Year in Review 2013

Section B • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • Albert Lea Tribune

Building of new Broadway tops year in local news

By Albert Lea Tribune Determining the top local story for most years isn’t easy, but this year it was.

The Tribune news staff had no problem picking the reconstruction of Broadway — the route at the center of the city’s downtown — as the top story of 2013. In fact, the planning of it had been the No. 2 story of 2012.

And it wasn’t difficult to realize that a murder in Northwood, along with other stabbings in that small community, would be second. The staff agreed it was good to see a good news story outdo a tragic story this time.

Moreover, the early May storm that left a foot of snow clearly was third, but after some debate that story morphed into a greater story about how incredibly long the winter was.

Figuring out the order of the remaining seven stories took some debate. It was agreed that while the year had its fair share of news, nothing was as earthshattering as what happens in many of the years. And nothing has yet to surpass the amount of news that happened in 2010 — the year of the tornado outbreak.

In the end, this is how the news of 2013 lined up:

Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Participants throw packets of color into the air during the Color Dash 5-kilometer run on Oct. 12. The event kicked off a celebration for downtown Albert Lea.

1.

lines and whether they could survive a low traffic level over the construction months.

At the start of 2013, City Hall was working to help residents get a clearer picture of the project.

The price ended up being paid for by numerous entities: State bonds paid for $1 milIt started the year as a conlion, a sewer fund $750,000, troversial topic. By the end, water fund $750,000, assesspeople were celebrating the ments to downtown merchants new downtown. The project was a testament to the fact that $800,000 and the city general fund covered $1.3 million. sometimes, people just have to Work started in early May. see the results to understand Fountain Street closed for a the value.

The reconstruction of Broad- spell from Broadway to Washington Avenue. Broadway way was a misunderstood closed from Water Street to topic, too. The $4.6 million project was being done because Fountain Street. Over the summer, crews worked their way the 75-year-old sewer and water pipes underneath the street south a block at a time. Fountain Street and the north end needed to be updated. That of Broadway reopened, then meant tearing up everything, Clark to William streets closed. including sidewalks, street When that segment reopened, lights and stoplights. It was an William to Main closed. opportunity to install a more People celebrated a new pedestrian-friendly downtown.

Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune downtown on Oct. 12. The However, because the An Iowa State Patrol trooper looks at the scene of a stabbing at Swensrud Park in Northwood on Aug. 5. work wasn’t finished, but most city had used the terms of it was. Hundreds showed up distance to cross streets, makstairs also double as seats for mile marker in Scott County “streetscape” and “bumpouts” ing shops on the opposite side a concert venue. The park will and drove through corn and extensively in seeking feedback to run a 5-kilometer run while of Broadway seem close. Old get a new boat dock, too. bean fields. He was eventually in 2012 on how the new Broad- being splashed with colored cornstarch and others came for 1960s stoplights were gone. arrested. way should look, many people games, food, dancing and muNew street lights replaced the Worth County District Court began to think the construcsic. City officials spoke about old pawn-shop-style ones. The records indicated Washingtion was being done simply to the project. ton had been charged with street had benches and flower install a new street level, and Broadway reopened Oct. 25. domestic abuse assault and pots. Tree guards are being the sewer and water lines were Everyone had to take a drive interference with official acts donated by Lou-Rich. being left out of the converdown it. Even so, a week before on July 6. A restraining order Fountain Lake Park enjoyed sations. Letters were writit opened, concerns over paying a reconstruction, too, and it was put in place. Smith asked ten. People spoke at council assessments was the central for it to be lifted July 29, but will be finished in the spring of meetings. Phone calls. Emails. then on Aug. 2 she asked it be Coffee shops. The usual chatter issue at a City Council meeting, 2014. It will get a grand stairwith merchants wondering why case. No longer will the park reinstated. for a local controversy.

Northwood, a city in Iowa they had to pay them when the on the Fourth of July be filled Washington pleaded not Moreover, downtown merproject was unfinished. with people who must cram up of about 2,000 people and the guilty and his public defender chants were divided. Some seat of Worth County, generStreet lights were installed in and down a single sidewalk. in October asked Worth County welcomed the reconstruction as ated more news about violence Judge Colleen Weiland for a November.

They can spread out from the being good for business, while Bumpouts shortened the beginning in all directions. The than a city of its size normally change in venue, arguing too others feared for their bottom does. Three incidents involved much pre-trial publicity and stabbings. community prejudice. WashBut no news grabbed headington is black and Worth lines as much as the Aug. 5 County is overwhelmingly stabbing murder of Justina white, so finding a jury pool Marie Smith, 30, in Swensrud with minorities would be difPark. The suspect turned out ficult. He claimed he had been to be Tyrone Washington Jr., a threatened.

39-year-old man from NorthIn November, Weiland, who wood. He faces a jury trial in noted that Northwood indeed Fort Dodge in June. has minorities, granted a The Worth County Sherchange of venue to Fort Dodge, iff’s Office received a 911 call a 25,000-person commurequesting help at 11:41 a.m. nity and a 113-mile drive from that day from Smith. When Northwood. deputies responded, they found Results were released in the woman with severe injuries December of the autopsy of a and she stated that Washington Northwood man who died after allegedly had fled the scene being shocked with a Taser and taken her car, a silver 2003 by Worth County sheriff’s Pontiac Grand Prix. deputies in September. It said At about 3:30 p.m., an Iowa Michael Lee Zubrod, 44, had state trooper spotted the elevated levels of methamphetPontiac eastbound on Interamine in his system and sufstate 80 near the 276 mile fered from a heart condition. marker in Cedar County. The He died Sept. 22 shortly after trooper reportedly attempted being placed in handcuffs at Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune to stop the car, and a pursuit 208 Fourth St. N. Albert Lea looked like a city out of the Wild West when Broadway between William and Clark streets was noth- began. Washington reportedly ing but dirt on June 25. left the freeway near the 289 4Continued

Downtown Albert Lea gets reconstructed

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3 stabbings happen in Northwood; 1 of them is a homicide

Page 2B • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • 2013 YEAR IN REVEIW

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

The driver of a Dodge Caravan drives on Lakeview Boulevard where it was down to one lane on May 2 because a fallen tree pulled down power lines and snapped a power pole.

from the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce

Your Chamber Staff: Geri Jensen, Amy Gauthier, Sue Axsmith & Randy Kehr

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Paulette Trimble shovels show off the hood of her car the morning of May 2 on Pillsbury Avenue in Albert Lea. She said she was surprised at how much snow fell and in May, no less.

Deputies discovered him beating a 48-yearold woman, shocked him and wrestled him to the ground as he kept kicking and fighting. He had attacked the woman with a hammer and stabbed her with a scissors. She was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, underwent surgeries and survived.

Authorities arrested Northwood’s Donald Monte Baker, 26, for felony assault June 5 after a fight at the Schoolside Apartments. The victim, a 28-year-old man, was found with stab wounds.

