$1.50 ON NEWSSTANDS A CROW RIVER MEDIA NEWSPAPER
SUNDAY JUNE 4, 2017
FUN STUFF FOR A LONG SUMMER
STEAL FROM GIRL SCOUTS?
We have your complete guide to summer attractions / B1
Plants have been taken from downtown park / A3
WEEKEND
Hutchinson children’s museum gets a boost
FAR SOUTHEAST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
$80,000 Legacy grant will enhance arts, cultural heritage offerings
Hot area for growth
BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
It’s been 11 months since the Wheel and Cog Children’s Museum opened in the Hutchinson Mall with the goal of giving kids a place to play and learn in a creative environment without traveling to the Twin Cities. It isn’t on the scale of the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul, but it still provides plenty of opportunities for area kids to learn about science, technology, arts and culture. This past week, its efforts were recognized by the Minnesota Legislature in the way of an $80,000 grant to be distributed over the next two years. “It’s exciting. It’s so exciting,” Jessica Sabrowsky said Wednesday evening. She’s one of the museum’s board members. The money was granted through Legacy funds, which Minnesotan voters earmarked for natural resources, cultural heritage, parks and trails in 2008 via a sales tax. “We’re planning to further develop exhibits,” Sabrowsky said. One planned addition is called Back Yard Explorers, which will be themed after Hutchinson’s many riverside parks. “It’s going to have little campgrounds and Museum to A7 ➤ PHOTO BY JULIA JAGODZINSKI
Mike Curwick and Robin Curwick with their son, Carter, and dog, Baxter, appreciate the amenities of their neighborhood along the 700 block of Hassan Street.
Far Southeast
Access to shopping, plentiful housing options helps Hutchinson’s southeast neighborhood boom
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: Today the Leader introduces a 12-part series covering Hutchinson’s neighborhoods. BY KAY JOHNSON johnson@hutchinsonleader.com
FILE PHOTO
The Wheel & Cog Children’s Museum of Hutchinson offers a place for children to engage in creative play. Saturdays feature STEAM — science, technology engineering, art and math — activities.
Help sought for McLeod County’s homeless people United Community Action Partnership saw 245 McLeod County households in need of housing assistance in 2016. That observation has prompted the agency, formerly known as Heartland, to call for a meeting to implement a new strategy to help families who need help with a place to live. It is reaching out to residents of McLeod County to join its development team to end homelessness here. The meeting is at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 22, at the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism at 2 Main St. S., Hutchinson. The speaker is Heather Jeseritz, Meeker Area Ministries chairman. UCAP believes Meeker Area Ministries has Homeless to A7 ➤
I
n real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. David Broll, a Realtor, developer and contractor, calls the farsoutheast section of Hutchinson a “popular” place to live. The reasons have much to do with location — shopping, dining, Hutchinson Health and Ridgewater College, easy access in and out of town via the ring road, State Highway 15 and Denver Avenue when it opens, and the variety of housing options available in the area. After taking a hit during the recent recession, Broll said the market is rebounding and expects it to be back to a pre-recession level by next year. Broll called spring a “hot pocket” time of year. Available inventory typically runs about 120 properties or more. Today, there are 56 properties listed, which is exceptionally low. “It seems the business climate in Hutchinson is very good,” he said. “There’s a positive attitude environment now. Mortgage rates are low and loan programs are good. New construction gets more inviting as values increase on inventory.” Broll credited the “positive outlook” to city leadership. “They work well together to create a community we can be very proud of,” he said. When it comes to home values, Broll says
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STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
David Broll has been in the real estate business for more than 30 years. Broll is the Realtor representing the developer of the Summerset subdivision, which is a fast-growing neighborhood in Hutchinson. the older sections along Selchow, Jorgenson, Sherwood, Oakland and Bradford streets offer single-family housing with prices ranging from $140,000 to $210,000. Most of these homes were built beginning in the early 1960s to the 1980s. Prices increase as you move south. Expect to pay anywhere from $220,000 to $280,000 along the Elks Drive area, which
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was developed in the 1990s. New construction in developments such as Summerset and South Fork Ridge range from $250,000 to $350,000.
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MAKING IT HOME After living in the Twin Cities for six Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
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June 4, 2017 | A5
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Amanda Tews, 10, holding her cat Cinnamon Roll, tried the slide at Hutchinson’s Elks Park. Looking on was her sister, Erin. The park was upgraded last month with new equipment that is accessible and safe for all children, including those with physical disabilities.
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NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
Convenient location is asset
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patrick said the location is “very convenient.” “It’s four to five blocks for shopping, or if I want to take a class at Ridgewater College, or go to the doctor,” she said. Kirkpatrick also noted Oakland Cemetery as an attraction in the area. “The cemetery is a beautiful place to walk,” she said. The only drawback — a lack of sidewalks. “I grew up in Oregon, Illinois, where we had sidewalks. When my mother came to visit, she asked, ‘Where are your sidewalks?’”
MOVING HOME Mary Henke and her late husband, Gary, were born and raised in Hutchinson. “It was a great place to grow up,” Mary said. “We thought it would be a good place to raise a family.” They bought their home in the 100 block of Selchow in 1971. “It was a real supportive place to have our family grow,” Henke said. Today, she said their neighborhood would be described as a “starter” neighborhood with rambler-style homes with single garages. “I like living among a mix of ages,” she said. “The houses are turning over. Kids are growing up. I do like having young couples buy and move in.” Henke also likes the location. “This end of town is convenient to grocery stores, the senior center, the clinic,” she said. Henke identified 2008 as a “sad time” for her neighborhood. “The house next to me and the one across the street went into foreclosure,” she said. “One couple worked at HTI and they both lost their jobs and the other young couple divorced. For about two years, it was in the limbo stage — no care and the lawns were overgrown. I didn’t like that.”
WORKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Easy access to shopping, dining and Hutchinson’s main roads were cited among the positive attributes of working in the neighborhood by Vivid Image employees Heidi Arndt, Carlie Mosher and Cory Dammann. “The work location is convenient,” Arndt said. Although she called it “pretty minor,” a drawback Arndt mentioned is the intersection by Walgreens, which can be difficult to cross beNeighborhoods to A6 ➤
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 left its mark on Hutchinson. This marker, which can be found west of 3M along Jefferson Street, was dedicated to Mrs. C.F. Spaude and her two children who were seeking refuge in the stockade when they were overtaken by Sioux Indians and killed on Sept. 4, 1862.
Drawbacks of their neighborhood ”I prefer the country for the quiet and awareness of the seasons. The convenience of being close to things in town is nice.”
— Tom Wirt, 1000 block of Jefferson Street ”I grew up in Oregon, Illinois, where we had sidewalks. When my mother came to visit, she asked, ‘Where are your sidewalks?’”
— Paula Kirkpatrick, 1000 block of Sherwood Street ”We get a lot of the sirens. When you’re this close to the highway and hospital it’s expected. I live on Main Street and I hear it all the time. It’s so much quieter than living in the Twin Cities.”
Be Safe Stay clear of downed power lines NEVER TOUCH A DOWNED POWER LINE.
Always assume it is energized and call 911 immediately.
POWERFUL STORMS can damage power lines. If you see a downed power line: n
n
n
Stay at least 50 feet away from it and assume it is energized. The ground may also be energized making the entire area extremely dangerous. Never touch anything that is touching a downed power line. It is as dangerous as the line itself. If a power line falls on your vehicle while you are in it, stay inside your vehicle until help arrives.
— Karlie Mosher, graphic designer at Vivid Image.
History Hutchinson was founded in 1855. The city grew south expanding to Sherwood Street by 1928. It took more than 40 years for it to make its next leap to Century Avenue. By 2001, the city continued its march south to Edmonton Avenue and east between Jefferson Street and State Highway 22. A section of the city continued from Edmonton parallel to Montreal Street to Airport Road. By 2011, The city had expanded south to Airport Road and East to State Highway 22. Source: City of Hutchinson Planning and Zoning Department
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A6 | June 4, 2017
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
Crime in the far-southeast “Overall, crime seems to be in-line with other neighborhoods of similar makeup,� said Officer Tyler Schmeling, Hutchinson Police Department. According to Schmeling:
STAFF PHOTOS BY KAY JOHNSON
One of Paula Kirkpatrick’s favorite places to walk is Oakland Cemetery. She said she enjoys reading the inscriptions on the markers.
Enjoying the location of their employer, Vivid Image, was, from left, Heidi Arndt, Cory Dammann and Carlie Mosher.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A5
Traffic no problem compared to Twin Cities at Vivid Image in July. The account director lives in downtown Hutchinson, so he appreciates the quick access to State Highway 15 and Main Street. “Everything is relatively close,� he said.
cause traffic backs up on Friday. Carlie Mosher has worked as a graphic designer at Vivid Image for five years. “We’re in the middle of two sections of town,� she said. “It’s easy access to run errands, go to meetings or appointments.� Although she hears a lot of sirens, Mosher said it’s expected working this close to State Highway 15 and Hutchinson Health. “Compared to the Twin Cities, having to wait to turn left on Highway 15 is minimal compared to what it could be,� Mosher said. Cory Dammann will complete his first year
LIVING ALONG JEFFERSON It was about a year ago that Tom Wirt moved into his home in the 1000 block of Jefferson. “It was a foreclosed home but in good shape,� he said. “It was the ‘farm home’ for the neighborhood. It had a driveway around the house and the lot is bigger than usual. Plus, it had a garage that could
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be converted into a pottery studio.� During the past year, Wirt has seen an uptick in the amount of traffic and credited it partly to the increase in construction south on Edmonton Avenue. On the plus side, he likes the trail that’s across the street. He can also walk downtown in less than 30 minutes. His immediate neighbors are friendly and fill him in on the neighborhood history. “It seems like everybody in Hutch lived on Jefferson or knows someone who has or does,� he said. “It could be quieter but it’s not too bad. Twenty years in the country spoils you.�
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For more information about crime and related activities in this section of Hutchinson, call Schmeling at 320-234-5621.
Public Notices Publ. June 4, 11, 18 & 25 and July 2 & 9, 2017 NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: June 27, 2012 MORTGAGOR: Michael P Knutson, a single man. MORTGAGEE: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Cornerstone Mortgage Company its successors and assigns. DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded June 29, 2012 McLeod County Recorder, Document No. 403589. ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: U.S. Bank National Association. Dated October 1, 2013 Recorded October 14, 2013, as Document No. 412304. TRANSACTION AGENT: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. TRANSACTION AGENT'S MORTGAGE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON MORTGAGE: 100177050600038582 LENDER OR BROKER AND MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR STATED ON MORTGAGE: Cornerstone Mortgage Company RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SERVICER: U.S. Bank National Association MORTGAGED PROPERTY ADDRESS: 1524 12th Street East, Glencoe, MN 55336 TAX PARCEL I.D. #: 22.050.2310 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: THE NORTH 70.13 FEET OF LOTS 7 AND 8 IN BLOCK 37 IN THE TOWN OF GLENCOE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT AND SURVEY THEREOF NOW ON FILE AND OR RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER IN AND FOR MCLEOD COUNTY, MINNESOTA. ALSO, PART OF THE VACATED NORTH-SOUTH ALLEY, AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT: BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF LOT 7 IN BLOCK 37 IN THE TOWN OF GLENCOE, 70.13 FEET SOUTH OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 7; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID WEST LINE, 70.13 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 7; THENCE WESTERLY ALONG THE WESTERLY EXTENSION OF THE NORTH LINE OF SAID LOT 7, 8.25 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY, ALONG A LINE PARALLEL with the WEST LINE OF SAID LOT 7; 70.13 FEET, TO A POINT; THENCE EASTERLY, 8.25 FEET, TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS
TRANSPORTATION
■Theft and shoplifting: Theft is typically attributed to “crimes of opportunity,� which are best prevented/deterred by locking vehicles/homes and ensuring garage doors and windows are shut/secured when away from the home and overnight. Shoplifting in this neighborhood is primarily committed at Menards, possibly because of no/little visible theft deterrents such as retail theft/ RF detectors and cameras. However, Menards is successful in preventing/detecting shoplifting due to diligent and attentive employees. ■Drug activity/suspicious activity on Echo Drive and Echo Circle (is) often a problem with lower income housing/ multiresident housing, which is prevalent in this area. ■Disturbances on Echo Drive, Echo Cirle and Denver Avenue: Loud noise complaints in apartment buildings and from traffic and/ or loud music, fireworks complaints. ■Missing persons/assists with group homes: Issues with group home residents not returning home at agreed upon times and breaking policies. ■Two vehicle pursuits initiated in this neighborhood: Both fled southbound/outof-town from the southeast limits of town. Both suspects were eventually arrested, charged and convicted of felony fleeing in motor vehicle. ■Complaints of speeding on Jefferson Street: Likely due to being long, straight roadway, road design, and being an outlying street. ■Accidents at State Highway 15 and Denver Avenue: Busy intersection with numerous lanes (straight, left and right turn), distracted driving, speed, and poor visibility.
LOCATED: McLeod ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $87,244.00 AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $83,786.21 That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute; That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: July 27, 2017 at 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: McLeod County Courthouse, 830 11th St. E., Room 4, Glencoe, MN 55336 to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys' fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns unless reduced to Five (5) weeks under MN Stat. §580.07. TIME AND DATE TO VACATE PROPERTY: If the real estate is an owner-occupied, single-family dwelling, unless otherwise provided by law, the date on or before which the mortgagor(s) must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property is not redeemed under section 580.23 is 11:59 p.m. on January 29, 2018 unless that date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, in which case it is the next weekday, and unless the redemption period is reduced to 5 weeks under MN Stat. Secs. 580.07 or 582.032. MORTGAGOR(S) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE:None "THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED." Dated: May 24, 2017 U.S. Bank National Association Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee
USSET, WEINGARDEN AND LIEBO, P.L.L.P. Attorneys for Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee 4500 Park Glen Road #300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-6888 19 - 17-003340 FC THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR.
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Wed. Hutchinson Leader: Noon on Friday's Sunday Hutchinson Leader: Noon on Tuesday's ************************************ Call 320.587.5000 to place your notice today!
Publ. June 4, 2017 Publication No. 8232 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 54; STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY OF HUTCHINSON NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Hutchinson will meet in the council chambers of City Center, 111 Hassan St SE, on Tuesday, June 13th, at 6:00 p.m., for a Public Hearing to consider revisions to Chapter 54; Stormwater Management, developed in compliance with requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination system (NPDES) Phase II MS4 permit. Public comment and testimony will be received at this time. A copy of the Ordinance is available for review at the Hutchinson City offices, located at 111 Hassan Street S.E. If you have questions regarding this public hearing, contact John Paulson, Project/Environmental/Regulatory Manager, at (320) 234-5682. Submitted by: Matt Jaunich City Administrator
I’mabout informed Opinions. Local commentaries on issues that matter to me.
Good Times Bus Lines LLC Hutchinson • (320) 441-8088 goodtimesbuslines.com
$1.50 ON NEWSSTANDS A CROW RIVER MEDIA NEWSPAPER
SUNDAY JUNE 11, 2017
FARMS’ FUTURE UNDER TRUMP?
EDUCATION GETS A BUMP
Rep. Collin Peterson weighs in on federal proposals / A6
Rural schools expected to benefit from legislation / A6
WEEKEND MID NORTHWEST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
The heart of the river
If it smells like lemons, check out the road first BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
What’s that smell? It’s a question a few Hutchinson residents asked earlier this summer during roadwork in places such as Golf Course Road and Second Avenue Southeast. The smell was a little like a lemon-scented chemical house cleaner, but seemed thick in the air outside. It turns out the source was a soybean-based material used to preserve bituminous roads. Hutchinson has actually used the product, called Replay, for about 10 years. But this time around the smell was particularly noticeable. “It was quite humid out because we had all that rain,” said John Olson, Hutchinson Public Works manager. “It’s that combined with how they (the manufacturer) always uses a little different material.” The odor can change based on the mixture of citric acids from various sources — such as lemons, limes and oranges — used in the preservation material each year. This year, the smell has lingered for few days on some roads. Olson said the main benefit of the material is how flexible it is. Bituminous roads are meant to be flexible to keep their integrity with
Roadwork to A5 ➤
STAFF PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
Louie Smoldt and his granddaughters, Caden and Lilly, feed baby ducks and other birds at the Gopher Campfire Wildlife Sanctuary on Les Kouba Parkway. Like Smoldt, many people are drawn to this area of Hutchinson for the trails and parks down by the river.
Mid Northwest
Parks and trails make Hutchinson’s mid northwest neighborhood a nice place to live and visit
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: This is the second in a 12-part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods.
BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO sports@hutchinsonleader.com
I
n Hutchinson, few things are more enjoyable on a nice day than getting out and exploring the many parks and trails in town. But out of the city’s roster of 36 parks, none offer the views and up-close experience of the Crow River better than the mid northwest section of Hutchinson. Since the town’s founding in 1855, its location on the river has been an integral part of the community’s identity. Today, there are 16 parks that line the banks of the river, but the crown jewel of them all is the stretch along Les Kouba Parkway, named for the famed Hutchinson wildlife artist and dedicated in 1978. It’s no mistake this area on the northern banks of the river is named for Kouba. It’s one of the best areas to see nature and it’s at the heart of the city’s Crow River trail system. It’s also one of Louie Smoldt’s favorite places to take his granddaughters, Caden and Lilly. They were out feeding birds at Gopher
It was a cold day at Rotary Park, but not too cold for baseball as kids played a youth game on the ball field in the mid northwest area of Hutchinson.
Campfire Wildlife Sanctuary on a recent afternoon. He watches the girls while their parents work, and he prefers taking them to outdoor activities than letting them sit inside and watch TV all day.
“There’s not enough of this kind of stuff if you ask me,” he said. Although they live out on U.S. Highway
Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
“I like that there is stuff close by for people to do. I babysit, so I like to take the kids to the park.” Maddie Elder, a senior at Hutchinson High School
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TO REACH US
Like to solve puzzles? Join the Medallion Hunt for $500 prize The Medallion Hunt for the 75th annual Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival will begin Monday. Clues will be posted daily beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 12, on the Leader website at www.hutchinsonleader.com and on the front door of the Leader building, 170 Shady Ridge Road N.W. A bonus clue will appear in the print edition of the Wednesday and Sunday Leader.
ABOUT THE MEDALLION HUNT The medallion is hidden somewhere in the greater Hutchinson city area. It is hidden on public property and will not require digging, climbing, cutting, hammering or any destructive means to retrieve it. Organizers ask that medallion hunters do not intrude on private property or damage trees, shrubbery, buildings or other public or private property. To participate in the hunt, you must purchase a Water Carnival button prior to beginning your search. Buttons can be purchased for $3 at participating Water Carnival sponsors. Anyone is eligible to join the hunt, except Hutchinson Leader staff and family, Water Carnival committee members and family, and Medallion Hunt Committee members and family. To be eligible for the prize of $500 from the Hutchinson Leader, the finder of the medallion should call 320-234-4164 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The person finding the medallion must present it along with a Water Carnival button to claim the prize. The winner will receive the prize at the Water Carnival Coronation Sunday evening at the Maplewood Academy gymnasium, 700 Main St. N.
PHONE: 320-587-5000 FAX: 320-587-6104 DELIVERY AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: 320-234-4142
A4 | June 11, 2017
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
FILE PHOTO
If you're interested in water sports, there is no better place to test the waters than the Crow River. Need equipment? It's available for rent at the Paddle Sport Rental Building near Kouba Point at Masonic West River Park. If you're new to water sports, a free paddle sports orientation session is planned from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 26.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
River, parks offer abundance of recreational activites 212 near Sumter, Smoldt said they were visiting Hutchinson just for the parks, as they often do. They had been at another park before heading down to the wildlife sanctuary. “We like feeding them and looking at the babies,” Lilly said about the birds. From Jaycee Riverside Park and the wildlife sanctuary, to Masonic/ West River Park and AFS Park, this stretch of trails and parks is what brings many visitors to this area of Hutchinson. On any given day the parks are filled with bikers, walkers and people picnicking. This is also a popular place to be during local festivals such as Water Carnival, beginning this weekend, and RiverSong in July. There are also events such as the Relay for Life in August, the Glow Run in September and Common Cup 5K in May that take advantage of the trail system along the river. At Masonic West River Park, there is camping and RV hookups are available. With 12 full hook-ups, 10 electric-only sites and eight tent sites, the campground is utilized often. According to Hutchinson’s PRCE Director, Dolf Moon, there were about 2,600 camper nights last year during the season, from May 1 to Oct. 15. If you feel like getting on the water, go to Les Kouba Point and find the rental office. You can rent kayaks, paddle boards, paddle boats and canoes to get an even closer look at the Crow River. The office is open from 3:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
This statue, titled “Tall Friend & Old Friend” depicts longtime AFS supporter Jay Beytien and AFS student Arnaud Denis. The slogan “Walk Together, Talk Together” is etched in the statue and is the motto of the American Field Service. It can be seen AFS Park.
