County Administrator Says New Staff Learning Ropes

Landkammer Shares Stats and County Work Details

By Robert Lawson Publisher 612-460-5851 info@nicolletcountyledger.com

Nicollet County Administrator

Mandy Landkammer spoke with KNUJ about what sorts of projects are underway in the county right now, with new staff to train and a series of weather challenges for county employees.

Landkammer said the new staff are learning the ropes of what goes into county government and operations in Nicollet County. There are new commissioners as well. Both new commissioners have received committee assign - ments and are learning many other new things.

“They’re learning pretty quickly so we’re excited to have them on board,” Landkammer said.

“They are taking full advantage of all the training opportunities and their own committee meetings that they are participating in.”

When asked if coming into the position is a challenge, Landkammer responded by explaining that there are different levels of challenge by individual basis.

“People really consider it an eye opener,” she said. “They don’t really realize what county ser-

Nicolas Darcourt has taught ceramics in the Art and Art History Department of Gustavus Adolphus College since 2012, and he serves as the studio and visual arts programs manager for the department.

Darcourt’s ceramic works use press-molded objects and handbuilt shapes to focus on a mix of architectural ornament, exposed vices are provided.”

There are many services and tasks that are unseen to the public beyond licenses and permits or things of that nature, she explained. She also explained that there are learning curves to understanding the county relationship with superseding agencies at state and federal levels of government, including unfunded mandates.

“There’s a lot more that goes into county government and lot of service industry behind it too,” she said.

Landkammer shared some sta -

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Hwy 169 Lane Restrictions Coming

By Robert Lawson Publisher 612-460-5851 info@nicolletcountyledger.com

According to Minnesota

Department of Transportation (MnDOT) officials, there will be lane restrictions on US Hwy. 169 on Saint Peter’s southside. The restrictions are set to begin on Monday, February 13 if the weather permits. The area between Highway 99 and West Pine St. will be impacted by northbound and southbound lane and shoulder closures. It will last two weeks and the closures will be in place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to MnDOT. MnDOT crews will be performing underground work in preparation for summer construction. A dual turn lane near Hwy. 22, a J-turn and additional lanes on Hwy. 169 are expected summer projects in St. Peter. layers of earth, engineered forms, monument, and manufactured byproduct. These coalesce into accumulations that express abstract notions of the confluence of memory, geography, and society. The works in Improvised Structures all date from 2020 or later, including works from this year. Among the works on display are wall reliefs, threedimensional tableaux that combine multiple ceramic pieces, and garniture sets, for an examination, through repetition and rumination, of what the artist terms “the grand decorative object.”

An illustrated brochure for Improvised Structures will be available free of charge at the exhibit. A pdf version of the catalogue will be available on the Museum website at https://gustavus.edu/finearts/hillstrom/exhibitions.php, as will a link to a video walk-through tour of the exhibit that is being planned for inclusion on the College’s YouTube channel.

Most of the works on view in

Improvised Structures are available for purchase directly from the artist. A price list can be requested from the Museum attendant.

The concurrent exhibit, Elizabeth Catlett in the Hillstrom Museum of Art, considers African American artist Catlett (19152012) through works recently acquired by the Hillstrom Museum of Art and through new poetry by exhibition collaborator Philip S Bryant, a faculty member in the African/African Diaspora Studies Program and the English Department of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Catlett’s color linocut I Am the Black Woman (1946-1947) is featured in the exhibit. In some ways the image is emblematic of the artist, considered by many to be the most significant Black female artist of her period. The early years of her long career were spent in the US until she moved to Mexico in 1946, where

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North Mankato Woman Arrested for Assault, Found in Closet of Victim Holding Knife

By Robert Lawson Publisher 612-460-5851 info@nicolletcountyledger.com

A North Mankato woman was arrested and found hiding in her alleged victim’s closet according to law enforcement.

Jaclyn Renee Baker, 38, of North Mankato, was charged with felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon as well as domestic assault and a gross misdemeanor 5th degree assault. According to the complaint, initially reported by Alpha Media, a man who Baker was in a romantic relationship with was working in his garage and the power went out. He reportedly went to check the breakers in his home, but found the doors to be locked. Once he was insdie, he found the breakers off and restored power. According to the complaint and reports, he fond Baker in a closet holding a knife and walked toward the man with it pointed at him. He called police and left the home.

According to reports, Baker had several weapons, including a knife in her front pocket, four knives inside her purse and even a sword. The report indicated she admitted to pointing the knife at the man and threatening him.

Police also said the man had a black eye and told an officer that Baker threw a placard at him the same day and caused the injury to his face.

