7 minute read
From the Editor
from Mankato Magazine
APRIL 2020 • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 4
PUBLISHER Steve Jameson
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EDITOR Joe Spear
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Robb Murray
CONTRIBUTORS Bert Mattson Diana Rojo-Garcia Jean Lundquist Kat Baumann Dan Greenwood Nicole Helget Pete Steiner
PHOTOGRAPHERS Pat Christman Jackson Forderer
PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey
ADVERTISING SALES Danny Creel Joan Streit Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Marianne Carlson Theresa Haefner
ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Barb Wass
ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Sue Hammar Christina Sankey
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Justin Niles
Mankato Magazine is published by The Free Press Media monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato MN 56001.
To subscribe, call 1-800-657-4662 or 507-625-4451. $35.40 for 12 issues.
For editorial inquiries, call Robb Murray at 344-6386, or e-mail rmurray@mankatofreepress.com.
For advertising, call 344-6364, or e-mail advertising@mankatofreepress.com.
FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR By Robb Murray Tales from the beat
When I started my job at the Mankato Free Press, it was everything I ever wanted. Jobs in journalism — especially in a high-quality-of-life state such like Minnesota — were hard to come by. Plus, I’d spent three years in college here and the place was kind of growing on me. My first “beat” in The Free Press newsroom was what we in the business call “cops and courts,” which put me in contact with police officers and firefighters on a daily basis. And I got along with most of them. I was very early in my career here when I met Amy Atkins, whose name would later change to Amy Vokal. She was young and idealistic, just like me. Today, we’re both 50 years old and working at jobs we never would have predicted we’d still be at.
Our cover story this month is a profile of Vokal, whom I interviewed a few weeks ago. And as sometimes happens, I forgot to ask her one of the questions that prompted us to do this story in the first place. So I had to call her back later to get her thoughts on being the first female director of her law enforcement agency. Vokal sort of brushed off the question. But not in a way that would suggest she didn’t want to answer it; it seemed to genuinely catch her off guard, and she seemed sincere in saying it’s not something she thinks much about. Well, I think about it. I think about that kind of stuff a lot, actually. As a journalist, and father of a daughter, you wonder — in a glass-half-full kind of way — how long it’ll still be a question to ask, given the progress we’ve made on equality. Then again, given the progress we’ve made on equality — in a glass-half-empty kind of way — if feels like we’ll be asking this question for a while. When my daughter was born, I’d hoped that, by the time she grew up, we’d be a lot further along in this process than we are. Yet here we are, 2020, and we’re still asking women for their thoughts on how it feels to be the first female whatever. Vokal might not think much about it, but I guarantee you there are girls out there who saw her ascend to that position and were inspired. For that we should be thankful. And I think you’ll come away from this piece knowing a lot more about Amy Vokal than you did before. Also in this month’s Mankato Magazine, we’re starting a new feature called Let’s Eat! We’ll be diving into the best local restaurants telling the stories the people who run them and the food they’re proud of. We’re kicking it off with Pappageorge’s Restaurant, home of some of the best steaks — and service — in town. And we’re confident we’ve got enough great places in southern Minnesota to keep this featur going for years to come.
Check our Familiar Faces feature this month, which gets up close and personal with radio deejay TJ Palesotti. TJ, known for local radio and Maverick hockey games, recently got a new gig at Alpha Media. We’re just happy he’s not leaving town. Finally, we’re thrilled and honored to have the work of wordsmith (and former Free Press staff writer) Joe Tougas, who tells us some of the stories behind his impressive autograph collection.
Robb Murray is associate editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at 344-6386 or rmurray@ mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freepressRobb.
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Saturday, April 25, 2020 6 PM Social Hour | 7 PM Dinner Courtyard by Marriott 901 Raintree Road, Mankato • Live Jazz Music • Dinner and Dancing • Fundraising Fun • 1920s Dress Encouraged GENERAL TICKET $65 RESERVED TABLE $650 Reserved Tables and Sponsorships include Eight Tickets with Complimentary Speakeasy Accessories POSTPONED
FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports Dancing with the Mankato Stars
1. Alanna Smith jumps over Chris Shay’s back in their Country style dance routine. 2. Brook Devenport dances as Napoleon Dynamite during her individual performance. 3. The Dance Express Company performed their “Dream State” performance as the show opener. 4. (Left to right) Dancing with the Mankato stars judges Tyler Hanes, Suavé and Kameron Blink hold their scorecards up. 5. The Mayo Clinic Health System Nurses celebate after their dance routine.
6. Tiana FitzSimmons and Bukata Hayes dance to African Jazz. 7. Jessica Alstad and her dance partner, Steve Wegman, featured a jazz/blues style in their performance.
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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports Eagle Lake Winter Activites
1. Aubrie Horkey coloring snow. 2. Natalie (left) and Beth Retzlaff (right) participating in the scavenger hunt. 3. A group stays warm by the fire. 4. Maisey Auringer kicking in a game of snowy kickball. 5. The Adams family enjoying the sledding hill. 6. Free cookies and warm drinks were available. 7. Kids run from the start line of the obstical course.
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FACES & PLACES: Photos By SPX Sports Baby & Kids Expo
1. Families visited more than 50 vendors during the event. 2. This year marked the 13th annual Baby & Kids Expo. 3. Kids play in the activities area with the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota. 4. The Baby & Kids Expo took place at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center’s Grand Hall. 5. Kasie Gonczy from Gonzee Designs creates a balloon doll. 6. Karmy Luker, Museum Experience Supervisor with the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, interacts with the children playing.
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This event is a fundraiser for Partners for Affordable Housing
1. Approximately 50 teams participated and an estimated $75,000 was raised for Partners for Affordable Housing. 2. Teammates helped keep their cyclist cool by fanning them. 3. Leanne Miller poses for a photo as she cycles. 4. Pedal Past Poverty is a one-day and one-of-a-kind stationary bike race. This fundraiser is Partners for Affordable Housing’s signature event. 5. Participants for this year’s Pedal Past Poverty fill up the YMCA gym. 6. Snacks were provided for participants. 7. North Mankato Mayor Mark Dehen stretches before his turn on the stationary bike.
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