The Star Post 02-15-2023

Polish pride

Bieniek honored for sharing Polish-American culture, heritage

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

Jon Bieniek has fond memories of his homeland, Dabrówka Dolna, Poland; of walking in the garden at his ancestor’s farm during his first trip in September of 1984.

“I was so emotional,” he said Feb. 8 sitting in the kitchen of his rural Holdingford home.

On the table is

400 Block update

Avon council approves water, sewer rate increase

Fund deficits total $181,000, last increase was 2018

BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER

Avon residential and commercial users will be paying more for water and sewer this spring.

City leaders voted 4-1 earlier this month to change rates, the first hike in four years. Councilor Mark Schulzetenberge voted against increases during a Feb. 6 meeting.

March utility bills will include a notice about the 37 cents per 1,000 gallons increase for water. Sewer rates will increase $2.29 per 1,000 gallons increase and are scheduled to become effective in May.

City administrator and clerk Jodi Austing-Traut reported the city has a $175,000 sewer fund deficit.

“You have to look out for the best interests of the city,” said Councilor Doug Schaefer during council discussion. “You can’t run this fund in the red.”

Councilor Katie Reiling agreed.

a box of yellowed letters from relatives in Poland.

Bieniek is proud of his Polish heritage. He has spent a good portion of his 84 years sharing the Polish culture and language, including translating which led to one of his 16 trips to Poland.

In recognition of his contribution to the Polish-American community in Minnesota, Bieniek was the recipient of the Polish-American Cultural Institute of Minnesota honorary award presented Jan. 28 during the Bal Karnawalowy, an annual carnival ball, at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville.

Bieniek’s roots go back to grandparents, Vincent and Paulina (Yeager) Bieniek who

immigrated to the United States in 1882 from Poland, with relatives eventually homesteading near Holdingford. Bieniek’s home farm is two miles “as the crow flies” from where he lives in rural Holdingford, he said. It is where Bieniek and his first wife, Phyllis Mary Lichy, raised their three children, Danial, Michelle and Gregory. After Phyllis Mary passed away in 2005, he remarried Phyllis Anne Husted in 2008, and he travels between her home in Brooklyn Park and his home near Holdingford.

ATKINSON TO TALK ABOUT SPACE MISSIONS BOOK AT MELROSE LIBRARY pg 6

Bieniek talks about the river running through Holdingford, and if a person travels west of the river most people have German ancestry and east of the river people have Polish ancestry.

“So the farm I was raised on, I can go 360 degrees and all surrounding farms are Polish farms with the exception of two German farms,” he said. A farm boy, Bieniek appreciates his parents sending him to St. John’s Prep School, mainly because they thought he might become a priest.

Hitting the stage with a

new name

Melrose Stages Inc. depicts strength of community theater

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS

The Town and Country Players have been performing spring comedies and musicals since 1969, mainly in Melrose, although they have toured doing dinner theaters. The Sauk River Players have performed summer musicals, at first on stages in Melrose and Sauk Centre, more than 40 years.

BY CAROL MOORMAN John Bieniek, on Feb. 8 in his rural Holdingford home, reads a letter dated 1987, written in Polish, from his second cousin who lived near his homeland of Dabrówka Dolna, Poland. The box in front of him is filled with correspondence from his Polish relatives.

Dynamic Husk s

Holdingford High

Bieniek page 3 Melrose Stages page 3

These two community theater groups are now under one name – Melrose Stages Inc. Theater enthusiasts Marit Elliott, Andrew Engel, Audrey Hiltner, Nancy Jeske and Calli Mayers are on the board of directors.

“We want people to know it’s live theater, and our theater is in Melrose, even though we pull people from all over for the cast, crew and audience,” Elliott said, Feb. 8, explaining the new name. She said there were a few reasons for the name change, which included the long process of Melrose Stages, Inc. attaining non-profit status.

“If you are a non-profit you can apply for grants and accept donations,” she said.

Elliott explained the largest cost often is a royalty paid to a production company for the rights to put on the play or musical, with a portion going to the writer of the production.

“Most of the time it’s $3,000 to $4,000,” she said. It can be less and it can be more, especially if it is a newer play or musical.

The royalty fee is determined by the number of performances, seats in the theater and tickets sold. The royalty must be paid and a contract signed before advertising for the production can begin.

Elliott said just because a theater group seeks rights to perform a play or musical doesn’t mean they will receive it.

“If a professional theater is doing, like ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ around the time you are, they won’t give you the rights,” she said. “That’s happened to us a couple of times.”

Elliott said contacts have been signed for this April’s Melrose Stages, Inc., musical “Sister Act.” Auditions will be 7-10 p.m., Monday, Feb. 20, and Tuesday, Feb. 21, with call back at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22, all at the Marit Elliott Performing Arts Center in Melrose. The show will be performed April Auditions for the summer production of “Beauty and the Beast” will be in mid-May with performances in July.

Melrose researching policing options pg 3 Hiltner happy to carry on legacy pg 7 ‘A Team’ has first baby boy in 2017 pg 16 Gymnasts scoring with the best pg 10

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 PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN

PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING

School’s second place trophy is held high by Hannah Kuklok (front, from left), Jada Mosey and

Annie Supan; while Makenna Fielder (back, left) and other kick team members display victory signs Feb. 11 during the Section 2A dance competition at Melrose Area Public Schools in Melrose. The Huskers jazz team placed second and also advanced to state. More photos and an article can be found on page 8.

PHOTO

Jason L. Anderson Irene M. Braun Roger H. Rehkamp

An evening Delish SHS Wine and Dine

with Dad

PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN School staff member Yvonne Beste (left) shares a laugh with Mary Kay Herkenhoff (right) and Mary Jane and John Klaphake (center) while June Scherping (back) watches during the Jan. 28 Sacred Heart Catholic School Wine and Dine Dinner and Auction at the Freeport Community Center in Freeport. Close to 500 people were served the chicken or roast beef entree catered by D’Lish Coffee and Catering of Freeport. Not pictured is Mary Kay Herkenhoff ’s husband, Mike.

Holy Family School’s Preschool

Purple Pride

What do you enjoy most about being part of the dance team? We are all best friends. I have made so many memories with my team that I will never forget.

What is your favorite dance to perform? Our Hercules kick routine from this year.

What other activities are you involved in at school? FFA, track and field, Letter Club, Captains and Leaders, National Honor Society and We the People.

VERONICA MAUS

Parents: Jon Maus and Lucy Maus

Accomplishment: Senior All-Conference dancer for the Albany Pawettes

Why is it important for you to be involved in school activities? It helps me gain life skills for the future. I like to be involved in school and in the community.

What is something you are proud you

accomplished so far during the school year and what is one of your goals in the remainder of the year? I am proud we accomplished our We the People presentation. A goal I have is to prepare for college next year.

What is one piece of advice you would give underclassmen to help them excel in academics or athletics? Branch out and try new things. Don’t be afraid to be the new person in an activity.

What are you thankful for today? I have the opportunity to be involved in these activities.

What are three words that describe your personality? Optimistic, outgoing and adaptable.

Dynamite Dutchmen

What do you like most about being in band? Learning different types of music. It ranges from pep band to songs of today and years ago, and there are songs in solo books.

What is your most memorable experience in band? Lettering for the first time.

What other activities are you involved in at school? Right now none. I used to be in soccer and in the super mileage programs.

What are you looking forward to doing during the remaining school year? Graduation and going to college. I’ve been accepted at Central Lakes College in Brainerd for graphic design.

How do you try to make a difference at school? I try to see things from the perspective of other people, instead of just my own.

What teacher has impacted your education the most? Ms. (Taylor) Garthus teaches primarily English, along with mass media and multi-cultural literature. She has been a big help to me and other friends. She is very understanding and easy to talk to.

What is your favorite restaurant and the meal you order? Mongo’s Grill in St. Cloud. They serve Mongolian noodles, with eight types of noodles and vegetables, seafood, beef, pork and chicken.

Joe Notch and daughter Evelyn display desserts served during the Jan. 28 Sacred Heart Catholic School Wine and Dine Dinner and Auction at the Freeport Community Center in Freeport. Guests had a choice of a chicken or roast beef entree with a salad bar. Many older students volunteered beside their parents during this annual event that raises funds for the Catholic school.

PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING

Kyle Serocki escorts daughter Emerson during the grand march at the Feb. 4

Father-Daughter Ball at Melrose Area Public Schools in Melrose. The event drew 81 girls and 67 dads or escorts.

Carey and Jaron Herzog (from left) and Curt and Nikki Schaefer are ready to offer raffle tickets to guests for a basket raffle during the Jan. 28 Sacred Heart Catholic School Wine and Dine Dinner and Auction at the Freeport Community Center in Freeport. The basket raffle was new this year.

