The Star Post 01-11-2023

Page 1

Position open on Melrose Parks and Recreation Board

Council approves annual appointments

Melrose City Council members, during the Jan. 5 meeting, approved their annual appointments to commissions and boards, but one position remains open. The Parks and Recreation Board still needs one member from the community for a three-year term.

According to city ordinance, the Parks and Recreation Board consists of seven members who may be residents of the city or the surrounding area. It includes two Melrose Area Development Authority members, one city council member and four community members. This board meets at least quarterly and at other times as necessary.

Individuals interested in filling the position are encouraged to fill out an application available at the Melrose City Center, 225 First St., Melrose.

If applications are received, the council may approve a board appointment during their monthly meeting Thursday, Jan. 19, at the city center.

400 Block update

Appointments included the following:

Acting mayor: Councilor Tony Klasen.

Public Utilities Commission: Eric Seanger and council representative Mayor Joe Finken.

Planning and Zoning Commission: Council representative Joelene Wieling.

Melrose Area Development Authority: Jerome Duevel and council representative Travis Frieler.

Parks and Recreation Board: Craig Schiffler and council representative Justin Frieler.

Fire Relief Association: Council representative Justin Frieler.

Melrose Housing and Redevelopment Authority: Council Representative Wieling.

To start the 30-minute meeting, Mayor Finken and Councilor Travis Frieler were sworn in to new terms by city administrator Colleen Winter.

As the sun was starting to rise Monday, Commercial Contractors Company workers from Melrose were inside the Lisa’s On Main building working on securing the west wall

BY

Public input wanted

regarding North Lake pedestrian trail

Albany Park Board, council schedule Jan. 18 joint meeting

A proposed pedestrian trail along the eastern boundary of North Lake alongside Highway 238 and suggested recreational amenities in North Park will be the focus of a special Albany meeting Jan. 18.

City leaders and park board members will meet at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday in the council room at 400 Railroad Ave. to discuss ideas presented by Bryan Schiffler, Albany Chrysler Center dealer and owner.

During the council’s Dec. 7, 2022, meeting, Schiffler said if a permit is submitted and approved by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and other entities, the trail project would be privately funded by donations or in-kind services.

City Engineer Jeremy Mathiasen told the council a meeting was held with the DNR to get a better understanding of what needs to be included in a public waters permit.

Clerk/Administrator Tom Schneider stated in a follow-up email that a technical evaluation panel board for a pedestrian trail might consist of Stearns County Environmental Services, Stearns County Soil and Water, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the DNR.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation wouldn’t be involved in wetland and protected water discussions, Schneider stated.

He shared a Nov. 21, 2022, email from Nicola Blake-Bradley, a DNR area hydrologist in St. Cloud, and a June 27, 2022, summary report developed by Mathiasen.

“The city will need to apply for a public waters permit,” Blake-Bradley stated. “It cannot come from the school district or concerned residents.”

Elaine Wedel displays a plate of freshly made cookies and bars Jan. 7 in her Albany home. A plate of her baked goods will be auctioned off during the Holy Family School Snowball live auction Jan. 14 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church gathering space in Albany.

Sweet treat

Wedel donates plate of homemade baked goods a month to Holy Family School auction

Bidders for the Holy Family School Snow Ball live auction Saturday, Jan. 14, are in for a real treat.

One auction item will be one plate of homemade cookies or bars a month for a year made by Elaine Wedel, of Albany. The February plate of five to six dozen treats will be displayed among the many donated items at Seven Dolors Catholic Church gathering space, which will be auctioned off

during the event.

“There are so many people who are generous with their time and talents,” she said.

The eighth annual event includes a sit-down meal served in the school gym, connected to the church facility. Wedel has been donating to the Snowball auction since it started eight years ago and before that during the February school carnival.

It is a good fit for her because she loves baking, from scratch, of course. Chances are that dates back to when she was a little girl and asked Santa

Claus for an Easy Bake Oven. “Santa didn’t deliver though,” she said Jan. 6. “But the real thing is better anyway.”

Her love for baking was fostered by her mother, Fronie Frie. “I was the youngest so I wasn’t needed outside in the barn, so I probably helped mom bake a lot,” she said. When she married Joe and they raised two children, Paul and Jill, her baking increased but not to the degree it is today.

Wedel page 3

Lending a helping hand

Helpful Husker wins Live United essay award

Essays on helping brought a bit of focus on the Holdingford Public Schools fifth grade this year.

On Dec. 20, 2022, representatives of United Way presented fifth grader Samuel Kunstleben with a $75 Scheels gift card in the library of the Holdingford elementary school. His entire class was there to see the presentation. His essay was one of 14 runners-up in the United Ways’ Live United Essay Contest.

“We have been doing this about eight years,” said Alexis Lutgen director of financial stability at United Way Central Minnesota. “It was heart-warming to see

the great things going on in our communities.”

The contest was open to fifth graders in any school in Stearns, Benton and parts of Sherburne and Wright counties. Students were asked to

share, in writing, what they do to make a positive impact and help others in their community. Kunstleben’s entry was selected from 440 essays. “It probably took me

about two hours to write it,” said Kunstleben, the son of Ben and Katrina Kunstleben of rural Holdingford.

Kunstleben page

Number 2 • Volume 134 Wednesday, January 11, 2023 $1.50
The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow. ST R Publications Scan me to start or renew your subscription! PUBLIC NOTICES OBITUARY page 4 For our complete lineup SCAN HERE
4
North Lake page 3
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
lady
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING United Way representatives Jill Lenzmeier (from left) and Alexis Lutgen gather with Samuel Kunstleben and his parents, Katrina and Ben Kunstleben, after he was named a Live United Essay Contest runner-up winner Dec. 20, 2022, in the library at Holdingford Public School in Holdingford. Samuel Kunstleben wrote about how he helps in the community and beyond.
• Assumed Name - Unorthodox Moxie - pg. 8 • Albany Schools Regular Board Meeting, Jan. 4 - pg. 8 • Melrose Public School Proposed Construction Project Notice - pg. 4 • Holdingford Public School Minutes, Jan. 4 - pg. 8 • Stearns County Planning Commission Public Hearing - pg. 8 • City of Albany Ad for Bids - pg. 8
Jane M. Klein

Poultry perfection

a tradition

owing with in owing within

Gill serving as president

As it begins its 79th year, the National Association of Farm Broadcasting has a new president.

Joe Gill, a familiar voice at KASM radio in Albany, has taken those reins and said he is excited to begin.

Stearns County

Bowl Team earns second at nationals

The Stearns County 4-H Poultry Knowledge Bowl team of TJ Czech, Claire Arvig and Lily and Naomi Wiechman and two alternates Bryce and Isaac Frericks, representing Minnesota, earned second place at nationals Nov. 16-17, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky.

“The competitions were really fast paced and one mistake could make your team lose, so it was really important to stay focused and intense and not get too nervous,” Naomi Wiechman said Jan. 1.

The 15-year-old daughter of Ben and Sarah Wiechman, of Melrose, who is a Melrose Area High School student, has been in 4-H 10 years and on the knowledge bowl team seven years.

Bryce Frericks said earning second place was awesome.

“I believe we have such a great and well-rounded team. I am proud of myself and all the other members for achieving this accomplishment,” Bryce Frericks said Jan. 3.

He is the 15-year-old son of Steve and Tammy Frericks, of Albany, and attends Albany Area High School. He has been in 4-H 11 years and on the poultry team three years.

4-H Poultry Knowledge Bowl competition is a double elimination tournament with each correct answer worth five points and each wrong answer worth minus five points. If a team loses, it goes into the losers’ bracket with the opportunity to compete against the last unbeaten team, which the team then has to defeat twice to win, coach Tom Schmitz explained. Sarah Wiechman is the assistant coach. Both also attended the national competition.

Nationals was the culmination of a year’s worth of competition that started in January 2022, with weekly study sessions at Arvig Communications in Melrose.

The team’s first competition was March 5 at regionals in Foley where they earned first place. There are four regional competitions around Minnesota, and the top eight teams advanced to state competition April 9 in Sauk Rapids where the Stearns County team earned first, qualifying them for nationals as the Minnesota team.

To get to nationals, team members spent months raising money. They are grateful to the many local organizations who donated money to help pay for their trip.

They prepared for nationals by studying information from the “National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual” and “The Standard of Perfection.”

“Both books are full of all kinds of poultry information,” Schmitz said.

Bryce Frericks said he studied for the national competition every night reading sections in the manual Schmitz suggested to them.

“Our team is thankful for having Tom (Schmitz) as our coach,” Bryce Frericks said.

Schmitz is supervisor of the poultry building at the Stearns County Fair, so he is well versed in the area of poultry.

On Nov. 16 in Kentucky, the 4-Hers took a test to determine bracket placing at nationals. There were 15 state teams signed up for this competition. After the written exam, Minnesota was the third seed.

On Nov. 17, the competition was held at the Expo Center in Louisville. One team had dropped out by the time the competition started so 14 teams competed with the top two teams receiving byes. The Minnesota team won their first two matches and then lost to the No. 2 seed, Ohio, putting them into the losers’ bracket where they won their next two matches.

“We ended up having to go against Ohio again, and this time we beat them,” Schmitz said. “Now we were in the championship but had to beat the last unbeaten team, Alabama, twice. We won our first match against them. The match for all the marbles was close but we lost 15 to 10. So we ended up in second place, which was a very great accomplishment for the group.”

Naomi Wiechman said overcoming nerves at nationals was the hardest part.

“The competitions were really fast paced, and one mistake could make your team lose, so it was really important to stay focused and intense and not get too nervous,” she said.

The most exciting part of nationals for Bryce Frericks was having fun with his team members and coach throughout the trip.

“Along with meeting new people from different states,” he said, admitting the most challenging part was staying entertained during the 14-hour care ride to nationals.

For Naomi Wiechman, the last two matches at nationals were the most exciting because they decided whether the team earned first or second place.

“I really wasn’t sure what place we would get, so I was really happy to get second,” Naomi Wiechman said. “There were a lot of good teams there and we had some close games.”

The outcome was poultry perfection for the Stearns County team,

proudly represented Minnesota.

“I’ve been in NAFB for 10 years,” Gill said. “I really value the friendships and the networking –just everything the organization is all about.”

Gill will be the first KASM broadcaster to serve as president of the association.

“I participated in a leadership conference a few years ago (through NAFB), and that lit the fire a little bit,” Gill said. “I felt it was the right time to run.”

In both his position as president for NAFB and as the farm director and traffic manager for KASM, Gill said he appreciates the promotion of agriculture and farmers. Gill grew up on a dairy farm near Albany and said he respects that heritage.

“As I get older, I now can realize the value of how I grew up,” he said. “There’s something noble about the profession. It’s who we are.”

Gill and his wife, Denise, are from large dairy farming families. Even though they now live in the city limits of Sartell with their children, Natalie and Ben, Gill tries to stay connected to his roots.

“I’ll never be called a farmer, but I raise calves on the side just to keep that connection,” he said.

Gill keeps them in a barn he rents about 2 miles from the KASM station.

“I think it’s important to see the barns and the silos and the person pulling out of town with feed in the back of his truck,” Gill said. “I hope we don’t lose that.”

