June 2019 Sailor

June 2019

Free new ! look

Your Summer Guide to Southwest Minnesota!

Finally, spring!

NOTHING SAYS SPRING like the first fishing outing of the year. Just ask 7-year-old Jack Polford, who visited Lake Shetek from Sioux Falls with his grandpa, Bob Polford, for the 2019 Fishing Opener.

BELOW: Humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy nice weather. Both geese and pelicans can be found making a home on lakes all over southwest Minnesota. Photos / Per Peterson

Published by Above the Fold Publishing LLC • 207 4th Street • Tracy, MN 56175 • (507) 629-4300 • www.swmnsailor.com

2 – Southwest Sailor, June 2019

consignment store

PiPestone Minnesota 30th Annual

Water Tower Festival June 20 – 22, 2019 Kids’ Pedal Pull Pipestone Jr. Ambassadors Contest

Friday evening Bean Bag Tournament Food & Entertainment

Free Street dance “Undercover” saTurday

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Kids’ Fun Run Parade - 10 a.m.

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At the entrance to the Pipestone National Monument 104 9th St. NE, Pipestone, MN (507) 825-4474

•Pottery •Collectable •Moccasins •Souvenirs

Pipestone

Summer CruizIns Thursday, May 30 5:00-7:30 pm, Downtown Thursday, aug. 1 5:00-7:30 pm, Fairgrounds Thursday, sepT. 5 5:00 – 7:30 pm, Downtown

Free Fun!

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Handmade Tribal Arts & Crafts Pipestone Carving, RawStone Beadwork Supplies Dreamcatchers Sage, SweetGrass Drums & more Call 507-825-3734 about Volunteer Opportunities, Presentations, workshops, summer camp and monthly craft classes 507-825-3734

Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 3

Above The Fold proud to bring you the Sailor You are about to dive into the first Sailor edition published by Above The Fold Publishing, LLC, and we are so very proud to be bringing it to you.

The Sailor has a rich tradition in this corner of the state. Tracy Publishing Co. published it for more than 20 years, and it will continue to be distributed without charge throughout the region under Above The Fold Publishing.

The Sailor is published four times a year — May 22, June 26, July 31 and Nov. 6, and it is a true labor of love for us at Above The Fold. Why? Because of all the stories, all the columns, all the news — all the people we meet and work with as we put the pages together.

The Sailor is meant to not only highlight events and programs that take place throughout the year in every corner of our region — and into eastern South Dakota — but to tell stories from these areas.

And that’s where you come in. This is your publication. This is your Sailor. We want you all to feel a part of it. Please email me at per@headligherherald.com with your thoughts and any suggestions or opinions you might have.

As far as our contributors, we’re bringing back a voice from the recent past in renowned historian Bill Bolin.

I approached Bill’s family some weeks ago and tossed out the idea of sharing Bill’s stories with readers once again.

Before his death in 2017, Bill was a treasure trove of southwest Minnesota history and although he’s gone, we have the opportunity to let his work

There Ya Go

Per Peterson Editor

live on through the Sailor. We don’t take this responsibility lightly. We cherish Bill’s rich knowledge and the way he told stories of our area. It’s our honor to be able to continue bringing you area history, much in the same way Bill taught us all for so long.

You will also notice some new faces in your Sailor.

Former DNR employee Tom Conroy will be a regular contributor, as will Nick Simonson. Both are great writers who share a deep passion for everything outdoors — from hunting pheasant in a corn field, to catching walleye in one of our great fishing lakes. Both have their own style and both have a way of capturing the true essence of what it means to be an advocate of our outdoors. They appreciate the land they hunt and fish on, and you’ll be able to see that through their words.

With that, I will put a message out to anyone reading this: If you know of people who should be highlighted in this publication, please let us know about them. Or, if you have an itch to write yourself, feel free to let me know — we’re always looking for contributors, no matter what corner of this region you live in.

Pipestone’s treasured Watertower festival is June 20-22 Pipestone will once again pay tribute to the restoration of the city’s old concrete water tower as a community landmark when it celebrates the 30th Water Tower Festival June 20-22. Residents and visitors turn out en masse for the community’s annual event.

This year’s line up includes the Kids’ Night Pedal Pull and Junior Ambassador contest Thursday. Friday’s celebration features the community feed, bean bags and street dance. Saturday wraps up with the arts and crafts fair as well as the car show from 9am-3pm. The kids fun run and inflatables will be available for

9,000 Free Circulation Published by Above the Fold Publishing, LLC 207 4th Street, Tracy, MN 56175 (507) 629-4300 • FAX (507) 629-4301 www.swmnsailor.com tara@headlightherald.com per@headlightherald.com Tara Brandl – Publisher/Advertising Sales Per Peterson – Editor April DeSchepper – Ad Composition Julie Johnston – Office Manager Lisa Sell – Advertising Manager Carol Strand – Bookkeeper PUBLISHER’S LIABILITY FOR ERROR: The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions in connection with an advertisement is strictly limited to publication in any subsequent issue or the refund of any monies paid for the advertisement.

A pair of jacks

the young. The parade will start at 10 am and features the theme of “Storybooks On Parade” a nod to classic children’s bookstand stories.

A full schedule and times can be found at PipestoneMinnesota.com

Eleven-year-old Jack Bozzell (above) and 7-year-old Jack Polford (right) came all the way from Sioux Falls on Fishing Opener Weekend to try their luck on Lake Shetek.

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4– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

Harkin Store opens for season Visitors are invited to enjoy the past at the Harkin Store and see and learn about items from the 1870s; 40% of the merchandise is from when the store first opened

by Alexander Harkin in the village of West Newton.

The Harkin Store is all that is left of the once thriving riverboat village. The village is located 9 miles northwest of New Ulm on Nicollet County Road 21, or the bottom road, or nine miles east of Fort Ridgely.

Nicollet County 21 is under construction so follow the detour signs or call the store for directions when they are open.

The admission to the program is included with the admission to the store. The gift shop is again restocked with lots of wonderfully different and unique items such as hand crafted items, toys, books and 10 cent candy.

Throughout the season the store will have many programs of various kinds on Sunday afternoons. The store contact number is 1-507-354-8666; call when open, or contact the Nicollet County Historical Society at 1-507-934-2160 which operates the store.

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Let’s Go Fishing has taken more than 2,000 on fishing and/or boating excursions at area lakes in southwest Minnesota. Submitted photo

Let’s Go Fishing continues to provide special outings on the lake Long before the snow melted or the ice was off the lake, a dedicated group of volunteers were working on plans for another year of fishing and boating excursions on area lakes. The board members of the Lake Shetek Area Let’s Go Fishing — Marilyn Strate, Leon and Sue Mumm, LuAnn Kern, Randy Martin, Karla and Sara Seaberg — have spent

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time working to provide area residents with trips on a handicap accessible pontoon.

The Shetek Let’s Go fishing group held its maiden voyage in 2009 and since then have taken over 2,000 guests on free fishing and boating trips, many who without the use of a handicap accessible pontoon would not have had that opportunity.

It was unfortunate that with the weather last year and condition of the lake the group was unable to schedule any trips after the first week in July. It was difficult knowing there were area residents who had been looking forward to an outing. The group wants people to know that they are still active and are looking forward to a full season of excursions in 2019.

Events planned for this season include a build your own burger night at KirPatricks in Balaton, in remembrance of Cheryl Peterson. Cheryl was a driving force in recruiting volunteers and planning events at Lake Yankton and she is most certainly missed. This event will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 5pm7pm.

