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10D • Tuesday, August 26, 2014 • The Times

The

Steele County Fair

T

he Steele County Fair once again becomes all but a dream of fun that was enjoyed by all ages. From the Human Cannonball who blasted off over the Yoyo swing ride (top) to Steely who hugged many children filled with excitement (bottom left), the Steele fair once again proved to win the hearts of all.

Nearly 340,000 people took in all the sights, sounds and smells of the six-day fair—the second highest attendance in the history of the fair. We leave you this week with one last look at how the fair brought so many smiles, giggles, laughs and ah-ha moments to many people.

Photos By Rick Bussler

of 2014

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8D • Tuesday, November 26, 2013 • The Times

BLOOMING PRAIRIE 2013

r a LeM n o s l e N eMar Nelson has touched many lives in the Blooming Prairie community since he came to town in 1957. For 35 years, he committed his life to educating the youth of the community as he taught at Blooming Prairie High School.

Upon retiring from education in 1992, he joined the local newspaper—The Times—where he still covers high school sports and writes a weekly column. LeMar has always been involved in the community. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Boys and Girls Club and he’s active at First Lutheran Church where he sings in the choir.

Throughout his 81 years, LeMar has experienced many adversities in his life. But he has a zest and zeal for life that’s difficult to find in many people. He is truly an inspiration for all of us!

L

Congratulations, LeMar and best wishes from all your Blooming area friends!

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8C • Tuesday, June 03, 2014 • The Times

Times Extra!

Antique gun nets county big payout

D

ust off your shelves. Check the storage cabinet. Tidy up the basement.

You never know what’s awaiting underneath all that dust and dirt. A little spring-cleaning can go a long way in producing huge dividends.

Sheriff Lon Thiele found that out recently as he was cleaning the sheriff’s evidence area at the Law Enforcement Center in Owatonna. In amongst the usual clutter and junk, the sheriff came across a big treasure worth mega cash—an antique 45-caliber Thompson machine gun.

Last week the Steele County Board approved the sale of the single antique gun for a whopping $37,500. The county advertised on the local and national levels for bids on the gun.

No less than 13 bids from all over the country were submitted. The lowest bid came in at $8,300 and five of the bids were more than $30,000. Most of the bids came from other states, but one came in from Rochester.

A gun dealer from Peoria, Ariz. submitted the winning bid. The dealer, however, wishes to remain unidentified.

“This is a perfect way for us to keep a gun from going out on the streets and at the same time making money for our county,” said Sheriff Thiele. “This can’t go to Joe Civilian on the street. It must go to a dealer,” hee added.

Within 60 days, a member of the sheriff’s office will meet up with the gun dealer to deliver the hidden treasure that has been stored in the local cop shop for nearly 90 years. The transaction cannot be completed until the sheriff receives a cashier’s check in addition to paperwork with clearance from the federal government.

Thiele said he will only hand deliver the gun, though no specifics have been worked out at this time on the delivery arrangements. “I don’t want to put a weapon of that age in the mail,” he explained. “It needs to be a secure item until we hand deliver it.”

The windfall will allow the sheriff to purchase a fully decked out squad car for his department in addition to some extra equipment needed for his deputies.

for the gun in 1935, but speculates it was around a couple hundred dollars.

“It had been locked up in our evidence vault and sitting there for all these years,” Thiele said. “If we hadn’t cleaned out the basement and reorganized storage, we might not have located it.”

In 2012, the sheriff attended a national leadership course through Northwestern University in Plainfield, Ill. While at that school, Thiele got talking to a few other police executives about the weapon he located. They informed him it would be worth “a significant amount of money.”

Upon digging a little further, Thiele found out the weapon would bring between $35,000 and $55,000.

Finding a New Owner The sheriff received clearance from the federal government to sell or trade the weapon to a certified dealer.

There were certain rules and laws that the sheriff needed to follow in order to successfully complete the sale.

It needed to be advertised in the county’s legal newspaper (The Times). In addition, the sheriff advertised in a national gun publication, which drew in bids from all over the country.

The county accepted sealed bids until May 21 at which time it awarded the weapon to the highest bid.

But the weapon would not wind up in the hands of just anyone. It specifically could only go to a Class 3 FFL dealer and

The Hidden Find The mystery of the antique gun began back in 2012 when the sheriff’s office came across the machine gun buried in a basement storage area at the Law Enforcement Center.

