The Star Post 03-29-2023

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Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Avon business owners, residents sound off about sewer, water rates

Increase is focus of nearly hour-long public forum discussion

BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER

Many city councils devote an early portion of their meetings to public comment

The mayor recognizes the public and lets them sound off about controversial issues.

Earlier this month, Avon Mayor Jeff Manthe allowed almost an hour of public forum time for a single topic. He let property and business owners vent their frustrations regarding a water and sewer rate hike.

The March 6 council meeting included exclusive time devoted to a deep review of both utility fees. The sometimes heated discussion included a rate study recap and history of the wastewater plant.

In February, council members based a rate increase on information from a study prepared last fall. The Minnesota Rural Water Association calculated rates needed to run the funds at break-even. City administrator and clerk Jodi Austing-Traut reported a $175,000 sewer fund deficit. The council voted 4-1 to change water and sewer rates, the first hike in four years.

400 Block update

Councilor Mark Schulzetenberge voted against the 37 cents per 1,000 gallons water increase and $2.29 per 1,000 gallons sewer rate increase. That decision prompted residents to fill the council chambers at the March meeting.

Eric Linn, owner of Suncrest Apartments, the first to speak, didn’t waste time in forcefully expressing his concerns.

“When you boil the numbers down, it’s not acceptable. The sewer fund deficit is concerning,” Linn said. “I have four retired people in my building. It’s time for the city to take a hard look at the budget. Every dollar counts for a retired person.”

Rates page 3

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

The 2022-23 Albany Area boys basketball team – Jake Lauer (front, from left), Tate Richter, Andrew Olson, Tanner Reis, Hunter Hamann, Carter Voss, Jack Rieland and Connor Finkelson; (middle, from left) manager Taylor Moritz, Trent Imholte, Mason Bierbaum, Ethan Borgerding, Tysen Gerads, Zeke Austin, Ben Meyer, Ethan Meyer and assistant coach Jacob Boone; (back, from left) head coach Cory Schlagel, manager Kayla Meyer, assistant coach Grant Johnson, Tyler Hoffarth, Elliott Burnett, Jaydon Schaefer, Sam Hondl, Caleb Abraham, Grant Wohletz and Devon Schaefer – celebrate its Class AA state championship win March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Huskies

State champions page 1B

Holdingford School Board receives legislative update

BY CAROL MOORMAN

PHOTO

New proposals could affect school districts

BY MIKE KOSIK | STAFF WRITER

The Holdingford School Board learned about bills being discussed by the Minnesota Legislature that could have a big impact on school districts.

Business manager Garrity Gerber told the board, during its March 15 meeting at Holdingford Public School in Holdingford, that he attended the March 15 Capital Day. Gerber said the Minnesota School Boards Association came up with a cost analysis of several new proposals that could cost school districts a lot of money.

Free meals for all students has passed, but the legislature still needs to work out the funding.

Gerber said he is working on getting insurance bids for buildings, workers’ comp, liability and cyber. He is also working on the revised budget for this year and beginning to work on the budget for the next school year.

In line with preparing for the next budget, the board approved a resolution directing administration to make a recommendation for reductions. This is an initial step school districts take each year in working toward a final budget.

In other board news:

– Elementary principal Jim Stang, during his report, said the Targeted Services program has been approved and will start inviting students to participate. Targeted Services is the district’s summer school program for kindergarten through eighth grade. Students who meet certain criteria are invited to participate.

The program runs Monday through Friday, July 1025, for 15 days.

Stang said kindergarten roundup is being done virtually, but families are welcome to take a tour. They are encouraged to call the elementary school office and reserve a time.

Mathnasium Night is March 25 and Grandparents Day is May 12.

School board page 3

Crafting connections

Melrose family members continue matriarch’s lead

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

Larry and Sheila Moore’s Birch Lake garage isn’t filled with vehicles; it’s filled with woodworking machines and tools. Walking around the garage north of Melrose March 23, Larry rattles off the names of machines he is proficient at using. In their living room is a clothes rack where macramé knot planter hangers hang, tied by Sheila. On their kitchen table are colorful mug rugs and plate or pot pads, crocheted by Larry’s sister Millie Durheim.

Crafting is a way of life for the Moores and Mille and husband Norm of Melrose. While March is National Craft Month, they craft all year around.

Up to four times a week

– when the weather is good – the Durheims drive eight miles to the woodworking shop to work on crafts – but not after having a cup of

Sheila

coffee and playing a game of cards.

“And I make supper,”

Sheila said.

Millie and Larry received their crafting passion from their mother, Oriel “Pearl” Moore.

“Mom did a lot of crafts, and when we lived in San Antonio, she had a flower

shop,” Millie said. “Flowers were mostly real back then, but she also made rice flowers. I helped roll up the rice paper and make it into flowers.”

The Moore matriarch also made corsages. “All of us kids went door to door selling them,” Larry said.

Larry was around 13 when the family moved to Melrose, where their dad, Don, was the Melrose chief of police. Pearl, who also did oil paintings, continued her plaster craft in the basement of their Second Street home.

Crafting page 3

re Hiltner hap ‘A Team’ ha 7 Gymnasts

PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN

Moore (front, from left) and Millie Durheim and (back, from left) Larry Moore and Norm Durheim display macramé, crocheted and woodworking items they make March 23 in the Moore’s Birch Lake home. During the winter they build their supply of craft items which they sell at craft sales and farmers markets.

PHOTO BY TOM FENTON

took down Pequot Lakes, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton and Minnehaha Academy to win the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament.

PHOTO BY EVAN MICHEALSON

(Top) The Albany Huskies student section goes wild during the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament championship March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Albany’s energetic group of supporters witnessed history, as the Huskies locked up its first boys basketball state title.

Crafting from front

Pearl’s love of crafts was encouragement for Sheila to learn macramé knots.

“When we got married, in the ‘70s, macramé was the big thing,” Larry said, adding, “those were the flower child years.”

Sheila, originally from Alabama, describes the macramé glass table she made.

“We’d put Barb (their daughter) in it and swing her back and forth,” said Larry, married to Sheila 46 years.

Norm started crafting when he met Millie.

“I drug him right into it,” Millie said of her husband of 52 years, and at age 83 Norm is the oldest of the four.

Norm was raised on a farm in rural St. James, which kept him busy. After he quit farming, he did a variety of jobs. When he retired from driving a milk truck – for Arnzen Trucking out of Grey Eagle – he started making birdhouses in their garage, which was right up Millie’s alley be-

cause “I like the smell of wood,” she said. Four or five years ago, after the Durheims moved to Rose View Manor in Melrose, these family members started working together on projects, selling their items at craft sales, including at the Melrose home of Larry and Millie’s sister, Dottie Pallansch, and at farmers markets.

They build up their supply of craft items during the winter, storing them in a shed that they can see from the kitchen window on this sunny Thursday morning, along with blue jays flying from tree to tree. Larry talks about what they call a “farmer’s squirrel” that plants anything.

“We used to be able to store our stuff in the back of our truck, and now we have a trailer,” Millie said.

The trailer was made by Larry and their son, Bubba.

Their list of what they make is long and growing – yard ornaments, wind spinners, silhouette soldiers, bears, flags, weather vanes, eagles, pink flamingos, bottle trees, tea cup bushes and metal dragonflies that move

School board from front

Stang thanked all the staff for helping to keep the doors open during this time of substitute shortages.

– Secondary Principal Tim Wege, during his report, gave an update on the class registration process. A few adjustments are being made to help the schedule flow smoother.

Wege explained the Towards Zero Death program area principals and student councils are working on to help promote safe driving.

The third quarter is ending soon and the spring con-

Rates from front

Resident Judy Dirkes was concerned high utility bills could discourage people from moving to Avon.

“Are these increases temporary?” Dirkes asked.

“That’s a lot of money for young families and people on fixed incomes.”

Samantha Jonas, owner of Pure Bliss Salon & Spa, said the water rate increases would negatively affect her cost of services. She suggested a gradual increase.

Resident Shirley Smith said she runs water at a trickle during the winter to stop her domestic line from freezing. She receives a $30 city credit, but incurs $200 to $300 in bills for running the water.

Manthe told the residents the city had not increased its rates since 2018.

“We are running deficits we should not run,” he said. “We’ve been subsidizing the sewer fund for years. The city sewer fund has been a disaster for quite some time.”

During public forum, Austing-Traut provided background on the water and sewer rate study and history about the city’s wastewater

in the wind, to name a few.

“They’re (dragonflies) just knives soldered together,” Larry said. Millie talks about the first green owl she made, that she was pleasantly surprised to see sitting outside in a yard in Melrose, an example to her that beauty is in the eye of the beholder – or purchaser.

“It was funny to see that ugly owl sitting there,” she said laughing.

Now they make a variation of an owl that can be used like a scarecrow in a garden.

Millie will draw an idea on paper, and Norm will build it.

“We try to come up with new things,” Larry said, with Millie adding, “We’re not a factory. We just put things out there to see if people like them.”

When it comes to the woodworking projects, Larry usually cuts the pieces; Norm does the riveting and bandsaw work.

“I do the staining and painting,” Millie said.

Norm recalls the first birdhouse he constructed,

without a pattern, and it sold even though it wasn’t perfect.

“I made it with a jigsaw and then he (Larry) got a tablesaw for me and it worked much better,” Norm said.

Sheila is content to stay in the house and work on her macramé.

“Bubba displays most of my work,” Sheila said.

They try to keep their prices reasonable. Using scrap wood allows them to do so, even at a time when wood prices increased.

Millis said how much of their craft work they sell at sales or farmers markets depends on the day and “what catches the eye” of the people wandering through.

“One day we’ll sell 15 birdhouses and the next day no birdhouses but the spinners will go,” she said.

For these family members, crafting gives them something to do, but more importantly, it allows them to work together – following in a family member’s footsteps.

Thanks to Pearl’s lead, their crafting connection will continue.

certs have been very enjoyable, Wege said.

– Student representative Megan Pellett said spring musical performances of “Wonderland,” will be at 7 p.m., Friday, April 14; 2 and 7 p.m., Saturday, April 15; and 2 p.m., Sunday, April 16.

Pellett said the cast is excited for the gala performance of the “Alice in Wonderland” tale, during the 7 p.m., April 15, performance. The gala performance includes dinner, social hour and an auction.

– The board agreed to renew the Achievement and Integration Plan for July 1, 2023-June 30, 2026. The Holdingford school district has been a member of the plan for several years and includes the Rocori, Sauk Rapids-Rice, Annandale, Becker, St. Cloud, Kimball and Foley school districts.

What’s HAPPENING

Friday, March 31, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. – Melrose Area Public Schools Blood Drive. High school gym, 546 Fifth Ave., NE, Melrose. Sponsored by the Melrose Chapter of the National Honor Society and administered by the American Red Cross.

Sunday, April 2, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Palm Sunday Breakfast. Church of All Saints, St. Mary’s hall, 311 River St, Holdingford. Matching grant fundraiser.

Monday, April 3, 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.

Monday, April 3, 6:30 p.m. – Avon City Council Meeting. Avon City Hall, 140 Stratford St. E, Avon.

Tuesday, April 4, 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.

Tuesday, April 4, 7 p.m. – Schanhaar-Otte Post 7050 and Auxiliary meetings. Melrose American Legion clubroom, 265 County Road 173, Melrose.

Wednesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. – Albany City Council Meeting. Albany City Hall, 400 Railroad Ave., Albany.

Wednesday, April 5, 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.

Upcoming: Tuesday, April 11, 7 p.m. – Melrose American Legion Post 101 and Auxiliary meetings. Melrose American Legion clubroom, 265 County Road 173, Melrose.

plant and its financing. She mentioned removal of sewer and water assessments as one reason for the deficit.

“An ever-growing deficit used to be smaller,” she said. “For a number of years, an incremental increase was better than a big bump. We still have bond payments.”

In 2001, a prior council approved the development of the wastewater facility. One goal was providing environmental assistance to lakes.

“We were going to try and get those properties hooked up,” Austing-Traut said. “We planned a housing development to add more properties on the system. Many of those things didn’t happen.”

Linn challenged Austing-Traut and the council to think long-term about potential new sources of wastewater revenues.

“You have to solidify our relationships with the townships and come up with a concrete plan,” he said.

Schulzetenberge said an incremental water and sewer rate increase would have been more beneficial and suggested an adjustment.

Councilor Aaron Goebel wanted the council to reconsider a fund transfer alternative.

Manthe said the city

could only do so much with a wastewater plant that wasn’t at full capacity.

“We’ve had talks with other communities,” he said. “There’s not been a lot of interest regarding hooking onto Avon. We are still running at only 35% of plant capacity.”

Linn continued to challenge Manthe to look a decade ahead. “We need to revisit every connection we can,” he said.

The city’s orderly annexation agreement with Avon Township was another factor mentioned during the wastewater treatment customer base discussion.

A city forcing annexation on people isn’t popular, Austing-Traut stated.

