The Star Post 06-21-2023

A get-upand-go life

The Gina and Kris Lomheim family leads the Henry’s Heroes Walk, supporting families of premature babies, June 3 in St. Martin. Henry, held by Dad Kris (fifth from left) was

Ron (left) and Terry Butkowski hold a Father’s Day gift June 15 at the American Legion in Melrose that Ron received from their children and grandchildren. It has special meaning because of Ron’s military service, and both are active members of the Melrose American Legion Post 101 and Auxiliary and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and Auxiliary.

Butkowskis humbled by Riverfest grand marshal honor

BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER

Chances are, when you see Ron Butkowski, you will see Terry, his wife of 52 years. Well, maybe with the exception of when he is on a lawn mower.

It might be preparing food with other volunteers the day before a Friday fish fry at the Melrose American Legion or joking around with Sauk Centre/Melrose Golden Eagles Special Olympics athletes bowling at Melrose Bowl.

Both have been active Melrose American Legion members for more than 50 years, holding offices; Ron with Post 101 and Terry with the Auxiliary. They are also members of Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and Auxiliary in Melrose.

Ron served on the Melrose City Council four years and on the Planning and Zoning Commission longer than that.

For their community involvement, the Butkowskis were named Melrose Riverfest grand marshals, and they will ride in the 6 p.m. parade Saturday, June 24, possibly on the American Legion/VFW float.

“Humbling,” Ron said, with Terry adding, “It’s not necessary,” about the honor June 15 sitting around a table at the American Legion before joining other volunteers getting ready for the June 16 fish fry.

Butkowskis page 3

Precious

preemie stories

More than 500 participate in first Henry’s Heroes Walk

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

Elliot Rosenow stood next to his mom, Jessie Jensen, holding a sign that read “I’m Walking For Elliot.”

Born at 1 pound, 15 ounces, at 27-week gestation, Elliot is a healthy, active little boy today.

“We are so lucky,” Jensen said before the first annual Henry’s Heroes Walk, supporting families of premature babies, June 3 in St. Martin, with more than 500 people participating..

The idea to organize a walk was a goal for Gina and Kris Lomheim of Farming Township, whose son, Henry, was born Oct. 13, 2022, at 26 week gestation, weighing 2 pounds 7.5 ounces, and spent 87 days in the St. Cloud Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. He is a baby brother to Harrison, 5, and Madelyn, 3. The Lomheims are grateful for the support they

Back in the Saddle in Avon Spunktacular Days

received and wanted to do something to help other families of premature babies so they held the walk, with money raised donated to affected families.

Before the 9 a.m. walk, people browsed around the St. Martin Community Center grounds, participating in activities, like having their photos taken and faces painted.

Many had their own preemie stories.

Kristin Gruber held daughter Avery in her arms, while daughter Reagan sat on her dad Brett’s shoulders.

“Avery was born at 34 weeks and 2 (days) and spent 20 days in the NICU in St. Cloud,” Kristin said. “She’s 10 months old today.”

Supporting them on this day were Brett’s parents Pete and Diane Gruber and Kristin’s parents Jim and Denise Blommel.

Kristin is a nurse at the St. Cloud Hospital birth center in St. Cloud.

nr r y Heroes Walk for premature babies in St. Martin. Elliot was 1 pound, 15 ounces when he was born.

“Having a baby in the NICU gave me a totally new perspective on it and a whole new empathy for the moms that have babies in the NICU,” she said. “It’s fun to be able to do something to give back to all those families.”

Henry’s Heroes page 2

Holdingford council nixes sewer connection payment request

BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER

The Holdingford City Council voted against paying for a part of a sewer correction June 12 at a monthly meeting at city hall in Holdingford.

Sandy Skwira appeared before the council requesting the city help pay to correct the sewer line from her property to the main line. She has appeared at previous council meetings explaining an improper connection was installed over 20 years ago. In recent years, the connection has plugged and has needed to be cleaned out by a rooter service to unclog the sewer line. She has paid more than $2,000 to have this done.

Mayor Eric Berscheid said he was under the impression a ground shift had caused the problem. Councilor Jayme Opatz agreed, citing statements from previous meeting minutes.

Skwira explained she had been told ground shift may have caused the recent problems, but that did not change the fact that the wrong connection was installed.

“Everyone I’ve talked to said it is not OK,” she said. “The plumbing is not OK.”

Councilors did not debate the use of the wrong connector, but they did not know who was responsible for installing it. Available records showed it was part of a county work project, but do not show who signed off.

A concern of the council was why the plugging started. Ground shift has occurred in other areas of town, but there were no complaints. There was a concern among councilors of a precedent being set if the city paid for the correction.

Sewer page 3

PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN

born Oct. 13, 2022, at 26 week gestation, weighing 2 pounds 7.5 ounces, and spent 87 days in the St. Cloud Hospital neonatal intensive care unit.

PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN

PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK

Avon Lions Club members toss out candy along the Spunktacular Days parade route June 17 in Avon. The theme for the parade was Back in the Saddle. More photos can be found on page 12.

The Gruber family – Kristin (from left) holding Avery and Brett holding Reagan – get ready to participate in the Henry’s Heroes Walk, supporting families of premature babies, June 3 in St. Martin. Avery was born at 34 weeks and 2 days.

’H H

Henry’s Heroes from front

Shirley Tschida talked about her twin grandsons, Blake and Grant, who were 1 pound, 9 ounces and 1 pound, 12 ounces when they were born to Corey and Carlyn Tschida 22 years ago at a hospital in the Twin Cities.

“I took care of them a lot,” Shirley said. “They were lots of fun.”

Her sister, Pat Groetsch, talked about the boys’ newborn days.

“What I remember most were the little diapers, the size of Beanie Babies,” she said.

Grant is in the U.S. Marine Corps, and Blake works in Albertville.

Before the walk, Gina Lomheim shared Henry’s story, mentioning his heroes, the NICU nurses and other nurses, who helped care for him, and applause was given to some of those nurses who were at the walk.

“Without them, we would not be here today,” she said.

She said, in conversations with them, “They love Henry, they still think about him often, and it was a blessing to hug them and thank them again.”

St. Martin Fire Depart-

ment members blocked off roads as walkers, led by the Lomheim family, Kris holding Henry, started the 2.5-mile route. Posters with pictures of premature babies lined the route, and family members stopped to have their photos taken by them. They included the Gregg and Courtney Rademacher family who celebrated the lives of three premature babies. Walking was 12-yearold Kayden Krousey, the son of Courtney’s sister Ashley and husband Dan Krousey, who was born at 31-week gestation, weighing 3 pounds, 11.6 ounces. The Rademachers’ twin daughters Amelia and Olivia were born Marchv17, 2023, at 24-week gestation; Amelia at 1 pound, 7 ounces and

Olivia at 1 pound, 4 ounces. Following the walk there was a cape crawl for young children. Participants also enjoyed a hot dog lunch and music.

After the event, Gina Lomheim said walking with 500 other people to honor, acknowledge and pray for past NICU babies was humbling. With the help of four friends, Rachel Burg, Rachel Tschida, Vicki Burg and Danielle Atkinson, they created this nonprofit to assist local NICU families as they navigate a difficult journey.

“The day was everything I envisioned and more,” she said. “This started out as an idea and became a dream. My dream came to life the morning of June 3.”

Melrose at your fingertips

friendly manner.

New app, redesigned website went live June 7

BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER

Up-to-date city of Melrose information, including online payment and application options, are at your fingertips on a computer or mobile device, including smartphones.

Melrose went live with their new app and redesigned website June 7, which will allow people to access information in a more user friendly manner.

“Our biggest goal was communication to help the public, letting people know what is going on in the city,” said city employee Stephanie Perez, who teamed up with fellow employee Stacy Funk on the website redesign and app addition project.

The website was last updated in 2011, but the app is a new option. An app is software that allows users to perform specific tasks on a mobile device.

“If people sign up for the app, they will receive notifications for alerts, like street closures and power outages,” Funk said. “They can also see what projects we are working on throughout the city, new construction in town and have easy access to council and PUC (Public Utilities Commission) meetings.”