He was flown to Mercy Hospital in Mason City.

Baker pleaded not guilty.

After changing a hearing date three times, he failed to appear in October, prompting a judge to issue an arrest warrant.

In November he pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing serious injury, a felony.

He is slated to be sentenced Monday.

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Winter of 2012-13 lasts into May Snow arrived Dec. 10, 2012, for most of Minnesota, with 7 to 9 inches across the Twin Cities.

However, that storm mostly missed Albert Lea, delivering 1 1/2 inches.

Little did Albert Leans know it was the start of a long winter.

The Minnesota Climatology Office keeps records of snow depth. In 2012, southern Minnesota had a brown winter and an early spring. Most years, the snow is gone by the end of March. April snowstorms are rare. In 2013, it didn’t stop until early May. Albert Lea was in a

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Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

A tree limb rests on the top of a house — recently sold, too — at 708 Hawthorne St. in Albert Lea on May 3. blizzard warning Dec. 19 and 20, 2012, as a storm in Albert Lea delivered 5 inches of snow — sideways — in 25-35 mph winds while gusts achieved 47 mph. Travel was not recommended.

Classes were canceled.

So were flights, and the entire Midwest had to dig out.

January was mild but freezing rain near the end of the month created a sheet of ice across the top of surfaces. The air temperature on Feb. 10 reached 39 degrees, melting the ice and creating slush. A half inch of rain and drizzle fell on Albert Lea that day, and that night things froze up all over again, as a storm delivered blowing snow.

A commercial fishing pickup fell through the ice of Fountain Lake Feb. 11 across from Pioneer Park, a few car lengths away from already posted thin ice signs.

A snowstorm on Feb. 21 and 22 dropped 8 to 10 inches of the white stuff on Albert Lea. A blizzard on Feb. 26 bore down on much of the Midwest, cutting through Iowa, but this time was far enough south that it missed Minnesota.

A snowstorm that began March 3 dropped 8 inches of snow in two waves over

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.

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

In a show of contrasts, a snowbank in the parking lot of Security Bank Minnesota in Albert Lea melts in 102-degree heat May 14.

CAPTAIN JIM BRICKSON HOPES YOU’LL JOIN OUR MISSION

If you need proof Captain Jim Brickson is willing to go the extra mile for your community, just check the record books. He set a world record for bell ringing, standing at an Albert Lea kettle for 105 hours.

And he wasn’t doing it to get his name in a book. He was attempting to show just how far The Salvation Army will go to ensure help is available to anyone in need in Freeborn County.

If you believe in our mission to make a better life for people in crisis, please support Captain Brickson and his Salvation Army team.

JOIN OUR MISSION!

Give at SalvationArmyNorth.org/albertlea or mail your donation to 302 Court St., Albert Lea, MN 56007

the course of three days.

Classes were canceled, at least for the ones that weren’t on spring break.

Another 6 inches of snow came March 10, and a crash on southbound Interstate 35 the next day shut down the lanes.

Southbound traffic was rerouted onto snowcovered Freeborn County Road 18.

Gov. Mark Dayton called out the National Guard after an April 10 ice storm devastated resources in Worthington and around southwestern Minnesota. The same storm knocked out power for thousands in the Albert Lea area and made roads slippery.

On April 30, brown grass appeared to be turning green finally. But by the morning of May 2, Albert Lea residents awoke to a foot of wet, heavy snow. Branches were down, some onto houses.

Power lines were snapped.

Nearly 3,000 Alliant Energy customers and another 400 Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services customers were without power. Riverland Community College, all schools and even many businesses closed for the day. Travel was not advised.

The storm followed a typical pattern for spring snowstorms, with snow mostly along a narrow band. In this case, the band stretched from Forest City, Iowa, to Stillwater, right through the Albert Lea, Owatonna and Hastings areas. Area residents were busy right away May 2 digging out and cleaning up, even as they awaited the return of power. Neighborhoods had the sounds of chainsaws, generators and snowblowers. If things were quiet enough, people could hear the trees cracking.

Two families welcomed babies during the storm.

Kristin and Mike Bergdale welcomed Lindy Ann Bergdale, and Adam and Becky Godeke of Hollandale welcomed Carsten Luke Godeke.

The May 2 storm shattered the previous snowfall records for May — for a single day and the entire month. It had been a half inch on May 3 of an unknown year.

“There’s absolutely no doubt this is one of the all-time May snowstorms for Minnesota,” said Todd Krause, a meteorologist with the Chanhassen bureau of the National Weather Service.

The wet and snowy spring delayed planting, and some farmers were unable to plant crops. After the first week of May, 12 percent of the cornfields had been planted, whereas in 2012, which enjoyed an early spring, 69 percent had been planted.

Then on May 14, Albert Lea hit a high temperature of 102 degrees, the earliest the city has ever recorded triple-digit temps. The only other time the city passed 100 degrees in May since record keeping began was 4Continued

2013 YEAR IN REVIEW • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 3B

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June weather wreaks havoc A severe thunderstorm struck Wells the evening of June 12, delivering golf-ball-size hail. The storm caused trees to topple, branches to break and power to go out.

Strong winds pushed and bent the roof of a large bin at the Frank Bros. grain elevator off its circular walls. It appeared still connected to its auger, as if it kept the roof from crashing to the ground.

The city received about 3 1/2 inches of rain during the storm. The storm arrived and power went out around 5 p.m., according to Wells Municipal Utility. When the water drained, the streets were littered with grass, leaves, sticks and some branches and trunks.

“It looked like you could mow the street,” one resident said.

Crews came from Fairmont and Blue Earth to help restore power. No one was reported as injured.

Many cars and buildings had dents from the hail.

Homes lost shingles, and a metal roof of a Pioneer Seed building was blown off. A greenhouse was wrecked at the Wells Marketplace grocery store.

Downed power poles on Minnesota Highway 109 between Wells and Alden prompted state officials to close the road. More power poles were down along gravel roads north of Wells. Minnesota Lake also suffered tree damage.

Many residents of Alden reported hail and leaves littered that town’s streets, as well.

The National Weather Service said people reported hail from Wells to east of Alden to north of Freeborn and places in between that triangle.

The weather service said most hail was the size of golf balls but some was as big as 2.75 inches wide.

Albert Lea received 0.77 inches in the same storm.

High water resulted in U.S. Highway 65 south of Interstate 35 to be down to a single lane. Albert Lea police received calls of cars stuck in high water on West Main Street near Washington Avenue, on East Main Street and on Frank Avenue.

Later in the same month, Albert Leans awoke on a Sunday morning to high water.

Main Street and Lakeview Boulevard were closed the weekend of June 22 and 23. Albert Lea received 3 inches of rain the night of June 21, a Friday. A storm early in the morning of June 23 delivered another 0.75, and by then the water from surrounding streams had flowed to lakes and streets of the city. Strangely, Freeborn County was not in any flood watch that weekend.

The water inundated most of Katherine Island.

Some boats floated away.

