Hometown
January 2015
Lifestyles RECALLING BLIZZARDS OF THE
20 Century th
Also inside:
PRUSTS NAMED
CITIZENS OF THE YEAR CARZ CENTRAL NAMED
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
JANUARY 2015
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Welcome to this edition of Hometown Lifestyles! We’re working to bring you stories about friends and neighbors, civic leaders and business people. It’s good people doing great things in Emmet County. In this issue, we feature Estherville’s 2014 Citizens of the Year and the town’s 2014 Business of the Year. Residents of the Good Samaritan Center remember past blizzards and what life was like before the development of today’s snow removal equipment that keeps roads open shortly after some of the heaviest snowfalls. ‘Snapshots’ feature some of the area dancers that provide halftime entertain‐ ment at basketball games. We invite our readers to share ideas for future stories or just send us your thoughts about this publication to edi‐ tor@esthervillenews.net.
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Wayne West
Good Sam residents recall blizzards of last century BY MICHAEL TIDEMANN
car in the garage Dec. 31. He didn’t take it out again t was probably no accident until the last of March. that the Northern Vindicator, Although this So how on earth did blizzard from 1975 didnʼt ge Estherville an one of the literary ancestors of t mentioned d Northwest they get around? by Good Sam Iowa at that time. aritan reside the Estherville News, was the first nts, it effected “We traveled all winter with the banks,” publication to use the word bliz‐ bobsled and horse,” said Widlund. said Widlund, recalling they were nearly zard in print to describe a violent Sharing wasn’t just a courtesy as high as the garage roof. “My such a problem back then. snowstorm. then — it was a matter of survival. brother and I had fun digging tun‐ “In those days our entertainment So what was the worst blizzard Neighbors would get together nels through the snowbanks.” was a lot different than it is now,” you ever saw? One of apocalyptic Friday afternoons and go to town And, while doctors made house said Widlund. “No one ever got proportions. One that made you for coal, food or other commodi‐ calls in those days, the doctor had bored. It was very much different question whether you would live ties. If you lived on the farm, of to be able to make it to your house than it is now.” through it if you were caught in it. course, you could probably always — something that wasn’t very easy Ed Ahrens said there was so much Have you ever seen such a storm? fall back on your root cellar or when 10‐foot drifts traced across snow that after they opened the A number of Estherville Good gather some eggs or milk the cow every road. roads up it drifted shut right away Samaritan Society residents have. or dress a hog. “It was very fortunate that no again. And they shared their stories with Just getting to the barn or hog one ever got sick,” said Widlund. “The county didn’t have very us. house or chicken coop, though, And while people today might go good snow removal at the time,” Kathryn Widlund remembers liv‐ could be a problem. stir crazy (think Jack Nicholson in Ahrens explained. ing on her parents’ farm near “I sure remember the snow‐ The Shining), boredom wasn’t Palmer in 1936. Her father put his Turn to BLIZZARD, Page 5 STAFF WRITER
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JANUARY 2015
BLIZZARD, Continued from Page 4 Ahrens was living two miles east and a mile south of Estherville when they had to break through the hard‐crusted snow so the plow could get through. Even at that, it took clear until 4 in the afternoon for the plow to go two miles to their place. That gave them time to get into town for groceries, and that was a good thing, because by 11 that night the roads had drifted shut again. James Johnson remembers back to the winter of 1951‐52 when his parents were ranching in northern Tripp County, South Dakota. His father had bought a 24‐hour gas station in Murdo with a 16‐seat diner. A terrible blizzard came in ‘52, and Pete Judd walked to get his children from the country school and all froze to death. Johnson remembers a bus driver giving his father a picture where people had one foot on a snowdrift and the other on the bus. Military aircraft dropped feed for cattle, and John Halgramson, Johnson’s mother’s uncle, flew food and medicine between Murdo and Presho. Nature continued its fury in the spring with 30 inches of floodwater coursing through streets in Pierre, South Dakota’s capital. “I lived through lots of blizzards on the farm but none as bad as that,” said Johnson. Naomi Linn was 10 and living on the family farm when a storm hit early November about 70 years ago. She helped her father and broth‐ ers gather up chickens and ducks and geese huddled under a binder. She remembers another time when her father and brothers dug a tunnel from the house to the barn. Don’t go on top of the snowbank, their father told them. “A lot of people lost a lot of stock when that storm hit because it was so unexpected,” Naomi said. “We had a lot of problems,” said Wayne West. “We lost some livestock.” That was back when West was a junior in high school. Sylvia Purdue remembers one November when they lost almost all their animals, and activities aide Pat Von Behren remembers 1955‐ 56 when the chicken house was covered up to the chimney and their mother had the kids feed the chickens through the chimney. For Nada Halvorson who lived at Maple Hill, one of the most vivid memories was the rotary snowplow. She recalls the first time they ever used it on Highway 9.
