Town Tigers Win Two League Games
Legion Baseball Team Enters Playoffs With 10-1 Record
Bar-Q Days Coin Discovered Page 15
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JULY 13, 2016
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 29
Belle Plaine’s Annual Summer Bash Starts Friday An event-filled weekend is on tap as Belle Plaine will host its 58th annual Bar-B-Q Days celebration this Friday through Sunday. Most food and beverages will cost the same as last year, including the festival’s namesake sandwich at $3.50. The meat will again be from Coborn’s Grocery Store pre-sliced. The Beer Garden will again feature Miller Lite (strong), which remains $3 for a 14ounce cup and $12 for pitchers ($10 refill). Also on sale will be u4ic (new and locally brewed), Sharps, Shandy, Bill Kruschke and his video camera are a common site at many Belle Plaine High School Redd’s Apple Ale, Mike’s Hard sporting events and other community activities. This photo was taken at Dick Putz Field in St. Cranberry and Henry’s Hard Orange Soda, all of which cost Cloud during last month’s state Class 2A baseball tournament. $4 a glass. Specials in the Beer Garden ($1 off cups and $2 off pitchers) will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday and 3-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. One big change you may noby Dan Ruud will be a lot of fun and an hon- cluding graduations, parades, tice is the improvements to the queen coronations, Memorial park’s rest rooms, which reBill Kruschke “loves a pa- or.” cently underwent an extensive rade,” whether it be watching Kruschke has lived a life as Day services and more. the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day varied as a parade. He worked a In 2011, Kruschke was se- renovation. Parade on TV or watching the number of years as an air traffic lected Belle Plaine’s Friend of All profits from Bar-B-Q Days New Year’s Tournament of controller in Southern Califor- Education. Then Belle Plaine are used for community projRoses Parade in Pasadena, Ca- nia and as an air traffic control School Superintendent Kelly ects. For more information on lif., in person. He’s even been to instructor in China, where most Smith read the following state- this weekend’s festivities, call the Christmas Parade (2014) in of his students could speak flu- ment when presenting the the Belle Plaine Festival and Events office at 952-873-0855 Cuenca, Ecuador, which lasted ent English, which is the uni- award to Kruschke. eight hours and had more than versal language for air traffic “To many, this year’s recipient or e-mail belleplainefestivals@ controllers. He also taught air is the face and voice of Belle gmail.com. 100,000 people in it. This Saturday, Kruschke, 78, traffic control briefly in Bagh- Plaine activities. He has been so dedicated to all of our activiwill be grand marshal of what dad, Iraq. he calls his favorite parade of In his retirement years, ties and programs through the The Beer Garden will open all – Bar-B-Q Days, one he of- Kruschke has been an after- years, and through his efforts at 4 p.m. and the Beef Stand ten video tapes for the city of school supervisor in Belle of recording these events, many at 4:30 p.m. The Carnival bePlaine and has video taped and additional people have enjoyed gins at 6:30 p.m. The Bingo Belle Plaine. “It’s our hometown parade. provided play-by-play for Belle the activities through their TV Tent will also be open Friday evening and stay open during Even when you’re not in it, you Plaine High School sports and at home. know a lot of the people who other activities, which he still “He takes time to know the much of the festival. are. That’s why it’s my favor- does. He has videotaped and students and is a personal The Minnesota Valley Riders ite parade,” Kruschke said. “In provided play-by-play for more Horse Show begins at 7 p.m. Grand Marshal a small town, being selected than 600 Belle Plaine sporting in the fields behind Chatfield grand marshal is a big deal. It events and other festivities, in(continued on page 4) Elementary School (off Park Street). The Charlie Moore Polka Band will perform at the Gazebo from 5-8 p.m., followed by Hitchville (country band) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Well-Traveled Bill Kruschke to be Grand Marshal of Parade
SSCB (classic and current pop bo from 8 p.m. to midnight. At and rock) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. dusk will be the Spectacular Fireworks Show in the fields behind the schools. Bar-B-Q Days The Carnival will start at Queen Candidates 1 p.m. and Patrick Murphy Live (classic, current rock and There are 15 Bar-B-Q Days country) will perform from 1-3 queen candidates this year, all p.m. at the Beer Garden Gaze- of whom recently finished their bo, where drink specials will be junior year in high school. Inavailable from 3-5 p.m. Starting cluded and their sponsor are at 5 p.m. will be another clas- Makayla Anderson, daughter sic, current rock and country of Troy Anderson and Rhonda performance by Wreckless. Anderson (Berger Interiors); The Queen Coronation will Filiz Dikmen, daughter of take place in the high school Cindy and Ali Dikmen (Belle south gymnasium at 4 p.m. Plaine Eye Care), Selin DikAdmission is $4 or free with a men, daughter of Cindy and Ali Dikmen (State Bank of 2016 Bar-B-Q Days button. The Bar-B-Q Days Button Belle Plaine); Rachael EliaPrize Drawings will take place son, daughter of Mike and in the high school gym after the Keren Eliason (Cornerstone coronation. There will be three State Bank); Samantha Gregcash prizes ($50, $100 and ory, daughter of Jennifer and $200). You do not have to be Steve Block and Ben and Angie Gregory (Chard Tiling and Expresent to win. Shaw Brothers (rock and Summer Bash roll) will perform in the Gaze(continued on page 3)
Sunday’s Events
Friday’s Events
Council Votes 3-2 to Okay Ridgeview’s Amended Plans Swimming Pool Employees Get Pay Increase
by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council held one of its most eventful meetings in recent memory last Tuesday night, one that included a heavy rain, lighting, wind and hail storm that prompted the council to recess for about 12 minutes until things calmed down outdoors. Afterwards, the council voted 3-2 to approve the replat and amended planned unit development for the soonto-be constructed Ridgeview Heath Campus in Belle Plaine. Final plans, which were approved by the council on June 20, call for a mixed-use development that will include a three-story, 54-unit senior independent living center, a 12,900square-foot medical clinic with future vertical expansion, and a 10,000-square-foot health and wellness center.