The original stamp on the gun revealed it was produced in 1921.

But it had an overstamp of 1928, which makes it even more valuable, according to Thiele.

The sheriff could not locate any paperwork showing how the department acquired the weapon.

And, of course, no one from that era is around anymore to fill in the missing pieces.

Sheriff or One of the first items of business for Thiele ot the sheriff was to make sure it was not y a part of evidence associated with any n crime in the county. Once Thiele ruled that out, he began d digging into records from the federal government and did a lot of research on the weapon.

Thiele found out the weapon was registered with the Steele County Sheriff’s Office in 1935 through the U.S. d Department of Justice. He isn’t certain on what was paid

be in good standing with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF&E).

Once the bid was awarded, the sheriff began the process of verifying that the winning bidder has the proper credentials to receive the gun.

Thiele said the new owner has a private museum of 54 Thompson guns displayed.

The value of the collection is estimated to be several million dollars.

”

This is a perfect way for us to keep a gun from going out on the streets and at the same time make money for our county… This can’t go to Joe Civilian on the street. It must go to a dealer.

-Sheriff Lon Thiele Steele County

removable butt stock and pistol grip style forearm.

“This gun is in excellent shape and remarkable for the year it was manufactured,” Thiele said, noting it has been stored in a climate controlled area all these years.

The markings of the firearm serial number 7913 are as follows: “Side 1- Thompson Machine Gun, Calibre .45 automatic colt cartridge manufactured by Colt’s patent firearms Mfg. Co. Hartford, Conn., U.S.A.; Side 2- U.S. Navy Model of 1921 (overstamped with 8), No. 7913.”

Once the gun went in for an upgrade and modifications in 1928,, it received an overstamp p from the original 1921 stamp.

The Thompson is commonly referred tto as a “Tommy gun,” and was invented in America by John Jo T. Thompson in 1918. It became infamous during the P Prohibition era and was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement and criminals. crimin Besides the Tommy gun, it also coined several other names, including Trench Sweeper, Chicago Chica Typewriter, Chicago Piano, Chicago Style, The Chopper and Trench Chop Broom.

The Thompson was favored by soldiers, soldier police and criminals alike for its ergonomics, compactness, large .45 compa ACP cartridge, reliability and high volum volume of automatic fire.

In recent years, it has gained popularity among civilian collectors for its historical significance.

Thiele said, “It’s a fast caliber gun and holds up to 60 rounds. It was a proven gun for the wars. Back then it was a big gun, but now it’s an outdated g gun.”

The sheriff doesn’t have any idea why the sheriff’s office acquired the weapon in 1935. “Who “Wh knows what they had it for,” Thiele said. “I suppose th they were trying to keep up with the criminal element at th the time,” he added.

He said the gun hasn’t been used in decades.

“This is dec a weapon that would do nothing for the sheriff’s office sitting in storage and collecting dust,” Thiele said.

“When I can surplus my budget by selling equipment that we don’t need, it’s a win-win for the county,” the sheriff said. “Now “N it has just bought me a new squad car, which wh is something we can use,” he said.

The sheriff has several squads that are at squ high mileage and need to b be replaced so it is good timing to receive the extra cash.

As for the dealer who wh is about to receive the weapon, Thiele is weap happy for him. him “Making sure it is secured at a private museum is a bonus for us,” he said.

The Machine Gun The Thompson gun has a 12 inch barrel with a Cutts Compensator, “select fire” semiauto and full-auto, and chambered for .45-caliber. It also contains a

Story and Photos

by Rick Bussler

Fireworks 4 T Safety H 4B • Tuesday, June 24, 2014 • The Times

With warm weather and family events, the Fourth of July can be a fun time with great memories. Before your family celebrates, make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety.

If not handled properly, fireworks can cause burn and eye injuries in kids and adults. The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period.

Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.

Lighting fireworks at home isn't even legal in many areas, so if you still want to use them, be sure to check with your local police department first.

If they're legal where you live, keep these safety tips in mind:

O F

J U L Y

• Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800°F (982°C) — hot enough to melt gold.

• Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer's name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled) and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster or quarterpounder. These explosives were banned in 1966 but still account for many fireworks injuries.

• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.

• Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.

• Don't hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting.

Wear some sort of eye protection and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.

• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.

• Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers) and never relight a dud.

• Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.

• Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.

• Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they'll run loose or get injured.

If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Also, don't flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention — your child's eyesight may depend on it. If it's a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn (do not use ice.) Call your doctor immediately.

Fireworks are meant to be enjoyed, but you'll enjoy them much more knowing your family is safe. Take extra precautions this Fourth of July and your holiday will be a blast!

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8A • Tuesday, June 3, 2014 • The Times

“Behind us are memories, Beside us are friends, Before us are dreams.”

20

14

It was all celebration Sunday afternoon at Blooming Prairie High School as 43 graduated as part of the Class of 2014. Matthew Worke bumped fists with Spencer Warner, who graduated last year, after the graduation ceremony.

The high school band performed during the graduation ceremony.

Graduate Phillip Ramsey took advantage of one last chance to play a song with the band.

After receiving their diplomas, Megan O’Connor and David Hansen took their final march as newly graduated seniors of Blooming Prairie.

The commons at the high school was filled with many candid moments after the ceremony. A woman with an I-pad stopped to snap a shot of (left to right) Sara Noble, Morgan Hagen and Anna Noble, who all graduated with honors.

It’s time to look sharp is what high school office worker Suzy Kramer had on her mind as the graduates didn’t get by without getting a little straightening from her prior to marching in for graduation. Kramer is making sure Collin Yankoviak’s shirt is just right as Victor Peterson looks on.

Members of the high school choir sang during the ceremony. Cole Bartlett got one final chance to sing with the choir.

School board member Kathi Peterson presented Ryan Doerhoefer with his diploma and a firm handshake on a job well done.

The gymnasium got a little warm during graduation and many graduates cooled off by fanning themselves with their programs. Nicole Weiss was one of them who tried to stay cool. Liz Willert is sitting to the right of Weiss.

Cole Kubicek didn’t miss a beat as he played one final number on the drums with the band.

Things got a little goofy at times after the ceremony ended. Several graduates provided some rather unique poses. The graduates are (left to right) Sara Noble, Sydney Heiber and Cole Kubicek.

Times photos by Rick Bussler

The graduates made sure everything was just perfect prior to the start of the ceremony. Cole Bartlett adjusted his cap before heading into the gym.

The Times • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • 7A

of it all

By ANNA SEGNER College Intern

T

he new livestock pavilion on the northeast side of the fairgrounds was made to serve fairgoers, exhibitors and livestock alike.

Cochairmen of the barn committee Dan Deml and Ron Van Nurden have been working with the rest of the barn committee for the past few years to get this project in motion. Their hard work is finally paying off as the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion is standing and will be finished in time for the fair.

The design for the barn was drawn from an architect at Keffer/Overton Architects in West Des Moines, Iowa. “There were a lot of eyes that looked at the whole thing.

We want to emphasize that this would probably not be possible without the support of everyone involved, the board of county commissioners, and all of the people who donated,” said Deml.

The construction for the barn was carried out by Gingerich Const., and despite the tough winter, they were able to stay on track. “They are known for their craftsmanship, and they worked under extraordinary conditions to get the barn up. You just marvel at their work,”

said Deml.

The new horse pavilion is the largest livestock barn on the grounds at 192 feet by 145 feet. The pavilion will be able to house 142 horse stalls, plus there will be a warm up arena at the east end.

The barn will be handicap accessible, and the pavilion has an office area and bathrooms. “There is an old saying with fairs, and that is that you can never have too many bathrooms,” said Van Nurden.

The barn is designed to have a lot of natural sunlight. There are four dormers at the top of the pavilion that provide natural sunlight, ventilation and aesthetic value; plus, there are strips of clear siding and windows that let light inside the barn.

“We had a real discussion before adding the dormers, but we get so many compliments on how it looks with them.

I’m really glad we did that,” said Van Nurden.

Airflow was a major concern for the comfort of people and horses, so there are three large fans with wing spans of 16 feet.

There are six garage doors that allow for more airflow and easy accessibility.

They are overhead doors. Deml explained that the overhead doors are much better for winters because they don’t freeze down.

The natural sunlight and air flow in the barn are perks for the animals too. Plus, the flooring is crushed limestone, which is healthier for the horses than standing on concrete. There will be a wash rack for the horses.

Deml and Van Nurden said that a positive aspect of the new barn is that it is a flexible space. While during the fair and other summer events, it will act as a livestock pavilion. It will operate as a storage unit for rent during the winter.

