Belle Plaine National Night Out Photos
Town Tigers Catch State Berth
Big Auction Brings Over 1,000 People to Blakeley Page 2
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, august 12, 2015
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 33
Accident at Wastewater Treatment Plant Takes Life of Jerry Connolly Connolly Worked for City for 23 Years
Belle Plaine Public Works employee Jerry Connolly was found dead last Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 5) at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Investigators believe he drowned in an oxidation ditch within the plant facility, according to Belle Plaine Police Chief Tom Stolee. Police and staff from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were at the plant on Union Trail (County Road 6) Thursday conducting a preliminary investigation, trying to determine how Connolly entered the ditch in the Phyllis O’Connell, accompanied by her son, Kyle, placed flowers on her daughter’s grave at center of the facility grounds, St. Thomas Cemetery on July 16. This Saturday (Aug. 15) will mark the 30th anniversary of Kristin’s still unsolved murder in New York State. Phyllis will leave this Thursday to spend several days speaking with officials and investigators in New York to see to it that her daughter’s case is not forgotten. She was last there on the 25th anniversary of Kristin’s murder.
Family of Young Woman Buried in St. Thomas Still Seeks Closure Mother Going to N.Y. for Updates on 30-Year-Old Murder Case
by Dan Ruud For nearly 30 years, the body of 20-year-old Kristin O’Connell has been buried in the tranquility of St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery about eight miles south of Belle Plaine. Her grave is next to and near that of a number of other members of the O’Connell clan, including her father, Michael, as well as her grandparents, great-grandparents and others. The rural, peaceful setting of Kristin’s final resting place is in sharp contrast to what caused her death and the resulting turmoil that continues to this day. There’s no sugarcoating what happened to Kristin. On Aug. 16, 1985, her body was found in a cornfield in the small village of Ovid near the center of New York State, about 200 miles from New York City. She had been stabbed multiple times and her throat slashed. Although her clothes were found near her naked body, police said there was no sign of a sexual attack.
Kristin O’Connell Who did this to Kristin and why remains a puzzling mystery as the 30-year anniversary of her death approaches. Kristin, who lived in Burnsville with her parents Michael and Phyllis O’Connell, and younger brother Kyle, was a frequent visitor to St. Thomas because of the many relatives she had there and in the surrounding area, including Belle Plaine. She was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, where she was studying hotel and hospitality management. She would have been starting her junior year that fall. Phyllis, who had her gravesite at St. Thomas reserved not far
from her daughter’s and next to her husband Michael, who died in 1993, said as long she’s alive, she “will never, ever give up” on solving the mystery of Kristin’s death. In fact, she plans to go to Ovid this Thursday for several days to speak with authorities about her daughter’s case. Phyllis was last in Ovid for the same reason on the 25th anniversary of Kristin’s death. Phyllis said Kristin had gone on spring break to Florida in 1985, during which she met a 19-year-old man from upstate New York (the Ovid area) and decided to go visit him before returning to school in the fall. He picked her up at the airport in Syracuse. It was during that visit that Kristin, who was at a party at the friend’s mobile home on a warm summer night, “left barefoot to go on a walk on County Route 139 just west of the Golden Buck Tavern.” That was the last time anyone admitted seeing Kristin. According to the police report, neighbors reported hearing a “horrific” scream between 12:15 and 12:25 a.m. on Aug. 15. Police say it appeared Kris-
lem with the facility’s safety systems. The final autopsy report is due late this month, Kreft said. “We are all very saddened with this unfortunate accident and the loss of a longtime city employee and friend to all,” Stolee said. Investigators are not certain when Connolly fell into the ditch, Kreft said. Connolly interacted with co-workers during the lunch hour Wednesday. Members of city staff did not see him that afternoon until his just northeast of the building. body was found at 5:05 p.m., The report will indicate if she said. safety measures failed, said His body was found in 16 feet City Administrator Holly Kreft. of water, Kreft said. The inquiry also includes an autopsy by the Hennepin County medical examiner. Accident Kreft said the preliminary (continued on page 7) OSHA report indicates no prob-
B.P. Schools Superintendent Search Down to Two Finalists Anderson, Laager Will Interview Again Today, Tomorrow
The results from the interviews done by the Belle Plaine School Board and a committee are overwhelmingly clear. The board’s two finalists are the hands-down choice from a field of five semifinalists. Late Thursday evening (Aug. 6) at Oak Crest Elementary School, the Belle Plaine School Board named Tim Anderson and Ryan Laager as the two primary finalists in its search to replace retiring Superintendent Kelly Smith. Oak Crest Principal Liann Hanson and Marsha Baisch, an assistant superintendent in the St. Cloud and St. Paul school districts, as alternates. They were selected as alternates in case Anderson or Laager withdrew from consideration. Using an unscientific rating system, the board agreed over-
whelmingly that Anderson and Laager were the top two options. That opinion mirrors the rating of a citizens committee of school staff, former school board members and a candidate for the board. They interviewed the final semifinalists behind closed doors Thursday. Parents, staff, students, and community members are invited to meet Anderson today and Laager tomorrow (Aug. 1213), 4 to 5 p.m., at Oak Crest Elementary School and ask them questions. People who cannot attend the 4 p.m. sessions can also meet
B.P. Schools (continued on page 7)
One School Board Seat Open As Filing Period Nears an End
With just a few hours remaining in the filing period for the Belle Plaine School Board election Tuesday (Aug. 11), only two candidates had signed up for the three seats on the ballot. Director Tracy O’Brien and former board member Gary Steinhagen had filed for the Nov. 3 election. All three seats on the ballot are for four-year terms. The three seats are held by directors O’Brien, Matt Lenz and Mike Ludvik. Tuesday, Ludvik said he also would not seek reelection. Lenz previously said he would not seek re-election. Checks The Herald’s Web site for updated information on the school board filings.
Young Woman (continued on page 14)
40th Annual River Fishin’ Contest Starts Friday More than 200 fishermen and fisherwomen will descend upon the Minnesota River Valley in search of danger, excitement and romance this Friday and Saturday. At least that’s what the poster for the 40th annual Belle Plaine River Fishin’ Contest proclaims. Actually, most of them will be in search of Pylodictis olivaris, which is a fancy name for flathead catfish. Once again, $2,000 will go to the captor of the largest flathead, thanks to a special sponsorship by Matt Saxe Chevrolet-Buick of Belle Plaine. All totalled, over $4,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at Court Square Park in Belle Plaine, which is
record 51-pound, 7-ounce monster flathead. Prior to Stuewe’s and Stueven’s catches in 2013, the last angler to catch a 50-pounder or better in the contest was Dan Rademacher of Carver. He won in both 2007 and 2008 with flatheads weighing 51 pounds, 9 located off Highway 25 on the ounces and 50 pounds, 2 ounces, respectively. north edge of town. Last year’s winner was a The contest record prior to 39.25-pound flathead caught by Stuewe’s flathead was caught Andy Stueven of North Mankato. That fish was considerably River Fishin’ smaller than the 51-pound, (continued on page 6) 3-ounce brute Stueven caught the year before, which was only good for second place because Mike Stuewe of Belle Plaine had already caught a contest-
All Four Corners Workers from Chard Tiling and Excavating of Belle Plaine were busy constructing improved handicapped-accessible pedestrian ramps at all four corners of the intersection of Main and Meridian streets on Monday. The city of Belle Plaine is using state tax increment finance (TIF) dollars to pay for the project and bring downtown’s main intersection into ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliance. The estimated cost of the project when it was approved late last year was $13,000.