October 6, 2022 | South Central News & Media
October Arts Calendar Pg. 3
Lafayette City Newsletter Pg. 4
HS Sports Coverage Pg. 8
New Book Has Many Local Ties by Ruth Klossner 507-240-0048 cowladyruth@gmail.com Kristin F. Johnson attended Gustavus Adolphus College from in the early 1990s. Little did she know that she’d “return to the scene” three decades later to base her newest novel in Nicollet County. Johnson didn’t plan it that way. With nearly a dozen books already to her credit, Kristin felt motivated to write a book for young people about rescue dogs—a book that was inspired by her own rescue dog. She originally planned to set the book in Indiana, from where her dog was rescued. She worked on the book for years, but continued to struggle with that setting. She had to let go of the original details—and finally decided to set it in the town she had lived in as a college student. “Then it all came together,” Johnson said. “I was very familiar with the town. Once I moved the location to St. Peter, the story really started falling in place. ” While Johnson’s new book, Fearless: A Middle Grade Adventure Story, is fiction, the older yellow Labrador that Kristin had rescued from a puppy mill was the inspiration. Like “Dusty,” the dog in Johnson’s book, Kristin’s dog was about to be put down. And, just like Dusty, Johnson’s dog had PTSD from living in a puppy mill. She flinched every time Kristin moved too quickly. That’s why Johnson created the novel where the dog would get away from the puppy mill—and the owners would get their comeuppance.
“Since the story was inspired by a real puppy mill dog, it took time for me to separate her story from the fictional story I was creating,” Johnson said. In Fearless, “Jessie,” an 11-year-old girl, steals an older yellow Labrador from a puppy mill when she discovers the dog is in danger. Fearless also recalls the devastating tornado of 1998. Johnson was able to skillfully weave its details into her book which is set in the year 2010, more than a decade after the devasting tornado. The story begins when Jessie is transplanted from Bloomington to St. Peter for the summer by her father, when he decided to spend the summer with Jessie’s grandfather who had recently lost his wife. “Grandpa” had lived through the 1998 tornado and Johnson skillfully references history, weaving mention of the actual tornado into her book, especially when another storm hits the town. She also wove three types of
PTSD into the book—a town struggling with PTSD from a tornado; war veterans, young and older, with PTSD from serving their country, seen especially through a young veteran named “Sam;” and, finally the resulting PTSD that dogs develop from being neglected and mistreated in puppy mills. ••• The fact that Johnson attended Gustavus and set the book in St. Peter isn’t the only local connection. Kristin’s dad, Donley Johnson, grew up in Lafayette and worked at his dad’s store, Henning’s Grocery there before serving in the Korean War and attending Mankato State. Former Lafayette resident Ardis Lund is Kristin’s aunt and Becky Lund Briggs her cousin. Kristin remembers coming out to Lafayette to Ardis and Shorty Lund’s house for Easter every year—and sitting down to watch the Wizard of Oz—with its tornado. So, it was natural to weave the tornado into her book. She also modeled the grandfather
character in the book after uncle Shorty who often said, “You betcha,” just like Grandpa does in the book. “You bring yourself to your writing,” Johnson said. Kristin grew up in the Twin Cities and came to St. Peter in the fall of 1990 to attend GAC; she graduated in the spring of 1992 with a degree in management. She was an elementary school librarian/media specialist in Minneapolis for two years. Two of her fifth graders inspired the characters of “Jessie” and “Oscar” in the book. “Being a teacher was invaluable for writing dialogue and characters that rung true. I learned so much being a teacher,” she said. She also taught writing at Metropolitan State University for 12 years Kristin lives in St. Paul with her family and rescue dog, an 83-pound half black Labrador and half Australian Shepherd. She is a two-time winner of the Loft Literary Center’s Shabo Award for picture books and has also won two Minnesota State Arts Board artist initiative grants for middle grade novels. Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals. Fearless is Johnson’s first selfpublished book, after having written her previous books under contract for the educational market. She started her own publishing company so she could do the book on her own from start to finish and owns the rights to it. The book— recommended for ages 8-12+ (but all ages can enjoy it)— is available at Gustavus Bookmark in St. Peter, Barnes & Noble Galleria in Edina, Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, and through online independent bookstores and Amazon. Search for
Fearless by Kristin F. Johnson Fearless middle grade. Thanks to Lafayette native Mary (Morris) Mergenthal—a friend of Johnson’s through the local chapter of the (Welsh) St. David’s Society—
the book will reach local readers soon. Mergenthal is mailing free autographed copies to the schools in Courtland, Nicollet, St. Peter, Gaylord, and Gibbon.