The website and app are Americans with Disabilities Act compliant making it easier for someone with a motor, auditory, cognitive and/or visual disability to navigate, In addition, with a diverse community, the city now offers a translation button on their website and app to reach their Hispanic community.

Redesigning the website occurred because the city’s contract with their former website software company was expiring. Funk and Perez researched software

companies, and felt Apptegy, which offered a website/ app package deal, was ideal for the city.

“With everyone always on their smartphones, mobile has become the biggest opportunity you have to reach your community,” Funk said.

“And it (Apptegy) was the same company the school was using, so we felt that people were used to it,” Perez said.

In March, the Melrose City Council and PUC approved a contract with Apptegy, at an initial cost of $6,200, which was a budgeted expense, with an annual fee.

Funk and Perez said it was a smooth three-month transition redesigning the website, which includes up-to-date information and photos, and adding the app. Funk said Melrose is one of the first Minnesota cities utilizing Apptegy software.

PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN

The Rademacher family – Courtney Rademacher (front, from left) and her twins Olivia and Amelia, Lu Rademacher and Carter Rademacher; (back, from left) Kayden Krousey, Ginny Schiffler, Ashley Krousey, Adley Krousey and Macey Rademacher –participate in the Henry’s Heroes Walk, supporting families of premature babies, June 3 in St. Martin. Kayden Krousey, son of Dan and Ashley Krousey, was born at 31-week gestation, weighing 3 pounds, 11.6 ounces; and Gregg and Courtney Rademachers’ twin daughters (photo at left) were born March 17, 2023, at 24-week gestation; Amelia at 1 pound, 7 ounces and Olivia at 1 pound, 4 ounces. Not pictured is Logan Rademacher.

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PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN Stacy Funk (left) and Stephanie Perez display the new app available on computers or cell phones June 16 at the Melrose City Center in Melrose. Melrose went live with their redesigned website and new app June 7, which will allow people to access information in a more user

Safety focus at Holdingford event

(Left) Ashley Achmann helps daughter Amelia receive a sticker from Holdingford Fire Department member Arlene Warga June 12 during Public Safety in the Park at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Holdingford.

The Mayo Ambulance Service, Stearns County Sheriff ’s Department, Minnesota State Patrol and the Department of Natural Resources also provided information during the threehour event, and the fire department demonstrated a vehicle extraction, cutting apart a vehicle with their equipment.

Birth ANNOUNCEMENT

Kinzey Rose Rademacher

Kyle and Brooke Rademacher, of Freeport, are happy to announce the birth of their daughter, Kinzey Rose Rademacher, at 2:11 p.m., June 15, 2023, at CentraCareMelrose Hospital in Melrose. She weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. Big brother Rhett and big sister Brynnlee welcomed her home. Grandparents are Tom and Shelly Rademacher, of New Munich; and Glen and Terri Fleischhacker, of Albany.

Butkowskis from front

Ron joined the American Legion and Melrose VFW after serving as a military occupation specialist in the U.S. Army in Berlin, Germany, from 1970-71.

Growing up on farms near Freeport and Melrose, the son of Jerome and MaryAnn Butkowski, he was drafted into the military during the Vietnam War.

“There was firing going on all the time, because people were trying to get out of east Germany to get into west Germany,” he said, Overseas, they called it “hazardous duty,” because they never knew when they would get bombed.

Willie Middendorf is Ron’s answer when asked why he joined the American Legion Post when he was discharged from the military.

“As soon as I got out, Uncle Willie gave me a slip of paper and said, ‘Sign up,’” Ron said.

So, he did.

A few months after he returned home, he married Terry Thieschafer Sept. 25, 1971. Terry was raised on a farm north of Melrose, the daughter of Joe and Marie Thieschafer.

Terry laughs when

Sewer from front

“This is opening a can of worms,” Opatz said. “Will other houses have this problem?”

Berscheid said his concern was that the connection worked for a number of years. He was not sure the city was responsible for a correction when something else might have caused the recent problems.

Councilor Tim Winter made a motion to have the city pay to put the correct connector in. It received a

asked how they met.

“Through his sister, Shirley,” she said.

They raised four children, Sheila, Scott, Tina and Stacy, and later in life they raised four of their seven grandchildren, Rebecca “Becca,” Brandon, Brent and Tiffany, who they fondly call their “second batch.”

“It was totally different with the first batch (their children) because we were on the farm, and with the second batch we were in town, and we had to get day care,” Terry said.

They recall when each of those four grandchildren graduated from high school, three in one year, proud moments for the whole family.

Ron has been the American Legion gambling manager since 1985, doing paperwork, counting games and visiting in-town and out-of-town gambling sites, with help from Terry. His gambling duties include overseeing meat raffles and horse racing games.

He has been the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard coordinator for close to 30 years.

“I remember when the VFW and Legion had their own honor guard and now we’re blended, because we

second from councilor Andy Higgins, but failed on a 2-3 vote. Berscheid, Opatz and Seth Young voted against the motion.

Skwira thanked the council for its time and said she would look at other options.

In other council news:

– The council may have to establish policies and ordinances related to the selling of cannabis products.

Jared Hillesheim, manager of the Holdingford Municipal Liquor Store, The Muni, said he has contacted the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association on what is permitted and not permit-

couldn’t get enough honor guard members,” he said.

Honor guard members were aging or passing away, and younger members were in short supply.

When Ron is notified an honor guard is needed after a veteran passes away, he calls Legion and VFW members.

“We go to every funeral with 15 members, a full squad,” he said.

Ron and Terry started volunteering with Special Olympics 15 years ago.

“We got involved because of Becca. She’s our athlete,” Terry said. “And Brandon, Brent and Tiffany started as unified partners, and now they are coaches and volunteers.”

Currently, Ron and Terry coordinate SO bowling, leaving the other sports to younger volunteers.

They have a soft spot for the SO athletes.

“I like the hugs and the smiles,” Terry said. “When they are bowling, if they don’t get any pins down they don’t care. They are just happy to be with other people and having a good time.”

Ron, who retired from the Melrose Post Office after 35 years, keeps busy with his lawn mowing and snow plowing business, something Terry helped

ted in municipal stores. The decision on whether or not to sell the products at The Muni would be a council decision. Hillesheim said guidelines and policies for selling cannabis products are being developed, but he would like to be up to speed on the issue. He said a proposed fee for selling the products is higher than he anticipated.

– Approved adding Juneteenth (June 19) as a national holiday, changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day and a permit for the Sept. 10 Lions’ raffle.

with in the early years, until she started doing the bookkeeping. Now Ron has four employees who help him mow up to 37 residential and commercial lawns a week, “when there’s rain,” he said, and they clear 50 driveways of snow in the winter. Ron and his crew have also mowed and cleared snow for families of active serving military people for no charge.

“It’s the least we can do for their service and for their families while they are gone,” Ron said.

Terry used to help Donna Frank cook for events at the Melrose American Legion, and she also worked at Stearns Vet (now Leedstone) and Melrose Public Schools.

“Ya, we really have done a lot of things, when we sat down and talked about it,” she said, looking at Ron, adding, “But you still get an afternoon nap in.”

“If I don’t have to run somewhere,” Ron added.

They love life in Melrose, thankful they can visit Ron’s 96-year-old mother, who walks daily at CentraCare-Melrose Care Center, figuring that is where Ron gets his get-up-and go attitude.

“We’ve been here forever,” Terry said.

Together all those years.

Kinzey Rose Rademacher

Great-grandparents are Jim and Arliss Notch, of Freeport; and Karen Rademacher, of New Munich.

THANK YOU

Thank you

Thank you to all who celebrated my retirement and all the wonderful memories.

To all directors, assistant directors, department managers, co-workers, family and friends for the cards, gifts and good wishes, a heartfelt thank you and appreciation.

May God bless you all.

Sue Walz

Thank you

Thank you family, friends and relatives for the support, prayers, food, cards and memorials for Dale. Thank you to CentraCare Hospice for the care his last days, Father Vince and Father Ron for the beautiful service, Jeanne Bonfig for the music and the ladies serving the lunch.

Joan Wegleitner

What’s HAPPENING

Monday, June 26, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Mental Health Support Group. CentraCare-Albany Clinic, 30 Railroad Ave., Albany. For information call the clinic at 320-845-2157.