Jason L. Anderson

Jason L. Anderson, 50, of Holdingford, was carried away by Jesus to his eternal heavenly home Feb. 9, 2023, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud.

A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Upsala with Mavis Buker officiating. Burial will take place in the Gethsemane Lutheran Cemetery in Upsala. A visitation was Feb. 14 and is from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Feb. 15, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

Jason Lee Anderson was born to Kate and David Anderson Oct. 16, 1972, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jason graduated with the SartellSt. Stephen High School class of 1991 and graduated from Northwest Technical College in Wadena in 1993. While attending college, through a mutual friend, he met his future wife, Laurie Greenwaldt. He proposed to Laurie on Christmas Eve 1994, and they were joined in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church of Deer Creek Feb. 3, 1996. Jason and Laurie bought their first home in Holdingford in May 1996 and later moved to rural Holdingford in May 2001. Their marriage has been blessed with three beautiful children – Rachel (May 1998), Travis (October 2000) and Justin (November 2004). Jason was a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Upsala where he served as the janitor for many years. He served on the Holdingford Volunteer Fire Department from 1997 to 2009. Jason enjoyed spending time putzing in his shop on various cars and trucks with his boys. He also enjoyed watching his treasured kitties, Chico, Hazel and Gizmo, frolic and play and nap with the family dog, Diesel. His past and present hobbies included mud trucking, hunting, fishing, salvaging scrap iron, collecting

Roger H. Rehkamp

Roger Henry Rehkamp, 87, of Cloquet and formerly of Monticello, died Feb. 6, 2023, at CMH in Cloquet.

He was born March 13, 1935, to Al and Frances (Wehlage) Rehkamp in Melrose. Roger graduated with the Melrose High School class of 1953, and from St. Cloud State University in 1957 with an education degree. He also served in the National Guard and was active in the Lions Club. Roger spent most of his career teaching social studies at Monticello High School, where he also coached football. Roger was a member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Monticello for over 50 years.

Roger married Joan Kidder, of Little Falls, July 2, 1960. They were blessed with two adopted children, Mike and Catherine (Loeb).

Roger was preceded in death by his son, Michael, in 2008; parents; brother Don “Swede” (Marion); and sister Darlene (Don) Brever.

Roger is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter Catherine (Brett)

Irene M. Braun

Irene M. Braun, 78, of Melrose, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Feb. 6, 2023, at her home in Melrose.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 10 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with the Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating and Deacon Ernie Kociemba assisting. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Irene Marcella Stalboerger was born May 22, 1944, in Sauk Centre, to Edmund and Selma (Eibensteiner) Stalboerger. She grew up in rural Elrosa and graduated from St. Francis High School in Little Falls. On Aug. 22, 1964, she was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Braun at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. The couple farmed near Spring Hill and then continued to raise their kids in Greenwald. Later they moved to Melrose where she worked for many years in housekeeping at the Melrose Hospital spreading her loving kindness from room to room until her retirement.

Irene was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she taught religious education classes, was president of Christian Mothers, was a Eucharistic minister and sang in the Resurrection Choir. She enjoyed biking, visiting with friends, bird watching, caring for her houseplants and most of all spending time with her family.

Survivors include her husband, Bob Braun, of Melrose; children Jim

Jason L. Anderson

signage, gardening and canning. Although not known as a social butterfly, he truly enjoyed time spent with beloved friends and family, particularly camping with extended family and he had a knack for finding nicknames for many of them. Jason also had unique nicknames of his own (Bird Legs, Cooter, Yeti). Through his career as an electrician, he was blessed with great friends, including his special friend and mentor, Clarence Fowler.

Jason is survived by his wife of 27 years, Laurie; daughter Rachel (Queenie) and significant other Seth (Meathead) of Upsala; sons Travis (Chubs) of Holdingford, and Justin (Boob) of Holdingford; parents

Kate and David Anderson of Sauk Centre; father- and mother-in-law

Alyn and Joani Greenwaldt of Deer Creek; sister- and brother-in-law Stephanie and Paul Fiedler and their three children, Brooke, Luke and Bryce, of Sauk Centre; brotherand sister-in-law Bryan and Amy Greenwaldt of Wadena, and their two boys, Matthew and Brandon; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Words from Jason: “I want people to know I had a big heart, just came across very gruff.”

Caring for Jason and his family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.

P-7-1B

Light to the world

Kettler retires as bishop of Diocese of St. Cloud

BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER

It was fitting for the Sunday Gospel, taken from the Book of Matthew, to contain Jesus’ call for his disciples to be the light of the world, for throughout his life, Bishop Donald Kettler, of the Diocese of St. Cloud, has worked to let that light shine in his ministry, even as he goes into retirement. During his Feb. 5 farewell Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud, Kettler gave thanks to God for being allowed to be his instrument of service.

“The light of God has shone brightly on the diocese and the people of the Diocese of St. Cloud,” Kettler said in his homily. “I have been blessed by God to see and know that light. I’ve tried not to let me dim that light nor to get too much in the way of the Light of God shining out to others.”

At the end of Mass, Jane Marrin, chancellor of the Diocese of St. Cloud, and the Rev. Scott Pogatchnik, Cathedral of St. Mary rector, thanked the bishop for his diocesan leadership.

“This man has been a man of great healing in so many ways,” Pogatchnik said. “For the sins and often crimes of the past, Bishop Kettler has stood in the breach to bring healing and reconciliation.”

Kettler served as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud for nine years, and having passed the retirement age of 75, Pope Francis accepted his resignation. His successor, Bishop-elect Patrick Neary, was ordained Feb. 14 at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud.

Sioux Falls May 29, 1970.

For his first nine years as a priest, Kettler served as an associate pastor in Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, South Dakota, before he began coordinating work for Sioux Falls’ diocesan offices. After obtaining his licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America, he was named judicial vicar of Sioux Falls in 1983, resuming his work coordinating its diocesan offices from 1984-87 and beginning to celebrate a weekly televised Mass during that time.

diocesan priest and non-Jesuit to lead the diocese. Fortunately, Kettler was already familiar with the area.

“I had been up there, being a tourist, and when I was up there, I got interested in Fairbanks,” Kettler said. “I signed up for their monthly newspaper, The Alaskan Shepherd, and so, after getting and reading all this stuff for 10 years, I get this call all of a sudden from the nuncio, saying, ‘The Holy Father would like you to go to Fairbanks.’”

Loeb; sister-in-law Carole (Arlen) Solie; and four Loeb-family grandchildren Lauren (Evan) Robert, Christian, Addison and Erin Cate. Services will be held in both Cloquet and Monticello at a later date. Inurnment will be at St. Henry’s Catholic Cemetery in Monticello. Arrangements have been entrusted to Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. To sign an online registry please visit www.nelsonfuneralcare. net.

P-7-1B

Born in Minneapolis and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with his three siblings, Kettler had many family members who were priests and religious. Priests in the Cathedral Parish in Sioux Falls were also a positive example to the young Kettler, part of the reason why he chose to enter the seminary.

“God calls you to this,” Kettler said. “You don’t hear voices; you’ve just got a sense of what you should be doing.”

Kettler received his undergraduate and divinity degrees at St. John’s University in Collegeville and was ordained a priest by Bishop Lambert Hoch of the Diocese of

Kettler’s work as a priest included serving as rector for the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls from 1987-95 and pastoring St. Lambert Parish from 1995-2000 and Christ the King Parish from 2000-02. He was also a member of the Sioux Falls Diocesan Finance Council Stewardship Committee, Catholic Family Services’ board of directors, the Association of Christian Churches of South Dakota’s board of directors and the Sioux Falls Catholic School system board.

“Priesthood allows you to do so many things, the diocesan priesthood particularly,” Kettler said. “Mostly, what I’ve done all my life is be a parish priest.”

Kettler was appointed as the eighth bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska, by Pope John Paul II. He was installed in 2002 and was the first

Prout performing in honors orchestra

(Sheryl) Braun of Greenwald, Joe (Karen) Braun of Shoreview, Lori Campagnola of Minneapolis, Barb (David) Digerness of Plymouth, Emily (Joe) Langel of Brooklyn Park, Jason (Kristie) Braun of Melrose, and Brenda (Robb) Enslin of Duluth; 29 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren with one on the way; brother and sisters Stanley Stalboerger, Marilyn Schoenberg, Sharon Hemiadan, Ramona Stalboerger, Barb Barten and Roxane Kampsen; and motherin-law Val Braun.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; brother David Stalboerger; sister Pat Seitz; stillborn brother Joseph Stalboerger; grandson Logan Braun; and son-inlaw Stephen Campagnola. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.

P-7-1B

Pope Francis later named Kettler as the ninth bishop of the St. Cloud diocese in 2013, bringing him closer to his home and alma mater.