The national convention sale of brown Swiss dairy cattle will be held in the pavilion in 2016.

Van Nurden said that he would love to see the space attract demonstrations and perhaps even agriculture features.

“The possibilities are endless,” said Van Nurden.

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The Times • Tuesday, July 29, 2014 • 3A

STRENUOUS PROCESS with a

wonderful outcome

By ANNA SEGNER College Intern

W

hile the new livestock barn on the northeastern side of the fairgrounds started out as a dream, it is now a reality. The organization behind the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion has been a long journey for cochairmen of the barn committee Dan Deml and Ron Van Nurden.

Now that the barn is in its finishing stages, Deml and Van Nurden agreed that it was a strenuous process with a wonderful outcome.

“It was hard to see past the long range plan, but it’s really a dream come true,” said Deml. “We are tickled to death that it is up, and I’m anxious to see it at the fair.”

The ball started rolling for some changes on the fairgrounds in 2009, and it was later decided that one large barn would be built to replace the three adjacent cattle barns that were built in 1958. The old barns were in rough shape, and the Steele County Free Fair Board wanted a space that would better serve the exhibitor’s and their livestock.

“It took a while to get our arms around what we wanted for the new barn, and it also took a while to get comfortable with such a large project,” said Deml. At any rate, safety was a number one concern of the barn committee, and pushed the project along.

Because the pavilion will serve as a horse barn at the north eastern side of Leisure Lane, the pavilion will cut down on horse traffic on the street where fairgoers will be walking.

Now that the horses will be on the same side of the street as the horse show arena, there will

Sandy Jirele

Dan Deml

be no need for the horses to cross Leisure Lane.

In previous years, the horses had to cross the street to the arena and warm up in the street, but the new barn has a warm up area at the east end close to the horse show arena.

“We set the building north of Leisure Lane to keep horse traffic out of the street, so that there is no liability of people and horse mingling,” said Deml.

“There are so many people at the fair that are not experienced around livestock, so safety was a main concern, and the pavilion in this location is a solution to the conflict point,” said Van Nurden.

According to Deml and Van Nurden, the building has many features, but the flexibility of the pavilion is one of its greatest assets. While the pavilion is designed to be flexible for many

Ron Van Nurden

purposes, it will serve primarily for agriculture purposes during the summer and it will be rented out for storage during the winter.

The pavilion also offers many features that offer the livestock a healthier living environment for their stay during the Steele County Free Fair. With softer footing, more light and much more air flow, the pavilion was designed for the comfort of people and livestock alike.

The pavilion is an impressive 192’ by 145’ and the barn committee believes that the barn is telling of the success of the Steele County Free Fair throughout the years. “The Steele County Free Fair is really a part of our community’s tradition. It is the best county fair, and we thought it was about time that it started looking like the best fair around,” said Van Nurden.

The Steele County Free Fair has always been

agriculturally oriented and the new barn is an effort to carry on that tradition into the future.

Due to the harsh winter, the construction of the barn was slower than anticipated, but the barn committee kept on working to have it ready to go for the 2014 fair. “We’ve been dragging the project along kicking and screaming, but we’ve kept dragging it along,” said Deml with a smile.

They are now very happy with the progress.

Van Nurden and Deml both agreed that the entire barn committee as well as members from the community made the Allan R. Radel Family Livestock Pavilion possible.

Sharon Klein of the Steele County Free Fair Office was very active in the barn committee in the organization of the correspondents.

Van Nurden and Deml would like to thank Steele County Treasurer Steve Rohlik, County Administrator Tom Shea, and the county commissioners for all of their help along the way.

The barn committee has also received many donations to help fund the pavilion; Allan Radel made a large donation for naming rights of the barn. Without the donations and help of the fair’s supporters, the project would not have been possible.

“You can’t just look at two people, we’ve had a lot of support from the community,” said Deml. “It’s great being a part of a whole ambiance and love of this fair.”

Excitement generating with new barn

By ALAN VAN ORMER Managing Editor

T

hose who have had glimpses of the newly-constructed Allan R. Radel Familly Livestock Pavilion on the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna can’t wait to get inside to show their animals and see the new amenities.

The building replaces the three barns built in the 1950s at the fairgrounds. One collapsed in 2010 under the weight of snow. The other two were torn down after the 2013 fair.