Attractions in Mid Northwest Hutchinson
WORKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD While it isn’t a big business area, there is some work getting done, largely by the businesses along State Highway 7. Although it isn’t as busy of a neighborhood as other parts of Hutchinson, Kim Winter, a financial advisor who has worked at the same Edward Jones location at 1020 Highway 7 for more than 16 years, said it actually works well for her. “It’s good visibility, because everyone knows the hotel,” she said. “I still call it the Victoria Inn, even though its now called the Days Inn. People know what I mean. It’s easy for people to find and has easy parking.” Being able to walk out to a park by the river over lunch is also a nice perk of working in this area. “On nice days over lunch, it takes 20 minutes to go and walk around,” said Wanda Schwanke, a senior branch office administrator at Edward Jones. You can see all the wildlife and deer. It’s a nice walk.” And while they don’t have as many options as other parts of town, Schwanke and Winter agreed there were still plenty of good places to grab lunch in that area of the town.
t +BZDFF 3JWFSTJEF 1BSL 300 Les Kouba Parkway, offers horseshoe courts, picnic shelters, restrooms, sand volleyball, a ball field, playground equipment and a good view of the river. It’s also along the Luce Line State Trail.
STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
Rotary Park is an instant favorite for the people who live in the mid northwest neighborhood of Hutchinson. Located off School Road, the park just received new playground equipment and has a 1/2-mile paved walking trail.
Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
t .BTPOJD 8FTU 3JWFS 1BSL 1003 Les Kouba Parkway, is the place to be during many of Hutchinson’s annual festivals, but especially RiverSong and Water Carnival. On a regular day, the park offers some of the best views of the river. There is a mile of paved trails, a playground,
t "'4 'SJFOETIJQ (SPWF 1BSL west of Masonic/West River Park, began on Arbor Day 1983 as a way to honor American Field Service exchange students who lived in Hutchinson. A tree is planted at the park for every AFS student who has lived in town. There were 32 inaugural trees planted when the park began, and at least 34 more have been planted since. The park is connected by the Luce Line State Trail and has a 1/2-mile gravel walking path with sculptures, bridges and views of the river. t 3PUBSZ 1BSL 770 School Road, is in the residential area of the neighborhood and has a lot packed into a smaller area. It hosts a youth ball field, a shelter and bathrooms, and a brand new, $62,000 playground that was just installed this month. There’s also a 1/2-mile, paved path going around the entire park.
The best things in the neighborhood
A MIX OF PEOPLE North of Highway 7 is where the people of this neighborhood live. According to Cheryl Dooley of Hometown Realty, this area of town was first developed with special funding from the state, and through
t (PQIFS $BNQöSF 8JMEMJGF 4BODUVBSZ, Les Kouba Parkway, was established in 1937 and is named for Sam G. Anderson, the club’s founder. He was a Hutchinson attorney and an outspoken conservationist, and he personally donated his collection of ducks to the sanctuary, which today hosts a variety of bird and animal species. The sanctuary was originally located near the public utilities building, but after a flood in 1965 it was moved to its current site.
and shelters to picnic. You can also get a camp site, park an RV, or rent a paddle boat to get out on the river.
“On nice days over lunch, it takes 20 minutes to go and walk around. You can see all the wildlife and deer. It’s a nice walk.” STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
The paddlesport rental shed in Masonic Park is open from 3:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. You can rent kayaks, paddle boards and more for up to four hours to explore the Crow River.
— Wanda Schwanke, a senior branch office administrator at Edward Jones, which is along State Highway 7 “You can get a little bit of exercise and still keep an eye on your kid. That was one of the nice features to have.” — Eric Torpero, a visitor at Rotary Park who likes the paved walking path
June 11, 2017 | A5
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ROADWORK Continued from A1
Fine rocks no longer a problem the frequent strain of traffic. Typical chip seal, which involves a layer of oil, a layer of chips, and another layer of oil to lock those rocks can keep the road from flexing as much as it used to. “From a customer perspective, when we’ve used Replay, you’re not dealing with that fine rock that seems to wiggle its way into garages and front porches,” Olson said.
The soybean-based material also helps keep water out of the soil beneath the road, and it’s roughly 15 to 20 percent less expensive. “We try to hit (new construction) after they’ve gone through two winters,” Olson said. Residents who are sensitive to chemicals are encouraged to contact the city so they can be informed of upcoming projects
through mail, email, phone call or text message. Public Works can be reached at 320234-4219. In July, Public Works will likely undertake a few more projects using similar materials. Work on the Fifth Avenue bridge will include a bio-based bridge sealant thanks to a grant, and the city will again use a soybean-based striping paint.
FILE PHOTO
RiverSong Music Festival draws people of all ages to Masonic West River Park for two days of live music. Headlining at this year’s gathering will be the Gin Blossoms on Friday, July 14, and the Fabulous Armadillos on Saturday, July 15.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
Quiet, but no nearby stores
STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
A soybean based material has been used to preserve Hutchinson bituminous roads. This year, the citric acid in the mix could be smelled for a few days on Shady Ridge Road Northwest, and others. HUTCHINSON DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION
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A QUIET PLACE TO LIVE Away from the r ush of the river and highway in the southern part of this neighborhood, people who live in the mid northwest said they like it for its peace and quiet. “I think it’s a nice place to live,” Justin Kraby said. “We like being around here. You aren’t by all the busy cars.” Kraby has been living in the area for a few years but just moved into a new apartment on Carolina Avenue with his wife, Anna, and their son Aushton. “I like being away from all the stores and stuff,” he said. “I mean, you have to drive across town to go to the store, but it feels more quiet. That’s what I like.” Some like the quiet, but also wish they weren’t quite so far away from the major shopping areas in the southern part of Hutchinson. “Walmart, Cash Wise, I wish one thing was on this side of town,” said Angie Hagen, who lives on California Street. “It takes like 10 minutes just to get across town.” Both Kraby and Hagen said the biggest thing they worry about in their neighborhood is the traffic on busy streets like California and School Road. “The main thing is people slowing down on School Road,” Kraby said. “They fly by there. That’s my biggest concern.” The people of this neighborhood are also pleased about their local park, Rotary Park, recently receiving a $62,000 renovation for new playground equipment.
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the Hutchinson Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Because of that, many of the homes are entry-level type. A lot has changed since then, though, Dooley said. “Now, it seems the people that are moving into that area are a complete mix,” she said. “Not necessarily first-time homebuyers, not necessarily young people, just a really good mix.” It’s a popular place to live right now, according to Dooley, for two big factors: affordability and housing selection. She estimated that the homes in that area are generally worth around $150,000 to $200,000, which “is very affordable for most people.” Along with the homes in the area, there are apartSTAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO ments, condos, trailer parks and townhomes. With a bevy This boulder in Masonic Park commemorates the 1978 of housing options available, dedication of Les Kouba Parkway and Les Kouba Point, the area attracts a diverse in honor of the esteemed Hutchinson native. group. “There are a lot of people going to that type of housing … They would just as soon have someone else be doing the lawn mowing and snow blowing for them,” Dooley said.
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FILE PHOTO
Relay for Life of McLeod County, the local branch of the American Cancer Society’s annual event, takes place Friday, Aug. 4, at Masonic West River Park. The allnight fundraiser remembers those who have been lost to cancer, celebrates survivors and honors caregivers. The event takes a strong swing at cancer by raising money for cancer education and research.
Drawbacks of the neighborhood “I don’t like this side of town because everything is (south). Walmart, Cash Wise, I wish one thing was on this side of town. It takes like 10 minutes just to get across town.” — Angie Hagen, California Street “The main thing is people slowing down on School Road. They fly by there. That’s my biggest concern,” Justin Kraby said — Justin Kraby, Carolina Avenue Now it’s a go-to destination that’s becoming as popular as the other parks in the neighborhood. “We were on our way to Litchfield park, and my kid said we were going the wrong way and we needed to come to
History Hutchinson was founded in 1855 and originally included the area where Jaycee Riverside Park is, but it took more than 100 years for the city to begin expanding out along State Highway 7. While the city expanded west along the southern bank of the river, it wasn’t until 1969 that the area between School Road and California Street began to be developed. By 2001, the expansion north of Highway 7 continued on to Kouwe Street and up to Golf Course Road. Source: City of Hutchinson Planning and Zoning Department this one,” said Hutchinson’s Eric Topero, who visits Rotary Park with his son, Colton. “Apparently, he’s a 4-year-old that knows where the parks are.” For views of the Crow River winding through town, there’s no better place than down at Masonic/ West River Park, and AFS Park south of State Highway 7. STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
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MARCHING TO A NEW THEME
MEDALLION HUNT CLUES
Hutchinson band steps it up with Americana routine / A3
It’s no longer a secret where the medallion is hidden / B9
WEEKEND SOUTH SOUTHWEST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
Where retail, residential meet
STAFF PHOTO BY JULIA JAGODZINSKI
Alison Willard might not be a big fan of the humidity, but that doesn’t stop her from doing her job on making the parks look beautiful.
Hutchinson’s unsung heroes of summer
Seasonal workers keep parks looking great BY JULIA JAGODZINSKI Intern
People know the parks in Hutchinson always look nice, but not many of them know about the people behind that tremendous feat. Hutchinson’s summer park workers are the people who do just that. They are in charge of planting trees and flowers, as well as pulling weeds and keeping landscaping looking as nice as possible. Andrew Bentz is one of Hutchinson’s workers. He is currently a student at Minnesota State University Mankato and started working in the parks three years ago. “One of the challenges we face is the
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Audri Erickson, 16, lives in her neighborhood north of South Grade Road, and works there as well. She’s a lifeguard at the new Aquatic Center, and just across the parking lot she works at Burich Arena. She loves how friendly her neighbors are.
Parks to A7 ➤
High school tightens student absence policy New approach emphasizes ‘make up the learning’ BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
Due to Hutchinson High School’s five-period day, missing one 65-minute class means students miss a lot. That loss compounds over a whole missed day. “Quite honestly, attendance took a dive this year,” Hutchinson High School Patrick Walsh told the School Board Monday. “It looks like people are not concerned about missing school.” With that in mind, he proposed a change to the 2017-2018 student handbook: Students must make 90 percent of their classes in a year. But educators Patrick want students to miss fewer Walsh than 10 percent of classes. Average attendance, which 80 percent of students meet, will be considered to be 95 percent (19 out of 20 days), and exemplary attendance, which students will be recognized for, is 97.5 percent
South Grade Road is the divide between the city’s bustling big-box shopping district and the quiet residential area to the north
South Southwest
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: This is the third part in a 12-part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods. BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
H
utchinson is evolving between State Highway 15 and Dale Street with the addition of new businesses, the departure of others, and new amenities ready just in time for the summer. Meanwhile, those living in neighborhoods north of South Grade Road see their homes as peaceful and friendly. “The people here are nice. It’s very quiet,” said 16-year-old Audri Erickson, who lives just west of Highway 7. She spoke with the Leader while riding her bike near Burich Arena with two neighbors she was babysitting. The sidewalks there, which circle Linden Park, attract numerous walkers, bicyclists and pet owners from nearby, and other parts of Hutchinson. And when the new aquatic center at 900 Harrington St. S.W. opened earlier this month, it brought with it an influx of swimmers from Hutchinson and surrounding communities. “My husband and boys just got home from the new aquatic center,” Jennifer
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STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
Hutchinson Mall, located along State Highway 15 in south southwestern Hutchinson, is home to Hutchinson Sport Shop, owned by Mark and Lori Mittelsteadt. Mark believes the mall is an important site for Hutchinson, providing a location for community and holiday events, and a place to shop local.
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NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
Farms have been replaced by mall and big-box stores Haugan Ceynar of Silver Lake posted after the grand opening. “I asked my son, ‘How was it?’ He said, ‘Two words Mom. It’s. Amazing.’ So nice to have such a fun family place in the area.” The pool isn’t the only big attraction in the heart of the residential section. The skating rink across the parking lot in Burich Arena regularly fills up with crowds there to see hockey games, tournaments, and events put on by the active Hutchinson Figure Skating Association. Erickson, who has lived in the neighborhood for six years, works at both locations, each just blocks from her home. Crystal Robinson, a Hutchinson native, recently moved to the neighborhood on Grove Street with her husband, Richard, also a Hutchinson native, and their children Chelsea and Richard, Jr., to live in their first owned home together. “Finally,” she said while walking on the sidewalk on Harrington Street. While she and Richard are excited to have their first home, the kids, she said, were excited to get their pool passes for the new aquatic center. Like Erickson, Robinson said one of the best features of the neighborhood north of South Grade Road is how quiet it is. Rico Perez, who lives at the Village Ranch Group Home on Dale Street, had the same compliment. “I am from the (Twin Cities), I like it here,” he said. “You can go to bed at night and not be bothered … there are no sirens going by.” “People say ‘hi’ back,” said Carlos Enriquez, who lives in the home as well. Both work at Walmart, which is within walking distance to the south near the McLeod County Fairgrounds. The evolving business center along Highway 15 is one of the busiest parts of town, but Perez pointed out that compared to what he is used to, the air is much cleaner.
STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
The Community of Lake Ridge is Ray and Donna Fischer’s neighborhood. They and their neighbors are a close-knit community who they describe as a family.
Attractions and needs of South Southwest Hutchinson
MORE CROSSWALKS WANTED Though many mentioned how safe and easy it was to walk around the neighborhood, a few pointed out that with the new foot and vehicle traffic due to the new aquatic center, a few new crosswalks may be an important addition. South along Dale Street, on the east side near Century Avenue, a small community can be found inside Lake Ridge, an independent living facility. For residents Ray and Donna Fischer, both 89, the 32-unit, single-story complex they moved into a few years ago really is their neighborhood. Walking through the building’s hallways, Donna can point at each door and list where the residents used to live, many hailing from cities near Hutchinson. “We’re a close-knit community, I would say,” she said. “Everyone is concerned about everyone.” “It’s a big family,” Ray said, adding that everyone looks out for each other. “We have interesting neighbors. The one next door is originally from the Philippines and likes to play cards,” he said. “A lot of people here volunteer.” Don na is a 19 4 6 g raduate of Hutchinson High School, though she and Ray lived in Buffalo Lake for many years before they moved to Lake Ridge. They met here at a district basketball tournament. “We played Hutch for the District 12 championship,” said Ray, who played for Buffalo Lake. “I was a cheerleader,” Donna said. Hutchinson won the game, Ray said, but he met Donna, and they’ve been married for 68 years. “That was the best thing I could find,” he said. “She is a good companion.” Hutchinson became the couple’s destination when they decided they needed a home that was easier to get around, and quicker access to health care. “We had a house with a basement, I had my office, a TV and a family room, but the steps were not for old people. You don’t want steps,” Ray said. “There is a not a step in here.” Lake Ridge is close to three grocery stores, Hutchinson Health, the pharmacy, McCormick’s restaurant and a variety of amenities along Highway 7. “We are close to everything,” Donna said. “Everything is very handy.” “It is what we needed,” Ray said. The Fischers remember when the nearby landscape looked much different, however. “This was all farms,” Donna said. “Where the mall is, there were farms. It’s grown so much.” “The hospital used to be where Park Towers is (now),” Ray said.
NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY It wasn’t until the late 1920s that Hutchinson began to grow into the area north of South Grade Road, and the population neared 3,500. By 1941, the city grew to reach South Grade
“Our family is so happy we are here and close to everything. It’s really an ideal place.” — Donna Fischer, Lake Ridge
“I like walking because there are hardly any cars.” — Crystal Robinson, while walking with her kids in the residential neighborhood north of South Grade Road.
“Highway 15 is great for us (businesses), it’s a very well traveled highway.” — Mark Mittelsteadt, Hutch Sport Shop.
“I love that the pool is in. That is a spot where maybe some better crosswalks would be helpful. I’m noticing that’s getting busier.” — Jessica Sabrowsky, Wheel and Cog Children’s Museum. STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Rico Perez and Carlos Enriquez live at the boys home on Dale Street Southwest, and enjoy how much friendlier and quieter the neighborhood is compared to what they’re used to.
STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
The opening of a new aquatic center on Harrington Street has brought eager crowds to the quiet neighborhood north of South Grade Road. Visitors from out of town will find an evolving shopping area just to the south along State Highway 15. Road, but was only barely west of Dale Street. Expansion boomed around 2001, and the city extended south past South Grade Road, west of Highway 7, and the population grew to 13,280. Today, the business area south of South Grade Road continues to evolve. JCPenny will close at the end of the month in Hutchinson Mall’s north end, while other spaces inside sit empty. But a few blocks south, empty storefronts near Best Buy are filling up fast. Aldi’s grocery store opened earlier this year, and a Pizza Ranch will soon open next door. In 2015, Caribou Coffee opened inside Cash Wise Foods, and Starbucks was added inside Target the year before. “It seems to be this end of town that is growing,” said Mark Mittelsteadt, who owns and manages Hutch Sports Shop with his wife, Lori. “It started
off with the big box stores. Everyone wants to be around the big box. You got Menards, Walmart and Target.” His business, which sells sports equipment and merchandise in Hutchinson Mall, focuses on local flavor with Tigers logos and service for the city’s teams and athletes. “You can really tell when there is a hockey tournament in town. We sharpen a lot of skates,” Mittelsteadt said. And with a three-week hockey camp going on this summer, the trend continues. “I’ll do 12 to 20 skates a day now,” he said. Mittelsteadt said part of why some mall businesses are struggling is due to the internet. “We have more and more times where people come in and try things and you know they’re going to go
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Crystal Robinson enjoyed the safe sidewalks around Linden Park on a Wednesday evening, along with her children, Chelsea and Richard Jr. (online),” he said. To stay competitive, Hutch Sports Shop builds custom online stores for local teams with clothing and other merchandise, and designs the art used. Purchases can be made online, but the local storefront gives customers a place to try on and see the item
in person. The shop has been open for 20 years. It was first open for five years on the other side of the mall, then downtown before returning to the mall in 2011. Mittelsteadt said there Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
June 18, 2017 | A5
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Emma and Brooklyn handed out “ice cream” at the Wheel and Cog Children’s Museum in Hutchinson Mall, which opened its doors nearly a year ago. They visited during a field trip from Little Lambs Christian Center at Peace Lutheran Church.
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More businesses are coming are fewer people in the mall compared to before, but he still sees it as home. “I like the location,” he said. He believes it is imperative to get people back into the mall and fill the stores up, and that a busy mall is an important part of a town Hutchinson’s size, offering a central location for seasonal events and local shopping. Across the mall is a unique location for a rural community: the Wheel and Cog Children’s Museum, which opened July 14, 2016. It offers kids a place to play and learn in a creative environment without traveling to the Twin Cities. It isn’t on the scale of the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul, but it still provides plenty of opportunities for area kids to learn about science, technology, arts and culture. Jessica Sabrowsky, founder and a chair of the board, says the mall was selected as the museum’s pilot location. “It’s been a great platform to see how the community has responded to having a children’s museum in town,” she said. “It’s been a positive response. We’ve had over 9,000 guests, we have sold over 130 family memberships.” The museum intends to continue growing, and adding exhibits. Displays have included a balance beam, puppet theater, pretend ice cream truck and giant “TapeScape” made of clear plastic tape to climb around inside. On June 22, a new display space will open in the previous RadioShack space next door, with a free play night from 5 to 7 p.m. Sabrowsky hopes to see the museum move downtown, or a place where it can have an outdoor space. But while in the Hutchinson Mall, she has noticed groups use the indoor space. “There are still regular mall walkers. There is a lot of foot traffic,” she said. Wa l kers who g raduated from Hutchinson Health’s car-
Attractions in South Southwest Hutchinson Hutchinson Mall, 1060 State Highway 15, has a mix of local and franchise businesses. The Wheel and Cog Children’s Museum opened nearly a year ago, and offers a place for kids to play while learning. Aquatic Center, 900 Harrington St. S.W., boasts a lap pool, shallow pool, lazy river, zipline, climbing wall, water slides and more. Since it opened just a few weeks ago, it has been a popular destination for Hutchinson residents and visitors. Burich Arena, 950 Harrington St. S.W., is the place to catch hockey games and tournaments, and figure skating performances. It is the home of Hutchinson Hockey Association, Hutchinson Figure Skating Association, Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education Skating School and Hutchinson High School Girl’s and Boy’s Hockey teams.