With docks under water, many boat owners tied their vessels to trees. Naturally, boats on Fountain Lake had a restriction on wakes. Some people reported having water in their basements. A pontoon and a dock nearly went over the dam of Fountain Lake on June 23.

President Barack Obama in July declared Freeborn and Faribault counties as major disaster areas. The counties were eligible for federal aid to cover emergency work and to repair damaged facilities.

Water gushes over the dam at the outlet of Fountain Lake on the morning of June 23. Sandbags protect the shoreline near the dam.

Brandi Hagen/Albert Lea Tribune

People take to social media with their cellphones Dec. 6 at Northbridge Mall while others applause after Salvation Army Capt. Jim Brickson breaks the world record for ringing a Salvation Army bell.

Northbridge Mall.

Stultz’s story printed He hoped to raise Nov. 19, and it was picked $24,000 toward the red up by the Minneapolis kettle campaign goal of $254,500.

4Continued

Strong winds the night of June 12 pushed and bent the roof of a grain bin at the Wells grain elevator out of its position.

Capt. Jim Brickson of the Albert Lea Salvation Army stands with former Mayor Mike Murtaugh and current Mayor Vern Rasmussen on Dec. 6 as the world record for bell ringing of 80 hours appears on the time clock. and around Albert Lea. Alliant Energy President Tom Aller said the company had been approached before about selling its territories, but those offers were a chunk here or there. What made sense this time, he said, was that the cooperatives joined to form one entity called the Southern Minnesota Energy Cooperative, which plans to purchase the entire electrical system in a single regulatory process.

Of the 12 cooperatives in SMEC, FreebornMower Cooperative Services stands to gain the most customers, said Freeborn-Mower CEO Jim Krueger. FreebornMower would grow from serving 6,500 customers to about 22,000, he said.

The deal calls for the SMEC members to purchase wholesale power from Alliant Energy for 10 years, which then would be distributed to the areas Alliant had served. This part of the deal would be subject to approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Dairyland Power would continue to provide wholesale power for Freeborn-Mower to sell to its existing territory.

Minnesota Energy Resources, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Integrys Energy Group, would go from serving 214,000 customers to nearly 225,000.

Alliant Energy retains its Bent Tree Wind Farm in Hartland and Manchester. It is part of subsidiary Wisconsin Power & Light. The company also retains its Fox Lake power-generation plant near Sherburn, which uses natural gas but can operate on coal, too. The station is slated for retirement in a decade.

Most of the regulatory hurdles are with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Iowa Utilities Board. The regulatory process could take six months to a year.

Alliant Energy’s Interstate Power & Light sold nearly 6,800 miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri in December 2007. ITC Midwest is a wholly owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp. and has an operating facility in Albert Lea. Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin Power & Light completed the 201-megawatt Bent Tree Wind Farm in January 2011. It has an operations building in Hartland.

Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services is customer-owned and led by board of directors. It has been providing power for 77 years. One next step for Freeborn-Mower, Krueger said, is educating its existing members and welcoming its new ones.

That will include community meetings, he said.

Krueger estimated the approval process would finish sometime in the second quarter of 2014.

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Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

the bell for more than 80 hours. He dubbed his effort Stand Up for Freeborn County. He would ring a bell at the center court of

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

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Salvation Army captain sets ringing record Capt. Jim Brickson, administrator of the Albert Lea Salvation Army, informed Tribune reporter Sarah Stultz in mid-November that he planned to break a world record for ringing a Salvation Army bell. He said he had to ring

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Page 4B • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • 2013 YEAR IN REVEIW bureau of the Associated Press, as happens to Tribune stories from time to time. This one was printed in newspapers across Minnesota, but the story managed to spread via the AP throughout the United States. Brickson was on the hook.

All competitors for the record began at 11 a.m.

Dec. 3. He competed — in a friendly, charitable way — against Salvation Army Maj. Marcelino Soriano in Colton, Calif., Andre Thompson in Tyler, Texas, Darrel Tureskis in Springfield, Ill., Capt.

Emily Jones in Compton, Calif., Lt. Rob Lawler of Helena, Mont., and Quinton Green of Hanford, Calif.

By the second day, only three remained: Brickson, Soriano and Thompson.

All three broke the world record at 7 p.m.

Dec. 6. About 150 people gathered at the center court of Northbridge Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune Mall that evening to Marion Ross shows off her second key to the city July 14 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Freeborn County Historiwatch Brickson surpass cal Museum. the record. With him were several mayors of learning lab. The lower Freeborn County. And he level has a reception area increased his fundraising and still houses the ligoal to $35,000. brary and archives. There “That’s $1,000 for is space to clean donated each night I miss tucking items big or small and my daughter into bed,” a room to house the gift Brickson said. shop. The lower level now The rules allowed a five- has a large exhibit space minute break for every dedicated to artifacts hour. By not taking breaks, related to actress Marion he could accumulate time Ross. These include for rest. The 50-year-old playbills, photos from her wore all-leather, flat-sole career and the 1955 Ford Keen boots and regular pickup from her farm. black dress socks. He The library will become stood on anti-fatigue mats the space for the collecdonated by Hollandale tion of the former Story firm North American Mat Lady Doll & Toy MuseCo. He took ibuprofen um. Mulso’s former office every six hours. People will exhibit toy trains. across Albert Lea — and Ross herself was on the country — could watch hand July 14 to cut the Brickson via his live ribbon of the exhibit webcam.

Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune dedicated to her. She And he was interviewed received a second key to Virginia Chadbourne, left, and Della Hill raise their hands while applying for a marriage

by Headline News, BBC, the city that day. A crowd license Aug. 1 at the Freeborn County Recorder’s Office. Chadbourne and Hill were the first PBS, Fox News and TV same-sex couple in Freeborn County to apply for a license. flocked to the museum stations in the Twin Cities, to watch, then amble New York and San Diego. through the museum His favorite part, he said, looking at new exhibits. was talking with people That week, Ross was in at the mall. People would Albert Lea to attend the help him stay awake and opening night of “Happy keep him ringing the bell.

Days, A New Musical” One member of his Salva- at the theater building tion Army church tweeted with her name on it, the on his behalf.

Marion Ross Performing The bell-ringing Arts Center. Ross was competition ended in Mrs. Cunningham on the a three-way tie, as the TV show the musical is men agreed to stop at based on. She was there 8 p.m. Dec. 7 after 105 each night of the show hours. About 40 people to greet people. And she celebrated with Brickson cruised on the Pelican when his big, red digiBreeze II, as well as attal clock came to a halt. tended a reception for the People cheered, then said Albert Lea Art Center. a prayer.

7.

8.

Tim Engstrom/Albert Lea Tribune

Rick Erpelding, assistant area wildlife manager with the state Department of Natural Resources, describes the 550-acre Wo Wacintanka State Wildlife Management Area on June 6. on private gun sales should be closed, after many of the gun owners, gun dealers and officers of the law indicated they wanted it closed to keep guns from getting in the wrong hands.

