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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
2011 PROFILE 5. FOOD
CRAFTING SUCCESS
9. MOTIVATION
CRUISING IN COMFORT
13. KATHY STUTZMAN GALLOPING GRANDMA
15. POLITICS FROM IKE TO OBAMA
18. BELIEFS
MORE THAN AUSTIN’S PRIEST
22. DAVE SIMERSON CHURCH OVERCAME OBSTACLES
24. SMALL TOWN TAKING ACTION
28. STANDOUT STUDENTS ILLUSTRATIONS BY ERIC JOHNSON
36. MC FAIRGROUNDS THROUGH 38. TERP/EL PARRAL THE YEARS 40. HORMEL FOODS 42. MC COURTHOUSE 47. RECREATION CHASING DREAMS
51. MIGUEL GARATE I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY
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It’s interesting to learn what makes a person tick. With the risk of sounding cliché, no two people in the world — or in Austin — are exactly alike. Thank goodness for that. When we at the Austin Daily Herald sat down to plan this year’s Profile edition, we took this into consideration. In the end, we decided that learning more and exposing the passions behind people’s lives would allow our readers to better understand the community in which they live — it would also be fun for us along the way. We discovered those who are driven by their spiritual beliefs and others who found politics to be their outlet for change. We met with chefs whose passion for cuisine has shaped their lives. We learned the stories of collectors whose quirky habits have defined their character and those of young students whose understanding of technology will blow you away. Looking into Austin residents’ lives, we’ve discovered that our community is full of intriguing characters, all whom march to the beat of their own drum. It is our hope that by reading this, you’re able to better understand the people in your community and what drives them in their daily lives. Sure, we’re all united through Spam and dreadful winters, but it’s the passions behind us all that shouldn’t be overlooked. In fact, they should be celebrated.
THRIVING IN A SMALL TOWN
-Trisha Marczak editor
63. TECHNOLOGY A SCIENTIFIC IMPACT
67. JERRY GIRTON THE CURTAIN CALLS
69. IN THE NEWS Q&A’S FROM LOCAL CELEBRITIES
78. OUR TEAM
MEET THE MAKERS OF PROFILE 2011
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BOB NELSON PAGE 6
The Austin area has enjoyed significant growth in recent years. Retail sales are up. Over $20 milion in development projects were completed in 2010. Employment is growing, and our economy is expanding and diversifying. Austin is a great place to be today, and we're working to make it an even better place tomorrow.
Austin Daily Herald
4 Profile 2011
FOOD
“I work too hard to work for somebody else.” -Dave Forland
CRAFTING SUCCESS
DAVE FORLAND By Trey Mewes
The Old Mill Restaurant is a well-known fixture in Mower County. More than 100 years old, it was showing its age and more when Dave Forland and his wife, Ann, bought it in 1987. “I always did the two-job thing,” Forland said. “I worked at the Hormel plant and then cooked at a restaurant at night, or vice versa. One day I thought to myself, ‘I work too hard to work for somebody else.’” When the Forlands bought the Old Mill, it was in tough shape. There were no electric lights anywhere, and getting a beer from the cooler involved getting a flashlight out to go find it. It wasn’t a daunting task for Forland, however, as he loves putting things back together. “I’m kind of a fixer guy,” Forland said. “I always say I can MacGyver anything.” Forland’s passion for fixing and upgrading shows: 22
years later, his restaurant has flourished, its beer list growing to more than 60 beers a week. He’s also still fixing and improving the restaurant, including some of the cabinets and doors, when he’s not working on his own home, located across the street from the Old Mill. For fun, Forland cuts wood. He’s mildly interested in some of the green and sustainable building practices that have become recently trendy, and as a result cuts firewood for his home’s wood boiler, which heats his entire house and two outlying buildings. He’s about to try a solar project or two as well in his home, just to see if it works. “It’s pretty green,” Forland said. “It’s pretty neat.” In recent years, Forland has become something of an expert on beer, as he’s seen more people enjoying wine and beer rather than liquor when they eat out. That’s why he’s stocked up on beer varieties to ensure the Old Mill has a lot of choices. His beer knowledge was tapped last year when he was one of 20 beer contest judges at the Steele County Fair. “I’ve gotten to do the beer thing here forever,” Forland said. “It just takes a long time to catch on.”
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Profile 2011
August 27
40 YEARS IN THE BAKING
JACK ERWIN By Trisha Marczak
COOKING FOR LIFE
BOB NELSON By Trisha Marczak
Bob Nelson became a chef long before it was the hip thing to do. Nelson started out cooking as a means of survival. He was a young boy living in a home with busy parents and four other brothers, and the role of cooking seemed to fall into his lap. But for him it was more than a task — it was a passion. From that point on, Nelson didn’t ever stop perfecting his art. When he was 15, he went into the food service business, working first as a dish washer and then inching his way up to a line cook. In 1984, he entered the Army, where he served as a cook and took culinary classes while stationed in Germany. Once out of the Army, he became the assistant chef at a restaurant in Albany, N.Y., where he eventually worked his way up to the role of head chef. At the age of 21, he bought a restaurant of his own. From then one, he owned four restaurants and served as general manager for plenty. After years of working inside a restaurant, Nel-
son began thinking of other avenues he could take along his culinary path. He was growing tired of long working hours, which, in the restaurant business, can have quite the draining effect. He wanted to take hold of another aspect of the business. And so he did. Five years ago, Nelson went into the restaurant design business and opened up Kitchen Warehouse in Austin. “It was what I saw as a natural progression,” Nelson said. Since that step, Nelson has experienced tremendous success, having designed Senior Frog restaurants in Hawaii to local kitchens, such as the B and J and Steve’s Pizza. Though he’s enjoying life in the design business, Nelson said his love for cooking will never die. That’s part of the reason behind his most recent business venture, Gourmet Kitchen, a new store tailored toward culinary delights of everyday people. The store opened in the fall, featuring herbs, seasonings and plenty of high-end kitchenware for the everyday person. On top of selling top products, he’s also opened a back room for cooking classes. So what type of cooking style does he prefer? Anything with beef. “Beef is underrated,” he said. Nelson said there are plenty of cuts of beef out there that require different types of cooking styles. And if you do it right, he said it can be unbelievable.
“Beef is underrated.” -Bob Nelson
When Jack Erwin was a little boy, he never thought he’d be able to make a career out of cooking. “I never dreamed I would be doing this for 40 years,” he said. Erwin is known around town as “The Chef.” Whether hosting cooking classes or preparing a meal for a special events at The Cedars of Austin, local residents have come to expect nothing less than the best from his cooking. It’s that sort of reaction that keeps him going. “I strive to please and make people happy through food,” he said. Erwin spent years working in kitchens and restaurants throughout the Twin Cities before making the move back to his southern Minnesota home town in 1989. He initially worked as the head cook for the Sheriff’s Youth Program, a role he served for 18 years. From there, he was hired on as the head chef at The Cedars of Austin, where he now hangs his apron. “This has been the most fun out of everything I’ve done,” he said. The reason? It’s all about the variety. “I like being creative,” he said. On top of traditional lunches, Erwin also has the opportunity to prepare special meals for highlight dinners, including beef wellington, prime rib and other gourmet meals. He’s also able to dabble in one of his favorite food forms: baking. For birthdays, Erwin is able to use his creativity to bake, design and serve gourmetcakes. He also prepares muffins and cookies, which are a real treat for those on the receiving end. When Erwin isn’t cooking in front of cameras and classes, or preparing food for hundreds, he’s whipping up a miracle or two in his own kitchen. He said he has every tool a chef could want in his home kitchen. And when it comes to preparing food for himself, he said lobster takes the cake as his absolute favorite.
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6 Profile 2011
“I wanted to own my own place.” -Jim Herrick
Jim Herrick knows wine. He can still remember the time his father pulled out a bottle of Bordeaux during Christmas dinner when he was 19 years old. He remembers the sight of it, the bouqet, swirling the wine in the glass. “It was that first eye-opening, wow experience for me,” Herrick said. Since then, Herrick’s made a name for himself, most recently as the owner of Tolly’s Time Out Restaurant, which he’s run for al-
Profile 2011
By Trey Mewes
tive, especially Monday night’s half-price wine bottles. Herrick’s love for wine has turned him into a connoisseur. He says his love for wine grew as most other aficionados do: He enjoyed white wines at first, then warmed up to the softer reds before hurling himself at the stronger tasting red wines. His wine palate has become quite vast as a result. “I’ve recently rediscovered the beauty of white wines, of chardonnays and sauvignon blancs,” Herrick said. “There’s so many other white wines that I’ve started to open myself up to.” He can now describe the subtleties in rieslings, can extol the virtues of a good cabernet, and can recommend the right wine for the right food, the right mood and the right kind of company. “It’s just an enjoyable experience both on an intellectual and tasting level,” he said.
7
JIM HERRICK
most five years. Herrick, who grew up in Austin, spent 12 years working in hotel management and then as a food seller before deciding he wanted to own a business in a small town. “I wanted to own my own place,” Herrick said. He was speaking with his parents during Thanksgiving in 2004 when they mentioned Tolly’s was for sale. The following May, Herrick took over. Aside from putting together an impressive wine list of more than 120 varieties, Herrick’s been busy updating, remodeling and finally switching the menu at Tolly’s. This past September, Tolly’s switched formats to an Italian steakhouse, as Herrick has heard how Austin needed a good Italian place for years. “I didn’t do it initially because I knew that I was taking over an institution that had been around for 22 years,” Herrick said. However, the response has been overwhelmingly posi-
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8 Profile 2011
MOTIVATION By Jason Schoonover
CRUISING IN COMFORT
HAROLD SORENSON
Harold Sorenson travels in style. Sorenson collects classic cars, but doesn’t keep them stowed away in garages. He and his wife, Kathy, drive them to classic car shows. They’ve even driven them on vacations to places like the Black Hills with their two children. “They’re not just show cars. … When we go somewhere, we drive them,” he said. In the 1970s, Sorenson used to race on local dirt tracks, but cars continued to be a part of his life after he stopped racing. “I just kind of got into something that’s more relaxing,” he said. Sorenson rebuilt a 1937 Plymouth into a hot rod after buying it an auction in Austin. He completely replaced the engine and suspension and installed air conditioning, cruise control and electric windows.
SOARING TO GREAT HEIGHTS
RON MIELKE JACK BENA AND
Ron Mielke and Jack Bena have been flying for more than 20 years without ever leaving the ground. The two fly radio controlled model planes and are part of the Freeborn-Mower Radio Control Society. Mielke has been interested in model planes since he was 7-years-old. “I’ve always been plane nuts,” said Ron Mielke. Jack became hooked 20 years ago, and prides himself with flying at least once in every month of the year for 20 years, including winter. Pontoons or skis can be attached to a plane for landing on snow in the winter or on water in the summer. “I use it for relaxing,” Bena said. “Once you’re in the air, you have so much concentration on the plane, you forget all your troubles.” Mielke noted that flying isn’t always a walk in the park. “The definition of flying is … hours and hours of boredom broken by moments of sheer terror,” he said. The model planes mostly run on castor oil, though electric is becoming more prevalent. The planes are controlled by controllers that resemble those for remote-control cars. Older controllers operate on AM and FM frequen-
“It’s got all the fancy stuff you’d find on a modern car, so it’s a good cruiser car on the highway,” he said. Sorenson estimated he put as much as $25,000 worth of work into the hot rod, though he noted he did much of the work himself. “You’ve got to have some background on automotive stuff,” he said. Rather than buying restored models, Sorenson prefers to purchase cars that need some work. That’s not to save money. In fact, Sorenson said it costs more to restore a car. “I enjoy working on them,” he said. Sorenson’s able to reduce restoration costs by doing much of the work himself — he’s co-owner of the Muffler Center. However, he hasn’t rebuilt all his cars. He owns a 1982 Chevy Camaro Indy Pace Car that he bought new, and it’s still up to stock standards. In fact, the Camaro was the first new car he ever bought, and it only has about 5,000 miles on it. Sorenson also owns a Chevy Impala Biscane and a Chevy Impala SS, though he admits the Plymouth is likely his favorite because of all the work he’s put into the car. “It gives you a good feeling knowing that you built the car,” he said. Sorenson isn’t done collecting, as he said he’s keeping his eye open for a car similar to a 1934 Ford Roadster convertible.
cies, but newer models change frequencies repeatedly. Flying can be difficult because the controls going away from the pilot are a reversed when the plane turns around. However, the terror comes in landing the planes. “Take off is nothing,” Bena said. “Landing gets a little more involved.” The plans can do acrobatics because most enthusiasts admit simply flying back-andforth becomes a bit monotonous. The planes are made from light weight balsa wood and plywood. Mielke builds planes from scratch and has a chest full of balsa wood. He’s even built a biplane with a 7-foot wingspan. Other planes can be bought and easily assembled. Some people go so far as to build a plane to exact scale. Many model planes even have a smoke system to mimic crop dusters.
“You can get as detailed as you want,” Bena said. A typical flight lasts only about 10 to 15 minutes, but Bena said the pilot is typically read to land, as their neck is often sore from following the plane through the sun and clouds for a while. The planes are capable of flying great distances, but the difficulty comes in being able to see them fly. “When you get older, you start building bigger planes so you could see them,” Bena said. Even though it’s not entirely uncommon to crash a plane, Mielke and Bena both said it’s a worthwhile past time. “It’s just like any other hobby.,” Bena said “You sit and you make these things, and when you see them fly you feel so much full of pride.”
RIDING FOR THE LOVE OF THE BIKE
FROM SUGARCANE FIELDS TO DEXTER
JEFF TRIMBLE JOHN O’CONNOLL Some people enjoy motorcycles as a hobby — Jeff Trimble lives for them. “It’s been my whole life,” Jeff said. Jeff is co-owner, along with his brothers Gary and Scott, of Trimble’s Cycle Center in Austin. Motorcycles are in the Trimble family’s blood. Jeff first started working at Trimble’s when he was 12 in order to spend more time with his father. Jeff, along with the shop, owns about 12 motorcycles. Though he’s worked in the business for more than 40 years, Jeff didn’t start collecting until the last 20 years. Many of motorcycles are ones Jeff either owned or knew of when he was younger, but didn’t keep or never had a chance to own. “You don’t have a passion for saving anything when you’re younger, and it’s probably reliving a childhood more than anything,” he said. Jeff owns mostly Hondas, including a bike from 1959 — the first year Honda built motorcycles. None of Jeff’s motorcycles are “cherry” or completely restored only for show. Instead, Jeff said he prefers to ride his bikes. “They’re collectible but they’re usable,” Jeff said. “We like to ride the stuff we have. I don’t like them to just sit and look at it.” “Anything I got I want to ride,” he added. Hondas are Jeff’s preferred brand, largely because of their reliability and durability, according to Jeff. Many of his Hondas still have their original engine and are still going strong. Along with reliability, Jeff owns a Honda Goldwing, a comfort model, that he and his wife, Debbie, drive on trips across the country. While motorcycles are not a cheap collectible, Jeff said the cost largely depends on the amount of restoration. “You have to do some of the work yourself, or you’re going to have more in it than you’re ever going to get out of it,” he said. Jeff cautioned he doesn’t collect for the profit, and he plans to let his children inherit his collection. “I’m buying them for the love of the Honda motorcycle,” he said.
Back Row (Left to Right) Doug Salz, Cory Johnson, Ben Sprung, Brad Sistek, Stephen Blum, Gene Krull Front Row (Left to Right) Amy Legried, Alvina Letendre, Gary Letendre, Debbie Letendre
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Owners: Alvina and Gary Letendre
The tractors have likely never pressed the fields of the Midwest, but a set of rare tractors have made their way to Dexter. John O’Connoll collects new generation hi-crop tractors. The hi-crop is a rare model built by John Deere that was mostly used in Florida, Louisiana and California. He is working to restore a series of six hi-crops. “It’s a fun hobby,” O’Connoll said. He owns about a dozen tractors. O’Connoll, 57, remodels his tractors, which takes a great deal of time, but offers something to do. “I had three daughters, and I couldn’t sit in the house all the time,” he said. “I don’t watch TV. I don’t chase women or drink. So what do you do?” O’Connoll first learned about the tractors when he was visiting a relative in Florida. Since then, he’s looked for parts in Florida during vacations with his wife and daughters. “They lay on a beach in southwest Florida for a week, and I tractor hunt,” he said. Just the cosmetics on one of his tractors took about three months working from 5 p.m. to midnight. O’Connoll, a former farmer and dirt contractor, said he does much of the work during the winter down season. The tractor was used for work with tall vegetables, like tomatoes. The largest tractor he owns was used in sugarcane fields and ran through deep mud.
“It’s a fun hobby.” -John O’Connoll Once he restores the six tractors in the hi-crop line, he plans to fully restore a series of six hi-crops to bring to shows in his retirement. Each of the hi-crops was built from 1961 to 1972 and very few of each model were built. Only 98 of the late 3020 model were built, and 101 of 2520 were built. Those numbers are likely lower now, as some of the tractors have been scrapped for parts.
10 Profile 2011
WORKING ON THE RAILROAD
SCOTT MOLDENHAUER
Even avid model train collectors think Scott Moldenhauer is crazy about trains. “They consider me the nut,” he said. “I’m the one … you can tell it to your wife that you know someone who’s more addicted than you or spends more money.” Since he was a boy, Moldenhauer has collected model trains, and he’s graduated to having his own rideable railroad: the Red Rock and Northern Railroad. Right now, he has a 1,200 foot loop, and he’s working on a 1,200 foot addition on the north side of his property. He already had nine switches on the loop, and an estimated 60 tons of rock. Once you start, the sky is the limit. “It’s pretty crazy,” he said. “A person can be taken with it.” Not only does he have a rideable train outside, he’s also building a g-scale track — also called garden scale — outside. The g-scale model can run on electric and steam, also known as garden trains. Some of his model trains function on butane and water like a real steam engine. He has a sixty foot loop outside for the model trains.
“They consider me the nut.”