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McLeod County Fairgrounds, 840 Century Ave. S.W., houses the Heart of Minnesota Animal Shelter, McLeod County 4-H, an archery building, and spaces for numerous events and shows throughout the year. The McLeod County Fair is Aug. 16-20. Century 9 Theater, 766 Century Ave. S.W., is one of Hutchinson’s two movie theaters. Open seven days a week, it includes evening and matinee show times. Plenty of shopping can be found along State Highway 15 from Century Avenue to Airport Road. The area boasts Cash Wise, Walmart and Aldi’s for grocery shopping, family restaurants, fast food options, and growth with businesses such as Pizza Ranch and a new Caribou Coffee/Einstein Bros. Bagels on the way. A Caribou Coffee, Starbucks and Qdoba opened in the past few years. Dylan Olson, 8, took on the climbing wall beside the pool at the new aquatic center.
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LOT TECHNICIAN diac rehabilitation program use the mall to walk, and have enjoyed the addition of the sounds of children laughing and playing in the museum. Sabrowsky said she is excited about a Caribou Coffee/ Einstein Bros. Bagels expected to come soon, nearby just north across the street from McDon-
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THEY SING LIKE REAL BROTHERS
YOUNGSTARS ON STAGE
Trio among musicians scheduled for Peace Concert Series / B1
Troupe performs new take on ‘Snow White’ / A8
WEEKEND WEST SOUTHWEST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
MCLEOD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The city’s quiet corner
County OKs partnership with private recycling firm BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Anne and Verne Hahn were among the first residents of West Southwest Hutchinson. In 1963, they approached a local farm family with an offer to buy a parcel of land along the east shore of Otter Lake. The farmers, James and Carrie Enevolden, developed 10 lots along the lake, and then eight more later. In the mid-1990s, the neighborhood was annexed by the city of Hutchinson. “We’ve changed our address four times but we’ve never moved,” Anne said.
West Southwest
Away from the hustle and bustle of shopping centers and busy highways, residents of Far Southwest Hutchinson like their neighborhood just the way it is
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: This is the fourth-part in a 12-part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods.
With free curbside recycling pickup to McLeod County residents living in cities, and free drop site pickup in townships, McLeod County Solid Waste doesn’t rake in cash from local sources. It relies on commodity sales from recycled materials to make up the difference, and has introduced a unique practice of using a chopper to clean and process agriculture plastics, and a new machine capable of processing Styrofoam. The county also collects fees from outside entities that process their materials here. But commodity prices on recycled materials are lower than the county expected when it invested $4.5 million to switch to a single-sort recycling system in 2015. This past week, the County Board went ahead with a plan its members hope will bring more cash into the facility, and increase efficiency. A contract was approved to have GreenForest Recycling Resources of Brainerd manage the material recycling facility within the solid waste building at 1065 Fifth Ave. S.E., Hutchinson. GreenForest is a commodity broker that moves and sells materials from recycling facilities. The board’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee began discussing the option in December, and sent out requests for proposals from private entities in January. “Our program is very high on the service side,” Board Member Paul Wright said Tuesday afternoon. “Recycling is easy and inexpensive for our residents. This will help. This will make budgeting a lot easier.” McLeod County will pay GreenForest $56 per ton for material shipped to markets from the facility. GreenForest is charged with seeking out more lucrative opportunities for the county by using its market expertise to sell specialty materials, and by adding the county’s materials to sales made with materials from other sources. “In commodity trading, volume means something,” Wright said. “GreenForest is deep into recycling. They are on the cutting
Recycle to A9 ➤
BY DOUG HANNEMAN hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com
T
ucked away in a remote corner of Hutchinson, Drift Rider Park provided a tranquil respite for a city summer parks crew on a recent Wednesday. Molly Zackrison, Hannah Schwartz and Alec Schintz enjoyed their lunch in the lakeside green space alone, except for two Water Carnival Medallion hunters. “No one is ever here,” Zackrison said. “I don’t now if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. But it’s peaceful.” Residents of this corner of the city, west of School Road Southwest and south of the Crow River, often use “peaceful” to describe where they live. In the early 1960s, a smattering of farm homes and a few mobile homes were the only residences here. Since then, two businesses have moved in: L&P Supply in 1978, and in the 2000s, a hospice house that now serves people with Parkinson’s disease. Two churches have called the neighborhood home: Hunters Ridge and Word of Life, the latter now being converted for use by New Century
OPINION
Members of a youth group from Faith Lutheran Church played volleyball while waiting for a softball field to open up at Roberts Park. Morgan Kurth, left, hit the ball that Hollin Rutledge attempted to block. Academy. Other than those, this area is all residential, numbering several hundred homes. People like it that way. “It’s kind of quiet out here when
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construction isn’t going on,” said Dennis Linden, a retired 3M employee who, with his wife Janeen, moved his family to Prairie Drive Southwest in 2000.
Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
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Are McLeod County residents healthy eaters? About a third of us get the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Results from a recent study describe our other eating habits and attitudes about food. A11
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A4 | June 25, 2017
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Neighborhoods: West Southwest Hutchinson NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
Banker asked: ‘Why do you want to live way out there?’ Seventeen years ago, the west side of the street where the Lindens’ live was half-lined with homes and townhomes. Now the only vacant lots are on the east side of the street, where a developer is building more twinhomes. The roar of earth moving equipment and pounding from roofers’ hammers are the only sounds penetrating the still summer air. Across the street from their home is a pond, barely visible with brush blocking Linden’s view. He wishes whoever owned the land around the pond would clear out the bushes. But that’s about his only complaint. Though the closest stores are more than two miles east, Linden doesn’t mind. “That was no big deal,” he remarked, recalling his routine when he was still working. “I would go by the shopping center on my way home from work.”
REMOTE BUT CLOSE Geographically, the far southwest corner of Hutchinson is like no other. Located south of the Crow River and hugging the eastern and western shores of Otter Lake, the neighborhood is actually two, three or perhaps four neighborhoods. The newest is the Island View Heights, south of South Grade Road and west of Otter Lake. Developed mainly in the 1990s and early 2000s, the neighborhood is an island unto itself. City public works employees euphemistically call it “Gilligan’s Island.” A range of housing makes the area appealing to people of almost all incomes. West Shore Drive in Island View Heights, and Otter Street a quarter-mile south, are dotted with some of the city’s most expensive homes. East of the lake, most homes are north of South Grade, where residences along Otter Lake were developed first, followed by subdivisions that later sprouted along Roberts Road and Roberts Street. This neighborhood also features McDonald Mobile Home Park. Vern and Anne Hahn were among the area’s first residents. They discovered the area while fishing with their two sons from the South Grade Road bridge over Otter Lake. They moved into their home in October 1963. “We were looking for a place on the water, with trees and close to town,” Anne recalled. Their banker was surprised they wanted to build there. “When we went to get a loan,” Vern recalled, “Jay Harold Beytien said, ‘Why do you want to live way out there?’” Back then, the area was mainly cornfields, and the Hahns’ home site was pasture. “There was no road where we built the house,” Anne said. “The carpenters came in on a dirt road. They had to leave when it started to rain.” Their neighborhood at that time was in Lynn Township, and their neighbors were welcoming. Farm families in the area — the Enevoldsens, Rickemans, Baumetzes and Arndts — had a house-warming party for them. It was a great place for a young family. “Our kids fished, swam, canoed and waterskied,” Anne said. “They lived in the water.” The neighborhood was small — only eight homes in the first subdivision, then known as Maryview Addition Southwest. Everyone knew everyone else and women got together often. “Most of the women weren’t working,” said Anne, who retired 17 years ago after teaching home
STAFF PHOTOS BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Galen Goranowski recently took the afternoon off from work to trim a hedge in his front yard. His daughter Carly, a student at South Dakota State University, helped out. He said he and his wife Debbie first bought a lot by the Crow River Golf Club but changed their minds when they found the property along Eighth Avenue Southwest, which is wide and has a deep backyard.
Ordella and Jim Micke moved to the neighborhood in 2001. Their living room and kitchen face the city’s most westerly boundary, Underwood Avenue. “I like looking out,” Ordella said. “The only drawback is the gravel road.”
Attractions in West Southwest Hutchinson Drift Riders Park, 1845 West Shore Drive S.W.: This is one of Hutchinson’s two newest parks (the other is Law Enforcement Park). Developed with significant assistance from the Drift Rider Snowmobile Club, the park features a scenic overlook of Otter Lake, sledding hill, quarter-mile trail, picnic shelter, nature themed-playground, dock and climbing rock. Roberts Park, 1605 Roberts Road S.W.: If you play ball, you know this park, which features four regulation softball/baseball fields. The scenic setting along the Crow River also has
economics at Hutchinson High School. “We were stay-at-home moms.” That close-knit familiarity made the neighborhood feel safe.
Youth groups from Faith Lutheran Church, left, and Oak Heights Covenant Church prayed together before the start of a softball game at Roberts Park.
a gravel trail through tall native grass prairie, boat landing, restrooms, basketball court, play equipment and sand volleyball. Otter Lake: Great for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and other boating. Anglers catch a variety of fish, from walleye and crappies to perch and bass. South Grade Road Trail and Bridge: Running parallel to South Grade Road, the trail is the Island View Heights’ primary connection to the rest of the city for cyclists, skaters, walkers and joggers. The bridge over Otter Lake is a favorite angling spot.
And though most moms today are busy with careers outside the home, the sense of security in the neighborhood remains intact. “It is quiet, and it is safe,” Anne
Brad Lokensgard, left, and his brother Brian own L&P Supply along South Grade Road, one of only two or three businesses in that part of the city. The brothers’ father, Orion, moved the lawn and garden retail and service center to Far Southwest Hutchinson from East State Highway 7 in 1978. Most homes in the area are more than two blocks away. “Highway frontage would be nice,” Brian said, “but this is good. This is quiet. We can run our loud equipment here and no one complains.”
How safe is West Southwest Hutchinson? Tyler Duenow, the police officer assigned to the area, described Far Southwest Hutchinson as a “very good neighborhood. There aren’t many issues down there.” Most homes are owner-occupied. With no state highway within its boundaries, the neighborhood generally doesn’t attract many outsiders. There are no apartment buildings, either, and McDonald’s Mobile Home Park is quiet. Duenow said he lived next door to the mobile home park for four years, and “I never had one issue. Most of the
said. “I feel safe here. It’s a mixed neighborhood. I don’t feel we’re cliquey. We have all incomes, all occupations, all religions. In all the years we have lived here,
From left, Alec Schintz, Hannah Schwartz and Molly Zackrison enjoyed lunch at Drift Rider Park. The three college students, who work for the city’s parks department, mow lawns and help maintain the parks’ landscaping. They come to Drift Rider Park because it’s quiet.
people there are elderly,” he said. Until about five years ago, Duenow helped organize a neighborhood block party on National Night Out. He said those who attended had no complaints and said they felt safe. The neighborhood, he said, has “fairly low crime levels, mostly minor property crimes.” Occasionally, he added, young motorists show off their driving skills by quickly accelerating near the intersection of School and Roberts roads, by Hutchinson High School. I never called the cops on my neighbors. Not that there weren’t problems, and sometimes we
Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
A developer is building 12 new twinhomes in Island View Heights, adding to a homeowners association that already has 60 twinhomes. The Far Southwest corner of Hutchinson has seen a resurgence in new residential construction during the past two years.
June 25, 2017 | A5
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
Neighborhoods: West Southwest Hutchinson
STAFF PHOTOS BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Dennis Linden has lived in Island View Heights since 2000. “It’s kind of quiet out here when the construction isn’t going on,” he said.
Todd Card walked his red pointing Lab Boji on the trail along the northern edge of South Grade Road. The pooch was named for Lake Okoboji in Iowa.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
Three Eighth Avenue Souths confuse pizza delivery drivers created them — that happens when everyone’s raising kids — but we always worked them out. And that helped make this a more peaceful neighborhood.”
ABUNDANCE OF NATURE Galen Goranowski lives just a
block from the Hahns on Eighth Avenue Southwest, one of three Eighth Avenue Southwests in Hutchinson. “If you order a pizza, you better say ‘off Lakewood’ otherwise there’s a wait,” he said. Goranwoski and his wife
Debbie have lived in the same house for 19 years. They bought the property because of the wide lot and large backyard. He said there’s “definitely” a sense of neighborhood. On the first Tuesday in August, neighbors barricade the street
in front of their home for their annual National Night Out party. “And this is a pretty handy place to live,” he said. “We’re only a mile from our church.” A few blocks to the east on another Eighth Avenue Southwest — this one a dead-end street —
second-grade teacher Kari Larsen says her neighborhood has seen a good deal of turnover in the eight years she has lived there. She likes the sound of kids playing, and the abundance of nature.
Neighborhoods to A6 ➤
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A6 | June 25, 2017
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
Neighborhoods: West Southwest Hutchinson
STAFF PHOTOS BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Drift Rider Park is a diamond waiting to be discovered, according to many neighborhood residents. Vern Hahn is a member of the club that developed the park, which features a gazebo, climbing rock, dock and other amenities. “You wouldn’t believe how many people come up to that dock in a kayak or canoe,” Vern said.
John Athey doesn’t live in Far Southwest Hutchinson, but he frequently visits the South Grade Road bridge, where he fishes. “I’ve caught bass and sometimes I’ve used minnows and have caught crappie, walleye and northern,” he said. “I usually come down here in the morning because no one’s down here.”
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A5
Close to nature, yet not far from stores, schools, churches Behind her home is a wetland where she occasionally sees deer. Though her home is only one or two blocks from four schools, it feels secluded. “I feel ‘out’ but we’re right in the middle of everything,” she
said. A mile to the southeast in Island View Heights, Jim and Ordella Micke enjoy a similar appreciation for nature. They’ve seen deer out their west-facing living room windows, which look
out over a cornfield. “I love looking out,” Ordella said. “The only drawback is the gravel road.” The Mickes, who grew up in Gibbon, had their twinhome built in 2001 after living the previous 27
years in Winthrop, where Jim was postmaster and Ordella worked as a secretary for GFW schools. “We looked at several places,” Ordella said. The west southwest corner of Hutchinson was their final choice.
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Bridge closure heightens congestion on Main Street / A2
Identity of city’s proposed hotel revealed / A3
WEEKEND DOWNTOWN HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Heart and soul of the city
Hutchinson’s heavily shaded East River Park is quiet and primarily used by people walking or biking on the Dakota Rail Trail. This fall, it will become the site of the city’s dog park.
East River Park will go to the dogs Supporters barked up the right tree, and won the city’s approval BY DOUG HANNEMAN AND JULIA JAGODZINSKI Of the Leader
Hutchinson’s canine residents will be able to scamper at their own park — sans leashes — beginning this fall. At its meeting Tuesday, the City Council selected East River Park as the place for residents to play with their dogs. Staff members were directed to prepare designs showing where a fence would be erected, and where features such as benches, garbage cans and a fresh water source would go. “We didn’t think it would be built this year,” said Amy Solinger, who led a citizens fundraising drive for the park. “Now we’ve been told that it may be done by September.” The council selected East River Park over four other potential sites at Oddfellows Park along the Crow River on the city’s west side. Sites at Oddfellows were ruled out because of their smaller size, and because that park caters to numerous competing interests such as picnickers, archers and children using the park’s playground. East River Park, north of the intersection of First Avenue Southeast and Erie Street Southeast, is along the Dakota Rail Trail and will be served by a public restroom at Depot Marketplace, about 700 feet away. The site will have separate areas for small and large dogs. Council Member Steve Cook said he talked with residents of two homes next to the park, as well as representatives of two nearby businesses. All favored the dog park’s location, but some are concerned about parking. The nearest parking lot is at Depot Marketplace, about one block northwest of the site. “There is a lot of off-street parking there and I know this is America and people can walk 100 feet to get there,” said Dolf Moon, director of Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education.
Dog park to A6 ➤
Proposed dog park Washington Ave.
Proposed dog park
Second Ave.
Erie St.
Monroe St.
First Ave.
Adams St.
Depot Marketplace
Trail Graphic by Rachel Larivee
STAFF PHOTOS BY KAY JOHNSON
Traffic hummed along Main Street as Wendy Magruder, an administrative assistant at Faith Lutheran Church, took a break. She enjoys working downtown because it’s within walking distance of Library Square events and restaurants, plus it’s convenient for running errands.
Downtown
Downtown: Where the crossroads of commerce, faith and fun meet. Convenience is this neighborhood’s strong suit.
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: This is the fifth story in a 12part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods. BY KAY JOHNSON johnson@hutchinsonleader.com
W
hile it’s not New York City — the subject of Petula Clark’s song “Downtown” — Hutchinson’s central business district offers a little bit of the bright lights and other attractions made famous in Clark’s 1965 hit. It’s the crossroads where commerce such as banking, real estate and retail meet. It’s a place of faith, home to Faith Lutheran and New Journey United Church of Christ churches. It’s a place of fun, offering restaurants, live music, an art center, a movie theater and more. It’s also home to many of the community’s historic buildings. Hutchinson Police Services defines the downtown area narrowly. This section of the city is bordered by the north side of First Avenue, the west side of Hassan Street, the south side of Fourth Avenue and the east side of Franklin Street. When it comes to crime, Patrol Office Andrew Erlandson said the downtown area is “busy, but stable.” “It’s no different than other parts of the city,” he said. “It has fewer calls at night, but has more traffic stops.” The No. 1 spot for accidents in downtown Hutchinson is the intersection of Main
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Julie Lofdahl is the office manager at New Journey United Church of Christ. She likes the location because it’s convenient. It’s close to restaurants for lunch, and the Post Office and bank for errands. Street and Washington Avenue. When it comes to walking downtown, the police receive crosswalk complaints from citizens about vehicles not stopping for pedestrians. Among the most frequently cited intersections is Main Street and Third Avenue by the Post Office. With the current closure of the School Road Bridge, Main Street has become the go-to route that connects the north and
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south sides of the city. As a result, traffic counts are up and with it fender benders and pedestrian complaints.
DOWNTOWN REAL ESTATE Maria Oman, who works for Premier Real Estate Services’ Hutchinson office, owns three downtown investment properties with
Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
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A4 | July 2, 2017
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
History Hutchinson was founded in November 1855 by the Singing Hutchinson Brothers John, Judson and Asa, Roswell Pendergast, Col. John Stevens, founder of Glencoe; Lewis Harrington, a younger surveyor; B.E. Messer, a violinist and singing master; E.E. Johnson, a land agent, John H. Chubb, a young bachelor from Whitehall, New York; Henry Chambers, a Canadian; Lucius N. Parker and John F. Calef. Due to legislative restrictions on townsite size, it was necessary for the Hutchinson founders to register two townsites: Harmony and Hutchinson. Later legislature passed an act permitting larger townsites, whereupon the two towns became one — Hutchinson. What set Hutchinson apart from many communities was the 13 Articles of Agreement on which the town was founded. The last five were unique for the times:
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
Among the attractions in Library Square are the statues of city founders — the Singing Hutchinson Brothers. To the north is the State Theatre at 35 Washington Ave. E. The theater opened Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1937. Its first film was “True Confession,” starring Fred MacMurray, Carole Lombard and John Barrymore. The State cost more than $80,000 to build and had seating for about 850. In addition to the auditorium, the building had six apartments, four stores and four offices. The State Theatre was restored and reopened as a three-screen theater by Red and Linda McGonagle in 2005.
■ Five acres shall be set aside for Humanities Church; ■ Fifteen acres shall be set aside for a park. ■ Eight lots shall be reserved for educational purposes. ■ It is solemnly decreed that in the future of Hutchinson, women shall enjoy equal rights with men. ■ No lot shall ever be occupied by any building used as a saloon, bowling alley or billiard room, on penalty of forfeiture of the lot. Downtown is also home to Hutchinson’s crown jewel — Library Square. It has been at the heart of the community since the town was founded in 1855. It became a safe harbor during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. A 100-foot-square stockade was built in Library Square with a trench 100-feet wide and 3-feet deep. The fort, which is thought to have provided safety to no more than 200 people, was attacked on Sept. 4. Houses, the town’s first school house and the sawmill were all burnt to the ground. While the city smoldered, no one was killed in the stockade. And only one man was slightly injured. A rock with a plaque commemorates this historic event.