Monday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. – Melrose School Board Meeting. Melrose High School media center, 546 Fifth Ave., NE, Melrose.

Tuesday, June 27, noon – Helping Hands Outreach Senior Dining Meal. Holdingford City Hall, 420 Main St., Holdingford. Programs are open to the public. Call 320-746-9960 for more information.

Tuesday, June 27, 7 p.m. – Freeport City Council Meeting. Freeport City Hall, 125 E Main St., Freeport.

Wednesday, June 28, 7 p.m. – AA Meetings. Back to Basic, at Tutti Frutti Marketplace, 38914 County Road 186, Sauk Centre. For more information, call 218-240- 1076. Big Book, Melrose City Center, 225 First St., NE, Melrose. For more information, call 320-241-3909.

Upcoming: Tuesday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m. – Schanhaar-Otte Post 7050 and Auxiliary meetings. Melrose American Legion clubroom, 265 County Road 173, Melrose.

Tuesday, July 11, 7 p.m. – Melrose American Legion Post 101 and Auxiliary meetings. Melrose American Legion clubroom, 265 County Road 173, Melrose.

PHOTOS BY HERMAN LENSING

(Left) Joseph (from front) and William Klepaida and Elliott Solarz check out the interior of a Stearns County Sheriff ’s Department vehicle June 12 during Public Safety in the Park at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Holdingford. Children had a chance to sit inside ambulances, fire trucks and law enforcement vehicles, and the Life-Link helicopter landed in the park.

(Above) Marcus Lundberg (clockwise, from left), with encouragement from his mother, Tabitha Kunst, and watched by his older sister, Zoey, considers getting close to Eddie, a K-9 dog handled by Deputy Matt Mayers June 12 at Public Safety in the Park at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Holdingford. Among the displays were pelts, sheds and wildlife artifacts from the Department of Natural Resources.

(Right) Stearns County Sheriff Department Explorers Bella Schwinghammer (front, left) and Sam Woller (back, left) present Ethan Robertson (front, right) and his father, Curtis, information on water safety June 12 at Public Safety in the Park at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Holdingford. Various departments handed out stickers, coloring books and other items to promote safety.

Rose Mary M. Schmiesing

Rose Mary M. “Rosie” Schmiesing, 93, of Meire Grove, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, June 16, 2023, at CentraCare Care Center in Melrose. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 22, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with the Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and 10-10:45 a.m., June 22, at the church.

Rose Mary Mathilda

Primus was born July 16, 1929, to William and Rose (Meyer) Primus at home in rural Melrose. She attended St. Boniface Catholic Church and school in Melrose. On May 1, 1951, she married Vincent Schmiesing at St. Boniface Catholic Church. They farmed west of Meire Grove before moving to town in 1966. Rosie was a homemaker, raising her children. In her later years, she worked at St. John the Baptist School in Meire Grove for many years and at QPC (Quality Plus Convenience) in Meire Grove for almost 20 years.

Rosie was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church where she sang in the choir and was Eucharistic minister to the home bound. She also was a member of St. Mary’s Society and the Rosary Society. Rosie loved quilting, setting puzzles, gardening and baking chocolate chip cookies for her family to enjoy.

Survivors include her children, James (Linda) Schmiesing of New Munich, Joan (Paul) Ellering of Chaska,

Mildred M. Mueller

Mildred M. “Millie” Mueller, 99, of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, June 14, 2023, at Park View Place assisted living in Melrose.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 24, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with the Rev. Arockiya Newton officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be found on St. Mary’s website. Visitation will be 9:30-11 a.m. June 24 at the church.

Mildred Mary Ramler was born Aug.15, 1923, in Albany, to Henry and Anna (Busch) Ramler. She was united in marriage to Lawrence Henry Mueller Oct.11, 1949, at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany. Millie and Lawrence farmed north of Melrose for almost 40 years until building their home in Melrose. In 2013, she moved to Park View Place assisted living in Melrose.

Millie was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers and St. Elizabeth’s Society. Millie loved her time spent with her family, and she adored her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Faith, family and farm meant everything to her. Millie enjoyed spending time at the cabin on Big Birch Lake, entertaining family and friends, dancing, quilting, playing card games, crocheting and traveling. There always was a jigsaw puzzle ready to be worked on with others. She will be remembered for her kindness, charming wit and great sense of humor.

Rose Mary M. Schmiesing

Dennis “Breeze” Schmiesing of Meire Grove, Marilyn (Bill) Ruhr of St. Joseph, Philip (Deb) Schmiesing of St. Martin, Edward (Judy)

Schmiesing of Melrose, John (Pam) Schmiesing of Avon, Beverly (Isidore) Schmitz of St. Francis, Gerard (Cindy) Schmiesing of New Munich, Patty Jangor of Lindstrom, Donna (Pat) Thompson of Red Wing, Jean (Gary) Hellermann of Melrose, Nancy (Joe) Roden of Big Lake, and Brian (Amy) Schmiesing of Greenwald; 36 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; brother Joseph (Catherine) Primus of Melrose; sister Betty Moscho of St. Martin; and sister-in-law

Claire Primus of Long Prairie. Rosie was preceded in death by her parents; husband Vincent Schmiesing Aug. 16, 1975; son-in-law

Herb Jangor; granddaughter

Christine Ruhr; brothers and sisters and in-laws Alphonse (Hildegard) Primus, Regina (Cyril) Wessel, Albert (Marie)

Primus, Sr. Lynette Primus, Nick Moscho, Roman Primus, Alcuin (Lorraine) Primus, Urban (Mary Ann) Primus and Sr. Oranda Primus. Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose. P-25-1B

Melrose Lions hand out service awards

Survivors include her children, Jerry Mueller of Melrose, Marv (Wanda) Mueller of Healdsburg, California, Bonnie (Rick) Funk of Avon, Bob (Theresa) Mueller of Sauk Centre, Karen (John) Ellering of Cape Coral, Florida, Lois Mueller of St. Cloud, and Jan (Kurt) Wolter of Ham Lake; 13 grandchildren and 14 greatgrandchildren; sisters Rose Mary Binek of Little Falls and Dolores Philippi of St. Cloud; and sister-in-law Katherine “Kitty” Mueller of Melrose. Millie was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lawrence Mueller Sept. 28, 2011; son Duane Mueller; brothers Clarence, Ambrose, Roman and Melvin Ramler; and sister Bernice Senger. Thank you to the staff at Park View Place assisted living and CentraCare Hospice for the excellent care, kindness and friendship Millie received.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.

P-25-1B

D&D Cleaning Team

Albany council approves wastewater plant equipment request

Grinder will help prevent issues with aerated pond diffusers

BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER

Albany’s wastewater treatment plant is getting an important but costly piece of preventative equipment.

Public works supervisor Joe Mergen presented a more than $60,000 request for a submersible channel grinder during the council’s June 7 meeting. The equipment will prevent issues with the plant’s pond diffusers. The grinder will be installed in the main lift station at the wastewater treatment plant, Mergen said.

“This would really be helpful,” Mergen said. “We don’t have a grinder now. Just about every city I’ve visited has a grinder like this in their wastewater plant.”

Mergen’s request included Minnesota Pump Works in Dundas providing the grinder at a cost of $42,395; Blake Drilling Co. Inc. in Blaine providing sanitary sewer bypass for $7,173; and two Albany businesses will provide services or equipment – Liber-

ty Electric Co. Inc. ($6,800) and Preferred Controls Inc. ($3,130).

“This will save us time and money with the aeriated pond,” said city administrator Tom Schneider.

The current maintenance practice involves city crews using a pontoon as a platform when working.

In 2014, council members approved the purchase of the used custom-manufactured wastewater pontoon from the city of St. Michael for the purpose of removing and installing new diffusers.

Mergen explained the diffusers need to be raised out of the wastewater and

replaced and the duck boat used at that time was not safe.

The city’s wastewater treatment pond is 12 feet deep.

“It’s ugly work, no doubt about it,” Mergen said, adding a 4,500-pound grinder has a 10-horsepower, constant slow speed motor that should run about 15 years. “It would be helpful to get this in.”