The alleged assault victim also told law enforcement that Baker was using methamphetamine, a stimulant drug that produces intense euphoria but often results in delusional and unpredictable behavior by the user.

In the criminal complaint, it also states that Baker was sending texts to the same man while officers were on scene. The report indicates that she may have been “overdosing on methamphetamine” or aluding to it. According to reports in the media, Baker has previously been convicted on charges of stalking and violating a restraining order or harassment order.

By Kent Thiesse Farm management analyst kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com

During the next few weeks, farm operators will be finalizing their crop insurance decisions for the 2023 crop year. March 15 is the deadline to purchase crop insurance for the 2023 crop year. The 2023 spring prices for corn and soybean are likely to be similar to the base price levels last year, which should result in some favorable crop insurance guarantees again, and premium costs for 2023 should be comparable to a year ago for similar crop insurance products. Producers have several crop insurance policy options to choose from, including yield-only (YP) and revenue protection (RP and RPE) policies, Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) policies, and other private insurance options.

In recent years, most farm operators have chosen RP insurance options, which provide a guaranteed minimum dollars of gross revenue per acre (yield x price). This guarantee is based on yield history (APH) on a farm unit times the spring (base) price, which is the average of the CBOT prices during the month of February for December corn futures and November soybean futures. As of Feb. 6, the 2023 crop insurance spring prices in the Upper Midwest for YP, RP and RPE policies were estimated at $5.96 per bushel for corn and $13.60 per bushel for soybeans. The 2023 spring prices will be finalized on March 1. The current 2023 base price estimates compare to 2022 base prices of $5.90 per

Lafayette Ledger

100 Years Ago – Jan. 3, 1920

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew M. Olson of New Sweden witnessed a pleasant gathering last Sunday afternoon and evening when all their children gathered with the old folks and celebrated a family reunion and in honor of their parents presented Mr. Olson with a fine upholstered rocker and Mrs. Olson with a gold ring. The meeting was a complete surprise to the old folks and it is needless to state that it was a most successful and pleasant one.

Clifford Landahl left Monday to attend Agriculture school.

W. A. Anderson visited at New Ulm Wednesday.

Oscar Lindquist was a business caller at Winthrop Tuesday.

Chas. Flygare and daughter, Mabel, left Monday for New Ulm where the latter had her tonsils removed.

Miss Edith Eckberg has been on the sick list with measles the past week, but is now improving nicely.

Miss Ethel Palmquist, one of the local teachers here last year, was a guest at the Rev. S. H. Swanson home last week. She left Saturday for St. Peter to continue her studies at the G.A.C.

Hilding Swenson and Herbert Johnson enjoyed a very pleasant day at New Ulm Sunday.

Robert Johnson called at the county seat, Gaylord, Tuesday, and secured his citizenship papers. His brothers, Ernest and Edwin Johnson, accompanied him.

Aug. Johnson and family have recently had a fine monument erected on their lot in the cemetery south of town.

Gutxke Bros. will be sporting a Ford, this summer, recently bought.

75 Years Ago – Jan. 12, 1945 for the past two years. On Friday she departed for California to be employed.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Johnson entertained relatives and friends Sunday evening in honor of Sgt. and Mrs. Russell Malmberg.

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Lindquist returned last week to Ames, Iowa, after a few days visit here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Lindquist.

Mr. and Mrs. Bernard J. Ulrich of New Sweden are the parents of a daughter, born at the Union hospital, New Ulm, on January 3. The Ulrichs formerly resided in this village when he was the Case implement dealer.

The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Simmet, residing three miles south of Lafayette, was baptized Sunday afternoon by Rev. Leo Krzmarzick. The name given was Gregory Richard.

The Lafayette-Bernadotte 4-H club will meet at the Henry Martin home this (Friday) evening.

Mrs. Kenneth Hagberg of here, accompanied by Miss Eleanore Kahle of New Ulm spent Monday and Tuesday in Minneapolis.

50 Years Ago – Jan. 15, 1970

Those entertained Sunday evening at the Walter Karstad home were Mr. and Mrs. Paul Eckberg, Mr. and Mrs. Christ Loock and Mrs. Helen Karstad.

The Bernadotte Home Extension Group met Monday afternoon at the Douglas Webster home. The lesson on Foreign Cookery was given by Mrs. Duane Eckberg and Mrs. Kenneth Martens. There were twelve members present.

The Lafayette Home Extension Group will meet this Thursday at the Leroy Rathmann home at 7:30 p.m. The lesson on Foreign Cookery will be given by Mrs. Rathmann and Mrs. Melvin Hacker. Each is to bring a German recipe.

Mr. and Mrs. Warren Johnson were Sunday dinner guests at the Fred Rodewald home in New Ulm.