Ridgeview obtained the land from the city for $1 provided it constructs the campus and creates a prescribed number of jobs. Construction of the complex, which will be located near the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 3/Meridian Street, is expected to begin this summer. However, it was noted in the council’s packet on June 20 that Ridgeview Medical Center and The Lutheran Home Association were proposing a planned unit development amendment and replat of the campus. The replat includes a new lot that will create the potential to transfer fee ownership of the lot to a different property owner. Belle Plaine Community Development Director Cynthia Smith-Strack had noted that the new parcel would be owned by private investors and would be taxable, but it is the intent of The Lutheran Home Association to purchase the land within the next five years, at which time The Lutheran Home could
Bridge May be Open Friday Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Mayor Mike Pingalore said he has been told by the contractor (S.M. Hentges and Sons) that it’s likely Belle Plaine’s new overpass can be open to traffic in time for the start of Bar-B-Q Days this Fri-
day. The bridge opening would be especially beneficial in alleviating the heavy flow of traffic leaving the park area after Sunday night’s fireworks display. The date for an official opening ceremony has not yet been determined.
propose to change the property (lot 2) from taxable to tax exempt. A letter dated July 5 to the city council from Ridgeview President and CEO Robert Stevens and Belle Plaine Lutheran Home President and CEO Michael Klatt requested that the city okay the change. “The replat will provide a legal description for the property on which the senior residence with services will reside. Ridgeview Medical Center and The Lutheran Home Association will have multiple documents that will define each organization’s role and responsibilities with regard to the project. “The Ground Lease and Development Agreement both require a legal description of the property on which the senior residence resides,” continued the letter, “In addition, the lending institution that will provide the financing of the senior residence will require a legal description within the mortgage documents. It is important to note that the legal description provided within the replat will not change the tax status of the land. All the land defined within the replat will be subject to property tax on day one of the project.” Council members Paul Chard and Gary Trost wanted added assurance that the tax status of the senior living center will not
City Council
(continued on page 3)
Saturday’s Events
The Kids Fun Run will be Saturday’s first event. Registration will start at 7:30 a.m. at the Belle Plaine School District Center on South Willow Street. The race will begin there at 8:45 a.m. and also end there. The 5K Bull Run, registration and check-in for which also begins at 7:30 a.m., will start shortly after the Kids Fun Run. The Bull Run, which you can register online for, will also begin and end at the district center. The Parade begins at noon and will follow its usual route on Main Street. Parade lineup will take place between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the Borough Bowl, 235 South Ash Street. You will receive your number and lineup instructions at that time. Large units such as semi trucks and trailers are asked to check in early. The grand marshal of this year’s parade is Bill Kruschke (see separate story). The Carnival will open at 1 p.m. The Fire Department Water Fight will begin after the Parade on the street in front of the city swimming pool. There will be specials in the Beer Garden from 3-5 p.m. Church of Cash, a Johnny Cash tribute band, will play in the Gazebo from 1-5 p.m., followed by Jared Graff (acoustic music) from 5-8 p.m. and
McKenzie Koepp to Cap Very Memorable 12 Months on Sunday McKenzie Koepp has had a very memorable past 12 months. Last July 19, she was crowned Miss Belle Plaine at Bar-B-Q Days. In August, September, October and November, she was a member of the Belle Plaine High School volleyball team, a season that culminated with the program’s first-ever state championship at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. In January, Koepp represented Belle Plaine at the St. Paul Winter Carnival, meeting King Boreas and Queen Aurora, and countless other queens representing communities from across the state. In spring, she was one of the top players on the BPHS softball team and at graduation was the student speaker for the class of 2016. To top it all off, she graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average. This Sunday, Koepp, the daughter of Brent and Wendy Koepp, will deliver one final speech and crown her replacement before starting a new chapter in her life, which will begin Aug. 16 when she moves to the campus of Winona State University to study business. Besides all the above, Koepp was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council (vice president), Tiger Pals, Tiger Target Team and Pep Club. Koepp, who is working as a
nanny this summer, also found the time to represent Belle Plaine in close to a dozen parades and numerous other events. She said her favorite parade was the Arli-Dazzle in Arlington in December. “We (she and the rest of the royal court) made our own float and there was a ton of lights (in the parade). It was beautiful,” Koepp said. Joining her in the many parades this year were First Princess Kali Gorman, daughter of Ryan and Angie Gorman; Second Princess Haley Johnson, daughter of Heather Johnson and Jasen Johnson; and Miss Congeniality Nicole Bauleke, daughter of Ann Rybus and Kevin Bauleke. Of course, the St. Paul Winter Carnival was another highlight for Koepp during her reign as Miss Belle Plaine. “There were over 90 other ambassadors from around the state. I met a lot of amazing ladies. It was a breathtaking experience.” Koepp said. Koepp will put the final touch on Sunday afternoon’s coronation when she crowns one of 15 soon-to-be BPHS seniors as her replacement. Her advice to that person? “Always show the world your best smile because you’re representing the best town in the world.”