In his 20 years as a bishop, Kettler has had to navigate a difficult time in the Catholic church, particularly the clerical sexual abuse scandals that affected both the Fairbanks and St. Cloud dioceses. He has also faced issues with secularization within the congregations, leading people away from the church.

Kettler believes Pope Francis has had a good influence on the church, increasing its dialogue and care for both its members and for people on the edges of society.

“I like the collaboration that goes on that probably didn’t happen as much before,” Kettler said.

“We’re not just here to take care of the people who are already saved. We’re here to reach out to everybody who lives in this diocese. I’m not into proselytizing, trying to get them to join the Catholic church; I’m talking about helping people get a relationship with God in faith, in religion, because it’s an important part of human existence.”

In his service to parishes in Albany, Holdingford and Melrose, Kettler is glad to have the new St. Mary’s Church in Melrose after the previous one was damaged in a fire and was later demolished.

“It was the right thing to do, to rebuild and not to remodel and bring it up to where it was,” Kettler said. “What they have done now is much more than they would’ve had.”

In retirement, Kettler will be returning to Sioux Falls. While he is not sure what exactly his ministry will look like up there, he is sure the diocese will need his assistance every so often. Kettler is also working to turn the back porch of his Sioux Falls home into a chapel.

“One of the main things we do is pray,” Kettler said. “I do it many times every day, and so I’ll keep doing that part for the church going forward, as well.”

As he goes into retirement, Kettler will miss the area colleges – particularly the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University – and participating in diocesan celebrations, but it is the people he will miss most of all. He hopes the parishioners will welcome Neary as their new bishop.

“I hope the people will invite him to be a part of parish and area activities, but even think about inviting him into their homes to get to know him,” Kettler said. “Being a leader in the church is pretty important, and I want to invite people to think about all of that.”

Roger H. Rehkamp

Irene M. Braun

“Our Country is in Mourning, A Soldier Died Today.”

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

Bishop Donald Kettler preaches at his farewell Mass Feb. 5 at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud. Kettler is retiring after 20 years as a bishop, nine of which were for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Nina Prout (left), Melrose Area Middle School eighth grader, and her violin teacher, Carlin Stiles, gather Feb. 4 after a St. Cloud Suzuki Studio recital at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. Prout, daughter of Todd and Tara Prout, auditioned for and was accepted into the mid-level honors orchestra and will be one of 13 first violinists in Minnesota to perform in the orchestra for the Minnesota Music Educators Association Convention Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis.

I teach high school students. One could argue there are hazards to my job: paper airplanes, tacks on my chair, vinegar slipped into my coffee mug. Alas, none of these perils have come to fruition, as far as I know. If some wily student tainted my coffee, I must have been too frazzled to notice.

There are hazards to teaching though –newfangled, modern, technological hazards called phones.

During volleyball season this year, I announced home games and worked the scoreboard. This was a new gig for this old teacher, and like a lot of new roles we take on, there’s not much time for training. The activities director told me it would be easy and I’d figure it out. I did. I quickly learned which button controlled stats, time, score and time outs on the scoreboard. I don’t mind speaking in front of groups either. I think microphones are pretty fun actually, and turning a microphone on is easy.

By Sonya Hoffarth

Minutes before the warmup started, I was informed I’d need to play the National Anthem too. “Just use your phone,” I was instructed. Easy enough. Through my coaching duties, I know how to use the sound system in the gym. No problem.

Only I forgot to toggle the “do not disturb” button on my phone.

About mid-way through the anthem, my phone started ringing. Rather than “what so proudly we hailed,” the gym echoed with the ringing of my phone.

And, of course, it was Hallie, my oldest daughter, who is supposed to be embarking on her adult life at college –no longer needing her momma.

The rendition of the anthem that I played lasted one minute. What are the chances that Hallie would need me during that one minute? I quickly canceled her call, returned to the anthem, and prayed she wouldn’t call right

on the job 1923 blizzard, fire destruction, family memories

A century ago, one of the most severe blizzards ever recorded hit the area.

It came during the day, closing schools and stopping pretty much every planned event. The Feb. 15, 1923, issues of the Melrose Beacon and Sauk Centre Herald reported train traffic was stopped and students from farms attending schools stayed overnight in homes. The Herald reported city water lines froze, and The Beacon called it “One of the severest blizzards in the history of the northwest.”

Growing up on a farm near Greenwald, I heard from aunts and uncles about when their house served as a shelter for students at a country school near their farm during that blizzard. That led to a memory of a building burning in Meire Grove.

The books “Deep Roots,” a 1958 history of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and “City of Meire Grove,” a 1996 centennial history of the community, as well the newspapers, record the Feb. 13, 1923, fire that destroyed St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Two stranded school boys, staying overnight near the church’s boiler room because they could not get home, noticed the fire and contacted the janitor. The janitor removed the children to the parish house and then spread the alarm.

Strong winds fanned the flames and they worked their way through the main part of the church. The extreme cold of the blizzard froze the hose from the village fire department truck, making pumping water impossible. The blizzard’s snow and ice prevented the Melrose Fire Department from getting to the location.

There were reports of people holding hands as they

How can rural Minnesotans welcome Latinx neighbors?

Following the paths

back.

In the meantime, the student section had picked up the tune and filled in, “at the twilight’s last gleaming,” they sang. Rather than tacks on my chair, my students helped me avert this hazard –and thankfully, Hallie assumed I must have been busy and didn’t call back.

My phone is not the only hazard for this old teacher. You can imagine the hazard phones in students’ hands create for us teachers, too. Good luck competing for students’ attention when their choice is the lesson about commas I’m presenting or harvesting their crop on Hay Day, returning that snap to that special someone, or more often than not, returning a text to a momma. Good luck, indeed.

This Friday at Albany High School, however, our students pulled out their phones and with those phones created a sense of community in our building that will pay dividends. Our student council hosted a talent show to conclude snow days week, and during the boys basketball team’s locker room choir’s performance (a performance I bet you wish you could hear yourself), the student body joined in singing Bruno Mars’ “When I was your Man” – phone flashlights on, waving back and forth, filling the BEAT with an entire student body in the glow of lights, joined in song swaying together with phones held over their heads.

As Superintendent Okerlund told the students, that was the best use of their phones since students started bringing phones to school. These hazardous phones played a part in creating quite a moment.

The paper airplane occasionally flies, but I usually just toss it back. We don’t really use tacks much anymore. And, my coffee cup has a pretty snug lid. Maybe we’re learning how to get around the hazards of phones, too.

As a kid, our dad had cattle in a pasture across the highway from the farm. This is where the cows would go to forage on the grass in the pasture along the river. On most hot and dry summers, they would cover every inch of the pasture in their hunt for food.

walked through the blizzard to the burning church to help out. When they got there, they did what they could. They were able to remove the Blessed Sacrament. When sparks from the fire landed on the rectory roof, they were extinguished by a bucket brigade. The snow on the roof of the school was credited with saving that building. But the storm-fanned flames were too much to combat. About one hour after the first reports of the fire, the church was lost.

“The high steeple fell to the inside of the building. The three bells crashed through to the basement before the steeple fell,” the Beacon article reported. “The brick walls on the north and east side were down while portions of the west and south walls remained standing.”

The Herald reported another church would be built and until then services would be offered in the school building.

Growing up, stories about that blizzard, students staying at the farm and the fire were told more than once in our family. About 25 years ago a former Greenwald resident said he was one of the students who had stayed overnight at my grandfather’s farm. What he remembered most from that night was a phone call. He remembered my grandfather answering it and talking, and then hanging up the phone and speaking to my grandmother.

“He said, ‘The Meire Grove church is burning and the fire department can’t get through.’”

That’s when it became clear that those two events – a blizzard and a fire – from a family’s oral history happened on the same evening.

News BRIEFS

SAUK CENTRE – The public is invited to a conversation with Ma Elena Gutiérrez, director of Fe y Justicia at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, at El Mezcal restaurant in Sauk Centre.

Fe y Justicia (Faith and Justice) is a group Gutiérrez co-founded in the St. Cloud area with Patty Keeling and other community members. An immigrant herself, Gutiérrez has worked for better lives for Latinx immigrants by learning about their needs and advocating on their behalf.

Gutiérrez’s advocacy began when she saw needs not being met. She gained leadership experience through starting the St. Cloud chapter of Asamblea de Derechos Civiles (Assembly for Civil Rights) with help from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. She is a young mother dedicated to service and social justice.

A question and answer period will follow her talk.

Todd County

dairy princess candidates sought

LONG PRAIRIE – The American Dairy Association of Todd County is seeking candidates to participate in this year’s dairy princess and ambassador program.