Historical museum Guns debated A school shooting in expands; Marion December 2012 raised Ross visits A.L. the national debate on On Sept. 29, the Freeborn County Historical Museum celebrated a two-story expansion that almost doubled its size with a grand opening. The museum’s expansion cost $1.7 million, paid for with a loan and reimbursed with community contributions to the museum.

It allowed room for more exhibits. For instance, a statue of Col. Albert Lea and seats from Cap Emmons Auditorium seats were taken from the old high school on Clark Street.

There is a full caterer’s kitchen, a large meeting room with windows facing Bridge Avenue, an office and meeting room for Executive Director Pat Mulso, restrooms on both levels, an elevator, a new main entrance and a kids’

guns, mental health and laws to pitch levels, with locals sharing opinions on the issue in letters to the editor and on Facebook. In the middle of this, on Feb. 27, a story printed in the Albert Lea Tribune with the headline: “Hart Bros. Weaponry to stop selling guns.”

What? The highest volume independent firearms dealer in Minnesota would no longer sell guns?

Owner Milan and Elaine Hart had lost an appeal with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and decided to surrender their federal license to sell firearms. The problems began during an ATF audit in 2011 over what Elaine Hart called paperwork mistakes. A

9.

Brandi Hagen/Albert Lea Tribune

Gun control was a national debate that ended up having locals stirred up, too. revocation hearing in the summer of 2012 went against them. They had until March 9 to surrender their license.

After that date, they could no longer accept wholesale firearms, but they were allowed to sell their remaining stock. The company still exists selling ammunition, gun parts, supplies, accessories, archery goods and guns from Milan’s own collection.

Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

Two women browse exhibits at the Freeborn County Historical Museum on Sept. 29 during a grand opening celebration.

He continues to do gun repairs and appraisals and deals in rare coins.

Milan and Elaine could appeal in the U.S. District Court. Elaine said they decided against an appeal because they are tired of the legal system and have spent much on lawyers already.

Milan said the ATF has taken a firmer view on paperwork over the last 10 years and that has affected many small gun shops. His statement matches what many bloggers have noted. He said their company had one audit that took four years.

They have been in business since 1977.

Their son continues to operate a separate Hart Bros. Weaponry in Mason City.

Milan Hart, 60, in September announced his candidacy for House District 27A as a Republican.

The Tribune in June rolled out a six-part series on guns. The series explored issues from safety to complicated gun regulations, from gun crime statistics to the sport of hunting. Readers gave high praise for the series, many calling it informative. An editorial at the end of the week concluded the loophole

Ex-local priests on Catholic lists of alleged abusers It’s never easy to report about sexual abuse, but it is an aspect of life that society no longer wants covered up. People want abusers to be outed so others can know about them or for the sake of closure.

At the order of a judge, the Diocese of Winona on Dec. 16 released a list of 14 priests accused of sexually abusing minors, including two former Albert Lea priests, one who served in New Richland and another in Wells.

Thomas P. Adamson, now 80, who served a stint at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea in the 1960s, faces a civil lawsuit in Ramsey County over allegations of sexual abuse. His name was on a list released Dec. 5 of accused priests by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Adamson, ordained in 1958, served at the St. Theodore Catholic Church parish in 1967 and 1968, at which time he was also chaplain of Lea College, an institution of higher learning on the west side of Albert Lea that shut down in 1973. He was removed from the ministry in 1984 and lives in Rochester.

William D. Curtis served at the St. Theo-

dore parish starting in August 1968, where he served until receiving a new assignment at St. Teresa in Mapleton in January 1976. He was ordained in May 1947, and his ministerial privileges were suspended in July 1990. He died in April 2001 at the age of 81.

Ferdinand L. Kaiser, ordained in 1937, served at the All Saints parish in New Richland starting Dec. 3, 1952, until he received a new assignment in April 1967 in Iosco. He voluntarily resigned in March 1968 and died in January 1973 at the age of 62.

Leland J. Smith, 86, served at the St. Casimir parish in Wells, which includes both a church and a school, starting in August 1960. After a three-year stint, he was reassigned to Avoca and Lake Wilson. His ministerial privileges were indefinitely suspended in 1994. Laicization, or the process of permanently removing his ministerial privileges, is pending. He resides in Winona.

A list posted Dec. 5 by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minnesota had 34 priests accused of abusing minors. Archbishop John Nienstedt publicly apologized Dec. 15 at an Edina church for overlooking the issue for too long. Two days later, he announced he would step down from public ministry while police investigate an allegation that he improperly touched a boy during a group photo session four years earlier — a claim Nienstedt strongly denied.

10.

Gay marriage approved in Minn.

On Aug. 1, the Freeborn County Recorder’s Office received its first application for marriage by a same-sex couple.

Albert Leans Della Hill and Virginia Chadbourne made local history when they signed papers at the courthouse that day.

They said though they were looking forward to their upcoming wedding later that month they had mixed feelings about how the news would be received in the community.

In November of 2012, 60 percent of Freeborn County voters voted to approve a constitutional amendment that would recognize marriage solely as between one man and one woman.

The support to ban gay marriage was less statewide, with only 47 percent of voters choosing to support the amendment, aimed at preventing a court ruling that legalized gay marriage.

Just months later, the Legislature voted to legalize gay marriage anyway, which drew mixed support from area residents.

The law went into effect Aug. 1.

Many viewed the law as a sin, as immoral or as an attack on families, but others have seen it as a long-awaited cultural shift, much like interracial marriage, civil rights or women’s suffrage.

Minnesota and Rhode Island on Aug. 1 became the 12th and 13th states to legalize gay marriage across the country.

Across the border, Iowa legalized it in 2009 after a court ruling. It was the third state to allow gay marriage.

There are now 18 states that allow gay marriage, the latest being Utah, New Mexico and Hawaii.

The Associated Press named the legalization of gay marriage as Minnesota’s top story of 2013.

Honorable mentions Harmony Park is on hot seat; VA outpatient clinic to come to Albert Lea; Albert Lea passes school referendum levy; USC school construction continues; passing of much-liked teacher and coach Orrie Jirele; DNR dedicates large wildlife preserve in Freeborn County, Hollandale warehouse burns; local fights against cancer; and ethanol debate takes national stage.

NRHEG basketball record setters top sports stories

2013 YEAR IN REVIEW • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 5B

By Albert Lea Tribune The Tribune’s coverage area was rich with talent in the 2013 season.

The New RichlandHartland-EllendaleGeneva girls’ basketball team was the only group to win a state title on the team level, which garnered first place on the list. That was in addition to the five Class AA state records and six school records Carlie Wagner set.

After being the No. 1 story in 2012, Lindsey Horejsi’s performance at the Class A state swimming meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic center moved to No. 2, despite a terrific season where she led the Tigers to a fifth-place team finish and was the state champion in the 100yard freestyle and 200yard individual medley.