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
Patrol Officer Andrew Erlandson described the crime situation downtown as “stable, but busy.”
Realtor Maria Oman and Krys Lee, administrative executive assistant for Maria Oman, can answer your questions about local property at their office at 25 Washington Ave. in downtown Hutchinson.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
ATTRACTIONS OF WORKING IN DOWNTOWN HUTCHINSON “It is really nice to be able to walk (to Library Square) on a lunch break for things like Dairy Days, the Arts and Crafts Show, Water Carnival events and so on.” — Wendy Magruder, Faith Lutheran Church
“As a business person, I like the visibility of downtown. Personally, I like to be able to walk to the Post Office, walk to the bank and run all your errands. I like being able to walk and have lunch.” — Julie Lofdahl, New Journey United Church of Christ
“One of my favorite things about working downtown is the ease of supporting local businesses, whether that’s lunch, purchase office supplies or connecting with visitors and residents.” — Haley Jacobsen, Hutchinson Center for the Arts
SUBMITTED PHOTO
John “A-Frame” Beck is ready to rock ‘n’ roll with Gravel Road at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Music in the Park at Library Square.
Grocery store missed a total of eight apartments. She said there is a high demand for housing in Hutchinson. “The convenience factor is desirable for downtown tenants,” she said. Currently several properties are for sale on Main Street. They range in price from $129,900 to $650,000. In addition to buying opportunities, Oman said lease opportunities are available, too. “Everything is negotiable in real estate,” she said. Rents range from $350 for a studio apartment to more than $800 for a luxury apartment. “Hutchinson is a great area for investment and growth,” Oman said. “Hutchinson is on the map for investors.”
WORKING DOWNTOWN Wendy Magruder has worked for almost three years as an administrative assistant at Faith Lutheran Church, 335 Main St. S. She enjoys being close to Library Square. “It is really nice to be able to walk there on a lunch break for things like Dairy Days, the Arts and Crafts Show, Water Carnival events and so on.” She also likes being able to walk to a variety of places for lunch including Below Zero for frozen yogurt. “My co-workers and I like to take a walk a number of times a week and there is always something new to see in the shop windows along the way,” Magruder said. “We can do a quick errand while we walk. The banks are within a couple of blocks, (so are) the Post Office, the library and City Center if we want to drop off utility payments. There is so much we can do when out for a short stroll.” On her wish list would be a to have “some sort of grocery store in the area.” Hutchinson’s last downtown grocery store — Econofoods — closed on Nov. 2, 2013. It was a neighborhood fixture for two decades. With the
closing of Econofoods, it marked the first time in Hutchinson’s history that downtown was not home to a grocery store. “It can sometimes be hard as a pedestrian to move around as drivers often are not watching out for folks trying to cross the streets,” she said. “Being downtown can also mean more trash to clean up outside. It is great that the city provides trash receptacles along the downtown routes, but not all folks use them.” A double-edged sword for Magruder is Elena’s Bakery. “It’s such a temptation when one is out for a walk that it kind of defeats the purpose of the walk,” she said with a smile. Julie Lofdahl has worked at a variety of jobs in downtown Hutchinson. For the past four years, she has served as office manager at New Journey United Church of Christ at the northwest corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue. “As a business person, I like the visibility of downtown,” she said. “Personally, I like to be able to walk to the Post Office, walk to the bank and run all your errands. I like being able to walk and have lunch.” She and her husband, John, live in the 500 block of Jefferson Street. She said they “love it.” “We walk for movies, dinner,” she said. “I walk to the store to buy something. I used to walk and get groceries when there was a store downtown. I walk to work, it’s that close.” As a drawback to working downtown, Lofdahl said, “Maybe trying to get across Main Street traffic.” Haley Jacobsen works as the full-time program assistant at the Hutchinson Center for the Arts. She also can be seen on stage as a founding member of No Lines Improv troupe and as an actress with the Hutchinson Theatre Company. Jacobsen said she likes working downtown because of the sense of camaraderie and community between
The centrally located green space — bordered by Main Street, Washington Avenue, Hassan Street and First Avenue — features the 1904 Hutchinson Public Library. It was made possible through a grant from Pittsburgh steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. When the bid came in at $12,500 and the grant was for $10,000, it was E.J. Stearns, president of the library board, who headed east to ask for an additional $2,500. In 1977, the building was selected as a historic site and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. In 1985, a bond referendum for $750,000 allowed for the enlargement of the original library. A new addition facing Hassan Street was designed by local architect John Korngiebel. The park also includes a bandstand, which is used for the Music in the Park, the Monday night outdoor concert series, as well as for other community events. It’s also the site of the Hutchinson Arts and Crafts Festival, the Ambassadors’ Taste of Hutchinson, the Friends of the Library Used Book Sale, Sunday worship services, Dairy Day, prom photos and other special events throughout the year. On the north side of the park is a statue of the city founders — the Singing Hutchinson Brothers — Judson, John and Asa. It is part of the Hutchinson Area Community Foundation’s walkway of donors. The park’s fountain, which has a generous lip for sitting, attracts people of all ages. During Monday night summer concerts, it’s common to see small children splashing in the water. For more Hutchinson history, see the McLeod County History Book published in 1978, or visit the McLeod County Historical Society and Museum, 380 School Road N.W., Hutchinson.
businesses. “One of my favorite things about working downtown is the ease of supporting local businesses, whether that’s lunch, purchase office supplies or connecting with visitors and residents,” she said. “I enjoy knowing most of the business and shop owners on Main Street, which allows for friendly conversation and collaboration — essential for community development.” Jacobsen was candid when asked about drawbacks of the area.
Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
July 2, 2017 | A5
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
Attractions in downtown Hutchinson
Downtown is the hub for all things fun
■ Library Square in downtown Hutchinson is home to the Hutchinson Public Library. The library was made possible by a $12,500 gift from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. The building was dedicated in 1904. The library tripled its space in 1985. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Dec. 12, 1977. The library offers programs for all ages including free internet. The public square features the Singing Hutchinson Brothers statues, a fountain and bandstand. It is home to a variety of events ranging from the Hutchinson Arts and Crafts Festival in September to Dairy Days in June. ■ Hutchinson Center for the Arts, 15 Franklin St. S.W. The art center works cooperatively with 12 partner organizations to build participation and audiences for art experiences. For more information, call the art center at 320-587-7278, or visit www.hutchinsonarts.org. ■ New Journey United Church of Christ Church, 31 Fourth Ave. S.W., Hutchinson. The church was organized on Sept. 18, 1879, as the First Congregational Church of Hutchinson. For more information, call the church office at 320-5872125. ■ Faith Lutheran Church, 336 Main St. S., Hutchinson. The church was organized in 1870 under the name of Hutchinson Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church. For more information, call the church office at 320-587-2093.
DRAWBACKS TO WORKING IN DOWNTOWN HUTCHINSON “It can sometimes be hard as a pedestrian to move around as drivers often are not watching out for folks trying to cross the streets.” FILE PHOTO
— Wendy Magruder, Faith Lutheran Church
Library Square is packed from sidewalk to sidewalk with vendors and shoppers during the two-day Hutchinson Arts and Crafts Festival. This year’s event is Sept. 15-16. The event also features the Ambassadors’ Taste of Hutchinson and the Friends of the Library’s Used Book Sale.
“Not only are there no drawbacks, but for me personally it’s home.”
The building at 45 Washington Ave. E. was built by Sen. W.W. Sivright in 1888. It was known as Hutchinson’s first “skyscraper.” Local residents refer to it as the Bretzke Building, which reflects the ownership of Otto Bretzke, who purchased it in 1913 with partner Frank Monroe. Bretzke bought out Monroe in 1939 and renamed the building OA Bretzke and Son.
— John “A-Frame” Beck, musician
“Maybe trying to get across Main Street traffic.”
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
it’s outside you can play at a very comfortable volume. A lot of people don’t realize it’s actually more difficult to play quietly.” While others cite the traffic and lack of a grocery store, Beck said he’s
never had a bad experience working in downtown Hutchinson. “Not only are there no drawbacks, but for me personally it’s home,” he said. “I once asked Police Chief Dan Hatten if Hutchinson had any laws
— Julie Lofdahl, New Journey United Church of Christ or ordinances against ‘busking.’ He said that he wasn’t aware of any. So don’t be surprised if one day you see
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“There’s not much that I don’t like about it,” she said. “I wish there were a few more activity stores/shops in the downtown area, but that’s something I believe we’ll see in the future.” Musician John “A-Frame” Beck is a big fan of downtown Hutchinson. Come Monday night, he will play with Gravel Road at Music in the Park at Library Square. He’s been playing that gig since the mid-1980s. Beck also performs with the Beer and Hymns Band at Main Street Sports Bar and with different groups at Zellas, both Main Street businesses. “I worked the Monday night Music in the Park with John and Gary Mons at Spearfish Canyon,” he said. “I’ve worked the park with several different groups and for a variety of reasons. Not just Monday nights but also things like June Dairy Days and the downtown Picnic in the Park. I’ve also worked at the Hutchinson Farmers Market. Over the years, there have been other places in the downtown area, different bars and things.” Looking forward to Monday night, Beck said it’s always fun to play in Library Square. “There is always something special about playing an outside event when the weather isn’t the greatest,” he said. “The crowds are always good and usually very responsive. The reason is, in part, because the music is the main reason they are there. They aren’t there for dinner or to sit at a bar or to visit with friends. They are there for the music.” What makes Library Square different from playing in a bar is the size of the stage. “There’s a big open-air stage with plenty of room and you’re playing in a beautiful park,” he said. “Because
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WEEKEND NEAR SOUTHWEST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
Young, old meet in ‘inner city’ STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
McLeod County will seek to clear overgrowth from the horse path of the Luce Line State Trail.
Horse trail overgrowth targeted for mowing County votes to provide personnel, equipment to tackle job BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com STAFF PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
Friends Damien Callahan and Elijah Hensley ran around the playground at Park Elementary, trying to go as fast as they could down the slides. The playground is frequently visited by children and families in the area.
Near Southwest: A great place to raise a family and live out your retirement years. It’s all about the people and location in this neighborhood.
Near Southwest
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: This is the sixth story in a 12-part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO sports@hutchinsonleader.com
N
ot far from the hustle and bustle of downtown, but far enough that the noise and businesses don’t disturb residents, is the quiet neighborhood of Near Southwest Hutchinson. Hutchinson Police Services defines the neighborhood as the area between its northern border, Washington Avenue, and it’s southern border, Milwaukee Avenue. Its western border extends to Dale Street, while its eastern border is slightly disrupted by downtown. It starts on the west side of Franklin Street, runs down from Washington Avenue to Fourth Avenue, then cuts east for one block to Main Street and continues south to Milwaukee Avenue. It’s an area of town residents describe as centrally located. A place where families of all sizes and ages are mixed together, with a variety of housing options to fit most needs. It’s also a place where much of
Hutchinson’s early history can be found. The roots of this neighborhood go all the way back to the town’s founding in 1855. That lineage is evident by the many historical homes and buildings that were in the area, many of which still stand today. Thanks to local preservation group Historic Hutchinson, these homes are marked by plaques in their front yards so history buffs and looky-loos can spend the day touring the neighborhood. Some of these historical homes include: “The Little House” on Franklin Street, which was built in 1874; the grand Adam’s and Quast House on Main Street, modeled after the Duke of Norfolk’s home; and the Merton S. Goodnow House on Main, which is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
HISTORICAL RESIDENCES If those old buildings could talk, they would have quite a story to tell about the history of the town and their neighborhood.
Much has been said about the benefit of paved trails for bike riders, walkers and runners in McLeod County. But what about those who ride horses? It was a question asked by a group of county residents this past year when the County Board decided to seek state grant money to pave the Dakota Rail Trail, and it was on the mind of County Board members this week as well. A group of county residents told board members paving the Dakota Trail would exclude horseback riders from using it, which was of particular concern last year because drainage and wet weather had left a parallel horse path on the Luce Line State Trail unusable. Riders said they contribute to the upkeep of trails by purchasing trail passes, and paying tax dollars that make Paul their way to trail projects. DurWright ing the Dakota Rail discussion, Board Member Ron Shimanski pointed out that riders are also taxed on property improvements associated with housing and caring for horses. The Luce Line path hasn’t been as wet this year, but thick overgrowth still keeps riders from taking horses on it. That’s the problem the McLeod County Board sought to address Wednesday morning. In a motion that passed 4-1, board members agreed to provide county employees and a vehicle to mow brush on the horse path between Hutchinson and Winsted. They asked the city of Hutchinson to provide a mower unit, a decision likely to be considered at the July 11 City Council meeting. “Hopefully it will be safer and easier for those Trail to A2 ➤
Neighborhood to A4 ➤
“The schools are nice and well kept. The neighborhoods are clean. There’s no graffiti or open drug use. It’s safe for our children to grow up in these neighborhoods.” Tom Smith
We break news at hutchinsonleader.com, facebook.com/hutchleader and twitter.com/hutchleader.
Maxine Engwall stands proudly in front of the carving in her yard on Juergens Road The carving of an eagle and two eaglets was done by Al Feser, and was made in honor of Engwall’s son, Greg, who died in 2007. Maxine is the longest-living resident of the neighborhood.
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“Hopefully it will be safer and easier for those who want to ride.” Paul Wright, McLeod County board member
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NEIGHBORHOODS: NEAR SOUTHWEST HUTCHINSON History Hutchinson was founded in 1855, and much of the Near Southwest neighborhood was part of the town’s beginning. The original borders went as far south as Milwaukee Avenue, and west to Lynn Road. As the town’s population grew over the next 70 years, the neighborhood stretched west to Dale Street and beyond. Many historical homes are in the area, and it was the site of many important milestones as the town grew in those early years. According to a plaque at the corner of Second Avenue and Glen Street, Lewis Harrington, one of Hutchinson’s founders, gave 20 acres of land to the town in 1869 to be used for cultural, recreational and religious purposes. This land is where much of Park Elementary and South Park are today. The town’s first church building, Vineyard United Methodist, was built on this land in 1873. The Singing Hutchinson Brothers helped raise funds by traveling and singing in many parts of New England. After receiving a particularly generous gift from a meeting in Martha’s Vineyard, the church was named in the town’s honor. It remained at that location until a new building was moved into in 1966. Also on this land were some of the town’s early school buildings. After the very first school building was burned down during the Sioux Uprising of 1862, it was rebuilt in 1866 and called the Pendergast School. That building also burned in 1897. STAFF PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
Adam, Brian and Ryan Kaping were playing an intense game of pickleball, along with David Winn, who is not pictured, on the courts at Park Elementary. None of them live in the area, but they and many more pickleball players frequent it regularly to use the courts.
Yet another school built on the land was the Merrill Building in 1912, and it also burned down in 1975.
NEIGHBORHOOD Continued from A1
Central location Fortunately, some of the residents of the area have also been around for many years, and while none can claim to more than 100 years old, at least one is getting close. Maxine Engwall, 97, has been living in the same house on Juergens Road since she and her husband, Glen, moved there in 1956 to raise their family. Although she lives there alone now, she says she doesn’t feel alone thanks to the great people she calls her neighbors. “My street has to be the best street in town,” she said. “We are located close to churches. It’s an easy walk downtown, and back in my younger days I would often walk or take my bike out to the mall. It was so nice to have this area to take off from.” She also has many stories to tell, like how the area has changed over the 61 years since she moved in, especially to the west of her. “There are so many new homes, and of course it all developed while Goebel Fixtures brought a lot of manufacturing to this area,” she said. “There were a lot of farm fields yet when we first came here, and it’s just gradually developed.” She also has an interesting tale about how her street got its name. For those who don’t know Juergens Road, it’s a funny little street, only one block long with 16 houses on it. It actually cuts into the middle of Fifth Avenue, between Lynn Road and Merrill Street. According to Engwall, the story goes that many years ago the city wanted to annex farmland for development in this area. The owner of the land, Irma Juergens, would only agree to the annexation if the city named a street after her. “Every day, we would have people come to our door and say, ‘What happened to Fifth Avenue?’” Engwall said. Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
Just south of all the schools, the town’s first wood water tower was constructed in 1894, in South Park where a tower stands today. East of the park, the town’s first hospital was built with 21 beds in 1922. It served the community until 1970, when a larger hospital was built and it was demolished in 1973 to make way for Park Towers apartments.
Attractions in near southwest Hutchinson ■ “The Little House,” 405 Franklin St. S.W., is a one-and-a-half story brick Eastlake Cottage built in 1874 with a wood frame and front porch. It was originally located at the corner of Main Street South and Fourth Avenue Southeast, behind its current location. It was built with all the modern conveniences of the time, including a tin bath tub pulled down from the kitchen wall and a wood stove to heat the water. ■ Adam’s and Quast House, 406 Main St. S., was built by D.A. Adams in 1902. It is a copy of the Duke of Norfolk’s house on the estate where Adams was raised, and where his father worked and died. The 3-floor home was estimated to cost $8,000 to build at the time, and was constructed under the direction of St. Paul architects. Omeyer and Thori.
South Park is nice and close for James Marvan, who has enjoyed playing disc golf at the park’s course since it was installed in 2007. It is one of the main attractions that brings visitors to the near southwest neighborhood of Hutchinson.
Drawbacks of near southwest Hutchinson “Restaurants, barber shops, you can get the whole nine yards. The only thing I miss is the Econofoods. That was very accessible. Now we have to go a little further for groceries.” — Ralph Gross, a resident at Park Towers apartments “The neighborhood is great, besides the fact everyone speeds up and down Lynn Road like it’s a freeway … You’re in a school zone with people going 45 miles per hour. It’s like a backroad for Main Street.”
— Tom Smith, a resident on Lynn Road
The Adam’ and Quast House
Another brick school building, known as South School, was built next to Pendergast in 1887, and after the fire in 1897, Pendergast School was also rebuilt with brick. Both schools were demolished in 1937 to make way for Park Elementary, finished in 1938.
“I can’t think of anything. Everybody keeps their yards looking neat. Everybody is friendly. I love our established trees, and the homes all look different”
— Geri Johnson, a resident in the neighborhood since 1971
■ Goodnow-Sheppard House, 428 Main St. S., is a late Victorian-style house built in 1905 and purchased by Dr. Prosper Ernest Sheppard in 1910. It was used as his doctor’s office, as well as his home, until his death in 1946. The garage is the old horse barn, and the window in the stall is still covered by bars intended to keep the horse from eating the sill. ■ Merton S. Goodnow House, 446 Main St. S., was built in 1913 and is on the National Register of Historic places for its prairie-style architecture. It was designed by architects Purcell and Elmslie, and patterned after Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ladies Home Journal plan of 1906 — “A fireproof home for $5,000.” ■ Christlieb House, 26 Grove St. S.W., was built in 1900 by Frank Brabec for $10,000 on its original site at 115 Jefferson St. S. His daughter and her husband, Addie and I.C. Christlieb, inhabited it until the 1950s. In 1958, the McLeod County Historical Society purchased the home and used it to store and display artifacts until 1979. In 1981, the home was sold and moved to its current location, and it is privately owned today. ■ Rand-Rebehn House, 16 Grove St. S., is next door to the Christlieb House and was built in 1913 for Herman Rand. In 1919, Louis Rebehn acquired the home, and her daughters, Lena Riesberg and Ella Schmidt, inherited it in 1971. They sold it to private owners, who made a few renovations on it, including a family room and garage. The iron fence in front is also an addition. ■ Leonard Klammer House, 715 Harmony Lane S.W., is an art deco-style home built in 1942 for Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Klammer. The ideas for the home came from a house the couple saw at the World’s Fair in Chicago. The architect, Le Corbusier, studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, and the house features curved walls on the exterior and interior, plus a curved stairway inside. ■ Park Elementary School, 100 Glen St. S.W., was built in 1938 on the same location as two older schools: Pendergast School, a brick building built in 1897, and South School, built in 1887. Today, Park Elementary serves 850 students in second through fifth grade, and has a park with playground equipment, tennis courts and more.
The Leonard Klammer House
“The Little House”
■ South Park, Fourth Avenue Southwest, has many mature trees, walking paths and shelters for picnicking. It is also home to Hutchinson’s first disc golf course, built in 2007. Leagues are available to join, just go on Facebook and join the Hutchinson Disc Golf group to learn more.
