Albany cross country page 7
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Number 43 • Volume 134
Navigating the driver shortage
PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN
Theresa Kortan holds and displays rosaries she made Oct. 13 in her Melrose home. On the counter is a photo of her son, Dean; his wife, Becki; and their children, DeAnna and Jesse. (Below) Theresa Kortan holds a cross on a rosary in memory of her ATKINSON TO TALK husband Mike who passed ABOUT SPACE away June 2. They both have MISSIONS BOOK AT a strong connection to the MELROSE LIBRARYBlessed Virgin Mary, dating back to when Mike made a pg. 6 trip to Medjugorje.
Melrose researching policing options ... pg. 3 Hiltner happy to carry on legacy ... pg. 7 ‘A Team’ has first baby boy in 2017 ... pg. 16 Gymnasts scoring with the best ... pg. 10
Albany relies on transportation company, substitute bus drivers BY HANS LAMMEMAN STAFF WRITER
In response to ongoing staffing challenges concerning bus drivers, Albany Area Public Schools turned to a third-party transportation services company and private citizens that have stepped up as substitutes to maintain smooth operation. During an Oct. 11 Albany School Board meeting in the district office board room, superintendent Travis Okerlund discussed the district using St. Peter-based company 4.0 School Services to manage a route. Okerlund said a 4.0 driver began running route 17 Oct. 9 after the lack of a consistent driver for the route and an already busy schedule for the transportation department. “We were filling it with subs every day; As the was starting to rise Monday, Commercial that wassun problematic,” Contractors workers from Melrose were inOkerland saidCompany in his side the Lisa’s On Main superintendent’s report. building working on securing the west “We had wall. 55 field trips PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER and sports runs events in the month of September — 44 sports and 11 field osaries can be found around trips.” Theresa Kortan’s Melrose home. The district is Most have been made by Theworking with 4.0 School resa, who is following in her mother Marilyn Services to bring on Uphus’ rosary-making footsteps. additional drivers to fill The cross on a rosary dangling from up to three more daily Theresa’s lampshade is special because it is in routes, Okerlund said. memory of her husband Mike who passed away
COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS
400 Block update
Rosary ritual
Melrose woman’s faith JuneA2.closeness to the Blessed Virgin Mary was cemented, Theresa said, when Mike made 1997 trip to Medjugorje, the site of an Our led her back to her son aLady of Medjugorje Catholic pilgrimage, with
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a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary to six local children. Three of these visionaries still receive daily apparitions and the other three only on special occasions. “Mary works in so many ways,” Theresa said Oct. 13, during a month dedicated to the rosary. That includes reuniting Theresa with her son, Dean, who she placed for adoption 52 years ago. “My faith really started again when my son
came into our lives,” she said. “God works in strange ways. He knows when we need what we need. Dean could have come into my life before this but there was a reason why he came into my life when he did. I feel a strong part was to bring me back to my faith again.” About 10 years ago Theresa received a call from Catholic Charities saying her son was searching for her, and he had written her a letter. “The minute I read that letter I knew he had a strong faith, and I wrote him a letter back,” she said.
Rosary ritual page 3
Drivers page 3
Potato Perfect fit pancake
Boeckermanns purchase Lucky Dog Lodge
BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
feast
Nathan and Brandee Boeckermann and daughters Lilly, Hallie, Mylee and Kyleigh love animals. It might be the family springer spaniels they have enjoyed for the last 18 years; kittens running around the yard; Hallie’s pet turtle; their family dog, Lexi; and horses, which are Lilly’s favorite hobby. They also raise chickens for Pilgrim’s Pride. So, their July purchase of Lucky Dog Lodge Pet Boarding & Grooming in Albany has been a perfect fit for them. Brandee was familiar with the PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN business because she The Boeckermann family — Kyleigh (front); (middle, from left) Hallie, Lilly and Mylee; did the bookkeeping for (back, from left) Nathan and Brandee holding dog Lexi — gather Oct. 10 inside a room at the previous owners. When Lucky Dog Lodge Boarding & Grooming in Albany. They took over ownership July 25. she found out the owners the new owners. Brandee Boeckermanns bookkeeping, and Nathan were interested in selling, oversees the day-to-day performs the maintenance she and Nathan discussed page 3 work. it, and July 25 they became activity and does the
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Geri Primus delivers freshly made potato pancakes to the serving line at the start of the Oct. 15 Potato Pancake and Sausage Supper at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church basement in Meire Grove. The traditional meal was served from 3-7 p.m. More photos on page 2.
Feast page 2
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PUBLIC NOTICES
OBITUARIES page 4
Melrose Public School Notice of Special Election .........pg. 6 Holdingford School Notice of General Election ............pg. 6 Albany Area Schools Agenda, Oct. 25 ..........................pg. 7 Albany Area Schools Reg. Board Meeting, Oct. 11 .......pg. 7 City of Albany Planning Commission Public Hearing ...pg. 7 City of Albany Public Hearing Water Usage Assessmentpg. 7 Stearns County Board of Adjustment Public Hearing ...pg. 7 Holding Township Notice.............................................pg. 7
Elmer E. Gangl Nancy K. Jeske Aurelia J. Kohorst Arthur P. Roehrl
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