NRHEG runner T.J. Schiltz was a newcomer on the list at No. 3 for placing in two events at the Class A state track and field meet and finishing either first or second in every cross country meet last season before qualifying for state.

Triston Westerlund and the Albert Lea boys’ wrestling team came in at No. 4 this year after Bryce DeBoer was No. 2 last year. DeBoer was the state champion in 2012 and Westerlund finished as the state runner-up in 2013, while two other Tigers placed at the tournament. The United South Central and Lake Mills wrestling teams also had outstanding seasons to make the list at Nos. 9 and 10.

Several football teams, two of which made the honorable mention list, made positive changes on the gridiron. NorthwoodKensett led all area teams by qualifying for the second round of the 8-Man state playoffs after posting a losing record last year.

Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Carlie Wagner of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva glides to the basket in the Class AA state championship game on March 16. Wagner scored 50 of NRHEG’s 60 points in a one-point win.

1.

NRHEG’s Wagner re-writes the record books The New RichlandHartland-EllendaleGeneva girls’ basketball team beat Braham 60-59 to win the Class AA State Championship, and Carlie Wagner set multiple state and school records.

At state, Wagner set five individual records and tied one.

She provided 83 percent of her team’s offensive production in the title game. Wagner broke her 2012 record of 48 points in a game with 50 in the championship.

She also broke her 2012 record for total points in the state tournament (112) with 129.

Wagner also broke some long-standing state records.

In 1982, Lester Prairie’s Kay Konerza set the record for most field goal attempts with 40. Carlie had 43. In 1980, Janet Karovenen of New York Mills set the record for field-goal attempts in a three-game tournament with 83. Carlie had 110.

In 1981, Albany’s Kelly Skalicky set the record for field goals made in a three-game tournament with 47. Carlie had 48.

Also in 1981, Skalicky set the record for field goals made in a state tournament game with 21.

Carlie tied the mark with 21 of her own.

Carlie also set six school records.

She broke her 2012 record for steals in a season with 149. She broke her 2012 record for points in a season with 1,110.

Her 50 points in the state title game tied her record against Southland on Dec. 18, 2012.

Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Members of the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva girls’ basketball team hoist the state championship trophy after beating Braham 60-59.

Wagner set NRHEG’s career steals record with 440 and the career scoring record with 2,810.

Teammate Jade Schultz was fifth on the career scoring list at the end of the 2013 season with 1,176 points. Wagner also broke Schultz’s 2012 school record of 73 3-pointers made in a season by making 75 in 2013.

“I’m happy. It’s great.

But, I don’t take it upon myself. It’s a team thing,” Wagner told the Tribune after winning the state title on March 16.

“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.

So, it’s like our record.”

The Panthers finished the season with an overall record of 32-1 and a Gopher Conference mark of 14-0. The only blemish on NRHEG’s record was a 57-56 loss against Chaska in the third game of the season.

Through four games in the Section 2AA tournament, the Panthers beat their opponents by an average of 38 points per game. The contests became closer at the state tournament with a 62-49

win over Pelican Rapids in the quarterfinals, a 6960 win over Minneapolis Washburn in the semifinals and a one-point win in the title game.

NRHEG won the title without two of its starters. Senior forward Raelin Schue was out for the season on Jan. 18 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee, and Schultz fell victim to the same injury 2 minutes into the state semifinal game.

Wagner signed a letter of intent on Nov. 13 to play for head coach Pam Borton at the University of Minnesota.

individual medley on Nov. 20 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Horejsi made waves in

the 200-yard individual medley. Her preliminary time was 2:02.55, which beat the old Class A state record of 2:03.65 set in 2010 by Monticello’s Caley Oquist. Horejsi’s finals time was .11 seconds slower than her prelim time, but she still won the event by 1.87 seconds.

Aside from Horejsi’s heroics, the Tigers produced four other All-State swimmers: Anna Andersen, Ahnika Jensen, Bailey Sandon and Haley Simon.

Swimmers who finish in the top eight during the state preliminary round earned All-State recognition.

As a team, Albert Lea took fifth place at the state meet with 130 points, just one point behind Hutchinson. Visitation won the meet with 300 points. Mankato West was second with 168. Last year, the Tigers finished in seventh place.

Albert Lea’s team of Sandon, Horejsi, Jensen and Andersen set a school record in the 200-yard medley for second place with a time of 1:46.27, which was 0.09 seconds behind the team from Visitation.

“We swam great today as a team,” Schmitz told the Tribune. “We came close in the medley. The girls all put together their best splits.”

The Tigers also qualified for the state finals in the 200-yard freestyle relay and set another school record (1:36.56) to take third place. The time was 0.21 seconds behind second-place Visitation.

Albert Lea’s 200-yard freestyle relay team was comprised of Andersen, Jensen, Simon and Horejsi.

In addition to swimming in both relays, Andersen finished in the top 10 of two individual events. She took fifth place and set a new school record in the 100yard freestyle (52.97), and she won the consolation heat of the 50-yard freestyle (24.48) to take ninth place.

Albert Lea’s previous school record in the 100yard freestyle was set by Naomi Gregerson, who is now an assistant coach at Rochester Mayo.

Jensen also competed at the state meet on an individual level. She finished 16th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.47).

She swam in the consolation heat, and Horejsi swam in the championship heat.

On Dec. 13, Horejsi was at it again — breaking records. This time it was on a national stage. In the preliminary heat of the 100-yard breaststroke, Horejsi broke a record that stood for the last 13 years. She swam as a member of the Atlantis Swimming Federation team at the Junior National Swimming Meet in Greensboro, N.C. “It was awesome to watch,”Atlantis Swimming Federation head coach Mark Vininski told the Tribune. “She swam a great race today, being a body-length ahead of everyone else.”

Horejsi took second place in the event. In finals, Lillia King of the Newburgh Sea Creatures swimming team from Indiana won the event in 59.57. That edged Horejsi’s time by 0.14 seconds to reset the record again six hours later.

3.

NRHEG’s Schiltz runs past the competition T.J. Schiltz of New Richland-Harland-Ellendale-Geneva proved he’s 4Continued

2.

Albert Lea sophomore wins 2 events at state Lindsey Horejsi, Albert Lea’s sophomore swimming sensation, defended her state title and alltime state record in the 100-yard breaststroke and tacked on her first state title in the 200-yard

Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Lindsey Horejsi of Albert Lea swims the 100-yard breaststroke at the girls’ Class A state swimming meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Horejsi won the event.

Page 6B • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • 2013 YEAR IN REVEIW one of the fastest cross country and track and field runners in the state.

Last spring, Schiltz medaled in two events at the Class A state track and field meet. He broke his school record in the 3,200-meter run for the third time of the season to take eighth place, and he took fifth place in the 1,600-meter run.

This fall, he qualified for the Class A state cross country meet for the third straight year where he took 32nd place, despite being sick. He finished 17th at state as a junior.

Schiltz shined the brightest at full strength during the regular season. He won eight meets and took second place at NRHEG’s other three meets. Aside from state, Schiltz never finished lower than second place.