Councilor John Harlander made a motion, seconded by councilor Keith Heitzman, to approve the $60,498 submersible channel grinder request made by Mergen. The motion carried unanimously.

Avon youth baseball funding support for field improvements continues

BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER

Avon youth baseball representatives’ recent city council update contained surprisingly pleasant financial news.

Board members Mark Buchanan and Nick Henkemeyer reported June 5 about $27,000 from a variety of funding sources has been used to make improvements to field projects at Lions Park and Stratford Park.

The organization initially reached base with its funding thanks to a $5,000 Kirby Puckett grant from former Twin Al Newman, a member of two World Series teams.

In addition, Gilleland Chevrolet gave $3,000 and Dick’s Sporting Goods gave $12,100 toward the two Avon youth baseball projects.

Earlier this year, Buchanan and Nick Henkemeyer said Avon youth baseball wanted to land on Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball scorecards regarding grant funding for its community field projects.

In late January, the organization applied for a Fields for Kids matching grant for ballfield improvements.

“That grant did not go through,” Buchanan said. “I did speak with the Minnesota Twins about not getting $15,000, and they assured me if we applied again, we would be at the top of the list for funding.”

Youth baseball has moved its third and fourth league players to Stratford Field.

“If you haven’t been over to the Stratford Fields, drive by there. We

Crime & PUBLIC SAFETY

Avon man injured in Lake Henry Township collision LAKE HENRY TOWNSHIP – An Avon man received non-life threatening injuries after two vehicles collided June 15 in Lake Henry Township in Stearns County.

are really pleased with how that came out,” Buchanan added.

During the council’s June 5 meeting, Buchanan requested $2,500 in additional city funding to cover the cost of site preparation for the placement of a storage shed and batting cage.

Councilor Katie Reiling made a motion, which was seconded by councilor Mark Schulzetenberge, to authorize placement of those items. That motion carried unanimously. Councilor Doug Schaefer then motioned to authorize up to $2,500 from the city’s general fund for Stratford Park youth ballfield improvements. Schulzetenberge seconded Schaefer’s motion. The motion for additional city funding for the shed and batting cage site work also carried unanimously.

According to the State Patrol, just after 6 a.m., a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Tyler Michael Tougas, 21, of Avon, was traveling west on County Road 32, and a 2004 Freightliner semi, driven by Troy Joseph Kruzel, 44, of Little Falls, was traveling south on Highway 4 when the vehicles collided.

Tougas was transported by Paynesville ambulance to CentraCare-Paynesville Hospital.

The

Mildred M. Mueller

Kruzel was not injured.

Lake Henry Fire Department and the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene.

PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN

Melrose Lions Mark Mayers (front, from left) and Isaac Barten, community member Diane Jensen, Lions Jason Rademacher and Joe Rosenberger; (back, from left) Lions Larry Droogsma, Ivon Dass and Dick Christenson receive club awards for their service June 8 at Meadowlark Country Club in Melrose. Droogsma received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, Barten the Hearing Fellowship Award, Mayers and Jensen the Top Dog Award, Dass the Dream Catcher Award and Rosenberger, Rademacher and Christenson the Helen Keller Sight Award.

Seize the day

Our annual family vacation took us to North Carolina’s Outer Banks and Virginia Beach. Like most family vacations, much of the trip went perfectly. The part that didn’t go so well turned into a happy mischance.

The weather cooperated, warm enough to spend the day at the beach but not so warm that we melted. The cool ocean surf, crashing waves and a few good books were all the entertainment we needed. When the rain did come, we had just decided to retreat to our condo to give our skin a respite from the sun and relax with takeout pizza and a movie. Perfect timing.

We toured the Wright Brothers museum, saw a replica of the first plane to take flight and stepped off the distance of that first flight. We visited the USS Wisconsin, a World War II battleship and watched fighter jets take off over Virginia Beach.

We explored Roanoke Island and searched for the lost colony, a group of 115 men, women, and children who arrived on the island to establish Queen Elizabeth’s first foothold in the New World and then disappeared. For 400 years, historians have puzzled over this mystery, always arriving at only dead-ends and hoaxes.

After finding no trace ourselves, I bought a book, “The Secret Token,” about the mysterious disappearance as a Father’s Day gift for my dad. Of course, I read the first few pages in the gift shop to be sure it was good. Instantly drawn into the history and the mystery, I ended up gifting my dad a used book. I recommend checking it out and then traveling to Roanoke Island on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and taking a look yourself.

The food was great, especially a family-run pancake house on the Outer Banks called Stack’em High Pancakes and So Forth and a burger joint on Virginia Beach. Katelyn, our seafood fanatic, sampled every fish taco featuring a catch of the day, mahi mahi winning her vote for No. 1.

Hallie and I enjoyed morning jogs on the coast. We watched the sun set over Chesapeake Bay and Pamlico Sound.

All in all, the vacation stacked up well, until our home-

Hoffarth

Avon city leaders close ledger on 2022 financials

bound flight was changed. A six-hour layover at LaGuardia in New York City was added to our return itinerary.

Six hours – and a departure time that now required us to be up at 2 a.m. This felt like bad news. Ryan called the airlines and then Expedia. He schemed and negotiated. And all he found was bad news. Nothing could be done – and we weren’t exactly happy.

And then, one of us, I’m not sure who, suggested we adjust our mindset. Rather than feeling like the airline took advantage of us, we should feel like we had just been given an extra six hours of vacation – in New York City.

This could be fun. Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza and Central Park are just over eight miles away from the airport. Round trip in an Uber would cost about $140. The subway would get us there and back for about $20. Could we handle the NYC Subway without getting lost? Missing our flight?

I reached out to a former student who lives in New York for advice, we studied maps and watched a few YouTube videos and decided we could do it and be back in time to catch our connecting flight.

A little hesitant and rather tired from our 2 a.m. wakeup call, we went for it anyway, and it turned into a highlight of our trip. Ryan has been to New York for work a few times, but the girls and I had never seen Times Square. The buildings, the lights, the screens – we joined the hundreds of thousands of people walking through Times Square every day. We glimpsed at a recording of the “Today” show, walked along Central Park, stood in Rockefeller Center and saw St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We ate warm donuts for breakfast and made it back to the airport in time to grab a to-go lunch and catch our flight.

Anyone who has been to NYC is rolling their eyes at us, because the subway system is extremely easy. We didn’t know that as we set out on that very early morning, but we’re grateful we seized the opportunity and adopted an adventurous spirit.

The vacation was perfect – even the parts that weren’t.

Collateral damage

I have always been more of a river fisherman than someone who likes taking the boat out on the lake. My problem with it, though, is that sometimes I run into added expenses. Sure, if I were a bait and jig fisherman, I would have to buy minnows, leeches or worms at times, but I don’t see that when I throw out Rapalas or spinners. Once the hook of choice is on the line and the boat is filled with gas, a person can run and cast cheaply all day.

I did get out fishing with my brother-inlaw, Tom, earlier in the year. We decided to go on the river near Long Prairie and fish for early season walleyes. I caught one, too, but sometime after that I hooked into tall weeds on the other shore and lost my favorite hook. The clasp on the leader had come open and the hook pulled right off of it. It was not a depleting expense being that I had caught a nice fish, but losing a go-to hook is still a bummer.

Last Sunday our son, Kyle, and I went fishing across the highway from our house on the Sauk River. We were moving from hole to hole getting a few strikes and pulling in a northern pike along the way. When we got to one drop off that had a tree in the water, we simultaneously cast and got caught on what must have been some branches. Stripping down to our shorts and T-shirts, we stepped into the current to try and save our hooks. I was getting close to reaching it, maybe just a few steps away, when one step took the water from just below my chin to over my head. It was a panicked swim to get out of there. After that, Kyle abandoned his hook also, and we took our losses.

Those two episodes sandwiched around our annual Tree Hookers trip. The Tree Hookers is a group of friends and family whose name matches our luck or perseverance depending on how one looks at it. Every year someone will have a story explaining how they had to bring the boat nearly onto shore in order to retrieve a displaced hook. No one, it seems, is immune to it. Our trip this year took us to

Council completes exit meeting with accounting firm

BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER

Avon city leaders closed a recent audit by completing an exit meeting with accounting representatives.

