AMERY
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020 VOL. 127 NO. 50 www.theameryfreepress.com $1.00
Celebrating being 10 decades young
Walkin’ and Readin’ BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
100 years is something to be proud of and a privilege not many live to see. Amery resident Myrna Brown turns the big 1-0-0, May 19. She was born Myrna Eula Peper to Albert and Ester Peper (Getschel) in a farmhouse in Farmington Township. She grew up in the Farmington/Osceola area with her parents and sister, attending a one-room school with one teacher for all grades. Brown said “ I walked 1 ¼ miles each day to and from school. I had to walk a mile to the county road to get to the bus. The only time I didn’t have to walk home from school is when it was snowing and I would hear sleigh bells ringing, this was my dad on the horse to pick me up and was music to my ears.” She also said roads were not plowed during this time. Growing up she enjoyed music, playing clarinet in band and dancing. After graduating school, she helped in homes with various types of housework. On a blind date, she met Ken Kjeseth and married him in 1938 at East Farmington’s Zion Lutheran Church. To this union six children were born, Wayne, Margie, Donna, Larry (Hoot), Linda and Diane. Brown said that life from the 1920s though the 1940s were pretty plain. SEE 100 YEARS, PAGE 3
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Myrna Brown will blow out 100 candles May 19. During her long life, she has cherished the days spent making memories with her family.
Some things just go together. A needle and thread, peanut butter and jelly and hugs and kisses. The Wilberg Memorial Public Library of Osceola has made it possible to add walking and reading to that list through a new project located on the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail (SSLST). Cards have been placed along the SSLST for walkers so trail enthusiasts can read a story while they exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Rebekah Palmer, Osceola library Youth Services librarian saw a storywalk that was done at Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes, Minnesota and thought that would be a great thing to do in in this area. It seemed like a great way to combine the outdoors and literacy in this time of social distancing. Anne Miller, Osceola library Circulation Manager, is on the board of the Friends of the SSLST. Miller was able to discuss with the rest of the SSLST board the possibility of the Stower Trail hosting a storywalk and they agreed. Palmer and Miller first put the Storywalk out Friday, April 29, starting at the Nye trail parking area. Next, it
was moved to the Wanderoos segment of the trail May 2, and finally into Amery on May 6th where it remained through the weekend. “We have received great feedback from surrounding
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Nora Kamm on SSLST storywalk.
communities and will gladly continue this service to support social distancing and spending time outdoors,” said Shelby Friendshuh, Library Director. There are two more books currently being made into Storywalks, which will be set up in various locations on the SSLST over the next two months. Watch the Wilberg Memorial Public Library of Osceola's Facebook page for notifications of when and where the storywalk can be found.
City moves forward housing all services under one roof BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
The city council has voted unanimously to move forward with the purchase of the Bremer Bank building with plans to remodel and house City Hall, Amery Police Department and the Amery Public Library. During the May 6 Facebook Live meeting, call in public statements were not allowed.
Statements sent into City Hall were posted on the City’s social media page an hour before the start of the meeting, but not read aloud Only one person was allowed to give a public statement. Wendy Dietrich, President of the Amery Public Library Board shared the Library Board’s concerns one last time. During talk about the space assessment, council members said space would need to be
‘I look at this as an opportunity to modify our thinking as to how things are done.’ Sarah Flanum, Council Member used differently and more effectively, with opportunities to use certain spaces for more than one thing. Council member Sarah Flanum said this has been a very difficult decision to make but believes it is the right one. “I look at this as
an opportunity to modify our thinking as to how things are done. I look at this as a great opportunity. Is everyone going to get everything that they want-probably not,” she said. Council member Tim Strohbusch added things such
as a no-longer need for paper files, considering most things are saved digitally, would save space, thus offices have no need to be the size they were in the past. “Having everything under one roof, we can work more efficiently. I understand that not everyone shares my vision on this, but I will reiterate that brick and mortar is very expensive.” SEE CITY COUNCIL, PAGE 3
Doctor visits – straight to video Video visits now available Stay in, stay on the couch – we’ll bring the doctor to you. We’re now offering video visits, giving you the right care, right at home. You get the same personalized care, expert diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to you. Schedule your video visit online at healthpartners.com/schedule or call your clinic today.
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