Highlights from the season included an individual Gopher Conference title with a time of 16 minutes and 22 seconds at a meet hosted

by Mankato Loyola and first-place finishes at Fairmont, Stewartville, four consecutive meets from Sept. 12 to Sept. 26 — Maple River, NRHEG, Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune Blooming Prairie and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva’s T.J. Schiltz nears the finish of the Class A boys race of the Minnesota state Janesville-Waldorf-Pem- cross country meet on Nov. 2 at St. Olaf College in Northfield. Aside from the state meet, Schiltz finished in the top two at berton — and a home every meet this season. During the track and field season, he placed at state in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. meet at Oak View Golf Course.

Schiltz was the runnerup at Tri-City United, Waseca and the Section 2A meet at the Montgomery Golf Course.

“He had a really good end of the season,” NRHEG cross country coach Mike Weber told the Tribune.

4.

Westerlund leads Albert Lea wrestlers at state as runner-up On March 1, Albert Lea sophomore wrestler Triston Westerlund qualified for the Class AAA state championship match at 182 pounds.

He finished as the state-runner-up, despite having to face the thirdand fourth-place finishers earlier in the tournament. Triston cruised through the first round with a major decision over Gary Knick of St. Paul Central 15-4.

In the quarterfinals, he pinned Ricky Briggs to hand the senior from St. Michael-Albertville his fifth loss of the season.

Brandi Hagen/Albert Lea Tribune

Triston Westerlund of Albert Lea competes at the Class AAA state wrestling tournament on March 1 at 182 pounds. Westerlund led the Tribune’s coverage area with a second-place finish.

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Briggs went on to take fourth place.

With a 5-4 decision over Sam Moeller of Rosemount in the semifinals, Triston secured a spot in the championship match. Moeller went on to beat Briggs in the match for third place.

In the championship, Triston had a chance to get a takedown after David Johnson of Apple Valley took a 5-1 lead, but Johnson evaded him by going out of bounds. From there, Triston earned a pair of escapes, but fell 9-3.

“With some of our younger guys like Beau (Johnsrud) and Triston,

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they got good experience for next year,” Albert Lea head coach Larry Goodnature told the Tribune.

Two other Tigers placed at state, both seniors: Trevor Westerlund at 113 pounds and Lucas Hansen at 138 pounds.

After losing by a fall in heartbreaking fashion in the quarterfinals, Trevor clawed his way through four consolation matches in wrestlebacks to earn third place.

“I felt Trevor had a great tournament,” Goodnature said at the conclusion of the tournament. “He’d have beat

the kid who took second, and he darn near beat the state champion.”

Goodnature was referring to Trevor’s match in the quarterfinals against Maolu Woiwor of Apple Valley, the eventual state champ. Trevor had Woiwor on the ropes late in the third period. With less than 30 seconds left, Trevor led 4-1 with a few takedowns under his belt. However, Woiwor slipped away to get a pin.

“I just gave it all I got, and he did some weird stuff and got away,” Trevor said after the match. “I know I can still get third.”

On March 2, that was exactly what he did, despite the long journey. If a wrestler wins each match to get to the championship, his road is four matches. If he loses in the quarterfinals, he needs to win four matches in the consolation bracket alone to get third place.

Trevor took care of Taylor Rau of Sauk Rapids-Rice in only 24 seconds in the consolation bracket’s first-round match. He won an 8-3 decision over Luke McCord of Forest Lake in the consolation quarterfinal. Then, he beat Brian Maas of Bemidji 4-3 in the semifinal and Brandon Moen of Owatonna 15-6 to win third place.

Trevor led Moen 6-5 with 30 seconds left, but then Moen got desperate, which allowed Trevor to pad his lead and win a 15-6 major decision.

Hansen earned sixth place with a win in the first round and two wins in the consolation bracket.

He beat Nate Julkowski of Coon Rapids with a 3-0 decision in the first round of the tournament. In the quarterfinals, Mitch Bengtson of St. Cloud Apollo — the eventual state champ — knocked Hansen down to the consolation bracket with a 13-5 decision.

Bengtson pinned his other two opponents before the championship, where he shut out Cole Sladek of St. MichaelAlbertville 8-0.

Hansen won his first two matches in wrestlebacks, a 9-0 win over Estevan Navarro of Willmar and an 8-0 decision over Phillip Anderson of Rogers to get to the consolation semifinals. Hansen lost his last two matches — an 8-3 decision to Owen Webster of Shakopee and a 4-1 decision to Jose Rodriguez of Henry Sibley in the match for fifth place — to take sixth place.

Also competing at the tournament for the Tigers were Beau Johnsrud at 106 pounds, Garrett Wangsness at 120 pounds, Dakota Wangsness at 126 pounds and Jacob Kunkel at 285 pounds.

Johnsrud and the Wangsness twins each won their first-round consolation matches but were eliminated in the consolation quarterfinals.

“The Wangsness brothers were one win away from placing,” Goodnature told the Tribune. “They had a good tournament.”

5.

Vikings football team qualifies for 2nd round of state playoffs In its second season of playing 8-Man football, the Northwood-Kensett football team made tremendous strides.

Coming off a 4-5 season in 2011 that included a loss that turned into a forfeit win, the Vikings posted a 7-4 record this year and never lost by more than 18 points during the regular season.

Last year, they lost four games by more than 32 points.

During 2012’s ninegame regular season, Northwood-Kensett was outscored 308-240. This year, the Vikings nearly doubled their offensive production and outscored their opponents 463-311 through nine regular season and two state playoff games.

Vikings head coach Dave Capitani finished his 25th season at the helm. His teams qualified for the postseason 14 times and won six district titles. He was also named the Tribune’s football Coach of the Year.

Northwood-Kensett’s run ended at Don Bosco — a team that went undefeated and won the state championship.

Three Vikings — Coleby Bratrud, Josh Einertson and Brandon Brockman — were selected to the Tribune’s All-Area First Team that is comprised of the top 12 4Continued

2013 YEAR IN REVIEW • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 7B the top left corner of the net from the right side of the box.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Bluejays struck back. After a save

by Albert Lea goalkeeper Hanna DeVries, the Bluejays scored on a rebound.

DeVries finished with 13 saves on a misty evening in the mid-40s.

Albert Lea continued to play keep away and took a 3-1 lead with a goal by Sarah Savelkoul. Holly Wichmann dribbled down the left sideline and centered the ball to Savelkoul for the score.

The Tigers’ time of possession was 47 minutes, which left 33 minutes for the Bluejays.