The group also will be holding a spring kick-off in May. This event is a chance to gear up for the new season and recruit and train captains and first mates. Anyone interested can come and learn about the program. All volunteers receive training from LGF volunteers prior to any outings. Volunteers are needed to be able to continue to offer outings to area residents.

Each year the group has the pontoon at Shetek State Park on the second Saturday in June which is the free State Park Day. This is another opportunity for people to see the pontoon, find out about our program and take a ride on the lake.

Let’s Go Fishing provides free fishing and boating excursions not only to area residents of healthcare facilities, but also to veterans, or anyone living in the community who would need to use a handicap accessible pontoon. Fishing rods, and bait are provided at no cost for all fishing excursions.

If you have any question about Shetek Let’s Go Fishing, contact Marilyn Strate at 507-384-2926 or LuAnn Kern at 320894-6032. LGF Board members are also available to come speak to groups and organizations about their program.

— Let’s go Fishing

Balaton minnesota

Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 5

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Balaton Dental Clinic Richard Brown DDS 123 3rd Street, Balaton, MN

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Balaton Fun Fest July 4 - 7, 2019

Located on Hwy. 14, BaLaton, Mn

All activities are at Lion’s Park unless where noted; bring your own lawn chair.

Thursday, July 4 6 p.m.

Little Miss & Mr. Balaton, Victory Christian Church Friday, July 5 Inaugural Balaton Fundraiser BHS Class of ‘69 Balaton Bay Putting Green* 12-3 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

People Mover from Eastbay 4:30 p.m.

Balaton Foundation Burger Feed

A complimentary Lingen Dairy ice cream cone with every Foundation meal sold, sponsored by Western Mutual Insurance in honor of their 125th anniversary!

4:30-6:30 p.m. Lighter Side Clowns

“Mobile Heart Beats” 4:30-6:30 p.m.

5-10 p.m.

6:30-9 p.m.

American Legion Beer Wagon, Main Street Chamber Concessions, Main Street

Glenn’s Tractor Show CM Transport* 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

8-11 a.m.

8:00 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m.-Noon 9 a.m. – Noon 9:45 a.m.

Chamber Breakfast, Community Center 2-Person Best Ball Registration, Balaton Bay 3 on 3 Basketball Registration, Main Street Balaton History Center Cemetery Walk, Lakeside Cemetery Kiddie Parade Registration/Parade, Lakeview Sr. Housing; Parade 10 a.m.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Inflatables 10 a.m.

Coin Dig 10:30-11:30 a.m. “Wendy’s Wiggle Jiggle and Jam” Kids event, Lakeview Sr. Housing Noon-6 p.m. American Legion Beer Wagon, Lion’s Park 1:00 p.m.

Parade Line-Up, Baseball Field, Maple Street 1:30 p.m.

Float Judging, Football Field Theme is “God Bless America”

9 p.m.-Midnight American Legion Beer Wagon, Main Street

Firemen’s Street Dance featuring “Sweet Siren” - Main Street* 9 p.m.

10 p.m.

sunday, July 7 8 a.m.

Medallion Hunt Clue, Benson’s by the Lake

Ecumenical Service Victory Christian Church* 10 a.m.

10 a.m.

Golf Tournament Registration, Balaton Bay Golf Course 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Trinity Church Picnic Dinner, Community Center Noon-2 p.m. Balaton History Center

Grand Parade* – 2:00 p.m.

“Variety Show” 6:30-9:00 p.m., Main Street

3 p.m.

Includes a trIbute to amerIcan legIon Post 237 In honor of 100th annIversary 10:00 p.m.

Fireworks by RESPYRO at Eastbay saTurday, July 6 ConCessions All DAy 7:30 a.m.

Fun Run Registration - Lion’s Park; Run 8 a.m.

8 a.m.

Medallion Hunt Clue, Benson’s by the Lake

3-5 p.m.

3-6 p.m.

3-6 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

Horse-drawn Carriage Rides by “Rainbow Country Experience” Balaton History Center Wildrose Ponies Petting Zoo Kids Tractor Pull, Main Street

“Mobile Heart Beats” 3-6 p.m.

4-6 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Dinner by Benson’s by the Lake Cow Bingo

Fun Fest Calendar Raffle Drawing, Main Street

Balaton High School Class of ‘69 50th Reunion

Includes several fundraising activities to go towards a gift to Balaton including a Putting contest at Balaton Bay Golf Course and a Quilt Raffle. The quilt will be on display at the First Independent Bank in Balaton. They will be attending as a class, all the events marked with an *.

Please look for theIr 50th bhs class of 1969 feather banner and stoP by and say “hI”, they’d love to catch uP!

sponsored by the Balaton area Chamber of Commerce Visit us at balatonfunfest.com for latest schedule.

6– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

‘Glensheen: The Musical’ in St. Paul on July 14

WHAT HAPPENED at Glensheen Mansion? The answer will be uncovered in St. Paul on July 14. Submitted photos

MOVING TO OUR NEW HWY. 14 LOCATION SUMMER OF 2019! WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION!!

Join the Murray County Historical Society for a trip to see “Glensheen: The Musical!” at the Minnesota History Theater in St. Paul, on Sunday July 14. The cost is $100 per person and includes bus ride, tickets, noon lunch, and snacks on the bus.

Sign up and pre-pay by Friday, June 5, at the Murray County Museum. Call 507836-6533 or e-mail jtimmerman@co.murray.mn.us for more information.

The bus leaves Slayton at 8 a.m. and will return by approximately 7 p.m.. There may be a stop or two along the route for other pick-ups. That is to be determined yet.

This 2015 blockbuster hit sold out three seasons at the History Theater. The plot? It is 1977 and an heiress, kind and generous, is found dead in her bed. Her night nurse, lying lifeless on the staircase. The murder weapons: a silk pillow and a candlestick. A robbery? A clumsy break-in? A conspiracy? A scandal! The Congdon family tragedy splashed across the headlines of every newspaper in Minnesota. But what really happened on that fateful night at the Glensheen Mansion? Whodunit?

Witness this dark musical that tackles the tale with snappy dialogue and evocative music by composer/librettist, Chan Poling, and author, Jeffrey Hatcher. The original 2015 cast is back with Jen Maren as Marjorie Caldwell, the would-be heiress caught up in the notorious Congdon murders.

Critics call it “Wicked fun!” This is a piece of Minnesota’s crime history so bazaar you shake your head and say, ‘Really, you can’t make this stuff up.’”

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Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 7

First inhabitants in SW Minnesota — from Guilliaume De Lisle to Monsieur LeSueur From Above The Fold: It is our honor to once again be bringing our readers in the region the writings of the late Bill Bolin, an iconic and beloved historian, educator and coach in Tracy for many decades.

Bolin passed away October 15, 2017, and he is missed by so many to this day.

Bill started writing for the Sailor in 1997 in hopes of passing down many of his experiences, especially to his children, grandchildren and the many students he encountered in Tracy Area High School from his student teaching in 1956-57 until his final retirement in 2010.

The Tracy Area Headlight Herald, with permission from Bill’s family, is reproducing his popular columns in this edition of the Sailor, as well as in editions yet to come: When one begins to examine the rich

History Is Life Bill Bolin history of our region, they of course, must first realize that 98% of the human occupation of this area was that of native peoples.

Archeological work verifies this in hundreds of area sites.

Most prominent among these are: Mt. Lake, Granite Falls, Pipestone, Lake Benton, the Great Oasis south of Balaton, the Big Slough southeast of Slayton, and the Petroglyphs near Jeffers. Other sites in southwest

Minnesota number in the hundreds and are too numerous to list. Some archaeologists claim that evidence dates back to occupation some 10 to 12,000 years ago.

Many amateur archaeologists have acquired a wealth of knowledge on various sites and have been more than willing to share their expertise with area residents and visitors.