“We are in a little bit of pinch until that thing expires,” she added.

Dirkes suggested the city consider a half-cent sales tax. Manthe said the city currently has such a tax, but it can only be used for transportation-based projects.

Goebel mentioned wastewater treatment plant bonds would be paid off in 2032.

He motioned to move $100,000 from the water fund to sewer and change the sewer fee from $5.03 per 1,000 gallons to $6.03 and

leave the water increase at 37 cents.

“I’m in favor of shifting the $100,000 and raising the sewer rate by a dollar this time,” Goebel said. “But the town needs to know it’s probably going to have to go up by a dollar next year. At least we are cutting into next year’s deficit.”

Councilor Katie Reiling seconded Goebel’s motion, which carried unanimously.

Reiling suggested future city newsletters should include information about another possible increase effective Jan. 1, 2024.

The newsletter contained a notice about the recent increase, Austing-Traut said. That increase won’t appear or become effective until the June 1 bills are mailed out to Avon sewer and water users, she added.

Hoium earns All American honor from American Family Insurance

MELROSE – Agency owner Kyle Hoium, of Melrose, has been named an All American agency owner by American Family Insurance Group. He joins a select group of agency owners who have distinguished themselves through outstanding sales and customer satisfaction/service of American Family insurance products.

Hoium has been an agency owner for American Family since June, 2012.

“The All American honor demonstrates Kyle’s strong commitment to customers,” says Sarah Wilczek, American Family sales district leader. “He understands and has successfully demonstrated an ability to form powerful relationships with customers while inspiring, protecting and restoring dreams.”

Holdingford man charged with injuring others in crash

A Holdingford man is facing two felony charges of criminal vehicular operation following an incident that took place last spring.

Jesse Thomas Wolbeck, 40, faces three years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each charge. Authorities allege Wolbeck operated a motor vehicle March 16, 2022, while under the influence of amphetamine and methamphetamine and the result caused injuries to others, according to a complaint filed in Stearns County.

Wolbeck was charged Feb. 2 and first appeared in court March 6. He is due in court for an omnibus hearing April 14.

According to the complaint, Wolbeck’s vehicle drifted over the center lane and collided with a vehicle while driving on County Road 1 in Brockway Township. Wolbeck admitted to using marijuana hours earlier but a blood sample revealed the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Wolbeck had claimed his vehicle’s tire came loose, which caused the accident. The law enforcement investigator determined the crash scene photos were not consistent with Wolbeck’s account.

A person in the other vehicle was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a bone fracture. Wolbeck was also transported to the hospital for injuries.

Stearns County February felony convictions

– Shannon Paulena Bishir, 43, of Avon, was sentenced Feb. 27 for a violation of domestic abuse no contact order that took place Dec. 21, 2022. Bishir received a stayed sentence of five years’ probation and three days in jail. Bishir must pay a $50 fine plus surcharges, complete domestic abuse programming and follow recommendations, complete a chemical use assessment and follow recommendations, abstain from alcohol and nonprescribed mood altering substances, submit to random urinalysis testing, provide a DNA sample, have no same or similar violations during probation, remain law abiding, have no contact with the victim, comply with a probationary domestic abuse no contact order, sign releases of information, not use or possess firearms and contact probation within 24 hours of sentencing.

– Kyle Joseph Douvier, 27, of Grey Eagle, was sentenced Feb. 6 for theft, financial transaction card fraud and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in connection with a Sept. 28, 2022, incident. Douvier received 14 months in prison, serving nine and one-third months in prison and four and two-thirds months on supervised release for each charge. He must pay $150 in fines plus surcharges, pay $1,338.00 in restitution and provide a DNA sample.

Baseball Breakfast Baseball

Sharon R. (Anderson) Staley

Darlene A. Liebl

Darlene Ann Liebl, 76, formerly, of New Ulm, passed away peacefully Feb. 23, 2023, in Cathedral City, California.

Mass of Christian Burial was March 2 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Palm Springs, California, with burial at Desert Memorial Park, in Cathedral City, California.

Darlene cherished life, loved those around her, faced each challenge with strength and determination and treated everyone with kindness, no matter what she was going

Arthur J. Van Heel

Arthur J. Van Heel, 91, died peacefully March 21, 2023, in Albany, surrounded by family. A funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m., Monday, April 3, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with the Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. A family inurnment will be held at a later date. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Sunday, April 2, and 10:30-11:30 a.m., April 3, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport.

Art enjoyed playing cards, especially 500 and solo. He was a veteran, having served in the Air Force during the Korean War. After those years, he worked on the railroad

Donald E. Feldewerd

Donald E. “Donnie” Feldewerd, 58, of Spring Hill, passed away suddenly of kidney cancer, surrounded by his family, March 21, 2023, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud.

A Mass of Christian Burial was March 27 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Spring Hill with the Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Donald Erwin Feldewerd was born Aug. 7, 1964, in Melrose to Aloys and Lorene (Bueckers) Feldewerd. He grew up in rural Spring Hill and graduated in 1982 from

Joan M. Weyer

Joan M. Weyer, 85, of Sartell, passed away March 24, 2023, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 30, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sartell. The Rev. Ronald Weyrens will officiate and burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. March 30 at the church.

Joan was born Oct. 14, 1937, in New Munich to Felix and Elizabeth (Eickhoff) Massmann. She grew up on a farm near New Munich and moved to St. Cloud at 16 where she worked as a housekeeper at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Joan married Rupert Weyer Aug. 19, 1958, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Sharon R. (Anderson) Staley

Sharon Ruth (Anderson)

Staley passed away March 19, 2023, in her Melrose home. She was born Sept. 13, 1939, in Hutchinson, to Clarence and Alice (Bakkom) Anderson. She attended Melrose High School and graduated from Palo Alto High School in California. She worked for West Publishing Company more than 40 years and retired from the publishing company.

Sharon loved casino trips, playing cards, trivia games and crossword puzzles. She still believed in Santa and made every holiday extra special and fun for those close to her. Sharon was an extremely generous aunt to many nieces, nephews, greatnieces and great-nephews. She had a fabulous sense of humor and was always the fun aunt. She is survived by her sister, Janet Williams; sisterin-law Carole Anderson; and many nieces, nephews, greatnieces and great-nephews.

Emil and Anna (Klement)

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Clarence Richard “Dick” and Allan “Al” Anderson, sister-in-law LaNita (Zinniel) Anderson and brother-in-law Lawrence “Will” Williams. Sharon donated her body to the University of Minnesota Medical School. She will be dearly missed by many family members and friends. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

through.

Darlene was born to

Fahrenkamp Sept. 23, 1946, in Gibbon. On July 7, 1969, she married Theodore ‘Ted’ Liebl at the Catholic Church of St. Willibrord, in Gibbon, and had two children, Vicki Knudsen of Mesa, Arizona, and Dean (David) of Palm Desert, California. Darlene will be especially missed by her grandpups, Harley, Jackson, Molly, Chloe and Roxy. She is survived by her husband; children; sister Lorraine Bastian of Gibbon; and sisters-in-law Joan

for 20 years and for the city of Freeport serving as a city council member for 20 years. He also did volunteer work for Meals on Wheels for 15 years. Art was a long-time Sacred Heart Church parishioner and a member of the St. Joseph Society.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy (Reller) Van Heel of Melrose; children

Liebl of Burnsville, Doris Schmiesing (Doug) of New Ulm, Audry Ellingson (Robert) of Universal City, Texas, and Lila Liebl of Lake Mills, Iowa. Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, brother Harvey, sister Lucille Borth and brothers-in-law Leonard Borth and Ambrose Bastian, son-in-law Jeff Knudsen, father-in-law and motherin-law Richard and Hedwig (Beyer) Liebl, sister-in-law Victoria and brothers-in-law, Otto and Arnold.

P-13-1P

for 15 years. The majority of his working years were at the Corner Store in Freeport, where he was employed for 52 years. Art was active in the community, serving as a Freeport volunteer firefighter

Steven (Kay Snyder) Van Heel of Sauk Rapids, Linda (Steven) Shook of Burnsville, Jane (Terry) Heidgerken of St. Louis Park, Lisa (Steven) Mathre of Northfield, and

James (Missy Hodge) Van Heel of Phoenix, Arizona; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters Marion Huschle of Bagley, Fran Van Heel of Roseville, Virgil Van Heel of Loveland, Colorado, and Bernice Roering of Albany; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Art was preceded in death by his parents; son Gary; brothers Elmer and Bob Van Heel; and sisters Leona Schloegl, Lorraine Bierschbach, Valeria Schrantz and Louise Minette.

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

Melrose High School. After graduation, Donnie purchased a farm and started farming. On Aug. 29, 1987, he was united in marriage to Lisa Ann Laubach at St. Louis Catholic

Church in Paynesville. The couple continued farming while purchasing his parents’ farm. In 1999, they welcomed a “surprise” son, Brandon. Together Donnie, Lisa and Brandon continued farming up until Donnie’s diagnosis. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Michael’s Men’s Society, Catholic Order of Foresters of New Munich and was a Spring Hill Township supervisor for many years. He enjoyed playing poker Wednesday nights, pontoon rides and, most of all, farming.

Survivors include his wife, Lisa Feldewerd of Spring Hill; son Brandon Feldewerd of Spring Hill; parents Aloys and

music, dancing, playing cards especially 500, and baking bread, cookies and apple pies. Joan loved spending time at the cabin on Lake Shamineau the last 44 years. She was good at fishing and could outfish Rupert. Joan was gentle, thoughtful, ambitious and artistic.

Lorene Feldewerd of Spring Hill; sisters and brothers, Judy (Steve) Uphoff of New Munich, Marvin Feldewerd, Karen (Mark) Rademacher of New Munich, and Kevin Feldewerd of Spring Hill; mother-in-law Perci Laubach of Paynesville; brothersin-law Lonnie Laubach of Arizona and Lane (Melissa) Laubach of Cold Spring; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Donnie was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Ron Laubach. Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose. P-13-1B

in New Munich, and they later bought a hobby farm in Sartell where they raised their family together. Joan was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church where she was a member of the Christian Mothers and the Quilting Group. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, quilting, old time

Survivors include her husband, Rupert, of Sartell; daughter and son Janelle Peterson of Rice and Ron (Christine) Weyer of Albany; brothers and sister Fritz (Beatrice) Massmann of Sauk Centre, Billy (Karen) Massmann of Melrose, Hugo (Virginia) Massmann of Melrose, and Mary (Clem) Kremers of Rockville; grandchildren Heidi (Brandon) Winkels of St. Cloud, Hali (Jarret) Janu of Little Falls,

Tamara Weyer of Eagle, Idaho and Marissa Weyer of Albany; and great-grandchildren, Audrey and Olivia Janu and Charles Winkels. Joan was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Jeanette Hoeschen and Sandra Massmann; and brothers Godfrey, Julius, and Clarius “Larry” Massmann.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Catholic Charities. Obituary, guest book and video tribute available online at www.williamsdingmann. com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids. P-13-1B

Darlene A. Liebl

Donald E. Feldewerd

Joan M. Weyer

Arthur J. Van Heel

Jesse Thomas Wolbeck

plan

The 1920s, also known as the Roaring 20s, saw examples of tough economic times, but they started as boom times.

Ford Motor Company saw the opportunity to get their product, primarily the Model T car, out to the wider public. The Avon State Bank was willing to help.

An ad from the April 26, 1923, Albany Enterprise announced the bank was cooperating with the Ford Motor Company to help the public purchase a new vehicle. The ad promoted purchasing touring cars, runabouts, coupes or sedans, although it was open to selling any style.

The touring car was the most common and was generally thought of as the Model T car. It seated four or more people, had room for luggage and was open, meaning it did not have a fixed roof. In 1923, it sold for close to $393, about $6,902 today, according to the Dollar Times website. Sedans differed from the touring car in having a closed body with a fixed roof, and the engine, passenger and cargo areas were in separate compartments. It sold for around $645, $11,327 today. Coupes and runabouts were smaller cars. The runabout had no windshield, top or doors and just one row of seating. It was priced at about $364, $6,393 today, and the coupe, which had a sloping roof line, fixed roof and sometimes two seats, came in at $530, $9,308 today.

Those prices, while lower than most new cars even in today’s terms, were out of range for many people. In agricultural areas, there were low market prices for crops, and some people were struggling just to get by, causing more than one person to turn to producing moonshine, so the price was a bit steep.

Automobile manufacturers, though, had products to

sell and Ford, with the cooperation of banks, came up with a purchasing plan it felt could fit many budgets. The bank saw the plan as a way to help improve area lifestyles and its business.

“We realize what the automobile means to the average family in bringing them greater enjoyment of life and believe our action in helping those who desire to become Ford owners will be appreciated by many families who can now realize that ambition through the new Ford Weekly Purchasing Plan,” the ad read.

Those wanting to purchase one of the Ford vehicles signed up to deposit $5 a week at the bank until the purchase price was reached. The bank offered a further incentive by arranging for the deposit to earn interest.