-Scott Moldenhauer
Profile 2011
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While it’s not the most expensive model train, Moldenhauer said it’s not a cheap hobby. However, he said it’s affordable, as some engines are available for as little as $200. High scale model engines can range as high as $10,000. “They’re kind of collectibles, but they run like watches,” he said. Moldenhauer said he has a productive nature, and enjoys keeping busy. He’s planted trees and bushes around his outdoor tracks. He also is making model building and model trees from scratch for his indoor g-scale track. Moldenhauer is thinking about starting a club for people to bring their own model trains to run on his outdoor large-scale track. He said model trains can be a way to promote something good. “A model railroad is a good way to bring neat things to people, which always reminds me of what I tried to do in a clumsy job — try to promote something good,” he said.
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12 Profile 2011
A GALLOPING GRANDMA
KATHY STUTZMAN By Jason Schoonover
Kathy Stutzman doesn’t mind being called a galloping grandma. Kathy, 52, started cycling about three years ago. Since then, she’s biked across Iowa in Ragbrai, has put 2,000 miles on her bike in one year and has joined a Get Fit team called the Galloping Grandparents. She’d competed in many events in her 20s, but gave up competing when working and raising a family required more of her time. But the bug hit again when she started cycling after her 61-year-old husband, Stan, had a hip replacement and the two felt compelled to get fit again. “The bug really hit us,” Kathy said. “From that point on, we started thinking about what we were going to do next year.” The two set a goal to complete Ragbrai, a bike ride of more than 400 miles across Iowa. Bikers average about 65 to 75 miles a day during the ride. The two bought two indoor trainers and began to track how far they were riding inside and outside. She rides a Green Trek 2.3. “I just really loved it,” she said. The two began setting goals for miles biked per day and miles biked per hour. “Just set some realistic goals and continue to modify those as you reach them,” Kathy said. They soon started completing smaller rides, like the 72-mile Lake Pepin ride, and learned what riding in a large group was like. Kathy the 25-mile Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Ride in about an hour and 20 minutes, finishing second in her age group. However, the goal of finishing Ragbrai was postponed in 2008 after Kathy broke her leg. Finally in 2009, she finished RAGBRAI and didn’t have to ride the sag wagon, even though it was the hilliest course in the event’s history.
“It kicked my butt,” she said. However, Kathy enjoyed the experience. “I was hooked,” she said. After meeting the goal of riding Ragbrai, Kathy set new goals: Ride 2,000 miles in one year and ride wherever possible. She met that goal last year, and plans to bike 3,000 miles in 2011. Kathy works as a business consultant and travels often. She made it a priority to either take her bike with her or rent a bike whenever possible. “I got to experience a lot of just fun places by just having my bike with me and getting on my bike and riding,” Kathy said. When she was at a conference in St. Joseph, Stutzman learned there was a 40 mile ride that blended biking with another love: food. The event was a caramel roll ride, where participants got to eat a Caramel roll every 10 miles. Stutzman said her love for food attracted her to biking, because it’s the only activity that you can eat before, during and after. As Stan nears retirement, Kathy has another goal for herself: riding across the country. “I can’t ride fast anymore, but I can ride crazy,” she said. “I can do endurance.” “I think it would be really incredible,” she added. That’s a goal Stan isn’t interested in fulfilling, so Kathy hopes to do it herself. Instead, Stan hopes to ride bike trails in England and Ireland, which Kathy said she’d also do. The two also want to ride in many of the U.S. National Parks. “In a lot of ways, it feels like we have this whole world open to us,” she said.
“I can’t ride fast anymore, but I can ride crazy.”
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Profile 2011
-Kathy Stutzman
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We’re spending more than we have.” Mills hasn’t always been directly involved with politics. In recent years, he started working with the Mower County Republicans and interacting directly with campaigns. Not only is he the Mower County Republicans Deputy Chair, but Mills worked as State House hopeful Jennifer Gumbel’s campaign manager in the 2010 election.
POLITICS By Amanda Lillie
“We’re spending more than we have.” -Charles Mills
50 YEARS PLUS
CHARLES MILLS When Charles Mills voted for democratic presidential hopeful John F. Kennedy in 1960, he didn’t expect to be deeply involved in the Republican Party 50 years later. But why the party switch? “I just don’t like what’s happening,” Mills said about the current political climate. “In the last many years our country is not going in the right direction.
Although Gumbel did not win her race, Mills was pleased with the result of elections throughout the state and hopes the now-Republican-controlled Legislature will make strides towards fixing the budget shortfall. “This is going to be the litmus test,” he said. “They’re either going to do it, or they’re going to fail.” Mills, as a conservative, believes the government cannot continue operating at its current pace, particularly fiscally. Unlike most liberals, he believes the opposite of the often-spoken phrase, “Government should be all things to all people.” “It really boils down to personal responsibility,” he said. “We have to change our ways, and it’s going to be painful.” “Our government’s charge is to protect us … not give us everything,” he added. More than anything, Mills likes being involved in the community and serving the public. He views volunteering as a way to pay back the community for the fortune he has had throughout his life, and he enjoys the people he meets and the interactions that take place. “If you think we need to make changes it begins on your block, in your house, in your mirrors,” he said.
FROM IKE TO OBAMA
15 Austin Daily Herald
When Dave Sylte was in the eighth grade, a Republican politician inspired him. Looking back now, Sylte, a staunch Democrat, is almost nervous to admit that Dwight Eisenhower so positively impacted his outlook on politics as a whole. “When I’ve been involved in political things, it’s revolved around a particular individual who has inspired me,” Sylte said, citing Eisenhower as the first politician to have that affect on him. “(Eisenhower) was kind of an apolitical person. He was a Republican president but he was being courted by both parties,” he said. “He was a national hero — that was kind of the thing that drew me in there.” Now, though, Sylte looks to President Barack Obama for inspiration through his speeches and the way he connects with his audiences. “He’s very idealistic, but he’s very pragmatic,” said Sylte about Obama, whom he saw speak in 2007. “I was just so blown away by his demeanor.” Since Sylte was unable to be politically active for several years because of his employment with the Social Security Administration, prohibiting him by law to engage in partisan politics, he has made up for his inactivity in recent years. His biggest concern is quality of life issues like health care and social security. “We’re the only Western industrialized country where 45,000 people die each year because we don’t have national health insurance,” Sylte said. “We have so many people that fall through the cracks.” “There’s so much misinformation about health care,” he added. Sylte’s passion for quality of life issues is what drives him to make calls and knock on doors during election seasons. He is also on the Central Committee for the local DFL District. After living in other parts of the country throughout his life, including Indiana where the liberal political climate was rough, according to Sylte, Minnesota is a pleasant place to be involved in the Democratic Party. “One thing about being involved in politics in Minnesota: It is much more civil than in other parts of the Midwest,” he said. “There is such a thing as Minnesota Nice in Minnesota politics.”
Profile 2011
DAVE SYLTE
D EMOC R AT LATE BLOOMER BACKS 'DIRTY' BUSINESS
WANDA LUNNING Wanda Lunning calls herself a late bloomer, politically speaking. Unlike many people whose passions lie in politics, Lunning did not become interested in the topic while in high school or college. Instead, she became in-
volved with a union for the first time in 1984 when she began working at Riverland Community College. She didn’t realize it at the time, but that choice would change the course of her interests and hobbies for the rest of her life. Lunning, co-chair of the Mower County DFL, became interested in politics partially because the president of her union was very active in the DFL. Along with the union president’s influence, Lunning attended a state union conference where she watched the film “Sicko,” directed by hardcore democrat Michael Moore. “It pissed me off,” she said. “Every person should see that (movie).” Health care is one of Lunning’s main political concerns. She is an avid supporter of universal health care and said affordable insurance should not be a partisan issue. “As individuals, whether we are Republican, Democrat or Independent, we need to be doing something about health care,” she said. Lunning feels similarly about many issues, despite her loyalty to the democratic party. Legislators should stop being so concerned about voting party lines and pay more attention to their constituents’ needs, she said. “Voting only party lines is really not very democratic,” she said. “If (legislators) did that, it would kill our party.” As for citizens voting in elections, Lunning said one of the worst things a person can do is not vote. Although politics can be dirty and occasionally boring, she said every citizen should consider voting a priority. “It isn’t just a privilege; it’s a responsibility of every citizen,” she said. “If you don’t go to the polls, don’t complain to me about it.” Lunning said she plans to continue her work with the Mower County DFL “until something happens that changes my mind.” “In my book, politics is dirty. I hate politics,” she said. “But the worst thing you can do is sit back and do nothing.”
VOLUNTEER EXUDES ENERGY FOR POLITICS
PENNY SKAAGE Penny Skaage’s forte entails what many campaign volunteers dread — door knocking.
“I prefer door knocking because I’m really fast at it,” said Skaage, who volunteers with the local DFL. During the most recent election, Skaage received a phone call from Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, asking why he had seen her running from house to house while she was volunteering for the DFL near Ellis Middle School. “I had been door knocking,” she said. “I have a lot of energy.” Not only does door knocking offer an outlet for her energy, but Skaage said she enjoys the conversations she has with the people she encounters. “I actually get to go out and meet the people that are concerned about our area,” she said. “They can tell me, and not be afraid to tell me, what they’re concerned about.” Skaage has been volunteering with local DFL groups since 2004, when she first began working on Rep. Jeanne Poppe’s campaign. However, Skaage took an interest in politics long before 2004. She began voting in each election when she turned 18, and she grew up in a home in which everyone worked for a union or similar organization. “We grew up in a very liberal way of thinking,” she said. Two of Skaage’s greatest concerns in government are education and Social Security. Self-described as having been an “average kid,” she wishes young adults who do average in school could have more involvement with guidance counselors before graduating high school. “We can do way more at the preschool and elementary level than we are doing,” she said. “I wish guidance counselors took a more active role. I could have used more guidance in choosing a career and setting goals.” As she continues to fight for improved education and affordable Social Security, Skaage said she plans to continue running — not walking — from door to door at election time. “I’m selling the finished product, which is the politician,” she said. “But for the details of the ‘car,’ you’ll have to contact the manufacturer.”
Austin Daily Herald
16 Profile 2011
R EPU BLIC A N TAXES, ECONOMY DRIVE ONE-TIME DFLER TO GOP
DENNIS SCHMINKE When Dennis Schminke “happily and proudly pulled the lever” for democratic presidential candidate George McGovern in 1972, he never imagined he would be voting Republican in every election thereafter.
“I would say I’ve come a long ways from (1972),” Schminke said. “By 1976, I was an enthusiastic supporter of Gerald Ford for president.” When Schminke entered the workforce and saw large chunks of his paychecks being “carved away,” he began rethinking his views on government. He concluded limited government and more personal freedom is the best answer for America’s problems. “I want maximum freedom and maximum prosperity for everybody,” Schminke said. “The way you get there is political, economic and religious freedom on the foundation of rule of law — the Constitution.” “Government is not here to solve every problem for every person,” he added. Although some political activists tend to focus on more social issues like the debates surrounding gay marriage, abortion and illegal immigration, Schminke is more interested in the economic side of politics. Rising taxes, especially in recent years, concern Schminke because much of the taxation is unnecessary in his opinion. “Government is quite capable of messing things up through excess taxation,” he said. When it comes to economic growth, Schminke prefers the private sector take care of that. There’s very little the government can do to boost the economy better than the private sector, he said. In that vein, he would also like to see more private education enterprises, as well, such as charter and parochial schools. Schminke knows no one person can change all of these things alone, which is why he is involved with the Mower County GOP as the fundraising coordinator. And although creating change to the “big, plodding beast” that is government can be difficult, Schminke plans to keep working with the local Republican Party to impact the area. “You find out it’s one thing to have a strong opinion about something, but it’s another to go out and do something about it,” he said.
A PASSION FOR AUSTIN POLITICS
JASON BASKIN Being a Republican at the University of Minnesota isn’t necessarily a cakewalk, but Jason Baskin is proud to say he made it out relatively unscathed by more liberal ideals.
Baskin, who is active with the Mower County GOP and has worked on a number of Republican campaigns, has been interested in politics since he was a child. As young as third-grade, he began having conversations about controversial issues with his dad. “My dad was very intellectually engaged in politics,” he said. “We had a lot of long conversations about the role of government. That’s where my interest was piqued.” As chairman of the U of M College Republicans — of which there were very few members compared to the College Democrats — Baskin learned the importance of political involvement. “You’re not always the most popular guy on campus,” he joked. Since then, however, he has found his place as part of the Mower County GOP. “I have a deep passion for this town and this area,” said Baskin, who grew up in Austin. Baskin’s foremost concern is keeping government control to a minimum. People should be able to exercise their rights until they infringe on someone else’s rights, he said. Financial stability also sits at the top of his list of concerns; the government should not be spending money it doesn’t have on programs that are not necessary, he said. “We can’t have government being all things to all people,” he said. “We will dramatically destroy the standard of living that we have and our kids and grandkids have.” Baskin intends to do his part and continue his involvement with the local Republican Party. He may even consider running for office someday. Until then, he just wants to make a difference while meeting and working with other local conservatives. “I really love getting to meet people who share the same passions I do,” he said. “There’s a lot of good people out there working hard.”
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Austin’s Hospitality Headquarters
BELIEFS
By Trisha Marczak
MORE THAN AUSTIN’S PRIEST
FATHER JOE FOGAL Father Joe Fogal didn’t begin seminary believing he would enter the priesthood — now he can’t imagine living life any other way. A priest at St. Augustine’s and St. Edward’s churches in Austin, Fogal is known around the community as Austin’s priest. And while that’s a title he’s proud to claim, he hopes he’s more to people than just someone who wears the collar.
His passion is to present the love of Jesus through his life. “I am a presence of Jesus to people,” Fogal said. “I’m here to love people and help them to know God.” Fogal was ordained a priest in 1975. From there, he worked throughout the state in college ministry, high schools and churches. While he thoroughly enjoyed the energy of the high school and college settings, he said he’s grateful to now play meaningful roles in the lives of his parishioners. “You feel like you connect with people in ways that others can’t,” he said. The way Fogal explains it, priests are there for it all — good times and bad. And for him, there’s something truly rewarding about that. “You share in people’s happiest moments
and saddest moments,” he said. He’s there for births, baptisms, weddings and joyful celebrations. He’s also called on for funerals, prayer in tough times and comfort to those who need it the most. Fogal’s high energy and positive attitude make him a person most everyone wants to be around. For that reason, his schedule stays pretty busy. On any given day, he works from the early mornings into the evenings. But that’s all right for Fogal, who looks at his job more as a lifestyle than anything else. While rather busy, Fogal still takes time to enjoy the outdoors. Even when he’s enjoying the scenery with others from a mountainside or along a river or body of water, he said he feels most fortunate and blessed to be someone people can trust.
Austin Daily Herald
At Crane Chapel our goal is to follow Jesus Christ as the Savior we need, the Guide we can trust, and the Friend we can count on. We're finding that as we follow Him together, He has a way of deepening our ties to one another. As we follow Him, we become better friends with each other; and we're always delighted when God enlarges the circle. If you feel Him prompting you to give it a try at the Chapel, we hope you'll come by and see what He wants to do next. Worship 9:00 & 10:30 • Children’s Classes both services
Sunday Worship! • Nursery provided Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Awana Teen Ministry
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Pastor Dale Christiansen cranechapel@smig.net • www.cranechapel.org
Profile 2011
MINISTER, WIFE LENDS HELPING HAND
PASTOR JONATHAN AND AUDRA BAXTER Pastor Jonathan Baxter has a mission to reach those who feel like there may be no hope left. That was the motivation behind he and his wife, Audra Baxter’s, recent creation of In His Hands Ministry. “We just want to help,” Jonathan said. Jonathan and Audra have a desire to reach out to those who have fallen through the cracks and to teach them to help one another. The two regularly meet for worship service Sundays at the Mower County Senior Center, where they were given a space to help get things up and running. On the second Sunday of each month, the couple hosts a 1 p.m. dinner open to anyone in the community — no strings attached. While the struggle of starting a new ministry has certainly been felt by the couple, they know it’s their mission to continue, and so they shall.
“Our mission is to present Jesus Christ to the lost.” -Jonathan Baxter
Austin Daily Herald
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Profile 2011
In the long-term, they’re hoping to create a rooted ministry in the community that provides support for those who are homeless or who are just in that “rough spot.” Baxter said he wants to house the homeless, feed the hungry and equip the less fortunate. Baxter and his wife knows what it’s like to be in that “rough spot,” where it seems help is needed, but no qualifications for official help are able to be met. “Our mission is to present Jesus Christ to the lost,” Baxter said. He also hopes that the ministry is able to equip those that come across their path with the tools they need to go on and help others. In a sense, he and his wife are looking to create a circle of faith, help and friendship that has the potential to reach those who have slipped through the cracks. He’s also hoping, in the long-term, to provide counseling for marital restoration and victims of domestic violence. While the ministry is now in its beginning phases, Baxter said it’s his prayer that In His Hands Ministries will grow to help those in need. And considering he feels the ministry is one ordained by God, he’s sure it will do just that.
DRIVEN BY JUSTICE
KIRSTEN LINDBLOOM
SERVING GOD BY SERVING OTHERS
SISTER LORRAINE LOECHER
Austin Daily Herald
20 Profile 2011
Sister Lorraine Loecher knew she wanted to be a nun in second grade, but it wasn’t until her senior year that she made the final commitment to move forward in her calling. “I wanted to serve God and serve other people,” she said. After high school, she went on to study with the Franciscan Sisters in Rochester, which was a natural transition, considering Loecher had developed relationships with the sisters while attending school at Pacelli High School in Austin. She eventually went on to graduate from St. Teresa College in Rochester with a degree in elementary education. Her first years a nun were spent in the classroom. After college graduation she went on to teach in Chicago, Glencoe, North Saint Paul and Rochester. After her years of teaching, she moved on to attend Notre Dame, where she earned her master’s in liturgical studies. Her next phase in life sent her out to various areas in Minnesota, where she worked as a liturgy coordinator and helped with pastoral ministry. Her move back to Minnesota was fitting, as she was able to spend time around her family, including her sister, Joanne Loecher, who is also a Franciscan Sister. Loecher is now busy with her home churches of St. Augustine’s and St. Edward’s, where she hosts regular women’s Bible studies and works closely with families from Sudan, Togo and Kenya. Ultimately, Loecher said she wants to remain true to her calling and stand by her desire to serve God and others. “I find ways to help people grow spiritually,” she said. When she’s not serving inside the church, she can often be found outside, where she likes to beautify the area around St. Augustine’s with flowers and vegetables. She’s also been known to head outdoors in the winter for a cross country ski run, or head out on her bike in the summer. Looking back to the decision she made as a young girl to devote her life to God, Loecher said she’s certain she chose the right path. “This is what I enjoy doing,” she said.