The romantic in me has always yearned to have seen this area I’ve called home for nearly 62 years as the first white men saw it. In my 17 years at Lake Shetek State Park I came to realize that hundreds of others shared that same anxiety. Being impossible to do, I long ago decided to read everything I could get my hands on in regard to the early exploration of southwest Minnesota.

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In these columns I’ll attempt to share some of what I’ve discovered of our prairie land’s earliest history.

There is evidence that J.B. Franguilen in 1688 and Guilliaume De Lisle 15 years later mapped and charted much of the Des Moines River.

However, I’ve been unable to locate any notes or writing that we can transfer to southwest Minnesota today.

Possibly Monsieur LeSueur in 1700 with his entourage, were the first whites to visit our immediate area without a specific purpose in mind.

We know for certain that LeSueur’s party came to the confluence of the Minnesota (then St. Peter’s River) and the Blue Earth (then the Green River) near the present site of Mankato.

They were in search of the blue and green clays they assumed would lead to copper deposits. They are reported to have taken nearly 30,000 pounds of clay and 4,000 pounds of the finest was then shipped down the St. Peter’s River to the Mississippi River. Eventually assayers in Paris failed to confirm their suspicions of copper deposits and the disappointed LeSueur party never returned to the area.

It is interesting to note that LeSueur in 1699 had explored the small river, which he called the River of the Mine.

This seems to be the first mention ever of the famous lead deposits at Galena, Illinois.

Galena is later recognized as the home of Civil War general and American President Ulysses S. Grant.

What is applicable to southwest Minnesota is that LeSueur’s party not only constructed Fort L’Huillier (L’Huillier today is part of West Mankato), but his notes also recount a buffalo hunt as far west as the coteau (Buffalo Ridge).

Did LeSueur’s group see Lake Shetek? Heron Lake? The Great Oasis? Or the Hidden Woods? (now Lost Timber, just west of Chandler in the Chanarambie Valley). Early historical writings often refer to the Hidden Woods and note its rarity and uniqueness in the treeless prairie, The Dakota name was “Tchan Narhambedan”.

I find it intriguing to imagine the thought of those euro-americans that were the first, even though, no doubt, independent traders traversed this area for years before written documentation recorded their experiences. LeSueur’s name is remembered by most of us as he has the distinction of having a Minnesota county, town and river named for him.

Future issues of the Sailor will primarily deal with the accounts of George Catlin in 1836, Joseph Nicollet and John Charles Fremont in 1838, the Captain James Allen expedition in 1844, and the Shetek Settlement between 1855 and the Dakota Conflict in August of 1862.

• Our next column will focus on George Catlin and the sacred red Pipestone Quarries.

8– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

Garden containers — so many possibilities

Make every occasion special by designing and growing containers for summer holidays, weddings, anniversary parties or other special celebrations. Pick a color scheme appropriate for the occasion or a variety of colors and shapes sure to add a festive touch.

Look for opportunities to include edible and flower filled planters. Set containers at your front entrance to welcome family and guests. Use smaller malinda meyers Columnist

containers to line a pathway and decorate each table. Fill large pots with tall plants and ornamental grasses to provide privacy and define spaces.

Boost your confidence and eliminate the guesswork by including winning varieties trialed and proven for their performance in gardens and containers.

All-America Selections (AAS) is a non-profit trialing organization with test sites across the U.S. and Canada.

Volunteer judges rate entries based on their improved performance, flavor

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Begonia Viking XL Red on Chocolate is a striking plant great for container gardens. Its large vibrant red flowers are contrasted with chocolate brown leaves. photo credit: All-America Selections Container Gardens for Every Occasion By Melinda Myers. Submitted photo

and unique qualities. Visit the AAS website for help selecting edibles and flowers suitable for container gardening. (all-americaselections.org) Then pick a color theme. Red, white and blue combinations are perfect for patriotic holidays like the fourth of July. Or pick one color and display it in patriotic pots. For reds consider Summer Jewel red salvia, Viking XL Red on Chocolate

begonia and Double Fire Zahara zinnia.

Add a light airy touch with Sparkle White guara and Gypsy White Improved baby’s breath. Evening Scentsation petunia, Strata salvia and Lavender Lady lavender provide the blue. Add an explosion of texture with fiber optic

containers

continued on page 10

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Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 9

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10– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

Springfield celebrates ‘Riverside Days’ in June

Summer fun returns to Springfield June 26-30 during “Riverside Days”. The five day celebration kicks off Wednesday with the always popular medallion hunt. Clues are posted each day until the medallions are found. The kid’s medallion is worth $100 in Chamber

Bucks while the adult medallion is worth $400 in Chamber Bucks. New this year, Riverside Days will host a Little Miss/Junior Miss Riverside Pageant Wednesday evening.

The family fun continues Thursday with the all new Nerf Gun Wars -

Inflatables are always a hit with children at Springfield River Days. Submitted photo

Dueling Pianos – Bean Bag Tournament – Community Church Service Softball Tournament – ATV/Side by Side Trail Rides – Golf Classic Event Kiddie Tractor Pull – Vendor Show – Dunk Tank – Hog Roast Rolle Bolle Tournament – Bingo – Dance Under The Tent ANNUAL PARADE SAT., JUNE 8 AT 4:30 P.M.

tournament style nerf gun wars for ages 8-18 held twice on Thursday and Friday with the finals on Saturday. The Nerf Gun Wars will also include a Devons Day Sensory friendly family play on Sunday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Thursday evening also includes the Kiddie Parade, Southwest Minnesota Men’s Chorus & Gospel Express as well as Root Beer floats served by the Springfield Lions Club.

Friday kicks off the Kids Party in the Park held at Riverside Park along the banks of the Cottonwood River.

The Kids Party in the Park runs both

Friday and Saturday afternoon and includes waterslides, inflatables, games and concession stands. There will be fireworks Friday at dark as well as an outdoor movie on Saturday from 4-9 p.m. The grand parade will also be held Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. followed by the street dance at the American Legion.

Saturday continues another full day of activities for all ages beginning with the 5K Fun Run/Walk. The day includes a bean bag tournament, the all new Riverside Days Vendor Show at Riverside Park and one of the favorite activities of the weekend, the Firemen’s Pork Chop Feed and Street Dance.

The weekend wraps up on Sunday with the Pancake Feed sponsored by Springfield Ambulance. This is the first year for the pancake feed. The Putt for the Panthers, St. Raphael School’s 3rd annual golf outing will be held at noon.

The town team baseball team has two home games during Riverside Days.

For a complete schedule and times, see the ad on page 20.

Containers Continued from page 8

See what Tracy has to offer…

• Tracy Aquatic Center • Wheels Across the Prairie Museum • Six Miles of Bike Trails • Swift Lake Park Campground • Hospital & Clinic • Beautiful Flower Gardens

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grass or Fireworks penstemon.

Host a sports event using flower colors or containers of your favorite team.

Add to the festivities by growing them in a football, baseball or soccer shaped planter.

Gold is always a great choice when celebrating anniversaries, golden birthdays or any special occasion. Dress up the tables with the plump blooms of Marigold Big Duck Gold or the feathery blossoms of Fresh Look Gold celosia. Let them know they’re special by including Super Hero™ Spry marigold. The maroon and golden yellow flowers top 12” tall plants and the name says it all.

All these golden beauties will continue to flower and thrive long after the party ends. Combine them with other bright colors like South Pacific Orange canna, and Calliope® Medium Dark Red geranium to create a festive atmosphere.

