POST-SENTINEL - 2023 fall/winter

Fall/Winter 2023

THE POST-SENTINEL

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THE POST-SENTINEL

By Jennifer Boysen

APEF executive director

Austin High’s Class of 2023 graduates walk the halls of Woodson Kindergarten Center leading up to graduation day. (Photo by APS)

AHS alum: Bright future for district

By Carolyn Dube

Austin School Board member and AHS Class of ‘97 alum

Kris Heichel (Class of 1988), with Fairway Mortgage, speaks Oct. 31 about personal and professional challenges to Austin High and Pacelli students in the Mower County CEO program. Heichel is one of many local business leaders who visit with the CEO students during the program.

For more, go online to: www.mowercountyceo.com

Tentative plans are in place for an AHS reunion on Sept. 19-21, 2024, for the Classes of 1957, ’58 and ’59 in Austin.

More classes might be involved.

For more information, contact Don Austin (AHS Class of 1957) via email at: 57packer@gmail.com

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THE POST-SENTINEL

Austin officer Jim Lunt greets students at Sumner Elementary School earlier this year.

Ankeny, a local business owner and Mower County commissioner, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in November from the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce for a legacy that has had a significant impact on the community.

Among his contributions, Ankeny, who owns the Ankeny’s Mini-Mart #5 that includes a McDonald’s, was honored for his leadership with the Discover Austin tourism bureau and his support of Austin Area Arts to his service.

More than 200 community leaders gathered at the Austin Country Club to honor Ankeny and other recipients of the Chamber’s annual awards.

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THE POST-SENTINEL

Starting in 1950, Rosalie Seltz taught English and Journalism at Austin High School until 1993, when she retired. She served as the faculty advisor for the Austin High School newspaper, The Sentinel, and the Austinian yearbook for most of her career.

As a lifetime educator, Seltz inspired generations of students to set high standards and develop strong communication skills.

For this and her numerous volunteering efforts in the Austin community, Seltz was honored in July as one of Austin’s “Pillars of the City.” A plaque in her honor will be placed with other “Pillars” on the city’s flood-protection wall along Austin Mill Pond.

Seltz is well known for her devotion to correct grammar and good communication skills. Her teaching philosophy followed a simple principle that “students won’t always remember what you said but they will remember how they felt.”

In 1989, Seltz received the lifetime achievement award from the Minnesota High School Press Association.

Seltz also was a long-time board member of the AHS Alumni & Friends and contributor to the Post-Sentinel newsletter.

Bell teaches AHS students in the 1940s .

Austin Public Education Foundation PO Box 878 Austin, MN 55912

Rosie Seltz in July 2023 with her “Pillar of the City” plaque during the unveiling ceremony at Austin’s Community Bandshell Park.

Annabell Benson’s entire teaching career was in Minnesota public education.

She began in Williams before teaching in Litchfield and Hutchinson. Benson finished her teaching career at Austin’s Neveln Elementary School.

Benson’s lifelong passion was educating children, and she had a passion for mentoring new teachers.

In 2021, Benson passed away and left a portion of her estate to the Austin Public Education Foundation. As a result of this gift, APEF created the Annabell Mae Benson Grant for New Teachers.

For the second year in a row, APEF funded grants for new teachers in Austin Public Schools.

Under the grant, teachers new to the Austin district and new to the teaching profession are awarded $400, and teachers new to Austin Public Schools but have taught elsewhere are awarded $200.

With the grant, APEF aims to support new teachers in creating a welcoming classroom environment and focusing on student learning.

APEF recognizes that teachers often spend their own money to buy items for their classrooms, and the foundation wants to help support teachers who are starting in the district defray some of those costs.

Benson left behind a legacy of mentorship for students and teachers. Her gift will ensure that her legacy lives on for years to come.

For more, visit the Austin Public Education Foundation Alumni webpage at: apefoundationahsalumni.wordpress.com

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THE POST-SENTINEL

This is a conceptual design for a proposed whitewater park on the Cedar River State Water Trail in downtown Austin. Left side is north; right is south.

A local group is exploring the idea of Austin Mill Pond – created by replacing Austin’s downtown dam on the the dam – would retain the Cedar River State Water Trail with five, same surface-water elevation, structural drops for a whitewater park. which was a priority of the A feasibility study by a Colorado firm committee. Public access that builds whitewater courses nationally would be improved showed the project is viable and could significantly on both shorelines for cost about $10 million. fishing, relaxing and more. Fish ladders Austin Whitewater on the Cedar would be built on the side of each drop released the study’s findings in August. feature to allow migration.

Under the proposal, the Cedar River at If built, as of now, Austin would have

Hormel Foods this fall approved an “historic,” new contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW).

Featuring the largest wage increase in the company’s history, the four-year agreement also touched on increases in other areas as well as benefits for Hormel employees in Minnesota, Georgia, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Employees under the contract will see wage increases of $3 to $6 an hour.

Hormel Foods’ called the contract an investment.

“We are proud to continuously invest in our people in recognition of the work they do to put the safe, quality food that consumers trust and need on tables across the globe,” according to a company statement.

This all came after came nearly a month after union workers turned down an offer by the company.

the first whitewater course in Minnesota and would be the closet attraction of this kind to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

“Many people are excited about the idea of paddling through whitewater downtown but there are many more positives that absolutely will improve quality of life, attract more visitors and spur redevelopment,” said Nate Smit, the whitewater group leader.

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THE POST-SENTINEL

, ’47, died Sept. 6.

Jewell Weeks, ’51, died June 17.

“Reflections: A History of Austin High School” DVD To order, send $20 (plus $3 shipping and handling) to the address below.

Make your check payable to:

AHS Alumni & Friends Association P.O. Box 878 ∙ Austin, MN 55912 (507) 460-1938 ____________________________________________________________ Help expand our membership! Let your family and friends know about the Austin Alumni and Friends Association. A one-year membership is only $15 and includes two issues of the P.S. The Post Sentinel.

AHS Alumni & Friends Association

P.O. Box 878 ∙ Austin, MN 55912-0878 ∙ (507) 460-1938 email: jeni.lindberg@austin.k12.mn.us

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