Dairy princesses and ambassadors serve as goodwill ambassadors for the dairy industry through appearances around Todd County that help explain dairy farmers’ passion for taking care of their animals and land while providing nutritious food for people locally and throughout the world. The Todd County princess contest will be March 25.

A princess candidate must be high school graduate by July 1 and not yet 24 years old by July 1, 2023. An ambassador candidate must be in ninth grade this year up to 24 years old. A candidate must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Her parents and she must be engaged in the production of milk for sale to a licensed plant during the

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

Kevin Zierden

But when they wanted to get from one end of the pasture to the other, they would follow a leader, one after another, creating a path. It’s been 50 years since there were cows on this land but like the ox cart tracks of the Oregon Trail, there is still evidence of its existence to this day.

My wife, Barb, and I love to go on hikes, to get out and enjoy the fresh air, and take in the ever-changing scenery. Even in the winter, when the air feels thinner and the north wind bites at our cheeks, we take short hikes. This winter has been a challenge. The hard, deep snow was difficult to pass through. Each step we would take, we would break through the icy crust and lift our boots up over the crystals for the next step. Sometimes Barb would follow along in my footsteps if she could, and together we would follow the same path back home. Until a strong wind or another storm came along to cover our tracks, we had a path we could use each time we went out.

Last week, after a few snowless days and a slight warmup, we decided to forge a new trail across the highway in the county park. The snow was deep, and it was obvious no one had tried to go down to the river recently. We picked what in the summer is our trail to take, but after struggling through the snow, we decided the shortest distance to the river would be a straight line. Within 100 feet, just beyond the spruce and pine trees, we came upon a path where whitetails roam. Like the cattle paths from years ago, these were packed down from constant use and were easy to follow. There were deer markings and signs all along the way, and we would intersect bedding areas under a cedar or blanketing spruce.

That first day we followed a trail north. We didn’t follow it to its final destination, if there was one, but we did see it pass under the south side of evergreens, the blind side of hills, all the way to a safe shallow spot across the ice to the other side of the river. When it looked as though we may have been nearing some bigger bedding areas, we stopped and turned around. We did not want to scare up any deer. They need to conserve as much energy as they can this time of year.

The next time we went, we picked up the trail at the river again. This time, though, instead of crossing the river, we walked on it and headed south. It was apparent, from all the tracks on the ice, deer had often done this too. After rounding a few bends and passing by quite a few river crossing trails, we must have spooked some deer yarding in the area. We watched them cross ahead of us and run out of sight. Since we didn’t want to keep chasing them, we took the first trail off of the river and headed back.

I have often been told not to disturb a deer’s sanctuary, as a kid and later as a hunter, because the deer might not return there. I don’t know that I believe this but on our way back that day we definitely came upon the deer’s place of refuge. All around, the snow was packed down from grazing. There were beds and deer droppings everywhere. And in three directions, north, south and west were paths in and out of there. No paths headed east to the highway, which explained why we were surprised, as well, to see the seven deer we saw. We followed the path heading north until we came upon our tracks again, then left it for another day.

current year. A candidate also qualifies if her parents or she are employed on a dairy farm in a dairy-related capacity, or if a sibling has taken over the home farm. Additionally, she would qualify if her family or she custom raise animals that will produce milk or lease animals in exchange for work on that farm.

Serving as a county dairy princess is the first step toward potentially becoming Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Minnesota’s statewide ambassador.

Ten finalists will be selected to complete for the Princess Kay title in August.

For complete rules and application form please contact Shirley Hulinsky at 320-815-2500.

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 Farmers Daughter

Ink on My Hands by

The Annual Audit meeting for Spring Hill Township will be held along with the monthly meeting on February 22nd 2023 at 8 PM at the following address: 29769 325th Ave Melrose, MN 56352.

The Annual Township Election and Meeting will be

held on March 14th, 2023 at the Horseshoe Ballroom in the City of Spring Hill. The polls will be open from 5pm to 8pm and the meeting will follow.

Scott Poepping Clerk of Spring Hill Township P-7-1B

MELROSE TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF ELECTION AND ANNUAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given to qualified voters that the Annual Township Election and Meeting will be held at the Town Hall, 41248 County Road 13, Melrose MN on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The election polls will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the purpose of electing:

-One Supervisor, seat 3, for the term of 3 years

-One Town Clerk for the term of 2 years

The Annual Meeting will begin at 8:15 p.m. after the polls close. The Board of Canvass will convene following the Annual Meeting to certify the official election results.

In the event of inclement weather, the election and Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the above time and location.

The Town Hall will be open on Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for absentee voting.

Cecilia Tylutki

Melrose Township Clerk 320-256-7173 PH-7-2B

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A VARIANCE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, The Melrose Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Melrose City Center, for the purpose of giving consideration to the request submitted by Holly and David Berscheit for a Variance on Parcel No. 66.37016.0178. If granted the Variance would allow the replacement of shingles on a residence with conventional metal roofing using exposed fasteners. The existing Zoning Ordinance No. 1989-1-A as adopted with amendments in the Melrose Code of Ordinances in Section 211.06 (1) (1.3) requires standing seam profiled metal and concealed fasteners on residences when using metal roofing materials.

The parcel is legally described as Lot 19, Block 1 of Melrose Highlands Plat 7.

A copy of the proposed request is on file with the Planning and Zoning Department, Melrose City Center, 225 1st St NE, Melrose MN 56352 and is available for review during normal business hours.

All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing or submit written testimony prior to the hearing date, either in support of or in opposition to the request. Written testimony should be sent to the Planning and Zoning Department, Melrose City Center, 225 1st St NE, Melrose MN 56352.

Dated this 10th day of February 2023.

/s/ Sheila Hellermann - City Planner

AVON TOWNSHIP

Love of reading pays off

Meyer advances to multi-region spelling bee

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

Evan Meyer, a Melrose Area Elementary School sixth grader, loves to read. And it has paid off. Meyer is advancing to the Multi-Regional State Spelling Bee Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Lakes Country Service Cooperative in Fergus Falls.

“By reading a ton,” he said Feb. 8 when asked how he became a good speller. “I like to read a lot so I’ve seen a lot of words.”

Meyer, son of Nathan and Lexi Meyer of Melrose, was one of four finalists from 43 fifth through eighth graders around central Minnesota who competed at the Central Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee Feb. 7 at Resource Training and Solutions in Sartell.

Meyer and Marissa Frank, a Sauk Rapids-Rice eighth grader, were finalists in the morning session, and eighth grader Callie Niemela, Dassel-Cokato School District eighth grader, and sev-

NOTICE OF JUVENILE HEARING

State Of Minnesota) :ss County of Scott

In the Matter of the Welfare of the Children of: Kyra Antanette Love and Kenneth Maurice Love and Mandela Perouza Scott Co. Court File No. 70-JV-23-783

Evan Meyer holds his trophy he won as four finalists Feb. 7 in the Central Minnesota Regional Spelling Bee at Resource Training & Solutions in Sartell. Meyer advances to the multi-region bee Feb. 21 in Fergus Falls.

enth grader Blake O’Brien, Big Lake Schools seventh grader, were finalists in the afternoon session. All four contestants advance to the Feb. 23

Multi-Regional State Spelling Bee. The top speller from that competition will com-

“They were great spellers, and I knew it was going to be a tough competition,” he said.

The last rounds, battling for second place, were the hardest and most exciting, according to Meyer, who went back and forth for more than 10 rounds with the girl who earned third place, to determine the second place finisher.

“If I got my word right and she missed hers, I would have to get an additional word right, and she would have to do the same (get two right when I got mine wrong),” he said. “Sometimes, we got both words right or both words wrong or couldn’t get the clinching word. It was intense. Finally, I got my word right, she got hers incorrect and I got my clinching word right.”

P-7-1B

Notice of Election, Annual Meeting, Board of Canvass Meeting, Absentee Ballots & Public Accuracy Test

Notice is hereby given to residents of Avon Township, County of Stearns, State of Minnesota, that the Annual Township Election will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM. To be elected are one Supervisor for a three-year term and one Treasurer for a two-year term.

Following the Township Election on March 14th, the Annual Town Meeting will be held at 8:15 PM to conduct all necessary business prescribed by law. Following the Annual Meeting, at about 9:00 PM, the Avon Township Board of Canvass meeting will be held.

In case of inclement weather (or other problem), the Annual Meeting, Board of Canvass, and Township Election will be postponed one week, until the third Tuesday in March (Tuesday, March 21, 2023) at the same times. If inclement weather postpones these events on the third Tuesday, then they will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Please listen to KASM radio (1150 AM) for any changes.

Contact the Clerk for an absentee ballot. The Clerk’s Office at the Avon Town Hall will also be open on Saturday, March 11th from 10 AM – 12:00 PM, and on Monday, March 12th, from 12:00 – 5:00 PM to accept absentee ballots.