While Gill’s career is entrenched in the agriculture landscape, he said when he was a teenager, he wanted to get away from farming.

“It’s weird, but in high school and college, I couldn’t get far enough away from the farm,” he said. “I needed to go do my own thing. But, as I got older, I couldn’t get close enough to the farm.”

That step away from agriculture involved pursuing an education in broadcasting, eventually taking him to St. Cloud State University where he studied communications with hopes of becoming a sports announcer. A professor picked out two people in the class of 31 and told them they had a voice for radio. He told the rest to make sure they had a backup plan. Gill was not one of the mentioned two. The professor’s comment sticks with him; however, the professor did not deter Gill from pursuing radio.

“I hate my voice,” Gill said. “I can’t stand listening to it.”

Still today, Gill has trouble believing people when they tell him they like his radio voice.

After a few broadcasting internships, Gill showed up at the KASM station on a whim as a college student.

“I just walked in one day and said, ‘Hey, I have an interest. Do you have anything for me?’” Gill said. “I actually went on the air that day.

They needed someone at 4:30 p.m. It was my start.”

That was 1999, and Gill never left.

Gill worked first as a sports broadcaster and fill-in announcer. After becoming the farm director in 2009, he became traffic director as well. The title has nothing to do with road traffic.

“What you hear on the radio every day, that’s considered our traffic,” Gill said. “Our daily log is what we call it, and I’m the manager. We have a structure and know the skeleton for every day. It’s just how you fill in the blanks.”

Things come up – weather, sports happenings and breaking news – so flexibility is required.

Gill also took over for Cliff Mitchell, who had been at KASM 56 years and was inducted into the NAFB Hall of Fame in 2005.

“It’s like batting after Babe Ruth,” Gill said. “Congratulations, you are in the majors, but you are batting after him.”

To this day, at every NAFB convention, Gill is asked about Mitchell.

“His name comes up; stories come up,” Gill said. “At first, I thought that I must be doing a crappy job, but it’s just that he had such an impact.”

Gill has served as NAFB vice president and is the president-elect. His term as president began with the new year. “My goal is to really encourage others (in the membership) to take a leadership role,” Gill said. “I also hope to maintain the tradition of the organization.”

NAFB membership totals close to 900, which includes broadcasters in radio and television, management, sales and allied industries – including advertising and public relations – and all aspects of farm media. NAFB’s annual meeting and convention is held each November in Kansas City, Missouri. The last meeting had 700 attendees, a record number for recent years. Within the membership, about 175 are broadcasters, which Gill said is a number that is maintaining but not growing.

Through the decades, the group’s mission has remained steady: to serve the interest of the agricultural community and create value for its broadcast member stations and networks. NAFB serves as a liaison between farm broadcast stations and networks

and the agri-marketing community. The organization did, however, make one wording adjustment in 2005, changing from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters to incorporate broadcasting instead.

“As communications evolve, we have to make sure we include not just radio but print, online, social media and everything else,” Gill said. “Originally, we had someone at a microphone on the radio at a radio station, and that’s it. But, now some people broadcast online, so we have to become more encompassing of everything.”

Gill said NAFB is undergoing a strategic planning process to determine the landscape of the industry by the year 2032.

The organization’s members are not in favor of all changes set for the future of radio.

“For instance, some electric vehicles are not going to have AM radio in them,” Gill said. “Ford made the decision to not include AM radio. The vehicles are going to be appbased, but not every station has an app or is online.”

Although KASM is online, many stations, especially smaller or remote ones, are not. Gill said the technology aspect could be a barrier for listeners.

“We’ve begun the process of making our voices heard, saying how important AM radio is not just to our organization but to public interest in keeping people informed,” Gill said. “That is just one aspect that has come up, and we have some broadcasters who speak frequently on that issue. We’re not a group that necessarily does advocacy stuff. We’re a nonprofit group, so it’s more informing, saying, ‘Hey, this is what is and it’s a concern.’”

Gill said the Federal Communications Commission supports AM radio. He also said NAFB is meeting with politicians to make sure they are informed.

As he looks back at his journey in radio, Gill said he values the groundwork Mitchell laid and thinks Mitchell would appreciate what he and the team at KASM are doing today.

“I hope he’d be proud,” Gill said. “We’ve never changed a lot as far as programming. I see it as a challenge to live up to what he did, but we should also try to raise the bar a little bit.”

Gill page 3

Page 2 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | THE STAR POST Make 2023 the best year yet. We can help. StearnsBank.com/AllAboutAg (800) 247-1922 Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender P2-1B-TV All about Agriculture
who PHOTOS SUBMITTED Joe Gill interviews an attendee at the 2013 National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. This was the first year Gill attended the event for the NAFB, an organization he is president of in 2023. Joe Gill is a broadcaster and the farm director at KASM radio near Albany. He also manages the station’s program scheduling, which is geared for listeners in the middle third of Minnesota. PHOTO SUBMITTED Stearns County 4-H Poultry Knowledge Bowl Team members Lily Wiechman (front, from left), Bryce Frericks, Naomi Wiechman and coach Tom Schmitz; and (back, from left) T J Czech, Isaac Frericks and Claire Arvig competed at nationals Nov. 16-17, 2022, at the Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky. They earned second place during the two-day competition. Not pictured assistant coach Sarah Wiechman. 4-H Poultry Knowledge

North Lake from front

Her email ended with the following: “The more information that you can get in the permit request, the better to try and answer my reviewers’ questions and concerns.”

Mathiasen’s report stated MnDOT has expressed interest in working with the city and property owners to better establish the Highway 238 corridor.

Construction of a trail on the west side of the roadway, between the roadway and North Lake, would require a “floating trail” along the shore of the lake.

“The DNR will not allow filling of the North Lake shoreline, so the trail would need to sit on the top of the water surface, whether floating or constructed with footings that extend into the lake bottom,” Mathiasen explained.

The highway would have to be shifted upwards 8 to 10 feet and the ditch filled.

Another option, Mathiasen said, was filling the ditch as mentioned but building the trail over the ditch so the highway alignment wouldn’t need adjustment.

This option would require a new pedestrian highway crossing. Mathiasen said the MnDOT commented in a phone conference with the DNR there weren’t any roadway improvement plans identified for Highway 238 on its current planning list.

Last month, Schiffler spent almost an hour before the council pitching the idea of a walking and biking trail along Highway 238 that would connect North Park to an existing sidewalk on Lake Avenue. He also presented a concept drawing of future recreational park improvements that could be added to the 58-acre city park.

Albany Area Schools’ development of the former hospital site into an early learning center prompted Schiffler to meet with Superintendent Travis Okerlund.

Okerlund’s letter of support stated a walking path could provide access to more than a dozen homes that don’t have access to the main district campus at 30 Forest Ave.

Minnesota Safe Routes to School is an effort to improve walking and bicycling conditions for youth and to encourage more active lifestyles.

The Minnesota De-

Gill from page 2

Both goals depend on making real connections with listeners.

“That’s what Cliff did, and it’s a connection that I think gets lost a lot nowadays,” Gill said. “I think we’ve done a good job to feed that and make it strong.”

Gill said people are surprised to hear he likes to work on the air Thanksgiving mornings.

“I always think there’s people out there who don’t have a family, and they are listening to the radio,” he said. “A few years ago, a couple brought me a hot beef sandwich and a piece of pumpkin pie. Their kids weren’t

Wedel from front

Their children attended Holy Family School, so she figured contributing to the carnival auction with her baked goods donation was a good fit – and she never stopped.

In her notebook, dating back to 1999, she documents all of the years of her baking donations, including who the winning bidder was each year, the amount they paid and what she baked each month.

The amount of money raised for her baked goods, especially in later years, still amazes her. Since she and Joe attend the Snowball event, she knows not only who she will be baking for but the amount they were willing to pay for it. She has had many repeat winning bidders, including six years when it was a business, which is a good sign to her that they liked what they received previously.

“It’s kind of nerve-wracking,” she said of watching the bidding process.

Bids have grown from $100 the first years to a high of $1,050 in 2022.

“It really took off after 2019,” she said. “It was crazy.”

A good crazy.

In 2020 there was a

partment of Transportation works with partners across the state to help schools and communities develop Safe Routes to School plans and programs.

“That’s one of the avenues that we’ve been chasing,” Schiffler said Dec. 7, referring to efforts to work with others in the community regarding the proposed pedestrian trail. “I’m here to try and get a feel from the city council of their interest level.”

Mayor Tom Kasner and Councilor John Harlander provided the most feedback.

“It looks like a great project, but we have to get through talking with the right people to get blessings to get it done,” Kasner said, referring to the multiple county and state agencies that would be involved in signing off on any lakeside trail project.

Harlander said if the project was approved, construction could not begin until 100% of funds secured by private donations were deposited in a designated city account.

“The part I’m worried about is that trail around the lake,” Harlander said.

“That’s going to take some serious engineering. It’s all muck in that lake. Even if we raise $2 million and it costs $2 million, and the

home, and they were alone.”

thing fails two years from now or five years from now, that’s egg on all of our faces. If we are going to do that trail, in my mind, that money’s going to be in our bank, so we know we can complete that project.”

Schiffler said in-kind services provided by local businesses and private donations could meet a $2 million goal. During the Dec. 7 Albany council discussion, he kept pressing city leaders to schedule a public hearing to gauge input.

“I see a lot of council reservations. I’m not hearing a lot of interest,” Schiffler said.

Kasner replied, “Bryan, it’s not a lack of interest. It’s a lack of knowledge. Whenever we do a city project, it has to be done to specifications. And even though it seems like we are the bad guys right now by saying we have reservations about this, they don’t come from the idea. They come from the bottom line.”

Council members eventually agreed to schedule a joint informational meeting.

Kasner directed Schneider to schedule the 5:30 p.m., Jan. 18, combined meeting with Schiffler, city leaders and park board members. Public attendance is requested.

Gill has also received texts from listeners if he is gone on vacation, asking where he is.

“Oddly, I feel like I eventually found the path that was right for me,” Gill said. “I want to do my best. I grew up listening, so I know the tradition of it, and I respect that a lot. I’m proud to say I work here and am from the area.”

Being president of NAFB means Gill can help lead others in supporting all people who work together to celebrate and share farm topics and life with audiences across the country.

“This role really means a lot to me,” Gill said. “I’m representing the industry.”

Elouise Lorraine

Herdering

Luke and Ashley Herdering, of Albany, are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Elouise Lorraine Herdering, at 5 p.m., Dec. 15, 2022, at CentraCareMelrose Hospital in Melrose.

She weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20 inches long.

Grandparents are Steve and Pam Herdering, of Oak Township; and Mike and Laura Nathe, of Millwood Township. Great-grandparents are Alvin and Carol Herdering, of Millwood

What’s

Elouise Lorraine Herdering Township; Leo and the late Grace Eveslage, of Oak Township; Irene and the late Jim Nathe, of Grove Township; and Doreen and the late Dan Schwieters, of Spring Hill Township.

Sunday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m.-noon – Melrose Lions Club Ham and Eggs Breakfast. Melrose American Legion clubroom, 265 County Road 173, Melrose.

Sunday, Jan. 15, 1:30 p.m. – 500 cards. Pondview Estate, 334 Golfview Dr., Albany. For information call 320-845-2419.