Kirsten Lindbloom is a justice driven person. Her passion for human rights largely stems from her own personal experience as an immigrant. Lindbloom was born in Canada, but made her way down to the states during college. As a student, she was able to take on internships and work study programs — experiences that led her to pursue post-College positions in Minnesota. Her first working experience out of college was with a touring theater group that regularly presented issues on social justice. She also worked in Austin with the parenting research center as a program manager and grant writer under a working visa. Lindbloom knows what it’s like to go through the immigration process, and she understands the price tag that comes along with it. That’s one of the reasons behind her passion to educate Austin on immigration and how to live in a society made up of people from different backgrounds. For the past three years, Lindbloom has thrown her passion behind Austin’s Human Rights Commission. The commission’s focus is on educating and providing avenues for people with opinions on issues relating to human rights, including immigration. It uses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as its guidelines. “The city of Austin is a growing, changing community,” she said. Lindbloom’s justice-driven passion for human rights also spills over into her involvement with Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender organizations, such as the college’s Gay Straight Alliance and Stage Left, a community organization that uses music and theater to present LGBT issues. Her involvement with Stage Left has taken her to colleges, churches and conferences throughout the region. The group was even recently given an award from Minnesota System of Colleges and Universities for its work on diversity. Lindbloom said her involvement in all things human rights related stems from a belief that the similarities people share are more important than the differences that too often divide.
DIRECTING AUSTIN’S YOUTH
DAVID JORDON
David Jordon didn’t always have a passion to teach others about Christianity. Ironically, that’s what makes his current role so fitting. Jordon was a student at Austin High School when he first became a Christian, marking the start of a journey that would eventually take him back to the place where it all began: AHS. Jordon is the Austin director of Youth for Christ, a national organization aimed at providing support for Christian youth in public high schools. After High School, Jordon became active as a leader in his youth group at Cornerstone Church. From there, he went on to attend two years of discipleship training in Florida and eventually led mission trips to Belgium and England. From there, it was off to Scot-
land, where he worked on church building and led mission-related trips. When he returned to Minnesota in 2007, he started working part time at The Rock in Albert Lea, a Youth for Christ site. When a full-time position opened up in the Austin area, he jumped at the chance. Rather than working out of a building, Jordon spends most of his time in the high school, where he meets with students before school and during lunch. He also has a presence at Riverland Community College, where he helps out with Righteous Invasion Of Truth (RIOT), a Christian student life group on campus that meets during lunch every Wednesday. Jordon said the group is, more than anything, a place for students with common ground to come together for accountability and friendship. Jordon also likes to mingle with those who were not brought up in a Christian household, as he knows it’s sometimes difficult to deal with the pressures of the teenage years. He wants to see students who are lonely come together to find joy in others. “I don’t want any kids to go through those feelings,” he said.
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BETHLEHEM B ETHLEHEM CHURCH CHU URCH A FREE METHODIST HODIST T FELLOWSHIP WSHIP
Making Loving g Disciples of Jesus Christ for God’s Glory By Connecting: g: T o God, T o Ea ach Other, Otherr, To To Each T o Ministry y, T o the Lost To Ministry, To SUNDA AY SERVICE SERVICE CE (Sept-May) 10:30 0:30 am SUNDAY SUMMER SER VICE (June-Aug) 9:30 30 am SERVICE HISP ANIC WORSHIP SHIP 3:00 00 pm HISPANIC SUNDA AY SCHOOL OL (Sept-May) 9:15 15 am SUNDAY WED MID-WEEK K (Sept-Apr) 6:00 00 pm Free Meal, Music, Small Groups ups for All Ages, English Language Learning
E-mail: stjohns@smig.net www2.smig.net/stjohns Sunday at 9:00 AM l Saturday at 6:00 PM Sunday service live on KAUS AM 1480
Christian Education Hour Sunday 10:15 AM Tom Ogilvie, Pastor l Troy Miller, Director of Christian Education
Dave Martin - Senior enior Pastor Mike Cogswell - Associate Pastor
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St. Augustine 405 4th St NW 437-4537 Wednesday 5:15 P.M. Thursday 7:30 A.M. Saturday 4:00 P.M. Sunday 10:30 A.M.
Profile 2011
1500 4th A 1 ve SE Ave A Austin, MN 55912 2 (5 507) 433-3705 (507) w www .bethlehemfree.org ree.org www.bethlehemfree.org
CHURCH OVERCAME OBSTACLES FOR UNLIKELY HOME
DAVE SIMERSON By Trisha Marczak
The story behind Cornerstone Church’s journey in Austin cannot be attributed to one single person’s work or contributions. But in every body of believers, there are leaders. Cornerstone head pastor Dave Simerson has been through a lot with the church. He recalls the days of worship services in rented middle school gyms and can remember the joy — and stress — that went along with the church’s big move to the renovated theater in Sterling Shopping Center, a place the church today calls home. That stress hit a high point when the roof of the shopping center collapsed under the weight of heavy snow. If there’s one thing that can be said about Simerson’s experience with Cornerstone, it’s that the road hasn’t always been smooth. But he, along with his pastoral team, have gained insight from the experience and have been given the opportunity to trust God, even when it seemed like the sky was falling down around them. “We learned to stay the course,” said youth and worship pastor Cory Goetz, who joined Cornerstone in 1998. Simerson said the church did come close to giving up on the project, but decided as a church body that moving ahead was part of the plan. “We did get close to walking away,” Simerson said. “We sank half a million dollars into nothing — a big white wall.” After the collapse, the church decided to put up a giant wall where the entrance of the building now stands. For a year, the site sat vacant. During that time, Simerson tried to find a bank to finance the project. “I filled out loan applications for months,” he said. After hours and hours of effort, Simerson found a taker: a bank out of California. But even with the financial backer in hand, the church was essentially
fundraising to build in what looked to be a disastrous location. Despite the unfavorable conditions and circumstances up to that point, Simerson said the church listened to the call and made it happen. While the goal was to create a building for the church, Simerson said it was more than a fundraiser for a building — it was an effort by the people of the church to provide a physical location for people to come to know the Lord. That’s exactly what Simerson, Goetz and associate pastor Aaron Broberg see happening at Cornerstone’s new home. “We know that God has led us to do this,” Simerson said. The design of the new church tends to reflect more of a coffee shop feel than a traditional church building. That’s exactly what Simerson and his crew were going for. The way they see it, creating a comfortable atmosphere is one way they can show people that they can come as they are — and be accepted. “We see this as a tool,” Goetz said of the building. “We exist to present Christ, to help one more person live a life in Jesus Christ. Having this church is just like getting a new set of tools to work with. We want to steward this church in a way that’s pleasing to God.” And with many in the community wondering what happened to the theater that collapsed and caused a loud “boom,” there was a lot of curiosity around town when the church opened the doors of its new home. The reactions are always different, but, for most who enter for the first time, it’s usually out of a sense of curiosity. Whether it’s a curiosity about the building, the message or the style of worship, the church’s vision of helping people live in a life fully alive in Christ is being seen. And when Simerson and his church members look back at the journey they’ve gone through, they’re certain they made the right move in trusting God. “It shows what He can do in our own personal lives,” Broberg said.
“We know that God has led us to do this.”
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-Dave Simerson
22 Profile 2011
Serving the people of Mower County in areas of Employment and Contracted Services by building business partnerships for over 48 years.
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• Center-Based Employment • Mental Health Services • Specialized Transportation • Community or Supported Employment • School to Work Transition
SMALL TOWN STANDOUTS
LYLE COUPLE HONORS LOVED ONES BY TAKING ACTION
JEFF AND GEORGIA RAMAKER By Jason Schoonover
Jeff and Georgia Ramaker were touched by cancer and now they’re trying to do something about it. Jeff and Georgia Ramaker first moved to Lyle about 10 years ago, and the two soon became involved with the Lyle Area Cancer Auction. Now they’re blending a love for music with a drive to fight the disease they know all too well. Jeff is co-founder of the Delmar Ramaker Memorial Concert for the Cure, in honor of his brother who died of colon cancer in 1998. Jeff even wrote and performed a song in honor of his brother. Likewise, Georgia’s sister recently beat breast cancer, and she also has a friend who was recently diagnosed.
Austin Daily Herald
24 Profile 2011
•Olive Oil, Pasta & Sauces Imported from Italy •Gourmet Cookware •Bakeware •Custom Spices •Kitchen Gadgets •Knife Sets •Fresh Teas
“It just kind of hits you,” she said. “I guess that’s what keeps you going.” The concert started small in its first year with about 200 people listening to groups like Glen Sebastian and Six Mile Grove at the Austin VFW. “We’re hoping to grow that into a bigger event every year,” Jeff said. This summer, the concert will likely move outside to the Ramaker’s farm. “It gives use more room and more options to have a lot more people,” he said. Jeff’s goal is to help build the concert into more of a festival featuring a full slate of acts and camping. Jeff has ties to artists like Shane Wyatt and Whealan Martin, and his goal is to someday attract a nationally known musician. Hosting an event on their property is nothing new for the Ramakers. For many years, the two hosted a haunted barn around Halloween. When their barn began to age, the two stopped hosting the event. “It was very tough for me to give up,” Georgia said. The two had to give it up because their barn was aging. Even with the haunted barn behind them, Jeff and Georgia are excited to continue promoting the auction through other avenues.
ADAMS' JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES
MARK ANDERSON
25 Austin Daily Herald
Mark Anderson is the Superman of Adams. He’s been the director of the Adams Ambulance Service, recently retired from a 30 year career as a Mower County Sheriff’s deputy, is part of the Mower County Trail Committee, sits on the Adams City Council, is the vicepresident of a local snowmobiling group. He even volunteers as a snowmobile instructor when he’s not helping groom more than 260 miles of county trails. “Well, I stay busy I guess.” Anderson said. “It isn’t just me, I mean you got a lot of other people (helping out).” An avid outdoorsman, Anderson has loved snowmobiling since his father bought him his first Polaris snowmobile when he was 13years-old. Since then, he’s loved every minute riding and grooming trails, swapping laughs with other riders and sharing the sport with his family. “It’s just the past time my whole family enjoys,” Anderson said. “We all do it as a family sport. We enjoy riding the trails, enjoy the camaraderie with other snowmobile riders.” Aside from snowmobiling, Anderson likes camping with his wife and two now-grown daughters, as well as hunting, sometimes bringing his dog Brutus along. “It’s just fun being with nature and enjoying that,” he said. “Being out in the solitude and the quietness, just getting out and enjoying the outdoors instead of sitting in the house.” Despite his love for fun, Anderson also values public service. He served as an Adams Ambulance volunteer for 13 years before being promoted to director in 2010, and has been an Adams City Council member for nearly as long, as he was first elected more than 10 years ago. That’s on top of the six years he has spent grooming county snowmobile trails. “I just wanted to try to get on and to keep moving the city in a positive nature,” Anderson said. “And to help out the community too.” When he has a little free time, he enjoys taking on a game of golf with his wife, Gail. His tee times are few and far between, given how busy he is serving the town. “I’m just trying to give back to the community,” he said.
Profile 2011
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DEXTER'S MAYOR FOUND LIFELONG HOME
RANDY STEPHENSON
27 Austin Daily Herald
Everybody knows him in Dexter because he’s been there his whole life — and there aren’t many activities he doesn't have his hands in. Randy Stephenson is Dexter's mayor. He’s served on the council in all capacities intermittently for roughly 30 years. Stephenson has said he was going to quit, but nobody ever believed him. “Every time I tell them I'm not going to run, they say, ‘yeah right’ — I should run away,” Stephenson said jokingly. During the day, he can be found at Dexter Elevator, which his great-grandfather and father both owned. Although he doesn't own it, he stays busy and does more than enough to earn his keep. However, he joked some wouldn't call what he does work. When he's not busy with the harvest, he's selling LP gas, which Dexter elevator delivers to areas from the Iowa border to near Byron. “He puts his time in,” said Daren Kaster, one of Dexter Elevator's owners. “He's the perfect man for all these jobs — because he's here.” On top of his work and council duties, Stephenson volunteers as the town’s fire chief. He said other volunteers came to him in ‘72, shortly after he graduated high school, and asked him to be the fire chief. Since that day, he's only missed two years on the job. The arrangement works out well for everybody. Stephenson spends most of his days at the elevator; but if they have a fire, he locks up and goes to the station a block away. To improve the fire station and its equipment, Stephenson has served as the gambling manager for pull tabs in Dexter and works with his wife, Barbara, to distribute the money. In roughly 10 years, the tabs have generated $650,000 — from a town of about 300 people. Stephenson is proud of the community's efforts, and gives the money to other charitable causes by giving frequent donations to churches and putting money aside for relief efforts and those in need. On Sunday, you can find Stephenson at St. John's Lutheran church in Elkton. That's because he is the church president; although he acknowledges that he’s more of a co-president. Stephenson feels somewhat obligated to perform all his duties around Dexter. But he also said he enjoys doing all that stuff. “I can't stand not having my nose involved in something,” he said. Because he can't stand not having a say in everything, Stephenson will likely continue his duties for years to come. “Until I die — probably,” he said.
Profile 2011
By Matt Peterson
LEROY JUNIOR
KRISTA BUNNE Krista Bunne, like her sisters and cousins, plays sports for LeRoy-Ostrander, but there is another side to Krista. An artistic side. "(I've been interested) ever since I can remember," Bunne said. Bunne constantly tries to evolve her work. "I've started doing more with paints and drawing with pencil," she said. "I really love it. I want to incorporate what I see into something." Bunne said that of all the aspects of art, she enjoys working with people and the human form.
STANDOUT STUDENTS
GRAND MEADOW JUNIOR
PAUL JOHNSON
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Profile 2011
Paul Johnson can often be seen on the sidelines of Grand Meadow sporting events, taking pictures for the school's yearbook. It's a hobby that has taken off for Johnson who admits he's been pretty casual in his shooting. "I've really gotten into it the last couple of years," Johnson said. "I've had a casual interest for quite awhile." Outside of the school, Johnson looks for interesting subjects that catch his eye. "I like taking a picture of something that you don't usually see from a different point of view," he said. Johnson doesn't think he'll make this a profession, but he has no plans to stop taking pictures. "Probably just as a hobby," Johnson said.
PACELLI SENIOR
STEPHANIE KOCER
Stephanie Kocer knows what she's going to do in life. She wants to become a journalist, something that has come from a life already full of writing. Since she can remember, Kocer has been writing, beginning with short stories in school. "I like writing my thoughts and ideas," Kocer said. "Sometimes it's hard to say things out loud, but I can write them down and they are a lot more colorful.” The writing also comes from an avid interest in the world around her. "I like reading news stores, current events," Kocer said. "I always like being informed."
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Austin Daily Herald
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TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY - NATIONWIDE & SPRINT CUP RACES APRIL 6-11, 2011 MYRTLE BEACH & CHARLESTON, SC APRIL 9-17, 2011 SPRING MYSTERY - ALL NEW 6 DAY TOUR APRIL 26-MAY 1 HOLLAND, MI - TULIP FESTIVAL MAY 13-15, 2011 NEW YORK CITY MAY 14-21, 2011 ONLY A FEW SEATS LEFT NIAGARA FALLS & TORONTO, ON MAY 24-29, 2011 NW CIRCLE & YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK JUNE 16 - JULY 1,2011 MACKINAC ISLAND, MI JUNE 17-19, 2011 DOOR COUNTY, WI JUNE 24-26, 2011 CALGARY STAMPEDE & CANADIAN ROCKIES JULY 9-17, 2011 GRANDPARENTS & GRANDKIDS & FAMILIES IN KANSAS CITY, MO AUGUST 3-6, 2011 TRAINS IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES AUGUST 11-20, 2011 SUMMERTIME ON THE MISSISSIPPI (GREAT 3 DAY TOUR) AUGUST 24-26, 2011 FALL MYSTERY (ALL NEW 6 DAY TOUR) SEPT. 6-11, 2011 MACKINAC ISLAND, MI SEPT. 16-18, 2011 CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY - NATIONWIDE & SPRINT CUP RACES SEPT. 16-19, 2011 NOVA SCOTIA & ATLANTIC CANADA SEPT. 26-OCT. 12, 2011 NEW ENGLAND FALL COLOR TOUR OCT. 1-12, 2011 WASHINGTON DC & GETTYSBURG OCT. 17-23, 2011 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN CHICAGO, IL NOV. 25-27, 2011 A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN NASHVILLE, TN NOV. 29-DEC. 4, 2011 HAWAII - HONOLULU & MAUI (COMPLETE PACKAGE) JAN. 21-29, 2012 THE PRICES ARE BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
STANDOUT STUDENTS
HAYFIELD JUNIOR
AUSTIN JUNIOR
Austin Daily Herald
32 Profile 2011
AMANDA GRAV
DYLAN KAERCHER, JR.
Amanda Grav loves the stage, in one aspect or the other, and she's loved it for quite sometime. She loves to dance, sing, plays in the school band, jazz band, performs in show choir, plays the organ and the piano along with the guitar and, of course, don't forget the handbells. "I love music," Grav said. "It's a source of expression. It can show how you feel." In that same vein there is the dance side, a more eloquent side of her expression. Amanda has been dancing for 14 years and in much the same way as she feels with music, she feels in dance. "It's somewhere between the social aspect and the emotionality of it," Grav explains.
