PINE CITY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 VOL. 130 NO. 45 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
DRAGONS RACE TO STATE: Girls cross-country squad qualifies for State meet. P13
Pine City woman killed in crash BY MIKE GAINOR EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
A Pine City woman was killed in an early-morning crash on Interstate 35 near Willow River this past Tuesday, Nov. 3. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at 3:35 a.m. Tina M. Rushmeyer, 35, was on foot on I-35 three miles south of the Willow River exit when she was struck by a Volvo semi truck traveling northbound. The Volvo driver – Scott M. Madison, 56, of Inver Grove Heights – was not injured in the crash. The state patrol reports
that Madison was not under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred. The state patrol reports that Rushmeyer appears to have been near a car that stalled on the highway when the crash occurred. Eyewitnesses state that law enforcement was still investigating the scene of the crash at 11 a.m. Sgt. Neil Dickinson of the Minnesota State Patrol said investigators are continuing to piece together how the crash occurred. Look for more on this story in next week’s Pioneer.
Casey’s could be replacing Old Oak Inn STAFF REPORT NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
KRIS JAHNZ
Halloween heroes offer tricks for treats The homes and streets of Pine City were filled with superheroes, Jedi, ninjas, vampires and an outrageous variety of hilarious getups for Halloween celebrations this past Saturday. More photos Page 23.
The Pine City area could be about to get its 10th gas station. Casey’s Retail has submitted a site plan application to the city to demolish the Old Oak Inn and convert the 1.7 acre site into a Casey’s General Store. Casey’s proposes to share a driveway with the Spire Credit Union to the north and construct a 4,300 square foot convenience
store with gas pumps. Community Development Director/City Planner Nathan Johnson said preliminary plans were reviewed by the Pine City Planning Commission on Oct. 27, and the matter was tabled for further review at the commission’s next meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24. City approval is contingent on Casey’s meeting 11 conditions, SEE CASEY’S, PAGE 16
Farmers celebrate ‘best crop ever’ BY TERRY SALMELA NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
After a remarkable 2015 growing season, area farmers are experiencing the best crop yields in history. However, recent rainfall, low grain prices, high production costs, lack of storage, trucking and stalk rot have provided some challenges.
RAIN DELAYS HARVEST In this area, most all of the soybeans have been harvested and about half of the corn. Harvesting conditions have been ideal until the recent rains created wet muddy fields. Earlier this week farmers were ready to get back into the fields. They need to finish the harvest, spread manure and do fall tillage before the ground freezes up.
On the positive side, the rain was a chance to recharge soils for next year and provided a break to do repairs and trucking. BEST CROP EVER Despite the recent rains, John Swanson, Federated Coop Agronomist at Ogilvie, described this year TERRY SALMELA | THE PIONEER
SEE HARVEST, PAGE 16
Sunshine at harvest time capped off a fine year for farmers.
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