Martens Named KNUJ Player of the Week
Kristin F. Johnson
Kristin Johnson signing books at an event
New Inclusive Food Shelf
Minnesota, food shelves are making bold moves to meet the growing needs of families in this time of pandemic and inflation. For two years, community champions from University of Minnesota Extension’s SNAP-Ed program and La Convivencia Hispana partnered around a shared vision for a more vibrant and inclusive food shelf in Watonwan County. Their collaboration demonstrates how a community can come together to form powerful solutions to feed more families and create welcoming spaces for all. Pandemic drove need for many to try food shelf Watonwan County hosts the second highest population concentration of Latinx families in Minnesota. Manufacturing, food processing
in particular, is the most common source of employment in the county. During the pandemic, families working in food processing plants were hit especially hard as COVID-19 spread quickly through the plants. Families who previously did not know about or had never used the food shelf were finding out how to use these services, which were promoted in Spanish for the first time through a local emergency hotline. A path toward change Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Watonwan County Food Shelf was on a path toward big changes. Beth Labenz, Extension SNAP-Ed educator, joined the board early in the year and helped identify strategies to promote accessibility. The 600-foot space posed challenges in refrigeration and storage of per-
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ishable food items. Operating only 6 hours per week limited access for working families. Labenz and other members of the Watonwan County Food Partnership worked with Head Start families to find creative ways to distribute food to those in need through local school districts and by eliminating a referral system. In March 2020, the food shelf faced a rollercoaster of new challenges. Katherine Petty stepped into a new role as director, a volunteer position, and came together with partners such as La Convivencia Hispana and Watonwan County Human Services to determine how they would adapt to continue serving families through home deliveries and drive-thru distributions.
MORE NEWS ON PAGE 4 119th Year • Number 40 ©2022 Nicollet County Ledger
Nicollet juniorwide receiver Conner Martens was named KNUJ’s Offensive Football Player of the Week last week. Martens and NHS coach Cory Jans were interviewed on the air Saturday, October 1. Martens received the recognition for his play against Madelia Friday, September 23 when he caught 10 passes for 289 yards and five touchdowns. He also had an 85-yard kickoff return for a TD, ran the ball once for nine yards, picked up 115 yards on four kickoff returns, and intercepted a Madelia pass. In five games this season, Martens has caught 31 passes for 661 yards and nine TDs. He’s also scored a rushing touchdown, and one on a pick-six interception—for a total of 13 scores in five games. He’s tallied 363 kickoff and punt return yards. Jans, in his first year with the Nicollet program, is excited by what Martens brings to the Raiders. “He’s a special kid—he makes the big plays,” Jans said. “You never know what will happen when he gets the ball in his hands. We try to give him the ball in space as much as we can.” In addition to football, Martens plays basketball and will probably play baseball in spring. He loves the outdoors and enjoys hunting and fishing. With a year yet to figure out his college plans, Conner indicated that he’ll probably study something to do with wildlife or biology. Conner is the son of Justin and Jill Martens of Nicollet. Conner Martens Phone: 507-246-6248 • Fax: 507-228-8779 Website: http://nicolletcountyledger.com/ Email: info@nicolletcountyledger.com
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