Bring the garden to the party with a few edible containers for a bit of interactive dining. Encourage guests to harvest herbs and vegetables as they create a salad, season their dinner or flavor their favorite drink. Then dress up the meal with edible flowers like calendulas and Baby Rose nasturtium with its peppery flavored flowers and leaves.

Make any outdoor wedding, reception or rehearsal dinner at your home memorable by creating planters that complement the bride’s color scheme. Include white flowers, like Summer Jewel White salvia, Mont Blanc nierembergia, Starlight rose zinnia and Gypsy White Improved gypsophila.

White is the perfect neutral and lights up any evening celebration.

Once you experience the difference specially-designed containers can make, you’ll be looking for more opportunities to host events and grow more planters.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” gardening DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by AAS for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.

Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 11

Six structures for Smallmouth Bass these structures to find smallmouth bass in spring.

Bridge the Divide Bridges of all sizes draw smallies in spring. From the depths around the center pilings where fish can go for coldfront cover and safety in high light hours, to the shallows and debris that usually settles in the shallow corners underneath, every piece of a bridge is worth a cast

for smallies. Upstream pilings on rivers tend to hold on to deadfalls, branches and other structure that washes down in spring and provides cover for fish in addition to the concrete supports. Work them over with a drop-shot rig or tube on an insert jighead to trigger wary bass in these locations.

bass

continued on page 13

Lake Benton Lake association Free Wil l 5th annuaL Donatio n

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Fundraiser & Membership Drive Saturday, June 22 • 3-7 p.m.

Wine Sampling 4-6 p.m.

By working wood piles near rocks along a steep break with a Texas-rigged tube, this 17.5-inch smallmouth was found in the choicest structure combinations on southwest Minnesota’s East Twin Lake. Submitted photo

Smallmouth bass in spring stake out premier spawning sites, with the biggest fish getting the best pieces of territory. Typically, the shallows where they make their beds have many structural elements and knowing what to key in on as these fish make their moves will help connect you with more bass this spring. What follows is a super six-pack of smallmouth haunts to explore with your favorite jig, tube or soft plastic this season.

On the Rocks Areas of rip-rap, boulders, and naturally occurring rock are smallmouth magnets. These spaces warm up quickly in the spring sunlight and attract microorganisms and small aquatic insects along with baitfish and crayfish. As a result, smallmouth bass are drawn to them as well. When smallies have a nice nook between rocks, or an open area in a stretch of rip-rap, they can be found there in spring setting up for the spawn.

Cast over these areas with cone-head jigs and Texas-rigged plastics rigged with a bullet weight to avoid getting stuck in the small spaces between rocks.

Nick Simonson Columnist

by spring cold fronts, check the down side first and then work shallower as things warm back up again and smallies head back to the shallows. Find points or inside curves that serve as onramps out of the main lake or river channel to adjacent skinny water. Work the bottoms with football jigs and bucktail jigs, and slowly cast countdown-style crankbaits through the column to locate fish that are suspended.

Docked Any docks that are in the water early, or are hardy, permanent structures that survive the winter and ice off, are worth being cast at from all angles in the early goings, as they provide structure and shade that fish relate to. Additionally, they are a superior ambush point for items of food flowing by in river current or the first baitfish and panfish that come shallow. Cast jigs and tubes around

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Good Wood Downed trees and brush, perhaps pulled in and piled up by recent high waters, also provide cover for pre-spawn smallies and a place to find a break from the current and set up an adjacent spawning site in a few weeks. The wood has plenty of attraction for the food chain elements addressed above and provides enough cover on at least one side for smallmouth to stage against. Aside from snagging on newer branches and bark, be careful casting around limbs and snaggy sections with jigs and soft plastics. Texas rig a small plastic stick, like a Senko, to avoid hooking woody obstructions and instead catch fish.

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Them’s The Breaks Anywhere a river or lake rises up from the depths and provides bass with a quick transition from basin to spawning shallows is a good stretch of topography to explore. When fish are pushed deep

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Come home to Laura Ingalls 12– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

In August 1978, the Walnut Grove School Board took a reluctant gamble and hired a tall skinny English teacher and a much smaller brash young principal.

It seemed to School Board member Al Farber, a mountain of a man, that the most important question in my interview was “ Would you like to work on a play about Laura Ingalls Wilder?” I did not hesitate and said yes though I had only a vague idea of who she was.

Forty-two years later, I gaze out from the hill overlooking the Wilder Outdoor Amphitheater. I know I am standing on solid ground built up by people like James Merchant, Augie Van De Wiele, the Farber family, and a litany of names of people with faith and purpose. I was only a leaf caught up in the thunderstorm of passion to promote the community and tell a story of struggle and resilience written by a tiny woman who remembered it all after 60 years of life’s heartbreaks and joys.

Why do people keep coming to this old pioneer story? It is not as flashy as a Marvel mega-budget adventure. Not as polished as a Guthrie production, but it is more real. People can see themselves as Laura clashing with Nellie Oleson or as Caroline, a mother, constantly

Little Voice on the Prairie Bill Richards

struggling to keep her husband’s feet on the ground and the children fed.

Families can empathize with the deep emotions surrounding Mary’s blindness as all of us are touched by illness. There is also unpredictable Mother Nature who blesses with one hand and tears apart our human efforts with the other.

More central to the appeal of this adult children’s story, is how it encourages us to realize how people survive and thrive through their faith, family and friends. If we stop to listen, every community has such bold and spirited stories, if only we know enough to become memory keepers to pass these stories through our generations.

Back from memory and into the practical world, tryouts are over.

Advertising has begun. Eleven TV Stars from the “Little House” will be back for a 45th reunion. Will it be their last?

Mr. Hanson sells land to Pa Ingalls (Lowell Highby and Errol Steffen). Submitted photo

Work continues on flood cleanup and repair to roads and buildings. We are grateful to the communities that have responded to assist with time, money and encouragement. Grants from SMAC, the Remick Foundation, Walnut Grove Area Foundation and several private donors have enabled us to move forward with set, lighting and sound improvements.

Some folks ask, “Is it the same as last year?” I always say, “No. In fact every show is different.” New people, different weather and a different crowd every

night. The message is the same and the magic still happens. This gift requires two months of practice, late nights, personal challenges and always, the weather. This summer vacation is often approached as a whole family adventure. There is a place for young and old, tool-handy and stagestruck alike. As good as the audience version of the show, I am certain that it is because the chemistry and community of

Richards

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Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 13

Bass Continued from page 11

Go With The Flow Inflowing water is also a key element for spring smallies. Creeks, springs, draws funneling spring rain water and even culverts dumping runoff into a main body can pull smallies up shallow as the spawn nears. Work these points of entry over with suspending crankbaits, jerkbaits and soft plastics in an effort to cover water quickly and connect with fish. Follow up with a slower presentation if a bass bites but the hook doesn’t connect.

Add It Up

The best smallie spots in spring combine a number of (or all of) these

Ladies discussing the quality of butter at the Oleson’s Store (Staci Hanson and Teri Herder Blahnik). Submitted photos

Richards Continued from page 12

cast and crew backstage makes it truly amazing. It is what makes the story a memory maker.

Our theme this year is “Come Home to Laura Ingalls.” We hope to see you here.

Like the journey in covered wagons across the prairie, you may find a few bumpy roads as you trot your horses to Walnut Grove. Plan ahead and come for the show, the music, the museum and dugout, the Family Festival, the Laura-Nellie Look-a-Like Contest and the TV Stars. Call 888-859-3102 or find us on the web at walnutgrove.org.

Like us on Facebook or in person!

elements in close proximity to one another. Knowing what to look for and identifying the structure and the other elements that come with fast fishing are notes to hang on to in any journal or GPS. Make a note of these six forms of structure and others this spring in relation to the smallies you catch and odds are you can return to those spots year after year around this same time for more success with bronzebacks.

