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Melrose

Clock

WEDNESDAY, August 17, 2011

the

August 11, 2011

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12:25 a.m.

Adam Sundquist works on the twin table machine center, which is used to drill and bore holes through plate steel, during the night shift at Melrose Metalworks, Inc. Melrose Metalworks employs 45 full-time people and runs two shifts. They make parts for many different companies including Gehl, Bobcat and Caterpillar. “If a customer brings us a blueprint, we will make it,” said Dave Dahle, foreman of the night shift.

1:15 a.m.

Melrose police officers Chris Swanson (left) and Pat Nechanicki patrol the streets of Melrose in the wee hours of the morning. Both police officers are full-time with the Melrose Police Department and when they are working the night shift they patrol the streets and respond to calls.

3:51 a.m.

Between 2 and 3 a.m.

At Melrose Dairy Proteins, Rachael Bueckers seals the liners of cheese barrels to prevent mold during storage and applies the appropriate labels needed according to customer and government regulations. Bueckers is one of the 20-25 employees who worked the 12-hour night shift on Aug. 11.

Operators Dennis Berscheid, (from front) and Matt Beckermann and maintenance man Paul Feldewerd monitor the powder handling system on computers at Proliant Dairy Ingredients. The system, which involves pumps, evaporators and a dryer, is used to make dry permeates, mainly using biproducts from Melrose Dairy Proteins. The sugar supplement is used in products consumed by humans and in animal feed. The plant operates close to 20 hours a day with four hours of downtime for cleanup.

5:51 a.m.

Melrose postal worker Rose Lensing unloaded incoming mail from one of four cages dropped off by a contracted deliverer a few minutes earlier. Lensing sorts through the delivered mail, in bundles, trays and loose, placing it in specified areas for each of the four rural carriers, one star route carrier and city route carriers. Outgoing mail is picked up by a contracted deliverer at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

4:15 a.m. BEACON PHOTOS BY MARK KLAPHAKE, Emily Lahr, HERMAN LENSING, and CAROL MOORMAN

Jim Loecken arrives at Scherer Enterprise at 4 a.m. to get the process ready to pickle 840 dozen eggs, which includes starting the cooker and disinfecting and rinsing quart jars, which Loecken is doing above. They also make pickled gizzards and sausages at the business Jim’s father-in-law, Cletus Scherer, started close to 40 years ago. On this morning long-time worker JoAnn Nieland will arrive by 6 a.m., with Jim’s daughter Raechel and husband Adam also helping out. “We do about 320 dozen an hour,” said Jim, adding most labor is done manually, including peeling the eggs. The brine is Cletus’ special recipe. “We’ve changed it very little over the years,” said Jim. The completed product is labeled and stored in a cooler on-site until delivery time, which is often done by Jim.

7:10 a.m.

6:47 a.m.

Lisa Latzka-Illies visits with husband Jim Illies (from left) and Vern Hollermann and LuVerne Ritter visit at Lisa’s On Main. “I’m trying something new on you today,” she said, handing each one a cup of coffee. Talk turns to the raccoons that got into a corn patch. They are among the regulars who frequent this café most weekdays. “I wonder where Josie is,” Jim asks of another regular, Joe Blenker, who was absent on this sunny early morning.

Having a “tailgating discussion” around a table in the electric/street department office (power plant) are city of Melrose utilities employees Pat Lomax, (from left) Ron Tieman, Dale Lyon and Russ Braegelmann. Not pictured Steve Scholz. The daily discussions determine work that needs to be done that day, “so we are all on the same page,” said Lyon, electric department supervisor, a utilities employee for almost 37 years. Scholz (27 years) and Lomax (17 years) determine on a computer the “locates” (Gopher State One Call) of electrical, water and sewer lines that need to be done for upcoming individual projects. Braegelmann (35 years) performs a daily checklist of 50 items at the power plant and substations. Tieman (city employee seven years) spends about one hour cleaning the three parks. Also during the day these employees work on construction projects, installation of new electrical service lines and maintenance of electrical projects and equipment.

Around the Clock continued on pg. 4

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WEDNESDAY, August 17, 2011

Around the Clock continued from pg. 3

8:26 a.m.

Scott Ritter uses a diagnostic computer to determine a problem on a vehicle at Melrose Main Street Repair. The mechanics at this Main Street business have over 66 years of experience. Ritter has been a mechanic for over 20 years. His dad, LuVerne has close to 41 years of working in this same building, and Scott Butkowski has six years of experience. While they have regular hours, LuVerne said part of the job is helping people out when they have vehicle problems after hours. Like the time he took his two grandchildren to the Dairy Queen for an ice cream treat and he ran into someone whose car had stalled, and he got them back on the road again. “You just do it,” he said about helping people out.

9:10 a.m.

Ben Imdieke works on nozzles on a ro-gator sprayer at Melrose Ag Service. Dan Borgerding purchased the customer application and fertilizer business four years ago and now has over 30 years of experience. Borgerding said spring is always a busy time for them. Since mid-May they have sprayed 20,000 acres. He employs five people, with part-time help hired in spring to assist with spraying.

11:47 a.m.

10:21 a.m.

Youth attending Kids’ Time at St. Mary’s Catholic School answer questions from Amanda Hellermann, instructor. Pictured are (front, from left) Amanda Hellermann, Travis Kerfeld, Haille Borstad; (middle) Molly and Madi Kraemer; (back) Ben and Max Kemper. Hellermann said Kids’ Time has been offered weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., for seven years, including the last two summers. “We journal, play games, play outside and in the gym and do activities like bowl at the bowling alley,” said Hellermann.