“There has been a very positive reaction to the barn,” said Sandy Jirele, Steele County Free Fair Livestock Director. “We’re excited about it.”

All construction and painting for the facility is expected to be completed over the next week or two. It includes leveling off the floor and installing the stalls.

Ron Van Nurden, chairman of the building committee, has

also heard positive reactions, especially with the architecture.

“It is a beautiful building that people feel proud to have on our fairgrounds,” he said. “We have the best fair in the state. We have a building now that people really feel good about.”

Van Nurden also said the new facility addresses the safety issues, which is one of the key issues the board was trying to solve. In the past horses were moving across the line of traffic. “We have had near misses in the past,” he said.

The board also wanted to be flexible. The new facility will allow the board to use it for other events and it is also designed for storage in the winter months.

Dan Deml, Steele County Free Fair Board President, said the reaction he has received from those viewing the barn is “WOW. It is big. The thing is huge.”

The barn is one large one that replaced three smaller barns.

The square footage is less than the three combined barns, but the profile is higher compared to the three barns.

“People are awestruck by the size of it once they get inside,” Deml said. “They think it looks nice with the dormers, the doors, the sky lights – there is kind of a WOW factor!”

Deml said the hope is that the new barn will enhance the experience of the exhibitors and will allow all horse exhibitors to showing in one barn. The old horse barn was constructed around 1957-58.

“We have a first-class fair and this will enhance the facilities for a first-class fair,” he said.

A8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2013 • NEWS ENTERPRISE

Congratulation s Triton Cobras...

Cobras...

From left, in front, are: cheerleaders Morgan Cohenour, Taylor Timmerman, Brittany Ellis, Julie Arter, Shania Wojtowicz, Christy Utech, Brittany Remold, Aimee Larson, Taylor Abbott, Brandi Johnson, Elizabeth Gochnauer. Varsity football players in the second row are: Dylan Qualle, Patrick Ramirez, Stacey Jackson, Jared Willette, Evan McNeilus, Corey Nicklay, Alex Hoberg, Bradley Myers, Brandon Dostal, Dylan Walterman, Seth Johnson and Hector Bugarin.

Third row: Jordan Deno, Colton Erdmann, Preston Pflaum, Alex Finne, Dakota Hester, Michael Thomas, Roshewn Harrington, Zach Otto, Trent Maloney, Kylo Courteau and John Tate. Fourth row: Randy Henderson, Craig Weber, team manager Wyatt Wirth, coaches Jacob Harmon, Bruce Huber, Adam Barner, Craig Schlichting, Shane VanBeek, Mike Ellingson, Head Coach Don Henderson, team manager Thor Wirth, Nate Myers and Blazer Blake. Fifth row: Logan Maas, Carson Johnson, Leif Bungum, Garrett Dahms, Ben Scherger, Casey Lang, Derick Wencl, Cameron Marquardt, Adam Vacura, Jax Bryngelson, Max Henderson and Jack Crowson. Also shown are the junior varsity players and cheerleaders. Not shown: Isiah Pierce, Matt Buckingham and Chandler Buckhalter.

...On winning the Southern Football Alliance Conference Championship!

Good Job at the Section Tournament!

GO COBRAS!

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Triton

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013

Fall Sports 2013

A6

www.westconcordnews.com

High School

y t i s r a V

Date

Opponent

8/30 9/7 9/13 9/20 9/27

Football

La Crescent Cotter Lewiston-Altura Saint Charles Pine Island

Location

Date

La Crescent Cotter Triton Saint Charles Triton

10/4 10/11 10/16

Opponent

Dover-Eyota Kenyon Zumbrota

Location Triton Kenyon Triton

Volleyball

Date Opponent

8/27 W-E-M 9/3 Hayfield

9/5 Kenyon 9/10 Stewartville 9/12 Lake City 9/17 Byron 9/19 Zumbrota 9/24 J-W-P 9/26 La Crescent 10/1 Cannon Falls 10/3 Kasson 10/8 Goodhue 10/15 Pine Island

Location

W-E-M Triton Kenyon Stewartville Triton Triton Zumbrota J-W-P Triton Cannon Falls Kasson Triton Triton

Varsity

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GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR FALL

Flicek Lumber Company

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Kevin Dostal, Owner

WEST CONCORD

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Hardware

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Produced By News Enterprise • West Concord

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Go Cobras!

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Dennison