Whether fishing locally on lakes like East Twin, or targeting brown bass abroad in Minnesota or elsewhere, putting these elements together equals success no matter where you cast your favorite bass lure.

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14– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

Parmalee to headline annual Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival Worthington is kicking off the summer with its 20th annual Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival. The three day event is held at Sailboard Beach on Lake Okabena in Worthington and includes food vendors, raffle, chair auction, windsurfing, kids activities and free concerts.

The windsurfing will kick off the event, with windsurfing all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the festival, the U.S. Windsurfing Association Course Racing National Championship will once again take place on Lake Okabena. This will be the fourth time Worthington has gotten to host the championship.

On Friday, the music starts at 6 p.m., following opening ceremonies. Friday night features County Like Drive, a five-piece country band that has played festivals such as Harvest Jam, Country Fest and Country Boom. They are followed at 8:30 p.m. by Good For Gary, a Twin Cities cover band that specializes in current and past dance hits, with a focus on the newest Top 40 songs.

Saturday includes kids activities with the music starting at 4 p.m. Mojo Monks takes the stage first. They perform the music of artists as diverse as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Adele, Pink, and Bon Jovi to Gretchen Wilson and Big and Rich and create nothing but fun.

They are followed at 7 p.m. by Capitol Sons, a band which has performed around the Twin Cities rock scene for more than a decade and includes drummer Michael Jueneman, who was born and raised in Worthington and graduated from Worthington High School in 1991.

Finally, Saturday evening, headliner Parmalee will take the stage at 9 p.m. The country band is comprised of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, cousin Barry Knox and best friend Josh McSwain. The quartet gets their name from the small town where the band got its start in Parmale, N.C. They formed their band in 2001 as a bunch of small-town boys chasing wild weekend nights, but their talents eventually took them beyond their rehearsal barn and onto country music’s biggest stages, not to mention the top of Billboard’s Country chart.

The band’s blue-collar persistence made their 2013 breakout single, “Carolina” a Platinum certified #1 hit, while their debut album landed in the Top 10. Two more singles - “Close Your Eyes” and “Already Callin’ You Mine” - rose to #3 and #10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

the country band Parmalee will headline this year’s Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival in Worthington. Submitted photo

The road to success wasn’t easy for the band. They have come a long way since their modest beginning, working odd jobs like logging, construction and other types of manual labor to make ends meet. They’ve also had a few setbacks - in 2010, two men attempted to rob the band at gunpoint after a show, which led to Scott being hospitalized for 35 days, 10 of which he was in a coma, for multiple gunshot wounds.

Despite a five percent chance of survival, he miraculously pulled through and the band went on to secure a record deal just four months later. Their tenacious work ethic, small-town values and love for each other has allowed them to persevere, grow stronger and rise to where they are today. At heart, they are still the fun-loving Carolina boys with the same adventurous spirit they left home with on the road to Nashville and beyond.

All of the musical performances are free to the public, so be sure to bring a chair, blanket or just have a seat in the grass and get ready for a good time! A full line up of activities can be found at www.worthingtonwindsurfing.net

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Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 15

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Jeffers Petroglyphs is a popular tourist attraction every summer. Submitted photo

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Jeffers Petroglyphs is home to about 5,000 sacred rock carvings, also called petroglyphs, made by the ancestors of today’s Native Americans. Jeffers tells the story of this continent like no other place — connecting visitors to those who lived and traveled in ancient times across what is now known as North America.

Located off of Highway 71 near Comfrey, Jeffers Petroglyphs is hosting a full calendar of events on Saturdays in June. From barefoot walks through the petroglyphs to creating your own spear thrower, there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. Make a Saturday of it, or come to the petroglyphs every weekend. Jeffers Petroglyphs is located at 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey and is a Minnesota Historical Society site.

An Evening Look at the Carvings Take off your shoes and explore the rock face in the evening when the lighting is best to view them. During this special access, visitors will be able to do a self-guided exploration of the petroglyphs and see carvings not visible from the regular path. An extensive conservation project identified an additional 3,000 petroglyphs, which until recently were covered in lichen.

Visitors can explore the rock face any time between 5 and 7 p.m. and should be prepared to walk barefoot or in socks on uneven surfaces.

Sat., June 1, 2019, 5-7 p.m.

Included with $6-8 site admission/ MNHS members free Also June 8, 15, 22 & 29 Pottery Day Learn about traditional Native American pottery and make a pinch or coil pot to take home.

Sat., June 8, 2019, 1-4 p.m.

Included with $6-8 site admission/ MNHS members free Geology Day Discover the unique features and geology of the Sioux Quartzite rock at Jeffers Petroglyphs on guided tours.

Sat., June 22, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Included with $6-8 site admission/ MNHS members free Make a Spear Thrower Day Learn about the atlatl, or spear thrower, that early hunters used long before the bow and arrow. Make your own atlatl to take home, and learn how to “hunt” by using an atlatl to throw spears at a bison target. Plus, view a collection of atlatls from around the world.

Sat., June 29, 2019, 1-4 p.m.

Included with $6-8 site admission/ MNHS members free

16– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

Watertown Winery pays tribute to lost towns by naming wines after them. Photo / Tara Brandl

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A drive down many county or township roads in southwest Minnesota or eastern South Dakota will bring you past a place that once was. Towns that popped up because of the railroad, river or another entity vital for the survival of a town as the population moved west in early settlement days. Unfortunately, not all of those towns prospered.

At one time they may have had a post office, a school, a small general store. Now they are all closed. A town may have a few people living in it, among the shuttered buildings of the past. Many of these towns have become ghost towns.

However, one business in Watertown, S.D., is paying homage to these disappearing towns of South Dakota with their Ghost Town Winery.

Mike and Vickie Marotz run a winery which has involved four generations of family members and that pays tribute to ghost towns in South Dakota with each bottle of wine they produce.

“It’s not about the ghost, it’s about the towns, the history, the pioneers, the settlers that decided to settle. It started just before South Dakota’s 125th year of statehood.

We wanted to do something that would be tied to history. The whole idea came from sitting on the back porch, drinking wine and talking intelligently about all kinds of stuff. The idea for Ghost Town Winery and the naming was intended to honor the history of South Dakota and the pioneers who settled the area,” said Mike Marotz. “The only criteria is that each town must have had a post office and a school and now both are closed.”

Ghost Town Winery features 20 different wines named after ghost towns throughout South Dakota, including Yahota, a moscato named after a small railway town on the northeast end of Lake Kampeska. When the road was put in everyone moved to Watertown.

A chardonnay wine called Hooker is named after a small town south of Sioux Falls near Viborg. Hooker was named after John Hooker, a local pioneer. The post office in Hooker, S.D., closed in 1954. After Ghost Town Wineries started bottling Hooker wine, it received a special gift from a visitor.

“Someone brought in a ball cap from the 105th anniversary of Hooker,,” Marotz said. “Mostly it’s been people telling stories. A lot of times it is, ‘I grew up near there or my parents grew up there.’ Every now and then someone comes in and wants to suggest what they think we should have for a new wine.”

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Ghost town

continued on page 17

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Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 17

Ghost Town Continued from page 16

The newest addition is Epiphany, a raspberry rhubarb wine that debuted in March 2019.

“The town and/or the wine chosen really have no matching criteria, except that we (mostly Vickie) likes them,” Marotz joked.

While the landscape of the rural area has changed over the years, the development of the area was dictated by the push West and the means to get there.

“Most of the towns were started because of the railroad,” Marotz said. “Maybe the towns had an effect on the layout of the roads and highways.”