Monday, Jan. 16, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Mental Health Support Group. CentraCare-Albany Clinic, 30 Railroad Ave., Albany. For information call the clinic at 320-845-2157.

Tuesday, Jan.17, noon – Helping Hands Outreach Senior Dining Meal. Holdingford City Hall, 420 Main St., Holdingford. Programs are open to the public. Call 320-746-9960 for more information.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 6 p.m. – Holdingford School Board Meeting. Holdingford Jr./Sr. High School library and media center, 900 Fifth St., Holdingford.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m. – Albany City Council Meeting. Albany City Hall, 400 Railroad Ave., Albany.

bidding war for her baked goods.

“The winning bid was for $875 and the second bid was for $850, but I ended up baking for both of them,” she said.

Even during the COVID-19 year in 2021, when there was just an online auction, her baked goods went for $875. That year she also baked goodies for the top two bidders.

The winning bidder receives one plate of goodies from February through the following January. She rotates her treats, baking cookies one month and bars the next month; never duplicating recipes.

“We say two dozen, but I’m a little generous,” she said.

In December, the winner receives five or six dozen Christmas-related goodies.

“This year, for Christmas, I made 20 different kinds,” she said. “My husband said the oven didn’t shut off.”

She will often ask the winning bidder if they would like a certain type of cookies or bars, if there is anything they don’t like and if they are allergic to anything, like peanuts.

Wedel reaches out to the winner to find out when during the month they would like the plate of goodies, and if it is in Albany the tray will be delivered.

“Joe sometimes gets the job,” she said. Wedel loves sifting through her cookbooks in search of just the right recipe.

“It’s fun for me to try new recipes,” she said, laughing as she admits she just acquired nine boxes of cookbooks, which she can’t wait to delve into.

Also documented in her notebook are which cookbook the recipe she used is from, in case the recipient would like the recipe.

She rattles off just a few of her offerings over the years – Cookie Dough Brownies, S’more Sandwich Cookies, Sour Cream Raisin Bars, Snickerdoodles, Monster Cookies, Ultimate Grasshopper Cookies and Almond Pie Bar.

Her baked goods are freshly made. In fact, sometimes she completes the finishing touches the morning of the auction.

She is fussy when it comes to sharing her sweet treats.

“Sometimes, if I’ve made something I’m not happy with, I will lay awake at night, and the next morning I get up and make something different,” she said.

“When they pay that much, they should get something good.”

She laughs again when asked what her favorite bar or cookie to make is, saying there are too many. That is

also the case when it comes to her favorite to eat.

“I like my sweets,” she said.

Chances are, there are always baked goods in the Wedels’ freezer. After all, she has her family, including four growing grandchildren, ages 10-15, to share them with.

Wedel also donates baked goods to benefits, Holy Family School’s and Mother of Mercy’s golf tournaments and the Christmas Care Drive at Trappers in Farming.

“They are all such good causes,” she said.

Her daughter is following in her footsteps, donating baked goods for six months for her place of employment.

Later this week Wedel will bake the sweet treats for the February 2023 plate displayed at the auction, but earlier in the week she will make up the January 2023 plate for the 2022 winner.

“I usually put a thank you card in there and a reminder that the Snowball is Jan. 14,” she said.

Just making people happy if they enjoy the plate of goodies, is what Wedel treasures.

‘It’s a win-win,” she said. “I enjoy doing it and if it can help the school out and someone enjoys the treats, it’s a good thing.”

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. – AA Meetings. Back to Basic, at Tutti Frutti Marketplace, 38914 County Road 186, Sauk Centre. For more information, call 218-240- 1076. Big Book, Melrose City Center, 225 First St., NE, Melrose. For more information, call 320-241-3909.

Thursday, Jan. 19, 7 p.m. – Melrose City Council Meeting. Melrose City Center, 225 First St., NE, Melrose.

Upcoming:Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m. – Schanhaar-Otte Post 7050 and Auxiliary meetings Melrose American Legion clubroom, 265 County Road 173, Melrose.

Tuesday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m. – Melrose American Legion Post 101 and Auxiliary meetings. Melrose American Legion clubroom, 265 County Road 173, Melrose.

COMMUNITY COUNTRY CHURCH Across from school 320-746-0005 communitycountrychurch.org

CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS St. Hedwig 250 Cedar Street 320-228-0105 tworiverscatholic.com

CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS St. Mary 311 River Street 320-228-0105 tworiverscatholic.com

MELROSE BIRCH HILLS COMMUNITY CHURCH 225 1st St. NE, (City Center) 320-429-2440 birchhillscommunitychurch.org

AVON

CONCEPTION CHURCH 37186 County Road 9 320-228-0105 tworiverscatholic.com

WENDEL / AVON

COLUMBKILLE CHURCH 12357 County Rd 4 320-228-0105 tworiverscatholic.com

If you would like parishioners to see your church here, please contact Robin at 320-351-7837 or robin.b@star-pubs.com

THE STAR POST | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | Page 3 NEWS Birth ANNOUNCEMENT
HAPPENING Congratulations to the Stearns County 4-H Dairy Judging Team on advancing to the International Youth Dairy Judging Contest in Scotland. Team members Megan Ratka, Tyler Ratka, Lanna Walter, and Dan Frericks earned this opportunity by placing first in the state contest and third in the national contest. If you would like to support the team in their efforts to raise funds for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, please contact Tara Meyer at tara.meyer15@gmail.com or 507-330-3927. CongratulationstotheStearns Congratulations! If you w for this o t PH2-2F-MK
HOLDINGFORD Join Us in Worship FREEPORT HARVEST CHURCH 338 Main St. W. 320-836-2997 harvestchurchfreeport.org ALBANY OUR SAVIOR’S LUTHERAN CHURCH 840 Lake Ave 320-845-2405 oursaviorslutheranalbany.org AVON AVON COMMUNITY CHURCH 204 Avon Ave. N 320-356-9001 avoncommunitychurch.org ST.ANNA
/
IMMACULATE
ST.
ST.
P3-TFN-RB
LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS Albany Apartment for Rent - 2 bedroom/1 bath. $650/ mo, $100 deposit. No Dogs! Call for availability, Loreen 763238-0616. PS-4-tfnB • Must be 18+ and pass a background check • Competitive compensation • Willingness to work overnights (sleep shift) a plus but not required • Meals provided during working hours • Flexible scheduling • Casual work environment Please contact Belinda or Tristen at320-352-4110 or afhbelindac@gmail.com Anderson Family Homes in Sauk Centre is seeking a caring and responsible individual to work in an adult foster care home. PT/FT hours available include day, evening, weekend and overnight (sleep) shifts. SHP2-1B-RB H E L P W A N T E D

Jane M. Klein

Jane M. Klein, 81, of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 4, 2023, at her home in Melrose.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 12, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with the Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11, at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and 10-11 a.m., Jan. 12, at the church. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m., Jan. 11, at the funeral home.

Jane Margaret Hemmesch was born Oct. 3, 1941, in Richmond to Aloys and Irene (Schulte) Hemmesch.

Jane graduated from Eden Valley High School. On June 16, 1962, she was united in marriage to Herbert A. Klein at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Richmond. The couple farmed together and later built Rose Terrace Mobile Home Park, Rentals and Laundromat. Jane also worked outside of their businesses at Jennie-O from 1978 through 2002. Throughout her life, Jane was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a devoted sister. Faith and family meant everything to her. Survivors include her

Freeport’s 2023 tax rate lowest since 2006

Final levy is a 9% decrease from preliminary levy

Jane M. Klein

children, John (Linda) Klein, Lois (David) Goossens, Michael (Kay) Klein, and Daniel Klein; grandchildren Sara (Eric) Nickolauson, Amy (Shawn) Meyer and Benjamin Goossens; and great-grandchildren Rory and Mara Meyer and Theo Nickolauson; and siblings Jack Hemmesch, Howie Hemmesch, Jeff Hemmesch, Joanie Lemke, Rita Stanger and Dean Hemmesch.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Klein; parents; brothers and sisters Edna Hemmesch, Rick Hemmesch, Norma Soshnik, Donald Hemmesch, Grace Archer, Mary Metzger and Lester Hemmesch.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose. P-2-1B

THANK YOU

Thank you

We would like to thank everyone for the kind words, thoughts and prayers after the passing of Ralph Roelike. Thank you to CentraCare Care Center and CentraCare Hospice for care they provided, Fr. Marv for the beautiful Mass, the Kapsner family for their service of song and Helen Van Drehle for the delicious luncheon.

Thank you

The Stearns County 4-H Poultry Knowledge Bowl Team would like to thank the following organizations for donations that helped make their trip Nov. 16-17, 2022, to nationals in Kentucky possible: Stearns County 4-H Federation, St. Rosa Jaycees, Albany Lions, Melrose VFW, Albany Jaycees, Melrose Legion, Melrose Lions and Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association. Without their generous donations this trip would not have been possible. Also thank you to Arvig Communications for allowing us to hold our practice sessions at their offices in Melrose.

Team members TJ Czech, Claire Arvig, Lily and Naomi Wiechman and Bryce and Isaac Frericks; and coaches Tom Schmitz and Sarah Wiechman P-2-1B

Thank you

We would like to express our sincere appreciation and thanks on behalf of the passing of our husband and dad, Elmer Hellermann.

We would like to thank Fr. Marv Enneking, Deacon Ernie Kociemba, Fr. Vince Lieser, Dave Primus and the Resurrection Choir for the beautiful Mass; Helen and Donnie Van Drehle funeral group and the American Legion for the meal; Austin’s Floral for the bouquet arrangements; Linda Holm and Patton Schad Funeral Home staff for their wonderful assistance; and the staff at Park View, Senior Alternative Care, CentraCare Homecare and CentraCare doctors and nurses for their assistance and wonderful care they provided.

He was proud to live in the Melrose community all of his life. He visited many local businesses on his routine walks or drives. He loved to socialize with so many.

Thank you to family, friends, neighbors and community members for the beautiful flowers, memorials, food, cards, prayers and kind words of sympathy.

We will forever be grateful.

As he would always say, “See you in the movies.”

Sincerely, Anna “Annie” Hellermann

Donnie and Debbie Hellermann

Dale and Debbie Hellermann

Gary “Fritz” and Jean Hellermann

Denise and Steve Rieland

Diane and Paul Brickweg PH-2-1B

With an increase to the city of Freeport’s tax capacity, the 2023 tax rate is the lowest since 2006. The 2023 tax rate decreased 4.91% to 67.88%.

An increase in the tax capacity indicates the amount of property owners in the city, who contribute to the levy, went up. That often correlates to growth within the city.

What that means is Freeport residents, whose property valuations remain the same, could see a 5% decrease in the city portion of their 2023 property taxes, said Ashley Feldewerd, Abdo Financial Solutions manager, the city’s contracted financial firm. But with the average increase of 20% in taxable property valuations, com-

Kunstleben from front

His essay outlined what he does to help with the community and encourages others to do so. He wrote, “In the fifth grade there are many things that you can do to help your community. This year here are some things that I do. This year my family and I are sponsoring a child and giving a Christmas present to a child we are sponsoring. The child we are sponsoring is named Moustapha. He lives in South Africa. My family sends him letters and gifts. This year I’m doing something called Operation Christmas Child for my church. You might be wondering how this helps the community. I tell other people about it and they give too. I always try to give when I can. I hope you will give to people in need of help.”

