B.P. Woman to Enjoy A Lot of Chuckles at Fair
Belle Plaine Firefighters Regain Traveling Trophy Photo on Page 13
More BBQ Days Photos Pages 2, 13, 14
Page 4
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JULY 24, 2013
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 30
Bull Riding, Contests and Games Added to 2013 Scott County Fair Fair Opens Today, Runs Through Sunday
said Brad Woodward, the fair’s general manager. Other grandstand entertainment includes motocross racing Wednesday, tractor pulling Thursday and demolition derby Saturday. Local riders are invited to bring their motorcycle or fourwheeler and try their skill against regional riders. The Supercross series by Casey’s and Coates RV kick starts practice at 5:35 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday The Supercross track will be custom built by Motokazie. Looking at the weather for the week, Woodward is hoping for moderate temperatures free of oppressive heat and rain. With any luck, the fair could draw an overall attendance of 27,000 to 30,000 people, he said. Admission to the fair is free but parking costs $10. Parking is free with a $20-$30 membership to the Scott County Agriculture Society. Admission to grandstand events varies from $5 to $12. For more information, call the Scott County Fair offices (952492-2436 or visit the fair’s Web site --- scottcountyfair.com
Wednesday, July 24 9 a.m. 4-H rabbit show, sheep barn – open class to follow Noon: 2013 Fair officially opens Noon to 10 p.m.: All Exhibit Buildings Open 3:30 p.m. Straw dive, outside Building 11 4 p.m. Livestock demonstrations 5 p.m. Carnival opens 6 p.m. Minute To Win It, beer garden 6:30 p.m. Straw dive, outside Building 11 7 p.m. Motocross, grandstand 10:30 p.m. Nightly cash drawing (tickets available at front gate)
The Scott County Fair is back for its annual five day run with new attractions organizers hope will draw more patrons to the fairgrounds in St. Lawrence Township north of Belle Plaine. The additions to this year’s fair – billed as “The Five Best Days of Summer” – begins today and Thursday, July 25 runs through Sunday. It include Kids’ Day professional bull riding Fri8 a.m. 4-H horse show, North day evening in the grandstand, Horse Arena the Minute to Win It contests 9 a.m. Open beef show, cattle where contestants take part in a barn series of timed challenges using 9 a.m. 4-H market goat show – objects to accomplish different swine barn goals or tasks. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. All exhibit There will also be alpaca dembuildings open onstrations, a beanbag tourna10 a.m. Open class sheep show, ment Sunday afternoon, and a sheep barn wildlife calling contest. Noon and 12:20 p.m. Story time Promoted by Mike Traxler of with the Savage Library, gazebo Belle Plaine-based M.T. Buck12:30 p.m. Kevin Hall magic pering Bulls and Rice Bull Ridformance, Entertainment Square ing Co., the bull riding is the 12:30 p.m. 4-H camp Fair, Extenbig addition this year. It will sion office include plenty of fireworks durOther attractions at the 1 p.m. 4-H & Open class dairy ing the opening ceremonies. county fair include: show, cattle barn Bull riding fills an open spot in 1 to 3 p.m. Lollipop the Clown, the grandstand Friday evening, gazebo 1 to 7 p.m. Master Gardener Info Booth Open, gardens north of fair office Noon carnival opens 2 to 5 p.m. Whispering Oaks alpaca demonstration, between 4H diner & food court 2 to 6 p.m. Kids’ Day carnival Want to run for a seat on the election. Director Judy Nagel special: kiddie rides discounted by Belle Plaine School Board? said “it is likely that I will not one ticket You likely won’t have to chal- seek re-election.” 2 p.m. Tour of the Master Garlenge an incumbent. Candidates can file at the dens, gardens north of fair office The filing period to run for one school district offices at the 3 p.m. Raptor Center presentaof three seats on the board in Belle Plaine District Center (the tion, gazebo the fall general election opens old junior high) on South Wil- 3 p.m. Kevin Hall magic perforJuly 30 and closes at the end of low Street. It costs $2 to file. mance, Entertainment Square the business day Aug. 13. The seats directors Nagel, 3:30 p.m. Straw dive, outside Incumbents directors Gary Daly and Steinhagen hold are Scott Co. Fair Steinhagen and Mike Daly up for election to four-year (continued on page 7) have said they won’t seek re- terms.