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Naomi Linn
James Johnson
Gladys Klepperton
Ed Ahrens
Kathryn Widlund
Sylvia Purdue
SNAP SHOTS
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Photos by Estherville News staff
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Dancing to the music
Halftime at area basketball games in Estherville are enhanced by the performances of dancers of all ages. From the Estherville Lincoln Central Dance Team to the Laker Dance Team or younger dancers from L始Ecole Danse and the Regional Wellness Center.
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Carz Central received the 2014 Business of the Year award at the Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet Thursday, Jan. 15. Front row, left to right, are: Josue Araguz, Eric Erickson, Lane Laidig, Jay Iverson and Clair Iverson. Back: Mark Pauling and Austin Mitchell. Photo by Michael Tidemann
CARZ CENTRAL NAMED 2014 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BY MICHAEL TIDEMANN STAFF WRITER
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f improving a business — and the community — is a secret to suc‐ cess, the 2014 Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year went to the right people. Clair and Jay Iverson of Carz Central received the award at the Estherville
Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Estherville VFW. The business opened summer 2005 and Clair said they plan on a 10th anniversary celebration this summer. Clair has been selling cars far longer than that, though. He started over 30 years ago and has gained a wealth of
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knowledge since then. Formerly located in what is now the Comfortec building, the Iversons moved the business to the other side of Estherville at the top of Half Mile Hill. They knocked off the front 20 feet of the former snowmobile and motor‐ cycle shop and did a complete remod‐ el so the building now resembles more of an uptown suite of offices than an auto dealership. They’ve also added storage in the back and most recently put on a 40‐ by‐60‐foot four‐bay shop, allowing them to offer full alignment, exhaust and suspension services for their cus‐ tomers. Their employees include Eric Erickson, ASC certified diagnostic mechanic. “He’s as good as you get,” said Jay. Other employees are Mark Paul, also an ASC certified tech, and Austin
Mitchell, lube tech. Lane Laidig handles sales and Internet marketing and Josue Araguz does auto detailing. Jay said they service what they sell in addition to doing general mechanic work for the public. Drive by Carz Central on the top of Half Mile Hill, and you’ll always find a good selection. Jay says they usually keep 40 cars on the lot. “We try to fix everything before it hits the lot,” said Jay. They offer a free powertrain warranty for the first 30 days or 1,000 miles, and they road test every vehicle 200‐300 miles before it goes on the lot. Clair said their West Central Avenue location gives them two to three times the traffic they had before. “We actually pull a lot of southern Minnesota traffic,” said Jay. Turn to CARZ, Page 5
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12 must-haves to keep on hand B
eing a registered dietitian, I am often asked what I kind of food I keep on hand in my house. Well, here are my top 12 must‐haves! 12. Hummus Hummus is a very ver‐ satile bean dip that can also be used as a sand‐ wich spread, pizza top‐ ping and even a pasta sauce! Dip cut‐up veg‐ etables or whole‐grain chips into hummus for a quick snack. 11. Natural Peanut Butter Old Home peanut but‐ ter is my favorite brand. Since it doesn’t contain any hydrogenated oils (the unhealthy oils), it is a refrigerated peanut butter. Spread it on an apple or banana for a
About the Author: Greta Farley is the Registered Dietitian for Estherville and Spirit Lake Hy-Vee stores
quick snack! 10. Eggs The cholesterol scare with eggs is old news! The cholesterol in eggs is dietary cholesterol which does not automatically enter your bloodstream and increase your blood serum cholesterol (LDL). Eggs not only provide many important nutri‐
ents (just think: eggs are meant to eventually be a life form); they are also very cost‐efficient. 9. Whole Grain Pasta Look for whole grains as the first listed ingredi‐ ent with this one! Whip up a quick vegetable pasta: sauté your veg‐ etables of choice, add to cooked pasta and top with Parmesan cheese. Quick and delicious! 8. Dark Chocolate Who doesn’t want to have a little treat every now and then? Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and, as everyone knows, puts you in a good mood! Watch your portion sizes and make sure the chocolate is at least 70% cocoa.