Kunstleben wasn’t the

pleted by the county, the idea of an overall property tax decrease is slim.

“One of the most valuable things residents should know is that property owners in all communities, not just Stearns County, are seeing a 20% increase in property values, from the county,” Feldewerd said.

Freeport City Council members, during their 45-minute Dec. 20, 2022, meeting, approved a final 2023 tax levy of $573,968, an increase of $60,968, or 11.88%, from 2022. The general levy of $254,968 decreased $40,032, or 13.57%. The capital levy is $101,000, including $60,000 for streetlights. The debt levy of $206,000 and EDA levy of $12,000 showed no changes.

Factors relating to the Freeport general fund decrease includes moving the capital levy, of $101,000, out of the general fund and budgeting for capital expenses and the related levy directly into each capital fund starting in 2023.

“This capital levy is not new. In the past, all of the city’s capital levy was put in a lump sum in the general fund,” Feldewerd said. “We like to separate the capital and general funds so there is more transparency and to keep the general fund to just fund operations.”

Components of the overall 11.88% increase in the total levy included the hiring of a full-time clerk and treasurer, part-time administrative assistant and part-time public works employee, and Abdo Financial Solutions has been contracted to handle all financial services. There was also a 6% cost of living adjustment for employees.

The final levy is a 9% de-

crease from the preliminary levy approved in September. “That’s a sizable amount for the city to come down to,” Feldewerd said.

Feldewerd suggested property owners go to the Stearns County website where they can find a video that explains property taxes and levy components.

The council also approved their 2023 budget of $500,221 in general fund revenues, a 7% decrease from 2021, and $500,221 in general fund expenses, a 2% decrease from 2021. In other council news: – Following a public hearing, the council approved rezoning Industrial Park Lot 5, Block 1 from Industrial 1 to Commercial 3 for construction of more storage units. The Economic Development Authority had approved selling the land to Matt Imdieke, of MKI Storage.

kindness. The only way we will become a better school of kindness is if we practice it. The only way we will be a better, stronger community, where we live, where we recreate, where we go to church, when we go downtown, is when we practice that kindness,” he said. “Hopefully, when we go out into the big world, when we graduate or go somewhere else, you will be ambassadors of your school, your family and our community and continue to spread that kindness.”

“This is a great way to practice writing and be involved in the community,” Lutgen said.

Fellow fifth graders applaud as Samuel Kunstleben (standing) is introduced as winner in the Live United Essay Contest Dec. 20, 2022, in the library at Holdingford Public Schools in Holdingford. He was one 14 runners-up out of 440 entries. only student from Holdingford to enter the contest. Jim Stang, elementary principal, said he didn’t know what the response would be when he asked for submissions. Even he was surprised by the response.

“We had about 80,” said Lydia Sailor, the fifth-grade teacher who coordinated the contest at Holdingford. “Sam did a good job.”

For Stang, who promoted entries in the contest, the theme of the contest fit in well with life lessons. He hoped students would remember what they wrote and do.

“You have heard me say before the world needs more

Public NOTICES

The Live United essay contest is open only to fifth graders. Submissions are limited to 100 words. The first-place winner received a $200 Scheels gift card; 14 runners-up received a $75 gift card.

“I hope you will encourage all of this year’s fourth graders to enter the contest next year,” Lutgen said. “We loved the huge stack from Holdingford this year.”

Page 4 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | THE STAR POST NEWS LOOKING FOR OBITS? See our online Obituaries and Guestbook • www.pattonschad.com P1-tfnB-MT
OBITUARY
Ralph Roelike family P-2-1P
P44-eowTfnB-WS
of the $179 Wedding package! 320-253-7030 Crossroads Center St. Cloud, MN 56301
Home
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING

Warm glow sooths my heart Old Man Winter

The first thing I do when I get home from work is turn my Christmas tree lights on. The warm glow lends a calming affect, especially after challenging days.

For the first time ever, I have a Christmas tree with white (well, really off-white) lights. I purchased it as a Christmas gift to myself, using money from my first Social Security check, about which I’m sure Mom was smiling down from up above since she was my inspiration to do so. While the colored lights on my old tree were nice, there is just something soothing about the white lights shining brightly on the flocked tree limbs, showcasing ornaments, many which have special meaning.

From the Heart

On the weekends, the Christmas tree lights stay on from morning to night. There are even times in the early morning when I will turn the tree lights on before I go to work, maybe with hope that it will lend a calmness to the start of my day.

Relaxing before work and decompressing after work is a must. We have to take care of ourselves to take care of or help others.

Helping others is a good goal to have in life. I’ve had a couple of people talk to me about the article in last week’s paper about lending compassion when helping the homeless. I experienced first hand the compassionate help from Melrose police officers during a challenging situation last

week; how they comforted family members and offered whatever assistance they needed. And they didn’t do it in a hurried fashion, even during an evening when the weather meant there would be more situations they would be called to. They were there for the family, as were other emergency personnel who responded. To witness this firsthand is different than hearing it second-hand. It made me appreciate more what police officers and all emergency personnel do for people in the communities they serve. And more importantly how fortunate we are to have them in our communities, not just when we need them but during non-emergency times. They are people we see in the grocery store, at sporting events and at church.

The Christmas season has officially ended with the Jan. 6 Feast of the Epiphany and the Jan. 9 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Chances are my Christmas tree will come down eventually, even though I’m tempted to leave it up. Who’s to say I can’t decorate it with hearts for Valentine’s Day, leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day and eggs for Easter?

I hope your Christmas season was filled with the warmth of family and friends and a Christmas tree that glowed brightly, soothing your heart.

Prohibition perils

Prohibition has provided countless stories of outwitting federal agents, selective viewing by local law enforcement and a need to save the family farm. Some are described in “Minnesota 13” by Elaine Davis.

Rarely mentioned is the physical danger involved in the operations but both law enforcement agents and those wanting alcohol would be hurt. It came to light in 1923 in New Munich, according to information in the Stearns County Historical Society’s “Crossings” magazine, “Memories of New Munich, Minnesota,” a book by New Munich native Ed Worms (1917-2005) and newspaper accounts.

When Prohibition became the law of the land in 1920, New Munich had an active and successful brewery, which had been in the town since the 1870s. In the early 20th century, it became known as the Mathias Pitzl Brewing Co., producing Pitzl’s famous beer. Among its best known varieties was Weiner Lager Beer.

The brewery did well, and by 1910 was the largest producer of beer in Stearns County and third largest in the state. At the time, there were over 100 breweries in Minnesota.

Ten years later Prohibition effectively shut down breweries nationwide. Locally some individuals became involved in moonshine operations. Pitzl, however, was, by trade, a beer brew master, and making beer, not whiskey, was his craft. He had increased inventory prior to Prohibition and had some stockpiled. In “Memories of New Munich, Minnesota” it says federal authorities padlocked the brewery.

Beer, as well as confiscated moonshine, was in the

brewery Oct. 17, 1923, following a mid-October raid of moonshine operations in the area. According to an article in “Crossings,” agents came to New Munich to take possession and/or guard alcohol stored in the brewery. They arrived while a group of people were attempting to take beer. The Oct. 18, 1923, Melrose Beacon reported gunshots were exchanged and a highspeed chase followed. At least seven residents and a county commissioner were eventually arrested and charged.

During the chase, one of the agents was injured when he was drug by one of the get-away vehicles. The injured agent became a story when it was reported he was very possibly a bigamist. The Pitzls were not among those arrested or charged. They had not been near the brewery at the time of the altercation.

Federal authorities decided, at that point, to remove temptation and, according the book by Worms, destroyed over 3,000 bottles of beer by smashing the bottles. He reported the beer drained into the storm sewer and flowed into a creek creating a two-foot wide, one-foot high, 100yard long foam float.

That foam float was pretty much the end of locally brewed beer at the site. Within a few years, Pitzl had moved his facilities to Canada.

There were attempts to bring the brewery back to life following Prohibition, but the business did not take off. The building was used by other businesses for a time and in 2010 it was torn down. With is removal, Weiner Lager Beer was placed onto a shelf of memories and local Prohibition era lore.

News BRIEFS

Albany Telephone Company begins search for scholarship applicants

ALBANY – The Albany Telephone Company has begun a search for scholarship candidates, according to Steve Katka. If selected, candidates will receive a one-time $2,000 scholarship from the Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation.

Local telecom companies participating in the MTA’s scholarship program are approaching high schools in their serving areas looking for potential scholarship winners. To be eligible for the six general scholarships, applicants must be a high school senior planning to attend post-secondary education at a university, college or technical college; be a Minnesota resident, and the applicant’s family must subscribe to at least one service from Albany Telephone Company.

To be eligible for the $2,000 Jon Tollefson Technology Scholarshipapplicants must be a high school senior with plans to major in either telecommunications or information technology at a university, college or technical college and be a Minnesota resident.

A telecom alliance panel reviews each application and selects the finalists based on applicants’ grades, academic achievements and extra-curricular activities. Preference to receive the scholarships is given to students who have an interest in telecommunications technology and rural communities.

Students and their families can obtain more information by contacting their school’s guidance counselor, Albany Telephone Company, or by going to www.mnta.org/ resource/resmgr/forms/mta-scholarship-form-2023.pdf.

Applications must be submitted to Steve Katka, 131 Sixth St. Albany, MN 56307, by Feb. 17.

Holdingford Scholarship Endowment’s 2023 scholarship application now open HOLDINGFORD – The Holdingford Scholarship Endowment Committee has announced applications for its 2023 scholarships are now being accepted.

The following scholarships will be awarded:

–Eighteen $750 scholarships to students pursuing higher education, including trades. These scholarships are increasing from $500 each to $750 each for the 2023 year to help graduates with the increasing cost of post-secondary education.

–Three $1,000 Lane family scholarships to students pursuing a trade occupation.

– One $1,000 Aaron Welle scholarship to a student pursuing a trade in plumbing, electrical or heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

To be eligible for a scholarship, any 2023 Holdingford High School senior must be currently enrolled as a senior at the school; complete the applicate in full and accurately, following all instructions; plan to enroll in a post-secondary education program; be actively involved in the school and the community; and graduate from Holdingford High School.

Scholarships will be awarded based on extra-curricular activities, jobs, volunteer activities and the quality of essays.

Holdingford High School seniors should see their Google Classroom for the link to the scholarship application or students may also speak with the school’s counselor for questions on how to access the application. The deadline to apply is March 31.

Scholarship awards will be announced during the May 3 Holdingford Scholarship Award Ceremony.