There is no doubt what Dylan Kaercher's true love is: drama. "It's always been a family thing," Kaercher said. For years, he's been in love with the stage, seemingly acting in as many presentations as he can, including the Austin High School and Middle School and the Children's Matchbox Theatre. Though he's been in several kinds of presentations, Dylan is especially fond of musicals. "I like, when you're in a musical, you can portray everyday things you don't get to do normally, which is fun," Kaercher said. After school, Kaercher hopes to continue pursuing theater. "I would like to go into performing arts and hopefully end up on Broadway," Kaercher said with a laugh. "A bigger stage in front of a bigger audience."
Curbside Services Curbside services for recycling pickup (twice per month) are available for residents in the cities of Austin, Mapleview, Brownsdale, Grand Meadow, and LeRoy (within city limits). Visit our website at www.co.mower.mn.us/Recy cling-HHW.htm to see the curbside schedule. How do I sign up for recycling and how much does it cost? Come to the Environmental Services offices (1105 1/2 8th Ave NE) during regular business hours to pick up three bins and be given a brief overview of the program. Recycling fees are included in the taxes paid by Mower County residents. As long as you are a resident of Mower County there is no additional cost to you. Why should I recycle? We have to do something with the garbage we produce. American’s produce on average 1600 lbs. of garbage per person every year - about 4.4 lbs. per day Acceptable materials Newspaper, magazines, white office paper, corrugated cardboard, pressed board (ex: cereal box), tin cans, aluminum cans, glass bottles & jars, plastic bottles with or . Visit our website at www.co.mower.mn.us/Recy cling-HHW.htm for more information WE DO NOT accept the following wastes Waxed cardboard (ex: fruit box), frozen food containers made of paper (ex: frozen pizza box), juice container made of paper, window glass or mirrors, ceramic glass (ex coffee cup), any plastic not in bottle form through , no styrofoam of any kind, no plastic bags of any kind. Drop-off for recycling We do have a drop off area at the Recycling Center located at 1111 8th Ave. NE in Austin.
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Questions? www.co.mower.mn.us/recycling.html or call Mower County Recycling office located at 1105 1/2 8th Ave. NE, Austin, MN 55912. Call (507) 437-9551.
STANDOUT STUDENTS
B.P. SENIOR
SOUTHLAND SENIOR
Music is a part of Marie Helkenn as is art and writing, all things that help define Marie as who she is. For Marie, the form her music takes is the saxophone, an instrument she has been playing since fifth-grade. "I've played the sax in one form or another since then," Helkenn said. But her creative side also takes the form of her art and writing. "I've always liked doing art," Helkenn said. "Always." And with writing, it's about putting into words what she's thinking. Along with her music and art pursuits, Helkenn is on the Blooming Prairie speech team where she competes in creative expression. "I can write whatever I like," Helkenn said.
Chelsea Holst has energy, which could explain her love for dance and why she has been so involved in it over the years. Her love of dance started when she was young. "My mom put me in dance all the time when I was little, and I just fell in love with it," Holst said. Like all dance, it's about expression, not only her thoughts but her feelings. "It's a place where I can be myself," Holst said. "I never leave the studio in a bad mood."
MARIE HELKENN
CHELSEA HOLST
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MOWER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS Despite rough times, it’s still free
Mower County’s favorite get-together has come on some hard times in recent years, with budget cuts and heat waves. But still, the fair has continued to entertain for more than 140 years. 1863 – County board decides to form an agricultural society to hold county fairs. 1864 – Agricultural society holds fair in Lansing, which is considered a success, despite bad weather. 1883 – Austin Park purchased for $1,800 to host the annual fair. 1884 – The fair becomes an annual event in Austin, and more than 2,000 people are reported on the second day. 1938 – A headline in the Austin Daily Herald on Aug. 10 reads “County’s greatest fair predicted.” Along with 4-H taking a big part in the fair, Japanese performers, the Taketa Trio, were slated to perform. 1941 – The fairgrounds add livestock exhibition buildings, and repairs the grandstand and track to remove all stones. 1949 – The Pioneer Building is the first building erected at the Mower County Historical Society. 1950s – For many years, races were a large part of the fair grounds, as were horse shows and, of course, concessions. 1954 – Ostrich races are held at the fair with local notables like Police Chief George Roope, Mayor Baldy Hanson and Commissioner Robert Shaw filling in as jockeys. Camel races are touted as a new attraction, as well as a wild animal show that included 36 animals of Hollywood fame.
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orical Society wer County Fair. Mower County Hist Mo 1 189 the s ise ert adv et This tick
1984 – The fair celebrates 100 years in Austin. 1986 – About a decade before taking office as governor, Jesse “The Body” Ventura held a Wednesday night 8 p.m. show at the grandstand with his band “The Soldiers of Fortune.” The band also played to 24,000 people at the Metrodome. 2010 – In the wake of budget difficulties, the board of commissioners opts to cut its funding to the fair. The fair board uses endorsements from local businesses to help make up the lost funding. 2011 – The fair will remain a free, event after hot weather drives down attendance at the 2010 fair.
Mowe
r County Historical So ciety Mower County fair workers pose for a photo. Date unknow n.
Mower County Historical Society
Race cars ready for races at the fair around 1949. Before the track was converted into a parking lot, races were a long-standing tra dition at the fair. storical Society Mower County Hi s looks
toward fairground e th 50s. of ew vi al taken in the 19 This aeri y el lik as w re n. The pictu southeast Austi
Mower County Historical Society
Judging at the Mower County Fair. Date unknown.
Mower County Historical Society
Two people ride the Ferris Wh eel at the Mower County Fairgroun ds, likely in the 1970s or 1980s.
night ep twilight of Friday Rides swirl in the de ir. e Mower County Fa on the midway of th
THROUGH THE YEARS
TERP BALLROOM EL PARRAL /
From JOHNNY TO JIMMY
Did you know Johnny Cash played a show in Austin? He played where most of the biggest names stopped in Austin: the Terp Ballroom. As a scrapbook from the early 1990s said, the Terp Ballroom “saw America’s favorite bands and singers.” Notable performers at the Terp include Johnny Cash and June Carter, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Jimmy Dean, Bobby Vinton and Tommy Dorsey. For many years, Friday night was “Old Time” night with polkas and waltzes, featuring bands like The 6 Fat Dutchman and The Scandinavians. Bands like the Everly Brothers and The Letterman played at the Terp in the 1950s and 1960s.
Mower Co
unty Historical Society A group displays pr oducts at the Terp sometime in the first part of the 20 th century.
1938 – The Terp opens with performances by the orchestras of Don Lawson and Paul Moorhead. The ballroom could hold up to 2,000 guests. Dances were commonly held on four nights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and some holidays. 1945 – On Nov. 22 – Thanksgiving Day – the Terp is devastated by a fire. Damages are estimated at $140,000. Owner Carl Fox Vows to rebuild in the same spot. 1946 – On Dec. 6, the new Terp opens with a performance by the Henry Charles Band. 1947 – Expansion adds a bowling alley and adjoining building for the cost of $350,000. 1968 – Two weeks with no shows or dances booked forecasts the decline of ballrooms. 1978 – The Terp sees a brief resurgence, but nothing like the early years. 1989 – The Rev. Jonathon Law converts the Terp to The Vineyard for New Life Fellowship church, but pledges to keep the marquee. 2004 – The Vineyard falls victim to flooding 2009 – Custodio Serrano buys the Terp and turns it into a place for music, dancing and other community events. Plans call for the ballroom to be a community center to host parties and weddings in Austin, rather than holding such events out of town. 2010 – El Parral opens in Austin.
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Historical Society Terp in its heyday. Mower County This postcard advertises the
Mo
wer County Historical Society New Life Vineyard Ch ristian Fellowship af ter its
Terp Ballroom days .
Mower County Historical Society
5. Fire on Thanksgiving Day 194
Mower County
Historical Society The original Terp isn't the bui lding standing today, as a fire destroyed much of the buiding on Thanks giving Day, Nov. 22, 1945.
THROUGH THE YEARS
HORMEL FOODS CORP. Spamtown, usa
George A. Hormel opened Geo. A Hormel & Company on a $500 loan in an abandoned building. Today, it’s a Fortune 500 Company. For more than a century, the company has been a driving force in Austin and has given the town some of its most famous exports and remembered events. Hormel has helped shape Austin into Spamtown, U.S.A. 1891 – George Hormel founds Geo. A. Hormel & Company in an abandoned creamery building. 1901 – Hormel expands and becomes incorporated 1921 – Jay C. Hormel returns for service in World War I to find Cy Thomson, an assistant controller, has embezzled $1,187,000 from the company. 1929 – George Hormel passes the business to his son, Jay C. Hormel. 1935 – The company introduces Dinty Moore beef stew. 1937 – Spam debuts after the product’s original name, Hormel Spiced Ham, began to lose its market share. 1941 – Jay C. Hormel establishes the Hormel Foundation and the Hormel Institute after sales topped $75 million that year. 1946 – George A. Hormel dies in California. 1954 – Jay C. Hormel dies. 1959 – The American Humane Society awards Hormel with the Seal of Approval for its practice of anesthetizing animals before slaughter. 1961 – Hormel introduces Cure 81 Hams. Mower County Historical Society
plant. Construction of the Hormel
1978 – Hormel threatens to move its plant outside of Austin. A deal is reached to build a new plant in Austin, but the deal leads to concessions by the workers in a contract. The contract would later be one of the key issues that spurs the Hormel strike. 1979 – Hormel breaks ground on a new plant in Austin. 1982 – On May 24, production begins in the new 1,300,000-square-foot plant. 1985 – In August, P-9’ers strike over cuts to their salary. 1986 – After 10 months, the strike ends in June with more than 700 workers losing their jobs. 1990 – “American Dream” – a film about the Hormel Strike – wins an Academy Award for best documentary. 1991 – Hormel celebrates its 100th anniversary by reporting a record $2.6 billion in sales in 1990.
Austin Daily Herald
1993 – Geo. A. Hormel & Company changes its name to Hormel Foods Corp. 2001 – The SPAM Museum opens in Austin.
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Mower County Historical Society Workers on the floor at Horm el in the mid-to late 1950s.
2010 – Hormel celebrates 150th birthday of Geo. A. Hormel with a strong year, despite the recession.
Profile 2011
Mow
er County Historical Society This shot shows the old Geo. A. Hormel plant alongside Mil l Pond in the early 20th Centur y.
Birds-eye view of Hormel and QPP as it stands today.
Mower County Historica l Society The production line at the Hormel plan t. Date unknown.
Mower County Historical Society
A boy watches the demolition of the original plant in July of 1982.
l Mower County Historica
Society
right. George A Hormel at ith w 98 18 in s ee Hormel Co. employ
THROUGH THE YEARS
MOWER COUNTY COURTHOUSE NO PLACE LIKE DOME
Justice has had many faces in Mower County. Mower County’s new jail and courthouse has been one of the most discussed topics of the last decade. But the new courthouse didn’t mark the first time the courts have moved to a new home. In fact, the new building is just the latest installment in a story dating back to the 1850s. 1857 – First courthouse opens in the office of A.S. Everest – the building used as county seat headquarters. 1868 – The first courthouse is built in Mower County.
Mower County Historical Society
ent Center — now The Mower County Governm structed as an the old courthouse — was con e. addition to the 1884 courthous
1884 – The county’s second courthouse is erected with a silver dome on top. One newspaper clipping said when the 1884 structure was completed it was an “imposing structure and said to be the most commodious building west of Milwaukee, Wisc.” 1937 – A statue of George Washington is unveiled on the courthouse lawn. 1967 – The courthouse dome is taken down. 1976 – The old courthouse is demolished, and the old dome is moved to the Mower County Historical Society. 2002 – Because of Safety concerns, the dome is moved from the fairgrounds to the Root River Antique Historical Power Association near Deer Creek Speedway. 2003 – The Mower County Board of Commissioners started studying the jail and found the facility outdated and limited. 2004 – On Feb. 5, a committee of citizens, elected officials and staff recommends the county construct a new facility for the jail and courts. 2007 – On Nov. 27 the board votes to construct the new jail and courthouse downtown. 2008 – The jail project goes out to bids.
Mower County Historical Society
In the mid-1860s, Austin's old courthouse lawn was an empty lot in the growin g downtown.
2010 – In September, the new courthouse opens as part of the Mower County Jail and Justice Center in downtown Austin. The jail opened in December. The total project cost about $28 million.
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orical Society the late 1800s. Mower County Hist in stin Au wn nto dow icts This postcard dep
Mower County Historical Society
A street scene looking down Main Street from the positi on of the courthouse in the year 1930.
Mower County Historical Society
The courthouse dome after it was moved from construction of the old courthouse. The Dome is now at the Root River Historical Power Association.
Mower County Historical Society
Part of the Mower County Go vernment Center is constructed in 1970. l Mower County Historica
Society
the the architecture of This picture shows the re fo be was torn down courthouse, which s 70 19 was built in the government center
THROUGH THE YEARS
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Profile 2011
LYLE SENIOR
DYLAN FETT
Austin Daily Herald
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Dylan Fett is a powerhouse, albeit a quiet, calm powerhouse. "I'm pretty calm, I don't really loose my temper," Fett said. There's not much that riles Dylan, even the game of golf, which he looks at as a challenge each and every time out. "Golf is a very difficult sport," he said. "Every time I've played it's been a different experience." Dylan is an involved student and, given his wide range of interests, there are a lot of options, though he says his favorite activities are golf, drama and basketball. "It's the challenges and the chance of succeeding," Dylan said.
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Austin Daily Herald
46 Profile 2011
RECREATION
“My dream is to compete at the college level.” -Sela Fadness
CHASING HER DREAM
SELA FADNESS
47 Austin Daily Herald
After making it to the Class ‘A’ Minnesota state individual gymnastics meet in back-to-back years as a middle schooler, Austin freshman Sela Fadness was ready for a new challenge this season. So she decided to give being a full-time gymnast a chance. Fadness is competing with the Catz, which is a USA Gymnastics club team based out of Pine Island this year and she’s already learning some lessons. “I feel like I have improved since being there because I’ve had more time in the gym and that helps you get better and perfect your skills,” said Fadness, who travels to Pine Island a couple of nights a week for four-hour practice sessions. With the Catz, Fadness has better practice facilities as the team has two foam pits to help her try more difficult routines on the vault. “You can blow a skill that you don’t have and not have to worry about getting hurt. It’s really nice to have that,” Fadness said. Fadness is also learning what its like to compete against some talented gymnasts. She ranks at about a level nine out of 10 on USGA’s skill rating and at her last meet, there were 70 other gymnasts who shared that rating. In high school, it was rare that Fadness saw that many gymnasts who were near her caliber. Last year, she finished 10th at state in all-around competition and was third on the floor exercise. She though about going back to the high school team which went to state as a team last season for the first time, but she wanted to improve as much as possible. “I figured I’d try to do this for a year and see where it goes. My dream is to compete at the college level and I’m trying to chase it,” Fadness said. “I want to get to a DI school and I don’t know how realistic that is right now, but hopefully if I keep improving, I can see something in the future.” Fadness began competing at the YMCA at age seven and she found a passion for it instantly. “I just loved it and I had great experiences with teams and coaching,” Fadness said. “I had a love for the sport, and when I knew that I didn’t want to pursue any sport as much as this one, I had to go somewhere with it.”
Profile 2011
By Rocky Hulne
“Once you’ve played as long as I have, you never want to give it up.” -John Kirby
BRUIN TAKES SECOND CHANCE WITH HOMETOWN TEAM
JOHN KIRBY By Rocky Hulne
Austin Daily Herald
48 Profile 2011
John Kirby has been playing hockey since before he could even remember it. At 3-years-old, he played hockey across the street from his home. As soon as he was old enough, he began playing youth hockey, then high school. Now he plays for the Austin Bruins. Kirby said high school was one of his best experiences because he played with his brothers, and they’ve been a big reason why he still plays. “Once you've played as long as I have, you never want to give it up,” Kirby said. “It's something I will always want to do.” Kirby hasn't always had it easy, though. He reconsidered his options after experiencing a hurdle one year after high school. Kirby played with the Owatonna Express of the National Amateur Hockey League for about six weeks and was cut from the team. He took some critical advice from his family, realizing he was still young enough to make it work. Kirby spoke with his brother, Tim, who still plays college hockey for Air Force Academy. Kirby listened because Tim knew what to expect on the road to higher level hockey. Both Tim and Kirby's father gave him some tough and honest advice. “They told me ‘if you quit, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you,’” Kirby said. He didn’t quit. “I love skating; I love being able to hit people,” he said. “No matter what I do, I feel like I have to be playing sports.” Because Kirby has learned to keep his aspirations high, like his brother, he wants to go on to Air Force Academy, too. The dream is to play college, D-1 hockey,” he said, also implying he’s not the only one on the team with such goals. That’s why Kirby has the drive to improve his game. He’s paid close attention to what his coaches try to improve. “John is a gifted athlete with the tools to make the step to the next level,” said Bruins Head Coach Chris Tok. “He is maturing into a well-rounded individual who can be an asset to any program, provided he continues to do the extra work to gain the advantage over his counterparts.” For now, Kirby feels lucky to play hockey and is happy about his situation, especially after not playing in Austin for more than a year. “It’s amazing being able to play a high level of hockey in front of my home town.”
Riverland head baseball coach Scott Koenigs doesn’t want his players making the same mistakes he did when he played. That is why he demands nothing less than 100 percent effort from his team at all times. After a breakout freshman season in Fergus Falls, Koenigs transferred to Winona State,
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Profile 2011
By Rocky Hulne
49
SCOTT KOENIGS
where he had what he calls an ‘average’ threeyear career. As the years went by, I wished I would’ve worked harder,” he said. “I probably put more time into basketball than baseball, and I wish I wouldn’t have done that. So that’s how I coach now, I try to get my players to work as hard as they can.” Koenigs is entering his ninth year with the Blue Devils, who are ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA preseason polls. Riverland has put up two straight 30-win seasons and they’ve gone to the Division III Junior College Worlds Series the past two seasons. But things weren’t always that good at RCC. Koenigs took over the Riverland coaching spot with just 10 players on his roster.