July 9, 2017 | A5
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
NEIGHBORHOODS: NEAR SOUTHWEST HUTCHINSON
Attract Birds! Bulk or Packaged Seed.
NEIGHBORHOOD Continued from A4
Historic homes dot neighborhood “Finally, my husband got the city to do the favor of putting up two signs. Now it says both Juergens Road S.W. and 5th Avenue S.W.” Just a few houses down from Engwall is another couple who have called this neighborhood home for 46 years — Geri and Ralph Johnson. Like Engwall, the Johnsons loved the location for its convenience and because it was a good place to raise their family. “I lovingly refer to where we live as ‘inner city.’ We love the location. We always have,” Geri said. “Ralph taught at the elementary school for years, so the location for him and our kids (was good). They walked to school every day, no matter what the weather. It’s close to everything. We can walk downtown if we want. We can walk out to Cash Wise if we want. It’s very nicely located for us.”
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FRESH STARTS WELCOMED While part of the neighborhood’s charm is its history and the people who have lived there for decades, the other part is that it’s an area welcoming to newcomers and young families. And that’s OK, according to the area’s eldest residents. “I a m su r rou nded wit h young couples,” Engwall said. “They could resent someone of my age, but they go the other direction. “They like my caramel pecan rolls,” she joked. “There are so many young people I’ve seen grow up in the neighborhood.” With amenities such as Park Elementary and South Park right in the heart of the neighborhood, it isn’t hard to see why this area is attractive to younger people, as well. Tom and Anna Smith are one
i
STAFF PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
The Goodnow-Sheppard House such young couple. Tom came from California, and they’ve lived on Lynn Road for about three years now, raising their growing family of five children. “I moved here from California 12 years ago, and the people are really friendly,” Tom said. “The schools are nice and well kept. The neighborhoods are clean. There’s no graffiti or open drug use. It’s safe for our children to grow up in these neighborhoods.” Along with the close proximity to schools and parks, the other thing the Smiths said they loved about Hutchinson and the neighborhood was the affordability. “The houses in this neighbor-
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NEIGHBORHOODS: NEAR SOUTHWEST HUTCHINSON NEIGHBORHOOD Continued from A5
Connecticut native says ‘You couldn’t find nicer people’ beautiful, and what they go for on the market is amazing. It’s affordable for young families to come out here and start a fresh life if they are coming from another state. It’s a good neighborhood to raise a family, because there are lots of kids around here.” One such young man raised in the area is James Marvan. He graduated from Hutchinson High School this spring and grew up on Fourth Avenue, right across from South Park. Growing up close to the park made it easy for Marvan to become an avid disc golfer when the town’s first course was installed 10 years. “That’s how I got into it. When it first came, I started playing and it took off,” he said. “When the course first came it used to be more popular, so there was a lot of traffic. But now there’s not as much, so it’s pretty nice.” Today, he helps run a disc golf league that plays at 6 p.m. on Thursdays. Anybody is welcome to join, and the cost is $5 for the league fee and $1 for the “ace pot.” The ace pot rolls over every week until someone makes a hole-in-one and claims the prize. “Last year the ace pot got up to $600 and everyone was showing up for that.” Marvan said. “In league, there is normally 10 or 12 people, but we’ve had anywhere from three to 25 people come.” Marvan said people interested in league can go on Facebook and join the Hutchinson Disc Golf group for more information. Even if you aren’t raising a family or a young person playing disc golf, it is an inviting area for newcomers. That’s according to 52-year-old Ralph Gross, who moved from Connecticut to Park Towers apartments. Like the Smiths, he came to town because it was more affordable, but he’s come to love the neighborhood for the people and its location. “It’s very peaceful. The police station (is close), there are groceries stores, and there are nice people,” he said. “I came from Connecticut about 10 years ago, and you couldn’t find nicer people. I’m happy.”
The Merton S. Goodnow House
Best parts of Near Southwest Hutchinson “Everyone loves this neighborhood. As far as I know, everyone gets along. They look after each other. I feel very safe in this neighborhood.”
— Maxine Engwall, a resident in the neighborhood since 1956 “I like that the park is close by and the kids can just go. And the pool is close by, too, now. We can just walk there. There are lots of parks that are close by that you can walk to.”
— Anna Smith, a resident on Lynn Road “I think it’s centrally located in town, so wherever you’re coming from, it’s not too far.”
— Zach Malchow, a Hutchinson High School graduate who plays disc golf at South Park
The RandRebehn House STAFF PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
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MYSTERY IN CITY PONDS
LITTLE CROW DOCUMENTARY
Research uncovers what’s up with storm water / A3
Film will be screened in Hutchinson theater / B1
WEEKEND MID SOUTHWEST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
Growth hub for 30 years
STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
Pizza Ranch opens Monday between Aldi and Best Buy near State Highway 15 on Hutchinson’s south side.
Pizza Ranch brings new décor, same popular food BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
Starting Monday the parking lot near Best Buy and Aldi will be a lot busier. A giant Pizza Ranch sign and storefront that has gone up in front of a section of the former Cub Foods building makes it easy to guess why. Following a soft opening this past week, the eatery’s official hours begin 11 a.m. Monday. The Hutchinson Pizza Ranch is the 42nd in the state. It boasts a menu and buffet that include pizza and fried chicken, as the restaurants are well known for. What’s new is the décor and design. “It’s new, it’s fresh, it doesn’t look anything like a Pizza Ranch except for the cowboys in there,” said co-owner Jan Lake. “We’re trying something new,” said Jeff Zylstra, a new store opener for Pizza Ranch. STAFF PHOTOS BY JEREMY JONES
Pizza Ranch to A6 ➤
City weighs partnership for horse trail BY DOUG HANNEMAN hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com
Hutchinson city leaders raised numerous questions Tuesday during a 30-minute discussion of the city’s potential partnership with McLeod County to maintain the horse trail paralleling the Luce Line State Trail. Council member Steve Cook floated the idea after County Board members voted 4-1 on July 5 to provide county employees and a vehicle to mow brush on the 22-mile-long path between Hutchinson and Winsted. “It definitely needs work and I can understand the concerns of the horse riders,” Council Member John Lofdahl said. Mayor Gary Forcier agreed. “It’s an amenity for the community and it just makes sense to maintain it,” he said. Cook said a representative from the Crow River Sno Pro’s Snowmobile Club has also
Adley Wendlandt and Abigail Brandel, both 6, played at the playground outside St. Anastasia Catholic School with Kids Depot Child Care.
From farmland to a neighborhood of schools, churches and homes, Mid Southwest Hutchinson is the result of constant collaborative change
Mid Southwest
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HUTCHINSON 15
BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
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hen Ron Hansen looks out the windows at Hansen Gravel near the intersection of South Grade Road and Dale Street, he can see a busy set of stop signs, a church and an apartment building just across the street. The view is a lot different than the one he had in 1974 when he moved into a former body shop after five years of business. “When we came here 43 years ago, this was actually Lynn Township out here,” Hansen said. “We were not in the city limits. Right to the west of us here where the middle school is, that was a farm field. You go east of us here, where the Dale Street apartments are, that was just a big hay field.” Hansen Gravel is on the southeast corner of Hutchinson’s Mid Southwest neighborhood, defined by Hutchinson police as the area surrounded by South Grade Road, Dale Street, School Road and the Crow River. North on the road from Hansen Gravel is Goebel Fixtures, a an institution of the neighborhood since 1935 when Fred Goebel
Horse trail to A6 ➤
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Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
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Ron Hansen has watched as Hutchinson grew around his South Grade Road business, Hansen Gravel.
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A4 | July 16, 2017
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Neighborhoods: Mid Southwest Hutchinson
STAFF PHOTOS BY JEREMY JONES
Matt Field and Tara Briggman of Goebel Fixtures said they hope to find more opportunities to work with Hutchinson’s nearby schools. The business recently helped Hutchinson Middle School wood shop teacher Richard Buchholz with a Tech Ed Award Banquet meant to build interest in manufacturing among students.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
‘It’s very family-oriented’
The Mid Southwest neighborhood of Hutchinson can be busy before and after school, but residents describe it as a friendly and safe place where many age groups live together.
THE PEOPLE
Renovations at Hutchinson High School have made the fixture of Mid Southwest Hutchinson stand much taller than before. Its evolution as part of a $45 million bond referendum is another big change in a neighborhood that has had plenty of change in the past 50 years.
Residents of the neighborhood describe it as a place where generations intersect, and where neighbors help each other out. “It’s very family-oriented,” said Beth Clobes, who has lived on Graham Street for 20 years. “We live
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opened F.C. Goebel & Son Cabinet Shop, a kitchen cabinet and repair shop. “My great grandfather started the company,” said Matt Field, CEO of Goebel Fixtures. “My grandparents still live in the house on the corner here.” Like Hansen observed, the area around Goebels used to look a lot different. “There used to be farm fields all around,” Field said. “There were cows across the street where the parking lot is now.” Hutchinson only saw minor growth west across Dale Street through the 1970s when the city’s population was barely more than 8,000. Hutchinson High School was built at the corner of Roberts Road and School Road during that time period, in the fall of 1961. Teams had already started to play at S.R. Knutson Field. St. Anastasia Catholic Church, which has been in Hutchinson for more than 130 years, previously worshiped where Gateway Central Apartments are currently found on Glen Street Northwest. “In the early to mid-60s, the parish bought this corn field on the west side of Goebel Fixtures,” said the Rev. Jerry Meidl. “Everything else out here in the ‘60s was farmland. We built the school in 1965 and built the church in 1984. We worshiped in the gym for 20 years. Many people have memories of getting married in the gym because that was church.” Hutchinson Middle School on South Grade Road was built in 1990. West Elementary on School Road was added in 1993. By 2001, Hutchinson’s population was around 13,000, and the city had grown west through the neighborhood and on to Otter Lake. Now, roughly half the area belongs to families who own homes in neighborhoods tucked out of the way of the business and manufacturing centers of Hutchinson. Motorists driving through the neighborhood might never notice Hansen Gravel’s material storage area, or Goebel’s campus where employees build store fixtures, hidden behind different blocks of houses.
Hutchinson Vineyard Middle School Methodist Church
close to all schools, the water park, shopping and churches.” South Grade Road provides quick access to the State Highway 15 shopping area, and School Road is only a bridge away from State Highway 7’s businesses, though it is currently under construction. Residents say that while much of the area is quiet, Dale Street, School Road, Roberts Road and South Grade Road can be busy, especially before and after school. Clobes, who raised three kids in the neighborhood, said that when the kids were younger she wished there was more for young kids to do. She believes the new aquatic center, just to the east along South Grade Road, adds something nearby that was missing. Meidl, who has lived near the St. Anastasia Church and school campus for 10 years, has a good view of one of the neighborhood’s largest grassy areas on Larson Street Southwest. “What I like about the neighborhood is the playground,” he said. “I think we provide a nice recreational area for this part of the community. There are people on the playground area all hours of the day. The later it gets at night, the older the kids are that are on our swing sets.” He said the lower basketball hoops are nice for young kids to reach, and popular with older youth as well. “The older kids like the lower baskets because every boy less than 6 feet can dunk,” Meidl joked. “They relish that and they hang on the hoops like the professionals and so far we haven’t broken any off.” He also sees many families use the nearby Knights of Columbus shelter, which can be rented at a low cost, for picnics, reunions and receptions. The park also serves as a dog park, he said.
Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
July 16, 2017 | A5
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Neighborhoods: Mid Southwest Hutchinson NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
A ‘delightful, multi-generational neighborhood’ “People walk their dogs through here at all times and they have their plastic bags of goodies,” Meidl said. “By and large people are good at picking up their dog droppings.” He likes that the neighborhood has many open spaces, few dark nooks and crannies, little visible crime and minimal vandalism. “It’s a friendly spot, a safe spot,” Meidl said. Tara Briggman, director of finance and human resources at Goebel Fixtures, was complimentary of the patience of the neighborhood residents. She said that with shipments coming in and out of the business, its location in the middle of what is now a residential neighborhood probably isn’t the best. “I’m sure we’re not the easiest neighbors to have,” she said. “But we have good neighbors. It’s a good, quiet neighborhood.” During the workweek, Goebel rents parking space from St. Anastasia’s parking lot. Meidl has noticed the neighborhood’s composition is changing. “I think as some of the older neighbors have passed away, and sold their houses, there are younger families moving into our neighborhood,” he said. “I think it’s a good balance of old and young in our neighborhood.” Rick Stapleton, senior pastor at CrossPoint Church at the corner of School Road and Roberts Road, has noticed a change as well. He lives on Kay Street. “My neighborhood is ‘turning over,’” he said. “Longtime owners are moving on and new, younger people are buying homes. This creates a delightful, multi-generational neighborhood with children, teens, and adults of all ages. I enjoy getting to know my neighbors and appreciate that they are friendly and take care of one another.” He said the neighborhood’s churches are active, and that CrossPoint’s annual block party, as well as events at Hutchinson High School bring people together.
THE SCHOOLS “I think the distinctive feature of the Hutchinson school neighborhood is the combination of parks, churches and schools that are kind of intersected and meshed,” said Patrick Walsh, principal at Hutchinson High School. “There are several cores of Hutchinson, and this is definitely one of them.” St. Anastasia Catholic School serves kindergarten through sixth grade, and is beside the park space on Larson Street. West Elementary serves preschool through first grade, Hutchinson Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade, and Hutchinson High School serves students from ninth grade to graduation. Those buildings surround a vast green space for sport practice and other recreation, with Junior Community Women Park on the east side. “I think the Hutchinson fans are very gracious and very polite,” Walsh said of crowds who attend the school sport events. “It’s much like many of our students and residents. We’re kind of conservative and with that we get a lot of respect and sportsmanship. In Hutchinson, very seldom do we hear about players who are dirty or unsportsmanlike.” He said Hutchinson is unique due to its many amenities many would associate with a bigger city, while still maintaining a small town feel. “To me Hutchinson reminds me of a small town, it’s just a lot bigger,” Walsh said. “The people feel the same (as in a small town) to me. There are just more of them.” Crews this summer are renovating Roberts Road and School Road near the high school while the building is being overhauled to a threestory, modern facility as part of a $45 million school bond referendum. During the third trimester of the coming school year, Hutchinson High School will rent a classroom or two from CrossPoint for its band and choir programs.
Thoughts on the neighborhood What do you like about the neighborhood? The Rev: Jerry Meidl: “It’s a friendly spot. A safe spot.” Ron Hansen: “We’re close to the shopping centers, but there is nothing tight up against us.” Pastor Rick Stapleton: “I appreciate that the road construction on Roberts and School roads includes a sidewalk and a bike trail — I really enjoy the bike paths and use them frequently.” Does the neighborhood need any improvements? STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
S. R. Knutson Field brings crowds to Hutchinsons Mid Southwest neighborhood. Residents show their hometown pride by cheering on Hutchinson’s young Tiger athletes.
Attractions Junior Community Women Park: An open green space surrounds playground equipment on Goebel Street Southwest, overlooking the Hutchinson Public Schools athletic fields. S. R. Knutson Field: Home of the Hutchinson Tigers. Football, soccer, and lacrosse games, and track meets can be watched here.
“We are going to start feeling it as soon as September when we move into the new commons and the tech ed wing,” Walsh said. As more spaces are completed, classes will move into them. The new classroom wings will feature more collaborative space for teachers and students, and space for digital technology as it continues to improve in the foreseeable future. A
Knights of Columbus Shelter: The shelter can be rented for receptions and reunions, and other similar events. St. Anastasia Catholic Church’s playground and basketball hoops are nearby. Hutchinson Public Schools: Hutchinson High School, West Elementary and Hutchinson Middle School surround the school district’s athletic fields. All together, the campus covers about half the neighborhood. new career and technical education area outfitted with modern equipment thanks to partnerships with area businesses will give students a look at what the manufacturing industry looks like today. Dow n the road, G oebel Fi xtures has taken notice. This past school year, it provided judges for a Hutchinson Middle School project that had students build benches
Hutchinson High School Principal Patrick Walsh: School Road and Roberts Road are busy from 7 to 7:30 a.m. and 2 to 2:30 p.m. every day. “You could certainly justify stop lights and things like that.” Pastor Rick Stapleton: “At times, water drainage seems slow after big storms.” Tara Briggman: “The only complaint I would have is we need a flashing light at our crosswalk (from the parking lot to Goebel Fixtures across Dale Street) or a speed bump. There is quite a few times here it is a little bit scary to step out.” while learning the tenants of mass production. “We are looking to do more and more with the high school and middle school. We struggle to find people who want to come into manufacturing,” Briggman said. “That was our first interaction and we are trying to do more stuff like that. Hopefully we have more opportunities at the high school with its new programs.”
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WEEKEND
Pipe manufacturer buys Hutch plant Uponor purchases TDK/Hutchinson Technology development center BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO sports@hutchinsonleader.com
STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
Uponor’s purchase of a TDK/Hutchinson Technology building is expected to be completed by the end of August.
Uponor North America, a company based out of Apple Valley that manufactures crosslinked polyethylene pipe and related products, is expanding its operations to Hutchinson with a planned $6.35 million investment in a manufacturing plant. The 237,000-square-foot plant Uponor is purchasing along Highway 7 includes a manufacturing facility and office space, and is one of several buildings owned by TDK/ Hutchinson Technology. The plant is scheduled to be operational by early 2019.
The pipes Uponor manufactures are used for residential and commercial applications such as plumbing, fire safety, radiant heating and cooling, hydronic piping and pre-insulated piping systems. With about 3,900 employees worldwide, and 600 in Minnesota, the company’s president, Bill Gray, said Hutchinson was a great fit for Uponor’s expansion. “Uponor is seeing unprecedented product demand as a result of continued growth in commercial and residential construction,” he said in a press release. “This investment will allow Uponor to increase production capacity as we build a future on innovation, education
“We’re extremely excited to get a manufacturer in the town that will supply jobs to Hutchinson residents, and surrounding communities.” Hutchinson Mayor Gary Forcier and advocacy to better serve our customers while also growing the state’s manufacturing workforce.”
Uponor to A8 ➤
NORTH NORTHEAST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
Big yards, big trees
Residents are drawn to this neighborhood because of its affordable housing and then discover there’s much more BY DOUG HANNEMAN hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com
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North Northeast Oak,” she said. “I have
eggy Jorgensen knows the HUTCHINSON people and streets of 15 northeast Hutchinson as well as anyone. Her cairn terrier Emma knows the area, too, thanks to their daily walks on the canopied streets that carry the names of trees found in the neighborhood — Maple, Elm, Oak, Ash, Spruce and Walnut. “She has friends in the neighborhood — both humans and dogs,” Jorgensen said as she led her leashed companion along Elm Street on a recent humid Sunday afternoon. Other than her years at St. Cloud State University, Jorgensen has always called this part of Hutchinson home. “I grew up on Bluff. Now I live on
a brother who lives on McLeod, and I have another brother who lives on Maple. 7 So we obviously like the neighborhood.” Jorgenson is like many longtime residents who live in Near Northeast Hutchinson, an area bordered on the west by State Highway 15, on the east by Bluff Street, on the north mainly by North High Drive, and on the south by McLeod and Sixth avenues. This is mainly a quiet residential area, where homes are affordable and unpretentious. “The homes are not higher-end,” noted Hutchinson police officer Cory Sederland, who was assigned to the neighborhood 10 months ago. “It’s more of a working-class neighborhood,” he added.
Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Peggy Jorgenson and her walking companion, Emma, are a familiar sight to residents in North Northeast Hutchinson. While growing up, she walked to Northside Grocery on McLeod Avenue Northeast. “That’s where we went for all of our candy,” she said.
Motorcycle-semi crash claims life of Mayer man Two vehicles collided head-on on Highway 7 west of Hutchinson BY DOUG HANNEMAN hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
A westbound 2016 Freightliner jack-knifed into the ditch on State Highway 7 west of Hutchinson after colliding with a motorcycle Wednesday.
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A 26-year-old Mayer man was killed Wednesday when the three-wheeled motorcycle he was driving crossed the centerline and struck a semi-trailer head-on just west of Hutchinson. The Minnesota State Patrol said Justin John Nowak died at the scene of the crash, on State Highway 7, west of the intersection with County Road 115.