STAFF Mark Klaphake ...................General Manager …………………………………mark.k@saukherald.com

Joyce Frericks .....................Business Manager …………………………………joyce@saukherald.com

Missy Traeger .....................Sales & Marketing Manager ………………………missy@saukherald.com

Natasha Barber ..................Managing Editor …………………………………natasha@saukherald.com

Nancy Powell......................Manager ……………………………………………nancy,p@star-pub.com

Tim Vos .................................Marketing …………………………………………tim.v@star-pub.com

Carol Moorman .................Editor/Writer ………………………………………carol.m@star-pub.com

Mike Kosik ...........................Writer ………………………………………………mike.k@star-pub.com

Herman Lensing................Writer ………………………………………………herman.l@star-pub.com

Evan Michealson ...............Writer ………………………………………………evan.m@star-pub.com

Tim Hennagir .....................Writer ………………………………………………tim.h@star-pub.com

Amanda Thooft .................Production Manager/Page Design & Layout ……amanda@saukherald.com

Maddy Peterson ................Graphic Designer/Page Design & Layout …………maddy@star-pub.com

Cheyenne Carlson ............Graphic Designer/ Page Design & Layout ………cheyenne@star-pub.com

Karen Knoblach .................Graphic Designer …………………………………karen.k@star-pub.com

Pat Turner ............................Graphic Designer …………………………………pat@saukherald.com

Annika Gunderson ...........Graphic Designer …………………………………annika@star-pub.com

Kayla Hunstiger .................Special Section Coordinator ………………………kayla@saukherald.com

Jill Borgerding....................Office Assistant ……………………………………jill.b@star-pub.com

Warren Stone .....................Marketing …………………………………………warren@star-pub.com

Jaime Ostendorf ...............Marketing …………………………………………jaime@star-pub.com

I love Christmas and the New Year but hate when it’s over.

That’s because we are forced to stare down three-plus months of Old Man Winter’s grumpiness.

Every year around this time, the snow seems to come more often, the air seems colder and the roads seem more treacherous.

The older I get, the harder winters are to deal with, and the more I understand why there are so many snowbirds around these parts.

It makes me ask the question – who, in their right mind, decides to stay in this frozen tundra in the first place?

You would think Minnesota’s first settlers likely arrived in the spring or summer when the land was green and bountiful. But then I have to wonder why, after experiencing their first winter, they would hold a meeting and say – “Yeah, let’s live here.”

I mean, hockey skates weren’t even invented yet.

According to my research, the first proof of settlers dates back almost 9,000 years. Around the 16th century native settlers followed herds of large game to the region and fur traders from France arrived as early as the 17th century. While cities were being built on the east coast, as populations there increased, many moved west to discover new territories. During the first half of the 19th century, the country was divided into territories and Minnesota (although not Minnesota yet) was first part of the Michigan Territory, then Wisconsin Territory. Some southern parts of the state were part of the Iowa Territory. By 1851 treaties had been signed with Native American tribes, opening much of the state to settlement. The first American settlement, however, had occurred decades earlier with the construction of Fort Snelling, which would lead to the city of Minneapolis. But it wasn’t until May 11, 1858, that Minnesota was accepted into the union as the 32nd state.

It’s crazy to imagine the amount of progress since those early settlers arrived. This past week my wife found “Little House on the Prairie” on television, and we watched a couple episodes. We grew up watching the Ingalls when we were kids. Who can forget the treacherous blizzard episode where the kids were trapped on their way home from school. A classic.

We commented on how even though they had to work so much harder than we do nowadays, life seemed so much simpler back then.

Minnesota will turn 165 this May. In those 164-plus years, we have erected two large metro area cities and an expansive highway system. Our cities and towns are full of churches, schools and hospitals. The homes we now inhabit have larger garages than most homes were even 50 years ago. We are home to precious farmland that helps feed not just the nation but the world. We are lucky to be the home of 10,000 lakes, which back in the day was a means of survival for early settlers and now are a means to recreation.

And yes, the winters can get rough, but who am I to complain when I have the luxury of a warm, heated home; a warm, heated vehicle to travel in; enough clothes to bundle up in; and plenty of food purchased locally in case I feel like hibernating for a week. I even recently got my old snow plow working so this winter I don’t even have to shovel.

But every once in a while, while walking from the car to the storefront and the wind bites at my face like a grizzly bear, I wonder why so many settlers stayed and didn’t keep moving west where the snow doesn’t fly.

I am sure some did. To the ones who stayed, I say thank you. Minnesota isn’t a bad place to live, after all. Sooner or later, the cold will give way to warmth, the snow will turn to slush and then water and run away into our lakes and rivers. Leaves will reappear on trees and the ground will be ready for tilling and planting for another season of growth.

It’s those days that remind us why Minnesota is special. The changing of seasons can be a sight to behold and seems to always give us renewed strength and continued resolve.

Life would be pretty drab if the temperature was the same all the time.

Although Florida sounds pretty good right about now.

of Albany, Avon, Freeport, Melrose and Holdingford; Independent School Districts 745, 738 and 740; surrounding townships.

Deadlines

The deadline for most news in The Star Post is 5 p.m. Friday. Exceptions are obituaries and reports of weekend events, which have a deadline of 10 a.m. Monday. The deadline for advertisements in The Star Post is 5 p.m. Friday, and in the Shopper and Classy Canary it is noon Wednesday.

Letters Letters to the editor are welcomed. Letters must be signed with first and last name and include address and phone number. Letters are limited 350 words. See political letters to the editor policy for additional guidelines.

Corrections/Clarifications

The Star Post strives for accuracy. If you would like to report a factual error, call 320-845-2700.

ISSN: Print: 2834-5916 Online: 2834-5924

THE STAR POST | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | Page 5
A Peek at the Past by Herman Lensing
OPINION/ NEWS The views expressed by our columnists are the opinions and thoughts of the author and do not reflect the opinions and views of newspaper staff and ownership. Annual Subscription Rates Stearns, Todd, Douglas, Pope, & Morrison counties, $53. Elsewhere in Minnesota, $60. Elsewhere in the United States, $63. Official Legal Newspaper for the cities
Robin Brunette ..................Help Wanted/Classifieds …………………………robin@saukherald.com Gretchen Jennissen .........Public Notices/Announcements …………………office@star-pub.com Lorie Swedenburg ............Receptionist/Circulation …………………………lorie@saukherald.com Amy McChesney ...............Bookkeeping ………………………………………amy.m@star-pub.com Offices at 408 E. Main St., Melrose, MN 56352 320-351-6579 561 Railroad Ave., Albany, MN 56307 320-845-2700
Melrose,
THE STAR POST
482-220) is published weekly on Wednesdays by The Star Post, 408 E. Main St., Melrose, MN 56352. Second-class postage paid at Melrose, MN POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE STAR POST, 408 E. Main St., Melrose, MN 56352
Periodicals postage pending at
MN
(USPS
In Other Words by Bryan Zollman

Mary’s Catholic School students present

‘Miracle on Bethlehem Street’

The Three Kings – Grayson Frieler (from left), Aleah Funk and Nolan Klaphake – sing “Chasing a Star” Jan. 6 during the St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth grade Christmas performance of “Miracle on Bethlehem Street” in their classroom in Melrose. It was one of eight songs sung during the 30-minute performance.

Shepherds Wyatt Beuning (from left) and Nolan Klaphake and stable staff Lucas Frieler sing “Flock Watchers” Jan. 6 during the St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth grade Christmas performance of “Miracle on Bethlehem Street” in their classroom at the Melrose school. Angels appeared and the shepherds and stable staff were frightened and sang, “We can’t decide if we should run or pray; it’s not how we thought we’d end up our day.”

Mary (front), played by Maggie Haskamp; (back, from left) shepherd Wyatt Beuning; Joseph, played by Micah Wiechmann; and king Aleah Funk sing “Miracle on Bethlehem Street” Jan. 6 during the St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth grade Christmas performance by the same name in their classroom at the Melrose school. The school’s original Christmas program was rescheduled twice and then canceled due to the weather, so parents and grandparents of sixth graders were invited to a one-day private showing of the skit, and if they forgot their performance tickets, they were encouraged to sing or dance, which teacher Sue Pundsack and classroom volunteer Kathy Kettler made sure they completed.

Above) Grayson Frieler portrays a staff person at the inn Jan. 6 during the St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth grade Christmas performance of “Miracle on Bethlehem Street” in the sixth grade classroom at the Melrose school. Close to 30 parents and grandparents and the sixth graders’ kindergarten buddies attended the one-time special showing that included a black tie or come-as-you-are invitation.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

(Right) St. Mary’s Catholic School Little Saints preschool students Marcus Hemmesch (front, from left), Noelle Eveslage, Penelope Arnzen, Carson Liestman, Carter Rademacher, Lane Klaphake, Iker Botello, Greyson Rudnicki and Clayton Pohlmann; (middle, from left) Emmalyn Reinbold, Colter Tschida, Ariel Klaphake, Nora Brown, Alexia Hinnenkamp, Macey Rademacher, Makenna Skillings, Burke Holdvogt, Cameron Roelike, Canaan Middendorf, Liz Ramirez Roblero, Verna Huntington, Brynn Welle and Carter Schneider; (back) Brayson Bauer present their Christmas program Dec. 16, 2022, in a classroom at the Melrose school. Parents and grandparents were invited to watch.

(Left) Lynn Frieler, as the innkeeper’s wife Rachel, sings “Make a Place” Jan. 6 during the St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth graders’ Christmas performance of “Miracle on Bethlehem Street” in their classroom in Melrose. It retold the Christmas story at a busy Bethlehem with Caesar’s census and an innkeeper who decided to make his inn a luxury inn complete with valet camel hitching and a fig on every pillow.

(Right) Lucas Christenson, as inn owner Benjamin, sings “Dollars and Census” Jan. 6 during the St. Mary’s Catholic School sixth grade Christmas performance of “Miracle on Bethlehem Street” in their classroom at the Melrose school. Musical director was Emily Krogstrad and theatrical directors were Stephanie Osterberg and Sue Pundsack.

THE STAR POST | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | Page 7 •COMPETITIVE RATES • EXCELLENT SERVICE •FLEXIBLE BILLING • STRONG COMPANIES •Business • Auto • Home • Farm • Crop Hail • Life • Health 320-252-6650 • advantageoneins.com ALBANY • HOLDINGFORD • LONG PRAIRIE • MELROSE • PIERZ • SAUK CENTRE • ST. CLOUD Offices in:
Service Is Our Priority” Freeport • New Munich • Melrose • Greenwald St.
“Customer
PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN
1-877-256-3680 www.rahnfuels.com 1 w 826 County Rd. 13, Melrose, MN 56352 Phone: 320-256-4275 320-836-2284 or 1-888-276-1751 www.strosalumber.com 29033 Co Rd 17, Freeport • In St. Rosa This page is brought to you by these fine sponsors:

PUBLIC NOTICES

CITY OF ALBANY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Electronic Bids will be received by the City of Albany, Minnesota, on the QuestCDN.com website via the VirtuBid electronic bidding application. Only electronic bids will be accepted for this project. Bids will be received on the QuestCDN.com website, until 11:00 A.M., CST on Wednesday, February 1st, 2023, at which time they will be opened electronically and reviewed for the furnishing of all labor, materials, and all else necessary for the following:

Albany 2023 Capital Improvement Project

In general, and pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 429, the work consists of the construction of sanitary sewer, watermain, storm sewer improvements and street construction with approximately the following quantities:

• 15,745 SY of Bituminous Reclamation

• 12,830 CY Common Excavation

• 3,040 LF 8” – 10” Sanitary Sewer

• 3,425 LF 8” PVC Watermain

• 740 LF 12”-15” RCP Storm Sewer

• 6,700 CY Aggregate Base Class 5

• 6,550 LF Concrete Curb & Gutter

• 60 EA Residential Sewer/Water Service Connections

• 6,000 CY Select Granular Borrow

• 3,790 TN Bituminous Pavement

• 30,000 SF Concrete Sidewalk

• 40 LF 24” Striping

Along with erosion control, turf establishment and related appurtenances.