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP principal Christopher Knopik and signing director Kristen Houle presented the audit June 5.

They reported no significant deficiencies or legal compliance issues with the 2022 audit.

Knopik and Houle also reported the city has a healthy general fund balance. Its water fund is currently balanced, but as expenses rise and revenues stabilize the fund will need an adjustment of revenues.

“You have very healthy balances,” Houle said. “You could go two years without revenues coming into your general fund and still pay your bills.”

Avon is very consistent, Knopik agreed. Twothirds of the city’s revenues come from its general fund property tax levy.

Another big chunk, about 28%, is supported by state-provided local government aid.

General government accounts for 40% of general fund expenditures and public safety 39%, Houle said.

“General government is mainly the clerk-administrator position, and public safety is police protection,” she said.

However, the sewer fund is running at a deficit for the fifth year in a row as operating costs have continued to rise.

City administrator and clerk Jodi Austing-Traut reported the council has recently raised water and sewer rates a small amount but will need to consider more frequent increases to keep up with inflation.

Knopik and Houle said Avon city leaders will need to watch rising operational costs and be mindful of depreciation costs as infrastructure improvements and replacements are warranted in the future.

Zierden

Roscoe to camp at the Schlangen farm, home to my brother and sister-in-law and four nephews, who are either members or future members of the group. This gave us a chance to fish Rice, Koronis and Big lakes and to get on the chain near Richmond. It had been 13 years since we were in that area. We keep a traveling trophy awarded to the person who catches the biggest fish each year. The last time we fished in this area, a 3-pound, 9-ounce largemouth bass got inscribed on the trophy as the biggest fish caught. Although we recall catching a lot of walleyes that year, we must not have caught anything of any decent size.

This year, that size was beaten on the first night. We had a few northerns over the slot limit, close to four or five pounds. We started out as a bass fishing group, and many have kept the tradition so the first night we must have caught 40 bass or so. I caught at least a dozen myself. As expected though, by the end of day two, it was a 5-pound, 7-ounce northern that was on the leaderboard, and in many years that would have held. This year, however, two bigger northerns would be caught by the end the third day, a 28-incher as well as a 31-incher. Although, because of their individual girth, only two ounces separated the two big fish. The winner weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces caught by Mitchel, my nephew, whose parents own the farm we stayed at.

We also pulled in one large mouth bass that weighed over five pounds and a few more northerns over the slot. A few pike that were in the slot helped to supply the fish fry, as well as a few medium bass, so yes, we do eat bass. All in all, although we fished local lakes that for many were right in our backyards instead of traveling 50 to 100 miles, the fishing was excellent, and we had a great tournament. The hospitality was wonderful, the price for camping was right, and I personally went through the entire three days without losing a single hook. It doesn’t get much better than that.

DINING MENU Senior

Wednesday: Goulash, garden salad, steamed green beans and cheddar garlic biscuit.

Thursday: Chicken Kiev, rice pilaf, mixed vegetables and orange slices.

Friday: Tomato soup, half sandwich, pasta salad and fresh fruit.

Monday: Ham, scalloped potatoes, broccoli, fruit salad and roll.

Pondview Estates, 334 Golfview Drive, Albany 320-845-4070 – June 21-28

Tuesday: Shrimp, half baked potato, vegetable blend, mandarin oranges and bread.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, whipped potatoes, green beans and bread. Menu items are subject to change. Congregate senior dining is open, but call to register. If no answer, leave a detailed message, name and phone number.

STAFF Mark Klaphake ...................General Manager …………………………………mark.k@saukherald.com

Joyce Frericks .....................Business Manager …………………………………joyce@saukherald.com

Missy Traeger .....................Sales & Marketing Manager ………………………missy@saukherald.com

Natasha Barber ..................Managing Editor …………………………………natasha@saukherald.com

Nancy Powell......................Manager ……………………………………………nancy,p@star-pub.com

Tim Vos .................................Marketing …………………………………………tim.v@star-pub.com

Carol Moorman .................Editor/Writer ………………………………………carol.m@star-pub.com

Mike Kosik ...........................Writer ………………………………………………mike.k@star-pub.com

Herman Lensing................Writer ………………………………………………herman.l@star-pub.com

Evan Michealson ...............Writer ………………………………………………evan.m@star-pub.com

Tim Hennagir .....................Writer ………………………………………………tim.h@star-pub.com

Amanda Thooft .................Production Manager/Page Design & Layout ……amanda@saukherald.com

Maddy Peterson ................Graphic Designer …………………………………maddy@star-pub.com

Cheyenne Carlson ............Graphic Designer/ Page Design & Layout ………cheyenne@star-pub.com

Karen Knoblach .................Graphic Designer …………………………………karen.k@star-pub.com

Annika Gunderson ...........Graphic Designer …………………………………annika@star-pub.com Jill Borgerding....................Office Assistant ……………………………………jill.b@star-pub.com Neil Maidl ............................Marketing …………………………………………neil.m@star-pub.com Jaime Ostendorf ...............Marketing …………………………………………jaime@star-pub.com

Robin Brunette ..................Help Wanted/Classifieds …………………………robin@saukherald.com

Avon’s primary source of general fund revenues is property taxes, which comprise over 65% of general fund revenues. General government and public safety comprise over 75% of general fund expenditures.

Water fund operating income decreased for the second year in a row, Knopik and Houle reported. Rates increased 10% in 2018, with no changes in rates for 2019 through 2022. Operating revenues decreased.

The sewer fund has operated at a loss the past 5 years. In 2022, operating expenses increased while revenues decreased.

The sewer fund is “definitely concerning” from an auditor’s standpoint, Knopik said.

The water fund includes almost $89,000 in depreciation for infrastructure.

In 2022, operating income for water fund was about $245,000. In 2022, the city’s sewer fund operating loss came to almost $452,000.

Knopik said he is a big proponent of local governments increasing rates a little bit each year, but when the council considers such increases, the end result does not produce fun conversation with constituents.

“Once you pay all of your expenses out of the water fund minus depreciation, with your actual, true cash payments and customer receipts coming in, you are cash flowing your water operation, even with holding your rates flat,” he said. “Your sewer fund customer receipts are not paying your daily bills.”

News BRIEFS

Culvert work June 19-28 on County Road 11, 14, 19

ST. CLOUD – Culverts will be replaced on three county roads in St. Martin Township, Lake George Township and Lake Henry Township June 19 through Wednesday, June 28, with detours in place.

The contractor will start on County Road 11 just north of County Road 12. The next culvert work area is on County Road 19 just west of County Road 15. The third and fourth culverts to be replaced will take place on County Road 14 just east of Trunk Highway 71.

Motorists are urged to find alternate routes to minimize delays. Local area motorists are advised to use caution while traveling through the work zone and expect delays.

Dates and time frames are weather dependent.

Annual Subscription Rates Stearns, Todd, Douglas, Pope, & Morrison counties, $53. Elsewhere in Minnesota, $60. Elsewhere in the United States, $63. Official Legal Newspaper for the cities of Albany, Avon, Freeport, Melrose and Holdingford; Independent School Districts 745, 738 and 740; surrounding townships.

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ISSN: Print: 2834-5916 Online: 2834-5924

Ink on My Hands by Kevin

The Farmers Daughter By Sonya

Relay for Life of Western Stearns County surpasses fundraising goal

Volunteer shortage threatens event’s future

BY HANS LAMMEMAN

Hundreds of walkers circled the Stearns County Fairgrounds track in Sauk Centre June 16, raising just over $50,000 for the American Cancer Society as part of the 26th Relay for Life of Western Stearns County.

Despite surpassing their fundraising goal for another year, co-leads Missy Hornick and Marcy Johnson and committee members Joelle Anderson, Sarah Boser and Amy Lindquist participated in their last Relay for Life as event organizers due to the time commitment. Unless new volunteers fill their shoes, this year’s fundraiser may be the last hosted in Sauk Centre.

ACS Senior Development Manager Sherri Maanum praised the resigning volunteers for their hard work and success during the opening ceremony. She said Hornick and Johnson received the Thunder Rolls award at the ACS statewide volunteer summit in February 2023 for exceeding event expectations despite severe storms during events for two consecutive years.