Mr. and Mrs. Les Kowba of Minneapolis were visitors January 3rd at the Warren Johnson home.

A baby girl was born Sunday morning to Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Sullivan of Lafayette.

The Cornish Willing Workers met for their home extension meeting at the Mrs. George Schmeising home. The lesson was on Switzerland and Fondue Cookery. Twelve members were present.

Pvt. Robert Hamann returned to his base at Ft. Jackson, S.C. on Monday last week after spending a three week furlough here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Delton Hamann.

Carolyn Gieseke returned by plane Monday to Bell Flower, Calif., after spending the holidays at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elroy Gieseke.

Mr. and Mrs. Otis Mueller spent the weekend at Rochester with their daughter, Mrs. Michael Hatch.

Nicollet Leader

115 Years Ago – Jan. 14, 1905

Wm. Ginkel has commenced with his ice harvest this week.

C. F. Mason, of St. Paul, rural route inspector, was inspecting the Nicollet routes early in the week. He predicted that Route No. 3 would be soon established.

A number of Nicollites enjoyed a sleigh ride to Hebron Thursday evening. They attended the “Shadow Social” given under the auspices of the “Thimble Bee” at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Allen. Our Marshal has had considerable trouble this cold weather to keep the water works in first class condition, it is no snap, any way you look at it, and especially in cold weather.

100 Years Ago – Jan. 10, 1920

A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Karpen of Swan Lake on Monday.

Miss Anna Dorn of Minneapolis is the guest of relatives in town since Thursday.

Rev. C. J. Albrecht of New Ulm, visited at the Rev. F. Koehler home the first of the week.

Otto Stege left on Tuesday for Max, North Dakota, where he has secured a position in a bank.

Chas. Sondag has purchased the old Wm. Sondag farm in Brighton township consisting of 173 acres. Consideration $16,500.

The seven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kettner slipped and fell on Monday, sustaining the fracture of one of his legs.

County Commissioners O. C. Karstad and T. O. Haugen attended the annual session of the county board, at St. Peter, this week.

A number of ladies agreeably surprised Mrs. Fred Volk Tuesday evening in honor of her birthday anniversary and spent a pleasant evening.

The first annual meeting of the Nicollet Electric Company was held on Thursday evening when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: J. C. Rabe, president; J. C. Zins, vice president; Ed. C. Johannes, secretary-treasurer; Louis Dahms and A.P. Anderson, directors. With the increased consumption of electricity during the coming year, it is hoped to put the company on a paying basis.

Miss Rosina Dallmann returned from New Ulm on Thursday after a two weeks stay with her grandmother, Mrs. Fred Becker, Sr.

85 Years Ago – Jan. 12, 1935

Lester Vinson and Miss Martha Quast of Gaylord spent Sunday at the Walter Wilking home.

Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Boerger and daughter, Miss Jewel of Kasota, were Sunday visitors at the F. W. Muesing home.

John Doucet has returned to Minneapolis to resume his studies at the Diesel Motor School after spending the holiday vacation with relatives and friends here.

Oscar A. Swenson left Wednesday for St. Paul to attend a meeting of the Creamery Fire and Tornado Insurance Company.

Dr. and Mrs. M. C. Anderson attended the regular dental meeting of the Mankato District Study Club at Mankato Tuesday evening.

Miss Lydia Engel returned home last Sunday after spending a two weeks’ vacation with her sister, Mrs. Fred Schumacher of Redwood Falls.

25 Years Ago – Jan. 12, 1995

After spending fall semester in China, Nicollet High School graduate Angie Stoffregen wouldn’t mind going back. The English secondary education college major would like to teach at the university where she studied.

Kari Grunst and Jeff Grommersch were chosen to reign over Snow Week festivities at Nicollet High School.

Mary Compart was elected president of the Trinity Ladies Guild at the annual meeting on Thursday, January 5. Janet Unnasch was elected secretary. Each office is for a two-year term.

Christmas Dec. 25th dinner guests of Delrose Bode were: John and Ingrid Bode of Hanska; Don and Judy Maas of Lake Crystal; Mrs. Ginger Grotham of Hanska, Jeff Bode of LaSalle and Scott and Janelle Flowers of Courtland.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Gronholz, Joshua and Erin, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gronholz, Zackary and McKenzie of New Ulm and Jay Gronholz and friend of Worthington spent Christmas Eve with Mrs. Deb Gronholz and Jackie at Brooklyn Park. Deb’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ritz of Truman were also guests. Dennis and Jane Rolloff of Shakopee and John and Ingrid Bode of Hanska are spending ten days sightseeing in Mexico.

