the defending champion and runnerup seperated themselves ahead of the pack. The rest of the divers were left fighting for third place. Kriewall’s best dive in the prelims was a forward 1 1/2 pike, which she received three ‘8s’ from the judges. Head swim coach Jon Schmitz called it the best dive he’d ever seen her Brie Cohen/Albert Lea Tribune do. Albert Lea’s Cory Hansen wrestles in the 2010 state wresIn the finals the followtling tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. ing day, Kriewall remained idle and finished in fifth place, the highest place in school history. Kriewall finished with a time of 342.65 behind Kelsey Metz’s, of Richfield, 349.45. She also received All-American consideration. Kriewall was also on of only two non-seniors in the top eight putting her into position to make a run at a state championship the next few seasons. The historic finish at the state tournament made Kriewall arguably the best diver in Albert

4Continued

YEAR IN REVIEW

Friday, December 31, 2010 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 9B

Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune

Karli Kriewall dives in the state final at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. Kriewall finished in fifth place, the highest in school history. Lea history. When asked if she thought she was, Kriewall didn’t have an answer, calling the idea of it “crazy.”

Brie Cohen/Albert Lea Tribune

GlenvilleEmmons football team reaches 1st section championship in school histoy

Glenville-Emmons first-year football coach called the community “elated” after the Wolverines reached a section final game on Nov. 5, something some teams play in annually. But this was the Wolverines first section final game in school history — a game that capped a magical postseason run. The Wolverines season began with a 41-8 home loss to Grand Meadow, which they followed with convincing wins over Lyle/Pacelli and LeRoyOstrander. But after a 29-14 loss to Lanesboro and being shutout 28-0 to Spring Grove, the Wolverines on pace for another .500 season, something the program had become accustomed to. But the Wolverines actually finished below .500 in 2010 at 5-6. They lost four of their final five regular season games including two going into the section tournament.

Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune

Glenville-Emmons running back Landon Hall dashes between tacklers Friday in the Section 1 Nine-Man championship game. Then they started to win. After just having lost to Houston 29-14 11 days prior, the Wolverines upset 20-14 on the road advanced to the section semifinals and a matchup against 7-1 Grand Meadow. It was the third meeting between the Wolverines and Superlarks in 2010 after Grand Meadow outscored GlenvilleEmmons 82-36 during the regular season. This time, the Wolverines held the Superlarks to 13 points and stunned the state winning 14-13. Playing in their fifth game in 21 days, the Wolverines ran out of gas in the section final against the eventual state runner-up Lanesboro Burros, but not before giving the school and community the thrill of being a game away from state.

10.

NRHEG’s David Lindell places 3rd at state wrestling meet The top-ranked

NRHEG’s David Lindell reacts after the referees concluded that Lindell lost in the final second of the championship semifinal against Jon Gorter of Pipestone Area on March 5 afternoon. wrestler in Class A entering the 2010 state wrestling tournament, New Richland-HartlandEllendale-Geneva’s David Lindell had his eye on a state championship. A controversial call in the state semifinals rerouted Lindell to the third place match, which he won by fall in two minutes and 57 seconds over second-ranked Logan Brand, of Lewiston-Altura/ Rushford-Peterson. Lindell dominated the match, the final of his career, and led Brand 7-0 before pinning him. Lindell finished the season 38-3 and became the second NRHEG wrestler in two years to capture third place at the state tournament. Brie Cohen/Albert Lea Tribune 4Continued

NRHEG’s David Lindell wrestles USC’s Alex Dreyer in the consolation semi-finals on March 5.

Andrew Dyrdal/Albert Lea Tribune

Glenville-Emmons’ Tom Kirsch (57) tries to excite fans during the section final game on Nov. 5.

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Page 10B • Albert Lea Tribune • Friday, December 31, 2010 YEAR IN REVIEW

Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

Bent Tree Wind Farm construction workers start organizing how they will right a semi truck that was carrying a piece of a wind turbine the morning of Sept. 16.

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Shortly before midnight on May Day, Gabby and Victor Hernandez sit with their 2-year-old son, Carlos, at the Albert Lea City Arena. More gathered at the City Arena by the minute.

Darren Schone/Minn. Aviation

Emmons farmer Bruce Andersland drove his tractor and manure spreader across a field in February to create a halfmile-wide heart as a Valentine’s Day gift to his wife, Beth. The photo and story were reprinted in newspapers across the globe. It was the most-clicked-on story for the Albert Lea Tribune’s website in 2010. See the top web stories on Page 10.