Maanum called on attendees to consider volunteering to keep the tradition alive in Stearns County. Otherwise, the relay would change locations and merge with an event in a surrounding county.

Karen’s Country Friends – Alv Wuertz

captain of Karen’s Country Friends, said she looks forward to the relay each June and hopes there is a future for the fundraiser in Stearns County.

“We started here in 2000, so this is our 24th year,” Rademacher said. “I have three teammates that have been with me every year; the rest of them have been here pretty much every year.”

Hornick said several potential volunteers expressed interest at the relay, hinting at a possible future for the event she helped lead for the past five years.

and Karen Rademacher;

left) Jan Wuertz, Laura Nathe, Mike Nathe, Tom Stalboerger and Mary Stalboerger – huddle together for a picture during the June 16 Relay for Life of Western Stearns County at the Stearns County Fairgrounds in Sauk Centre. This year’s event surpassed the fundraising goal of $50,000.

Among the teams to circle the track this year was Karen Rademacher and her friends, who have returned

annually to the fundraiser in Sauk Centre for more than two decades. Rademacher, a cancer survivor and team

“I’m excited for potential new leadership and will certainly help them through the process,” Hornick said. “Maybe they can revamp the event to increase participation. If nobody steps up to lead next year, there will no longer be an event in Sauk Centre. We are seeing this in communities across the U.S.; families are busy and don’t always have time to do volunteer work.”

evening.

STAFF WRITER

PHOTOS BY HANS LAMMEMAN

Dianna Nelson (left) and Lisa Sanders carry a banner while leading the survivor’s lap June 16 at the Relay for Life of Western Stearns County at the Stearns County Fairgrounds in Sauk Centre. Cancer survivors traditionally wear purple and walk the first lap at each Relay for Life event.

Mercedes Eke holding Koda (from left) and Angela and Zoey Bueckers circle the track during the June 16 Relay for Life of Western Stearns County at the Stearns County Fairgrounds in Sauk Centre. Following the survivor’s lap, team members walked continuously throughout the

(front, from left), Arlene Kosloske

(back, from

(Right) Laura and Mike Nathe work together to unthaw a T-shirt during the frozen T-shirt contest at the June 16 Relay for Life of Western Stearns County at the Stearns County Fairgrounds in Sauk Centre. The event raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Goebel paves the road for future mechanics

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

Adam Goebel is working to provide education and training to independently-owned repair shops throughout central Minnesota.

As the owner of 47 NAPA Auto Parts locations throughout the midwest as well as North Dakota and South Dakota, his company serves more than 1,300 repair shops and dealerships.

Goebel said he has a responsibility to help shops keep up with today’s technology. He also prides himself on his network of stores, meaning the repair shops he supplies can get the parts they need, often within hours.

“I want repair shops not only in Melrose, but in all of our smaller towns, to survive,” he said. “We supply parts to them. I’m trying to help them with this training and education so they continue to be successful.”

His ultimate goal is for customers to be able to receive all their needed repairs right within their local community.

Goebel started his business with NAPA stores in Melrose and Sauk Centre and has slowly expanded through the years. He hires an automotive technology trainer to provide classroom instruction for employees of local repair shops. There is a fee to cover the courses.

Overall, Goebel said there aren’t enough repair technicians, and he encourages those with an interest to get into the automotive field.

“There’s a huge deficit,” he

said. Goebel formed a business development group with local repair shops and through that, the larger community of repair shops is able to provide scholarships to young

people, and they can combine efforts to receive group insurance rates.

They’re also doing things like electrical vehicle training and hybrid training.

“They’re things that five to 10 years ago weren’t even talked about,” he said. Because NAPA offers electric vehicle parts, he said they also carry the plastic-coated tools need

to make the repairs on those vehicles.

PHOTO

Kevin Thorpe (left) and Adam Goebel stand June 7 at NAPA

Parts store in Melrose. Goebel owns the

locations.

NAPA page 8

NAPA from page 7

“NAPA has done a really good job of being at the forefront of that,” he said.

As a group, they’re also working on advocating for the “right to repair” movement. The movement aims to allow owners of equipment to modify and repair products such as automobiles instead of being required to have their equipment only repaired or maintained by places approved by the manufacturer.

“Data needs to be shared so anybody can repair their vehicle,” Goebel said.

He believes in the concept of sharing within his company as well. As other places struggled with COVID-19-related supply chain issues, he said the ability to transfer goods between stores kept him servicing customers.

“Our big claim to fame is our delivery network,” he said. “Basically, any one of our stores can pull parts from any one of our stores and in most cases have it the same day.”

Not only can people managing the stores see the inventory in each location, so can the consumer. On average, roughly 40% of his business in the stores comes from retail customers and 60% comes from wholesale orders. In some of the smaller communities, including Melrose, the split is half and half. Especially, he said, in areas with a lot of agriculture because the stores carry a number of ag-related parts including hydraulic hoses, hydraulic fluids and filters.

“If you order by noon, you’ll (often) have it by 2 o’clock,” he said. “That’s what really sets us apart.”

That level of service,

he said, avoids technician downtime and lessens the need to continually take cars

off the lift to wait for parts. Goebel said his stores thrive in smaller cities like

Melrose. “We have that local feel,” he said.

Goebel first began working at the Melrose store in high school, working before school and after school. When his uncle, Ralph Hellermann, was ready to sell in 2005, he purchased the stores and made them his own.

52 Years

The stores support their local sports teams, schools and community ventures and always have.

“That is kind of our niche,” he said. “It’s something our competition doesn’t do, and sometimes I think people forget about that.”

PHOTOS BY ALEX CHRISTEN

(Above) One of the 47 NAPA Auto Parts stores owned by Adam Goebel stands ready for customers June 7 on main street in Melrose. Goebel said the goal is for his customers to receive all their parts and repairs within their local community.

(Left) Adam Goebel helps a customer June 7 at NAPA Auto Parts in Melrose. Goebel purchased the business from his uncle, Ralph Hellermann, in 2005.

“Our big claim to fame is our delivery network. Basically, any one of our stores can pull parts from any one of our stores and in most cases have it the same day.”

Adam Goebel

St. Rosa Lumber celebrates 25 years of

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

For 25 years St. Rosa Lumber, Inc., has been providing area residents, businesses and farmers with construction materials.

Though the focus of the company has remained the same, providing high-quality lumber, materials and supplies for carpenter crews, contractors and area residents, the company’s project management arm has grown.

“(We do more with) project designs,” said Jason Arnzen, company co-owner and project manager. “Customers come in with an idea, we come up with a plan and execute it to the finish.”

The company can serve as the general contractor for residential builds, and they do light commercial buildings, as well as apartments, dairy barns, churches and more.

“It’s kind of fun. What I like is that our customers come in with some ideas in their mind and we get their ideas on paper and give them our ideas to combine it and come up with a buildable plan,” he said. “The rewarding part of the job is taking it from a preliminary design to building their dream home or whatever their project might be. The fun part is seeing the

project get built.”

When it comes to residential projects, Arnzen said he has seen a change.

“Over the years, people were originally just happy to have a new house,” he said.

“Today, homeowners want to keep up with the trends. You

have to know what the trends are and help guide them in the right direction.”

He said the demand for remodel work has increased.

John Arnzen, another co-owner, said St. Rosa Lumber continues to supply everything from lumber, steel,

siding, shingles, decking products and insulation to rafters, windows, doors and overhead doors. The company, John said, can meet the needs of customers both seeking materials for individual projects, as well as large volume projects.

The company manages two warehouses of materials and offers onsite pick up or delivery to construction sites via a boom truck. Additionally, the company supplies prebuilt wall panels.

11

Rosa Lumber, Inc., stand outside one of their two warehouses. St. Rosa Lumber provides building goods and services to contractors and retail customers.

St. Rosa Lumber page

St. Rosa Lumber from page 10

Jason said they have an offsite panel shop where they create wall panels in 12-foot sections that can be transported from the factory directly to the job site.

“We’re building all the walls prior to heading to the jobsite to be more efficient,” he said. “The faster we can get the walls up, the faster we can get the job completed.”