Catherine Gjerde spent Christmas Eve with Jerry and Sandra Wersal and family at Mapleton. Additional guests were: Gene and Corinne Wesley, Tim, Tara and Chris of Mankato, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Gjerde and family of New Sweden, Mr. and Mrs. David Gjerde and Megan of North Mankato and Rose Vetter of Mankato.

10 Years Ago – Jan. 14, 2010 bushel for corn and $14.33 per bushel for soybeans. The final 2023 crop revenue will be the actual farm yield times the crop insurance harvest price, which is the average CBOT prices during October for December corn futures and November soybean futures.

Playing the Norseland Lutheran Church organ on its rededication day were: Lisa Quist, Margaret Annexstad, Lydell “Fred” Struck, Howard Nolte, and John Baumann.

Many from the area attended the Snowmobile Radar Run on Swan Lake Sunday afternoon. Warmer weather was the highlight of the weekend but the wind was still icy.

Another insurance option that is a lower premium than a typical RP policy with harvest price protection is a RPE (harvest price exclusion) policy, which functions similarly to a standard RP policy except that the guarantees on RPE policies are fixed at the base price level and are not affected by harvest prices that exceed the base price. The revenue guarantee for standard RP policies is increased for final insurance calculations if average CBOT prices during the month of October are higher than the February CBOT prices, which is what occurred for corn and soybeans in both 2020 and 2021, as well as for corn in 2022. Producers may purchase RP and RPE insurance coverage levels from 50% to 85%, and losses are paid if the final crop revenue falls below the revenue guarantee.

An analysis for the past 16 years (2007-2022) shows that the final crop insurance harvest price for corn has been lower than the spring base price in 10 of the 16 years, including from 2013-2019. That trend has been reversed in the past three years (2020-2022) when the harvest price for corn has risen above the spring price by +$.11 per bushel in 2020 +$.79 in 2021, and by +$.96 in 2022 (from $5.90/Bu. to $6.86/Bu.). The only other years that saw an increase in the harvest price were

Rev. and Mrs. G. R. Morgan attended the Methodist Ministers group meeting at Redwood Falls, Monday. They also called on friends in Morton.

Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Swanson, Mrs. Harry E. Hedren and sons, Cpl. Merle and Thomas, of Winthrop, Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Swenson were entertained at dinner Saturday evening at the Ben Paulson home.

Miss Betty Karstad, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Karstad of Bernadotte, resigned her position at Powers in Minneapolis, after being employed there in the offices

A lady who has been visiting relatives hereabout was heard to say the other day, that, if she lived in Nicollet she would advocate for a curfew ordinance, seeing as there are too many young people out at night when they should be in bed. We back her up in that, and hope that the City Dads will draft one this year.

A young fellow from St. Peter was in our sanctum the other day and made several complaints as to the coyness of the feminine gender out this way, saying that he had been living at a farm near the village for some three months, and had not become acquainted with a single young lady. We could only theorize out that all the ladies around there must have been married, or he must have kept himself up on the top shelf out of the reach of leap year inspirations.

Fred Stolz, Henry Epper, Anthony Epper and Jake Schuck were guests of the Skelly Oil Company at a meeting and banquet given in the Loyola club rooms, at Mankato, Wednesday.

Mrs. Lena Zins, son George and Miss Marion Juberien motored to the twin cities Wednesday for a couple of days visit. George attended the Hardware and Implement Dealer’s convention held in Minneapolis.

With all but some 70 checks being received, disbursements started last Friday on $46,548.08 in second installment payments to corn-hog contract signers by the federal government. Nicollet is one of 11 counties to receive the first checks on the second payments. These checks form part of the first million to be paid by the federal government on the second installment of corn-hog money.

Lafayette Nicollet Ledger

Marcie Flygare of rural Winthrop and Molly Erdman of rural Courtland were named to the Fall 2009-10 Academic year Dean’s List at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato. Flygare is the daughter of Duane and Carol Flygare and is a 2008 graduate of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School. Erdman is the daughter of Dan and Sue Erdman and a 2006 graduate of Nicollet High School.

Even with snow blowing around outside, the Courtland City Council opened its January 7 meeting with a public hearing. A number of residents from Mary Lane and Riverview Drive were in attendance to hear plans for extending water and sewer service to their area. Joe Duncan of Bolton and Menk was present to explain how water and sewer service are to be expanded. He also touched on the benefits for both the residents and the city as a reason to go ahead with the project.

After way too much snow over the last month, the light snow that fell overnight – accompanied by fog and frost – made for some beautiful scenery.

Alan Thompson of Nicollet was named to the Dean’s List for fall semester 2009 at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Fulltime students with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher are eligible for the list.