Complete digital Bidding Documents are available at www. questcdn.com by inputting QuestCDN eBidDoc #8367194 on the website’s Project Search page. Paper Bidding Documents may also be viewed at the City of Albany City Hall and at Stantec, 3717 23rd Street South, St. Cloud MN 56301.

Direct inquiries to Engineer’s Project Manager, Jeremy Mathiasen, at (320) 266-5232 and jeremy.mathiasen@Stantec. com. Instructions for viewing the bid opening will be made available through QuestCDN and posted on the City’s website.

The Engineer’s Estimate of Construction Cost for this Project is $2,100,000.

Bid Security in the amount of 5 percent of the amount of the Bid must accompany each Bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.

For this project, the City will only accept online electronic bids through QuestCDN. To access the electronic bid, download the project documents and click on the online bidding button at the top of the advertisement. Prospective bidders must be on the plan holders list through QuestCDN for bids to be accepted.

The Owner reserves the right to retain the deposits of the 3 lowest Bidders for a period not to exceed 60 days after the date and time set for the Opening of Bids. No Bids may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days after the date and time set for the Opening of Bids.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive irregularities and informalities therein, and further reserves the right to award the Contract to the best interests of the Owner.

The successful bidder must be a “responsible contractor.”

The term “responsible contractor” means a contractor as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 16C.285, subdivision 3. Any prime contractor, subcontractor, or motor carrier that does not meet the minimum criteria or fails to comply with the verification requirements is not a responsible contractor and is not eligible to be awarded a construction contract for the project or to perform work on the project. A prime contractor, subcontractor, or motor carrier that makes a false statement under oath verifying compliance with the minimum criteria will be ineligible to be awarded a construction contract on the project, and the submission of a false statement may result in termination of a contract awarded to a prime contractor, subcontractor, or motor carrier that submits the false statement. A prime contractor shall include in its verification of compliance a list of all of its first-tier subcontractors that it intends to retain for work on the project. Before execution of a construction contract, a prime contractor shall submit a supplemental verification under oath confirming that all subcontractors and motor carriers that the prime contractor intends to use to perform project work have verified to the prime contractor, through a signed statement under oath by an owner or officer, that they meet the minimum criteria for a responsible contractor.

City Administrator City of Albany, Minnesota

Published on January 11th, and January 18th, 2023

Notice of Public Hearing

Stearns County, Planning Commission

P-2-2B

Notice is hereby given that the Stearns County Planning Commission, in and for the County of Stearns, will conduct certain public hearings as follows:

To consider a conditional use permit request submitted by Evergreen Estates LLC dba Silvers Dairy (Keith Schaefer), Paynesville, MN according to Sections 4.8, 4.14, 6.9, and 9.3 of the Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance #439. The request is to construct a new earthen liquid manure storage area, construct a permanent stockpile pad and scrape lane at a facility greater than 700 animal units or more in A-40 zoning districts. The feedlot facility is proposing to increase from 757 animal units to 997.8 animal units. The property under consideration is 25.85 acres located in the NW 1/4 of Section 20 (T124N, R031W) in Farming Township located at 24168 County Road 117, Albany, MN.

When and where is the meeting?

Date and Time: January 26, 2023 at 6:00 pm

Location: Stearns County Service Center 3301 County Road 138, Waite Park, MN 56387

How do I participate?

Public Testimony: If you would like to provide public testimony, you may do so by appearing at the above hearing, by telephone or other electronic means, please contact BethyJo Juetten at BethyJo.Juetten@co.stearns.mn.us or Nick Neuman at Nicholas.Neuman@co.stearns.mn.us or by calling (320) 656-3613.

Written Testimony: You may submit written testimony by emailing BethyJo.Juetten@co.stearns.mn.us or Nicholas.Neuman@co.stearns.mn.us by 3 pm on January 24, 2023. Written testimony may also be mailed to the Stearns County Environmental Services Department, Service Center, 3301 County Road 138, Waite Park, MN 56387.

Comments on this public hearing are not limited to those persons receiving copies of this notice. If you know of any interested person, who for any reason has not received a copy of this notice, it would be appreciated if you would inform them of this public hearing.

Where can I view the application?

A copy of the application can be viewed approximately one week prior to the meeting at http://stearnscountymn.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx. Action taken on this request will be available shortly after the meeting at the same website location.

What if the meeting changes?

This meeting is subject to change. Please sign up for automatic updates for this meeting at http://stearnscountymn.iqm2.com/ Citizens/Default.aspx. Call the Department for assistance.

What is the next step?

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners will consider this request on February 7, 2023 The agenda can be found at: http:// stearnscountymn.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx. Interim Use and Conditional Use Permits will be placed on the consent agenda which is heard at the beginning of the agenda. To inquire how to request an item be placed under the regular agenda for discussion, please contact the Department. If the Board of Commissioners do not concur with the Planning Commission, they will hold another public hearing and new notice will be sent.

Stearns County Planning Commission

Barrier Free Status: This meeting will be accessible to the handicapped. Attempts will be made to accommodate any other individual need for special services. Please call (320) 656-3613 early so arrangements can be made.

Publish: January 11, 2023– Star Post

Minutes Summary for Jan. 4, 2023

School Board Work Session Holdingford Public School

The Holdingford School Board held a School Board Work Session on January 4, 2023. Members present: Sarah Binek, Lori Opatz, Rob Knettel and Pat Meier. Absent: Elissa Ebnet, Evelyn Martini, and Ed Feia. Also attending was Superintendent Chris Swenson, Business Manager Garrity Gerber and District Adm. Assistant Linda Zapzalka. Policy 535 Service Animals In Schools was discussed. Mr. Swenson explained that for legality purposes the policy is necessary. It is a MSBA Policy and follows the laws and ADA requirements. It gives a set of rules that have to be followed including that the handler is responsible for all liability of the animal. The consensus of the Board is to move forward with approving this policy at the next board meeting

Mr. Gerber presented the LTFM Plan revisions. The HVAC project was inadvertently left off the plan. He has added it back on and he would like to flip flop the pool repair project and the tuck pointing project to get the pool repair done before it causes problems. The pool project will also include an acid wash and replacing of drains. The Board agrees with Mr. Gerber’s revisions and approval will be on the agenda for the next board meeting.

Mr. Gerber explained the need to purchase an additional walk-in freezer and cooler for Food Service. The Food Service fund will pay the cost of the equipment and hook up, the general fund and LTFM funds will be used to cover the cost of the architect, slab and the shell surrounding the units. The Board agrees with the freezer and cooler expansion project for Food Service. This project will be on the agenda at the next board meeting for authorization to move forward with getting estimates.

Mr. Swenson updated the Board on the Portrait Of A Graduate development. It is looking like Becker and Paynesville will

Unadopted Minutes

REORGANIZATION/REGULAR

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Albany Area Schools – ISD #745 District Office Board Room January 4, 2023

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Hansen at 6:00

p.m.

2. Seat New Board Members Dean Dirkes and Steve Rueter were welcomed as new board members and Amy Sand as a returning board member.

3. Roll Call Present: Hansen, Kreuzer, Carbajal, Sand, Sands, Dirkes, Rueter

Late: None Absent: None

4. Agenda- Additions or Deletions

5. Organization of 2023 Board of Education

5.1 Election of Officers

5.1.1 Chairperson

Carbajal nominated Kreuzer as Chair for 2023. No further nominations were made, nominations closed and cast as unanimous ballot for Kreuzer.

5.1.2 Vice-Chairperson

Carbajal nominated Hansen as Vice-Chair for 2023. No further nominations were made, nominations closed and cast as unanimous ballot for Hansen.

5.1.3 Clerk

Carbajal nominated Sands as Clerk for 2023. Sands nominated Sand as Clerk for 2023

Vote - 6 for Sand Vote – 1 for Sands Sand voted Clerk for 2023.

5.1.4 Treasurer

Carbajal nominated Sands as Treasurer for 2023. No further nominations were made, nominations closed and cast as unanimous ballot for Sands.

5.2 Establish Remuneration of Board Members

Motion by Hansen, seconded by Carbajal, to set annual board compensation as indicated below: Payment for all meetings (Regular, Special, Committee) $50.00

Vote For: All Vote Against: None

5.3 Establish Board Meeting Dates

Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Sands, to hold Board meetings for 2023 on the second Wednesday of the month and the fourth Wednesday of the month for work sessions or special meetings when necessary unless changed by the School Board for good and sufficient reason. The time of each regular meeting shall be 6:00 p.m. and the time for each work session shall be 6:00 p.m.

Vote For: All Vote Against: None

5.4 Authorize Bank Depositories

Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Sands, authorize the following bank depositories:

• Stearns Bank

• Magnifi Financial – Albany Branch

• American Heritage Bank

• Minnesota School District Liquid Asset Fund Plus (MSDLAF+)

• PMA Financial Network “MN Trust”

Abstain: Kreuzer

Vote For: Hansen, Carbajal, Sand, Sands, Dirkes, Rueter

Vote Against: None

5.5 Authorize Official Signatures Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Sands, to keep temporary signatures as is until new signatures are ready. New signatures will include Kreuzer-Chair, Sand-Clerk, Sands-Treasurer, Okerlund-Superintendent, Clemen-Business Manager.

Vote For: All Vote Against: None

5.6 Select Official Newspaper Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Sand, to have The Star Post as the Official Newspaper.

Vote For: All Vote Against: None

5.7 Select School District Attorney and Identify Who May Contact Attorney on Behalf of the District Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Hansen to retain the firm Pemberton Law as legal counsel for the District and designate the Board Chair the Superintendent as district representatives who may contact legal counsel when it is in the best interest of the district.

Vote For All: Present Vote Against: None

5.8 Select School District Auditor Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Dirkes to continue with the firm of Schlenner-Wenner for audit services.

Vote For: All Vote Against: None

5.9 Authorize Business Manager and Superintendent to Invest Excess Funds Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Rueter, to authorize the business manager and superintendent to invest excess funds.

Vote For: All Vote Against: None

5.10 Authorize Business Manager and Superintendent to Make Electronic Fund Transfers Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Rueter to authorize the business manager and superintendent to make electronic fund transfers. Vote For: All Vote Against: None

5.11 Authorize Superintendent to Expend Funds Within Budget Guidelines Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Dirkes to authorize the superintendent to expend funds within budget guidelines.

None

start the process. This article is a summary of the minutes. The full text is available for public inspection at the District Offi

online at http://www.isd738.org/school-board-meeting-agendasminutes.html.

CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333

ASSUMED NAME: Unorthodox Moxie.

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IS: 103 Whispering Oaks Dr, Albany, MN 56307 USA.

NAMEHOLDER(S): Jennie Marie Stai, 520 9th St, Albany, MN 56307 USA and Karen Marie Heitzman, 103 Whispering Oaks Dr, Albany, MN 56307 USA.

By typing my name, I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath.

/s/ Karen Heitzman 01/02/2023 P-2-2P

7. Approvals

7.1 Previous Meeting Minutes Motion by Hansen, seconded by Carbajal, to approve the December 14, 2022, Regular Meeting minutes. Supported by all present.