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The driver of the semi, 55-year-old Daniel Dan McBride of Watertown, South Dakota, was taken to Hutchinson Health for evaluation but suffered no visible injuries. Nowak was westbound and McBride was eastbound at about 5:10 p.m. when the crash occurred. Nowak’s mother, Deb Nowak, posted on the Leader’s Facebook page that her son “was a great husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin (and) grandson. We will miss him dearly.” Highway 7 was closed for much of the early evening as Hutchinson firefighters worked to contain fuel leaking from the semi, which plunged into a ditch along the south side of the highway after the crash.
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A4 | July 23, 2017
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
Neighborhoods: North Northeast Hutchinson NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
Park is a hidden gem
FULL-SERVICE PARK The park features a playground, enclosed picnic shelter, restrooms, Little League fields and — little known to residents who live outside the neighborhood — a pond surrounded by a nature trail that meanders through a wooded area and natural prairie. Kelly said her kids have spotted turtles and frogs there. “It’s good to have it to get us away from all the technology,” she said. “We feel really happy here,” Kelly said of her neighborhood. “It’s safe. It’s very quiet here. We don’t have to worry about any noise.” Her neighbors are friendly and helpful, she added. “When we first moved here, one of our neighbors came over and blew out our driveway,” she recalled. “The neighbors have been
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THE OUTPOST Among those businesses is The Outpost, a combination gas station/ convenience store/bait shop that opened in 1998. The manager, Krystal Elke, has worked there for all of those 19 years, starting when she was in high school. “This is an easy milk stop for people — the essentials that you need at home,” she said. It’s also a place where residents and travelers catch up on the world’s news and weather. “Did you get a lot of rain last night?” an older customer asked Elke a little after the store opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday. “I haven’t heard yet,” Elke replied. “I’m from Litchfield and we didn’t get any,” the man said. Turning to a newspaper reporter, Elke noted, “We get a lot of the weather.” Elke has learned a great deal about the neighborhood during her nearly two decades at The Outpost. “People tell me this used to be a slough until all the homes were built,” she said, pointing to the south side of North High Drive, an area now dotted with ramblers built mainly during the 1960s. One of those ramblers is home to Dirk and Kelly Nelson, and their two daughters, ages 5 and 13. The family bought their four-bedroom, two-bathroom home on Spruce Street Northeast six years ago. “It has a big yard,” Kelly said “And we still have big trees. And we can ride our bikes here. We have a park to go to. Harper (their 5-yearold) loves it.” The park is Northwoods Park, possibly best known as the site of one of the city’s two outdoor ice skating rinks. It’s also the only outdoor rink with a warming house staffed by an attendant.
North Northeast
Maple Street
Residents take care of their homes and yards, he noted, and there’s only one vacant “nuisance home.” There’s one church, Our Savior’s Lutheran, and one apartment complex, Ridgedale Apartments. Few businesses are here, and they are all north of North High Drive, along the east side of State Highway 15.
Av e.
very welcoming.” And when the Nelsons built a swing set for their girls, a neighbor brought over his tools. Another brought over wood for their fire pit. “We’ve been real lucky,” Kelly said. Officer Sederlund agreed that this part of Hutchinson is generally peaceful. “For the most part, there isn’t anything that sticks out” in regard to crime, he said. The police patrol State Highway 15, south of the intersection with North High Drive, where the speed limit is 30 mph. “We try to keep their speed down,” he said. “People tend to accelerate when they’re leaving town and not decelerate when they’re coming in to town.” The newest residential construction in the neighborhood took place more than a decade or so ago. Hillcrest Road Northeast and Northwoods Avenue Northeast are lined with twinhomes, typically preferred by those who don’t want to maintain a yard. Elaine Blade moved into her twinhome in 2010 after selling her large home on Jorgenson Street in southeast Hutchinson. “I needed a place with no steps,” she said. “This is all one floor and as long as I don’t have to take care of the yard I can manage pretty well.” She says she likes the quiet. “Once in a while I’ll hear a police car,” she noted, “but I’ve never heard of a disturbance or anything.” Within shouting distance of Blade’s home is a 35-acre site that the city purchased in about 2000. It was once eyed as the future home of four softball and baseball fields and trails, estimated to cost $1.5 million. With other pressing needs including the rehabilitation of Burich Arena and the construction of the city’s aquatic center, those plans have been indefinitely shelved. Dolf Moon, director of Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education, said the land will eventually be needed for ball fields and more importantly, soccer and lacrosse fields. That would suit the many young families in the neighborhood. Peggy Jorgensen would also like to see a grocery store closer than those at the south end of Hutchinson. “We really need a grocery store downtown,” she said. She has one other request — easier access to State Highway 15. “It’s often hard to get on the highway,” she said. “It’s bumper-tobumper traffic quite often.”
STAFF PHOTOS BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Kelly Nelson took her daughter, Harper, 5, for a walk to learn where she would be picked up by the school bus when classes start in September. Harper will be starting kindergarten.
Fresh mulch was put down earlier this summer on a nature trail that surrounds the pond in Northwoods Park.
Marlys Sturges brought her granddaughter, 8-yearold Kailey Johnson, to Northwoods Park to play on a recent Sunday afternoon. Said Sturges: “We’ve gone by here (before) and she has said, ‘Why don’t we stop here?’ So today we had some time.”
Krystal Elke, manager of The Outpost at the intersection of State Highway 15 and North High Drive, sells bait along with groceries and gas. She said many of her customers enjoy talking about fishing, even if they don’t fish.
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WEEKEND
Walk aims to raise awareness of nation’s No. 10 killer: suicide
NEAR NORTHWEST
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
Emotions in Motion Walk for Life is Sept. 17
Melting pot of activity
BY KAY JOHNSON johnson@hutchinsonleader.com
Raising awareness about mental health and suicide are the goals for the first Emotions in Motion Walk for Life from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. Coordinating the event are Tammy Diehn, Arlington, and Terri Lynaugh, Hutchinson. The two women have walked the talk. Both are suicide survivors, which is the term used to describe family and friends who have lost someone to suicide. Diehn and Lynaugh chose September for their event because it’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. A purple and turquoise ribbon is used to symbolize suicide awareness and prevention. It’s similar to the pink ribbon, which has become the international symbol for breast cancer awareness. How widespread is suicide? According to the Centers for Disease Control, it’s the 10th leading cause of death in the United States for all ages. To shine the spotlight on this, there is one death by suicide in the United States every 12 minutes. That means in the time it takes to eat a quick lunch, someone has died by suicide. The walk idea started with Diehn. After the death of her sister, Shelly Teubert, 43, who died Jan. 21, she looked for resources online to help
Walk for Life to A8 ➤
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
Sara Witte, Hutchinson parks supervisor, stopped by Girl Scout Park on Tuesday. In the background, Girl Scouts and volunteers are working in the garden. “Having the Girl Scouts involved like this is great,” she said.
Near Northwest
From Gateway Mural to the Pendergast rock, attractions abound in this neighborhood where the story of Hutchinson began
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HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: This is the ninth story in a 12part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods. STAFF PHOTO BY JEREMY JONES
SouthPoint Financial Credit Union is opening a branch along State Highway 15 on Hutchinson’s south side. It’s one of many new businesses to call that section of town home.
BY KAY JOHNSON johnson@hutchinsonleader.com
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A new business bound for Hutchinson hails from Sleepy Eye. SouthPoint Financial Credit Union is adding a location at 1250 State Highway 15 S., in front of Walmart. This is the credit union’s sixth location, following an opening in North Mankato earlier this year. “Back in 2015 we expanded our charter from seven counties to 17,” said Jay Gostonczik, vice president of retail services. “In that process, we realized there were a number of communities not served by a credit union, especially not a credit union focused on the community. We know there is already a credit union (in Hutchinson). Their focus is a little bit different than ours.”
ear Northwest Hutchinson is bordered on the east by State Highway 15, on the north by North High Drive with a jog to accommodate Deer Park Apartments, on the west by a rough line that follows Montana, Kouwe and Lind streets, and south to First Avenue Northwest. This area of Hutchinson is rich in attractions. It’s the place to view the Gateway Mural, look at the plantings at Girl Scout Park, ponder the Crow River at Eheim Park, salute local police officers at Hutchinson Law Enforcement Park, take a stroll on the Luce Line State Trail, discover a period icon at Kiwanias Park, learn local history at Pendergast rock and enjoy a picnic at Maplewood Park. It’s also the site of Northwoods Elementary School, Maplewood Academy and the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is the fourth year Terry Ninnich, Maplewood’s vice president for finance and farm manager, has called the “School on the Hill” home. “I live and work on campus,” he said. “It works great for us. I have a daughter
SouthPoint to A9 ➤
Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
SouthPoint shaping up on south side BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
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STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
Maplewood Academy Farm Manager Terry Ninnich plucked an ear of sweet corn bursting with freshness during a tour of the school’s vegetable crops on Tuesday. The just-picked sweet corn can be purchased at the school’s stand along State Highway 15 North and at the Hutchinson Farmers Market on Wednesdays at Depot Marketplace.
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A4 | July 30, 2017
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Neighborhoods: Near Northwest Hutchinson NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
Urban meets rural along Highway 15
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
Girl ScoutsElizabeth Hagel and Jennifer Hilgemann checked one of the 13 large flower pots they planted for their Bronze Award project. The plantings can be seen in Girl Scout Park, north of the Crow River rock dam.
GIRL SCOUTS GARDENING
FILE PHOTO
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
Abby Smith had a handful of weeds to discard Tuesday morning at Girl Scout Park.
“In the winter months, Rocket Hill (at Kiwanis Park) is used as the sliding hill within our community,” said Sara Witte, parks supervisor. “I don’t think people even know it as Kiwanis Park, but as Rocket Hill due to the rocket icon.” During the summer, it’s used for Slip ‘N’ Slide. Last year, Kyler Morris ended his run with a big splash. The next Slip ‘N’ Slide session will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11.
HISTORY The story of Near Northwest Hutchinson is the story of Hutchinson itself. “Just before sundown on Monday, Nov. 19, 1855, the 12 explorers including the three “Singing Hutchinsons,” R.H. Pendergast, Col. John Stevens and Lewis Harrington, reached the top of a hill. They saw a sparkling river winding east and south flanked by high bluffs to the north, beyond which the forest stretched in brooding silence. Open ground sloped gently from wooded hills to the west down to the edge of the water while to the south and southwest spread a carpet of gently rolling prairie land.” Source: McLeod County History Book The Near Northwest quadrant of Hutchinson was part of the city’s
original plat when it was founded in 1855. It expanded further north in 1928 from about where Fifth Avenue Northwest is to North High Drive. It also grew west to Lynn Road. In 2001, the city expanded north beyond North High Drive. The largest presence in this quadrant of the city is Maplewood Academy, 700 Main St. N. The campus and an adjoining 150 acres were sold to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1910 to be used as the Danish-Norwegian Seminary to prepare students for foreign missionary service. It became Maplewood Academy in 1928 when the school, which had been in Maple Plain, was moved to Hutchinson and merged with the seminary.
Two years later, the seminary was discontinued as a college. Known as “the School on the Hill,” Maplewood was instantly recognized due to its Late Gothic Revival-style administrative building, which straddled the hill overlooking Hutchinson. It was a local landmark and listed on the Minnesota Inventory of Historic Places in 1976. Due to deterioration of the building, the Minnesota Conference voted to replace the old building with a new structure. It came down on Feb. 15, 1980. Today the secondary school offers education and opportunity for students. It is connected through technology with campuses in St. Paul, Minnetonka and south Minneapolis.
Like the students at Maplewood Academy, Hutchinson Girl Scouts are getting their hands dirty by working the soil. Girl Scouts in Multi-Level Troop 30111 launched their beautification effort at Girl Scout Park at Day Camp in 2016. The park is south of the Crow River rock spillway. Rikki Hilgemann, troop leader, said it’s a three- to five-year ongoing project. The troop’s goal is to have a continual blooming garden through summer. Kris Haag is mentoring through the Master Gardener program. Mary Hilgemann, 17, has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. “It means a lot we have a park, to be able to keep it up to date so it doesn’t get overgrown with weeds,” she said. “This is the first year we’ve taken care of the park.” Chelsey Nocutt, 18, said she likes working in the park. Her favorite area is the walking path overlooking the Crow River. “I like the way the flowers look,” she said. Emily Ehlers, 17, likes the location of Girl Scout Park. “I like to go on walks and go to different shops,” she said. “It’s a good location for Girl Scout Park. I like to walk in the park and look at the flowers.” Abby Smith, 6, who is a first-year Girl Scout, called the park “a pretty place.” Wearing her Minnie Mouse pink gloves, she was ready to pull weeds
Near Northwest
Deer Park Apts.
Seventh-day Adventist Church Northwoods Elementary Maplewood Academy
15 5th Avenue . ana St Mont
going into eighth grade at Northwoods Elementary and a son at Maplewood. They only have to walk a few feet to school.” Ninnich described the neighborhood as “fairly quiet.” What noise there is comes from State Highway 15, which borders the east side of the school. When it comes to enrollment, Northwoods Academy, a Seventhday Adventist elementary school for preschool to eighth grade, has 40 to 45 students. Maplewood, which is a Seventh-day Adventist secondary school for grades ninth through 12th, is experiencing a surge in enrollment from 85 students in 2016 to 110 for the 2017-18 school year. Ninnich said growth is centered around ethnic lines. While the majority of students come from the Upper Midwest, the school also draws international students from China, Ethiopia and Mexico. To attract more Chinese students, the school began working three years ago with a recruiting service, which works with about 160 schools. The campus, which is just north of downtown Hutchinson, is tucked into a residential neighborhood. While many people whiz by the school as they travel State Highway 15, what they may not realize is that the campus is just a small part of the total acreage. Ninnich said the school has just shy of 250 acres, which extends in a northwestern direction. While much of the tillable land is rented out, the school began cultivating some of its property in 2015 when it launched its Farm Produce Program. Through participation, students have jobs that provide real-world, practical experience working in the fields and selling produce at the school’s stand on campus or the Hutchinson Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Ninnich said 37 students worked from a few days to three-plus weeks during strawberry season this year. The money from the sale of the produce goes to fund student scholarships. Students can also enroll in Ninnich’s horticulture program where they cultivate seeds and plants. “We grew 6,000 plants on tables with grow lights on them in the classroom,” he said. They also added a greenhouse next to the gym, where they grew 40,000 plants from their own seeds. New this past year was the addition of Shane Flowers, assistant farm manager and dean of boys. Together Ninnich and Flowers have expanded the produce acreage. They also launched a Community Supported Agriculture program where customers can buy full or half shares for the full season or half season. “I’m hoping (to sell) 100 shares next year,” Ninnich said.
Kiwanis Park 3rd Avenue
Park
Crow River
7
N
Fishing pier
ATTRACTIONS ■ Eheim Park: It was dedicated to Joseph M. Eheim on June 27, 1947, as a memorial to his long and faithful service to the people of Hutchinson. The park is north of the rock spillway and it is considered one of the busiest stops along the Luce Line State Trail. It offers benches to rest and a lookout pier for viewing the Crow River. ■ The Chief Little Crow statue can be seen in Eheim Park. This is the second statue of Chief Little Crow to gaze over the Crow River. The original statue was created by Les Kouba and installed in 1937. The second statue and the one on display was given to the city by Les and Orial Kouba and installed in 1982. ■ Girl Scout Park: This downtown greenspace directly across the river from Eheim Park is south of the Crow River rock spillway. The park has been adopted by Hutchinson Girl Scouts who are working with a master gardener volunteer on selecting plants and caring for them. ■ Hutchinson Law Enforcement Park: The park is along Third Avenue Northwest between the Crow River and Luce Line State Trail on a narrow piece of city property between Glen and James streets. The park features a 6-foot statue and an accompanying 10foot sheet metal cut out created by Hutchinson native and Twin Cities artist Deb Zellar. ■ Kiwanis Park: This park is north of downtown and can be found along Fifth Avenue Northwest. It’s home to Rocket Hill, a popular winter spot for sledding and snowboarding. The park was adopted by the Hutchinson Kiwanis Club. ■ Maplewood Park: It is a small park near Maplewood Academy and State Highway 15 North. A picnic table is available at this site. Nearby is the Pendergast Commemorative Rock. This marker near Maplewood Park and State Highway 15 North recognized two historical events. It was dedicated in honor of Hutchinson’s first school, Pendergast’s Academy, and its first teacher, “... the outstanding educator Professor W.W. Pendergast.” ■ Cedar Park, Fishing Pier and Rain Garden: The park, fishing pier and rain garden can be found along the south side of the Crow River just off of Glen Street and Cedar Avenue. Cedar Park is one of the smallest parks in Hutchinson. ■ Gateway Mural: This 15-panel mural by Lance Albers was commissioned by Bob Peterson in memory of his late wife, Kay Peterson, who served on the Hutchinson City Council. It features prominent Hutchinson residents and landmarks.
on Tuesday. “I like hard work,” she said. Smith’s favorite flower? Lilies. Working for a Bronze Award, which is a top honor for junior Girl Scouts, are Jennifer Hilgemann, 11, and Elizabeth Hagel, 11, who planted 13 flower pots in the park. They did it with help from Master Gardener Kris Haag. “She told us what flowers to use
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Neighborhoods: Near Northwest Hutchinson NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
Chief Little Crow looks out over the Crow River from his vantage point in Eheim Park. Near the statue is a rock with two plaques. The first was posted with the original statue in 1937: “The red of the sunset upon these waters reminds us that all blood is red even that of the red-skin who fought us for possession of this stream, and in the mist which rises from the river we see the smoke of the pipe of peace between all peoples curling upward forever from the valley of the Crow.” The second plaque commemorates the 1982 statue: Chief Little Crow 1818-1863. “We fought for the Indian’s right to live in peace in this land.”
Parks along river heavily used and how to put them together,” Hilgermann said. Sara Witte, parks supervisor, said the beautification of the park started with a circle of flowers. “We were lucky when they reconstructed that dam,” she said. “That allowed plenty of space for perennial gardens at that location. Now we have an active Girl Scout group. The girls have been very active weeding, transplanting flowers. They’ve done a lot down there this summer. It’s a lot of maintenance to pull weeds and cut back after plants flower.”
LIVING AND WORKING IN NEAR NORTHWEST HUTCHINSON Jean Ostrom has lived at Deer Park Apartments along North High Drive for three years. “I really like the features of the apartment complex — a gym, whirlpool, sauna, outdoor pool and a party room,” she said. “I also like that they (management) hold special events for the residents to help neighbors get to know each other.”
Neighborhoods to A6 ➤
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A picnic table with canopy at Hutchinson Law Enforcement Park along Third Avenue Northwest provides a place to rest for people using the Luce Line State Trail. The centerpiece of the park is the statue and portal. Together, the two pieces create aligned shadows, one dark from the statue and one light from the portal. “A lot of people use the single picnic shelter,” said Sara Witte, parks supervisor. “I would say it’s an attraction. If people haven’t been there, they should check it out.”
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Neighborhoods: Near Northwest Hutchinson NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A5
The plaque on Pendergast rock near Maplewood Park and State Highway 15 North featured this inscription: “In dedication of our first school and in honor of its first teacher — the outstanding educator Prof. W.W. Pendergast who built Pendergast’s Academy. This school — located 400 feet southeast of this monument — was burned by Indians in the massacre of 1862.”
Drawbacks: No stores, eateries nearby Southwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation, which is headquartered at the southwest corner of intersection of state highways 7 and 15 near downtown Hutchinson. “I’m a lucky guy,” he said. “I get to work at SWIF and enjoy the view of the South Fork of the Crow. I thank people like Buzz Burich who donated the fountain. I
CRIME REPORT Patrol Office Michael Salazar described Near Northwest Hutchinson as “an active beat.” “Calls for service vary from traffic stops, assaults, domestic thank the city for its vision and the landscaping art of Dolf Moon and his crew.
assaults, noise complaints, disturbances, fireworks complaints, driving complaints and accidents,” he said.
Many have contributed to the beauty of this neighborhood.”
STAFF PHOTO BY KAY JOHNSON
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Drawbacks to the neighborhood for Ostrom — there are no stores or restaurants in this part of town. “Driving through town to get everything on the south side takes much longer than people would expect,” she said. Greg Jodzio just celebrated his seventh anniversary at the
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BEING FESTIVE ABOUT GARLIC
NIGHT OUT IN HUTCHINSON Check out photos from National Night Out / A6
Saturday’s Garlic Festival is all about fun, food, flavors / B1
WEEKEND NEAR SOUTHEAST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
Gardens, homes and industry
Treasure Shed opens in nearby storefront New building has better layout, accessibility BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
Six-year-old Ella Long helped her father, Michael, pick tomatoes and other produce at their plot in the community garden on Adams Street, behind Evergreen Apartments. Michael said their family has been doing it for years, and their garden has grown so large they rent two plots a year.