The walls are constructed indoors in a controlled environment. They’re transferred to the job site and unloaded and erected with a telehandler. It’s a process and service the company has been offering for two years.

“It kind of started with the apartment industry going that direction,” Jason said. “Our customers were requesting it.”

While St. Rosa Lumber provides a lot of building materials and professional design help, there’s one thing

that sets their company apart.

“For sure it’s the service we provide,” Jason said. “And the manpower in-house, the connections.”

The company was founded by John Arnzen and Al Leinen in March of 1998. In the early days they had six or seven employees and today, that number has grown to 22.

It is now co-owned by Lillian, Brandon, Jason and John Arnzen.

Instead of meeting with multiple contractors, lumberyards and builders, Jason said those scoping out projects can head to St. Rosa Lumber. Even for those who want to do a project themselves, he said, St. Rosa Lumber has experts on hand to help retail customers find the best materials for their project.

“We can design your project and take it all the way to the finish line,” he said.

Jason (from left), John, Lillian and Brandon Arnzen co-own

Rosa Lumber in St. Rosa. The company has been in business for 25 years.

(Right) A custom built house from St. Rosa Lumber shows one of the many options the company has to offer. St. Rosa Lumber offers custom drafting, bidding, material, construction and general contracting services for custom projects.

(Left) St. Rosa Lumber is delving into more commercial projects. The company’s services include design and construction of multi-level apartment complexes and student housing on college campuses.

Back in the Saddle

As JoAnn Dirkes (front) serves a pork chop on a stick, Allie Hennen (back) lets the customer know with a thumbs up that he made a good choice June 17 during Spunktacular Days at the Lake Wobegon Trailhead Park in Avon. The Avon Hills Lions Club served pork chops and sloppy Joes.

Minnesota National Guard members march in the June 17 Spunktacular Days parade in Avon, honoring fellow soldier and grand marshal Kort Plantenberg, who passed away, along with two other National Guard members, in a December 2019 helicopter crash near St. Cloud. The parade

The Albany Area High School color guard and marching band participate in the June 17 Spunktacular Days parade in Avon. The two-day, June 16 and 17, celebration featured activities, including a car show, kids fishing contest, Lady Slipper nature ride, medallion hunt, craft sale, Avon Fire Department obstacle course, petting zoo, tractor pedal pull, turtle races and pony rides.

(Above) Unicyclists entertain people during the June 17 Spunktacular Days parade in Avon. The parade was one of the final events in the two-day, June 16-17, celebration.

(Left) Avon Mayor Jeff Manthe tosses out candy along the June 17 Spunktacular Days parade route in Avon. This is the 32nd year of Avon Spunktacular Days.

PHOTOS BY MIKE KOSIK

(Above) Craft fair vendors line both sides of the street next to the Lake Wobegon Trailhead Park in Avon June 17 as part of Spunktacular Days. There was live music throughout the day by Kat Blue and Pandemic.

honoring fellow soldier and grand marshal Kort Plantenberg, who passed along with two was followed by music and fireworks at dusk.

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Sports

Youth-dominated golfers compete at state

BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER

Zac Kreuzer was 326 yards from the green facing his second shot on his opening hole of the second round of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys and Girls Golf State Tournament. The big-hitting Albany junior grabbed his 3-wood and launched his Huskies-logo ball toward the green.

It was a downhill shot with a rm fairway, but the fact Kreuzer hit it past the green from that far was a major reason his name was near the top of the leaderboard after the first round. Kreuzer’s fi nal holes were mostly a struggle thereafter, but his 21st-place finish in the 86-player field June 13-14 at The Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan is likely a precursor of what could be a big senior year.

“The first round was a good day, but the second was kind of a grind for me,” Kreuzer said after his 8-over-par 80 in the final round. “After that birdie on the rst hole, I couldn’t really get anything together. I got a couple of bad breaks and struggled to find pars. I kept finding bogey after bogey. It seemed like the round was slipping away from me, and I couldn’t find a way to reset.”

It hardly deterred from the experience for Kreuzer, Albany’s captain, who competed with his team at state for the first time

since head coach Kit Pennie took over the program four years ago.

The Huskies, whose lineup consists of two juniors, a sophomore, two freshman and an eighth grader, gained what they hope is crucial state tournament experience in the two-day event. Albany finished eighth in the eight-team tournament as attention turns to the future.

Totino-Grace overtook Holy Family Cath-

olic – which has a lineup that includes twin sons of former PGA Tour player Tim Herron – for the team title with a second-round rally.

“Our goal all year was to win the section tournament, get to state and see how it goes,” Pennie said. “For the first time for most of them, they played as well as they could. Day one was a little rough, and it was a tough start. It’s a tough course to score on. Day two was better. That first round was kind of an eye-opener, but the second round they shot much better. I’m proud of the way they battled and couldn’t be happier.”

Proliant Dairy Ingredients (Premier Drying Plant)is accepting applications for a full-time position in Melrose, MN Night Shift

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Albany, which claimed the Section 6AA title June 6 at Blackberry Ridge Golf Club in Sartell, shot rounds of 329 and 327 to finish at 656. Totino-Grace’s winning score of 598 outplayed Holy Family by four shots.

• Full Benefits First of the Month following hire date

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• 401(K) with generous match

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Golf page 3B

PHS25-2B-RB

Though never in serious contention for the title, Albany remained focused during the entire second round. Junior Joe Hoff finished his season with a 5-over-par 77 after shooting 86 on the opening day.

Eighth grader Blake Silbernick, who qualified for state last year but was unable to compete due to illness, shot 87-85 in his debut. Freshman Bryce Soennecker shot 82-94, sophomore Drew Lehner 94-85 and freshman Josh Hoff 9188.

“Being down at state was an eye-opener for these kids to see what level a lot of these teams are playing at,” Pennie said. “It’s definitely raising the bar. We had a successful season, but for these young guys to see if they want to take that next step, they’ve got some work to do.”

Kreuzer found himself four shots off the individual lead after an opening-round 74. Though he could not quite find the same magic in the final 18 holes, Kreuzer said being at state with his team made the experience special, even though that adds a different dynamic.

“I was disappointed with how I played in the second round, but it was fun to be there with the team,” said Kreuzer, who had a 75.5 scoring average this season. “It’s a little different being there with the team. You’re maybe a little more focused as an individual, and it’s a little more laid-back with your team. But, it’s a more fun environment with the whole team down there.”

Albany junior Zac Kreuzer assesses his position on the 10th green in the second round of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys and Girls Golf State Tournament June 14 at The Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan. Kreuzer shot rounds of 74-80 for the Huskies.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Melrose Housing Authority is accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of financial and budget planning, program administration, and supervising maintenance and purchasing. This position is approximately 25 hours per week.

Desired qualifications include experience in related field of business or government. Applicants should have a general knowledge of budgets, accounting, and government procedures. Ability to maintain good public relations with various personnel and residents. Ability to adapt to changing Federal, State, and local requirements. Basic computer skills. 2023 Salary Range DOQ: $34,356 - $41,445.

A copy of the job description and application packet can be obtained on the City’s website at www.cityofmelrose.com or by contacting the Melrose City office at 320-256-4278.

Interested applicant should submit a completed application packet, along with resume to City of Melrose, 225 1st St NE, Melrose MN 56352, or email to hr@cityofmelrose.com by Wednesday, June 21, 2023.

PH23-3B-RB

Hoff

his putt on the 10th green in the second round of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys and Girls Golf State Tournament June 14 at The Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan. Hoff shot rounds of 91-88 for the Huskies.

Albany junior Joe Hoff keeps his head down after hitting a chip to a green in the second round of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys and Girls Golf State Tournament June 14 at The Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan. Hoff shot rounds of 86-77.

PHOTOS BY TOM FENTON Albany freshman Josh

watches

Huskies’ Anderson competes at state golf tournament

the experience

Relishing

rounds of 88-89, finishing with a 187 to tie for 37th place out of 88 golfers.

“It was definitely tough, but it was also really fun,” Anderson said after confirming her final-round scorecard. “I don’t think I was too nervous. It’s just state, and we’re out here to have fun. I didn’t have too many expectations going into it. I just wanted to do my best and play my game.”