This unique homage to the ghost towns of South Dakota led to Marotz being contacted and interviewed for an upcoming documentary for South Dakota Public Broadcasting titled “Vanished South Dakota: Towns of Yesterday.”

Work on the documentary, produced and hosted by Stephanie Rissler, started about a year ago. The idea sprang up after a segment about a South Dakota town that had gone away was featured on the monthly magazine show Dakota Life. Following the segment, images were posted to the SDPB Facebook page.

“Once the images were posted, it went crazy,” stated Director of Marketing Fritz Miller. “People started

Ghost town WINERY features 20 varieties of wine, all named after ghost towns of South Dakota. Photo / Tara Brandl

sharing stories about the little town they grew up in or the town Grandma and Grandpa founded, or they remembered passing through when they went from one town to another. Through the combination of response we got from the social media post and the response we got from that piece we did in Dakota Life, we thought, this is its own show, this is its own topic.”

Much like rural Minnesota, there were many towns that have since vanished in South Dakota. The station knew there was no way to feature every town in the documentary. That is where the real work began.

“We’ve had north of 200 towns that existed and

don’t anymore that have been suggested to us,” Miller said. “Some we’ve found through our research, we’ve looked at old maps, newspapers, other historic documents at county museums. We got quite a few from people interacting with us on social media. And of 200-plus communities, we’ve visited about 50 of those communities. And there are about 38 of them that will have part of their story told in the documentary.”

Like Marotz, Miller attributes the change in towns to myriad reasons.

“Some disappeared after the railroad came through and failed to include that town on its route, some were lost when the Missouri River was dammed for flood control and there were towns that were flooded when the dam was built and the reservoir was filled,” Miller explained. “Others were absorbed by other communities. County lines changed so there were county seats that weren’t county seats anymore. Some disappeared because of natural disaster.”

Manchester, S.D., located along U.S. Highway 14 near DeSmet, was one of those towns. On June 24, 2003, Manchester was completely annihilated by an F4 tornado and was never rebuilt. At its peak during the railroad expansion, Manchester was home to numerous

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homes, a town hall, grocery stores, livery barns, a lumber yard, two grain elevators, a depot, a restaurant, a cream station, a bank, a pool hall, auto repair, blacksmith shops, gas stations, two churches, a system of township schools including Manchester High School, a hotel, a newspaper and a fabled town pump. Grace Ingalls Dow, sister to Laura Ingalls Wilder, spent much of her adult life in Manchester. Artist Harvey Dunn was also from Manchester.

When the tornado hit town in 2003, Manchester had only about a dozen structures and two operating businesses. Following the tornado, the town pump was all that remained.

While looking back at a town that is no more may be difficult, South Dakota Public Broadcasting found many positive aspects of capturing the ghost towns.

“One of the things that is refreshing to know is that people take history seriously,” Miller said. “The people that we run into and have been able to speak with, they may not think of it in this kind of way but they are local historians and they are preserving the memories of these communities, by being able to talk to them and by being able to share photographs of what the towns used to look like. Walking into a county library or museum and looking through old newspapers or looking through the archives of photographs that exist and hearing from people who used to live in that town or whose parents or grandparents used to live in that town, that town is still alive to them. Everything is alive as long as you keep it in your memory. That’s probably one of the most satisfying things we are able to do is to hear somebody passionately tell a story about their family or their community and to be able to record that and save it for future generations to look at and understand and enjoy and have an appreciation for.”

The documentary is currently being screened at various locations. A screening will be held in Watertown, on Monday, June 10, at 2 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m. at the Terry Redlin Art Center. Producer Stephanie Rissler and videographer/editor Krystal Schoenbauer will be the presenters. The documentary will also air on South Dakota Public Broadcasting on Aug. 19.

More information and screening dates and locations can be found at www.sdpb.org/vanished

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18– Southwest Sailor, June 2019

Minnesota state parks to offer free admission on June 8 National Get Outdoors Day opens parks up to all Minnesota’s 75 state parks and recreation areas are all offering free admission this day, and many of them have planned special activities to introduce you to the fun of geocaching, kayaking, camping, and other family-friendly activities.

In addition, those visiting the park are encouraged to wet a line while you’re out for the day! Minnesotans don’t need a license to fish at most Minnesota state parks. You can even

borrow free loaner fishing kits at many state parks, along with loaner birding kits, GPS kits and Kids’ Discovery Kits.

DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen is issuing a statewide challenge to all school-aged kids and their families: Start summer break off right by spending the first weekend out of school under the stars with your friends and family. Hike the trails, splash in the water, and sit

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around a campfire making s’mores with your loved ones. The goal is to fill every campsite in Minnesota State Parks on June 8.

Whether you stay for the whole weekend or just spend a few hours outdoors, you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime, and you can use your new skills for the rest of the summer.

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Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 19

When fishing for walleye, watch for trends Whether in a lake or river, spring walleyes follow tried-and-true patterns. While those patterns may shift with the cold fronts and warming trends that come to southwestern Minnesota, anglers should key in on three specific schools of thought when targeting Ol’ Marbleyes.

Walleyes are creatures of habit, and they hang wherever they can find an edge, a prey source and an easy spot to make their moves during low light hours. Catching these fish on local lakes is the easiest in spring, when they’re recovering from spawning movements, waters are cool and facilitate action. With mid-May’s opening day, walleyes are typically found recovering from their spawn, or preparing to strap on the feed bag to boost their energy levels after the event.

They will relate to transition areas – places where mud turns to gravel, or gravel turns to a rocky substrate, and will be focused on those edges. Target these places with jigs and live bait or work trolling options like Lindy Rigs and spinners behind a bottom bouncer along them to find fish. Particularly at mid-day, when fishing is usually slower on the many fertile, shallow lakes of southwestern Minnesota, finding deep transition areas and their

Nick Simonson Columnist

edges is what will produce fish. As the season progresses, more active crankbait options, such as the Rapala Shad Rap, DT-Series or X-Rap can be cast at shore and reeled back to the boat or along these breaklines to connect with fish, cover water and eliminate unproductive areas. As spring waters warm, walleyes fire up as well and will more readily chase after prey species.

Anything smaller than a walleye’s mouth is fair game, whether it’s juvenile white bass on Lake Hendricks, small perch on Lake Sarah or baby bluegills on East Twin. Knowing the forage available to walleyes will help not only with lure selection and presentation, but also with live-bait options that match the target fish. While these young game fish are not legal bait, they provide a clue as to the size of the forage walleyes are feeding on and minnow offerings can be adjusted accordingly.

Additionally, the colors of these food fish – here silver, orange-green-andblack, or purple - will help in determining the lure to use to connect with walleyes, by giving them a pattern similar to what they’ve been preying on in the wild.

Additionally, non-fish live bait is a solid spring option for walleyes, especially wary ones or those that are a little fussier when spring waters are clear and unstained by summer algae

blooms and growing weeds. Rig a leech or nightcrawler on a single #4 or #6 hook with a small split shot a foot above and find the right depth for the offering under a slip float. These presentations are highly adjustable as fish move in and out at twilight and can be set to the desired depth where those transitions are located, or to keep up with fish at dusk and dawn as they move shallower or deeper with the changing daylight.

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Walleye

continued on page 20

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That final cue – the amount of illumination entering the water – is perhaps the most important and gives walleyes their mystique. With a special layer in their eyeballs called the tapetum lucidum, which they share with their cousin the sauger and many other nocturnal animals, walleyes are able to absorb more light as it is reflected back

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20 – Southwest Sailor, June 2019

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Club Cab/SUV .........................$185 Mini-Van/3rd Row SUV ...........$195 The author pulled this pair of 19-inch walleyes from East Twin Lake by focusing on available spring forage for those fish and using bluegill-shaded spinners on crawler harnesses trolled behind a bottom bouncer. Submitted photo

Walleye

Continued from page 19

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into their retina.

