November 20, 2012

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Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Tragedy strikes Mavericks as playoffs loom

Former Maverick football player Fred Statz remembered as key contributor, team leader

TUESDAY

H 52 • L 36

WEDNESDAY

H 63 • L 46

ECHO upgrades in time for the holidays Local food shelf renovates facilities, format as holidays approach

Minnesota State Athletic Communications Statz was a valued member of the Minnesota State University, Mankato football team from 2005-2009, and took part in two NCAA playoff runs. MEGAN KADLEC

editor in chief

Fred Statz, who played football for the Minnesota State University, Mankato football team from 2005-2009, was killed in a car accident Nov. 12. During his time with the Mavericks, Statz was a member of two NCAA playoff teams, recording 40 tackles, including five for a loss in 18 career games. He was given the Commitment, Accountability, Responsibility and Effort (CARE) Award, as voted on by his MSU teammates, coaches and football program staff. According to his obituary in the Mankato Free Press, “this award shows that the player epitomized the values and ethics of the University Athletics pro-

gram in addition to the Athletic Scholastic Award.” At the time of his death, Statz was the assistant varsity football coach at Waseca High School. He was also the B-squad football coach for the high school and sold insurance. Additionally, Statz played on an adult 9-man contact football league, the Southern Plains Football League. He played for the South Central Hawgs as a defensive lineman and linebacker, a starter and team leader. The team won the national championship this year. “Fred was known for his leadership and enthusiasm, especially for football,” said Sam Stoffels, Statz’s cousin and first year student at MSU. According to a report issued by the Minnesota State Patrol, Statz was traveling southbound

in a 1998 Grand Marquis on County Road 27. It was reported that Anthony Smith, 46, of Braman, Okla., was traveling westbound in a semi-truck on County Road 14 when the two vehicles collided. Around 8 p.m. Nov. 12. Statz died at the scene. According to the state patrol, Smith did not sustain any injuries. Statz’s death signals a possible problem with the County Road 27 and Highway 14 intersection. Two weeks before Statz’s death, traffic lights, which were installed to compensate for road construction on Highway 14, were taken down. The Minnesota Department of Transportation removed the stoplight on Oct. 23, replacing it

Fred Statz/ page 3

web photo New policies and an expanded site are allowing Mankato’s ECHO food shelf to meet an ever-growing need. SAM WILMES

staff writer

The Emergency Community Health Organization, a food shelf that provides emergency food assistance to North Mankato and Blue Earth County as a whole, will be expanding their facility in Mankato. The expansion will allow ECHO food shelf to better serve their ever-expanding client base. In the first 6 months of this year alone they distributed nearly one million pounds worth of a food, nearly all of the amount they distributed in 2011.

MAVERICK FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW See Page 5

They have also served more than 11,000 children in the first six months of this year. ECHO food shelf board member Richard Chambers believes expanding the facility was necessary. “We had an opportunity to expand, because of our refrigerator and freezer system we were receiving. We needed the extra space,” Chambers said. Crown Tonka provided the refrigerator and freezer system. According to Chambers,

Food Shelf/ page 3

SPORTS

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INDEX: A&E

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CLASSIFIEDS

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