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Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Number 47 • Volume 134
Learning, growing together
PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN AND SUBMITTED
George Bieniek talks about Edward Klepaida Nov. 7 while working on a puzzle at Tranquility Place in Albany where Bieniek lives. As a sixth grader growing up in rural ATKINSON TO TALK Holdingford, Bieniek met Klepaida before he left ABOUT SPACE for the military, serving in Korea. (Below) Edward MISSIONS BOOK Klepaida was in theATArmy and deployed to MELROSE LIBRARY Korea. He was killed in action while serving his country pg. 6in Chowan, North Korea.
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
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
CentraCare-Melrose President Jenn Tschida is ready for another busy work day Nov. 8 standing near the clinic entrance in Melrose. She has worked at the medical campus 29 years and became president Oct. 15.
Tschida named new CentraCare-Melrose president
COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS
BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER 400 Block update
Jenn Tschida has worked at the Melrose medical campus since she was 15 when she was a candy striper at Pine Villa Nursing Home, when the facility was owned by the city of Melrose. On Oct. 15, this rural Spring Hill woman began her new role as CentraCare-Melrose president. “Jenn has served in this interim position for the past six months, and we’re excited for her to continue in this role as president,” said Bryan Bauck, executive director-Rural Health Western Region. “Her leadership skills and experience have been a valuable asset, and she has earned the trust, respect and confidence of the campus and community.” Before becoming president, Tschida was senior director of ambulatory services, included As the sun was starting to rise which Monday, Commercial operational oversight strategic direction forwere the inContractors Companyand workers from Melrose campus. side the Lisa’s On Main building working on securing Tschida credit herBYparents, Ronnie the west wall.is quick to PHOTO CAROL MOORMAN and Erma Bertram, of Freeport, with an upbringing that led her where she is in her career. “I’m one of those people, if I’m given a task, I will do it,” she said Nov. 8 sitting in her office. “I look at my parents and how they raised us to be, and I know I have a lot of their same characteristics.” As a young child, Tschida knew she wanted to be a nurse.
Tschida page 3
Avon council approves fire hall asbestos testing quote Sartell-based cooperative will complete work
Sharing an
untold story Bieniek grateful to Klepaida, his hero, protector BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
G
eorge Bieniek and his five brothers, Andrew, Aloys, Blaise, John and Thomas, were all veterans. Like George, Andrew, Blaise, Thomas and John were all in the Army. Aloys was in the Navy. And they all returned home safe and sound to rural Holdingford.
When Veterans Day rolls around each year, Bieniek’s thoughts go toward another veteran, one who didn’t return home — Edward Klepaida, of Elmdale. “He was my hero,” Bieniek, 89, said Nov. 7 while working on a puzzle at Tranquility Place in Albany, where he is a resident. Bieniek shared the story he had never told anyone before — about Klepaida who was his hero in more ways than one. Bieniek was in sixth grade when Klepaida was visiting his sister, Rose, who lived next door to the
Bienieks’ family farm. “Edward was on leave and visiting family before he left for war,” Bieniek said. Bieniek drove his bike to country school every day and there was a “mean dog” that caused him to peddle his bike fast downhill so the dog couldn’t get him. For five days, Klepaida was on the road, watching for the dog when the Bieniek boys were going to and coming from school.
Untold story page 3
Borstad thankful for his life Melrose emergency personnel awarded life-saving pins
BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER
The city of Avon has hired a Sartell-base service cooperative to complete fire hall asbestos testing. Council members approved a $1,092 quote from Resource Training & Solutions earlier this month. Public Works Foreman Chuck Pelkey said Nov. 6 during a city council meeting at Avon City Hall in Avon the pre-demolition asbestos inspection and hazardous material survey would include an extra cost of $21 per layer if roofing samples were needed at the city fire hall. Avon city leaders want to issue a maximum of $2.58 million in general obligation bonds for a new fire hall. That amount and a capital improvement plan for the project were approved Sept. 11 by council. The city is proposing issuance of the bonds later this year once bids for the fire hall project are received. Current plans call for expanding the current public safety facility at 140 Stratford St. E. by roughly 8,500 square feet.
Asbestos page 4
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BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
Bryan Borstad is especially thankful this Thanksgiving. “Without these guys, I would be dead,” he said Nov. 16, looking around the Melrose City Council chambers at Melrose police, fire and ambulance department members who saved his life Oct. 5 and received life-saving awards. Borstad was working at Melrose Metalworks Inc. when he collapsed. “Sam Sullivan was working by me and tried to help me and called 911 right away,” he said, about what he was told.
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Melrose Ambulance Service members Gina Eggert (front, from left), Will Stone and Julie Ulbricht; Melrose Police Chief Craig Maus; Bryan Borstad and Melrose Fire Rescue members Mckahl Long, Hallie Feldewerd, Joe Woeste and Tom Budde; (back, from left) fire rescue members Angel Vargas and Joe Finken gather Nov. 16 in the Melrose City Center council chambers in Melrose. Each first responder received a certificate and life-saving pin for saving Borstad’s life Oct. 5.
“I don’t remember going to work that day,” Borstad said. “I don’t remember anything.” Mckahl Long, who works at Melrose Metalworks and is also a Melrose firefighter and on the fire
rescue crew, was first on the scene. He was working in a building when his pager went off. “I didn’t get good reception with the pager and went out the door and heard it was at Melrose
Metalworks Inc., and I knew it wasn’t me, so I had to figure out who it was,” Long said.
Borstad page 3
PUBLIC NOTICES Albany Area School Advertisement for Bids............................ pg. 7 City of Avon Public Hearing Notices (2) .................................. pg. 7 City of Albany Planning Commission Vacancy ........................ pg. 7 City of Albany Public Hearing Proposed Property Taxes .......... pg. 7 Meire Grove Cooperative Notice of Special Meeting................ pg. 7 City of Melrose Public Hearing ............................................... pg. 7 City of Melrose Ord. No. 11-16-2023 Cannabis Regulation ..... pg. 7 Holdingford School Board Briefs............................................. pg. 7 Summons............................................................................... pg. 7
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