Albert Lea improved on 2012’s 8-8-2 record with a 13-6-1 mark in 2013. After beating Glencoe-Silver Lake 7-0 in the first round of the section tournament, the Tigers beat Mankato Loyola 2-1 in a shootout in the quarterfinals. AlMicah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune bert Lea qualified for the Dave Capitani, head coach of the Northwood-Kensett football team, speaks with sophomore finals with the win over Waseca and lost at home quarterback Josh Einertson during the second round of the Iowa 8-Man state playoffs on against Mankato West in Nov. 4 against Don Bosco in Gilbertville, Iowa. the section finals 1-0 in a players from the seven 3-pointers in a season fifth time in 10 years by shootout. schools in the Tribune’s with 100 in 2013. Over upsetting No. 2-seeded coverage area. his career, he scored Waseca/New RichlandBratrud, a junior all1,015 points.

Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva/Janesville-Waldorfpurpose back, had the “He has put in countPemberton 3-1 in the second-most rushing less hours in the gym Section 2A semifinals. yards (816 yards on 180 and the weight room to Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune “Even though they carries) and tackle total get to where he is now,” Taylor Martin of Alden-Conger scores a basket at GlenvilleGlenville-Emmons head were undefeated, I knew (115) in the area. He Emmons on Jan 21. Martin scored more than 1,000 points in coach Jared Matson told we could do it,” Albert was also a threat catchher high school career. ing the ball out of the the Tribune. “His work Lea’s Megan Kortan told stopped the decline and backfield with 14 recepethic is just unrelenting.” the Tribune after the win.

On Feb. 14, Alden-Con- added three more wins. tions for 206 yards and The Wolverines lost “I never doubted us.”

In 2013, Alden-Conger two touchdowns. His a group of seniors who From the opening kick, ger senior center Taylor Martin passed 1,000 won nine more games.

15 rushing touchdowns helped amass a 17-10 the Tigers played with career points in a 56-40 “This season was the matched the most in the overall record in 2012, so energy and confidence. area. the team needed some“Our mindset was real- win over Grand Meadow. most fun I’ve ever had Martin scored 421 in basketball — playing one to take the lead. ly good,” Albert Lea head Einertson, a sophopoints on the season and or coaching,” Hovendick Glenville-Emmons coach Rick Barnhill said. more quarterback, averaged 16.2 points per told the Tribune on April struggled early, amass“Mentally, physically proved to be a dual game. She was also tough 15. “It was a wild, crazy, ing a 1-12 record, but the and emotionally, I think threat. Despite throwing United South Central’s on the glass averaging a emotional ride, and if Wolverines didn’t give we were well prepared half as many passes as Dylan Herman and Colteam-high 8.6 rebounds I could go back and do up. They won three of for anything that would multiple area quarterten Carlson placed at the per game. it again, I would in a their next four games: backs, he led the area come our way.”

Class A state wrestling The Knights posted heartbeat.

63-42 over Houston, with 14 touchdown passAt the 22-minute mark tournament, and three their first winning record “The players are re62-48 over Mabeles. He also was fourth in in the first half, Albert others participated at the in five years with head ally the ones who really the area with 673 rushing Canton and 56-53 over Lea scored the first goal coach Jenny Hovendick deserve the credit for our Xcel Center in St. Paul on Alden-Conger. yards. of the game. A corner — the Tribune’s 2013 turnaround and success.” March 2.

In the first round of the kick led to a shot by KorBrockman, a senior The Rebels were led by girls’ basketball Coach The Knights began tan that deflected off of a running back, was a sectionals, the WolverDylan at 132 pounds and of the Year — with a 19-7 the season on fire, as ines were scheduled for Bluejay defender’s head touchdown machine. He Colten Carlson at 182 mark. Alden-Conger’s they won 10 of 11 games. a rematch against the into the net. scored 11 times on only pounds. last winning season was Three straight losses Knights.

Kortan struck again 104 carries. He averaged Jacob Gonsalez, Derek in 2009, when the team slowed their momenOlson led Glenvillewith less than two more than six yards per Herman and Logan Sonwas 15-11. The next two tum, but Alden-Conger Emmons with 22 points. minutes left in the first carry and also stepped in years the Knights were rebounded by winning its nek also competed at the He had to go to the locker half to give the Tigers a to play quarterback. meet.

11-14 and 7-17. next six games and the 2-0 lead. The Bluejays During the regular sea- room at one point with a In Hovendick’s first last three contests of son, Northwood-Kensett bloody nose, but he ran goalkeeper jumped to no season, the Knights 4Continued the regular season. beat CAL Community back to the court with avail, and Kortan found 68-0, Clarksville 24-8, a piece of cotton in his Rockford 58-34, Riceville nose and re-entered the 43-14, Dunkerton 52-14 game. and Tripoli 66-30.

The Wolverines won In the postseason, 55-50. the Vikings beat Kee In the classroom, 36-22. Brockman led Olson had a 3.95 GPA, Northwood-Kensett with which contributed to an 83 yards and two rushacademic scholarship at ing touchdowns in the Division II Upper Iowa “Excellence is Our George Lundstrom D.D.S. Chosen Path” win. Einertson scored University in Fayette, 209 N. 9th Ave. once with his feet and Iowa. once through the air on Olson also was an AllAlbert Lea, MN 56007 a 21 yard pass to Logan Area selection at running 377-1659 Nielsen — a Tribune back. He earned 1,184 Second Team All-Area all-purpose yards, rushed selection — who led the for 798 yards on 160 area with nine sacks. carries and recorded 44 tackles.

8.

Alden-Conger’s Martin passes 1,000 points

9.

USC wrestling duo places at state tourney

6.

7.

Glenville-Emmons guard sets school Albert Lea girls’ soccer record, breaks team beats 1,000 points the unbeaten Glenville-Emmons

senior guard Derek Olson led his team to six wins, and he led the area by averaging 17 points per game.

Olson passed 1,000 career points and broke his 2012 record of 91

The Albert Lea girls’ soccer team stayed alive in the Section 2A semifinals by beating an unbeaten team.

The No. 3-seeded Tigers qualified for the section finals for the

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Sarah Savelkoul of Albert Lea tries to get position to get the ball against Waseca/New Richland-Hartland-EllendaleGeneva/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton’s Elizabeth Strand.

Savelkoul scored the Tigers’ third goal of the game in a 3-1 win over the Bluejays on Oct. 15 in the Section 2A semifinals at Waseca.

Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Derek Olson of Glenville-Emmons holds the ball on the perimeter during his final high school basketball game against Cleveland on March 7. Olson scored more than 1,000 points over his prep basketball career. He also holds the school record for 3-pointers in a season with 100.

PHILLIP OR MARK MORREIM 71610 263rd St • Albert Lea Office (507) 826-3449 Cell (507) 383-6550

Page 8B • Albert Lea Tribune • Tuesday, December 31, 2013 • 2013 YEAR IN REVEIW

Top 25 Web Stories

Here are the 25 most-clicked-on stories at AlbertLeaTribune.com for 2013. The Tribune has sorted out obituaries, classified advertising pages and landing pages:

Brandi Hagen/Albert Lea Tribune

Sporting T-shirts that say “No one fights alone!” the family of Doug Herr sits on their front porch Oct. 25. Front left is Addison, Michael, Nathan, Brenda, Mason and Makenzie.