7. Seasonal Produce I’m talking about zuc‐ chini and sweet corn in the summer; acorn squash in the fall; citrus in the winter. Going sea‐ sonal with your produce not only saves money, it gives you the highest quality fruits and vegeta‐ bles. 6. Frozen, Individually Sealed Tilapia This is convenient not only for families but for those who are cooking for only one or two peo‐ ple. Tilapia is easy to cook and does not have that fishy taste to it. Sauté it in olive oil or cook it under your broil‐ er. 5. Flax Seed Flax seed is good for your heart and digestive
system. I prefer the kind that is already milled; just make sure to place it in a sealed container in your refrigerator or freezer. Add to oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, smooth‐ ies and baked goods. 4. Yogurt Not all yogurt is created equal! My favorites are Siggi’s Icelandic yogurt (high in protein low in sugar) and Chobani Greek yogurt. These can be part of a quick break‐ fast or an easy snack. 3. Apples The original fast food! Throw an apple in your purse, lunch bag or desk for a quick fiber‐filled snack. My favorite kind of apple is Gala, but I have a colorful assort‐ ment in my fridge.
CARZ, Continued from Page 8 Laidig’s Internet marketing has pro‐ duced great results. Jay said one vehi‐ cle had 1,100 hits in nine hours. Clair wants to offer both the Chamber and Estherville Industrial Development Corporation a lot of thanks for the award they received plus their help in the past. They were able to use a Chamber facade grant for their building front, making a high‐ ly attractive and inviting presence along Highway 9. “We bought the rattiest‐looking building in town and made it into one of the nicest, more contemporary buildings in town,” said Jay. Jay also praised Lexie Ruter, Chamber executive director, for every‐ thing she’s done for the community. “We appreciate everything she has done,” said Jay. Jay emphasizes that the Carz Central service department is second to none. “We try to do it the right way,” said Clair. Following are remarks Ruter made in
presenting Carz Central with the 2014 Business of the Year award: “The 2014 Business of the Year is cel‐ ebrating its 10‐year anniversary this year. In those 10 years they have expanded their business many times. In 2011 they purchased a run‐down building and remodeled it, completely changing an entrance to our commu‐ nity for the better. They have had steady growth and put a new addition on their building in 2014. Recently they purchased another run‐down building and are in the process of renovating it. They currently employ seven full‐time people and stimulate the economy of Estherville by drawing people in from other communities. This business has been a supporter of many Estherville events also. “I am happy to announce Carz Central as the 2014 Business of the Year. Congratulations on your 10‐year anniversary and thank you for your support. We look forward to your con‐ tinued growth.”
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2. Olive and Canola Oils These heart‐healthy fats are important to include into your daily diet. Use extra‐virgin olive oil to make salad dressings and to sauté foods over medium heat; use canola oil for high‐ heat cooking and for baking. 1. Ice My favorite thing in my kitchen is our ice maker. However odd this sounds, I love ice water, and having ice around means we drink a lot more of it! If you don’t have an ice maker in your fridge, opt for ice trays that you always keep full. I’ll bet that you will drink a lot more water when you have ice handy.
