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GOOD NEIGHBOR DAYS: Photos of annual event PAGE 9
Good Neighbor of the Year helps those who need it BY SHANNON GRANHOLM EDITOR
HUGO — Those who live near Rick Kissner have likely had their driveway snowplowed, borrowed tools from him or even had things fi xed by him. Kissner, who has lived in Hugo for 31 years, was nominated by a neighbor (who will remain anonymous) for the 2018 Good Neighbor of the Year. Since 1995, when the tradition began, at least one person — not necessarily a Hugo resident — has been recognized for their importance to the Hugo community during Good Neighbor Days. Occasionally, it has been a couple, and in 2008 it was an entire family. Kissner is the 24th recipient. The person who nominated Kissner wrote, “Rick is a beacon in our neighborhood for help ... He has been a great role model as a very hardworking man who loves his family. He owns a small business, so finding the time to be able to be all things good is pivotal in the neighborhood and family.” The nomination letter also said, “If a neighbor has a problem with anything mechanical, the
fi rst thing folks around here say, is ‘Did you talk to Rick?’ As long as I have known him, I have never heard him judge or criticize anyone. He is a realist on helping people out at difficult times.” Hugo Lion and founder of the Good Neighbor tradition, Katie Riopel, said the fact that he owns his own business and still makes time to help his neighbors out really made Kissner stand out. “Snowplowing, that’s huge when someone takes the time to do that. Especially in rural Hugo, we have big driveways. That’s just what neighbors do, but there are a lot of people who don’t. They do their own and just go back inside,” she said. “There are so many times when people will move to the country to not be neighborly, but the old foundation, that’s what you do out here. If somebody needs help, you pitch in.” Kissner has been married to his wife Karen for 45 years; they have three children and seven grandchildren. For the past 14 years, Kissner has owned Hometown Tire & Service in West St. Paul. Despite SEE GOOD NEIGHBOR, PAGE 9
Homelessness study explores options BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER THE LOWDOWN EDITOR
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Hugo resident Rick Kissner was chosen as this year’s Good Neighbor of the Year. Kissner has lived in Hugo for 31 years and can often be spotted plowing driveways, borrowing tools and fixing things.
STILLWATER — Youth homelessness is a largely invisible problem in Washington County, but a group of panelists sat down in the basement of St. Paul Lutheran Church June 11 to examine the possible solutions for local youth based on a recent study conducted in the county. The study was conducted mainly by Joan Countryman, a member of the St. Croix Family Resource Center Board. The study was funded by a Rotary International grant, as well as contributions by five local Rotary clubs. Finding a definitive number of youth was extremely challenging, Countryman explained. “It’s like nailing Jell-O to a tree,” she said. “You just cannot count the kids because they’re couch hopping; one minute they have a phone, the next minute they don’t; they’re moving around; and they don’t necessarily want to be found.” However, all signs indicate that Washington County is comparable to national statistics: approximately 9 percent of young adults report SEE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS, PAGE 2 & 3
Father-son duo find Spike — again BY SHANNON GRANHOLM EDITOR
HUGO — For the second year in a row, a father and son have teamed up to fi nd the Golden Spike in Hugo’s annual treasure hunt that takes place during Good Neighbor Days. Searching for Spike has become a family tradition for Sean Noren and his son Mason, who will be a sixth-grader at Central Middle School in the fall. Last year, Sean and Mason were accompanied by
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Sean’s wife Kerry and Mason’s siblings, Ava and Noah, when they found Spike in Lions Park. Shortly after the 5 p.m. clue (No. 9) came out on Saturday, June 9, Sean and Mason found Spike a couple of inches from the base of a single sumac bush on the west side of McCollar Park in Fable Hill. The Noren family has lived in Hugo since 2004 and has searched for the Golden Spike every year since 2009, the fourth year of the hunt. “I just like trying to solve
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puzzles, trying to figure out what the clues are trying to say. It is fun to get out and see these parks we don’t usually go to,” Sean said. “It is fun doing it together, too. It is something fun that we can do, something out of the ordinary ... It is neat when you are out there with other people and get to experience it with them.” This year, Sean was convinced Spike was hidden in Hanifl Fields Athletic Park after Clues No. 5 and 6 came out referring to “groups of
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three.” “When I went to look at the satellite view of the park, there were three parking lots, three soccer fields, there was three of different things. That got me thinking, it seemed like the most logical place,” Sean said. On Friday night, Sean sent Kerry and the children out to search Hanifl Fields Athletic Park. After the Saturday morning clue (No. 8) came out referring to “Bob Dylan’s SEE SPIKE, PAGE 12
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Sean Noren and his son Mason found the Golden Spike in McCollar Park in Fable Hill. The Noren family also found Spike last year in Lions Park.
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