7.2 Cash Flow Reports - November 2022

Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Sands, to approve the November 2022 Cash Flow Reports as presented. Supported by all present.

7.3 Acceptance of Gifts and Donations

Member Carbajal introduced the Resolution Accepting Donations and was seconded by Member Hansen.

The School Board of Albany Area Schools, ISD 745, gratefully accepts the following donations as identified below:

Donor Item Designated Purpose (If any)

Albany PTO $2,000.00 donation Albany Elementary

Novae LLL $500.00 donation Robotics

Freeport State Bank $2,000.00 donation Robotics

Albany Mutual Telephone $250.00 donation Supermileage

Anonymous $10,000.00 donation Drama

Maggie and Addie Backes $500.00 donation Avon Elementary Field Trip to Avon Hills

CH Robinson $1,016.00 donation Avon Elementary

CH Robinson $16.00 donation Avon Elementary

John & Laurie Tritabaugh $1,500.00 donation Scholarship

The following voted in favor of: All

And the following voted against: None

Absent: None

Where upon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

8. Consent Agenda

AFT:

Karissa Muehring - AVE/District Full-time Substitute Teacher

AESP: Mark Herbes - School Bus Route Driver

AESP Payroll Change Request:

Jazmin Hernandez - Kids Company Aide to Kids Company Assistant

Abigail Peterschick - Kids Company Aide to Kids Company Assistant

Student Worker: Matthew Wielenberg - Custodian

Coaching/Advisors: Al Amdahl - JV Baseball Coach

Community Education:

Huskie Pups Volleyball Camp - Alyssa Fleischhacker, Nancy Swarthout, Brian Hines, Hannah Winter

HSP/Fundamentals - Aaron Schwenzfeier, Makayla Zierden, Nolan Anderson

First Aid - Renee Illies

Knowledge Bowl – Carrie Schmitz

BECC Attendant - Meghan Shannon

Resignations/Retirements:

Tiffany Mehr - AVE Paraprofessional, effective December 22, 2022

Isabelle Haakonson - AVE Paraprofessional, effective December 27, 2022

Eileen Ritter - School Bus Route Driver, effective December 31, 2022

The following checks were issued in paying claims: Wire transfers and checks 104002 - 104098

02

06 Building Construction $22.96

Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Hansen to approve the January 2023 Consent Agenda. Supported by all present.

9. Reports

9.1 Purple Pride

9.2 Choir Trip Presentation

Moved to January Work Session agenda.

10. Business

10.1 Enrollment Report

10.2 Albany Federation of Teachers Seniority List 2022-23 Motion by Carbajal, seconded by Sands to approve the Albany Federation of Teachers Seniority List for 2022-23. Supported by all present.

10.3 Resolution Directing the Administration to Examine the Financial Condition of the District Member Carbajal introduced the resolution and moved for its adoption. The motion for adoption was duly seconded by Member Rueter and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted In favor of: All and the following voted against the same: None

Absent: None whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.

10.4 School Board Policies – Third Read

10.4.1 208 Development, Adoption, and Implementation of Policies

10.4.2 209 Code of Ethics

10.4.3 210 Conflict of Interest - School Board Members

10.4.4 404 Employment Background Checks

10.4.5 506 Student Discipline

10.4.6 722 Public Data and Data Subject Requests

10.4.7 806 Crisis Management Policy

Motion by Sands, seconded by Dirkes to approve the above school board policies. Supported by all present.

11. Committee Reports

12. Superintendent Report A report provided by ICS on the Early Learning Center and the multipurpose room was presented.

13. Adjournment

Agenda completed at 7:37 pm, a motion to adjourn was made by Carbajal, seconded by Sand. Supported by all present.

P-2-1B

Page 8 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | THE STAR POST
join our District to
ce or
P-2-1B
per meeting Chair $350.00 Clerk 300.00 Treasurer 200.00 Workshops/Conferences/half-day or less 50.00 Full day 100.00
Vote Against:
5.12 Appoint Board Committee Members 5.12.1 Finance & Facilities 5.12.2 Teaching & Learning 5.12.3 Policy & Student Functions 5.12.4 Community Engagements 5.12.5 Human Resources 5.12.6 Minnesota State High School League 5.12.7 West Central Education District 5.12.8 Central Minnesota Educational Telecommunications System (CMETS) 5.12.9 Stearns County Collaborative 6. Public Forum
Vote For: All
General
Expenditures: 01
Fund $587,991.36
Food
Services $14,916.58
04 Community Services $23,404.35
Amy Sand, Clerk P-2-1B

Defenders meet quality teams on home mats

Kerzman, De los Santos Morales win twice in pair of losses

The Sauk Centre-Melrose Defenders wrestling team did not back down from a challenge Jan. 5 in a triangular at Melrose Area High School in Melrose.

The Defenders fell 6516 to Morris Area-Hancock/ Chokio-Alberta and 51-13 to Willmar. Willmar is listed in the Lean and Mean ranking by state wrestling publication The Guillotine with four wrestlers ranked in Class AAA and MAHACA has four wrestlers ranked among the top 10 in their division in Class AA.

“You look at our schedule and there are quality teams,” said Vaughn Glasener, head coach. “Both of these teams are very solid when their full lineups are there. They place winners out there.”

The evening started off well for the Defenders, with Dominic Kerzman pinning his opponent in the 106-pound match. The Tigers tied it with a forfeit.

Lanna Walter won by forfeit

Will Sjogren holds his Willmar opponent to the mat as the ref slams down a pin Jan. 5 at Melrose Area High School in Melrose. Following the Christmas break, Sjogren had pins in four of five matches. for Sauk Centre-Melrose before MAHACA won 10 of the next 11 matches, eight by pins, to dominate the match.

for his wins. Against MAHACA, he primarily used takedowns. The Willmar victory came as he combined takedowns with near falls.

Mitchell Christen, at 145, and Dan Frericks, at 165, both faced state-ranked wrestlers. There were bright spots. Kerzman and Jose De los Santos Morales, 132 and 138, both won two matches.

Kerzman dropped down to 106 for the triangular.

“I think he wants to settle in, and he has potential there,” Glasener said.

Kerzman defeated his Willmar opponent 7-3, earning takedowns in all three periods. De los Santos Morales had two 11-3 matches

Huskies girls hoops hold Mustangs to 18 points

The Albany Huskies’ defense had it best game of the girls basketball season, holding the Mora Mustangs to 18 points in a 59-18 Granite Ridge Conference win Jan. 5 at Mora High School in Mora.

The Huskies only played one game last week due to weather postponements.

“Considering our lack of practice for the week with the weather, we were good with the result,” said Aaron Boyum, head coach. “I thought our transition game looked like it had more flow and energy to it.”

Alyssa Sand and Kylan Gerads scored 15 points each for the Huskies, with Tatum Findley adding 10.

Will Sjogren, 285, ended SC-M’s night on a high note. He finished his match in 28 seconds against Willmar and finished 1-1 on the night after being pinned in his MAHACA match. In this final appearance, Sjogren ended up on his back early in the first period. He fought off a pin until the final 15 seconds.

“When big guys get on their back, it’s tough,” Glasener said. “He fought for quite a while. He needed a few more seconds.”

Dutchmen cruise to conference win

Boys basketball victorious with no free-throw attempts

The Melrose Area Dutchmen boys basketball team trailed in free-throw exchange, but won 68-47 over the Montevideo Thunder Hawks Jan. 6 at Montevideo High School in Montevideo.

In a rare event in any basketball game, the Dutchmen did not only not make a free throw; they never shot one. Melrose did commit 16 fouls, giving the Thunder Hawks 26 free throws. The Dutchmen made up for the lack of free throws with 3-pointers, which propelled the Dutchmen to victory. Connor Anderson stepped to the forefront of a strong Dutchmen attack, burying five 3-pointers and scoring 21 points. Connor

Engelmeyer connected from the outside, adding four 3-pointers for 16 points.

Devin Orbeck, seven points, dropped in another 3-pointer. The Dutchmen hit 10 threes in the contest.

The team needed that outside shooting. For much of the first half, the game was close. Then, the Dutchmen started hitting from beyond the arc. In the final minutes of the half, it outscored Montevideo 25-4 and took a 41-19 lead into halftime.

Anderson was the spark plug. At one point, he scored four threes in about two minutes. He tallied 16 points in the first half.

The team not only went outside for points, but they drove into the lane for points and established its inside offence. Hunter Goihl dropped in two buckets from under the basket, finishing with eight points.

The team’s attack balanced a bit in the second

half. The Dutchmen and Thunder Hawks traded points all through the second half, as Melrose maintained its lead for its sixth win.

Part of that was selfless play. Melrose had 18 assists, with eight different players collecting an assist.

The Dutchmen controlled the ball with 31 rebounds and 10 steals. Anderson led the team with four steals, while Orbeck pulled in seven rebounds, leading the team in that category.

Melrose improved to 6-1 overall following the win and 3-1 in the West Central Conference. Sauk Centre, also 6-1 overall, leads the conference with a 3-0 mark.

Melrose is currently ranked 14th in Class AA.

MEL 41 27-68 MON 19 28-47

Melrose: Anderson 21 points (5R, 3A, 4S),

Pawettes sixth, seventh at Alexandria dance invite

In the Willmar match, Sjogren dominated from the start quickly, taking his opponent down and rolling him over. The win gave him four wins by pin in five matches since the Christmas break.

“Our top kids are getting good quality matches and young kids are getting a feel of what it’s all about,” Glasener said.

are learning.”

The win gives the Huskies a 9-1 record overall and a 2-0 Granite Ridge mark, tying them with Cathedral for first place. ALB 39 20–59 MOR 13 5–18 Albany: Sand 15 points (10R, 3S), Gerads 15 (12R), Findley 10, Larissa Gill 5, Natalie Blonigen 5, Samantha VanHeel 4, Savanna Pelzer 2 (4A), Sophia Schiffler 2 and Eva Schwenzfeier 1 (4A).

Melrose gymnasts top Tigers

Led by Courtney Althaus and Hannah Hoppe, the Lady Dutchmen defeated Morris Area-Hancock/ Chokio-Alberta 137.7-114.94 Jan. 5 at Morris Area High School in Morris.

Melrose Area earned at least the top four spots in every routine and the top two all-around places. Melrose took the top five spots on the bars and the floor.

Althaus won the all-around title, taking first on bars and second in the vault, beam and floor events. She missed first-place finishes on the vault and beam by .05 points and on the floor by .15 points.

The duo both earned nines or better during the meet. Althaus hit a 9.15 on the bars and Hoppe a 9.0 on the beam.

Hoppe achieved the runner-up spot in the all-around, showing grace and balance in winning the beam and floor and taking second on the bars, finishing .8 points behind Althaus.

Theresia Nathe just missed a 9.0, hitting an 8.95 as the vault routine winner. Melrose took the top four finishes in that routine. Nathe additionally brought in points in the beam, tying with Josie Eveslage for third. Both earned an 8.4 mark.

Maria Hinnenkamp and Gabby Schoenberg participated in three routines. Schoenberg had three top-four finishes while Hinnenkamp was third on the floor. Another third was earned by Alea Berscheit on the vault.