What’s inside the Treasure Shed? That’s a good question, especially because the answer will change greatly depending on where you stand inside the business’ new location at 1110 State Highway 7 E. “It’s like 50 little mini shops under one roof,” said Misty Uecker, who owns the family business with her husband Ryan. For sale are antiques, collectables, repurposed home items, garden decorations, vintage items, records, dishes and furniture. The Treasure Shed’s 50-plus vendors each rent a space within the store and decorate it with a display, some of which come with an artistic approach, made to look like a shed, living room or cabin. Marg Brugman, a previous owner of the Treasure Shed, describes it as “a shopper’s paradise.” She started the business with Connie Schmoll and her late husband, Al Garding, in 2004. The store opened in a 1170 Highway 7 E. building owned by Ag Systems. “We were in one area of the building, then we had two areas of the building,” Brugman said. “We expanded, then we put on the sheds in the front, then we put on a double-wide trailer in the back. The business has been growing ever since we started.”
Treasure Shed to A2 ➤
Business and pleasure come together in one of Hutchinson’s oldest neighborhoods Editor’s note: This is the 10th story in a 12part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods. BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO sports@hutchinsonleader.com
T
he Near Southeast Neighborhood of Hutchinson keeps things fresh and fun with its parks, gardens and marketplace, but it’s also where work gets done with several businesses, City Center and the industrial park located in this active part of town. It’s where the people of Hutchinson have called home since the town’s founding in 1855, and where new businesses look to make a home as the city offers opportunities for growth and expansion east toward State Highway 22. According to the Hutchinson Police Department’s boundaries of this neighborhood, from north to south it starts at Washington Avenue Southeast and runs down to Oakland Avenue. The western boundary runs along Main Street, except for four blocks of downtown, between Washington Avenue and Fourth Avenue, when it cuts over to Hassan Street. The eastern boundary stretches out past the river to the industrial park along Fifth Avenue. Hutchinson’s Economic Development Director, Miles Seppelt, said the relationship between the residents of
this neighborhood and the industries doing business in that area have gone smoothly “as long as everyone is good neighbors.” Lori Swift, a 25-year resident of Hutchinson who has lived on Adams Street during that whole time, agrees with Seppelt for the most part. Although there is still a lot of traffic going through the area, she said one thing that made a huge difference was the Highway 22 bypass, which opened in 1999. “Adams Street used to be Highway 22 going through the town, but now we have the bypass, and I can tell you that made a huge difference,” Swift said. “When our kids were growing up, they never got to play in the front yard. The bottom line is, the bypass has helped the traffic flow incredibly. Having the fourway stop on Fifth Avenue and Adams Street, so people can’t gain a lot of speed, has also been nice.” Except for the 3M factory on Adams Street, which was a former hemp factory until 3M purchased it in 1947 from the U.S. government, most of the industrial park on the east side of town is relatively new, and best of all, shovel-ready for manufacturers looking to move into town. “Our industrial park on the east side is brand new. We just built it in 2009 or 2010. It’s all certified as shovel-ready,” Seppelt said. “The state of Minnesota
Neighborhoods to A4 ➤
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Near Southeast
Hutchinson artist depicts life of patriotism
7
HUTCHINSON 15
BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
FILE PHOTO
Luke Myers precariously pedaled across Tartan Terrain Park’s mound of logs, just one of the several obstacles in the mountain bike terrain course that was installed in 2013.
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A young Hutchinson artist was recently awarded for her talent and patriotism in a contest by the VFW Auxiliary. “It’s to show your patriotism through art,” said Kira Fennell, a recent graduate of Hutchinson High School. The Young American Creative Patriotic Art Awards is a Kira national scholarship competiFennell tion, which offers $21,000 in scholarships. Fennell’s submission was ranked No. 1 in Minnesota, and went on to take third place nationally, earning her a $2,500 scholarship she’ll take with her to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She plans to major in drawing and painting, and minor in creative writing. Fennell’s submission is a collection of three drawn portraits titled “Youthful Learning and Lasting Virtue.” “One is a young boy who is wearing a cape and goggles,” Fennell said. “It symbolizes his wanting to be a hero. The second is of an older man who went into the military, who is saluting. The third is an aged veteran with medals of honor. (It’s) to show a lifelong process.” Fennell said she had seen other submissions
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A4 | August 6, 2017
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
Neighborhoods: Near Southeast Hutchinson Near Southeast First Ave.
Adams St.
Hassan St.
C
ro
Industrial Park
w R i ver 2nd Ave.
Tartan Park
Michigan St.
N
5th Ave.
3M
15 LegionPark Ave. land Oak
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
Industrial park has shovel-ready sites FILE PHOTO
As soon as the snow melts in the spring, Veterans Memorial Field at Dave Mooney Baseball Complex stays busy until fall as teams from the high school, VFW and Legion host games there, as well as the Huskies town ball team. Next to VMF is Tartan Park, which also stays busy with people using its many amenities.
HISTORY Hutchinson was founded in 1855, and much of the near southeast neighborhood was part of the town’s beginning. The original borders went as far south as Fifth Avenue, and east toward the river. As the town’s population grew over the next 70 years, the neighborhood grew south toward Oakland Avenue. In 1947, the 3M Co. purchased a factory from the U.S. government that was producing hemp for war materials such as rope during World War II. Today, at nearly 1.5 million square feet, it is 3M’s largest U.S. facility, and the largest employer in Hutchinson with approximately 1,650 people in its employment. That was just the beginning of Hutchinson’s industrial park, which continues its growth east, across the river and toward the State Highway 22 bypass, which opened in 1999. Before that, the highway ran through town on Adams Street. Being in an older neighborhood, there are still several historical buildings standing, including St. John’s Episcopal Church, the oldest sanctuary in town, and the Great Northern Depot, sole survivor of three depots that once served Hutchinson. The rail was completed in 1887 and made it possible for passengers to travel from Hutchinson to Minneapolis in only three hours, a journey that took several days before.
certifies these things and looks at a bunch of different criteria. Basically, it means that all the due diligence that a buyer would normally have to do has already been done. The soils have been tested, the utilities are already in, and the ownership history has already been checked out. Everything is ready for a quick sale to a manufacturing company, should that ever come up. “There are only a couple dozen of these shovel-ready sites in the state of Minnesota,” Seppelt added. “For companies looking to expand, and corporate real estate people, honestly, they really only look at the shovel-ready sites. They don’t bother looking at anything else. They don’t even want to mess with it.” As the industrial park continues to grow, one of the new projects scheduled to be completed this fall is the Hutchinson Enterprise Center, a 20,000-square-foot business incubator that will have four, 4,000-square-foot bays, an office and conference room area, and another 2,000-square-foot area. Many of Hutchinson’s current manufacturers started as small cottage industries, and the purpose of the incubator is to help budding manufacturers rent space and receive guidance from the city to the point they need to build their own factories in the industrial park. “We really want to diversify our employment base, and our goal is to get more employers,” Seppelt said back in March 2016. “Incubation helps new businesses to survive and grow.” While the EDA is helping to draw more manufacturers to town, it’s also looking out for the smaller businesses in the area, according to the EDA Assistant Director Jeff Page. The Economic Development Authority has a $1 million fund used to give local businesses in the historic downtown district loans to help them make their
buildings more attractive. The type of renovations that qualify include things such as new signs, facades and awnings. About a year ago, the EDA board decided there were enough businesses in the southeast side to extend the area applicable for these loans all the way to Erie Street. Before, that area only went as far as Hassan Street. “It wasn’t really big, just the oldtime downtown. But we’ve expanded it because there are more and more businesses doing business over there,” Page said. “When I went through a year ago and counted the number of businesses in that area, there were over 30 businesses and 20 buildings with businesses in them, and that number is growing. So we’ve expanded that program to make it a little easier for some businesses to show up there, and for entrepreneurs to hopefully find that right spot.”
A PLACE TO GO This initiative to help businesses thrive in the near southeast neighborhood of Hutchinson comes as it is increasingly becoming a place where people not only live and work, but also go to visit for pleasure. Among the amenities in the area that draw people from all over the city are the Dakota Line Trail, Tartan and East River Parks, the community garden behind Evergreen Apartments, and of course the Depot Marketplace, which opened in 2014 and hosts the farmers market each Wednesday, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon, throughout the spring, summer and fall. Until the 165-foot pavilion was constructed outside the Depot, the farmers market took place across the street in the parking lot of the VFW. In its first year at the Depot, Page said 15,726 patrons visited over
Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
The Hutchinson Fire Station is in the Near Southeast Neighborhood of Hutchinson, as are other public buildings such as the city offices and Hutchinson Community Video Network offices. STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
The Hutchinson Economic Center, a business incubator being constructed in the industrial park on the east side of Hutchinson, is a 20,000-square-foot building that will be rented out to budding manufacturers, with the intent of helping their businesses grow to the point where they need to build their own factories in the industrial park. The center is scheduled to be completed this fall.
August 6, 2017 | A5
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Neighborhoods: Near Southeast Hutchinson
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The Depot Marketplace on the site of the historic Great Northern Depot in southeast Hutchinson is a 165-foot pavilion constructed in 2014. It is now the home of Hutchinson’s farmers market, which opens every Wednesday, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
New dog park planned 48 market days. Its popularity has only increased since then. “The farmers market is part of a locational destination,” Page said. “It’s not just a single place. Downtown and nearby, the southeast side, is becoming an area where people go to have fun and do something interesting. We’re hoping to build on that.” Visitors like 70-year-old Ed Spilberg know all too well what Page means. After running his own business in the Twin Cities for years, Spilberg decided it was time to retire and get his life in order, among other things. So he moved to Hutchinson about two years ago looking for a slower pace of life. “It was just time for me to move on to a quieter place. This is really a peaceful town. Hutchinson is a great little town with most of the amenities. I only need to run up to the Cities every few weeks to pick up a few things,” he said. “I’m calling this home now.” Spilberg, who rents a plot in the community garden and visits the farmers market, says he does it to keep himself busy, get a bit of exercise and meet people in the community. “When I fell upon the garden last year, I thought, geez, that would give me something to do in the summer,” he said. “I come out here once a day or once every couple days. It’s relaxing and a nice way of meeting people.” Even for people who aren’t retired, the garden and marketplace are a popular destination. You need only be a Hutchinson resident to rent a plot in the community garden, and the cost is $35 a year for a 10-foot-by-20-foot plot. Some people, like Michael Long and his young family, have enjoyed the community garden so much they require two plots to contain their growing harvests. “We really like it,” he said. “We’ve been doing it for years, and I would recommend it to other people. It’s great to have.” But even if you don’t have a green thumb, there is so much more to do in the southeast. History buffs can check out some of the historic homes along Hassan Street and other areas of the neighborhood. You can catch a musical or rent out space at the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church. Or, if you like to be a bit more active, visit one of the many attractions at Tartan Park, or take in a Huskies town ball game at Veterans Memorial Field. And pretty soon even more visitors will be drawn to the neighborhood, along with their canine companions as East River Park was chosen as the location for a new dog park scheduled to be completed this fall. Lori Swift, who has lived in
STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO
The L.A. Ritter House was built in 1899 in the Colonial Revival/Queen Ann-style.
ATTRACTIONS ■ L.A. Ritter House, 325 Hassan St. S.E., was built in 1899 for Ludwig A. Ritter, a successful businessman who owned a hardware store, foundry and tin ceiling company, and was vice president of the Bank of Hutchinson. It was constructed in the Colonial Revival/Queen Ann-style. It boasts 16 rooms, five baths and two staircases, and has a unique double parlor ceiling painting by local artist Lance Albers. ■ Wm. Davidson House, 345 Hassan St. S.E., was built in 1889 and only six families have called it home since then. Davidson was a builder by trade, and evidence of this can be seen in the carved spiral spindles in the front stair case, the pocket door between the parlor and entry, and detailing above doorways. ■ St. John’s Episcopal Church, 102 Second Ave. S.E., was built in 1892 and is the oldest standing sanctuary in town. Today, it has a seating capacity of 120 and is owned by the city of Hutchinson. It is available for rent at $50 per hour, and it has been the site of several musical productions throughout the years. ■ The Great Northern Depot/Market, 25 Adams St. S.E., was completed in 1887 and later became part of James J. Hill’s legendary Great Northern railroad empire. It has survived two fires: the first in the 1890’s and the most recent in 2000 when it was struck by lightning. Today, the depot is home to Hutchinson’s the area with her husband Jeff for 25 years and raised their three kids — Jason, Jennifer and Nathan – says that it is quickly becoming a place with more young families. With its close location to downtown and all there is to do in the neighborhood, it’s easy to see why. “This is an awesome park,” she said of Tartan. “People are coming and going here often. When our kids were growing up, all the little boys would play here at Tartan Park with hopes of playing over at the big park (Veterans
burgeoning farmers market, and the building can be rented from the city for $10 an hour. ■ Dave Mooney Baseball Complex, 720 Third Ave. S.E., is the home of Veterans Memorial Field, that hosts games throughout spring and summer for teams including high school varsity, Huskies town ball, Legion Post 96 and VFW Post 906. It has also hosted large tournaments, including the legion sub-state tournament this summer and the state amateur baseball tournament last August. ■ Tartan Park, 613 Second Ave. S.E., features a softball and youth baseball field, sand volleyball net, playground equipment, skate park and BMX bike terrain obstacle course. The park gets its name from Tartan tape, a brand synonymous with 3M, the park’s neighbor to the south. ■ East River Park, 300 Fourth Ave. N.E., was once a quite green space along the river with trails, picnic tables and prairie grass, but beginning as early as this fall it will be the site of Hutchinson’s new dog park. The dog park, which is planned to be at least 210 square feet, will include fencing, benches, a source of fresh water and separate sections for big and small dogs. ■ American Legion Park, 855 Hwy. 15 S., is a small, quiet space with a shelter, picnic table and war monument right next door to Oakland Cemetery.
Memorial Field). Now, with the bike park and ramps, that’s fun. That’s just been in five years or so. They’ve added to it.” The only negative part, she says, was the loss of Econofoods a few years ago. “I always walk downtown, but I do miss the grocery store. That was very nice,” she said. “For us, it isn’t hard to go up to Cash Wise and move about, but for that nice stroll right on downtown, that was so convenient. I miss it.”
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HUSKIES ARE STATEBOUND
ABATEMENT FOR UPONOR
Tourney starts next weekend in Green Isle, Hamburg / A9
Hutchinson OKs tax break for new employer / A2
WEEKEND WEST NORTHWEST HUTCHINSON
BONUS SECTION
‘145 years of Tradition and Agriculture’ NEIGHBORHOODS A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
Green refuge from city bustle
Check out the Leader’s 12-page section describing all that’s new and old at this year’s McLeod County Fair. Inside
Schools will be ready for first day of class BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
The past week brought visible changes to construction at Hutchinson High School and Park Elementary. At Park Elementary, concrete was poured in front of a new wheelchair ramp at the building’s new entrance in front of the auditorium. Crews said the site will continue to change quickly in the coming week as new handicap parking spots are filled in and asphalt is put down. Rain briefly slowed work Wednesday outside, but didn’t set the plan back as work continued inside. “Early next week that will all get paved and done,” Brian Mohr, director of buildings, grounds and student transportation, said Thursday. “Our substantial completion date on that is the 18th.” When work is complete, it will include additional parking space across the street for visitors, and a secure entrance connected to a new office. Details such as railing for the ramp are on track to be added. At Hutchinson High School, the canopy over the new front entrance on the north side is tak-
STAFF PHOTOS BY JEREMY JONES
Neil and Donna Berger have a view of the Crow River Golf Club’s Fairway 6 in their backyard. They enjoy the aesthetic and friendliness of their neighborhood — and their proximity to golf.
This neighborhood in Hutchinson’s northwest corner reflects the community’s early history
School to A7 ➤
New plan addresses drainage headaches near Rec Center BY DOUG HANNEMAN hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com
Hutchinson is moving closer toward deciding whether to replace four softball fields in Linden Park with a stormwater detention pond and new drainage pipes to solve ongoing flood problems in the surrounding low-lying neighborhood. City department leaders debriefed the City Council on the plan Tuesday. If approved, it would involve an estimated $250,000 in enhancements at other city parks to replace the four ballfields. The two-year switchover, which would be paid using the city’s stormwater utility fund, could begin as soon as this fall. The more expensive part of the plan, estimated at $1.14 million, would involve the placement of new drainage pipes and the pond’s construction. During heavy rains, residents in a 12-block area surrounding the Hutchinson Recreation Center have experienced swamped basements, soggy yards and flooded intersections. The project would reduce but not permanently eliminate
Drainage to A7 ➤
West Northwest
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: this is the 11th story in a 12-part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods. BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
N
eil and Donna Berger are in the running for the biggest back yard in Hutchinson. It has a par of 5. “The out of bounds is right beyond our fountain,” Neil said Wednesday morning while speaking to the Leader in his Fairway Avenue home on Hutchinson’s northwest side. “(Golfers) get pretty close and we never have to buy golf balls.” The husband-and-wife pair live in Hutchinson’s West Northwest neighborhood with the Crow River on the south, School Road on the east, Campbell Lake to the west and County Road 12 at the north border. They moved to Fairway Avenue 28 years ago after farming between Fairfax and Gibbon, and can look out over Fairway 6 at Crow River Golf Club. “(Hutchinson) is a nice-sized town and we were looking for a place either at a lake or a golf course, and we decided to have our home built on the golf course here,” Neil said. “What better view can you get?” Donna asked, looking out her home’s window to the green. “It’s very quiet.” They describe their neighborhood as close knit. The original residents of the 21 double units on the street all moved in within four years, many looking to downsize. “Most of them stayed here at least 20 years or more, so it got to be very close knit,” Neil said. “We are very proud of our street and its appearance.” “We have an association here and it has good board members. We have all taken our turns, so we all have the same ideas how
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Hutchinson West Northwest Neighborhood is home to quiet subdivisions, such as The Greens. we want things to be,” Donna said. “We are all friends. Twentyeight years ago we started out with an annual picnic that has continued to this day.” Over the years, the neighborhood has changed. “My next-door neighbor here, Arvid Nelson, he was a colorful guy and a good friend,” Neil said. “One of the greatest neighbors you could have.” “Now his daughter lives here,” Donna said.
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A4 | August 13, 2017
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Neighborhoods: West Northwest Hutchinson “We have a nice bunch (of golfers). We have some who have been here 50-plus years.” Peter Kurvers, Crow River Golf Club
STAFF PHOTOS BY JEREMY JONES
Peter Kurvers, Crow River Golf Club’s golf professional, said Lake Campbell, huge oaks and plenty of green make West Northwest Hutchinson a great spot for golf.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
Good place to walk
Residents of West Northwest Hutchinson say the neighborhood is easy to walk around and visit neighbors and friends. A sidewalk that came with School Road construction a few years ago was a welcome addition. Now a similar path is being added to the neighborhood along the same road south of the Crow River.
Fairway Avenue is the home of just one of a handful of private neighborhoods found on Hutchinson’s northwest side. They’re joined by apartment buildings and other quiet neighborhoods, such as Rolling Oaks Lane Northwest, which is tucked away between the McLeod County Historical Society and the tree-filled Miller Woods. During a recent National Night Out party, residents described the Rolling Oaks neighborhood as peaceful and safe. The neighborhood has just a few businesses, mainly along State Highway 15, such as Excelsior Homes West, King Motel and Crow River Press. It also has its share of one of the city’s signature amenities: parks. “Hutchinson has parks everywhere. Here we have the golf
West Northwest
Ro ad 12
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Crow River Golf Club
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WHERE THE FOREST AND PRAIRIE MEET
Co un ty
Course R olf
Volunteers are key to the success and ongoing work of the McLeod County Historical Society. A group were spotted Wednesday working in the museum’s growing research library.
Woman’s Club Park
Miller Park
School Rd.
Campbell Lake Shady Ridge R d.