Austin Daily Herald
COACH SWINGS FOR SUCCESS
That team was competitive, but the next year the Blue Devils went 9-20 overall, and Koenigs had to re-evaluate things. The program wasn’t real strong, and I don’t accept losing very easily,” he said. “That gave me the drive to work hard to get players to come here. It was extremely difficult to get guys to come here.” Koenigs is very social, so contacting and talking to prospects wasn’t the hard part of his job. The hard part was explaining to them what Riverland was and where it was located. Players outside of a two-hour radius hadn’t even heard of Riverland, and local players usually didn’t have staying in town and playing for a junior college on their mind. I don’t think people completely understand how hard it is to recruit,” Koenigs said. “When you get good players around here, they’ve always got their eyes on Division I or II schools, even if that’s not going to happen (for them).” Still, year-by-year, the Blue Devils gradually got better. They went from being sub-.500 to just over .500 in about three years. Then, RCC went 21-11 and the recruits started to come a bit easier. Now after, backto-back trips to the NJCAA World Series, the team has players ranging from Australia to Texas. We’re getting a pretty good reputation academically and athletically,” Koenigs said. “People are hearing about Riverland baseball and our reputation is out there.” RCC has sent 17 players to play at four-year school in the last three years. We are a feeder program and that makes me happy. When I first came here, we might have had one or two guys go on and now we’re seeing the majority of our guys move on,” Koenigs said. “We’re all here for the same reason. They want to get to the World Series and they want to get that exposure where they can get a scholarship. I’d say about 95 percent of our guys are looking to play at a four-year school.”
INSTRUCTOR PASSES CAN-DO ATTITUDE TO GYMNASTS
GUY KNEPPER By Trisha Marczak
For Guy Knepper, gymnastics is more than a hobby — it’s a lifestyle. Knepper, the new director of the Austin YMCA gymnastics program, has coached gymnastics in both the club and YMCA settings. After coaching alongside professional mentors in the gymnastic field, Knepper knew he wanted to be a gymnastics instructor. Knepper said he’s drawn to coaching because of its rewards — particularly seeing students evolve and grow in their abilities. He also sees the benefit the sport can provide to gymnasts in all aspects of their life. Hard work, determination and a “can-do” attitude is what gymnastics is all about, according to Knepper. “I think gymnastics is more than just hand stands and carthweels,” he said. In his role at the YMCA, he serves as the director for beginner to advance programs. In his short time there, he’s changed the structure of the program to include a new name: The Angels. Each team within the YMCA program is named after the Angels theme, with the least advanced team known as the “Little Wings” and the most advanced team known as the “Guardians.” In between that, teams are named the “Wings” and “Halos.” Knepper’s role in Austin goes beyond involvement with the YMCA program. He also works closely with Mark Raymond, Austin High School’s varsity gymnastics coach.
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50 Profile 2011
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I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY
MIGUEL GARATE By Trey Mewes
Whenever there’s a social gathering, a community party, an important meeting for the Hispanic community or a show of support for Austin, odds are Miguel Garate will be around. He’ll be chatting, pantomiming, welcoming, entertaining, making everyone feel at home. His charity and his eagerness to volunteer are integral parts of who he is, and he has a knack for making people feel welcome. Garate has lived in Austin for 13 years, making a name for himself as the go-to interpreter and spokesman for the Hispanic community and students at Riverland Community College, where he works as the international student adviser. “I love this community,” Garate said. “I don’t want anyone to leave this town. It’s such a perfect place.” Before he moved to Austin, Garate had been all over the U.S. and Mexico. He was born in Tampico, a port town in Mexico. He and his family moved to Matamoros, close to the border, where he grew up and attended high school. After attending college in Tampico for three years, he moved back to Matamoros to work as an assistant director for a bank. “I felt like a big shot,” Garate said with a shy-looking grin on his face. “At my age, to be an assistant director of a bank, you have the chance to meet very important people.” He soon finished his college education and earned a degree in accounting. “In Mexico, you have to pay for your college,” he said. “There’s no financial aid. There’s no scholarships, no grant, no nothing. You pay your own way.” Garate worked in auditing and management fields in Mexico and
the U.S., while at the same time enjoying love, marriage and the birth of his daughter. He decided to move to Texas for a while, to work toward a better life, before moving back to Mexico. It wasn’t until 1996, after a divorce, that he seriously considered staying in the U.S., hoping to move somewhere similar to the snowy climate of Breckenridge, Colo., where he vacationed with his family. “I was very blessed that I knew a lot of people, a lot of people that were supportive of me in my divorce,” Garate said. “They said, ‘Miguel, you want to be happy? Move away for a while.’” He first came to Austin to work at Quality Pork Processors, Inc, which he heard of through a workforce center in Brownsville, Texas. He pondered his decision to work at a packing company for several months before shipping up north. “I didn’t even know where I was going,” Garate said. “I didn’t even know where Austin, Minn., was. But I wanted to go to a place that was far away from home and cold. I decided to move here because I heard there was snow.” As soon as he got here, he started what would become a career of helping people in the community. His first day, he started acting as an interpreter for other Hispanic workers who didn’t understand English, which his supervisors took note of. “That was a big mistake,” Garate said jokingly. “People started finding out I was bilingual, and I started getting to know people. I offered myself to the union, becoming a steward, becoming a representative.”
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
51 Austin Daily Herald
-Miguel Garate
Profile 2011
“I decided to move here because I heard there was snow.”
MADE A CAREER OUT OF HELPING OTHERS
MIGUEL GARATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51
He was needed. Austin in 1997 was very different demographically and socially than Austin in 2011, and there weren’t as many Spanish language services back then as there are now. Before long, Garate was running all over Austin, at one moment helping families at the courthouse, then off to the police station to help police translate. “People needed help,” Garate said. “People need help finding a home, people need help getting a license, people need help finding the bathroom, people need help at the courthouse. I was a very busy guy.” Luckily, he didn’t have to cook during the rare moments he was home. Neighbors and residents constantly left food at his doorstep as thanks for the volunteer interpreting he did. “I got to the point where I had to put up a sign that said, ‘Please, don’t bring any food,’” Garate said. Garate became the go-to guy for the growing Latino community in Austin. He helped people figure out where to go to fill out paperwork and assisted people in turning their work visas into permanent U.S. citizenship. Garate had become an official U.S. citizen in 2000, after years of working in the U.S. on a visa. After going through the process on his own, he shared what he knew about the immigration process with fellow Austin residents. His penchant for service grew over the years, and he’s been a force behind many of the services residents get today. He helped form Austin’s Welcome Center, which continues to help new residents.
Garate found his dream job when he accepted an adviser position at Riverland Community College. “I learned a lot about becoming a professional at this job,” Garate said. That came with a lot of scheduling headaches, as Garate quickly became too busy helping students and taking care of people. Under his watch and with a lot of help, Garate and his fellow advisers helped Riverland become one of the most popular college destinations for international students in the state within a few years. Other schools in the Minnesota State Colleges and University system constantly asked how Riverland was able to grow so quickly in such a short time, a secret that Miguel prides himself on. “We take care of them,” Garate said. “We pick them up. We find a place for them to stay. We help them to build a little home. The main idea is the way you treat your students is how they’re going to treat you back, and I think we treat our students very well.” Miguel still continues to help as many people in Austin as possible by serving as an advisor to businesses, offering help translating and serving on various community committees. He rarely getting the time to enjoy a night out on his own, but when he has free time, you can find him trying new food, meeting new people, and enjoying crowds. Despite all the work he’s done for the people in town, he still remains humble. “I’m a regular person, just like everybody else,” he said. “I don’t feel better or worse, I just feel like a normal or simple person.”better or worse, I just feel like a normal or simple person.”
“I’m a regular person, just like everybody else.”
-Miguel Garate
Austin Daily Herald
52 Profile 2011
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SERVICES by Trisha Marczak
Joe Jensen, center, serves pancakes during the annual Austin Noon Lions' Pancake Day at United First Methodist.
JAYCEES
LIONS CLUB
If you’re a young professional looking for a group of people passionate about making Austin a family-friendly community, Jaycees might be the place for you. The Jaycees are most commonly known around Austin for their street dances and chili cook-offs, but it’s what they do for the youth of Austin that makes this group really special. The focus is primarily on the city’s youth, with an emphasis on creating an environment in which children can shine.
Austin’s Lions Club is booming. Having grown from just 32 to nearly 80 members, there’s no shortage of hands willing to serve those in need in the Austin community. You don’t have to go far to find the Lions’ presence. Whether hosting the Lions Pancake Day, selling concessions at Packer football games or taking part in the Austin Go-Cart Unit, these volunteers are using their time and talent to make Austin a better place to live — for everyone. On a regular basis the Lions Club donates to Riverland scholarship funds, Austin youth sports, The Salvation Army and its Lions Club national hearing and diabetes foundations. The Lions also use their time to keep the bridge at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in tip top shape.
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SERVICES
ROTARY
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Ask an Austin Rotary club member what it means to be a Rotarian and they might just say it’s about “service above self.� The motto of the club really says it all. With a passion to reach out to help the community, especially through the schools, the Rotary club has a reputation of going the extra mile. Some of the club’s most infamous efforts include the dictionary Project, which provides dictionaries for every thirdgrade student in Austin. In the middle school level, Rotarians host the club, We Oppose and Resist Drugs (WORD.) It doesn’t stop there. For high school and college kids, the club opens its doors for attendance at regular meetings. It also hosts Austin high school students at Camp Enterprise each summer, a camp that focusses on businesses. Outside of the secondary setting, the organization gives out scholarships each year to Riverland students.
Young professionals eager to get into Rotary early can do so through Rotaract, a young Rotarians group catered to those ages 18-35. The young club focusses on raising money for local and international charities through events that bring the community together. For two years in a row, the club has hosted a sand volleyball tournament, with proceeds benefiting international charities. Club members can also regularly be seen helping to serve meals at the Salvation Army or packaging meals for Kids Against Hunger. Volunteers also step up to help out with Rotary fundraisers, including the annual chicken and corn feed.
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Profile 2011
Hayfield boys' basketball coach Chris Pack oversees drills during practice.
THE LITTLE SCHOOL THAT COULD
HAYFIELD BASKETBALL THRIVES DESPITE SCHOOL'S SMALL STATURE BY ROCKY HULNE
Go to a high school basketball game at Hayfield High School and it’s not hard to tell. You may see a fan dressed up with a football helmet with deer antlers. You may see students painted in blue and gold. And you’ll definitely see a basketball team giving its all on the court. Hayfield definitely loves its basketball and while it is the smallest school in the Hiawatha Valley League Gold Division, both of its teams have been quite competitive over the years. The boys and girls have each made state tournament appearances in the last decade. Many of Hayfield’s postseason runs have been aided by playing a tough regular season schedule in the HVL. “We call it the hard valley league,” said Hayfield senior guard Molly Streightiff. “You have to go all out 100 percent of the time.” Hayfield’s girls teams haven’t won a conference title recently, but they advanced to state in 2000 and 2008. They’ve made it to at least the subsection finals in the past seven seasons. “We put together some very good basketball teams over the last eight years and we haven’t won our side of the HVL,” Hayfield girls basketball coach Fred Kindschy said. “That shows you the competition we’ve faced. Being the smallest school doesn’t help us, but the conference title isn’t necessarily what we’re after. Playing bigger schools has made our play elevate for the postseason.” The Hayfield boys went to state in 2001 and they are looking to get back to that path in the near future. “We’ve been competitive since then but we haven’t gotten over that hump of getting back to Mankato,” Hayfield head boys basketball coach Chris Pack said. “We’re hoping with this group that we have now that within the next few years we’ll be able to get back to that level.” With an enrollment of just 257 students, the Hayfield basketball teams are always thinking about the future of their sport. That’s why both varsity teams spend about an hour with first through fourth graders every Wednesday after practice going through fundamentals. The weekly meetings are a blast for the elementary players — who look up to the varsity teams. “A lot of these kids know who the high school kids are, and a lot of
times you can hear them emulating the high school players by saying their names when they’re shooting around,” Kindschy said.
Boys on a roll The Hayfield boys basketball team is young this year, but that doesn’t mean its inexperienced. Two of their underclassmen starters have been working on their games for a long time, and it’s paid off on the court for them. For sophomore Brady Kramer, playing basketball may as well be a family tradition. His brother Kody and cousin Tanner, who is now playing at Wartburg College, played with him last season, and Tanner’s two older brothers also played for Hayfield. Brady and Tanner’s dads each played basketball for Hayfield High School. “Whenever (Kody and Tanner) come and watch a game, I get told what I’m doing wrong right away,” said Brady, who used to shoot around with Tanner and Kody on a regular basis and now does it over college breaks. “I like it because I like to improve and do the best that I can.” The Kramers have so many basketball players in their family that there is a Kramer team entered in the Star of the North basketball tournament in Rochester every year. Pack, who has coached for 11 years, has coached four Kramers in his career. “I’m sure it’s a little family battle to see who can do better,” Pack said. “It’s been a great family to coach. They’re very competitive kids and they put a lot of time in at the (family) sheds (where basketball courts are installed). We have kids out there playing basketball all the time and that’s what we want to see as coaches.” While playing bigger schools can be tough, Brady and the Vikings have come to embrace it. Hayfield has already beaten Albert Lea, which has an enrollment of 911, Waseca, which has an enrollment of 566, and Byron, which has an enrollment of 479, this season. “I just love playing, it’s so fun,” Brady said. “It’s really cool that a little town can beat big towns like Albert Lea, Waseca and Byron.”
“We’ve been competitive since then but we haven’t gotten over that hump of getting back to Mankato.”
57 Austin Daily Herald
CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
Profile 2011
-Chris Pack
Abby Blanchard runs drills with the Hayfield girls' basketball team during practice in Hayfield.
Austin Daily Herald
Hayfield has been able to stay competitive by getting a core of hard working players and it also relies heavily on underclassmen to step up right away. This year, the Vikings have two sophomores and a freshman starting. Perhaps one of the hardest working player is sharpshooter Bobbie Stephens — who holds the school record with nine threes in a game. He hit 39.9 percent of his three-pointers as a sophomore. Stephens has put a lot of time into his jump shot and he’ll shoot at least 400 jump shots a week. If he has a bad game, he’ll put up 150 shots the next day. “We’ve had a lot of guys that have (worked outside of practice) over the years,” Pack said. “We’ve had some really good shooters who have made themselves better and Bobbie certainly falls into that category. He’s a great shooter.” Stephens began working on his shooting while spending summers in Canada, where he wasn’t able to play basketball, so he just shot jumpers. By seventh grade, he felt himself becoming pretty good and by last year he developed a quick release that makes him lethal from beyond the arc. “I’ve devoted a lot of time to jump shooting and playing with my brother in the driveway,” Stephens said. “I think (opponents) don’t exactly expect me to shoot it over six-foot people but I’m certainly capable. I have a quick shot and that didn’t develop until last year.” Stephens was inspired to play basketball by the 2001 Hayfield team that went to state. He recalls working with the varsity team when he was an elementary student. “I remember when I was younger and I worked with the older guys,” Stephens said. “It helps a lot getting the basics down and developing into an all-around basketball player.” With a young nucleus in store, Pack has high expectations for the Vikings and he’s hoping the team can start getting back to Mankato — where the subsection title game is played. “(Mankato) is such a great place to play and these guys have seen the girls play there year in and year out, and I think we’re ready to get to that point where we’re playing there,” Pack said. “We’re off to a great start this year with four underclassmen and we’re certainly looking for big things the next couple of years and this year. It’s fun to have a group like this knowing the next couple of years we should be at or near the top of our conference and subsection. But we’re living in the present.”
Girls have been strong
58 Profile 2011
The Vikings weren’t always a consistent power in the HVL. But the start of a youth traveling team years ago did wonders for the program. “We started a traveling team with energetic parents coaching them, and that kind of added to Hayfield’s basketball talent,” Kindschy said. “Once those kids started filtering through, our level of play increased, and all of the winning has helped the program as well.”
While Hayfield has plenty of new faces on its team this year, the squad is still winning games thanks to some younger additions. Freshman Dani Wagner has stepped in to fill a scoring void. She’s taking a humble approach to her role on the team. “I just try to do what I can and put as much time in as I can,” she said. Junior guard Alyssa Selk has also stepped up as a scorer after coming off the bench on last year’s team. She said the Vikings are taking pride in posting a winning record this season after many teams thought they might have a down year. “It’s really fun to win this year because now we’re the underdogs after losing all of our starters. That gives us some motivation,” she said. The winning record with a totally new squad is impressive, largely because there usually aren’t very many easy games in the HVL. “It’s a tough conference top to bottom,” Kindschy said. Selk, who competes in basketball year-round along with many of her teammates, said this squad wasn’t about to make excuses for playing bigger schools on a regular basis. “When we lose, we can’t just say they’re bigger than us,” she said. “They’re the teams we always play against, and we know we can match up with them.” One thing is for sure, no matter how this year turns out, Streightiff, Selk and senior center Liz Ristau will always have at least one solid basketball memory to hang on to — they all suited up for the 2008 team that went to state. That had a big effect on the players, as well as the town. “Everyone came closer in the community, and it was just a great experience,” Ristau said. If Hayfield keeps getting hard working players, they may have another great experience coming on the horizon. Caleb Gilbertson and other members of the Hayfield varsity work on ballhandling drill during practice.
Hayfield Welcomes You!
Welcome to Hayfield, MN, a sprawling community of 1,300 residents nestled on the corner of Highway 30 and 56 and is almost equal distances from Austin and Rochester in south-east Minnesota. Hayfield is “close enough to Rochester, but just far enough away” and prides itself with a booming local economy with over 40 local businesses. With one of the strongest school districts in the region, Hayfield is a great place to raise your family. Students in the Hayfield Community Schools are taught in a “person-centered” environment and with approximately 900 students and 65 teachers, the schools can give your children the education and attention they deserve and the peace of mind you deserve.
Ryan’s Foods 4 East Main Street • Hayfield, MN 55940 Video, Lottery, Food Stamps, WIC Delivery Wednesday - Call by Noon Senior Citizen Day every Wednesday: 5% discount Laundromat - located behind the store
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Profile 2011
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Come join us for our Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration The 4th of July is the cities biggest celebration of the year. Come and enjoy Blooming Prairie’s famous old fashioned 4th of July celebration, the largest celebration in southern Minnesota. Every year, 35 thousand or more people flock to our city to celebrate our country’s independence. Ask anyone, and they will tell you that this is the place to be. We have activities that the whole family can enjoy. After all, Blooming Prairie is the #1 destination for 4th of July family entertainment!