“Start today and, before you realize it, you will be driving your own car,” the ad announced.

History shows that the Ford, particularly the Model T, from 1900 to the 1930s was one of the most popular cars of the era, especially in the rural areas. It was easily made, affordable – actually the prices kept dropping during the 1920s – and parts were interchangeable.

History also shows the Ford Weekly Purchasing Plan had little to do with the number of sales. Actually, the plan was a bit of a bust.

It was not that people didn’t like the idea of saving the funds or did not trust the bank. The Great Depression did not begin until 1929. It was simply that they really saw no reason to use the purchasing plan. Those who wanted to, and could afford to, were already saving money.

“It was unsuccessful because customers could just as easily open their own savings account,” the henryford.org website pointed out.

Careful what we wish for

Some days we feel like entomologists whose great idea it was to bring the Asian beetles to America. Their plan was for the beetles to eat the soybean aphids damaging farmers’ crops. As the beetles’ numbers exploded, they became a nuisance to homeowners and others in rural areas, so much so that now many are looking to get rid of them. There is a lesson in that.

It took Barb and I three years of setting out sunflower seeds, cracked corn and berries before we attracted our first cardinals to our backyard feeders. Barb has three pictures throughout the house of winter scenes with the lovely red birds in the backdrop as an incentive to draw them in. Friends and neighbors will oftentimes talk about the cardinals they see at their feeders so we were anxious for their arrival. We had wondered if we would ever get a pair.

Of course, cardinals are not the only birds that like the seeds we fill the feeders with. We get finches and sparrows, bluebirds and blue jays and robins in the spring. We also get the beautiful, regal pileated woodpecker, as well as regular woodpeckers. As pretty as the woodpeckers are to look at, their picking and pecking is sometimes a problem.

We have a playground set complete with a slide and a couple of swings in our backyard. Last spring the woodpeckers decided they had the perfect top beam to peck away at. We admired the pecking at first, watching them perched on the plank, listening to the rhythmic tapping of their beaks. Once I went to check on their progress, though, all that changed. They had nearly chipped a hole completely through one of the planks. Not knowing how to

stop them, I grabbed a ladle and scooped thick grease from a pail onto the boards. It worked, too. They stopped.

This year, Barb left the bird feeders out all winter and kept them well stocked. Through the cold and bitter wind of the past few months, there were always birds at the feeders. The feeders are on steel poles three feet off the ground to keep squirrels and other varmints off of them. As the winter went on though, and the snow around the feeders accumulated, the squirrels were able to reach them. Another problem we had to deal with.

Granted, it was cute at first as the squirrels had to hang on to the feeders to get the seeds. We felt sorry for them with the tough winter and no food to be found. They would use one paw to get at the food while holding on tight with the other paws. They didn’t seem to eat as much when the work was harder. As the snow piled up, they were able to get at the feeders by standing on the snow. We believe now they have become dependent on us feeding them.

Every morning three squirrels will spend around an hour fattening themselves up for the rest of the day. If we open the patio door and yell at them, they will scamper the 50 feet to the tree line and yell back at us from there. Once we are no longer in sight and watching from the kitchen window, they slowly make their way back to continue their feeding. After a while we decided it was not worth it to try and keep them away. Just so long as they share some of the food with the birds, we won’t go through the effort of shoveling the snow down around the feeders. We will just have to refill the feeders more often.

LETTER TO EDITOR

Parents, fans, senior citizens have rights too

Pete Heidgerken, a loyal Dutchmen fan, Freeport

This letter is for students, the superintendent, fans and school board.

I was at the Sauk Centre versus Melrose basketball game. It was a great game and fun to watch, but there was one problem: The students stood the entire game. We, and about 100 or so fans, could only see half of the court because the students were standing. Some fans, or even parents, asked them to sit. Some students did, but then they could not see the game. A few fans and parents asked the athletic director to have the students sit down. They said he told them “I want students to stand.” Now I am upset. I went to the AD and told him to do his job.

I have attended maybe 600 or more games in these same seats. This is the first time the students stood the entire game. We had a number of parents and a school board member sitting by us, all upset at the AD who did nothing. The AD told me to move as well as the other fans. Where?

The game is on, there is no place to go, and we can’t see half of the court.

I contacted the superintendent, who told me he would look into the problem. Nothing was done because the students were again standing for the next game. I again contacted the superintendent and told him it’s a simple solution, just move the students to the side section like most schools and colleges do. Leave the center for parents and seniors who carry stadium seats, who can walk up only a few rows.

I hope the AD does move the students or at least have them sit down.

To the students, I am sorry for yelling at you, I did not know the AD told you to stand. Please move to the side section; then you can stand, cheer, scream. The more noise the better. We parents, fans and seniors, who helped pay for this school, also have rights.

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

We’re a touch tired here in the Albany Area Schools community. Jovial, inspired and really excited, but rather tired too. For the past few weeks, this community has formed caravans to and from Minneapolis for 8 p.m. basketball games, for 13 win-or-else games in 21 days. Intense games that kept us awake long after our caravans beat the path back to Albany.

And our teams succeeded; both the girls and boys basketball teams brought home state hardware.

And it’s not only our basketball teams that have triumphed lately. Our band has been dubbed the hardest working band in the county, performing at every game, hosting their own concert and competing at band contest. Our robotics team has qualified for nationals and are packing bags for Houston, Texas. Academically, students are preparing for this year’s round of Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment testing, with sights at besting state averages yet again.

Tremendous hard work and dedication goes into such success. From our students, to be sure. From teachers and coaches, who put in extra hours –who arrive at school by 5:30 a.m. to prepare lesson plans before running a morning practice, who kiss their own kids goodnight and then spend hours at the kitchen table reviewing student work.

I think we often overlook the dedication and hard work from the community, though. Do we realize how much the community impacts student success? I could fill this entire paper with contributions from our community, but in light of basketball fever here in Albany, I’ll focus there.

A few years ago our community built the Blattner Energy Community Center. I’m not sure any of us really knew how much this amenity would benefit our kids. I’m not sure we’ve stopped to think about how this community’s dedication to build this structure contributed to this past weeks’ successes, either.

Here in Albany, students on our basketball teams can practice right after school every day. The boys and girls teams don’t need to share a gym space with each other. They don’t have to rotate practice schedules, with one team practicing right after school and one team hanging around school waiting for their gym time later in the evening. Instead, our students are home early on practice nights. They’re well rested, caught up on homework and have time to spend with family.

Further, and more importantly, our kids have a place to go – they have something to do. They meet friends at the BECC in the evenings and on the weekends and shoot around, play a pickup game of basketball, play catch and bump a volleyball around. They’re not on the streets; they’re not causing trouble. They have a place to go and something to do –all while honing their craft, preparing themselves to bring home a state title.

The goal of any high school sports program is to win. Teams practice and prepare to win. Coaches create, study and revise game plans and practice schedules to win. Athletes spend hours in the BECC, weight rooms, gyms, fields and buses to win.

But winning is not the purpose. The purpose is why something exists. The purpose of high school sports is the human growth, human potential and development of students. The purpose is to connect students with caring adults in their school and community. Coaches have a powerful platform to influence young people, through their words, silence and actions. Coaches in Albany know their purpose and intentionally model and teach performance and moral character skills to the students they coach.

A state title deserves to be emblazoned on billboards on Interstate-94, on T-shirts and permanently on banners in the gym of Albany High School, but a state title means so much more. It means a community has provided what is needed for students to achieve. To find success. This week’s success has been on a basketball court. But success breeds success. Tomorrow’s achievements will be students who graduate and are prepared to positively contribute to society.

At the end of college basketball championship games, each athlete climbs a ladder and cuts off a piece of the net, a token of their contribution to the championship title. Our coaches and players here in Albany certainly deserve to climb that ladder and cut their piece of that net, but so, too, should each member of this community. Whether you wore that path to Minneapolis or not, whether you even care about basketball, success breeds success and our students are prepared and ready, because of a community that supports our kids. If only the net were large enough for everyone to climb that ladder and cut a piece.

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

Public assistance, community corrections, broadband updates

Welcome to March in Minnesota, and we shouldn’t be surprised as it is state tournament time, starting with hockey, girls basketball, and then boys basketball. Hopefully, we can consider this as March coming in like a lion, so hopefully it goes out like a lamb. In a few months, we will forget how bad winter was as we get our lawnmowers ready for the season.

At our March 7 meeting, we received information on the upcoming ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Program. Human Services stated close to 22,380 Stearns County residents, who are on public healthcare, will lose their coverage unless they reapply. Reapplying isn’t the problem, but for most, trying to fill out the 27-page renewal application is where the issue will be. Even the most astute of us would have a hard time filling out 27 pages of a government application. Along with the healthcare issue, I was told there are around 33,000 Stearns County residents who are on public assistance at all times. Based on the 2020 census, which indicates Stearns County has a population close to 160,000, that would mean around 21% of our county population is on some sort of public assistance at any given time. Housing support, the Child Care Assistance Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, general assistance and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation are just some of the public assistance programs.

At the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee meeting before the March 7 board meeting, I heard a presentation by our Community Corrections Division. Stearns County has 55 employees that work in community corrections with most being probation officers. These 55 employees deal with, on average, 4,400 individuals who are on probation at any given time. Approximately 1,000 of these are low intensity, meaning they do not require a lot of followup because it might be their first offense, and it has scared them enough not to offend again. The current makeup of those on probation is 4,283 adults and 181 juveniles with 940 females and 3,524 males. Stearns County uses a coaching model to help individuals understand what might be causing their specific behavior and what could be done to change that behavior. The program uses a risk-need-responsivity model, which analyzes who should be treated, what the focus should be on and how the work should be implemented. As you can see, for 55 employees, this is not the easiest job, and we should commend them for the work they do to help get individuals back on the right track.

On a brighter note, two fiber organizations – Albany Mutual Telephone and Arvig Communications – were successful in receiving state border-to-border grant funding in the first round. Hopefully, both projects will get started sometime in 2023 and finish in 2024. The state also opened round two of the border-to-border grants and the county will be providing a letter of support for Albany Mutual Telephone to complete a northeasterly section of Stearns County, Runestone Co-op to cover a good area west of State Highway 71 in Stearns County and Arvig Communications to fill in some areas of Wakefield and Luxemburg Townships. Arvig’s grant request will be through the B-B Low-Density Pilot Program, which would allow for 75% to be funded by a grant versus the normal 50%. A huge thank you goes out to the townships that agreed to contribute a share of their American Rescue Plan Act monies along with the county dollars to give these applications a boost for approval in the grant process. Let’s hope our local providers can have success in round two to help us reach our goal of getting fiber throughout the county.

I can be reached at 320-248-3605 or steve. notch@co.stearns.mn.us.

Sharing a Passover

seder meal

Missionary from Jerusalem to lead event at Avon Community Church

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

The Passover Seder is a ritual feast at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The purpose of the seder plate is to show foods that tell the story of the people of Israel.

Avon Community Church members welcome community members to be their guests during a Christ in the Passover event, when they will share a seder meal from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 30, at the church, at 204 Avon Ave. N., in Avon.

Simon Stout, a missionary from Jerusalem, Israel, involved with the international Jews for Jesus, will lead the meal, Michal Stoesz said March 23, sitting next to her husband, Ron; both are on a mission committee planning the event with other church members.

A sit-down seder meal will be served.

“There will be a mother at each table, which is part of the Jewish tradition, and she will be serving the meal,” Ron said.

He explained that the idea of a seder meal stems back to when the Jewish people were instructed to retell the story of the exodus from Egypt, saying, “It is because of what the Lord did for me, that we know we have been redeemed from a far greater bondage through Jesus’

blood.”

“Before Jesus was crucified he partook in a seder meal with his disciples, and he was the Passover lamb who took away the sins of the world,” Ron said. During the two-hour Avon event, Stout will explain the significance of each of the six elements of the seder meal, which will include matzo ball soup, a chicken dumpling soup prepared by church members.

“He will tell them what the elements, like parsley or horseradish, signify,” Michal said.

Ron adds, “Horseradish

brings tears to your eyes in remembrance of the Israelites being slaves in Egypt, a very tearful part. The bitter parsley signifies their bitter experiences and how they were ready to flee just as soon as pharaoh let them go.” Matzo balls serve as a Jewish cultural symbol and reminder of past hardships; matzo represents the unleavened bread the Jewish people ate in the desert to sustain themselves during their exodus from Egypt, according to the internet.

Ron said while this is the third year a seder meal has been offered by church

members, it is the first time they have opened it up to the public, ages 9 and older. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 320356-9001. Seating is limited to 100.

Along with the meal, there will be time for people to ask Stout questions about the seder meal and his Jews for Jesus ministry.

“It’s for church friends and family and the community,” Michal said. The hope is sharing a seder meal will prepare the hearts of guests for their Lenten journey leading into Holy Week.

