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Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Number 48 • Volume 134
Communication vital to dairy farmers’ lifestyle
ATKINSON TO TALK ABOUT SPACE MISSIONS BOOK AT MELROSE LIBRARY
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
NAMI provides support, services for mental health issues
pg. 6
BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER
The need to communicate and listen. That was at the heart of a Thankful for Family Farmers Growing Our Future presentation by counselor Ted Matthews, from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Nov. 10, during a National Alliance on Mental Illness presentation at the Melrose American Legion in Melrose. COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS NAMI-St. Cloud Area organized the event, which was sponsored by Stearns County PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN Farm Bureau, Minnesota Eleanor Marthaler (front, from left) watches as Dave Jonas and Mary Hopfer dish up her Thanksgiving meal Nov. 23 at Harvest Church in Freeport. The Dairy Initiative and MinneMarthaler family, which includes Jeremy (back, from left), Jessica and Natalie, are from Sauk Centre. sota Farmers Union Matthews provided information about dealing with stress on dairy farms. He said there have been many changes in the last 50 years, some which add to the stress levels of farming. “Everything in farming is an educated guess,” he said. “It doesn’t mean it will work out. What is the only reason a person would be a dairy a Thanksgiving meal. That includes their their daughter. The funeral of Steinemann’s farmer? It’s was because that’sto rise Monday, More than 25 volunteer As the sun starting Commercial daughter, Julie Steinemann, of Greenwald, husband Jim was held in August at Harvest you and what you are.” Contractors Company workers from MelroseHarvest were in- Church and her son, Logan, who are church members. Church. during The swing of feelings side theby Lisa’s building working on securing In fact, Dave dished up homemade dressClose to 150 people were served the tracaused hopeOn andMain expecthe west wall. PHOTO BYThanksgiving CAROL MOORMANmeal ing he and Judy made. ditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey, dresstations versus the reality of “We’ve been married almost 50 years,” ing, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, getting the work done and Judy said, with Dave adding, “We’ve been cranberries and rolls, along with a variety of BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER crops in, changing prices and making food almost 40 years” for weddings, pies. Church member Paula Peltz said the two the need to meet payment hog roasts and over events. homemade pies she made were still warm, schedules are not always Along with giving of their time, with proof that they were made earlier that mornolunteers Dave and Judy Jonas, understood by non-farming more than 25 other volunteers, the dressing ing. of rural Sauk Centre, worked communities. alongside Harvest Church congre- was their donation to the second annual event. Thanksgiving page 3 The Jonases were volunteering thanks to gation members in Freeport Nov. 23 serving Dairy farmers page 3
400 Block update
Giving back while
giving thanks V
Sitting with
Santa
y n a b l A director’s debut Kleppe, Rysavy, Wilwerding delighted to work with ‘Spamalot’ cast, crew BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Ivy Kluempke (front, right) smiles but Varian Kluempke is not quite as happy about sitting on Santa’s lap at Coborn’s in Melrose during the Nov. 24 Melrose Holiday Kickoff in Melrose. After visiting with Santa, children could color and decorate a cookie.
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Amy Wilwerding is used to being on stage, bringing a character to life. For the Albany Area Schools’ production of “Spamalot,” she is in front of the stage directing the cast of more than 45 students in grades 6-12. It is her first time directing a production. “As a director, it’s a completely different set of skills than being on stage,” she said. “I’m in charge of every-
thing, and that has been, at times, overwhelming, but it definitely feels good when you solve the problem of the day, and there is always at least one.” Vocal director Kara Rysavy is also new to Albany productions but she has had many opportunities to work as an actor and musical director. “I was most recently on stage as the narrator for G Theatre’s Production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ and I directed music for several shows for the schools I have previously taught in,” Rysavy said.
PUBLIC NOTICES Meire Grove Cooperative Notice of Special Meeting.............. pg. 11 City of Melrose Public Hearing ............................................. pg. 11 City of Albany Public Hearing ............................................... pg. 11 Summons............................................................................. pg. 10 West Central Education District Minutes (2) ......................... pg. 10 West Central Eduacation District Annual Budget .................. pg. 10 Albany Area Schools Annual Budget .................................... pg. 10 Albany Area Schools Agenda, Nov. 29 .................................. pg. 10 City of Avon Ord. No. 233, 235 and 236 ................................ pg. 10 Assumed Name Amendment - Projoy Bookkeeping ............. pg. 11
Debut page 5
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Artistic director Amy Wilwerding (second from left) and vocal director Kara Rysavy (right) work with students on a scene from “Spamalot” Nov. 22 in the Blattner Energy Arts Theatre at Albany Area Schools in Albany. Wilwerding and Rysavy are in their first year of directing at the Albany school. Not pictured was John Kleppe, technical director since 2018 and pit band director since 2017.
BIRTHS page 3 Evan John Goebel Jameson Ray Passeau
OBITUARY page 9 Michael W. Rieland
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