Herr died from State 4 esophageal cancer on Oct. 25.

Story Writer Date posted 1. Hockey coach on leave faces felony charge Sarah Stultz Nov. 19 Brandi Hagen Oct. 26 2. Man remembered for his compassion, good humor 3. Young boy dies after farm accident in Hartland Sarah Stultz March 15 4. Body found in Freeborn Lake Kelli Lageson Aug. 27 Sarah Stultz May 30 5. Retiree charged with criminal sexual conduct 6. Hart Bros. Weaponry to stop selling guns Tim Engstrom Feb. 27 7. LaFavre wins $3.8 million judgment Sarah Stultz March 8 Kelli Lageson Oct. 3 8. Fatal rollover found near Wells 9. Albert Lea man flown to Rochester after altercation Sarah Stultz Nov. 10 10. Fatal crash occurs on I-35 Sarah Stultz Jan. 30 11. Woman dies after being struck by van Sarah Stultz Oct. 26 Drew Claussen Dec. 6 12. Home burns south of Albert Lea 13. Crime tape surrounds Northwood house Sarah Stultz Sept. 23 14. Harmony Park is on a hot seat Sarah Stultz June 19 Sarah Stultz Oct. 19 15. Charges for man who allegedly broke into school 16. Man dies while duck hunting Staff Reports Sept. 23 17. 5 arrested after alleged Lake Mills burglary, assault Sarah Stultz Jan. 18 18. Woman in Northwood stabbing dies Sarah Stultz Aug. 6 19. Albert Lea man injured in crash Sarah Stultz June 19 20. Mayo Clinic Health System to lay off 82, 26 in A.L. Adam Harringa Nov. 21 21. Former local priests on Diocese of Winona list Sarah Stultz Dec. 16 Tim Engstrom June 13 22. T-storm tears up Wells 23. Authorities: Man lets train kill him Tim Engstrom April 23 24. Family of man who committed suicide has a message Staff Reports April 24 Sarah Stultz Oct. 9 25. Ambulance rolls over in crash

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United South Central’s Dylan Herman wrestles Alex Engler of Minneota in the first round at the Class A state wrestling tournament on March 2 at the Xcel Energy Center. Herman was one of two USC wrestlers who placed at state.

Dylan and Carlson each were one match away from the championship.

“We have high expectations,” USC head coach Marcus Eytcheson told the Tribune. “The goal for both of them was a state title, but third (Dylan) and fourth (Carlson) isn’t bad by any means.”

Dylan shut out his first-round opponent, Alex Engler of Minneota in the first round 5-0.

He continued to make his way to the semifinals with a pin of Evan Woitalla of Pierz in the quarterfinals. With less than 30 seconds left in the third period of the

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semifinal match against Harvey Friedrichs of Chatfield, Dylan was pinned and sent to the consolation bracket semifinals. During wrestlebacks, he earned a 2-1 decision over Gus McCarthy of Border West to get to the match for third place.

In the third place match, Dylan defeated T.J. Fulton of Wabasso/ Red Rock Central in less than three minutes.

Carlson started well in the first round by earning a major decision over Noah Pesola of New York Mills (13-3). He won his second straight match with a 3-2 decision over Vince Johnson of Windom/Mountain Lake in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Patrick Rooney of Belgrade-BrootenElrosa, the eventual state runner-up, took a 6-5 decision over Carlson. In the consolation semifinals, Carlson earned an 8-1 decision over Dillon Card of Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale.

Carlson locked up fourth place after losing by a 5-2 decision to Porter Secrist of Wabasha-Kella-Alma.

Derek Herman, a freshman in the 138-pound weight class, earned a first-round decision over Cole Hennen of Minneota 6-1. In the quarterfinals, he wrestled well but fell with a 5-3 decision to the eventual state runner-up, Hunter Retzlaff of Sibley East. Derek faced another tough opponent in the first round of wrestlebacks: eventual thirdplace finisher Logan Peterson of Atwater-Comos-Grove City. Peterson defeated Derek with a 14-0 major decision.

At 120 pounds, senior Jacob Gonzalez was pinned by state runner-up Shane Novak of New York Mills.

In the consolation first round, he fell in highly contested 6-4 decision to Landyn VanOverbeke of Minneota.

Logan Sonnek also

got a tough draw at 220 pounds, starting off the tournament against the state runner-up, Chase Norton of KerkovenMurdock-Sunberg. Norton slipped past Sonnek with a 2-1 decision in triple overtime.

Sonnek was eliminated in the first round of the consolation bracet by Garret Scherr of Osakis on a 7-4 decision.

10.

Dahle is 1st Lake Mills wrestler to place at state since 2007 On Feb. 16, Andy Dahle became the first Lake Mills wrestler to place at the state tournament since 2007. He took seventh place at 138 pounds and registered a 3-2 record in Des Moines.

Dahle lost his firstround bout at state — a 9-3 decision against Payton Rice of Manson Northwest — but he turned things around in the consolation bracket.

Dahle pinned his next two opponents — Chase Petersen of Audubon and Bryce Jacobs of Clarksville — to reach the consolation quarterfinals where he lost a 3-1 decision in overtime to Colton Martin of Alburnett.

In the match for seventh place, Dahle beat T.J. Bowen of Midland with a 5-4 decision.

Dahle also set a school record with 44 wins in a season in 2013. His career win total was 108, and he helped the Bulldogs compile a dual record of 89-20 during his four years as a starter.

“He is really deserving of this accomplishment,” Lake Mills head coach Alex Brandenburg told the Tribune. “He has never missed an

offseason workout and listened to everything the other coaches and I told him to do to constantly improve.”

In 2013, the Bulldogs finished with a 27-3 dual record.

Noah Greenfield of Lake Mills also qualified for the state tournament.

He went 1-2 at the state meet. Greenfield lost to Nathan Schmitz of Don Bosco by a 6-4 decision in the first round and pinned Jacob Heisel of Van Buren during his first consolation-bracket action. His run ended against Jared Eischeid of Kuemper Catholic by a 4-2 decision.

Honorable Mention • United South Central senior thrower Amanda Allis took third place at the Class 2A state track and field meet in the shot put on June 8.

• USC track and field distance runner Emily Mantor took fifth place at state in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:17.60 on June 7.

• The No. 7-seed Albert Lea girls’ basketball team upset No. 2-seed Winona 49-47 in the first round of the Section 1AAA tournament on Feb. 27.

• The NorthwoodKensett girls’ basketball team beat two ranked teams to qualify for the Class 1A regional final on Feb. 15.

• The Lake Mills volleyball team qualified for the regional finals despite returning only one starter.

The Bulldogs lost 3-0 at Western Christian — the eventual state runner-up on Nov. 6. Lake Mills won the North Iowa Conference regular season title.

• Two area football teams posted big turnarounds. New RichlandHartland-EllendaleGeneva and United South Central both finished 5-4 after combining for three wins in 2012.