Preparing people for Holy Week

St. Francis Church choir contributes to Lenten journey presentation

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

“It gives me goosebumps,” is how Mary Jane “MJ” Blonigen, choir director and pianist, describes her reaction when Nancy Gerads sings “Remember” during the “Journey With Jesus to Calvary” presentation at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Francis.

Gerads sings the song surrounded by choir members in the choir loft as Jesus is carried out after being crucified. Anna Herzog also sings a solo, “Born In Me,” as she enters the church portraying Mary.

Parishioners will perform this Lenten production at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 29; at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1; and at 1 p.m., Sunday, April 2, at the church located at 44055 State Highway 238, Freeport, northeast of Freeport or north of Albany on Highway 238.

The seven songs performed during the 90-minute long production add to the atmosphere, Blonigen said, as scenes are acted out in the church sanctuary by parishioners.

“The songs contribute to the actions that take place, like ‘O, Sacred Heart Surrounded,’ when the crown of thorns is being placed on the head of Jesus, ‘Companions on the Journey,’ because we are all on a journey, and at the end we do ‘Lift Up Your Heart,’ when Jesus walks

down the side aisle holding a cross high,” Blonigen said.

Piano music is heard during “Were You There.”

Choir members include Rosanne Voss, Janelle Roerick, Nancy Gerads, Sister Mary Pat Burger, Leonice Kolo, LeAnn Beneke, Alice We-

strich, Barb Moorman, Scott Wiechmann, Joann Gerads, Rita Herbes and Gail Wuebkers.

Blonigen, of Upsala has directed the choir for this production since 2016, after she was asked by director Bob Theisen. She was a music teacher for 18 years in Luxemburg, and currently directs the choir at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Upsala. Parishes in St. Francis, Upsala and Emdale are in the Three Saints Area Catholic Community.

Blonigen loves to share her passion for music.

“There is a saying ‘If you sing, you pray twice as hard,’” Blonigen said.

Directing the “Journey With Jesus to Calvary” production is part of her Lenten journey.

“It renews in me what Holy Week is all about,” Blonigen said, “And puts me in the right frame of mind for Holy Week services and Easter,” she said.

She hopes it will do the same this week for people sitting in the St. Francis church pews.

Commissioner’s Corner by Steve Notch

Geri Leedahl (front, from left), Becky Rand and Peggy Beuning; and (back, from left) Ben and Tori Horstmann, Tami Goehring, Michal and Ron Stoesz and Marsha Winter gather with seder meal elements March 26 at Avon Community Church in Avon. Simon Stout, a missionary from Jerusalem, Israel, will lead the meal March 30, at the church.

PHOTOS SUBMITTED Mary Jane “MJ” Blonigen plays piano during the March 18 “Journey With Jesus to Calvary” practice at St. Francis of Assisi Church in St. Francis. Blonigen has directed the choir for this Lenten production since 2016.

Leonice Kolo (from left), Sr. Mary Pat Burger, Janelle Roerick, Scott Wiechmann and Nancy Gerads sing during the March 18 “Journey With Jesus to Calvary” practice at St. Francis of Assisi Church in St. Francis. Gerads also sings the solo “Remember” during the 90-minute performance.

PROVIDED BY

IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN: That default has occurred in the conditions of the mortgage dated October 17, 2016, executed by Jay H. Seguin, an unmarried man, as mortgagor, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., a corporation, MIN 1012742-0000050450-7, as nominee and mortgagee for HomeServices Lending, LLC d/b/a Edina Realty Mortgage, through loan originator Kevin Kildahl, NMLS ID 1236759, recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Stearns

County, Minnesota, on October 26, 2016, as Document No.

A1480672, which mortgage conveyed and mortgaged the following described property, situated in the County of Stearns and State of Minnesota, which property has a street address of 144 30th Avenue North, St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303, property identification number 82.50381.0000, which mortgage was assigned to Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., by Assignment of Mortgage dated December 7, 2022, and recorded December 19, 2022 as Document No.

A1646231: Lot Twenty-eight (28), Block One (1), Roosevelt Place, according to the plat and survey thereof on file and of record in the office of the County Recorder in and for Stearns County, Minnesota

SECTION 00 11 13

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

WCED 2023 Remodel

9 West 2nd St. South Melrose, Minnesota 56352

Independent School District #740 will receive single prime sealed bids for WCED 2023 Remodel until 2:00 p.m. local time on April 6, 2023 at the West Central Area Learning Center, 9 West 2nd St. South, Melrose, Minnesota56352, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bidding documents, including the Proposal Form, Drawings and Specifications, will be on file at the Minnesota Builders Exchange; McGraw Hill Construction/Dodge Plan Center; Reed Construction; iSqFt Plan Room (St. Paul, MN), The Blue Book Building and Construction Network; and from PlanWell at: https://order.e-arc.com/arcEOC/Secures/PWELL_PrivateList.

Notice of Public Hearing Stearns County, Board of Adjustment

Notice is hereby given that the Stearns County Board of Adjustment, in and for the County of Stearns, will conduct the following public hearings to consider variance applications:

1. A request from Yelles Little Birch Lake Cabin LLC, Clarendon Hills, Illinois, from Sections 10.2.11 A. (1) and (4). of Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance#439, to construct a principal structure (home) less than 100 feet landward of the Ordinary High-Water Level (OHWL) of Little Birch Lake, classified Recreational Development. Said Ordinance requires principal structures be setback a minimum 100 feet from lakes classified Recreational Development. Affected property: .74 acres of Govt. Lot 2, Section 2, T126N, R33W, Melrose Township. Property address: 43835 Sylvia Valley Rd Melrose, MN

2. A request from Eric Kurtz, Avon MN from Sections 9.9.9 A, 10.2.11 A of Stearns County Land Use and Zoning Ordinance #439 and 6.2.1 P of Stearns County Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Ordinance #422, to construct a residential accessory structure less than 50 feet from the Right of Way of County Road 154, less than 10 feet from a side yard property line, less than 200 feet from the Ordinary High-Water Level of

DOCUMENT 00 11 13

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

2023 Street Improvements Melrose, Minnesota

SEH No. MELRO 170668

Notice is hereby given that Online Bids will be received by the Administrator until 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 13, 2023, via QuestCDN for the furnishing of all labor and material for the construction of 2023 Street Improvements.

The bid opening will be conducted via Microsoft Teams, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud:

2023 Street Improvements Bid Opening

Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupj oin/19%3ameeting_Y2E5NTNmYjQtYmM4MC00YzJkLWJhMjEtYzgzNzA4Y2QzNmE1%40thread.v2/0?context= %7b%22Tid%22%3a%22642f4553-88f1-43dc-9a29-90842cd19d4c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2248472820- a408-4d5cb262-d033b1c6fa20%22%7d

Meeting ID: 237 038 235 565

Passcode: dZpcLW

Or call in (audio only)

+1 872-242-7640,,487852162# United States, Chicago

Phone Conference ID: 487 852 162#

Any person monitoring the meeting remotely may be re-

Holdingford School Board Briefs

The Holdingford School Board held their regular meeting on March 15, 2023. Members present Evelyn Martini, Elissa Ebnet, Sarah Binek, Ed Feia, Lori Opatz, Rob Knettel, and Pat Meier. Member absent: None. Also attending was: Elementary Principal Jim Stang, Secondary Principal Tim Wege, Business Manager Garrity Gerber, Adm. Assistant Linda Zapzalka, Mike Kosik from Star Publications and guest Head Swim Coach Jolene Breth and Assistant Swim Coach Jess Westbrock. Absent: Superintendent Chris Swenson.

Chair Feia called the meeting to order, the pledge was recited, and the amended agenda was approved.

The meeting continued with approval of the consent agenda. Items in consent agenda included:approval of the minutes from Feb. 15th School Board Meeting and Mar. 1st Work Session ; approval of the schedule of bills in the amount of $427,636.43. Computer checks approved #53727 through #53914 and #30556 through #30573 in the amount of $5,459.34; approval of the electronic transfer for Feb. 2023, $1,985,327.20; acknowledgement of the Treasurer’s Report balance per books $5,441,227.03; approval of Policy 708 Transportation of Nonpublic School Students; approval of Policy 709 Student Transportation Safety Policy; approval of Policy 721 Uniform Grant Guidance Policy Regarding Federal Revenue Sources; accepted donations from the City of Holdingford to Community Education for summer recreation $1,500; to Community Education from PTA- $1000.00 and from Martini Auto Parts- $250.00 for the Prairie Fire Children’s Theater summer program; and approved lane change for Jennifer Clear from MS20 to MS30 effective at the start of quarter 4, 2022-23 school year. The Board thanked the Donors for their generosity!

Citizen Participation: Jolene Breth and Jess Westbrock addressed the Board summarizing all of the activities, classes, and athletics that use the pool and presented some areas of concern regarding safe equipment in the pool. They spoke about wanting to move forward with raising funds to replace the starting blocks, getting new lane lines and new flags. They are confident they can raise enough to purchase the equipment but will need some help with installation costs. Chair Feia thanked the ladies for coming and assured them that the board will discuss further with the facility committee and get back to them.

Reports: Student Board Rep Megan Pellett reported on the Musical

That the original principal amount secured by said mortgage was $92,646.00; that there has been compliance with any condition precedent to acceleration of the debt secured by said mortgage and foreclosure of said mortgage required by said mortgage, any note secured thereby, or any statute; that no action or proceeding to recover the debt remaining secured by said mortgage is pending, or any part thereof; that there is claimed to be due upon said mortgage and is due thereon at the date of this notice, the sum of $88,875.15 in principal and interest. That as a result of the aforesaid default, and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the said mortgage will be foreclosed by the sale of the above described premises with appurtenances,

aspx?PrjType=pub

which said sale will be made by the Sheriff of Stearns County, Minnesota, at the Sheriff’s office in the Law Enforcement Center, 807 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minnesota, on April 19, 2023, at 10:00 o’clock a.m., at public auction to the highest bidder, to pay the amount then due on said mortgage, together with the costs of foreclosure, including attorneys’ fees as allowed by law, in accordance with the provisions of said mortgage. The time allowed by law for redemption by the mortgagor, his personal representatives or assigns, is six (6) months from the date of said sale.

MORTGAGOR(S)

RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE: NONE THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION

This project includes: Interior renovation and associated mechanical and elecitrical systems modifications.

American Reprographics Company, 4730 Park Glen Road, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416 (952) 697-8800, facsimile (952) 697-8803 will provide complete downloadable sets of the Bidding Documents to prospective bidders and subcontractors.

The downloads will be available February 17, 2023. A deposit check in the amount of $25 made out to ARC for each set downloaded via the internet at https://www.e-arc.com/location/ st-louis-park/ and clicking on the PlanWell icon, then the Public Plan Room icon, select WCED 2023 Remodel. Make proposals on the bid forms supplied in the Project Manual. No oral, telegraphic or telephonic proposals or modifications will be considered. Submit with each bid, a certified check or acceptable bidder’s bond payable to Independent School

Pine Lake and to place a Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Holding Tank less than 10 feet from the Right Of Way of County Road 154, less than 10 feet from a side yard property line and less than 150 feet of Pine Lake. Affected property: .05 acres of Government Lot 7 Section 7, T125N, R30W, Avon Township.

Property address: 19497 Co Rd 154, Avon MN

When and where is the meeting?

Date and Time: Thursday, April 13, 2023 - 6:00 p.m.

Location: Stearns County Service Center, Room 1104 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, you are invited to do so by attending said hearing in person or by joining virtually. To participate virtually, please contact Brian Krippner as at Brian.Krippner@co.stearns.mn.us or call 320-656-3613 by Noon on the Wednesday preceding the meeting date.

Written Testimony: You may submit written testimony by emailing Brian.Krippner@co.stearns.mn.us by 3pm on April 12, 2023. Written testimony may also be mailed to the Stearns County Environmental Services Department, Service Center,

sponsible for any documented costs. Message and data rates may apply.

Major quantities for the Work include:

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.

If the mortgage is not reinstated under Minn. Stat. §580.30 or redeemed under Minn. Stat. §580.23, the mortgagor must vacate the mortgaged property by 11:59 p.m. on October 19, 2023, unless

the foreclosure is postponed pursuant to Minn. Stat. §580.07, or the redemption period is reduced to five (5) weeks under Minn. Stat. §582.032. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT BY A DEBT COLLECTOR. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

DATED: March 1, 2023 Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc., assignee of Mortgagee FOLEY & MANSFIELD, P.L.L.P.

By: Sean C. Mansfield Atty. No. 0400374 Attorneys for Mortgagee 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 1200 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 P-9-6B

District #740 in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total bid. The successful bidder will be required to furnish satisfactory Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Performance Bond.

Bids may not be withdrawn within thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of opening bids, without the consent of the Owner. The Owner reserves the right to accept any bid or to reject any or all bids, or parts of such bids, and waive informalities or irregularities in bidding.

The Owner requires Substantial Completion of the project on or before August 18, 2023.

A pre-bid walkthrough has been scheduled for Monday, March 27, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Please meet at the main building entrance.