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Gerdes bids farewell to Estherville
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n Dec. 17, 2012 it was my privilege to take over as the Administrator of the Good Samaritan Society Estherville. I quickly recognized that this was a very special place. I saw the compassion in this loving group of people, dedicated to providing excellent care for the residents. I was warmly welcomed by a caring and supportive community who has been actively involved in ensuring the success of our center. During my time here we have seen so many pos‐ itive changes in the physical appearance of our building and in the technology that we have been able to implement that improves and enhances the quality of life for our residents. We were also able to greatly increase the number of people we care for here in the community. We have been blessed in many ways and have faced our share of challenges but we have always pulled together to do the very best we can for the people we care for. On January 8th 2015 after much serious consid‐ eration and prayer I decided to accept a position at the Good Samaritan Society in Ottumwa. This was a very difficult decision for me. I will leave this wonderful place with a heart filled with grati‐ tude and great hope and expectation that God will send a new leader to pick up where I have left off. As I move on to my next mission at a new cen‐ ter I truly believe this campus will continue to thrive, with a supportive community and an awe‐ some staff who truly believe that in Christ’s Love Everyone is someone! In Christ, Isaac Gerdes, Administrator Good Samaritan Society Estherville
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Prusts named Citizens of the Year BY MICHAEL TIDEMANN STAFF WRITER
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im and Elaine Prust were named 2014 Citizens of the year at the Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce annual ban‐ quet Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Estherville VFW. Jim and Elaine have lived in Estherville for 34 years and have two grown children. Their daughter Kristi and her husband, Kirk Radtke, and their son Huxley live in Estherville. The Prusts’ son Chad and his significant other, Heather Heser, also live in Estherville. Chad is also a member of the Estherville Fire Department. Jim works at Central Fuel Injection (Diesel Specialties) and Elaine works with NorthStar Bank and Agency. The Prusts’ favorite projects are helping put up and take down flags for Memorial Day. They have also volunteered for Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts and have been 4‐ H leaders along with various commu‐ nity projects for both the Scouts and 4‐H. They have also served on the Emmet County Extension Council and helped with judging and setting up booths at the Emmet County Fair, Emmet County Relay for Life, helped set up playground equipment and worked with the RWC bicycle time tri‐ als. Chamber activities they’ve volun‐ teered for include the Fright Hike, July 4 breakfast, assisting at various Sweet Corn Days activities and scraping wall paper and painting at the newly refur‐ bished Chamber office. They have also participated in the Estherville Police Department Citizens Academy, various projects at St. Patrick's Catholic Church and deliv‐ ered Meals on Wheels. “We volunteer to give back to the community that has done so much for us,” said Elaine. “We would like to thank the Chamber for this honor. We would like to thank other community members that put a lot of effort into the various events.” Following are the remarks Chamber
Jim and Elaine Prust were named Esthervilleʼs 2014 Citizens of the Year. Photo submitted
director Lexie Ruter made in recogniz‐ ing the Prusts as Citizens of the Year. “Estherville and the Chamber have many supportive community mem‐ bers and businesses but every year we take the time to recognize those who go above and beyond. In December we start accepting nomina‐ tions for the Business and Citizen of the Year. We choose from those nom‐ inations the person and business we feel are doing the most for Estherville and the Chamber. “The Citizen of the Year Award is a major honor that goes to a communi‐ ty member who is very dedicated to Estherville and to the Chamber each year.
“This year’s award winners are behind‐the‐scenes people who are truly the definition of volunteers. This husband‐and‐wife duo has spent many years volunteering with many Estherville organizations. She spent many years on the Emmet County Extension Board, helping with 4‐H and spending many hours raising money for Relay for Life. Together they have dedicated years to the Estherville Boy Scouts. In the days around Memorial Day you can find them helping to put up and take down the flags in Library Square. You will always find them helping with things at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church — they do an excep‐ tional amount of painting there. They
have been quiet volunteers at many Chamber events. Every year on the Sunday morning after Sweet Corn Days you can find them in Library Square picking up garbage and help‐ ing the committee clean up. This year they helped scrape paint and wallpa‐ per during the Chamber building’s remodel. They even froze and fright‐ ened at the Fright Hike this year, not only taking a day off of work to help with setup and tear down but work‐ ing during the night to help keep the event going. “Jim and Elaine Prust are exception‐ al volunteers and I am proud to award them with the Citizen of the Year Award. Thank you for all that you do.”
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AveraHolyFamily.org
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