Melrose: Vault: 1. Nathe

8.95, 2. Althaus 8.9,

THE STAR POST | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | Page 11 SPORTS 320-845-2801 • www.albanychrysler.com Sales - Finance - Service – Parts - Body Shop SALES HOURS Mon–Thur 8:30 am - 7 pm | Fri 8:30 am - 6 pm | Sat 8 am - 3 pm SERVICE HOURS Mon-Fri 7 am-5 pm | Sat 7 am - 1 pm SCAN QR CODE TO VISIT OUR SITE P2-1B-TV
L
UV2795 | Leather, Heated Seats, Stow N Go!! $22,990 UV2788 | Remote Start, Power Doors, Stow N Go! $20,990 US3359 | One Owner, 4x4, Jeep Active Drive 1! $23,990 2018
2020
US3214 | Low Miles, Heated Seats & Heated Steering Wheel! $24,990 US3326 | Heated Seats, Heated Steering Wheel! $25,990 UC4480 | All Wheel Drive, Heated Seats! $27,990
2020 Chrysler Pacifica
Touring
2020
Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
2020
Jeep Cherokee Latitude Plus 4x4
Jeep Compass Altitude 4x4
Jeep Renegade Altitude 4x4
2019
Dodge Challenger SXT
3. Alea Berscheit 8.65, 4. Schoenberg 8.6 and 6. Hoppe 8.15. Bars: 1. Althaus 9.15, 2. Hoppe 8.35, 3. Schoenberg 7.9, 4. Eveslage 7.85 and 5. Hinnenkamp 7.8. Beam: 1. Hoppe 9.0, 2. Althaus 8.95, 3. Eveslage and Nathe 8.4 and 8. Hinnenkamp 7.4. Floor: 1. Hoppe 8.8, 2. Althaus 8.65, 3. Hinnenkamp 8.6, 4. Schoenberg 8.55 and 5. Brynn Shaw 8.25. Allaround: 1. Althaus 35.65 and 2. Hoppe 34.3.
Engelmeyer 16 (3A), Goihl 8 (4R), Orbeck 7 (7R, 3A), Isaac Rosenberger 4 (4R), Fernando Estrella Becerra 4, Gor Ruey 2,
Wehlage 2, Breydon Dobmeier 2
Wehlage 2.
Samuel
and Maxwell
PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
MAHACA 64, SC-M 16 SC-M: 106: Kerzman won 1:01. 113: SC-M forfeited. 120: Walter won forfeit. 126: Ted Wiechman lost 5:19. 132: Noah Christen lost 3:24. 138: De los Santos Morales won 11-3. 145: Mitchell Christen lost 9-1 (MD). 152: Ben Friedrichs lost 1:45. 160: Dan Frericks lost 0:30. 170: Cesar Avalos lost 1:37. 182: Eden Rangel lost 2:23. 195: SC-M forfeited. 220: Isaac Frericks lost 2:42. 285: Sjogren lost 1:45. Willmar 51, SC-M 13 SC-M: 106: Kerzman won 7-3. 113: SC-M forfeited. 120: Walter lost 14-7. 126: Noah Christen lost 1:08. 132: De los Santos Morales won 11-3. 138: Mitchell Christen lost 6-1. 145: Double forfeit. 152: SC-M forfeited. 160: Avalos lost 2:18. 170: SC-M forfeited. 182: Rangel lost 1:23. 195: Jonny Lara lost 0:27. 220: Isaac Frericks lost 8-3. 285: Sjogren won 0:28. Thursday early • Jan. 5 Team standings Albany American Legion 14-2 St. Joe Meat Market 12-4 Bowl Movement 12-4 Rookies Bar 10-6 J&L Woodworking 10-6 A.M.P.S. 8-8 Interstate Service Center 6-10 St. Joe American Legion 4-12 Gary’s Dairy 2-14 Blue Team Sports 2-14 Men Game Series Scott Sand 270 700 Jacob Bates 256 643 Scott Bloch 238 649 Dennis Rakotz 237 677 Matt Heinen 228 572 Jeff Stroeing 224 Alan Lockridge 609 Women Game Series Nicole Pachan 150 422 Lisa Stroeing 146 395 Melissa Lommel 141 415 Katelyn Rakotz 119 331 Dec. 29, 2022 Team standings J&L Woodworking 8-0 St. Joe Meat Market 6-2 Albany American Legion 6-2 Interstate Service Center 6-2 Bowl Movement 6-2 A.M.P.S. 2-6 Rookies Bar 2-6 Blue Team Sports 2-6 St. Joe American Legion 2-6 Gary’s Dairy 0-8 Men Game Series Mike Ritter 247 620 Tyler Ohmann 237 691 Tim Loso 236 Alan Lockridge 233 628 Jacob Bates 232 662 Joe Czech 230 593 Nick Rosen 652 Women Game Series Nicole Pachan 149 425 Lisa Stroeing 112 332 Katelyn Rakotz 104 282 ALBANY BOWLING BORDER B A T T L E BATTLE M E L R O S E MELROSE SAUKCENTRE Streeters VS 44 The Sauk Centre and Melrose Lions are doing a Border Battle between Sauk Centre and Melrose high school sports. Each time one beats the other they will get a point. The winner gets a donation to their school’s booster club or a scholarship from the other club. The Albany Area High School Pawettes dance teams competed at the Jan. 7 Alexandria Invitational, finishing sixth in the high kick
BY MIKE KOSIK STAFF WRITER and seventh in the jazz competitions at Alexandria High School in Alexandria. Albany had a rank point score of 18.5 in high kick and 20 in jazz, with eight teams competing in each category. Detroit Lakes won the jazz competition with a score of 3 and Rocori won high kick with a score of 3 also. Competition included Class A and AA teams. Albany competes in Class AA. ST R T★ Publications & Check out our 320-352-6577 • www.star-pub.com photos! Herald starpublications.smugmug.com
“We

Gone are the days when people worked the same job for their entire life. We can help.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the basketball team? The team chemistry because of how all grades and players get along so well together.

What is your favorite thing to do on the court? Watch Tysen Gerads dunk on people because that’s when the fans start going crazy.

What other activities are you involved in at school? Football, baseball, Letter Club and Captains and Leaders.

Why is it important for you to be involved in school activities? It looks good to colleges, and I get to learn about new things and people.

What are two goals you would like to accomplish during the school year? Receive all A’s and, most importantly, graduate. What is one piece of advice you would give underclassmen to help them excel in academics or athletics? Don’t take any moment for granted because high school goes by fast. What are you thankful for today? My family and friends because they brought me to be who I am today and keep pushing me to be better.

What are three words that describe your personality? Humorous, passionate and thoughtful.

How do you try to make a difference at school? Making people laugh and doing something nice for them to try to make their day better.

What is something you’ve learned in class recently? In my personal finance class, I learned the different types of insurance and how they work.

What is your favorite part about basketball? The ability to work together as a team to accomplish our goals and to be successful as one.

What is your most memorable moment playing basketball? During a close game against Upsala, I made a pump fake, dribbled left into the lane and made an and-one (a basket and was

fouled in the act of shooting). We were all hyped; it was a crucial basket to extend our lead.

What is your favorite memory from elementary school? Receiving a reward for doing extra math problems, and, by doing so, my classmates and I received a pizza party.

Dynamite Dutchmen

What do you like most about being in basketball? Competing with the friends I have made in the sport.

What is your most memorable experience in a game? Playing at Target Center.

What is something you have learned in class recently? In economics, we are learning about supply and demand.

What are you looking forward to the most during the school year? Spending time with my classmates before we all go our separate ways.

Tell us something about yourself that most people do not know. My first kiss from a girl was when we were both 2 years old and now, years later, she is my girlfriend.

What is your dream job? To work at a heating, ventilation and air conditioning job after high school.

How do you try to make a difference at school? I am always trying to make people laugh and have a smile on my face.

What teacher has impacted your education the most?

Mr. (Jonathan) Nietfeld because we spent several weeks doing a lesson on careers, and I learned a lot about myself and about college.

What is your favorite restaurant and the meal you order? Olive Garden’s chicken alfredo.

Page 12 | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023 | THE STAR POST Sauk Centre, MN (320) 352-6577 SIGN Design Located in the Sauk Centre Herald Office 522 Sinclair Lewis Avenue, Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Custom Vehicle Graphics L Logan Thomas, Designer & Sign Creator SALUTING GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE MELROSE HIGH SCHOOL DYNAMITE DUTCHMEN SPONSORED BY: Courtney Revering Freeport,MN Phone 320-836-2393 fspi2@albanytel.com FreeportScreen Printing,Inc. 105 E MAIN ST • MELROSE 320-256-4444 For Your Meat, Produce and Grocery Needs! 119 North 8th Avenue West • P.O. Box 234 Melrose, MN 56352 320-256-3846 FDIC Dutchmen Pride!
Parents: Mike and Laura Revering. Accomplishment: Senior on the Melrose Area girls basketball team. MACHINE Lucas Provo SALUTING GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE HOLDINGFORD HIGH SCHOOL Husker Apparel in Stock! Holdingford,MN•320-746-0746 holdingfordmn.us 320-746-2264 HOLDINGFORD MUNICIPAL LIQUOR $1 451 Main St, Holdingford OFF Case of Beer or Liter of Liquor Mention this ad to receive discount. CLIP AND SAVE Gary & Vicki Gerads P.O. Box 104 Holdingford, MN 320-746-2926 320-836-2517 Bulk Gasoline • Premier Diesel Motor Oil • Greases • Furnace Oil Farm & Home Delivery Gerads Oil Company DOUG LEGATT | (320) 250-2855 www.WeHaulForYou.com doug@wehaulforyou.com USDOT 11444430 MNDOT 3754475 Professional movers for your home or business Green machine is sponsored by: Green
P1-1B-TV HOME | AUTO | LIFE | BUSINESS | FARM & RANCH American Family Mutual Insurance Company S.I, & its Operating Companies, Life Insurance underwritten by American Family Life Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2022 21178 – 8/22 – 17717895 Visit My Website Kyle Hoium, Agent Kyle Hoium Agency LLC khoium@amfam.com (320) 256-3434 408 Main St E Ste 2 Melrose, MN 56352 Call for an insurance quote today!
LOCAL INSURANCE
P2-1F-MT V i s t My Webs te Black Financial Services, Inc. can help you make the best decisions possible regarding your 401(k) account. Having the right experience in your corner is crucial in discussing all your rollover options. Call for a free consultation today! Securities and investment advisory services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC.
you
from a previous employer? Today, Tomorrow, Together! PO Box 346 • 110 Avon Ave. N. Avon, MN 56310 Office: 320.356.9031 Toll Free: 800.279.2374 www.blackfinancialservices.com
Parents: Donna Provo. Accomplishment: Senior and starting center on the Holdingford boys basketball team.
YOUR
TEAM
Do
have a 401(k)
P2-1B-TV
Accomplishment: Senior on the Albany Area basketball team.
Parents: Doug and Cathy Reis.
TANNER REIS
Pride Sponsored by by The Partner you can count on, providing real solutions for today and tomorrow. ALBANY, MN 320-845-4086 Personalize your ride! Marks the spot where your ad could have been. 320-352-6577 SPORTS
Purple

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.