Board of Education Independent School District #740

END OF SECTION 00 11 13 P-12-2B

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?

Copies of the applications 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. Stearns County Board of Adjustment 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: March 29, 2023 – Star Post

P-13-1B

tronic bid service QuestCDN.com. To access the electronic Bid Worksheet, download the project document and click 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. Bids shall be completed according to the Bidding Requirements prepared by SEH dated March 16, 2023.

In addition to digital plans, paper copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from Docunet Corp. located at 2435 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441 (763.475.9600) for a fee of $100. Bid security in the amount of 5 percent of the Bid must accompany each Bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.

The Bidding Documents may be seen at the Issuing Office of SEH located at 2351 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 300, Sartell, MN 56377, 320.229.4300.

The Bidding Documents may be viewed for no cost at http:// www.sehinc.com by selecting the Project Bid Information link at the bottom of the page and the View Plans option from the menu at the top of the selected project page.

Digital image copies of the Bidding Documents are available at http://www.sehinc.com for a fee of $30. These documents may be downloaded by selecting this project from the “Project Bid Information” link and by entering eBidDocTM Number 8422655 on the SEARCH PROJECTS page. For assistance and free membership registration, contact QuestCDN at 952.233.1632 or info@questcdn.com.

Advertisement for Bids MELRO 170668 00 11 13 - 1

For this project, bids will ONLY be received electronically.

Contractors submitting an electronic bid will be charged an additional $42 at the time of bid submission via the online elec-

Wonderland, an Alice in Wonderland Tale. The shows will be held Friday, April 14th at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 15th at 2 p.m. and The GALA showing at 7 p.m.; and Sunday April 16th at 2 p.m. The cast is excited for the Saturday night show which is the Gala Performance. This includes dinner, social hour and an auction. This is a fundraiser co-sponsored with the FAN Club. She also informed the Board about the NHS Activity Night, that spring sports have all started, and concerns about the LMC.

Elementary Principal Stang reported that as soon as the Targeted Services program has been approved they will start inviting students to participate, Mathnasium Night is March 25th, Kindergarten Roundup is being done virtually however families wanting to have a tour are welcome to call the Elementary Office and reserve a time to stop in, Grandparents Day will be Friday May 12th and he thanked all staff for staying the course helping to keep the doors open with the shortage of subs.

Secondary Principal Wege reported on the registration process and a few adjustments they are making to help the schedule flow smoother, MCA Testing, new hires Alyssa Rosenberger for the Business Teacher position and Jill Slivnik for the Math Teacher position. He explained the Towards Zero Deaths program that area Principals and Student Councils are working on to help promote safe driving. Mr. Wege mentioned the end of 3rd quarter coming soon and Spring Concerts have been very enjoyable!

Ebnet reported Chris Belmont presented at the BSED meeting and he had a lot of positive words for Holdingford Schools.

Business Manager Gerber reported he spent time at the Capitol Day. School districts are waiting on final legislation. He informed the Board that MSBO presented costs involved with new proposals to the Legislators and that has convinced them to eliminate some of the changes that would cost school districts a ton of money. Free meals for all students has passed however the compensatory funding is still being resolved. Mr. Gerber explained that insurance bids are sought every three years and this is the year to get bids for building, workmans comp, liability and cyber insurances and he is working on the FY24 revised budget and starting prep for the FY25 budget as well as developing negotiation worksheets. Other agenda items at the March 15, 2023 meeting included:

Business Items:

• Approved the Targeted Services Summer School 2023 program and budget for grades K-8

A Contractor responding to these Bidding Documents must submit to the City/Owner a signed statement under oath by an owner or officer verifying compliance with each of the minimum criteria in Minnesota Statutes, section 16C.285, subdivision 3.

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

Publish: Quest CDN: March 22, 2023

The Star Post: March 22 and 29, 2023 City of Melrose website: March 22, 2023

Colleen Winter Administrator Melrose, Minnesota

P-12-2B

• Approved the 7/1/2023-6/30/2026 Achievement and Integration Plan.

• Adopted the RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCTIONS IN PROGRAMS AND POSITIONS AND REASONS THEREFOR.

• Annual Review of the District Safe Learning Plan took place. No changes.

• The Board acknowledged the Desire to Negotiate Letter from Education Holdingford Teachers.

• Approved the Preschool Calendars for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years.

Personnel:

• Hired Julia (Jill) Slivnik for Secondary Math Teacher for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

• Hired Elizabeth Haskamp for Husker KidZone Assistant.

• Hired Alexis Reis for Husker KidZone Assistant.

• Approved the Spring Coaches as presented. Still in need of a JH Track and JH Baseball Coach.

• Accepted the resignation from Deborah Ruszat for a School Counselor position at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. The Board thanked Ms. Ruszat for her years of service with the District.

• Accepted the resignation from Shawn Jennings, an Elementary SPED Teacher position at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

• Accepted the resignation from Secondary Paraprofessional Sommer Arentz.

• Approved an Extended Leave of Absence for Secondary Paraprofessional Kim Eikmeier for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year effective 2/24/2023.

• Accepted the resignation from Custodian Brittany Hartung effective 2/24/2023.

A review of the upcoming meeting dates took place. School Board Work Session March 1, 2023 @ 6:00 PM in the HS Meeting Room. School Board Meeting March 15, 2023 @ 6:00 PM in the HS Meeting Room.

This article is a summary of the minutes. The full text is available for public inspection at the District Office or online at http:// www.isd738.org/school-board-meeting-agendasminutes.html.

Public NOTICES

Assessment and Classification of Property

This may affect your 2024 property taxes

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Appeal and Equalization for the City of Melrose will meet on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm, at the Melrose City Center. The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor.

If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact your assessor’s office to discuss your concerns. If you disagree with the valuation and classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the local board of appeal and equalization. The board shall review your assessments and may make corrections as needed. Generally, you must appeal to the local board before appealing to the county board of appeal and equalization.

Dated this 29th day of March 2023. Patricia Haase, City Clerk, City of Melrose 225 1st St NE Melrose MN, 56352 P-13-2B

NOTICE OF PUBLIC

HEARING ON VACATION OF EASEMENTS

Notice is hereby given that a hearing will be held before the Melrose City Council on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter, at the Melrose City Center, 225 1st Street NE, Melrose, MN, to consider a request by the Melrose Area Development Authority to vacate the existing right of way, drainage and utility easements in the Melrose Meadow View plat, according to the recorded plat thereof, Stearns County, Minnesota.

A copy of the existing plat 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 vacating these easements. Written testimony should be sent to the Planning and Zoning Department.

Dated this 21st day of March 2023.

SHEILA HELLERMANN –

Township of Avon

three additional phases for Avon Estates

Cox pitches $276,000 land purchase plan to city

BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER

Housing developer Kevin Cox has proposed a three-phase purchase plan for property in Avon Estates.

Cox is owner of two St. Joseph-based land-based businesses: C&L Excavating and CLC Development.

During a public forum at the March 6 Avon City Council meeting, Cox provided a sales update on lots in Avon Estates Southern View.

Twenty-three lots have been sold, two are on hold and 17 remain available.

“Currently, there are 10 that were built on in 2022, and eight more scheduled in 2023,” Cox told the council.

Cox said he wants to make sure there is a land

PUBLIC NOTICE

inventory available for the future.

Patio homes are taking off, Cox said. That’s one of the reasons why he wants to buy the remaining three land areas in the development from the city.

“Our goal would be the same exact thing we’ve done with the first two phases,” Cox said. “This would be all residential, and no apartments for multi-family housing.”

Phase 1 ($85,000) would include 10 walkout home lots. Construction would take place later this year. “We would have saleable lots this fall,” he said. “The next phase ($100,000)

would be closing on 22 north lots next spring. Phase 3 ($91,000) would be spring 2005.”

He added, “Within three to seven years we would hope the last phase would be in construction and up for sale. The city would sell land in stages.”

Cox said CLC Development would address entry roadway mill and overlay repairs as part of its offer to the city.

“There’s crack filling that needs to be done and pothole repairs,” he said. “We’d include that at our cost.”

City administrator and clerk Jodi Austing-Traut addressed the city selling the land.

Previously, the city has had Jason Murray of David Drown Associates do a review. His firm provides finance related and manage-

ment services for the city, including property tax impact analysis.

“He can look at what the city will generate in property taxes if a deal is done and housing market factors,” she said.

Cox said the city needs to decide if it wants money up front or in stages. There’s risk both ways, he said.

“That’s why we are setting this up to lock ourselves into three different phases,” he said. “If Phase 2 doesn’t go well, we aren’t going to be very excited about moving to the next phase. We recognize the city gave us a good deal right out the starting gate.” Council members concurred with Austing-Traut’s recommendation to schedule a workshop with Cox and Murry to discuss the Avon Estates land purchase proposal.

CITY PLANNER P-13-2B

Important Information Regarding Property Assessments

This may affect your 2024 Property taxes.

The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization (LBAE) for Avon Township will meet on Monday, April 17, 2023, at 7:00 PM. You can participate in this meeting in person at the Avon Township Hall (16681 Queens Road, Avon) or virtually by logging into Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8325486945 (Pass Code if requested: AvonTown). The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor.

If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact the Assessor’s Office to discuss your concerns (320-656-3680). If you disagree with the valuation and classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the local Board of Appeal and Equalization. The Board will review your assessments and may make corrections as needed. Generally, you must appeal to the local board before appealing to the county board of appeal and equalization. The Avon Township Hall is handicap-accessible.

Stephen Saupe, Clerk

Email: clerk@avontownship.org

Website: www://avontownship.org

Published in the Star-Post: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 P-13-1B

This may affect your 2024

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Appeal and Equalization for Albany Township shall meet on Monday, April 10, 2023 from 7:00 to 7:30 P.M. at the Albany City Hall Council Chambers.

The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether taxable property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor, and to determine whether corrections need to be made.

If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact your assessor’s office at property.assessment@co.stearns.mn.us to discuss your concerns. If you are still not satisfied with the valuation or classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the local board of appeal and equalization. The board shall review your assessments and may make corrections as needed. Generally, you must appeal to your local board of appeal and equalization before an appeal can be taken to the county board of appeal and equalization.

Diane E Noll, Clerk Treasurer Albany P.O. Box 344 Albany MN 320-224-9616 albanytwp@albanytel.com

Published March 29 and April 5, 2023

TOWNSHIP OF AVON

NOTICE OF ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDS

P-13-2B

Bids will be received by Avon Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, until 8:00 P.M., CDT on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at which time they will be opened and reviewed. Bids should include all labor, materials, and everything required to surface in 2023 the roadways listed below. Note: these roads will already be prepared for resurfacing by milling, grinding, and compacting.

• Two Rivers Road from Co Rd 9 to 190th Avenue (joint Avon & Holding Township project) – approx. 1 mile

• 190th Avenue (Avon Township) – approx. 0.35 mile

• 185th Avenue (Avon Township) – approx. 0.5 mile

• Red Oak Circle (Avon Township) – approx. 0.3 mile

• 400th Street east of County Road 9 (Holding Township) – approx. 1 mile

Bids should include fine blading, paving, 2 lifts, 1.5 inches each, 2 foot-wide Class 5 shoulders meeting MN State specifications. Bidders must contact Rich Sanoski at (320) 260-0125 or Rich.Sanoski@avontownship.org to confirm bid specifics prior to bid submission for the Avon Township roads. For more information about 400th Street, contact Dave Yurczyk at 320-7612087 or Dave@Davescustom.com.

Work should be completed by August 20, 2023. Striping is not to be included. Each road should be separately included in the bid.

Avon Township 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 Avon Township.

Submit all bids, either electronically or hard copy, to the Avon Township Clerk, 16881 Queens Road, Avon MN, 56310; clerk@avontownship.com; by 8 PM, Wednesday April 26, 2023.

Stephen Saupe, Clerk Avon Township, Minnesota

Published in the Star-Post on March 22 and March 29, 2023 P-12-2B

Monday Afternoon Ladies League March 13 Team Standings CWI 74-38 K&S Pharmacy 60-52 Mark’s Real People 46-66 Teals Liquor 44-68 Team high series Mark’s Real People 1465 K&S Pharmacy 1439 CWI 1399 Teals Liquor 1357 Team high game Mark’s Real People 523 K&S Pharmacy 491 Teals Liquor 485 CWI 473 Individual high series Karen Brendal 507 Jean Warner 453 Lori Lochen 433 Individual high game Karen Brendal 181 Jan Theisen 175 Jean Warner 168 Splits: Karen Brendal 5-7 Marie Schleppenbach 5-10 Thursday early • March 23 Team standings Bowl Movement 36-12 Rookies Bar 34-14 Albany American Legion 26-22 Blue Team Sports 26-22 Interstate Service Center 25-23 A.M.P.S. 22-26 J&L Woodworking 20-28 Gary’s Dairy 19-29 St. Joe Meat Market 17-31 St. Joe American Legion 15-33 Men Game Series Joe Czech 299 669 Gabe Urbanski 230 Dave Loso 224 576 Eric Rosen 223 601 Anthony King 217 Nate Rakotz 213 572 Steve Bates 565 Neil Rosen 563 Women Lisa Stroeing 168 429 Jackie Steidl 140 396 Katelyn Rakotz 121 321

P-13-1B

PUBLIC NOTICE

The 2022 Fiscal Year Public Housing Capital Fund Plan for the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of City of Melrose, doing business as Rose View Manor, is open to the public for review during the office hours at the Melrose City Center and from 8 a.m to 12 p.m. at Rose View Manor located at 16 first Street SE, Melrose, MN. A public hearing will be held May 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose View Manor.