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Friday, July 15th through Sunday, July 17th, 2011
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Beautiful 2 & 3 bedroom townhomes that include washer and dryer hook-up, large kitchen and dining rooms, 1 and 1/2 bath, spacious attached garage and more. Call Vicki today to schedule your tour and make Whittier Place your new home.
1 & 2 Bedrooms Available
AN EXCEPTIONALLY NICE, QUIET, SECURE, CLEAN, SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME
Austin Area Landlord Association
www.austinmnrentals.com Please be our guest for a FREE ad on the AALA website
• Valuable marketing tool, no cost to members; • BETTER YET - Join the AALA for only $50 a year; • BEST YET - Utilize all advantages of membership for only $50 a year and have access to an awesome, easy to use website; • Promblem solving round table discussions; • Stay informed with guest speakers; • Montly meetings 3rd Monday of the month at the Holiday Inn - Teddy Rosevelt Room; • Have a say in local housing issues
For more information call 433-1948 or 433-1866
Blooming Prairie, MN. It’s just a short jaunt to take you away from the hustle and into the comfort of a small community. You will enjoy a 2 level townhome with a private entry, attached garage, full size private washer/dryer in the convenience of your home. 2 & 3 Bedroom Units available. Income limits based on your household size apply upon move-in. Rents range from $500$611.00. Email us at rbtownhomes@yahoo.com or call 1-888-583-2907 for more information on how you can make Prairie Village your new home.
62 Profile 2011
TECHNOLOGY By Trey Mewes
“There was one time when I was close to breaking the computer” -Michael Lindahl
A SCIENTIFIC IMPACT
DR. TED HINCHCLIFFE Dr. Ted Hinchcliffe knows cellular biology like a sports buff knows statistics. Hinchcliffe, the head of the Hinchcliffe lab at the Hormel Institute, supervises and runs experiments designed to figure out how cancer works, which they hope will one day turn into a cure. “With the new building, (the Hormel Institute) has really made a push to do more cancer research, and it’s an exciting opportunity to join that,” Hinchcliffe said. Hinchcliffe didn’t always want to be a scientist, however. When he was in college, he thought about becoming a historian, as he grew up fascinated with military history. However, he wasn’t sure if he’d like all the writing that goes with being a historian. “Now as a professor, I spend most of my time writing,” Hinchcliffe said. “So, the joke was on me.” After becoming an undergraduate chemist major, he found he didn’t enjoy his chemistry classes as much as he liked his biology courses. Hinchcliffe decided to try a graduate program in cell biology, where he fell in love with cells and what makes them tick. Nowadays, he’s running and overseeing
experiments on how cells grow and duplicate. His lab’s most recent research involves taking parts out of a cell as it divides in order to see what function the missing part plays in the cell, sort of like how a car enthusiast takes apart a car. “You have no idea how a race car works and you don’t have an instruction manual,” Hinchcliffe said. “You want to take it all apart and see how it works so you can figure out how to make it better. It’s a very simple questions but very complicated.” When not trying to uncover medical mysteries, Hinchcliffe enjoys being with his fam-
ily, whether it’s cooking dinner for his wife and twin son and daughter, going cross country skiing at the nature center, listening to jazz, progressive, electronic and other wild varieties of music, or planning to take his kids to the new Twins Stadium. His chief passion remains science, however, and getting more people interested in the way science impacts our lives. “The thing about science is that anybody can do it,” Hinchcliffe said. “Anybody can, whatever your background, wherever you come from, small towns or big towns. It’s an open career path for people.”
Profile 2011
Michael Lindahl isn’t your average teenager. He’s run a production company, is the CEO of a business that develops iPhone apps and has attended classes at Stanford University. This Austin High School senior is getting ready to do some big things. Lindahl’s love for computers goes back to his childhood days playing on his father’s old Macintosh. An avid Apple advocate, Lindahl learned the ins and outs of computers by experimenting. “There was one time when I was close to breaking (the computer),” Lindahl said. “But I’ve never been afraid of breaking it.” Four years ago, Lindahl and some friends were messing around and
63
MICHAEL LINDAHL
decided to start making movies. Forming a “production company,” Lindahl and friends made several home videos throughout high school. Nowadays, Lindahl works on his programming. The teen has already designed several web sites, including Westminster Presbyterian Church of Austin’s site, and he’s focused on doing more. Having learned Java programming through the Leland Stanford Junior University program last summer, Lindahl has been teaching himself iOS programming for iPhone operating systems. He’s working on several ideas, including a fractions calculator and a game which, he said, is unlike others on the iPhone. He also has a few other ideas, which include an app for Westminster Presbyterian. Lindahl isn’t looking to profit from his developing ideas. All money Lindahl Studios, LLC (which is a registered business in Minnesota) makes will go towards Kiva, a microfinance non-profit that helps entrepreneurs across the globe. The micro loan program allows donors to support loans designed to help budding entreprenuers in developing countries around the world. Lindahl hopes to continue his charity efforts after he starts college at the University of Washinton—Spokane next fall, where he wants to major in computer programming. --
Austin Daily Herald
TEEN WITH A MISSION
One of the hallmarks of today’s seniors is their independent nature. That spirit has allowed you to face some of the world’s toughest challenges. However it can also be the reason you don’t want to objectively evaluate your current situation and entertain a different lifestyle that may be to your benefit and provide many advantages including an enhanced quality of life, safety, and security. Take a minute to read the following and consider if a move to a senior community could improve the quality of your life?
Austin Daily Herald
• • • • • • • • • •
Are you able to retain personal hygiene? Are you worried about safety in the tub or shower? Are you at risk of falling? Do you use some type of mobility aid? Are you able to handle your medical care? Are your medications in order? Do you always take your medications on time? Are you able to prepare proper nutritious meals every day? Do you get regular exercise? Are you safe when you’re alone? Could you get immediate help if you needed it? Do you worry about transportation? Have you lost an interest in, or are unable to enjoy day to day activities, visits with friends, social and church events? Do you feel isolated or lonely? Have you experienced a crisis situation recently such as hospitalization due to serious illness, surgery or injury?
64 Profile 2011
Keep in mind that moving to a senior living community does not mean a loss of independence. Our goal at The Cedars of Austin is to maximize independence in an environment which offers the opportunity to thrive in a safe, comfortable, active, and fun community where you can get as much or as little help as you want. For more information, call Deb at (507) 437-3246.
“We spend most of our life here at school.” -Jeff Oian
DEDICATED TO TECHNOLOGY
JEFF OIAN Jeff Oian knows and loves computers. He spent his high school years building and fixing PCs, finding out how they work and seeing what makes them tick. “I’ve been doing that since probably my junior year in high school,” Oian said.” Just learning through fixing it myself.” Oian, the system administrator for Grand Meadow Public Schools, has had a lot of practice at his job, which he stepped into four years ago. During college, he worked at Winona State University’s ResNet system, fixing and maintaining students’ computers as well as keeping track of and updating computer labs in residential halls. Once he got out of school, he took several jobs as a contractor for various communications and cable companies in Minnesota. It wasn’t until he started substitute teaching that he realized he en-
FROM ATHLETICS TO TECHNOLOGY
COREY HAUGEN
It takes a lot to run an IT department, especially with a computer network used by thousands every day. But that’s what Corey Haugen loves to do. The former math teacher at Ellis Middle School has spent the past two years as Austin Public Schools’ director of information and technology. Haugen never imagined he’d be the head techie in Austin. He’s always had a passion for sports, and was the athletic director for Ellis until 2005, when he became a data analyst for the district. It wasn’t until fall 2009, when the district decided to merge several technology departments together, that Haugen got the job overseeing IT technicians and analysts. “I had no intentions of ever going down this road, but it kind of found me,” Haugen said. “I had all plans to be a high school athletic director somewhere, and that was my mission for one day. But the technology found (me).” Haugen’s had a love for sports, playing of-
joyed the classroom more than he enjoyed technician work, which is why Oian is a business and technology teacher at Grand Meadow High School. Yet his previous work has really helped him as the district’s system administrator. “It gave me a lot of experience.” Oian said. “You don’t think that would apply to my job, but it does. A lot of it is finding the little holes in stuff, finding time.” Oian, a Microsoft fan, is in charge of updating and maintaining district technology, which is usually done on nights and weekends since he teaches full time. Unfortunately for him, Grand Meadow students have been using more Apple technology in recent years, which includes laptops for every ninth- through 12th-grader and new iPhones and iPads this year. Oian doesn’t sweat the differences between the two operating systems, however. “It’s just a lot of it’s training, if you start to go with different operating systems,” Oian said. Oian can’t seem to get away from school, as he’s also the boys’ basketball B-squad head coach and the B-squad golf head coach. His wife, Amy, also works as Grand Meadow as a social worker, which makes the schools their second home. “We spend most of our life here at school,” Oian said with a laugh.
fensive lineman in high school football, along with hockey and golf. He still shares that love of sports today with his son and daughter, who are busy playing football, basketball and dance, respectively. Camping and fishing are also pastimes he enjoys sharing with his family. Yet Haugen spends a lot of time at his job, where he’s on call, as any technology concern “is a 911 call,” according to him. The
district’s efforts to put more smartboards into classrooms and the school’s new web site have meant Haugen has kept busy improving, troubleshooting and fixing the district’s technology. He knows how important new technology like interactive whiteboards are to student learning, however. “Day in and day out, you’re flooded by technology,” Haugen said. “It’s a critical asset to learning.”
“I had no intentions of ever going down this road.” -Corey Haugen
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Adams Health Care Center 507-582-3263 • Adams, MN
Adams Home Health Agency 507-582-7704
Cedar Court Assisted Living 507-582-7704 • Adams, MN
Cedar Court Apartments
Independent Living • 507-582-3263 • Adams, MN
Dave’s
Plumbing, Heating, Refrigeration, Inc. • Water Softners • Wall & Pump Work • Heating & Air Conditioning • Refrigeration • Boiler Repair & Installation Downtown Rose Creek, Minnesota (24 Hour Service) - FREE ESTIMATES
433-1039
HAMILTON AUCTION CO. We Are Here For All Your Auction Needs Real Estate • Farm Equipment • Household
Austin Daily Herald
ADAMS DENTAL CLINIC
66
Dr. Joseph P. Ray FAMILY DENTIST
Profile 2011
HOME (507) 582-1019 Dental Care with a personal touch
(507) 582-3563 407 LINCOLN STREET NW ADAMS, MN 55909
(507) 584-0133 130 State Hwy. 16, Dexter, MN 55926 (Located Off I-90 at Dexter, MN Exit them 1/4 Mile E. on Hwy 16)
THE CURTAIN CALLS
JERRY GIRTON By Amanda Lillie
Jerry Girton heard the first faint whispers of his calling when he was in middle school. Girton — who is currently the 22-year veteran director of the Riverland theater department — used to help his older brother and sister practice lines as the three walked down their long driveway to the bus stop. It wasn’t until tenth-grade, though, that Girton auditioned for his first play. “I don’t know why, but it kind of felt right,” he said. “I did go out for some sports but I wasn’t good at them.” When Girton began working at Riverland in 1989 as the director of theater, he never thought he’d stick around for 22 years. “You kind of get ingrained in it,” he said. “I was doing everything I wanted to do, but with a lot more autonomy in my teaching (than in a university).” Girton has taught a wide variety of theater classes over the years, from beginner’s acting classes to advanced directing to speech for performance. While he certainly wants his students to succeed, another of Girton’s wishes is for students to develop a sense of camaraderie with their peers. Known for being a compassionate and understanding professor, Girton said he hopes his students come out of the theater program with a “good, solid feeling of friends.” As he has seen both in his own life and in his students’ lives, theater brings people together not only because it is a mutual interest among all involved, but because everyone must spend so much time together in classes and rehearsals. “You meet the best people when you’re in theater,” Girton said. “And they’ve got your back. They accept people.” Not only does Girton strive to teach his students the intricacies of theater, but he uses classes and rehearsals as a tool to teach a solid work ethic and dedication to a group project. “If you are responsible and dedicated and a team player, think of how many jobs that covers in the real world,” he said. “There are a lot of things you gain from being in theater — work ethic, et cetera.” Girton also stresses the meaning of success. Since some students are naturally better at acting or directing than others, it’s important that everyone knows success doesn’t necessarily mean making it to Hollywood or Broadway. “You don’t have to be a professional actor to be successful,” Girton said. “You don’t have to be a Tom Cruise, Matt Damon or Meryl Streep.” That’s not to say Girton hasn’t had his share of students who have made it big. Some have even gone on to appear on the Disney Channel and “America’s Got Talent.”
In 22 years at Riverland, plus 14 other years teaching high school, Girton has seen hundreds of students come and go. He said he tries to keep in touch with students after they graduate and begin their careers or go on to a 4-year university. Recently, social networking websites have helped him keep in touch with students from classrooms past. “Thank god for Facebook,” he said. “I know it’s used in the wrong way by a lot of people, but it’s nice to keep in contact.” However, there will always be students who disappear after leaving and don’t resurface for quite some time. “You miss them,” he said. “But there are new ones that come along that fill the void.” And, of course, there are always alumni shows that give former students the opportunity to come back and appear on the Frank W. Bridges stage again, sometimes with current students. “The alumni shows have a special place,” Girton said. Having directed countless plays in the last two decades, Girton said he has never directed a play he did not want to do or that wasn’t exciting to him. He views plays not only as an entertaining learning experience for students and community members, but also as an educational challenge. “It’s the theater’s responsibility to entertain and educate — not just the students but the audience as well,” he said. This means occasionally featuring controversial or serious plays or musicals. As an example, Girton used “Take Me Out,” a play the Riverland Theater Department featured in April 2010. The show, which has an all-male cast and takes place mostly in the locker room of a professional baseball team, explores issues like homophobia, racism and masculinity in sports. While potentially controversial for some audience members, the show presents topics that warrant some thought. “If everybody liked every play I did, I wouldn’t be doing my job,” said Girton. All Girton asks from students when putting together a show, regardless of the content, is for “a sense of energy, hope, enthusiasm, fun and willingness to learn.” Girton also sets out to possess all of these things both in his directing and in his job as a whole. “I’ve been really fortunate to have a career that I’m really passionate for,” he said. “I’m really lucky to have a job I love.”
“You meet the best people when you’re in theater.”
Austin Daily Herald
67
Profile 2011
-Jerry Girton
Whirlpools for Two • Air Conditioning Romantic Fireplaces • Murder Mysteries Retreats/Seminars • Private Parties
Open for Lunch Monday-Saturday. Open for Dinner every Friday & Saturday Evening.
St. Ansgar has been named the "Garden Spot of Iowa" and rightfully so. Its thriving farmland, stately trees and colorful local gardens lend dignity and charm to this friendly, small town. This proud tradition has been a part of St. Ansgar's history since it was founded in 1853 by a group of Norwegian immigrant farmers, led by the Rev. Claus L. Clausen a Danish minister. This town is named after a French monk and bishop, who in the 9th century was a missionary to the Scandinavian countries and was made the patron saint of Denmark. The population has remained near the 1,100 mark for the past thirty years. There are at present more than 60 business establishments in St. Ansgar. It also has one of the most modern oat processing plants in North America. Two banks, St. Ansgar State Bank and Farmers State Bank have deposits in excess of 150 million dollars.
2011 SEASON PASSES ON SALE NOW
Reduced Rates Until April 1, 2011 Rates Include Tax
Family Pass - $500 Single Pass - $350
We offer an ANY TIME Season Special for 1st Time Purchasers 1st Time Family Pass - $360 1st Time Single Pass - $250 MEMBERS may continue to buy five or ten punch green fee punch cards @ $14.00 per punch. Green fees are $16.00 weekdays and $19.00 weekends (unlimited golf).
Austin Daily Herald
Summer Golf League for members only Mondays beginning in June. Limited to 16 Teams Call the clubhouse at 641-713-4450 for more information.
68 Profile 2011
1855
1868
PRINCIPAL OF ELLIS
KATIE BERGLUND KNAUER’S MARKET 1886
ANDERSON MEMORIALS
Steaks * Seafood * Freezer Boxes
106 4th Street SW • Austin, MN
121 First Avenue NW Downtown Austin 433-2575
1887
1887
507-437-3636 OR 1-800-658-2560
Brownsdale 106 W. Main St. Brownsdale, MN 55918 Phone: 507-567-2219 MTWF 8-5 Thur. 8-7 browns@ffmbank.com
Your source for local news since 1891
To subscribe call 507-433-8851 or visit us at 310 2nd Street NE, Austin, MN 55912
www.austindailyherald.com
1912
Sargeant 103 Main Street Sargeant, MN 55973 Phone: 507-477-2112 MTWTh 9-3 Fri. 9-5 sargeant@ffmbank.com
www.baudlerlaw.com
Baudler Baudler Maus & Blahnik ATTORNEYS AT LAW
108 North Main St, Austin
507-433-2393
1913
Lawnboy, Toro, STIHL, Hustler Turf Equipment
1920
“Always providing qualaity service to the construction industry.”
Snowmobile & Snowblower Repair
PARTS, SALES & SERVICE
507-433-8245
104 Main Street • Rose Creek, MN 55970
1917 C.O. Brown Insurance Agency Agents:
Richard Fischer Celeste Krause Visit us for all your insurance needs 329 N. Main St., Suite 103 433-4998 www.cobrown.com
Age: 35 Family: Two Children: Thomas, age 9 and Molly, Age 6 Job: Principal of Ellis Middle School Number of years in that position: 5 Hometown: Mequon, Wis.