This feature makes them a more efficient low-light predator, and as bright light forces them deeper during the day, the lack of it at dawn and dusk allows them to move up into the shallows to chase prey. Use this anatomical clue and start fishing shallower as daylight fades in the spring evening and into darkness and focus on structure or transition areas in the shallows where walleyes are pursuing minnows and last year’s perch among other prey species.

Offerings such as jigs and twisters, shallow running cast-and-retrieved crankbaits and slip-float rigs with live bait will pay off as eyes make their moves in low light.

Invest in a lighted bobber to trace the location of an offering as things get darker.

The shallow, fertile lakes of southwestern Minnesota depend on stocking to maintain their populations of walleyes, and while spawning is not very successful, fish do go through those motions and their season sets up accordingly. Follow these spring patterns and utilize the options on regional walleye lakes to find some of the best fishing of the year.

MinneSoTa • • • • • •

• • •

Disc Golf – 18 holes Golf – 9 holes Swimming pool with figure 8 water slide 5 City Parks 3 miles of paved trails for hiking/biking/ walking Riverside Park Trail - Skate boarding, Horseshoe Courts, Tennis Courts, Picnic Shelters, Sand Volleyball Court, Sure Putt Disc Game, Basketball Court Springfield Bowling Lanes Historic Downtown Seven businesses that cater to your appetite – Fast food to Steakhouse

RiveRside days June 26 - 30, 2019

• Microtel Inn and Suites with pool • Rothenburg Campground: 47 sites, 17 full hookup, 24 electric/water hookups, Wednesday – June 26 some have cement pads, 6 tent sites.

• Medallion Hunt- Clues will be posted at City Hall, Credit cards accepted. 507-723-3517.

Website and Facebook Page starting Wednesday until Prairie Fire Children’s Theater

“Sleeping Beauty” Friday, June 7 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 8 – 2 p.m.

Springfield Public School Performing Arts Center

Kids Party in the Park In RIveRsIde PaRk

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friday, June 21 • noon-5 p.m.

Saturday, June 22 • noon-6 p.m.

Pre-Sale Wrist Bands available at Springfield Financial Institutions, Runnings, Springfield Market & Expressway June 3 – 19.

Must be 18 or over to purchase wristbands.

Dougy’s Balloon Twisting Artist Making Faces Mankato Face Painting Fireworks Friday at Dark Old time Music & Beer Garden Saturday 4-9pm Outdoor Movie Saturday at Dark WRIst Band $25 PRe-sale/$35 at the Gate We invite you to contact the Springfield Area Community Center for your next event. The Center can seat 500-600 people for business meetings, conventions, weddings or social gatherings. It can be divided into smaller rooms. For additional information contact Jill at 507-723-3517 or e-mail communitycenter@springfieldmn.org

found (Kids Hunt $100 Adults Hunt $400 in Chamber Bucks) - Sponsored by Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Little Miss/Junior Miss Riverside Pageant – 6 p.m. at Springfield Public School Auditorium. Riverside Days Committee will be hosting a Little Miss girls going into k-3, Junior Miss going into 4 -6 grade. $5 Registration fee. 20 Girls for each age bracket accepted - Sponsored

by Salonek Construction • Baseball- Springfield Tiger Town Team vs. Leavenworth – 7:30pm at Riverside Park

Thursday – June 27 • Nerf Gun Wars – Tournament style nerf gun wars 8-18 years old. 9-11:30am; 5pm-Dark. Sponsored by the Riverside Days Committee.

• SAL Food Stand & Beer Garden at Legion 4-11pm • Sleepy Eye Concertina Band at Legion 5-8pm • Kiddie Parade – 5:45pm line up at East Parking Lot of Springfield Public School held at Brown’s Park-starts at 6pm - Sponsored by Farmers and Merchants State Bank • Southwest Minnesota Men’s Chorus & Gospel Express/ Sponsored by Springfield Community Theatre. Root Beer Floats served by the Springfield Lions Club at Brown’s Park 7pm.

Friday – June 28 • Pedal Pull – Registration, 4pm at Extreme Fitness Parking Lot. Ages 4-11 are able to participate in a State Sanctioned Pedal Pull. Ages 3 are able to participate in a fun pull. Top 3 of the 4-11 in each age group receives a trophy - Sponsored by the Riverside Days Committee • Nerf Gun Wars – Tournament style Nerf gun wars 8-18 years old. 9-11:30 a.m.; 5 p.m.-Dark. Sponsored by the

Riverside Days Committee.

• SAL Food Stand & Beer Garden at Legion 4-11pm • Grand Parade- Starts at 6:30pm • Street Dance- 8pm to Midnight at American Legion “The Mike Lang Show” • Medallion Hunt winners announced at Legion- 8pm

Saturday – June 29 • 5K Fun Run/Walk – 7am registration 8am (start time) at Community Center - Sponsored by Springfield Mayo Clinic Health System Springfield Wellness Team • Bean Bag Tournament at Riverside Park 11:30am-6pm – Sponsored by the Springfield Fire Department • Nerf Gun Wars – 11:30am until winner. Tournament style Nerf gun wars 8-18 years old - Sponsored by the Riverside Days Committee.

• Riverside Days Vendor Show at Riverside Park 10am3pm. Variety of direct seller companies & crafters to sell/ showcase their items - Sponsored by the Riverside Days Committee • SAL Food Stand & Beer Garden at Legion 4-11pm • Firemen’s Pork Chop Feed 4:30-8pm at Springfield Fire Station • Firemen’s Street Dance 9pm-1am “Switch Road Band”- FREE admission at Springfield Fire Station Sunday, June 23 • Pancake Feed - 8-11am at Ambulance Garage - Sponsored by Springfield Ambulance • Putt for the Panthers – St. Raphael School 3rd Annual Golf Outing 12pm at Springfield Golf Course • Baseball- Springfield Tiger Town Team vs. Lamberton – 5pm at Riverside Park • Devons Day - Sensory Friendly Family Play with Nerf Guns 9am-1pm at Tennis Courts. Sponsored by Subway of Springfield. Free Cookie & Prizes.

For additional information – 507-723-3508 or visit www.springfieldmnchamber.org

facebook.com/riversidedayspringfieldminnesota & facebook.com/SpringfieldAreaChamberofCommerceCVB

Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 21

Drinking water restored at Blue Mounds State Park Water that’s safe to drink, cook, and bathe with is now available for visitors at Blue Mounds State Park in southwestern Minnesota, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Over the winter, contractors made the final connections to Rock County Rural Water System, ending a safe drinking water problem that spanned five camping seasons.

“We’re excited to have water service restored,” said Blue Mounds State Park Manager Chris Ingebretsen.

“We appreciate the patience shown by our visitors, and look forward to welcoming them for the 2019 camping season.”

Water service was first disrupted at Blue Mounds State Park in 2014 when E.coli bacteria was discovered in the park’s well. A second well was dug that year, but it also contained E.coli.

That meant the park needed to look elsewhere for a water source.

“This was a fairly complex project,” Ingebretsen said. “The Sioux quartzite rock that underlies the park makes Blue Mounds unique and special, but it’s also the very thing that complicated the project since contractors needed to drill and blast through so much bedrock to bring in underground water lines.”