P-13-1B

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

CITY OF ALBANY PLANNING COMMISSION

There will be a Planning Commission meeting in and for the City of Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota, at 6:30 o’clock in the evening on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in the Council room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said City for the following:

- The public hearing will be held on a request by Ramler Trucking, Inc., 400 13th Street, Albany, MN for a variance to relax the front yard setback of

PROBATE NOTICE

COUNTY OF STEARNS

DISTRICT COURT SEVENTH JUDICIAL

DISTRICT Court File No: 73-PR-23-1980

NOTICE OF AND ORDER FOR HEARING ON PETI-

TION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION OF INTESTACY, DETERMINATION OF HEIRS, FORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In Re: Estate of James Edward

PUBLIC NOTICE

The 2023 Fiscal Year Public Housing Capital Fund Plan for the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of City of Melrose, doing business as Rose View Manor, is open to the public for review during the office hours at the Melrose City Center and from 8 a.m to 12 p.m. at Rose View Manor located at 16 first Street SE, Melrose, MN. A public hearing will be held May 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose View Manor.

P-13-1B

thirty (30’) feet to allow for the construction of a 30’ x 32’ office expansion to facilitate business operations within an M2 Zone.

Anyone wishing to comment will be heard at the public hearing and written comments may be forwarded to the office of the City Clerk/ Administrator before the time of the public hearing.

Tom Schneider Clerk/Adm. Published in the Star Post on this 29th day of March, 2023. P-13-1B

Prodinsky, aka James E. Prodinsky, aka James Prodinsky Decedent.

It is Ordered and Notice is given that on April 28, 2023 at 8:45 a.m., a hearing will be held in this Court at St. Cloud, Minnesota, on a petition for the adjudication of intestacy and determination of decedent’s heirs, and for the appointment of Joseph Prodinsky, whose address is 1101 – 4th St N, Sartell, MN 56377, as personal representatives of the decedent’s estate in an unsupervised administration. Any objections to the petition must be raised at the hearing or filed with the Court prior

Holding Township Notice

The Board of Appeal and Equalization of the Town of Holding will meet on Tues., April 4, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. at the Holding Town Hall, 790 4th Street West. Holdingford, MN 56340. The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor. If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact your assessor’s office to dis-

KRAIN TOWNSHIP

Important Information

Regarding Property Assessments

This may affect your 2024 property taxes.

The Board of Appeal and Equalization for KRAIN

TOWNSHIP will meet on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., at The Krain Town Hall: 43207 State Highway 238, Freeport, MN The purpose of this meeting is to determine whether property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor. If you believe the

to the hearing. If the petition is proper and no objections are filed or raised, the personal representatives will be appointed with the full power to administer the decedent’s 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 decedent’s estate.

Notice is further given that, subject to Minn. Stat. § 524.3801, all creditors having claims against the decedent’s estate are required to present the claims to the personal representatives or to the Court within four months af-

cuss your concerns. If you disagree with the valuation or classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the local Board of Appeal and Equalization. The board will review your assessments and may make corrections as needed. Generally, you must appeal to the local board before appealing to the county board of appeal and equalization.

Julianne Ebnet, Clerk. P-12-2B

value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact your assessor’s office to discuss your concerns. If you disagree with the valuation or classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the local Board of Appeal and Equalization. The board will review your assessments and may make corrections as needed. Generally, you must appeal to the local board before appealing to the county board of appeal and equalization.

Annie Sauer: Clerk P-13-1B

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

Dated: 03-14-2023

Laura Moehrle Judge of District Court

Dated: 03-14-2023 George Lock Court Administrator Dymoke

Law Office, P.A. Scott E. Dymoke MN# 0219174 408 Main St. E, Unit 5 P.O. Box 127 Melrose, MN 56352 Telephone: 320-256-4205 Facsimile: 320-256-7201 e-mail: sedymoke@meltel. net P-13-2B

FOR

request notice of the

ceedings be given to the

may

ed 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 after the date of this Notice or the claims will be barred. Statutes section 501B.41. subdivision 5. BY THE COURT Dated: 03-21-2023 /s/ William J. Cashman Judge of District Court Dated: 03-21-2023 /s/ George Lock Court Administrator Attorney for Petitioner Marcus L. Urlaub Monroe Moxness Berg PA 7760 France Ave S., Ste 700 Minneapolis, MN, 55435 Attorney License No: 395712 Telephone: (952) 885-5999 FAX: (952) 885-5969 Email: murlaub@mnblawfirm. com P-13-2B

Youth hockey teams refi ne skills at regional level

River Lakes, Prairie Centre take part in exciting tournaments

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

At all ages and levels, hockey in Minnesota has the ability to astound and excite, to align a group of players to come together as complete teams for a common goal.

Some of central Minnesota’s brightest young hockey players rejoiced in their finest hockey experiences to date this past winter, acquiring memories to last a lifetime.

Albany middle schoolers

Emery Jansky and Gretchen

Wimmer and the River Lakes

Stars 12U B team participated in the 2023 Minnesota

Hockey 12U B South Region

Tournament in Worthington

March 3-5, while Melrose’s

Isaiah Hutchinson and the Prairie Centre North Stars

Bantam B team traveled to Moorhead Sports Center in Moorhead for 20223 Minne-

sota Hockey Bantam B West Region Tournament.

“It was super fun that we made it that far,” Wimmer said. “At the start of the season, if you told me we would have made it to regions, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

River Lakes, a large-scale co-op that consists of Belgrade, Brooten, Avon, Albany, Cold Spring, Richmond, New London, Paynesville, Eden Valley and St. John’s, put together a memorable season, going 12-0 and earning 36 points to lead the District 5 12UB standings and locking up the top seed heading into playoffs.

However, did this not guarantee them anything, as they needed to navigate a difficult bracket to accomplish a longtime goal of making it to regions. They took down the Riverhawks Red team 6-0 in the quarterfinals to kick off

their District 5 Tournament appearance Feb. 19, snagged a 5-1 victory over the Central Minnesota Riverblades in Sauk Rapids Feb. 20 before defeating the Riverblades again the following day in the championship by a score of 7-2 at Dave Torrey Arena at the famous Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud.

“Having time outside of the rink and having quality time with each other, I think it brought us closer together,” said Wimmer, a goaltender and left winger. “On the ice every day, we worked hard at practice, and that’s what makes us different.”

Turning its attention to the regional stage, River Lakes arrived and made an impact on its first day, battling past host Worthington 5-2 in the first round. The Stars struck for a pair of goals in the first period, leading the entire way in the impressive triumph. Sadly, River Lakes could not sustain this momentum, falling to Fairmont in the regional semifinals before dropping a close

game to Rochester in the elimination bracket, but that does not take away the incredible season the team had, a product of building camaraderie and cohesion.

“During games, we all had a positive attitude,” said Jansky, a left winger. “We all knew what each other were thinking about.”

This was not the only special season put together by a team in the River Lakes Hockey Association, as the PeeWee A team got hot at the right time for a championship run in the 2023 Minnesota Hockey PeeWee A South Region Tournament, advancing to state for the first time in its history with three wins March 3-5 at Faribault Ice Arena in Faribault. The Stars fought through Rochester 5-3 in the opening round, took down Albert Lea 6-2 in the semifinals and clawed its way past Mankato 4-3 with an overtime goal from Dane Zeiher.

Hutchinson and the North Stars were in a similar spot when it came to historical acts.

Alongside the PeeWee A team from Prairie Centre, it had been a long time since regions were in the picture, but the Bantams found a way. Seeded fourth in the 2023 Minnesota Hockey Bantam B District 15 Tournament, Prairie Centre defeated Northern Lakes 7-3 before losing to top-seeded Alexandria in a close 4-3 semifinals showdown Feb. 18.

“Even though we lost, we both played really well, and it was the best game we’ve been in all year,” said Hutchinson, a goaltender.

Not to be deterred, the North Stars sped past Morris/Benson Area 10-3 before once again toppling Northern Lakes in the elimination bracket championship Feb. 19, advancing to regions as the district’s third and final seed.

“From the start, we knew it was going to be a tough battle,” Hutchinson said. “But, going into districts, we had very good confidence we could play with any team in our district, because of the

Aviators achieve dynamite results in Division 5 meet

BY EVAN MICHEALSON | STAFF WRITER

Gymnastics is continuing to be a sport of success and continued promise in

Albany.

The Albany Aviators Midwest Amateur Gymnastics Association team took part in the 2023 MAGA Carnival of the Stars Division and Individual Championships March 4 at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, finishing eighth in the Division 5 championship with a team score of 114.35. In the

process, the Aviators took home the Sportsmanship Award. The divisional meet saw four gymnasts place. Bella Mueller logged a ninth-place 28.35 score in the all-around off the back of a third-place 7.6 mark in the beam and a 12th-place 7.25 in the floor in the child competition. Junior gymnast Braelyn Marthaler logged an 8.05 in the vault, a 6.3 in the bars and a 7.65 on the floor for 12th,

11th and third, respectively, taking 12th in the all-around at 27.75. Kylee Janssen continued a strong overall floor performance at the junior level, registering an eighthplace 7.35 showing.

Monika Novitzki qualified for the junior individual championships March 5, performing at a remarkable level with an 8.7 on the vault, a new personal best that allowed her to take 12th. She had reached this point through excellent routines at the junior level the day before, landing second

in the all-around at 30.875 by finishing second in the vault at 8.25, first in the bars at 7.175, 11th in the beam at 7.125 and first in the floor at

8.325.

The Aviators finished the gymnastics season with a high team score of 117.4.

Dynamite Dutchmen

What do you like most about being in band?

I’m good at it, so that makes it fun. The people in band are fun. My favorite song is “Hark the Herald Angels Rock ,” a jazz piece we play.

Which bands do you play with? All of the bands – concert band, pep band and jazz band.

What is your most memorable experience playing with the band? One time I forgot all of my music for a contest. They had to fax it to us.

What other activities are you involved in at school? Boys swimming and diving team.

What do you still hope to do in school before the school year ends? Get better at welding.

How do you try to make a difference at school? I try to mind my own business.

What teacher has impacted your education the most? Mr. (Todd) Prout. He teaches music, my favorite subject.

What is your favorite restaurant and the meal you order? Dong Khanh Restaurant in St. Cloud. Orange chicken lo mein.

responsibility and dedication we put toward hockey this season.”

To that point, it was hard not to be confident. The Bantams had shown a high level of play throughout the winter, including a third-place finish at its home I-94 Bantam B Tournament Dec. 2-4. When the time came for regions, the North Stars competed hard, falling to Minneapolis 7-4 in its first game before suffering a season-ending loss to Moorhead.

While ending any season on a loss, especially on such a big stage, can be disappointing, some of the area’s best hockey teams are proud of how they played through a spectacular winter season.

“It was a wonderful experience to make it that far,” Hutchinson said. “I’m proud of how we represented our association and area at a high level of play.”

Improve your computer’s performance by upgrading your spinning hard drive to a solid state drive. Contact us for details!

Parents:Dave and Holly Berscheit. Accomplishment: Plays many instruments in the Melrose Area High School band, with his favorite the barisax (baritone saxophone), the lowest pitched saxophone.

PHOTO

CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS

AFITTINGend

AlbanyboysrollthroughClassAAfield for firststatechampionship

BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

Tysen Gerads was confident it would happen. His coach, Cory Schlagel, undoubtedly knew the potential was there but expressed hesitancy understandable of a head coach.

Though player and coach may slightly differ on when they knew their Albany boys basketball team could compete for a state championship, everything culminated in nearly perfect fashion when it mattered most. The Huskies did what they did all season – getting scoring from every position while relying on what was perhaps an underrated defense – to an emphatic 72-65 victory over Minnehaha Academy in the Minnesota State High School League Class AA title game March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis.

It was the first boys state championship in five appearances for the Albany boys program, which finished one win away from a perfect season. Minnehaha Academy entered the game having won four state titles since 2017 while producing two topfive NBA draft picks.

The Redhawks’ (28-9) impressive tournament resume mattered zero to the Huskies, who completed a dominant postseason run with a school-record 32 victories.

Starting with a Section 6AA semifinal win over Sauk Centre, Albany’s average margin of victory the rest of the way was 13.8 points.