1908
1891
Austin Daily Herald
Austin 128 North Main St. Austin, MN 55912 Phone: 507-433-3473
Sand & Gravel • Fill Sand Limestone Washed Sand • Mason Sand Pea Rock• Hot Mix • Top Soil Decorative Stone
BITUMINOUS PAVING ROADS & DRIVEWAYS
373-1960 Albert Lea
433-1819 Austin
DOZING • GRADING • FREE ESTIMATES COMMERCIAL SITE GRADINGS
Parade of Progress
WWW.ULLAND.COM
What are five songs on your playlist? “Shining Light” by Annie Lenox “Babylon” by David Gray “Closer to Love” by Mat Kearney “Everything” by Michael Buble “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas What is your favorite movie? “Shawshank Redemption” What is your favorite book? “A Tale of Two Cities” Who is your favorite author? Currently: Kate DiCamillo. She writes the best children’s books. “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” is a favorite at our house Is there a hobby you can’t live without? Running Is there an item or collectible you hold dear? Two — Both antiques, both from my family: A barrister bookshelf that my grandfather refinished, and a ring that hold’s my children’s birthstone that my mother gave me when my daughter was born. What was your dream job when you were a child? A ballerina, then a teacher. I am lucky, because as an adult I have my dream job. What are some of your favorite things? I don’t think I have many favorite things, more so favorite people. What would be your last meal? Soup, it is comforting to the soul. Though I always enjoy good salmon and asparagus as well. What is something interesting most people don’t know about you? I was both a ballet dancer and an alpine ski racer growing up.
Profile 2011
Quality Cemetery Memorials Award Winning Designs, Solid Reputation, Competative Prices. National Recognition by peers for Excellence.
www.usbank.com
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1870
433-0229 301 North Main Street • Austin, MN 55912
Austin Daily Herald
3714 4th St. NW, Austin 507 433-3454
PRINCIPAL OF SUMNER
SHEILA BERGER
1923
1922 Growing With You
Serving South Central Minnesota with Petroleum and Agronomy Products
583-6661 • 10060 State Hwy. 30 • Blooming Prairie
www.centralvalleycoop.com
1927
1929 Age: 46 Family: Husband, Bob; Children, Jared, 25 (a teacher), Jennie, 22 (a nurse), and Jordynn, 18 (a senior in high school), and Bennett 7 in first grade Position: Principal of Sumner Elementary School Number of years in that position: This is my second as principal, my 7th at Sumner Hometown: Forest City, Iowa
1929
BERGDALE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 905 Plaza, Albert Lea • 373-5236
Original Business started in 1929. Under new ownership since May, 1985.
WWW.BERGDALEHD.COM
125 4th Ave NE • 434-0934 or toll free 866-434-0934 For a Calendar of Events Please Visit www.paramounttheatre.org
1930
1934
What are five songs on your playlist? "Cecelia" by Simon and Garfunkel "Don't It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue" by Crystal Gayle "Piano Man" by Billy Joel "Amazing Grace" "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond What is your favorite movie? "Pretty Woman"
“Austin’s Premier Performing Arts Center & Gathering Place”
201 West Oakland Avenue • Austin, MN
433-2355
www.justcallhome.com
Member FDIC
1938
1936
Soups On!
What is your favorite book? "Where the Red Fern Grows"
VOTED ONE OF THE BEST BURGERS IN MINNESOTA!
Who is your favorite author? Don't Really Have One — I read all kinds of books
TRY OUR: • Loose Meat Sandwiches • Best Malts In Town!
Is there a hobby you can’t live without? Camping
HOURS Monday-Friday 11-7 Saturday 11-3
Is there an item or collectible you hold dear? Trunk from my Great-Grandfather
1940
DRS. ELROD, GREEN & HYLAND, D.D.S
Where would someone be most likely to find you on a Saturday night? Watching a movie with Bob and Bennett
Originated by Dr. Swift
WE WELCOME NEW PATIENTS!
What was your dream job when you were a child? Hair Stylist — all of my dolls and Barbies got hair cuts :( What are some of your favorite things? Chocolate, walking, reading, my camper
Preventive Family Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening, Dental Implants, Sedation Dentistry, TMJ/TMD
What would be your last meal? Steak and Pasta from the Northwest Steakhouse in Mason City, Iowa
Austin Daily Herald
What is something interesting most people don’t know about you? I am one of six girls in my family.
1940
70
David A. Elrod, D.D.S. Peter B. Green, D.D.S. Bobee J. Hyland, D.D.S
Profile 2011
437-4561 Parade of Progress
800 First Avenue SW • Austin
507-437-8208
www.eghdds.com
1940
1942
PRESIDENT OF HORMEL FOODS
JEFFREY ETTINGER For more than 60 years we have supplied the Austin Area with the finest...Benjamin Moore Paints
1946
1946
Philomathian Religious Books and Gifts Gifts for all Occassions Baptism • Confirmations Books • Cards 310 North Main Street • Austin, MN 507 437-2252
Greg L. Meyer Insurance 1946
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
1110 First Avenue SW • Austin, MN
507-433-3489
1952
1948
Hoverston, Johnson, Beckmann & Hovey, LLP 807 West Oakland Avenue Austin, Minnesota
507-433-3483
1952
What is your favorite movie? "The Shining" and "Fargo"
1954 507
433-3467
1900 8th Street NE Austin, MN 55912
1954
1957
What is your favorite book? "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell and "The Stand" by Stephen King Is there a hobby you can’t live without? Attending our children's athletic, musical and other events. Is there an item or collectible you hold dear? Some of my mother's watercolor paintings. Where would someone be most likely to find you on a Saturday night? At home in Austin with LeeAnn, and probably with a bunch of teenagers in the basement. What was your dream job when you were a child? Playing first base for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
USA’s 2nd oldest Honda dealer
What are some of your favorite things? Videos and photos of the family.
1959
What is something interesting most people don’t know about you? I have a brother who designs video games for a living. My other brother used to be a stand-up comic.
1961
TI NY’S BODY S HOP AUSTIN, MINN.
Since 1961
Austin’s Oldest Locally Owned & Operated Free Estimates • Free Loaner Car • State of the Art Shop Lifetime Written Warranty 50 YEARS OF SERVICE
604 18th Avenue NW • Austin, MN (507) 437-2611
Parade of Progress
Profile 2011
433-1321
What are five songs on your playlist? 1. "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads 2. "Say You Will" by Ben Harper 3. "Roll Me Away" by Bob Seger 4. "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts 5. "Symphony No. 9 in D Minor" by Beethoven
71
910 4th St. NW • Austin
Age: 52 Family: LeeAnn, four children Job: Chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods Corp. Number of years in that position: 6 Hometown: Pasadena, California
Austin Daily Herald
Lic. #20218786
SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION
BEV NORDBY
GARY GROH 1962
1964
CONSTRUCTION, LLC
Residential & Commercial Parking Lots Concrete Slabs • Garage Slabs • Driveways • Sidewalks Curb Cuts • Curb Gutter • Colored Stamped Concrete 911 5th Avenue NE • Austin, MN
437-2524 or 437-4980 GROHCONCRETE.COM
1965
1966
Daily Lunch & Evening Specials
437-4135
307 West Oakland Ave. Austin
1966
Age: 55 Family: Husband, Dave; three children; two grandchildren Position: District manager of the Mower Soil & Water Conservation District Years in that position: 24 years Hometown: Austin
Energy Assistance Weatherization Housing Rehab Loans Head Start Homeless Prevention & Assistance Outreach Information & Referral Senior Nutrition RSVP
111 N. Main Street, Suite 201 • Austin, MN
1966 & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Architects & Civil Engineers
Austin • 507-437-8141
907 Sykes Street • Albert Lea • 507-373-0689
1967
1967
“Making Loving Disciples of Jesus Christ for God’s Glory.”
BETHLEHEM CHURCH
What are five songs on your playlist? Anything by Journey What is your favorite movie? “Something’s Gotta Give”
A Free Methodist Fellowship
What is your favorite book? “An Untamed Land” Who is your favorite author? Lauraine Snelling Is there a hobby you can’t live without? Reading and gardening
1500 4th Avenue SE • Austin, MN 507-433-3705
3701 4th St. NW • Austin, MN 55912
1969
1969
Commercial & Residential l Asphalt Paving Seal Coating l Parking Lot l Sweeping & Striping
Is there an item or collectible you hold dear? “Minnie Me,” My Truck Where would someone be most likely to find you on a Saturday night? Bruins hockey game What was your dream job when you were a child? To be just like my Mom. What are some of your favorite things? Diet Coke, my grandkids and my volleyball team What would be your last meal? Steve’s Pizza
1970
What is something interesting most people don’t know about you? I love to fish, kayak and snowshoe
1970 Austin Daily Herald
72
You are always welcome here!
Profile 2011
Nancy Ulwelling 279-0427
Art Hollerud 439-1090
William Danielson 438-7728
www.semnrealtors.com
1970 • promotional products • decorated apparel www.robsp.com
1308 10th Drive SE - Austin, MN 507-433-8492
Parade of Progress
1971
1971
MOWER COUNTY SHERIFF
TERESE M. AMAZI Eric J. Connett
Bob Hoeg
Israel Benitez
Darlene Gunderson
Teresa Hanson
Linda Sistek
“SERVING SOUTHERN MINNESOTA”
203 North Main Street Austin, Minnesota
437-4503 1974
Locally Owned & Operated Free Estimates
The Exhaust Specialists
1204 West Oakland Ave. • Austin, MN 55912 1-888-433-2307 • 507-433-2307
507-437-7519
www.hormelnaturecenter.org
1973 Mower Council
For The Handicapped 111 North Main Street Austin, Minnesota
507-433-9609
HILL, LARSON, WALTH & BENDA, P.A. CPA 1975
The CPA. Never Underestimate the Value. Certified Public Accountants
326 North Main Street, Austin www.accountant-city.com/hill-larson
433-2264
1975
1975
Age: 47 Family: Husband Wayne, Austin Police Officer; Children, Kandace 24 and Johnathan 22; Two dogs still at home Tia and Molly Job: Sheriff for eight years Hometown: South St. Paul (home of the Packers too)
Five songs on my playlist: “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga “Rock of Ages and Photograph” by Def Leppard-Rock of Ages and Photograph “Jump” by Van Halen “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC-DC
CUSTOM EMBROIDERY • WORK WEAR • TEAMS ANY BUSINESS LARGE OR SMALL 117 EAST AVE NW • AUSTIN • 437-1990
Favorite Movie: “Animal House”
1976 Main Street Dental Clinic
Favorite Book: “Clan of the Cave Bear” by Jean M. Auel
Open Monday-Saturday and 2 Evenings
We welcome new patients!
Favorite Author: Jean M. Auel
www.mainstreetdentalclinics.com
405 East Main Street • Blooming Prairie • (507) 583-2141 1170 East Frontage Road • Owatonna • (507) 455-1000 3142 Wellner Drive NE • Rochester • 507-536-7700 132 North Broadway • New Richland • 507-463-0502
Is there a hobby you can’t live without? Fishing
After Hours Emergency Only • 507-456-5822
1976
1977
Is there an item you hold dear? A doo-dad made by Sherman Simon, a Sargeant resident. It’s a washer and dryer. Where would someone be most likely to find you on a Saturday night? You will find me at home most Saturday nights unless I’m ice fishing or summer fishing. What was your dream job when you were a child? My dream job when I was a child was to be a veterinarian. What are some of your favorite things? My two favorite things are Tia and Molly. People: Wayne, Kandace and John
Check With Us Before You Buy!
Dexter, MN • 507-584-6422
Rod & Ron Kester
• Welding • Sand Blasting • Prop Service
507-567-2016 305 West Main Street Brownsdale, MN
Parade of Progress
What would be your last meal? My last supper would be Prime Rib and Shrimp. Something interesting that most people don’t know about you: Several years ago, I was stranded with a prisoner in a blizzard in Sibley County, Iowa, for two days. I knew we were in trouble when I heard the Iowa State snow plows being called off the highways. We eventually made it to the Sibley County jail with the aid of a dispatcher’s husband’s four wheel drive truck, where we stayed for the next two days.
Profile 2011
• LP Gas • Hubbard Feed • On Sight Grain Pick-up
1977
73
Dexter Elevator, Inc.
1977
Austin Daily Herald
D E
1301 18th Avenue NW • Austin, MN 507-437-7634
PRESIDENT OF RIVERLAND
1977
1978
Over 35 Years of service!
Piece of Mind is Priceless
TERRENCE LEAS
Burglar and Fire Alarms and Monitoring
BUY • SELL • TRADE WE BUY OLD COINS AND WAR RELICS
507-377-0201
Call
WE DO FREE WALK-IN APPRAISALS
NO STRINGS ATTACHED!
433-9650
2001 29th Avenue SE • Austin, MN
1978
18326 US Hwy. 69 Albert Lea, MN Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm Thursdays 9:00am to 8:00pm • Saturdays 9:00am to 4:00pm Closed Sundays and Mondays
Gordon Cassidy, President
Austin Communications, LLC
Dan Jennings Recycling Co. 1200 SE 8th Avenue Austin, Minnesota
433-3496
Owners: Milan & Elaine Hart
1978
1978
“TERRY”
Age: 60 Family: Wife, Loyal; daughters, Meredith and Amber; three grandchildren, Sadie and Danny, and Logan. Position: President of Riverland Community College Years in that position: Seven Hometown: Venice, Fla.
“Over 30 years of improving your image”
1811 14th St. NE • Austin
507-433-2122 • 800-752-3053
1979
VOTED BEST PIZZA 7 YEARS IN A ROW
What are five songs on your playlist? “Unforgettable” by Natalie and Nat King Cole “Time of the Season” by The Zombies “Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis “Moondance” by Michael Bublé "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston What is your favorite movie? “Contact”
507-437-3249
421 North Main Street Austin, MN
1979
What is your favorite book? “Contact”
1979
MN LP LIC # 038716-PM
Who is your favorite author? Carl Sagan
MN License 58584-PM
Is there a hobby you can’t live without? Strength training and aerobic exercise Is there an item or collectible you hold dear? Not really. People are more important to me than material possessions. Where would someone be most likely to find you on a Saturday night? With my wife at a college or community event or at home. What was your dream job when you were a child? Astronomer What are some of your favorite things? Greek Isles; Cascade Mountains in Washington state; Minnesota winters (NOT!) What would be your last meal? Lasagna, garlic cheese bread, Caesar salad and turtle cheesecake. Austin Daily Herald
What is something interesting most people don’t know about you? I was 1971 Florida State Motocross Champion, 125-cc class.
1979
AMANA DEALER
GOODMAN DEALER
NYSTROM SIGNS Signs & Graphics of all kinds since 1979
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
Hand Painted & Computer Generated
Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Refrigeration, Boilers & Service Contracts
507-433-9654
1507 14th St. NE • Austin, MN
809 10th Ave. SE • Austin, MN
507-433-5017
1980
1981
Shear
74 Profile 2011
• Sandy • Teresa • Shanna • Sherry
DESIGN
HAIRSTYLING INC.
308 4th Avenue SE Austin, Minnesota
433-9545 Parade of Progress
1981
1982
DIRECTOR OF M.C. CORRECTIONS
House of
TRUCKING
Brownsdale, MN I-90 & Highway 56
507-437-4636
STEPHEN M. KING
Total Hair Care Barber, Beauty & Massage Cathy Murphy • Deb Morgan • Marv Streiff
507-433-5122 301 1st Avenue NW • Austin, MN
1983
1982 Lincoln Webster Apartments 1 & 2 Bedrooms Available AN EXCEPTIONALLY NICE, QUIET, SECURE, CLEAN, SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME
Heating & Cooling LLC SALES & SERVICE
433-5652
437-4264
103 3rd Street SE • AUSTIN
1983
1984
Screenprinting • Embroidery Advertising Specialties
Age: 44 Family: Wife, Shelley; sons, Carter (8) and Sam (6) Job: Director of Mower County Corrections Number of years in that position: 6 Hometown: Austin (It’s good to be back)
Austinʼs Exclusive Under Armour Dealer
433-7593
26 Years...
Bring this ad in for a FREE One Day Pass
701 18th Avenue NW Austin, MN
1985 A-1
437-8136
LLC
Commercial Carpet Cleaning Fire, Water, Furniture
John & Jean Riedlinger, Owners
1986
Voted “One of the Top 100 Festivals in North America”
1986
800-658-2526
What are five songs on your playlist? Anything by Wham or Hanson What is your favorite movie? “Little Miss Sunshine” or “A Few Good Men” What is your favorite book? My favorite book is a newspaper or magazine. Who is your favorite author? Stephen King (we have a vibe) Is there a hobby you can’t live without? I like thinking about, reading about, being around, and working with cars.
25th Annual
Is there an item or collectible you hold dear? I’m pretty fond of my wife and kids, but I truly hold dear my 1969 Camaro.
October 1-2, 2011
Where would someone be most likely to find you on a Saturday night? Home enjoying my family, friends and fellowship. Or better yet: At a friend’s house with the family taking advantage of whatever they are serving.
1988
What was your dream job when you were a child? NASCAR tire changer
AUSTIN BUILDERS SUPPLY, INC.
What are some of your favorite things? My old Coca-Cola coolers and pop machines, and all my friends and relatives I’ve shared a Coke and a smile with
Quality Lumber • Garages • Decks Windows • Doors • Cabinets Plumbing • Electrical • Hardware • Power Tools Valspar paint • Cabot Stain • Rental Eq.
1989
What is something interesting most people don’t know about you? I still own my first car I bought when I was 16.
Austin Daily Herald
75
1988
Profile 2011
What would be your last meal? BLT with mayo on both slices of toast accompanied by an ice cold Old Milwaukee
206 10th St. NE, Austin • 437-3206 www.austinbuilderssupply.com
Parade of Progress
1989
1990
2817 17th Street SE • Austin, MN
1990
1990
101 11th Street SE • Austin, MN
507-433-3420
1991
1992
2000 8th Street NW, Austin 507-437-2400 www.crc.coop
1992
Hiawatha Bar 433 10th Street NE Austin, Minnesota
507-433-7023
Serving Food Daily 11am-2pm & 5pm-8pm
1992
1994
Stacey L. Johnson
MINNESOTA FREEZER WAREHOUSE CO. 1907 14th St. NE • PO Box 475 Austin, MN 55912
507-437-1982
PO Box 328 Owatonna, MN 55060 sljohnson3@fedins.com (507) 455-5299 • (800) 533-0472 Fax: (507) 455-8434
Convenient Insurance Service Property And Liability • Umbrella Key Employee Life • IRAs Funding Buy/Sell Agreements • Group Health
1995
1994
Hearing Centers
Dr. Joseph P. Ray FAMILY DENTIST
Austin’s Center For Hearing Excellence
FREE HEARING TESTS
FREE CLEAN & CHECK OF ALL BRANDS WE CAN PROGRAM MOST BRANDS AS WELL!