The past few years has come with a turnover within the neighborhood as neighbors move into retirement homes, or pass the residences on to other family members. A few young families have moved in as well. Donna and Neil are both golfers, and the location of their home means easy access to the hobby. Plentiful walking space and sidewalks provide easy access to the rest of the neighborhood as well. “We have many friends in the culde-sacs here next to us,” Donna said. “Our friends are within walking distance of each other. There are a lot of walkers. We walk everywhere, the whole neighborhood, not just in this complex.” When the city rebuilt School Road north of State Highway 7 a few years ago, a sidewalk was added along it. “That gets used a lot by bicyclers and walkers,” Neil said. Both said they had nothing to complain about in their neighborhood, but they do hope to see more golfers visit the Crow River Golf Club, which welcomes public golfers. “This is one of the nicest courses in Minnesota,” Neil said. “It’s not an easy course, but it’s a beautiful course, well groomed.” They enjoy sitting on their patio and watching golfers as they go by. “You get to know just about everybody that plays here,” Neil said.
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7 Odd Fellow’s Park
Otter Lake
course, which isn’t a park, but it is a parkland setting,” said Peter Kurvers, Crow River Golf Club’s golf professional “And you are really on the edge of town, so you go north and you have the fields. I think it is pretty nice.” He said the quiet setting on the city’s edge makes for great vistas at the golf course. “The best hole is probably the first hole,” he said. “The land lends itself well. It winds itself naturally to the water’s edge on Lake Campbell, and it has hardwood trees and huge oaks lining the green right off the tee box area. … We have a nice bunch (of golfers). We have some who have been here 50-plus years, some for one year. It attracts people and those who are here tend to stay, which is nice.” Across the highway to the south is Odd Fellow’s Park, with some playground equipment and the archery range. Woman’s Club Park between Campbell Lane Northwest and Connecticut Street Northwest offers open green space, a playground and shelter in the heart of a residential setting. “And we have Miller Woods, which I think is the largest track of open land,” Kurvers said. Hutchinson is known for its healthy urban forest, and Miller Woods has one of the city’s most dense canopies. The quiet green space is tucked out of the way of traffic behind a residential neighborhood. It can be reached on
Neighborhoods to A5 ➤
August 13, 2017 | A5
www.hutchinsonleader.com | Hutchinson Leader
Neighborhoods: West Northwest Hutchinson
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McLeod County Historical Society Executive Director Lori Pickell-Stangel pointed to a dugout canoe as one of the museum’s big attractions. It dates back 1,005 years.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A4
Landscape heavily wooded
PHYSICIANS/CLINICS
Residents of Rolling Oaks Lane described their neighborhood as peaceful and safe during a recent National Night Out party. yearly themes. This year, the focus is on World War I. The museum’s research library has partnered with local libraries to host sessions about family history research. Members can use the library’s subscription to a worldwide family history database for free, and others can use it for a small fee. “We want to make sure people have the opportunity because Ancestry is such an expensive program,” PickellStangel said. For the past 10 years, the society has built a database of photos, objects and records. The collection of 65,000 items can be searched at the museum. So far, 20,000 of the items have been put online, and the goal is to have 30,000 by the end of the year. “The goal is to add 10,000 records a year,” PickellStangel said. One of the museum’s big draws today is a dugout canoe that dates back 1,005 years. Many McLeod County residents donate artifacts to the museum, including volunteer Sharon Bargel, who lives just east of the West Northwest Neighborhood. “It’s close to home. That’s one thing that attracted me here,” she said. Her family has donated
farm equipment, clothing, and a hemp certificate from her great-grandfather who grew for the hemp plant where 3M is now.
EASY ACCESS Peter Ku r vers not on ly works in the West Northwest Neighborhood, but he lives there as well, just off Golf Course Road. “I like the proximity to the club, and it’s a nice, easy drive to go into town in any direction. You have everything you want,” he said. Neil and Donna Berger made a similar observation. School Road provides residents of the neighborhood quick access to State Highway 7, and Golf Course Road leads to other outlets onto the highway, or right to State Highway 15, which in turn leads downtown or to Hutchinson’s growing south side. “It couldn’t be any handier,” Donna said. “There are a lot of businesses on Highway 7 we use.” They enjoy visiting the nearby restaurants on Highway 7. Squeaky’s, which is just east of the neighborhood, is among their favorites. Hutchi nson’s a menities aren’t far, but Kurvers said you can tell when you get back to the neighborhood. “In a lot of ways, when you cross the bridge and come over here, it’s peaceful,” he said.
Miller Park: Also known as Miller Woods, the park provides a large walking space with plenty of trees tucked away behind a quiet
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neighborhood on Hutchinson’s northwest side. The entrance can be found on School Road Northwest. Woman’s Club Park: Between Campbell Lane Northwest and Connecticut Street Northwest, this neighborhood park offers playground equipment, a shelter and green space.
Crow River Country Club: The country club includes a restaurant and pro shop, as well as a banquet hall rented for private and community events. Hutchinson’s youth golf teams practice at the Crow River Golf Course, which offers tee times for club members and the public.
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Attractions Oddfellow’s Park: A riverside park on State Highway 7’s south side. Amenities include playground equipment, the Luce Line State Trail and an archery range.
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School Road’s west side. “That is how this landscape in McLeod County would have been,” said Lori PickellStangel, executive director of the McLeod County Historical Society. “They say Hutchinson is where the big woods and the prairie meet. That was indicative of the landscape here.” Miller Park, also known as Miller Woods, is named for John Miller, who moved to Hutchinson in 1951. He taught physical education and health here until 1953, and went on to become district manager for State Farm. He started the junior high football program and the city’s first recreational skating program, and served on the city’s recreation board. The Miller family developed much of Hutchinson’s northwest side into housing lots, including many portions of the West Northwest Neighborhood. They also donated land for public parks, and the land for the McLeod County Historical Museum, which was constructed about 30 years ago. The museum can be found on School Road, overlooking State Highway 7, across the street west from Burger King. “It’s a nice location,” Pickell-Stangel said. “I always say it is easy to find because everyone knows where Burger King is. It’s nice because we get some traffic, and we do have the woods and the nice, quiet neighborhood behind us, too. Kids come down to take a tour, families stop by, and we get tourist traffic coming through town on the highway, too.” The McLeod County Historical Society has its own history. “A lot of the county historical societies have 1940 as our start date,” Pickell-Stangel said. “Prior to that we were a lot of loose organizations.” Many towns had early pioneer groups that collected memorabilia and got together for events. In 1940, the state historical society pushed for a society to be established in each county. “These loose groups came together and formally organized in 1940 to become the McLeod County Historical Society,” Pickell-Stangel said. Today, the group keeps things fresh by creating
$1.50 ON NEWSSTANDS A CROW RIVER MEDIA NEWSPAPER
SUNDAY AUGUST 20, 2017
BEST GOALIE IN SHOWCASE
PLACES TO VIEW ECLIPSE
Emma Barrick-Benson shines in Boston tournament / A8
Three Hutchinson locations are preparing for event / A3
WEEKEND
Former St. A’s priest accused of sexual abuse
NEAR NORTHEAST HUTCHINSON
NEIGHBORHOODS
BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
Glencoe Police Chief Jim Raiter confirmed Thursday morning that police are investigating an accusation of sexual abuse against the Rev. James Devorak. Devorak has provided a statement to law enforcement. He denies the allegation. Devorak was assigned to St. Pius X parish in Glencoe from 1985 to 1995, and at St. Anastasia parish in Hutchinson and St. Boniface parish of Stewart from 1995 to 2000. According to the New Ulm Diocese, he has been accused of sexual abuse while serving in Glencoe. Raiter said he could provide no other details about The Rev. the investigation. James “Police, the Archdiocese of Devorak St. Paul and Minneapolis, and affected parishes are being notified of this allegation,” Bishop John M. LeVoir of the Diocese of New Ulm said in a statement. “Fr. Devorak is a retired priest of the Diocese of New Ulm. His last assignment in the Diocese of New Ulm ended in July 2015. From July 2015 to July 31, 2017, he was assigned within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as a parochial vicar.” Devorak served as parochial vicar at the church of Corpus Christi and the Church of Saint Rose Lima in Roseville until his letter of good standing was rescinded. Pending an investigation, Devorak has been removed from public ministry. This is standard procedure in accord with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Young People. Devorak, who was ordained in 1972, has also served in churches in Clara City, Granite Falls, Montevideo and others.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
A Cobblestone Hotel & Suites similar to this building is planned for the northwest corner of the state highways 7 and 15 intersection. The Hutchinson building will likely include lap siding.
Hotel site plan will go to City Council Tuesday BY JEREMY JONES jones@hutchinsonleader.com
Plans for the construction of a Cobblestone Hotel & Suites on the northeast corner of the intersection of state highways 15 and 7 earned recommendation from Hutchinson’s planning commission Tuesday evening, but not without conditions. The site plan, which will go to the Hutchinson City Council at its Aug. 22 meeting, includes a 10,496-square-foot hotel building with a canopy and 54 hotel rooms and 54 parking spaces on its front end, which faces Highway 7. Two handicap parking spaces exist in the current plan, but that will increase to three to stay compliant with state code. The building will stand just shy of 35-feet
Hotel to A6 ➤
A SERIES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
City’s gateway from the east
STAFF PHOTOS BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Teresa Webber watched her grandchildren, Warren and Sophia Galindo, play at Kimberly Park. “A lot of people didn’t even know this park existed until the equipment was brought in,” said Webber, who lives one block from the park. “We see more people here now that it is here — but it’s still a pretty quiet park.”
This bustling neighborhood, which welcomes visitors from the east, has all kinds of businesses and jobs. Residents say it’s a great place to live, too.
Near Northeast
7
HUTCHINSON 15
Editor’s note: This is the final story in a 12-part series about Hutchinson’s neighborhoods BY DOUG HANNEMAN hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com
M
ary Ebent has witnessed enormous changes in her neighborhood since 1943, when her parents moved their young family from Young America to Hutchinson. An infant at the time of the move, Mary grew up in a large, brick home on 20 acres along State Highway 7 at the east entrance to Hutchinson. Not much existed on the edge of town at the time. A florist operated where Casey’s General Store now stands. “As long as I can remember, it was Carr Flowers,” she recalled. “Across the street from there, people raised chickens,” she added. The family-owned chicken operation later became the birthplace of what is today TDK Hutchinson Technology. Railroad tracks stretched across Highway 7 to Rockite Silo, where trains delivered raw materials used to manufacture concrete block, drain tile and silos. “You can still see where the tracks are but now it’s overgrown by weeds,” she said. Today, the Highway 7 corridor is much different. Numerous businesses have sprung up: convenience stores, restaurants, an automobile dealership, car repair shops, furniture stores and more. Homes, though less noticeable, have also been built. Yet the neighborhood where Mary Ebent has spent all but 22 of her years is still close to her heart. In 1986, she and her husband, Roland, moved back to the area after raising their son “We had an empty nest,” she said. “Our son was going to college.”
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Mary and Roland Ebent stood in front of their home for the past 31 years. The four-plex building contains Roland’s office and faces the south, overlooking a 12-acre farm field. “We like it here because of the openness and the wildlife we see,” Roland said. They moved into the lower level of a quadplex, where Roland has operated his Thrivent Financial office. The concrete-reinforced house is peaceful, though trucks and cars whiz by on Highway 7 less than 100 feet away. “You don’t hear the highway,” Roland said. “This is kind of built like a bomb shelter. It’s all pre-cast concrete.” Nature flourishes around them. “I watch the deer come up and eat the corn in the winter
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A4 | August 20, 2017
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Neighborhoods: Near Northeast Hutchinson
STAFF PHOTOS BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Gail Telecky has placed a brightly painted bench and book bins between the two Little Free libraries in her front yard along Bluff Street Northeast. One library is for children and the other is for adults.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A1
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time,” Mary said. The front of their current home faces south and overlooks a 12-acre soybean field, and beyond that, the Luce Line State Trail. “This is one of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in the city,” Roland said.
MANUFACTURING AND MORE
The intersection of State Highways 7 and 22, viewed from the south in this photo, is surrounded mostly by farm fields. But the land between Highway 7 and the Luce Line State Trail is within city limits, and will eventually be developed. When that happens, city utilities will be extended to the area.
Brandi Pawliki and her children, Chyanne and Kayson, looked for familiar names on veterans’ engraved granite pavers during a visit this past week to McLeod County Veterans Memorial Park.
Hutchinson Planning Director Dan Jochum is excited about the changes that will soon take place in this part of Hutchinson, which stretches from State Highway 15 on the west to the State Highway 22 turnoff on the east. At the busy Highway 7/15 intersection, construction of a Cobblestone Hotel and Suites will get underway in a couple of months. To the east, just north of TDK Hutchinson Technology, Uponor will soon start work on retrofitting the former HTI development center. By 2018, the 237,000-square-foot building will be used to make piping and other plumbing products. The only other recent change in the area has been the move of the Treasure Shed, an antique and variety store. “It’s a typical highway corridor with a mix of uses,” Jochum said. “You have auto dealerships there, some real estate buildings, some offices, some retail. And we do have a couple of hotels in that area.” Because of a city ordinance, the Cobblestone development is required to be more upscale than the city’s other lodging establishments. “We have some high standards in the River Overlay Zoning District,” Jochum explained. The Uponor development will feature a landscape plan that will add green space to separate it from two other manufacturers that share the campus: TDK Hutchinson Technology and MITGI. “Midwest Industrial Tool and Grinding has been a tremendous addition to that part of town,” Jochum said. The Near Northeast Neighborhood, with its many employers, is a hustling and bustling area. Businesses in the Highway 7 East corridor are a vital part of the economic engine that drives Hutchinson. “There’s a lot of jobs in this corridor and that’s important to the community,” Jochum said. Compared to other neighborhoods, Near Northeast also has significantly less housing. “But it is nice, clean housing,” Jochum said. “For the most part, Hutchinson doesn’t have a lot of blighted housing. And this neighborhood is
Mary Ebent’s neighborhood improvement wish list If Mary Ebent had her way, several things would change in her neighborhood. Here’s her wish list: ■ A sidewalk or trail is needed along State Highway 7 on the east end of town. She often sees people walking on the roadway, walking with traffic instead of against it. Her husband, Roland, added, “There is a lot of bike traffic on Highway 7, which is kind of dangerous at 40 mph.” ■ A grocery store is needed. Like many who live near downtown or north of the Crow River, the Ebents were sad to see Econofoods close four years ago. ■ She wishes the city would do a better job of trimming the trees along State Highway 7. “It seems like the trees along here never get trimmed,” she said. ■ She’d like to see less heavy traffic on Highway 7. “We really do need a bypass around Hutchinson because we do see a lot of semis coming down Highway 7,” she said. ■ She wants Luce Line State Trail users to obey rules. “I think the trail is wonderful,” she said, “but I wish people would follow the stop signs, especially on Michigan Street.” no exception.” Eventually, according to Jochum, the commercial district along Highway 15 in Hutchinson’s south end will be filled, and developers will look to the empty lots along Highway 7 East. Foreseeing that development, the city adopted a Gateway District Ordinance about 15 years ago for the properties south of 15 and on both sides of Highway 22. “The idea was that when the Highway 22 realignment happened, there would be potential for future development,” Jochum said. Several years ago, a convenience store chain eyed the intersection, but with no utilities in place that far east, the project was deemed too expensive. Design standards are also part of the Gateway District Ordinance. “We feel it is important that development be done in a high-quality manner,” Jochum said. “The first impression is important as you come into the city.”
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Neighborhoods: Near Northeast Hutchinson
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
A wayfinder sign along the Luce Line State Trail north of McLeod County Veterans Memorial Park directs pedestrians and cyclists to attractions in the area.
NEIGHBORHOODS Continued from A5
Scenery, recreation, commerce mix along Highway 7 SAME HOME FOR 46 YEARS Like the Ebents, Gail Telecky knows the Near Northeast Neighborhood as well as anyone. She’s lived in the same two-story, century-old home along Bluff Street Northeast for 46 years. She raised her three children there, and loves it so much she has no plans to leave. “I’ve become the crabby, old lady in the neighborhood,” she said with a laugh. “For the most part, it’s a good neighborhood. I don’t have any complaints. I know that if I needed anything, I could depend on my neighbors.” For the past several years, she’s lived with her daughter, son-in-law and their daughter. They moved in about a year after her husband, Ron, died. “They help me with a lot of things,” she said. During the 1970s and ‘80s, she recalled, there were many more kids in the neighborhood. That’s when homes were being built, and young families were moving in. “They were good families, and we never had to worry about our kids,” she said. Today, turnover in the neighborhood is common, but Telecky still knows the names of most of those who live within a block or so of her home. Traffic passing her place has picked up over the years. “I don’t like the increase in traffic,” she said, “but now that I don’t have kids at home that’s not important anymore.” Over the years, she watched Hutchinson Technology rapidly grow, then shrink, then grow and shrink again. When there were layoffs, she noticed a decrease in traffic passing her home. Today, she’s unhappy that she has to travel farther to buy groceries. She misses Econofoods, which closed its downtown store in 2013. “I’m so sad about that,” she said. “That’s one thing I liked about growing up in a small town. My mother lives in Titusville (Florida) and there people drive miles to get everywhere.” Telecky has a deep sense of community and models that attitude by maintaining two Little Free Libraries in her yard. One library is filled with children’s books. The other contains adult fare. A bench is between the two. “There are people who come here with their kids, they sit on the bench and they read their books,” she said.
NEWCOMERS LOVE IT, TOO Among the most quiet spots in the neighborhood is Kimberly Park, a small refuge with a playground and picnic table hugging the Luce Line State Trail. Jochum described it as a welcoming place for those coming into the city from the east. For Teresa Webber, the park is a convenient place to take her grandchildren. She’s lived in many communities over the years — Glen-
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
The Luce Line State Trail, which was paved in September 2015, runs between a wooded area and Hutchinson’s industrial park east of Arch Street Southeast. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Dunstedster’s Trading Post, owned by Myrna and Carl Dunstedester, sold bathtubs in the parking lot when this photo was taken in March 1961. The barn, now owned by Bob Peterson, still stands along the south side of State Highway 7.
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Saddled on the north by the Hutchinson Utilities Commission’s power plant and on the south by the Crow River, the Crow River Recreational Area features walking, skating and cycling on the Luce Line State Trail, picnic areas and of course, fishing. STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG HANNEMAN
Signs bring attention to private clubs, motels and other Hutchinson businesses as motorists enter the city on State Highway 7.
Near Northeast Neighborhood Attractions Kimberly Park: Neighborhood park with play equipment and access to the Luce Line State Trail on the city’s east side.
State Highway 7 with a Boy Scout statue.
Fireman’s Park: a memorial park honoring firefighters with sheltered picnic area, play equipment, WPA fountain pool and bridge.
Crow River Recreational Area: adjacent to Crow River and Luce Line State Trail with picnic area.
Lions Park East: picnic area near Highway 7 with play equipment. Boy Scout Park: picnic area near coe, Silver Lake, Eden Prairie and others. But when it came time to retire five years ago, she and her boyfriend settled on a split level home along Hilltop Drive in Hutchinson. “I wanted to live in a smaller com-
Old Bass Pond: natural area next to the Crow River and Luce Line State Trail.
McLeod County Veterans Memorial Park: a memorial park with a Walk of Honor, monuments, picnic facility and restrooms. munity and this is a nice neighborhood and it has this park,” she said. She likes that her home is somewhat secluded. “A lot of times when we invite people to our house, they will say, ‘I
Near Northeast from a police officer’s perspective With State Highway 7 carrying several thousand vehicles every day, Hutchinson Police Officer Brad Hemling says traffic control is the Near Northeast Neighborhood’s biggest concern. Commuters know the corridor as the most direct link to the Twin Cities. “Speed is always a concern there,” said Hemling, who has been with the department for about a year and a half. “Whether you’re going to work or coming home, you need to be aware of your speed.” The worst intersection along Highway 7 is the Michigan Street crossing. didn’t even know there were houses back here,’” she said. She also likes having the Luce Line near her home. She occasionally uses it for walking or bicycling. She usually heads west into the city
“It’s people waiting to get on their way to work,” Hemling said. “They just need to take their time to get on their way safely.” Hemling shares Mary Ebent’s concern about the safety of pedestrians and cyclists who use Highway 7. There are no sidewalks or trails along the thoroughfare. “I’ve seen that quite frequently — people walking to Casey’s on the side of the highway by the curb,” he said. “When it gets dark out and people are wearing dark, that’s a recipe for disaster.” to avoid the Highway 22 overpass’ steep incline. “I usually don’t go in that direction,” she said with a smile, pointing east, “because I can’t do that hill.”