The Public Accuracy Test of electronic equipment for the Annual Township Election will be held Saturday, March 11th, at 10:15 AM.

All of the above listed events/meetings occur in the Avon Township Hall, 16881 Queens Road, Avon, MN. The Avon Township Hall is handicap-accessible. The public is invited to all.

Stephen Saupe, Clerk

Email: clerk@avontownship.org

Website: www://avontownship.org

Published in the Star-Post February 15 & February 22, 2023. P-7-2B

NOTICE OF HEARING ON ASSESSMENTS

City of Avon, Minnesota

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Avon, Stearns County, Minnesota (the “City”), will meet at the City Hall, 140 Stratford Street E, Avon, Minnesota on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. to consider objections to the proposed assessments for the construction of the Improvement referred to below, previously ordered by the City Council.

The general nature of the project includes reconstruction of sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, sanitary services, water services, and roadways (the “Improvement”). The area proposed to be assessed consists of every lot, piece of parcel of land abutting and benefited by the improvement. The total amount to be assessed is $28,949. The proposed assessment roll is on file with the Administrator/Clerk-treasurer and open to public inspection.

Written or oral objections by any property owner will be considered at the hearing. No appeal may be taken as to the amount of any assessment adopted by the City Council unless a written objection signed by the affected property owner is filed with the Administrator prior to the assessment hearing or presented to the presiding officer at the hearing. All objections to the assessments not received at the assessment hearing in the manner prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, Section 429.061 are waived, unless the failure to object to the assessment hearing is due to a reasonable cause.

Any owner of property to be assessed may appeal the assessment to the district court of Stearns County pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 429.081, by serving notice of the appeal upon the Mayor or Administrator of the City within 30 days after the adoption of the assessment and filing such notice with the district court within 10 days after service upon the Mayor or Administrator.

Under the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Sections 435.193 through 435. 195, the City may, at its discretion, defer the payment of assessments for any homestead property owned by a person 65 years of age or older or retired by virtue of a permanent and total disability for whom it would be a hardship to make the payments. The City has not established a deferment procedure pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 435.193 through 435.195. The notice of this hearing mailed to property owners contains additional information. Jodi Austing-Traut, City Administrator City of Avon, Minnesota P-7-1B

pete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in May. During the Feb. 7 spelling bee, Meyer admitted he felt nervous because he realized, after the first round, the potential of the other 21 competitors.

Public NOTICES

TO: Kenneth Maurice Love addresses: 1910 10th Ave. S. #7, St. Cloud, MN 56301

Take notice that a hearing regarding the Children, DOB: 6/25/2013; DOB: 1/26/2018 , will be held in juvenile court on 3/9/2023 at 9:30 AM or soon thereafter at the Scott County Justice Center, 200 Fourth Ave-

NOTICE

DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENT VACATION CITY OF ALBANY, MINNESOTA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held before the City Council of Albany, MN, at 400 Railroad Avenue, the Albany City Hall, at 6:30 o’clock in the evening or as soon as thereafter on March 1, 2023, to hear all persons present upon action taken by the City Council on a request by Thomas and Catherine Flint, 1185 Deerberry Circle, Albany, MN, to vacate the drainage and utility easement as dedicated in The Highlands Three plat, according to the recorded plat thereof, Stearns County, Minnesota, bounded as follows: EASEMENT VACATION DESCRIPTION

A 5.00-foot drainage and utility easement over, under and across the southeasterly 5.00 feet of Lot 1, Block 2, THE HIGHLANDS THREE, according to the recorded plat thereof Stearns

PROBATE NOTICE

STATE OF MINNESOTA

COUNTY OF STEARNS SEVENTH JUDICIAL

DISTRICT DISTRICT COURT Court File No: 73-PR-23-461

NOTICE AND ORDER OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION OF INTESTACY, DETERMINATION OF HEIRSHIP, APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Cody Jacob Schuur,

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: September 28, 2004 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $105,255.00 MORTGAGOR(S): Renee

L. Jansky and George N. Jansky Jr., wife and husband MORTGAGEE: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. acting solely as nominee for GSF Mortgage Corporation TRANSACTION

AGENT: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc, MIN#: 100310900000022214

SERVICER: Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC

LENDER: GSF Mortgage Corporation DATE AND PLACE OF FILING: Stearns County Minnesota, Recorder, on October 18, 2004, as Document No. 1130341. ASSIGNED TO: Chase Home Finance LLC by an Assignment of Mortgage

nue West, Shakopee, Minnesota.

You are required to be at the hearing, or your parental rights may be terminated. You are required to be at the hearing, or the court may enter an order permanently affecting your parental or custodial rights to the children. Upon request, the clerk will provide you with a copy of the Petition describ-

Meyer spelled a total of 21 words during the twohour spelling bee.

“The hardest word was candelabrum,” he said.

Meyer is excited to advance to the next round.

You can bet, his preparation will include reading a ton more words.

ing the matter. If you fail to appear at the time and place listed above and stated on the Petition, judgment by default may be entered against you. BY THE COURT:

Vicky Carlson Scott County Court Administrator /s/ Karin D. Perkins Deputy Clerk

County, Minnesota, as measured perpendicular to, contiguous and parallel with the southeasterly line of said Lot 1 and the northwesterly 5.00 feet of Lot 2, said Block 2, as measured perpendicular to, contiguous and parallel with the northwesterly line of said Lot 2, less and except the northeasterly 10.00 feet of said Lots 1 and 2, as measured perpendicular to, contiguous and parallel with the northeasterly lines of said Lots 1 and 2 and the westerly 5.00 feet of said Lots 1 and 2 being as measured perpendicular to, contiguous and parallel with the westerly line of said Lots 1 and 2.

Dated this 10th day of February, 2023. Tom Schneider Clerk/Adm.

Published in the Star Post on February 15th and February 22, 2023.

P-7-2B

Decedent.

It is Ordered and Notice is given that on March 10, 2023, at 8:45 a.m., a hearing will be held in this Court at 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minnesota, for the adjudication of intestacy and determination of heirship of the Decedent, and for the appointment of Nancy Schuur, whose address is 39028 Cty. Rd. 26, Sauk Centre, MN, 56378 and David Schuur, whose address is 39028 Cty. Rd. 26, Sauk Centre, MN, 56378 as Personal Representatives of the Estate of the Decedent in an UNSUPERVISED administration. Any objections to the petition must be filed

with the Court prior to or raised at the hearing. If proper and if no objections are filed or raised, the Personal Representatives will be appointed with full power to administer the Estate, including the power to collect all assets, to pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses, to sell real and personal property, and to do all necessary acts for the Estate.

Notice is also given that (subject to Minnesota Statutes section 524.3-801) all creditors having claims against the estate are required to present the claims to the Personal Representative or to the Court Administrator within four months

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

dated 03/24/2009 and recorded on 04/01/2009 as Document No. 1282801. JP Morgan Chase Bank, National Association by an Assignment of Mortgage dated 03/16/2013 and recorded on 03/29/2013 as Document No. A1394402. Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as trustee of Stanwich Mortgage Loan Trust F by an Assignment of Mortgage dated 08/21/2020 and recorded on 08/28/2020 as Document No. A1578706.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF

PROPERTY: The North OneHalf of Lot 25 and all of Lot 26 and the Southerly 10 feet of Lot 27 in Block 6 of Pan Park Addition to St. Cloud, Minnesota, according to the plat thereof on file and of record in the office of the county recorder, Stearns County, Minnesota. PROPERTY ADDRESS: 1036 N 38TH AVE, ST CLOUD, MN 56303 PROPERTY I.D: 82.49456.0000 COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Stearns THE

mortgage, or any part thereof; that there has been compliance with all pre-foreclosure notice and acceleration requirements of said mortgage, and/or applicable statutes; PURSUANT, to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: 10:00AM on March 30, 2023 PLACE OF SALE: Stearns County Sheriff, Law Enforcement Center, Room S136 Civil Division, 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN 56303 to pay the debt then secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any actually paid by the mortgagee, on the premises and the costs and disbursements allowed by law. The time allowed by law for redemption by said mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns is 6.00 months from the date of sale. If Mortgage is not reinstated under Minn. Stat.

Section580.30 or the property is not redeemed under Minn. Stat.

Section580.23, the Mortgagor must vacate the property on or before 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2023, or the next business day if September 30, 2023 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. “THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW

after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred. BY THE COURT

Dated: February 2, 2023

/s/ Nathaniel Welte Judge of District Court

Dated: 10/08/2021

/s/ George Lock Court Administrator Attorney for Petitioner Franz J Vancura QUINLIVAN & HUGHES, P.A. 124 Lake Street South Long Prairie, MN 56347 Attorney License No. 0392924 Telephone: (320) 251-1414 FAX: (320) 251-1415 Email: fvancura@quinlivan. com P-6-2B

FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.” Dated:

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Avon offers support for future Lake Wobegon Trail maintenance

Stearns County makes request to support federal grant application

BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER

Avon is supporting Steans County’s effort to obtain federal funds to maintain the Lake Wobegon Trail.