(507) 582-3563 407 LINCOLN STREET NW ADAMS, MN 55909
ADAMS DENTAL CLINIC
(No Cost or Obligation) Stop in to see our testimonial Book!
Austin Daily Herald
Call Today 507-433-6214 or Toll Free: 877-333-6125
76 Profile 2011
608 1st Drive NW Austin, MN
- Dan Hoerter
Dental Care with a personal touch
1995
Open Monday – Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM I am extremely happy with my new hearing aids. After I put them in I usually forget that I am even wearing them. My ears never seemed plugged as they did with my old pair (not from Audibel). And, my wife now has more time on her hands since she is not repeating herself all day. One thing I have learned in life: Quality usually comes with a price and you usually get what you pay for. I hope my testimonial will help someone else make the Audibel Choice!
HOME (507) 582-1019
Specializing in temporary & permanent employment. Helping you Win in the changing world of work.
Serving Austin & Albert Lea
1-507-377-7410 www.us.manpower.com
Parade of Progress
1995
1996 Complete Truck & Trailer Repair
COUNTY COORDINATOR
CRAIG OSCARSON
437-9000 1-888-900-2205 Located 4 miles east of Austin on I90 at Hwy. 56 (Exit 183)
1996
Specializing In Finding Employees For Your Business
117 4th Ave NE, Austin 433-5570 *Clerical *Seasonal *Construction *General labor *Temporary *Permanent
1996
1996 Grand Meadow
Healthcare Center and The Meadows Assisted Living
...because the journey matters. 210 E. Grand Ave • PO Box 365 Grand Meadow, MN
(507) 754-5212 (Tealwood facility since 1996)
1997
Age: 55 Family: Wife, Debbie; Sons, James and Steven; Grandson, Logan Job: County Coordinator Number of years in that position: 25 (not all as coordinator) Hometown: Austin
1997 433-6000
What are five songs on your playlist? “There Goes the Neighborhood” by Roomful of Blues “Bluebird” by Bonnie Raitt “Have Mercy” by Delbert McClinton “Alone” by Susan Tedeschi “Love Gone to Waste” by The Robert Cray Band What is your favorite movie? “The Green Mile” What is your favorite book? “Animal Farm” and “The Slaughterhouse Five” Who is your favorite author? Isaac Asimov Is there a hobby you can’t live without? Fishing Is there an item or collectible you hold dear? My Dad’s shotgun
1998
1999
Where would someone be most likely to find you on a Saturday night? Home
What was your dream job when you were a child? Fisheries bioligist or game warden What are some of your favorite things? Golf, hunting, fishing, travel, camping
521 Industrial Drive NE • P.O. Box 415 Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 507-583-7448
“THINK OF IT AS PAINT WITH AN ATTITUDE”
Parade of Progress
Profile 2011
77
Custom Colors • Sand Blasting Exhaust Coating
What is something interesting most people don’t know about you? I enjoy gourmet cooking
Austin Daily Herald
2000
2000
What would be your last meal? Filet mignon, king crab, baked sweet potatoes, grilled asparagus spears, and creme brulee for desert
OUR TEAM
MEET THE AUSTIN DAILY HERALD TEAM THAT BROUGHT YOUR PROFILE 2011.
TRISHA MARCZAK EDITOR
DR
Diamond Ridge Printing
2000
2000
Quality Printing at Competitive Prices 910 2nd Ave. SW • Austin • 434-7580 www.diamondridgeprinting.com
2001
Top 5 places to run/bike 1. Having grown up in Duluth, nothing beats a run on the Lakewalk. Nothing. 2. Biking on Central Lakes Trail in Northwestern Minnesota cannot be beat. 3. A solo bike down Munger Trail in West Duluth provides the perfect opportunity to go fast and tackle a hill or two 4. Riding bike along the Northshore. Enough said. 5. Biking with a friend on the Greenway in Minneapolis may not be all too intense, but it could lead you to a beach or the heart of the city, which is always a plus.
It’s no surprise to my parents that I never grew out of my need for an active lifestyle — it’s the way I’ve always been. As my mom puts it, I’m “high strung.” So when I tell them I might not be able to make it to family summer picnic back home because I’ll be competing in a duathlon, triathlon, 5K or half marathon, chances are they already knew what was coming. I can’t claim I’m good at any of the endurance sports I’ve grown to love, but for me it’s not about being the best compared to others — it’s about pushing myself to be the best I can be. Cliche, right? Yeah, well, that’s the way it is. Running and biking also keep me in check. I often joke that, in the winter, my time on the treadmill is equivalent to taking a trip to the therapist. It works, trust me. You can typically tell if I haven’t gotten a workout in. I must credit close friends, one in particular, who took my already active and competitive self and pushed me into someone who would rather take on a 5K with a friend than go out for a cup of coffee. These are the type of friends who keep me going and help me maintain my excitement for such activities. They’re also to credit for pushing me into the world of cycling. Having fallen in love with road biking, I’m now making my way into the mountain bike scene. This winter, I purchased my first mountain bike, whom I affectionately refer to as, “Windsor.” With a little help from my crazy biking pals, I’ll be competing in a mountain bike race or two this summer. If I’m lucky, I’ll keep all my limbs attached for my street races, which, for now, remain number one in my heart.
2001
2001 THERMO KING
2002 Lawn Mowing • Cleanups • Shrub Trimming Lawn Fertilizing & Weed Control • Residential & Commercial Free Estimates • Fully Insured
SALES & SERVICE 709 11th Street NE • Austin, MN 55912
507-434-8000
2003
2003
2004
2005
LAWN AERATION • POWER RAKING MOWING & EDGING SPRING & FALL CLEANUP
DAVE DONAHUE Ph: 507-567-2689 Cell: 507-438-3975 Brownsdale, MN
DAVE’S LAWN CARE 2006
2006
Austin Daily Herald
78 Profile 2011
Magazine.Com Parade of Progress
REPORTER
AMANDA LILLIE
COLBY HANSEN Five favorite Pixar films: 1. Cars 2. WALL•E 3. Toy Story 4. UP 5. The Incredibles
Five best concerts: 1. Arcade Fire 2. Of Montreal 3. Brand New 4. Blink 182 5. Mae
DESIGN
Anyone who sees me driving my turbocharged 1999 Dodge Neon with its carbon fiber hood, custom wheels and racing seats can probably tell that I love cars. What they probably don’t know is that I also love the movie "Cars." Yes, that 2006 computer animated family film produced by Pixar. My son, Cayden, was only a year old when the film was in theaters, but when it was released on DVD a year later, he instantly fell in love with the film, and more importantly, the toy Hot Wheelssized diecast models from Mattel that came along with it. What started out as a small collection of Lightning McQueen and the friendly town folk of Radiator Springs has since grown into a massive collection of more than 200 toys. Race cars, airplanes, semi trucks and tractors are all a part of the collection, with their eyes in place of windshields and mouths in their bumpers. Some are still packaged in the boxes they came with and proudly displayed on shelves in my son's room, but most have been quickly ripped from their cardbacks and played with. And what a better way to play with them than with playsets of the buildings that adorn the landscape of Radiator Springs. Yes, we have them all. Over the years, new "Cars" toy releases have dwindled. However, the future is bright. A sequel, "Cars 2," is set for release this summer which will hopefully bring another four years of collecting.
Words have always been important to me. This might seem obvious, being that I’m a journalist. But the art of stringing letters and words together to make eloquent — well, sometimes eloquent — sentences didn’t become one of my priorities until I began writing angsty poetry at the age of 16. Let’s be honest — these poems were inspired by “emo” bands like Taking Back Sunday, Bright Eyes, Senses Fail, Fall Out Boy and Dashboard Confessional (I cringe to admit that). However, it was those bands that helped me see how much power words can have over people. Lyrics of all music genres began inspiring me and I began going to concerts, much to my parents’ chagrin. Looking back I now completely understand why my parents wouldn’t be huge proponents of me going to see a band called ‘Senses Fail’ live. Thankfully, in the eight years since I began my journey of angsty, emo music and poetry, my style has developed into a more respectable verse. I discovered a passion for performing poetry on a stage last year and have made it a habit to go to open mic nights in St. Paul and Minneapolis as often as possible. I also still enjoy concert-going, but my musical taste has also matured. Not that Fall Out Boy isn’t still a guilty pleasure — cringe — but I’d much rather go to a show where 14-year-old screaming girls with caked-on makeup don’t compose 90 percent of the audience. Whether it be in my profession, through poetry or simply in listening to music, words will always be my most important possession — however abstract that may be.
O N I S A C O J D N O M
DIA
You may already know about our hot slots, exciting tables, fabulous food, and great entertainment, but
DID YOU
KNOW?
We employ over 430 team members; about one third are from Minnesota! We are a part of your community. In fact, our leadership team serves on community boards
Profile 2011
and our entire team finds ways to help local non-profits
Must be 21 or older. If you or someone you know needs gambling treatment, call 1-80-BETS-OFF.
YOUR KIND OF PLACE
Austin Daily Herald
79
by volunteering their time and talent.
MJ O’Connor Inc. Mike
Jan
Mick
Over 44 Years Experience Over 30 years in Business Plumbing • Heating • Cooling • Refrigeration & Boilers Sales • Service • Installation Commercial • Residential • Service Contracts
MN LICENSE #58584-PM
Residential Commercial
1507 14th St. NE Austin, Minneosta 433-5017
SPORTS
ROCKY HULNE Top 5 NFL Quarterbacks: 1. Tom Brady 2. Steve Young 3. Joe Montana 4. Peyton Manning 5. Brett Favre
I was obsessed with sports growing up but my biggest vice was basketball. The best present I ever got for my birthday was the basketball hoop my parents bought me for the driveway when I turned 14. A lot of summers were spent out there, playing my brother one-onone and running simulations of the NBA playoffs. I got better every year, but unfortunately I didn’t hit my peak until the year after high school. Yep, I was a bench warmer — one of those guys who practices hard, but watches on game night. And there was nothing wrong with that, because being part of a team is something everyone has to embrace for the good of the whole. One bad cog can throw the whole machine off. Watching or being part of a team that clicks on all cylinders is one of the best things to experience in sports. Sometimes you see it in pro sports or even college sports, but high school and small college sports may be the last true refuge of competition for the sake of competing. All the pros are playing for their salary and some college players are trying to get to get to the pros, but at the high school and small college levels it’s all about just giving it your all and seeing what you can do. That’s why I cover high school sports and that’s why I love my job.
JASON SCHOONOVER
EDITOR
Top 5 Vinyl: 1. My Bob Dylan Collection - My goal is to own all 30-plus studio albums, his live stuff and bootlegs.
2. "Bryter Layter" by Nick Drake 3. "The Velvet underground & Nico" by The Velvet Underground & Nico 4. "Orphans: Bawlers, Brawlers and Bastards" by Tom Waits 5. "The White Album" by The Beatles
It started with a few Beatles records and skyrocketed to a collection of about 600. About four years ago, I started collecting vinyl. I first listened to vinyl with a friend who collected, and I quickly fell in love with the sound, the look and the feel of the records. Music has always been a big part of my life, as I played drums in multiple bands in high school and college. Collecting was just the next step. My collection started when my parents dug out a few dozen records from their basement — mostly Beatles albums — and I soon started building my own collection in college. Music sounds better with the imperfections like cracks and pops. Every iTunes download of “Paint It Black” sounds identical. My vinyl copy of “Aftermath” by the Rolling Stones has its own unique scratches (a few too many, though). With vinyl, you can appreciate a record as a whole — the track order, the cover art, inserts — you can’t just seek your favorite tunes like you would for a playlist. And, real collectors have to work fir their vinyl — sifting through record shops, flipping through stacks in thrift stores. Buying vinyl online is like shooting fish in a barrel. I own every Bob Dylan record through 1988 except “Saved,” most of The Velvet Underground’s work, most of The Beatles’, and my jazz collection is slowly nearing respectability. Whenever possible, I even buy new releases on vinyl rather than CDs or iTunes (most come with a free download code). Whether I’m writing, relaxing or visiting with friends, vinyl always provides the best soundtrack.
REPORTER
MATT PETERSON Top 5 Pets: 1. Golden Retriever 2. Ball Python 3. Rope Fish 4. Red Tail Boa 5. Salamander
81
Even though ACSI recognizes “customer” satisfaction, Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services members are in fact “owners.” That’s an important distinction. And it’s why we strive to provide a level of service that’s second to none.
Profile 2011
Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services would like to thank our members for helping us score an "87" in the recent American Customer Satisfaction* Index. This feedback puts your cooperative a full 12 points higher than the utility industry average.
(800) 734-6421 OR (507) 373-6421
www.fmcs.coop 2501 Main Street East • Albert Lea, MN
Austin Daily Herald
My hobbies have been in a steady state of shifting throughout my life. At one point, I was running out of room to keep my snakes. No, I’m not a person one would see on an episode of “Hoarders.” However, name an animal, and I’ve probably cared for it at one point or another. Five years at a pet store brought me to that point. Picking the brains of customers and reading books sparked my interest in reptiles, birds, fish and many types of rare animals. Kittens and hamsters wouldn’t make the cut for me. So I bought a snake. Two years later I was breeding ball pythons and breaking the bank to attend reptile shows, including the largest in the world at Daytona Beach. Today, all the reptiles and fish are gone from my collections. Not forever, though. Right now, I’ve turned back to the first pet I grew up with: a golden retriever. It’s likely the only breed I’ll ever own. That’s because pheasant hunting and dog training are on my list of hobbies. Golf, motocross, table tennis and video games make the list, too. However, it’s hard to predict what hobby will be next — mountain biking?
PHOTOGRAPHER
ERIC JOHNSON Top Five Female Vocalists: 1. Simone Simons, Epica 2. Floor Jansen, ReVamP and ex-After Forever 3. Carly Smithson, We Are the Fallen 4. Aya, UnSun 5. Vibeke Stene, ex-Tristania
TREY MEWES
REPORTER
Top five video games: 1. Final Fantasy 6 2. Vagrant Story 3. The Donkey Kong Country series 4. Shadow of the Colossus 5. NBA Jam
I love heavy metal music, anything that drives, but it's made that much better when there is a strong and emotional female vocalist leading the mayhem.
I initially started as a sportswriter in Huron, S.D., a place if nothing else, taught me how to be different. I was drawn to taking pictures late in the game, but not so late as I couldn't make a career of it. Learning from a good friend shooting for us at the time only made me better. Huron offered me a fantastic situation where I could not only write but shoot the same event, and that fostered everything. Since then I've done nothing but strive to be different in all aspects. Following in the tracks of others only accomplishes the same thing, and I've taken that thinking into my photo art and illustrations. Photos allow me to do the one thing that physics says is impossible. I can freeze time to a moment that does more than display an image, but tells a story. I like shooting new things, but I love shooting those things that excite me and thrill me. I'm not going to lie and say I love shooting everything I'm assigned, but at the same time if you go in closed, especially to a repetitive subject, then it becomes that much worse. If I can pull a shot away that has never been seen before then I accomplish my goal. I'm different.
WEAR ON YOUR SLEEVE
MEET THE AUSTIN DAILY HERALD DESIGN
ANDY GREENMAN
YOU KNOW THAT FEELING THAT YOU
PRIDE
In the beginning, there was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was obsessed with those four green dudes with attitude when I was 3years-old. Almost 20 years later, I guess I’m still pretty geeky when it comes to things I’m passionate about. I love video games as a pastime and an art form. To me, video games are an extension of a story tradition which stretches back ages and eons ago, when people were entertaining each other at the camp fire. Instead of pantomimes and silly voices or several pages of exposition, we now have interactive tales of daring and adventure, mysteries and puzzles literally in our hands to control. Of course, many legendary stories are told on the football field, in the ring or inside a cage as well. Whether it’s blaming John Elway for the Packers loss at the Super Bowl in 1999 or cheering as Mick Foley poured thumbtacks on the ground and beat somebody to a bloody pulp, watching sports and professional wrestling with my dad is still one of my favorite ways to relax.
Top 5 Minnesota Towns 1. Andyville 2. Wabasha 3. New Ulm 4. Duluth 5. Victoria
GET WHEN YOU SEE OUR FLAG OR HEAR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. IT’S A FEELING YOU CAN’T DENY.
Did you know the Minnesota Army National Guard offers: • LOW-COST HEALTH INSURANCE • LOW-COST LIFE INSURANCE • MONEY FOR COLLEGE Austin Daily Herald
• THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN
82 Profile 2011
CALL SSG STEVEN DAVIS (507) 384-7213 WWW.NATIONALGUARD.COM
Often people who are getting to know me, just don't quite understand. More often than not, once you get to know me, I'll leave you just as confused. Wednesday you'll see me dressed in knickers with kneehigh socks. Thursday’s wardrobe includes cowboy boots and a bolo tie. By Friday, don't be surprised if you see me running around in Grandpa Trimble's leisure suit. My influences range anywhere from Lamb Chops SingAlong to Lefse. Growing up the youngest of three boys, I was the one who collected trolls and teddy bears (mom, I guess that's as close as you're going to come to actually having a girl). Since receiving my drivers license at the precious age of 16, the wheels of my car stay in motion. Visiting sites such as the Big Ole (The birthplace of America), to the home of Kentucky Fried Chicken, my journey has only begun. Friends get upset at me when my entire summer is planned out by Easter. Grandma gets angry when I don't save room for dessert. Those instances aside, I seem to do alright. I'm not quite sure yet what the Lord has put me on the Earth for, but I've enjoyed the ride thus far. See ya'll in Talladega.
Coming soon.
Life is short. Stay awake for it.速
AUSTIN