Championship page 2B

““"This group exemplifies Purple Pride, not only with their on-court success, but how they handle themselves as young men. Our school and community should be proud of this team."

-Scott Buntje, Albany activities director

Championship from page 1B

“I’m a little bit in shock right now,” Schlagel said. “The season is a grind. This group is tremendous to work with. They work hard and it paid off. This was the culmination of a perfect storm.”

Gerads again was the main cog in the Huskies’ powerful engine. The senior Minnesota State-Moorhead signee was one of four Albany players in double figures with 19 points. Gerads also had eight rebounds and helped preserve a lead the Huskies had the entire second half by making 7 of 9 free throws.

“This has been our goal since the season started,” said Gerads, who along with starters Sam Hondl and Zeke Austin did not play football last fall, choosing to focus on basketball. “For it to come true, it feels so good. It was our goal to win state. I’m not sure anything else thought we could, but we did. It’s amazing. I’m at a loss for words. We’ve been working for it all season and it paid off.”

Albany’s balanced attack was migraine-inducing for opposing defenses all season. Teams that focused on taking away Gerads would get stung by Ethan Borgerding’s strength inside, Zeke Austin’s outside touch, Sam Hondl’s drives to the basket and mid-range jumpers along with timely perimeter shooting from Tanner Reis, Andrew Olson and Carter Voss.

Minnehaha Academy experienced that firsthand, as the Huskies turned a rare six-point deficit into a 39-31 halftime lead thanks to a 20-6 run in which four players scored. Austin scored the last eight points of the key stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the half.

Both teams were coming off short turnarounds after winning their semifinal showdowns. Albany played the late game but mostly cruised in a 79-64 win over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton March 24.

Schlagel said his team had Jimmy John’s subs waiting for them at the hotel and the team got sufficient rest before a film-watching session over breakfast in the morning.

In the first semifinal, the Redhawks completed an emotional 76-72 overtime victory over No. 1-ranked Holy Family Catholic, who defeated them 101-56 in January and handed Albany its only loss. Schlagel said Holy Family Catholic’s surprising exit did not affect his team’s approach for the title game, though there likely was no Albany player disappointed in not having to face the Fire’s two 6-foot, 11-inch future Division I players.

“Energy-wise, I think it was hard for us, but they were in the same situation we were in, so that’s not an excuse,” said Lance Johnson, Minnehaha Academy head coach. “I knew it was going to be a battle with them because they move the ball super well. Most games, you have a couple guys you can put heavy help on defensively. You can’t do that against them.”

A 10-point early second-half Albany lead shrunk to 50-48 due to a four-minute scoring drought. But every time the Redhawks threatened, the Huskies answered with a run of their own – this time a 12-4 spurt that ended with a 64-54 lead with 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining.

“Every time we gave up a run, it was self-inflicted,” said Schlagel, whose team had a 39-26 rebounding edge. “We turned the ball over. But every time we took a timeout, they responded. Sometimes when things are going well, they start to get a little bit loose, so I had to take a minute to stare at them in their eyes and tell them to knock it off. And they responded like they did all year.”

Borgerding more than held his own in a fierce inside battle with Minnehaha’s Rolyns Aligbe. Though Aligbe led his team with 20 points on 9 of 21 shooting, Borgerding’s defense played a role in the Redhawks star fouling out with 1:51 left. Borgerding also answered with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

“Ethan is not 6-9, but he’s a beast,” Schlagel said. “He’s a strong dude down there in the post. He moved his feet well and contested (Aligbe), and that helped us out immensely.”

Austin finished with 15 points and five rebounds and Hondl added 14 points and seven boards for the Huskies, who made eight of their final 10 free throws to clinch the title and set off a wild celebration.

“It’s crazy that we’re 32-1,” Borgerding said. “To come all the way here with only one loss and win it all is pretty amazing.”

MA 31 34-65

ALB 39 33-72

ALB (FGM-FGA, FTM-FTA, PTS): Gerads 6-12, 8-9, 19 (8R), Borgerding 7-10, 2-2, 16 (11R), Austin 4-11, 4-6, 15 (5R); Hondl 4-8, 6-8, 14 (7R); Olson 2-5, 0-0, 6 (4R); Reis 1-2, 0-0, 2 (5A, 4R).

FG 24-48, FT 19-25, 3-pointers 5-12, REB 39, ASSISTS 11.

Coaching with consistency

Schlagel named Class AA’s Coach of the Year

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

Ever since his childhood, Cory Schlagel’s life has revolved around coaching.

The son of longtime Rush City coach and athletic director Bob Schlagel and the nephew of former St. Cloud State University head coach Kevin Schlagel and North Branch head coach Larry Schlagel, Schlagel often stuck around his father’s practices and after-school activities, fostering a love for sports and coaching in the process.

And over a decade into his own coaching ventures, Schlagel has built a legacy of his own, as the leader of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament champion Albany Huskies boys basketball team was named the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association’s Class AA Coach of the Year.

“I appreciate that I was voted as the Coach of the Year, but it should go to a lot of people that put the time and energy into our program, not just me,” Schlagel said.

After an athletic career of his own in Rush City, Schlagel pursued his coaching prospects as a graduate assistant for the St. Cloud State University Huskies men’s basketball team, led by his uncle, Kevin. It was at this juncture where Schlagel soaked in valuable information that would ultimately translate to his current position for the Huskies.

“The principles we install on a yearly basis are things I learned when I worked at St. Cloud State,” Schlagel said. “Our base principles and coverages all stem from there. Offensively, I’ve morphed our transition game and taken things from all over the place, but a lot of

the sets are exactly what my uncle did at St. Cloud State.”

While much of his preplanned concepts and designs come from his previous experiences, Schlagel’s success within the high school coaching realm comes from understanding strengths and weaknesses and adjusting in the midst of a game. Albany often trailed or led by minimal margins at halftime but expanded leads with strong second-half discipline, a product of understanding the opposition.

“This year, more than any year, we were able to identify mismatches and if things weren’t happening in flow, we could call something to exploit those matchups,” Schlagel said.

This game-planning and leadership is not a solo venture, as Schlagel alluded to previously. Rounding out a dedicated and intelligent Huskies coaching staff are assistant coaches Jacob Boone, Grant Johnson and Jake Gagne, who coached Albany’s junior varsity team, C-team and JV 2 teams, respectively. Boone and Johnson have worked with Schlagel for the entirety of his Albany coaching tenure, while Gagne jumped aboard two years ago and has quickly immersed himself in a

well-rounded Huskies coaching tree.

“As kids bounce up to ninth grade and JV to possibly playing in varsity, it’s the same philosophy all the way through,” Schlagel said. “To have that consistency with those guys is a big reason why our program is the way it is.”

Albany’s success within the sport of basketball, for both boys and girls, also comes from a developed, reliable stream of talent starting the activity at a young age. Through playing in the Albany Youth Basketball Association, young Huskies nurture and grow a love for the game, leading to the desire to play at a varsity level.

“It’s important for us to have,” Schlagel said. “There’s a lot of good basketball people in the community who we trust in developing those kids.”

It’s through this system that the Huskies finally broke through all previous barriers and won its first state title. Four Albany players scored at least 14 points in the Class AA championship game against Minnehaha Academy March 25: Tysen Gerads, Ethan Borgerding, Zeke Austin and Sam Hondl, all of whom bring diverse skillsets to the team’s winning ways.

“We felt like our personnel was perfect in terms of every position was a different skillset,” Schlagel said. “There were guys who played a lot of minutes that were a big part of what we were doing.”

From hoisting the trophy and receiving a piece of one of the Target Center nets, to eating Chick-fil-A as a team, to being welcomed back by a supportive, devoted Albany community, Schlagel and the Huskies have embraced a whirlwind couple of days featuring historic basketball and unbelievable moments.

“You try and think about how to properly celebrate things, but things are going too fast,” Schlagel said.

“Hopefully, the kids had a good experience.”

Schlagel’s recent coaching acclaim does not come without sacrifice. He has spent many hours away from his wife, Tara, and his three children, 12-year-old Khloe, 11-year-old Klay and 10-year-old Kade, while constructing a consistent hoops program, They, along with many others, support Class AA’s latest Coach of the Year in every endeavor.

“My name will be on it, but it’s just not me that deserves that award,” Schlagel said.

Well-rested Huskies wear down DGF

Gerads scores 31 as Albany advances

BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER

After winning their opening-round game of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament, the Albany Huskies faced an unusual predicament.

A quirk in the scheduling meant Albany had 72 hours to prepare – and wait – for a semifinal game against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton. Knowing his team had more than just enjoying the state tournament experience on their minds, head coach Cory Schlagel opted for a couple days of normalcy and brought the team home for two nights.

Turned out to be a wise decision.

Albany looked calm and rested when it returned to the court March 24. The Huskies executed offensively in every aspect and held the Rebels to 33% shooting in a 79-64 win at Target Center in Minneapolis to advance to the state championship for the first time in school history.

“I convinced the team

if we won our first game Tuesday (in the quarterfinals against Pequot Lakes), we’d come home and sleep in our own beds, and I think it was the best decision we could’ve made,” Schlagel said. “It also gave us the best chance to prepare for games back in our own school and our own gym. This is a group that is very focused and was coming down here for business.”

The strategy obviously worked for Gerads, who lit up the Rebels for 31 points on 13 of 17 shooting (76%) to go along with six rebounds.

“I was happy we got to go home because I had a lot of homework building up, so I got to get in some calculus work,” said Gerads, much to the delight of Schlagel – his teacher in that class.

The Huskies obviously did their homework on DGF, which reached the semifinals by upsetting third-seeded Plainview-Elgin-Millville March 14 at Williams Arena. Albany trailed twice in the first two minutes but was in control thereafter, leading by as many as 11 points in the first half.

Albany’s main focus defensively was stopping – or at least limiting – 6-foot5 Rebels standout Owen

Leach. The University of Minnesota-Duluth signee and quarterback of DGF’s state runner-up Class AAA football team scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half, one that had the Huskies leading by double digits for its entirety.

“Well, from day one we just preach playing defense, and I thought we competed really well on that end of the floor,” Schlagel said. “With a player like Leach, it’s tough. He’s going to get his points. I said, ‘We’ll probably give up 30 to him, but as long as we don’t give up 40 or 50, we’ll be OK.’ A player that good –it’s tough to contain the entire game.”

Albany led 34-27 at halftime, shooting 13-for-24 (54%) while limiting DGF to 10-for-29 (34%). The Huskies also had a 17-9 rebounding advantage through 18 minutes.

One of three Gerads two-handed dunks got the second half started quickly with a 12-2 Huskies run. Sam Hondl’s 3-pointer with 13 minutes remaining was his first basket of the game and ignited the sophomore the rest of the way. He finished one rebound short of a triple-double with 14 points, 11

assists and nine rebounds.

“We challenged Sam at halftime, but Leach was guarding him and that makes things tough,” Schlagel said. “They changed the matchup in the second half and that gave Sam a bit more room out there.”

Sophomore Zeke Austin finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Ethan Borgerding had 10 points and nine rebounds. Carter Voss and Andrew Olson each had 3-pointers, as did Trent Imholte just before the final buzzer.

“Any time we hit a big shot I thought we responded well and kept our composure,” Gerads said. “We did damage control after they went on a few little runs. This group just works so hard. We’d shoot in the mornings and get to the weight room. It was our goal to get to the state championship.”

DGF 27 37-64

ALB 34 45-79

ALB (FGM-FGA, FTM-FTA, PTS): Gerads 13-17, 2-5, 31 (6A); Hondl 5-1,0 3-3, 14 (11A, 9R); Austin 4-12, 3-6, 12 (8R, 3A); Borgerding 5-,7 0-0, 10 (9R); Tanner Reis 1-2, 1-1, 3; Voss 1-3, 0-0, 3; Olson 1-3, 0-0, 3; Imholte 1-1, 0-0, 3. FG 31-55, FT 8-14, 3-pointers 9-20, REB 30, TO 13.

PHOTO BY TOM FENTON

Mason Bierbaum (from left), Carter Voss and Trent Imholte celebrate an Albany scoring run March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Huskies’ lead against Minnehaha Academy dropped to two points at one stage of the game, but Albany never relinquished its advantage.

PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK

Former Albany coach and athletic director Pete Herges (left) congratulates Cory Schlagel for his team’s Class AA state championship March 25 at Albany Area High School in Albany. Herges, along with the team, family and community welcomed back the state champion Huskies.

Stealing the show

Huskies bench trio excite community with dance moves

BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER

A basketball team is far more than the players on the floor, and at the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament, the Albany Huskies and its community received a boost of energy from three players who rarely saw the court all season.

Those tuning into Channel 45 for Albany’s masterful championship run may have also seen additional entertainment in the form of three Huskies adding some life to camera reels and photos of the bench. Juniors

Devon Schaefer, Hunter Hamann and Caleb Abraham wowed the crowd and stole hearts with a variety of synchronized celebrations and dances.