Council members approved a letter of support written by city administrator and clerk Jodi Austing-Traut and presented and approved as a consent agenda item during the council’s Feb. 6 meeting.

The Stearns County Parks Department is seeking the maintenance grant funding that’s available within the Federal Recreational Trail Program.

Austing-Traut said she was responding to a request from Stearns County Park Operations Coordinator Sarah Weed.

“I just wanted you to know I did send a letter of support,” Austing-Traut said. “She needed it. They are asking for federal grant funds for the trail.”

In a Jan. 18 email to the city, Weed reported the county wants federal money to complete seal coating, crack filling and air patching on the 6-mile Lake Wobegon trail segment that runs from Avon to Albany.

The Lake Wobegon Trail is 65 miles long with 57 miles in Stearns County and 8 miles in Todd County.

The trail runs west from Waite Park through Sauk Centre and runs north from Albany through Holdingford.

“Enhancement of the trail is important to keep local users and tourists safe and to make sure they have a pleasant experience as they enjoy all that central Minnesota has to offer,” Austing-Traut’s letter of support stated. “Lake Wobegon Trail, in particular, is a critical element to our local economies, as well. Folks traveling to and along the trail help to support our local businesses and keep our downtowns thriving.”

Stearns County is in the beginning stages of a 10-month process to develop a master plan for its parks, trails and recreation system that will guide future investments and initiatives over the next 10 to 20 years.

Input from residents, visitors and business owners is needed to help the county plan for the future.

The project planning process runs from January to October 2023.

The last plan was developed in 1989 and included recommendations for the development of the Lake Wobegon Trail and Quarry Park.

Stearns County’s system of parks, trails and open spaces includes 19 total facilities, ranging from boat landings to regional and local trails and regional parks.

The Lake Wobegon Trail is considered one of the county’s two signature recreation facilities. The other is Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in Waite Park.

Albany speech team sixth at Onamia meet

BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER

The Albany Area High School speech team earned sixth place during their first meet of the season Feb. 11 at Onamia High School in Onamia. Eleven teams competed with Cambridge-Isanti High School taking first place.

Albany’s next meet is Saturday, Feb. 25, at Maple Lake High School in Maple Lake.

Results: Humor: 6. Kaylin Fisher and 9. Dominic St. Marie. Informative: 9. Elsi Halvorson. Prose: 9. Michaela Buersken.

Melrose speech earns second at 32-team meet

BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER

The Melrose Area High School speech team competed at the STMA Knights Invitational Feb. 11 at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael and earned second place in the large team category. Thirty-two schools competed with 507 entries. Marshall High School won the meet.

The next team competition is Saturday, Feb. 25 at Princeton High School in Princeton. Finals results: Great Speeches: 5. Makayla

Two times the fun

Holdingford clinches state, Melrose competes at Section 2A dance meet

BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER

It took about 2 minutes, 45 seconds for the Holdingford Huskers dance teams to make school history at the Section 2A dance meet Feb. 11 at Melrose Area Elementary School in Melrose.

The team had a 2:20 jazz routine and a 2:23 kick routine. At the awards announcements, the Huskers were named second in both divisions. For the first time, both dance teams qualified for the Minnesota State High School League Class A Dance State Tournament

“We are so thankful,” said Jada Mosey, smiling and fingering a second-place medal. “We worked so hard this season and all of our hard work paid off.” Mosey and her teammates have reasons to smile. Sending both routines to state was a goal since the program began five years ago.

“It’s exciting,” said Aubrie Opatz, Holdingford dancer. “We thought we could do it, looking at the scores.”

The team attended state in jazz a year ago and knew a duo entry would not be easy. There are competitive teams in the section.

“We knew it would be tough,” said Grayce Meyer, Holdingford dance head coach. “Over there (she nodded to the Cathedral squad), is the reigning state champion in both.”

The Huskers, which danced to “Fire” in high kick and “I’ll Be” in jazz, took second to Cathedral in jazz and kick. Cathedral earned first-place ranks from all eight judges in both divisions. Holdingford earned twos, threes and three and

go to state. The Melrose Area Rosettes, the host team, earned fifth in kick and sixth in jazz. The team gave its strongest performances of the campaign, earning primarily fourth-to-seventh ranks while also receiving a second-place rank from one judge on its kick routine, in which the team danced to “Rosettes Worldwide.” The jazz team performed to the song “Ashes.”

“They had energy,” said Caitlyn Mayo, Rosettes head coach. “They did so well, I was so happy. We know the top two would go head-tohead and the battle for third would be tough.”

The Huskers will be sending a young squad to the state meet. Not only is the program young; so is team membership.

“We had a large group come in after we went to state last year,” Meyer said. “We don’t have any seniors, and we have lot of seventh graders.”

The state dance meet will be held at Target Center in Minneapolis. The 12 attending teams will participate in a qualifying round, with six advancing to the final round. The Class A jazz qualifying round will begin at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 17, with the finals at 5:30 p.m. The Class A high kick qualifying competition will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18. The finals start at 5:30 p.m. The section contest was the final appearance for the Rosettes this year. While Melrose missed qualifying for state, the team improved all year.

“We had our best performance today,” Mayo said. “The girls were so positive and a great unit together. Each week, we kept reaching our goals, and this last meet was our best performance.” Jazz: 1. Cathedral 5 rank points, 2. Holdingford 10, 3. NLS 18.5, 4. Southwest Christian 19.5, 5. Providence Academy 22.5, 6. Melrose 29, 7. Spectrum 36.5, 8. Pursuing Academics and Character Together 37, 8. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa/Paynesville 43, 10. Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 45.5, 11. Litchfield 55, 12. Sauk Centre 59. High kick: 1. Cathedral 5, 2. Holdingford 10.5, 3. NLS 14.5, 4. ACGC 19.5, 5 Melrose 24, 6.5 (tie) Spectrum 32, 6.5 (tie) Providence 32, 8. Litchfield 39.5 and 9. Sauk Centre 44.

Wrestlers in record territory

Holdingford picks up 30th win

BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER

The Holdingford wrestling team is setting a new mark for future Huskers squads.

When it defeated Paynesville 32-25 in the opening round of the Husker Quad Feb. 10 at Holdingford High School in Holdingford, it set a school record.

“That was our 30th win this year,” said Logan Oellien, head coach. “That’s a new school record. We are at 32 now.”

Holdingford also shut out Crosby-Ironton 81-0 and had a 59-24 win over Coon Rapids.

The Paynesville match was the toughest and longest match the Huskers had that evening. It started at 5 p.m.

and concluded at 6:50 p.m.

Simon Boeckman won the 138-pound bout with a pin, while Paynesville recorded two pins. Five of the matches ended in major decisions, with the Huskers winning four of them.

The 182 match pitted Holdingford’s fifth-ranked Jaxon Bartkowicz against Paynesville’s seventh-ranked Peyton Hemmesch. They wrestled to a 1-1 tie in regulation before Bartkowicz worked an overtime takedown for the 3-1 win. Later that night, Bartkowicz was saluted for finding his 75th victory.

“He stays in a really good position for a ninth grader at 182 (pounds),” Oellien said. “He is a good mat wrestler, which a lot of upper weights are not. It is fun to watch him wrestle. He has progressed so much in the last couple of years.”

The remaining matches

were concluded by 8:35 p.m.

Besides the matches, the Huskers saluted seniors Taylor Runge, Blake Scegura, Ben Bieniek and Wyatt Miller. Except for the 152 contest, Holdingford won every bout against CI by pin or forfeit. In a 6-3 win at 152, fifth-ranked Drew Lange defeated seventh-ranked John Paul Fitzpatrick. Lange rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the third period. Wrestling from the bottom, he converted a reverse into a near fall.

The 145 match against Coon Rapids was Holdingford’s fastest of the night. Will Pilarski, who wrestled and won three matches in the night, posted a 49-second pin.

The Huskers, ranked fourth in Class A, begin its appearance in the Section 7A Tournament Feb.

PHOTOS BY HERMAN LENSING

Members of the state-bound Holdingford Huskers dance team include Aubrie Opatz (front, from left), Hannah Kuklok, Paige Fiedler, Marissa Nienaber, Annie Supan, Jadielyn Rudolph, Jada Mosey and Gracie Philippi; (middle, from left) Jaycey Hawker, Emma Voigt, Alexis Pallow, Sara Hanson, Makenna Fiedler, Phoenix Ihli and Shailyn Welinski; (back, from left) assistant coach Brooke Fiedler, head coach Grayce Meyer, Amelia Symanietz, Sophie Hanson, Maiya Swenson, Abbagail Bartkowicz, Madelyn Philippi, Allison Kuklok, Callie Pekarek, Elizabeth Haskamp, Lyla Huls, student manager Cali Opatz and assistant coaches Bailey Eakins and Claire Peterson. The Huskers, for the first time in program history, are sending both its jazz and high kick teams to the Minnesota State High School League Class A Dance State Tournament.