After a summer of working to connect water service to the park, the connection was finally completed in December, and system testing on the project’s first segment concluded in mid-February. Testing on water lines to the campground concluded late last week, giving the all-clear for water

Founded in 1937, Blue Mounds State Park is home to a spectacular 1.5 mile rock cliff outcrop, numerous native prairie grasses and flowers, as well as Minnesota’s first state-owned herd of bison. In 2018, the Park began to offer bison and prairie tours with a DNR naturalist on a specially-designed vehicle funded through the State of

Minnesota’s Legacy Funds.

Camping is available via the DNR’s reservation system, at mndnr.gov. A vehicle permit is required to enter all Minnesota state parks, which cost $7/ day or $35/year. Other important tour park information can be found at mndnr.gov/bluemounds.

Walnut Grove Nellie’s Café “Little Café on the Prairie” The finishing connection to the Rock County Rural Water System means clean water at Blue Mounds State Park. Photo / MN DNR

service ahead of the 2019 camping season.

“We’re especially grateful for the hospitality from the city of Luverne and the Luverne Area Aquatic and Fitness Center,” Ingebretsen said.

“By cooperating to provide shower facilities for our park guests, they ensured campers were still able to have a good experience these past five camping seasons.”

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Street Dance

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Burgers sold by Jeffers Fire Dept.

Saturday, July 13

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8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Senior Citizen Center

VollEyBall TouRnamEnT 9:30 a.m. City Park **Pre-registration required - Call (507) 220-4891

Fun Day in the Park

Kids Pedal Pull 10:30 a.m.

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament 10 a.m. minnow Races Kids games & activities Kids inflatables

CommuniTy SuPPER 3:00 – 6:30 p.m. Senior Citizen Center

BEan Bag TouRnamEnT 3:00 p.m. Senior Citizen Center

Street Dance

“Red Dirt Road” 9 p.m. Sponsored by Jeffers outlaw Committee

Sunday, July 14 Community Church Service 10 a.m. Jeffers untied methodist Church Featuring “hallelujah hooligans” light lunch to Follow Church Service

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22 – Southwest Sailor, June 2019

How to re-grow food from scraps There is nothing more frugal than reusing something that would normally end up in the trash. As we await the beginning of the gardening season, it’s helpful to find ways to stretch our grocery budgets as much as possible.

Fresh produce can get very expensive when purchased from the grocery store.

Wouldn’t it be great to double your money when it comes to fresh produce?

Many fruits and vegetables have the ability to be able to “re-grow” from the scraps that you might otherwise toss in the trash. It’s easy and something you can do right on your kitchen counter.

Here’s a list of several kinds of fruits and veggies and how to regrow them at home.

Celery Cut the bottom inch off a stalk of celery.

Place in a bowl with the cut side facing up. Put a little bit of water in the bottom of the bowl and put the bowl in a sunny place. After a few days, roots and leaves will start to form. At this point you can either plant outside in your garden or transfer to a larger pot to grow to full size. Also, instead of tossing the leafy parts of the celery you can add those to soups for a little extra flavor!

Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes Place toothpicks into both sides of a potato and place one half of the potato in a glass of water (so about ¼ of the potato is in water). The roots will grow into the water and the leaves will grow on the top. When the potato has enough roots, transplant it into your garden.

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Garlic can be grown from a single clove.

the fresh leeks when you have enough to eat.

Romaine Lettuce Cut off the bottom inch of a romaine lettuce head. Place the root side down into a shallow glass of water and new leaves will grow from the top.

Green Onions Cut off the bulb and roots (the white end) and place it roots down in a glass of water overnight. Replant outside or in a large pot the next day and it will start growing quickly!

Garlic Plant a single clove root side down into some potting soil. Once shoots start coming up, cut back so the bulb will be able to grow. Eventually you will have a nice fresh garlic bulb! Use a clove off the new bulb to start growing another bulb for later.

By re-growing some of these foods, you should be able to shave valuable dollars off your grocery bill and make the most of what you already purchased.

If you should choose not to regrow your food scraps, you can always add them to a container in the freezer until you have enough to add to a soup or to make a vegetable stock.

Leeks Cut off the bulb, just like you would the green onions above. Place in a shallow glass of water. Change the water and wash the roots once a week. Cut off

Merissa Alink believes in making the most with what you have and writes about frugal tips, from-scratch recipes, simple living, and much more at Little House Living. You can learn more at www.littlehouseliving.com.

Ginger Soak the ginger root overnight. Bury the entire root with any buds facing upward in a pot of dirt. Do not place in a sunny area and make sure to keep the soil moist. Ginger is very easy to grow so this is one that you should be able to have endless supplies of.

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Southwest Sailor, June 2019 – 23

Four days of fun at Balaton Fun Fest The Balaton community, tucked along U.S. Highway 14, will be celebrating their annual Balaton Fun Fest July 4-7. This year will feature the Balaton High School Class of ’69 50th reunion. There will be several fundraising activities during the weekend to go toward a gift to Balaton including a putting contest at Balaton Bay Golf Course and a Quilt Auction.

The weekend will kick off Thursday July 4 at 6 p.m. with the Little Miss and Mr. Balaton program.

Friday will include the putting contest in the afternoon. That evening the Balaton Foundation Burger Feed will be held along with entertainment from the Lighter Side Clowns, Mobile Heart Beats and the Variety Show. The evening will culminate with the annual fireworks at 10 p.m.

Saturday includes a full day of activities beginning with the Fun Run at 8 a.m.

Glenn’s Tractor Show will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a little competition, you can enjoy the 2-person best ball tournament at the Balaton Bay Golf Course or the 3 on 3 basketball tournament on Main St. For the young or young at heart, the kiddie parade will begin at 10 a.m. There are also inflatables, a coin dig, “Wendy’s Wiggle Jiggle Jam, Wildrose Ponies, a petting zoo and the kids tractor pull.

The Grand Parade will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, followed by entertainment from Mobile Heart Beats during dinner at the lake. The Firemen’s Street dance will wrap up the night featuring “Sweet Siren” on Main St. Sunday will complete the fun with an Ecumenical Service at Victory Christian Church, a 10 a.m. golf tournament and the Trinity Church Picnic Dinner.

The Balaton Historical Society will be open during the weekend as well.

For a full list of events and times, please visit Balaton crowns its Little Mr. and Miss every summer balatonfunfest.com during Fun Fest.

FIREWORKS are always a blast at Balaton’s Fun Fest, which makes sense, since the festival kicks off on July 4.

Bird Central Famous for Miles Around…

Largest selection of bird feeders and bird food in Southwest MN!

Patzer’s

411 West Main Street • Beautiful Downtown Marshall • (507) 532-4401

Jump into some fun!

Open f the Se or ason Memo r Week ial end!

Guided Tours and Visitor’s Center, Gifts and Tourist Information 440 North Mill Street, Currie, MN (507) 763-3708 e-mail: endoline@co.murray.mn.us

Open Memorial Weekend through Labor Day and by Special Arrangement.

Wednesday thru Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Closed Monday & Tuesday

www.murraycountymn.com

www.endoline.com

24 – Southwest Sailor, June 2019

www.murraylandagencyinc.com

CURRIE, MN 763-3700

TRACY, MN 212-6688

SLAYTON, MN 836-6996

OKABENA, MN 853-4421

Luann Hansen Broker/Realtor

Jody Lehnhoff Realtor

Pam Schreier Realtor

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424 3RD STREET TRACY

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161 NORTH STREET TRACY

NEW LISTING 474 6TH STREET TRACY

940 SWEETMAN ST. CURRIE

Lake Sarah

Lighthouse Lane

INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR PROPERTY?

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IRONWOOD AVE. SLAYTON

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141 Mill St–Currie (507) 763-3262 117 S. Minnesota Ave– Okabena (507) 853-4421