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“Where Fillmore County News Comes First” Weekly Edition
Horses, Horses, and more Horses! pages
25-28
On Parkland
page
Monday, March 5, 2018
2018 Dairy Princess
5
page
Volume 33 Issue 24
County recognizes service and safety
14
page
21
Canton • Chatfield • Fountain • Harmony • Houston • Lanesboro • Mabel • Ostrander • Peterson • Preston • Rushford • Rushford Village • Spring Valley • Whalan • Wykoff
Second grader from Fountain chosen as MDA ambassador
M-C School addresses tragedy and threats By R ich Wicks rich@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Dawn and Nathan Bernau with their kids, Weston and Willa. By H annah Wingert hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Ambassadors for MDA are selected depending on their involvement with various MDA programs. Weston and his family were instrumental in bringing the MDA Muscle Walk to Rochester and show up each year to participate with their fundraising team, Weston’s Wranglers, wearing their green and yellow team shirts featuring cowboys riding horses, which combine Weston’s love of horse riding and John Deere tractors. “Weston is confident and charismatic for his age and certainly not shy when it comes to meeting new people!” MDA fundraising coordinator Anya Moran commented. “We like to engage families that are comfortable sharing their story and See AMBASSADOR Page 2
See M-C SCHOOL Page 2
Rushford approves HBC request By K irsten Zoellner kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
It’s been a notably bumpy few years for Southeastern Minnesota Historic Bluff Country (HBC), but the tourism entity isn’t giving up yet. New Director Brian Krenz followed up on his January appearance before the council by attending the Monday, February 26 meeting. “I was given an assignment and hopefully, it meets your approval,” said Krenz. At the January meeting, several on the council expressed concern that HBC didn’t have specified paths to meeting new goals. Membership in the entity waned greatly
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from 31 cities in the region to just six in recent years, partly due to what was Krenz noted was a lack of communication and responsiveness and mismanagement of funds by previous directors. Several of the HBC goals are “extremely short term,” such as their recent push on social media. The entity is working the social media angle through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Google+. It hopes the activity by followers will have an exponential effect, drawing in interest from those outside the region. Krenz noted the social See HBC REQUEST Page 9
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Weston Bernau from Fountain is a typical 7-year-old boy who loves playing with his extensive toy tractor collection, riding his horse, and ziplining at summer camp. He also happens to have Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and uses a green John Deere power wheelchair to get around. Weston was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy when he was a year old. The disease weakens the muscles and is progressive. Some people with it are able to walk, others have to use wheelchairs and/or various mobility aids. But Weston doesn’t let his disability stop him from doing what he loves and being a normal kid. One of his favorite things to do
is whip donuts in his power chair. Weston was recently chosen as the Southeast Minnesota Muscular Dystrophy Association ambassador and is happy about his new role with the organization. “All the attention is a little overwhelming, but Weston is excited,” his mom, Dawn said. He’ll hold the position for one year and will represent the MDA at various events during that time. He will also be an advocate for others living with Muscular Dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. His first appearance was at the Rochester Applebees for their fundraising event on February 27. He will also get to accept the donation check from Ace Hardware for the MDA as the face of the organization.
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The Mabel-Canton School Board held their first regular meeting since the tragic accident that claimed the lives of two students. That accident, and the response by the local and surrounding communities, was a main topic of discussion. Present at the meeting were Mark Weidemann, Jason Marquardt, Chris Miller, Principal Michelle Weidemann, Board chair Cristal Adkins, Superintendent Gary Kuphal, Business Manager Aimee Lake, high school secretary, Lynette Donald; and Diane Wilder. Absentees included Liz Hershberger and Chris Loppnow. Adkins and Kuphal thanked all donors included in the “amazing” outpouring of support to the Arneson family and M-C Schools following the tragedy. Kuphal listed off many examples,
such as surrounding organizations and schools and individuals that offered services, or sent cookies or other comfort items to the local students and staff. He listed off a number of examples, but wanted to be sure ALL who gave time or money or care know that it is very appreciated. He also shared his opinion that such a tragedy in a small community guarantees that nearly every student and staff member knows the family involved, which makes the wider impact even greater than it might be in an urban area. Principal Weidemann shared that M-C recently had “ALICE” training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) and practiced how to respond in the event of an “active shooter” situation. She said even though it was just a drill, it was very powerful and emotional. She