Holdingford Huskers dancers Emma Voight (from left), Marissa Nienaber and Gracie Phillippi get good heights on their kicks Feb. 11 at Melrose Area Elementary School in Melrose. The team finished second in high kick, qualifying for state.

Melrose Area Rosettes Kendra Orozco Martinez (from left), Melissa Ambriz and Addie Maus kick their way through a solid routine at the Section 2A Dance Meet Feb. 11 at Melrose Area Elementary School in Melrose. The Rosettes kick unit earned one second-place rank and finished in fifth place.

Melrose Rosettes Wesley Montanez Tapia (left) and Mya Nath take to the air while executing their leaps at the Section 2A Dance Meet Feb. 11 at Melrose Area Elementary School in Melrose. The Melrose jazz unit finished in sixth place.

one-halves. New London-Spicer’s kick and jazz teams finished third and will

Huskies add three more wins to impressive record

Melrose, Albany boys hoops square off

BY MIKE KOSIK STAFF WRITER

The Albany Huskies boys basketball team led most of the way against host Sauk Centre Feb. 10 at Sauk Centre High School, but had to beat back a Streeter rally in the second half to take the nonconference win, 72-63.

“It was a great game, as they threw some things at us defensively that others have not tried,” said Cory Schlagel, head coach. “We had to adjust over the course of the game.”

Albany led 29-24 at the half and had as much as a 10-point lead.

Sauk Centre made a run in the second half to cut Albany’s lead to one, “but we immediately responded with a Carter Voss three and were able to once again separate from there,” Schlagel said.

“We hit some free throws late and got some necessary stops on the defensive end to come away with a big win on the road.”

The team played well offensively “from the standpoint of moving the basketball to find open options,” Schlagel said.

Albany logged 21 assists as a team to only eight turnovers.

Zeke Austin, with 26 points, and Tysen Gerads, with 14, led the Huskie scoring attack.

Albany’s latest win upped its record to 19-1, 9-0 in the Granite Ridge Conference.

ALB

29 43–72

SC 24 39–63

Albany: Austin 26 points (5R, 4A, 3S), Gerads 14 (9R, 4A), Sam Hondl 7, Voss 7 (5R, 4A, 3S), Tanner Reis 6, Ethan Borgerding 6 (4R), Elliott Burnett 4 and Mason Bierbaum 2.

Melrose 58, West Central Area 49

The Melrose Area Dutchmen have a history of learning from previous games. That played out Feb. 9, as it defeated West Central Area 58-49 to stop a losing streak at three games at Melrose Area Elementary School in Melrose. Earlier this season, WCA defeated

Melrose 68-35 in Barrett.

“Last time, at their house, they were talking,” said Fernando Estrella Becerra, senior forward. “This is our house and we wanted to protect it.”

Estrella Becerra, with a career high 10 points, and Gor Ruey, 17 points, showed early it would be a different game. They both went inside to score the Dutchmen’s first points and created a 5-3 lead.

“That was the game plan,” Ruey said. “We had this day marked on our calendar. We were ready for this game. It turned out the way we wanted.”

Melrose Area learned another lesson from the previous game, working the ball downcourt to the basket.

“When we played at their place, we really struggled against pressure,” said Ryan Dusha, head coach. “Today, we were much better at attacking it, passing out of it and trying to be offensive.”

It was not easy. The Knights’ speed and quickness caused turnovers, and

the team capitalized on them.

Three-point shots from Connor Engelmeyer and Connor Anderson helped the Dutchmen increase its lead. Melrose maintained a six-point lead after Devin Orbeck found Hunter Goihl for a layup. Orbeck, six assists, and Engelmeyer, three assists, kept finding people open under the basket.

It was memorable night for Estrella Becerra, one that has been coming for a while.

“He’s one of those guys when he makes a basket, it is an immediate energy boost,” Dusha said. “He does everything we ask and for him to be rewarded with buckets is great.”

WCA opened the second half by taking a 29-28 lead. Layups from Ruey and Estrella Becerra and 3-point shots by Orbeck, Isaac Rosenberger and Engelmeyer gave the Dutchmen a 4332 lead.

The Dutchmen accumulated 22 fouls in the game and WCA hit its free throws, but Melrose survived the comeback attempt and hit 4 of 4 free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.

Melrose improved to 12-7 overall and 7-4 in the West Central Conference

following the game. Currently, it is ranked seventh in Section 6AA.

WCA 26 23-49

MEL 28 30-58

Melrose: Ruey 17 (4R), Engelmeyer 10 (5R, 3A), Estrella Becerra 10, Anderson 8, Rosenberger 5, Orbeck 3 (7R, 6A), Samuel Wehlage 3 and Goihl 2 (7R). Albany 76, Zimmerman 51

The Huskies jumped to a 38-22 first half lead and went on to win 76-51 against the visiting Zimmerman Thunder from Feb. 9 in a Granite Ridge Conference game at Albany High School in Albany.

“We were able to get a hold of momentum early on and played a lot of guys during the course of the game,” Schlagel said. “As we have gone through this section of our schedule playing three games a week, it’s important to find games where we can extend our rotation and allow some of our higher minutes per game players to sit a little bit more. ALB

: Gerads 21 (6R, 3S), Hondl 13 (8R), Austin 11 (6R), Burnett 9, Borgerding 7 (4R), Andrew Olson 6 (3A), Bierbaum 4, Voss 3 (3A) and Caleb Abraham 2. Albany 71, Melrose 37

Those watching Albany’s 71-37 win over the Melrose Dutchmen Feb. 7 at Melrose Public Schools in Melrose saw a good team – and a great team.

The Huskies, one of the highest-scoring teams, and the Dutchmen, one of the stingiest teams, faced off. Orbeck gave Melrose a quick lead with a 3-pointer, before Albany took control of the game.

The Huskies capitalized on its fastbreak speed, taking a 12-3 lead in about four minutes. Field goals by Hondl, free throws by Borgerding and a dunk by Gerads built that lead.

For the rest of the half, Albany kept about a 12-to13-point lead, preventing the Dutchmen from getting good shots.

With Gerads, 22 points, scoring from all over the floor, Borgerding, 14 points, getting inside, Trent Imholte under the basket, and Austin, 11 points, hitting from the outside, the Huskies built a 26-8 lead with about six minutes left in the half.

Melrose had a run in those final six minutes. Anderson, Ruey and Goihl helped outscore Albany 116, creating a 32-19 score at halftime.

The Huskies continued their offensive surges as Voss and Austin hit 3-point shots. Jack Rieland, Burnett, Jaydon Schaefer and Olson added more points as the Huskies built to its win.

PHOTOS BY HERMAN LENSING

Albany’s Sam Hondl (right) arrives too late to prevent a shot by Melrose’s Connor Engelmeyer Feb. 7 at Melrose Area Public Schools in Melrose. Engelmeyer finished with six points against the Huskies.

Albany’s Zeke Austin (right) corrals a loose ball even as Melrose’s Isaac Rosenberger (middle) and Albany’s Tanner Reis extend for it Feb. 7 at Melrose Area Public Schools in Melrose. Austin recovered it in time to score.

ALB 32 39-71

MEL 19 18-37 Albany: Gerads 24 (7R, 6S), Borgerding 14, Austin 13, Hondl 7, Voss 3, Rieland 2, Olson 2, Burnett 2, Imholte 2 and Schaefer 2. Melrose: Ruey 10 (4R), Anderson 7, Engelmeyer 6 (3A), Orbeck 5, Dobmeier 3, Goihl 3, Rosenberger 2 (3R) and Wehlage 1.

Conference foes stymie Lady Dutchmen

Melrose girls hoops drops rivalry matchup

BY HERMAN LENSING | STAFF WRITER

Melrose Area’s 1-2 punch of Kaydence Bertram and Paige Gruber delivered strong scoring in the Lady Dutchmen basketball team’s 54-42 loss to West Central Area Feb. 10 at West Central Area High School in Barrett.

The combo scored all of the Lady Dutchmen’s points. Ellie Heller and Nora Schwieters provided assists for the two scorers.

Bertram tallied 24 points, hitting 3-pointers and going 7 of 11 from the line. Gruber went inside for her 18 points and hit two free throws. No other Lady Dutchmen went to the line.