“Instead of being on the bench, quiet and clapping, adding something like that gets the team more involved,” said Hamann, who sat in between Abraham and Schaefer at the end of the bench. “Even though you’re not playing, you’re involved.”

The trio has been friends for a long time, having played basketball together in the same grade. So, with established cohesion in tow, the jokesters decided to implement dancing after Huskie 3-pointers in Albany’s fourth game of the season against Holy Family Catholic at St. John’s University Dec. 29. From there, it spawned something special.

“I play sports to have fun, and this is one of the most fun teams I’ve ever been on,” said Schaefer, who sits at the very end of the Albany bench. “Everyone on the team is good friends, and we all get along great. We decided, as a group, to have as much fun as we could on the bench.”

The first move the energetic group brought to the table was holding up three fingers and moving their legs in unison, and they diversified it in the following games, going down

TO DO

Huskies hold off Pequot Lakes in state quarterfinals

BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

Sam Hondl admitted he is unfamiliar with Willie Burton. In the Albany sophomore’s defense, he was born 17 years after the Gophers basketball star dominated the same hallowed basketball arena in which his Huskies competed March 21.

Despite his lack of knowledge of the University of Minnesota legend – whose banner hangs in the rafters of Williams Arena in Minneapolis – Hondl put together a performance that helped put Albany in the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

The lean and athletic forward did it like Burton often did, using a soft inside touch and hitting midrange jumpers. He finished with a team-best 20 points in Albany’s 69-53 victory over Pequot Lakes in the quarterfinals of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament.

The Huskies (30-1) will make their first appearance in the state semifinals when they face Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (25-6) at 8 p.m., Friday, March 24, at Target Center in Minneapolis.

back up after threes and even learning a dance they saw on TikTok. While getting in rhythm can be difficult, especially having to react to in-game situations, the lively bunch quickly got in sync.

“We had that natural chemistry,” said Abraham, who sits the farthest from the end of the bench, next to Hamann. “We’ve been close most of our lives, and it came pretty quick.”

Schaefer, Hamann and Abraham cycled through this three-dance rotation for most of the season, providing a reliable, ever-present spark whenever it felt necessary. And as the Huskies advanced through the Sec-

trio added more routines to the growing collection of crowd-pleasers. Whenever senior forward Ethan Borgerding scored a basket, the three held their arms up and flexed, a flourish nicknamed “Byzz.” Even with a natural ability to work in tandem, these dedicated Huskies harnessed their newfound craft.

“The dance moves don’t come naturally,” Abraham said. “We had some pregames going, set up some chairs, got some celebration practice in.”

This terrific game time tradition was not something these three Albany high schoolers did for external attention or acclaim, but rather as a way to provide joy and motivation for their basketball brothers. So, when they

were swarmed with positive comments about their moves making it on TV, they were floored.

“I checked my phone and saw a lot of videos of myself and how much of a clown I was,” Hamann said. “It’s just nice to see, even though it’s not a huge part of the game and it’s not a part of the stat line.”

Schaefer, renowned by even his coaching staff as the main provider of humor amongst the team, took this gag to another level during player introductions. As the Channel 45 camera introduced him as a member of the team, he stared down the camera in an almost-cold manner, a complete contrast from the smiles and waves shown by the rest of his team.

“I’m not a dangerous person,” he said. “I’m just joking with the stare-down.”

The group does not know whether this show-stealing, wholesome series of dances will continue, as it depends on whether they receive minutes in their senior campaigns. Regardless, the playful trio hopes what they built in a monumental, memory-filled 2022-23 season carries into the future.

“I’m hoping for more next year,” Abraham said. “I would love to see other people get in on the dancing, get some more moves going.”

“Coach (Cory Schlagel) has helped me on my shot in practice, and I’ve been working on it for such a long time,” said Hondl, who finished 10 of 14 from the field. “It’s great to be shooting at a high percentage.”

Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton defeated third-seeded Plainview-Elgin-Millville 63-61 to advance. In the other quarterfinals played simultaneously at Target Center, top-seeded Holy Family Catholic beat Eden Valley Watkins 80-52, and fifth-seeded Minnehaha Academy got past fourth-seeded Maple River 53-48. The Class AA championship was at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 25, at Target Center.

Holy Family Catholic dealt Albany its only loss of the season – a 76-68 decision Dec. 28, 2022, in the Breakdown Granite City Classic.

Pequot’s defensive style, while tricky, also gave Hondl opportunities to thrive.

“Sam would get the ball in the middle of the zone, and when they give him space like that, he was very good,” Schlagel said. “Once he started making some shots, it gets contagious. When everyone else sees the ball going in the basket, it makes it a bit easier. We had guys keep firing the basketball.”

Albany defeated Pequot Lakes 74-52 Jan. 9. Although the victory margin was similar, the tone of the game meant Schlagel could not breathe easy until the final minute.

The first half tempo was not to the Huskies’ liking, though they still led 27-18 at halftime despite Tysen Gerads and Ethan Borgerding combining for six points.

Albany’s outside shooting found its groove in the second half. Gerads hit three 3-pointers on his way to finishing with 19 points – three days removed from a 27-point performance against Milaca in the Section 6AA championship. Carter Voss also nailed two 3-pointers that came at crucial times. Sophomore Zeke Austin was 3-for-3 on threes and had 13 points.

The Patriots’ trapping zone defense caused problems for the Huskies, who finished with 14 turnovers. When a reporter asked Schlagel if his team would be working on cutting down on turnovers before the state semifinals, he playfully looked at his players, realizing they knew the answer.

“It was a slugfest in terms of them running that 1-2-2 three-quarter court trap, and in terms of trying to go against it, we weren’t as crisp as we should be,” said Schlagel, whose team had a 36-16 rebounding advantage. “We didn’t come to the ball every time, but we were able to get some open looks on them. It was one of those games where we had to keep feeling everything out, but we played defense the entire game.”

Pequot Lakes made only two of its first 16 shots. Albany also was chilly from the outside early in a first half that was, at times, stagnant.

A 51-32 Albany lead with 7 minutes and 35 seconds remaining was cut to 53-45 in less than two minutes and led to a Schlagel timeout. His message apparently rang clear to his team, who scored the next nine points to allow for breathing room.

“Stop taking dumb shots,” Schlagel said he told his team. “We were just hurting ourselves, but we came out with a little run on them to kind of seal it.”

PL 18 35-53

ALB 27 42-69 ALB (FGM-FMA FTM-FTA PTS): Hondl 10-14, 0-0, 20 (12R, 5A); Gerads 7-17, 2-5, 19 (6A); Austin 4-6, 2-2, 13 (3A); Borgerding 3-4,

“It’s a really good accomplishment. My sister, Faith, was on the girls team that won state. It’s fun to see what they experienced. It was overwhelming once the final buzzer went off.” -Ethan Borgerding, senior

1-1, 7 (6R); Voss 2-5, 0-0, 6; and Tanner Reis 0-2, 4-4, 4 (8R).

PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON

Devon Schaefer (from left), Hunter Hamann and Caleb Abraham break out a synchronized dance move during the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament semifinals March 24 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The trio caught the eye of several TV cameras during Albany’s run to a state title.

Hunter Hamann (center) pretends to suffer an electric shock as Caleb Abraham (left) and Devon Schaefer join in his excitement following an Albany basket March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Albany bench provided essential support in the team’s Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament championship appearance.

Caleb Abraham (from left), Hunter Hamann and Devon Schaefer clap and stomp their feet in unison March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The group practiced their celebrations, often times working on their routines before games.

Devon Schaefer gestures to the other end of the court after a Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton turnover March 24 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Schaefer is known for his humorous antics, creating dance moves with teammates and staring down the camera with a deadpan expression during introductions.

"It has been fun to see what both teams have accomplished all year and it was so exciting to see the boys end their season with a state championship.The state tournament is such a fun experience, and the memories you make with your team you will remember for a long time. So, for the boys to be able to win it all is such a cool experience."

-Paige Meyer, 2021 Albany High School graduate and member of the 2020-21 state champion Huskies girls basketball team

(Left)

Albany Huskies boys basketball team mob at center court after winning the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The win over Minnehaha Academy marked Albany's first-ever state title.

Members of the Albany Huskies student section show off their energy during the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. In the closing minutes of the state championship game, the student section and Albany community made their support known, giving their team an ovation as players and coaches received firstplace medals.

Love of basketball

makesforspecialmonth

Gerads family relishes every second of watching kids

BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER

Shanna and Bob Gerads faced an unfortunate dilemma March 17.

Their daughter, Kylan, was competing for the Albany Huskies girls basketball team in the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Girls Basketball State Tournament semifinals at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. At the same time, about 65 miles northwest, son Tysen would be taking the court with hopes of leading the Huskies boys program to state in the Section 6AA championship at St. Cloud State University.

Who would go where?

That was the excruciating question for two parents who do whatever possible to see every game.

“I didn’t know what to do, but Tysen promised me before the section final they would not lose,” Shanna said. “But with March Madness, you never know what can happen, so I decided to watch him and Bob went to watch Kylan and the girls.”

Deciding what child to watch on a given night is the only peril involved in what has been a wild and joyous season-long ride of Albany High School basketball. Much of the past month for the Gerads family has been a blur, but that is part of what made it unforgettable.

“It still seems like we should have a game to go to tomorrow,” said Bob, who started a position with Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union in Baxter Feb. 1. “It’s been an awesome few weeks

for us. Ending with a championship – you couldn’t have written a better story for our family.”

Basketball is a way of life for the Gerads family.

Bob starred for the Albany boys before graduating in 1994 and went on to play two years at Fergus Falls Community College. Shanna, a 1998 graduate, played three years of varsity ball for the Huskies, including on the 1997 state tournament team.

Oldest son Isaiah, now at North Dakota State University, senior Tysen and junior Kylan were practically born with basketballs in their hands. There is no sibling rivalry, Shanna said, adding Isaiah is by far the biggest fan of Tysen and Kylan.

Tysen and Kylan share basketball stories while shooting hoops in the driveway or during the occasional game of one-on-one. Kylan

was a freshman on Albany’s 2021 state title team and was a key factor on this season’s state tournament run that ended with a loss to powerful Providence Academy in the championship.

“Things have been very crazy, very exciting and pretty stressful,” Kylan said. “I have been going to watch my brothers in tournaments since I was little. It’s different watching Tysen play than it is for me playing. I think I’m more nervous watching the boys team play. It was exciting for them to win it and awesome they were able to experience it.”

Though no one is keeping track, Tysen evened the score in terms of Gerads’ household gold medals, helping the Huskies boys program to their first championship that

a 72-65 victory over Minnehaha Academy March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Both made their respective all-tournament teams.

“She told me it was the best feeling in the world when she won state as a freshman,” Tysen said. “Our family has been scrambling to Minneapolis, St. Cloud and St. John’s a lot. But it’s been great.”

The Albany girls state quarterfinal game also conflicted with the boys section semifinal game against Sauk Centre March 15. Weather pushed the boys game up a day due to an incoming weather system.

“Kylan was not happy when she found out she couldn’t go to that boys’ game,” Shanna said.

Shanna said she probably gets more nervous watching Tysen play because of his leaping ability. His gravity-defying dunks send him sailing through the air, and Shanna’s motherly instincts take over, causing her to worry about him landing awkwardly and getting injured.

“It’s been quite a ride,” Shanna said. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster and so crazy. I don’t know that we slept much. We just kept saying, ‘Just let us win more game.’ You just keep pinching yourself to make

sure it’s real that they won.”

For Bob, high school sports are about much more than W’s and L’s. Athletics, he said, are about growth on and off the court.

“I couldn’t be happier to see all that work pay off,” Bob said. “The lessons I learned in athletics served me so well.

to

(Above) Shanna Gerads, a 1998 Albany High School graduate, shows her excitement after the Albany boys defeated Minnehaha Academy 72-65 for the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament championship March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Her son, Tysen, and daughter, Kylan, both played in the state tournament. (Above, right) Bob Gerads, a 1994 Albany High School graduate, soaks in the festive atmosphere after the Huskies boys basketball team won the Class AA state title March 25 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Two of the Gerads children, Tysen and Kylan, have now won state championships.

PHOTO BY EVAN MICHEALSON Albany senior Tysen Gerads goes up over Pequot Lakes defenders for a hard-fought layup March 21 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Gerads scored 19 points in the Huskies’ 69-53 win over the Patriots in the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament quarterfinals.

PHOTO BY EVAN MICHEALSON (Right) Albany’s Andrew Olson (right) stops during a dribble to avoid a Pequot Lakes defender March 21 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Olson and the Huskies advanced to the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament semifinals against Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.

There is so much value

be taken from this.”

PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON Tysen Gerads throws down a thunderous dunk during the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys Basketball State Tournament semifinals March 24 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Tysen’s mother, Shanna, always gets nervous when her high-flying son goes up for a dunk, worried about potential injuries.

PHOTOS BY TOM FENTON

PHOTOS BY TOM FENTON

The

(Above)