Close to 250 youth took part in the summer reading program at the Melrose Branch of the Great River Regional Library. “They had to read a certain number of hours and they received prizes,” said Jan Atkinson, librarian. Here, Katie Mueller, library aide, reshelves books. Atkinson is excited about one of the library’s newest programs-E-Books. “People can download books onto downloadable devices,” she said. The Melrose Library is open Mondays 2 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays 2 to 5 p.m., Wednesdays 2 to 7 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m to noon and 2 to 5 p.m., Fridays 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon. Atkinson is also excited about the programs, which will continue thanks to the state’s Legacy Funds. “We will have fun programs and events again this year,” she said.

1:37 p.m.

Joann Gerads makes hamburger patties, which are sold out of the cooler or during lunch specials at Melrose Meat Shoppe. Kevin Bauer, 36, has owned the business for 15 years. He started working there when he was 15 and at age 21 purchased the business, today employing six people.

Noon

Grilled or deep fried chicken sandwiches were the noon special at Schif ’s Bar/Melrose Bowl, and Craig Schiffler was busy cooking while his mom, Stella, and his daughter, Ashley, were busy waiting on customers. They visited with Eileen and Butch Schneider and Schneider’s brother Jerry and nephew Aaron as they ate, while other customers continued to come through the doors. “It’s a pretty good meal,” said Butch. Once fall rolls around bowling leagues will start up again. They recently completed a summer season of beanbag tossing.

2:35 p.m.

Pine Villa Care Center residents enjoy eating homemade chocolate zucchini bread, (see recipe in this week’s Beacon) as part of their tasters group. “Perfect,” said Loretta Rieland, as she eats a piece. Here, Kathy Nix pours a cup of coffee for Dee Rieger, while Rita Hamm eats a piece of bread. In the back is volunteer Marie Welz. Nix explains how residents mixed together ingredients, including fresh zucchini, baking the bread in the morning. Once a week residents have their tasters group. “I’m trying to do things that they did years ago,” said Nix. They also made homemade refrigerator pickles. And what was the tasting followed by? “We’re going to pray the rosary,” said Marie Welz, the rosary leader.

3:04 p.m.

Melrose Elementary School Secretary Erma Bertram works on her computer. She returned to work Aug. 1. The schools continue to be cleaned as the first day of school, Sept. 6, comes closer. Projects, like retiling of two elementary rooms and sheetrocking three other rooms, are almost completed, as well as a roofing project. An open house is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31, for kindergarten through 12th grade students and their parents.

Around the Clock continued on pg. 5

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WEDNESDAY, August 17, 2011

Around the Clock continued from pg. 4

4:05 p.m.

Nick Kelzer fixes a tractor tire at Melrose Implement, Inc. Dave Wenker said the business has been in operation since 1945, first located next to the current Melrose Meat Shoppe. It moved in 1974 to the location on the south side of Melrose and currently employs 14 people. “We cater to a thriving Melrose area ag community,” said Wenker, who has worked at the business close to 35 years.

5:46 p.m.

Donna Neal moves a cartload of products to the pick-up area of Stearns Vet Outlet. The packages and products were prepared for delivery on Friday to various locations. Stearns Vet Outlet has served the area since 1994. The business employs 50 people and has someone on call 24 hours a day.

6:15 p.m.

Melrose City Council members and staff listen to a presentation by Gerry Gilbertson, (right) 7:50 p.m. CentraCare Health System-Melrose administrator. Pictured are (from left) councilors Tony The Blue Hazard band, from Stillwater, entertained listeners at the Sauk River Park with their Klasen and Jenny Mayers, city administrator Michael Brethorst, mayor Tim Vogel, councilors original bluegrass music. Playing in the band from left to right are Luke Gruber, Pete Gruber Joe Finken and Dick Christenson and city clerk Patti Haase. They were holding a special meet- and Dale Gruber. ing to discuss two issues; one relating to CentraCare which has been a part of the Melrose community since 1997.

9:25 p.m.

Glen Frericks (in the skidloader) loads big square bales of alfalfa on a flatbed while neighbor Dennis Ritter watches. With the help of a couple neighbors, including Ritter, the Frerickses were able to pick up, haul and store over 200 big square bales of third crop alfalfa on Thursday night. The Frerickses use the hay for feeding their dairy cattle on their 75-cow dairy north of Melrose. Glen and his wife, Sadie, who was also hauling loads, have two children, Dan and Monika.

8:08 p.m.

Junior Perez, 14, gets ready to block the ball in a soccer game at the Sauk River Park.

11:01 p.m.

It was a busy night Thursday at CentraCare Health System-Melrose, according to staff on duty including Dr. Stephen Turner, (from left) Katie Hellickson, Sandy Meyer and Jen Tomford. They stand in front of the sign indicating to people walking through the emergency entrance at night where they need to go. Physicians at the Melrose facility include Dante Beretta, MD; Julie Klasen, MD; Kurt Schwieters, MD; Patrick Heller, MD., Stephen Turner, DO; and certified nurse practioners Bobbie Jo Bertram and Erin Bjork.

10:17 p.m.

Amid colored neon lights at The Dam Bar, Amr Abouel Ella (left) enjoys a coke as he and Allen Vogel, owner of the bar, share discussion and a laugh as evening became night. Located on Main Street, it has been in operation for 6 1/2 years, employing four people, including the owner. The Dam Bar is open by 8 a.m.

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