The team regrouped after a slow start; it trailed 2110 at half. Melrose played even with WCA in the second half but could not come back for a win.

MEL 10 32-42

WCA 21 33-54

Melrose: Bertram 24 points (5R, 6S), Gruber 18 (11R, 3B), Heller (3R, 4A), Schwieters (5R, 3S) and Jazmin Finken (4R).

Sauk Centre 43, Melrose 35

The Lady Dutchmen played with Sauk Centre until the final minutes of a 43-35 loss Feb. 7 at Sauk Centre High School in Sauk Centre.

The Streeters were missing two of their top players. Melrose took advantage of that, building an attack around Gruber and Bertram.

Gruber scored 21 points for the Lady Dutchmen, dropping in one 3-pointer. She was a presence under the net, putting up 10 field goals and taking down 13 rebounds. She was just as effective defensively, blocking five shots, stealing one pass and deflecting another.

Bertram had seven points in the game and contributed to eight others with her four assists. Her four steals and 11 rebounds got the ball for Melrose, and her deflections thwarted Sauk Centre’s passing.

Free throws turned the tide of the game for Sauk Centre. The Lady Dutchmen were 100% from the line, as Schwieters went 2-for-2 and Bertram 1-for-1. It had no other free-throw attempts.

The halftime score sat at 21-18 in favor of Sauk Centre. In the end, Melrose was forced to foul, and Sauk Centre hit its free throws for the win.

MEL 18 17-35

SC 21 22-43

Melrose: Gruber 21 (13R, 5B), Bertram 7 (11R, 4A, 4S), Heller 3, Schwieters 2 (3S) and Courtney Revering 2.

Huskies collect memories at home invite

Carlson first, named outstanding wrestler

BY MIKE KOSIK STAFF WRITER

Owen Carlson finished first in his weight division and the Albany Huskies wrestling team earned seventh at the Albany Purple Pride Wrestling Tournament. Coaches also selected Carlson as the outstanding wrestler in the eight-team tournament that took place Feb. 10 at Albany Area High School in Albany.

Becker took first place with 231.5 points. Albany had 70.5 points. Albany: 106: Blake Iverson went 1-2 and took sixth. He lost 17-2 (TF 5:40 17-2), won 9-6 and lost 11-1 (MD). 113: Nathan Kollmann went 1-1 and took fifth. He lost 1-0, received a bye and won 5:24. 126: Jimmy Carlisle went 0-2 and took sixth. He lost by 1210, received a bye and lost 13-8. 132: Carson Holthaus went 1-2 and took fourth. He won 1:54, lost 3:32 and lost 17-2 (TF 5:32). 138: Reed Moulzolf went 0-2 and did not place. He lost 5:22 and lost by sudden victory 15-13. 145: Carlson went 3-0 and took first. He won 19-4 (TF 2:40), won 3:06 and won 2:32. 145: Maverick Kotschevar went 2-1 and took fifth. He lost 22-7

Albany’s

The Albany Huskies girls basketball team hiked its record to 21-1 following its 60-36 win over Pierz in a Granite Ridge Conference game Feb. 13 at Pierz Healy High School in Pierz.

Albany leads the conference with an 11-0 record, with Foley and Milaca tied for second at 8-3.

No stats were made available before press time.

Albany 66, Milaca 53

The Huskies hit the road Feb. 10 for a 66-53 Granite Ridge Conference win over the Milaca Wolves at Milaca

High School in Milaca.

“I thought we were able to play pretty well early on and establish ourselves to get a lead in the game,” said Aaron Boyum, head coach. He added Milaca made several charges during the night to cut into Albany’s lead.

“I felt our girls responded well in those situations to create scoring runs of their own,” he said. The Wolves are in second place behind Albany in the conference.

Alyssa Sand and Kylan

Gerads each scored 19 points for the Huskies, with Tatum Findley adding 14.

ALB 31 35–66 MIL 19 34–53

Albany: Sand 19 (12R), Gerads 19 (8R, 4S), Findley 14 (4S), Savanna Pelzer 6 (5A, 3S), Natalie Blonigen 6 and Samantha VanHeel 2 (5R).

Albany 73, Mora 24

It did not take long for the Huskies to establish its dominance, as Albany raced to a 36-0 lead in the first half of their 73-24 win over the Mora Mustangs Feb. 7 at Albany Area High School in Albany.

“Really good game to have Parents Night,” Boyum said. “We got everyone in. Everyone played.” Mora’s first score came

with a little less than six minutes remaining in the first half. Albany closed out that first half up 48-9.

“(I’m) really proud of our girls coming out with a lot of energy and effort right away,” Boyum said.

Albany shot 58% from the field and were six of 14 from 3-point range. Sand and Findley scored 15 points each while Pelzer added 13. ALB 48 25–73 MOR 9 15–24 Albany: Sand 15 (6R), Findley 15, Pelzer 13, Gerads 9 (4S, 4A), VanHeel 5 (5R), Kayla Forster 5, Sophia Schiffler 4, Blonigen 3, Alexis Funk 2 and Callie Holthaus 2.

The Holdingford Huskers girls basketball team found itself trailing 26-22 at halftime, but rallied in the second half for a 62-43 win over the Milaca Wolves Feb. 13 at Holdingford High School in Holdingford.

The final 18 minutes saw Holdingford take control and outscore Milaca 4026.

The win boosted Holdingford’s record to 19-3. The Wolves came into the game with 13 wins against seven losses and in second place in the Granite Ridge Conference.

Maddy Mitchell led Holdingford scoring with 21 points while Addy Pilarski had 20 and Makenna Hohbein 13.

HOL 22 40-62

MIL 26 17-43

Holdingford: Mitchell 21 points, Pilarski 20 (14R), Hohbein 13 (4A), Felicity Leblanc 4, Lauren Soltis 2 and Trista Popp 2.

Holdingford 48, Kimball

38

The Huskers hosted Central Minnesota Conference rival Kimball Feb. 9 and won 48-38 at Holdingford High School in Holdingford.

Pilarski scored 16 to lead Holdingford.

It was Senior Night, and the team’s three seniors – Abby Barthel, Chesney Philipp and Trista Popp –were recognized.

HOL 28 20-48

KIM 23 15-38

Holdingford: Pilarski 16 (6R, 3S, 4B), Hohbein 8 (7R), Mitchell 7 (4A), Leblanc 6, Popp 6, Phillipp 3 (9R) and Lauren Soltis 2 (5S).

The Holdingford Huskers boys basketball team built a slim lead after the first half Feb. 10 and held on to it for a 61-58 win over the host Royalton Royals at Royalton High School.

The Huskers led 2725 at halftime and outscored Royalton 34-33 in the second half.

HOL 27 34-61

RYL 25 33-58

Holdingford: Jeffrey Hall 19 points, Connor Breth 12, Tanner Tomasek 11 (8R), Dawson Hofer 7 (5R), Lucas Provo 5 (6R), Ryder Petersen 5 and Brandon Hall 2.

ACGC 66, Holdingford 52

The Huskers traveled to Grove City Feb. 7 and lost to Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City 66-52. Hofer was the top scorer for the Huskers with 13 points, followed by Jeffrey Hall and Tomasek with 12 each.

HOL 26 26-52

ACGC 35 31-66

Holdingford: Hofer 13 (10R), Jeffrey Hall 12 (7R), Tomasek 12, Brandon Hall 9, David Heinen 4, Provo 1 (11R) and Petersen 1.

PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK

pic

Melrose Area Dance

row,

left)

at competitions. It has earned solid scores for its kicks and execution of required elements.

The Rosettes

the Section meet Feb. 11 at Melrose Area Public Schools in Melrose. The meet decided which teams advanced to state.

and skills.

The kick unit routinely finished in the middle of the pack

R

Sauk Centre, MN

hosted

m d e

Worms, Kacey Wooley, Ava Williams, Lizbeth Raya Ambriz, Kendra Orozco Martinez, Naomi Andrade Ayala, Anika Maus, Annabelle Lester and Melissa Ambriz; (second row, from left) Kyan Roering, Bailey Wiechmann, Mya Nathe, Yeisi Castro, Hermione Torres, Sydney Zink, Meadow Schaefer, Stacy Timp, Gladys Olson, Nicole Rademacher and Stephanie Timp; (third

from

Addie Maus, Monika Frericks, Wesley Montanez Tapia, Emily Sand, Mia Anderson, captain Kaylee Nathe, Luis Estrella Becerra, Reese Tschida, Ava Wensmann and Molly Rue; (back, from left) manager Madyson Gerads, junior varsity kick coach Gemma Larson, head coach Caitlin Mayo, manager Katrina Price, assistant coach Mayanne Dewald, junior varsity jazz coach Estefani Raya-Park and manager Lauren Hinnenkamp. Not pictured are Vanessa Santana and Brooke Ruoff