Incumbents Are Out When B.P. School Board Filing Period Opens
Belle Plaine’s 2013-14 royal court consists of, from left, First Princess Jessica Weldon, Miss Belle Plaine Amara Meyer, Second Princess Tatiana Boecker and Miss Congeniality Rachel Feldermann.
Bar-B-Q Days Numbers Continue Upward Trend
To steal a phrase from one of “There are 22 committees and Bar-B-Q Days the medallion hunt clues, the they all knew exactly what to (continued on page 7) weather for this past weekend’s do. They are phenomenal,” Bar-B-Q Days was splendid “from the first beef sandwich to the last firework.” There was plenty of sunshine, comfortable temperatures and low humidity all three days, unlike the previous two Bar-B-Q Amara Meyer recently com- the Bar-B-Q Days Queen CoroDays. pleted an eventful junior year nation in the BPHS south gymThe result was an increase in at Belle Plaine High School, nasium. sales in all three of the festival’s where she played a key roll in “I was really surprised,” said main profit areas – Beef Stand, the volleyball team’s run to the Meyer. “I didn’t know what to Beer Garden and Carnival, state tournament in November think. I was just overwhelmed where the prices for the prod- and was also a state-qualifier but very happy.” ucts of each were unchanged in track and field last month. In Meyer, the daughter of Chris from recent years. between those two sports, she and Janene Meyer, will particiDonna Woodard of the Belle was a regular on the school’s pate in her first parade at this Plaine Chamber of Commerce, basketball team. She was also weekend’s Kolacky Days in who for the first time oversaw a member of the school’s Pep Montgomery. Joining her on the the planning for this year’s Bar- Club and Tiger Target Team. float will be the rest of the new B-Q Days, said “absolutely” The past eight months for when asked if she was pleased Meyer got more eventful SunMiss Belle Plaine with how the weekend turned day when she was crowned the (continued on page 14) out. 2013-14 Miss Belle Plaine at
Amara Meyer Crowned New Miss Belle Plaine
Coin Hunter Ed Witt Comes Through Again 30 Years Later One of the most drama-filled conclusions in the history of the Bar-B-Q Days Medallion Hunt unfolded downtown and at Century Park between 4 and 5 p.m. Friday following the release of the fourth and final clue at Golden Touch Jewelry, where some 30 people were waiting for it. It was also posted on the Belle Plaine Herald website. Actually, it wasn’t the final clue. Clueman Don Meger, who wrote all the clues during the three-week search, provided one more “verbal” hint at about 4:30 p.m. after searchers were unable to find the elusive coin, many of whom were searching the downtown area, including inside the fountain at Townsend Park. But Meger’s final verbal offering sent everyone scurrying to the other side of Highway 169 to Century Park, where many had searched earlier in the week but with no success. About 30 minutes after the verbal clue, veteran medallion hunter Ed Witt found the coin stuffed in the dirt up against a storm sewer across the street from the park. It was the 30-year anniversary
Coin
(continued on page 4)
While waiting for word on the fate of her daughter, Pat Meyer has enjoyed the support of coworkers and customers at Emma Krumbee’s Bakery & Restaurant in Belle Plaine where she is a longtime server. Pictured above are (back row, from left) Lynette Edberg, Sheila Myers, Edna Haedike, Lee Schlueter, (front row) Deb Hoffman, Meyer and Carol Matanich.
Serving Tables at Emma’s a Nice Break From Nightmare
Ed Witt is pictured where he found the coin Friday. Some of his helpers included, from left, his granddaughter Hannah Burmeister, daughter Kim Gwozdziewicz (holding her daughter Ellie) and Ed’s daughter Allison Burmeister. The family is donating the $100 prize for finding the coin to the food shelf.
waiting tables and bringing customers their meals, Pat Meyer sees her shifts as a break from the nightmare. Now, the dreadful events surrounding her daughter’s disappearance and death may finally be nearing an end. And all the while, co-workers and friends in Belle Plaine at Where some might see drudg- Emma Krumbee’s have had her ery or the monotonic routine of back.
As Missing Person, Homicide Inquiries Unfold, Co-Workers, Customers Offer Meyer Support
Meyer, who lives in St. Peter and is a longtime server at the popular Belle Plaine eatery, has endured the mystery and tragedy of what happened to her daughter, Leeann “Annie” Meyer, a Colorado resident. Pat last spoke with her daugh-
Meyer
(continued on page 5)