Providence Academy senior Grace Petzold claimed the individual title, shooting rounds of 75-70 for a three-shot victory. Albany’s Section 6AA rival Pequot Lakes finished with a 36-hole total 651 to upset favored Lake City by three shots for the team champi-

Lakers shut out St. Wendel

Mezquita shines for Avon

BY MIKE KOSIK | STAFF WRITER

Elian Mezquita and Cole Wellmann combined to pitch a seven-hit shutout for the Avon Lakers in a 3-0 win over St. Wendel in a Victory League game June 16 at Blattner Field in Avon.

The host Lakers scored two runs in the third and one in the eighth.

Mezquita pitched 4 2/3 innings in earning the win, with Wellmann pitching in relief. Mezquita also had the hot bat for the Lak- ers,

getting three hits in four atbats.

Elliott Burnett got things going for the Lakers in the third with a single to right. Mezquita followed with a hit to center. Peyton Randall drew a walk to load the bases for Caleb Curry, who drove a single to left to score Burnett and Mezquita and give Avon a 2-0 lead. Well-

Curry and Wellmann each had two hits.

Austin Dickmann went the distance for St. Wendel, striking out 10 and walking two.

The Saints scattered seven hits.

Logan Harren and Tanner Reis got two hits each for St. Wendel, with Brandon Dickmann, Pete Schumer and Jake Ethen getting a hit apiece.

Avon 5, Champlin Park 1

The Lakers continued their dominant pitching performance June 17, hosting the Champlin Park LoGaters and winning 5-1.

This time, it was Matt Pichelmann, Jackson Henderson and Joe Dolan who combined their talents on the mound for the Lakers. Pichelmann got credit for the win, going four innings. Henderson pitched an inning and Dolan two.

The Lakers scored early, putting up a run in the first inning, another in the second and three more in the third.

Mezquita scored Avon’s first run, reaching base on an infield single and scoring on a groundout.

Randall opened Avon’s three-run third with a triple

to right. Curry then reached on an error. A sacrifice fly to left scored Randall.

For the second day in a row, Wellmann homered to right, with Curry scoring ahead of him. The LoGaters scored an unearned run in the sixth. The Lakers improved 7-1 with the impressive triumph.

onship. “What Sophia has going for her is her demeanor, which all good golfers do,” said Mike Sieben, Albany coach. “She didn’t let it get to her when she missed some putts. She’s a cool character, and I’m looking forward to having her back another year. I’m really pleased with where she finished.”

Anderson made nine pars and birdied the 294yard, par-4 eighth hole in her opening round but was hurt by a few big numbers. She avoided the big numbers in round two, recording five pars. “She was solid striking the ball,” Sieben said. “She just has to get a little more consistent around the

greens and putting – which you could say about 90% of golfers – especially here when they’re putting pins in very tough spots.” Anderson said she will continue working on her game this summer to prepare for what she hopes is a big senior season. “I think being here this year will help me know I can shoot some good scores,” Anderson said. “There are a couple areas I need to work on to shave off some strokes and put up the scores I want. There were a couple holes that weren’t the greatest, and then I had some good holes, too. So, it was a mix of things. I’m looking forward to that next year.”

Melrose: Friday, June 23, 11am - 1pm*

Enjoy a FREE sit-down lunch serving sloppy joes, baked beans, chips, cookie and water MELROSE BRANCH

Freeport: Tuesday, June 27, 11am - 1pm*

Enjoy a FREE sit-down lunch serving sloppy joes, baked beans, chips, cookie and water

Enter for a chance to win Twins Tickets!

PHOTO BY TOM FENTON Albany junior Sophia Anderson watches her shot head toward the 18th green in the second round of the Minnesota State High School League Class AA Boys and Girls Golf State Tournament June 14 at The Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan. Anderson shot rounds of 89-88 at the 36-hole tournament.

nesota State High School League Class AA Boys and Girls Golf State Tournament June 13-14 at The Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan. Anderson shot

PHOTOS BY MIKE KOSIK

Avon’s Elian Mezquita gets under a pop-up to record the first out in the eighth inning against St. Wendel June 16 at Blattner Field in Avon. The host Lakers won 3-0.

Avon’s Elliott Burnett heads to third after touching second base against St. Wendel June 16 at Blattner Field in Avon. Burnett led off the inning with a single to right and eventually scored on Caleb Curry’s base hit.

Albany Babe Ruth continues strong start

Purple finds lopsided wins

BY GRANT JOHNSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After starting the year 3-1, the 15U Albany Purple Babe Ruth team finished the week with a couple of lopsided wins.

Royalton was on the wrong side of an offensive explosion from Albany Purple June 15 in Albany, as the home team won game one by a score of 11-5. Leading the charge for the Albany offense was Ben Schaefer, who had two hits, a walk and two RBIs.

The team took advantage of 11 Royalton walks and a couple of timely RBI hits to push past the Royals.

Nathan Schneider delivered an RBI double, and Wyatt Schmitz blasted a two-RBI double to help himself out on the mound. Schmitz grinded out five innings to get the win, giving up only three earned runs and striking out 11 batters.

Game two saw even more offensive power as the Albany Purple cruised to a 21-2 win. Hunter Boecker paced the offense with two hits and four runs scored in the game. Schmitz reached in all four at-bats, including a towering triple; Schaefer was 2-for-2 again and also walked twice; and Hudson Linn was a spark at the bottom of the order with two runs scored and an RBI.

Boecker pitched all three innings in the shortened game.

Albany White started the season going 2-2. They looked to bounce back in Browerville June 15, and did it in a couple of close games.

Game one saw Axton Orbeck dealing on the mound, holding the Tigers to one run and three hits in a complete-game win. He struck out five, including the last two batters to seal the 3-1 win.

The offense was not spectacular but got by with just enough. In the first inning, Judah Allen singled and stole second. After a walk and stolen base from Connor Plumski, Dylan Hoffarth delivered a two-run single to take a 2-0 lead.

Plumski also scored in the fourth inning on a two-out single from Jackson Mergen. Albany White only had five hits in the game, but they were timely and were all Orbeck needed on the bump.

Browerville made a ferocious comeback in game two, but Albany White hung on for a 7-6 victory.

Trailing 5-0 after three, Browerville plated three runs to make it 5-3. Albany White woke up and scored two more of their own to push the lead to 7-3, but Browerville would not go down without a fight, scoring three runs in the fifth before reliever Collin Breitbach shut the door with a runner on second base to end the threat.

Brady Evenson threw four strong innings to start the game, striking out seven and giving up two earned runs. Breitbach recorded the save, getting the last two batters to fly out to center field.

Albany White only managed six hits but took advantage of walks and errors by the Tiger defense.

Albany Purple will host Browerville Thursday, June 22. Albany White hosted Sauk Centre June 19 and will travel to Upsala for a game Thursday, June 22.

The Albany 13U Babe Ruth squad also saw action, winning a doubleheader against Sauk Centre, 11-3 and 6-4.

Farming inducts pitching padre

St. Martin tops Flames in 12 innings

BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER

The Rev. Aaron Nett was inducted into the Farming Flames Hall of Fame following the St. Martin-Farming amateur baseball game June 18 in Farming.

He played with the Flames for 21 years, four of them after being ordained. During the induction, he referenced family more than once in a biography prepared for the event. He noted his father taught him the game, and playing with his brothers made the games more special.

“I was able to play with my three brothers for five years,” he said. “I wanted to play long enough to play with my nephew, Isaac, and got to do that for a bit.”

He was a good enough pitcher that he was drafted for postseason play by other teams and played in seven state tournaments. One of his state tournament saves was with St. Martin.

“He pitched a lot for us,” said Carl Lieser, St. Martin manager. “We have a lot of good state tournament memories.”

Nett’s favorite state tournaments were in 2002 and 2016 with Farming. The Flames were his team, and he worked to give back by coaching Legion baseball for five years.

“I always enjoyed the teamwork, the strategy, accomplishing a goal and talking baseball in the dugout after practice,” he said.

Nett never really thought of playing as a priest growing up, but as he progressed to the seminary, it became a possibility. It never was a problem on the team. He even earned the nickname “Padre.”

“It was usually really well accepted,” he said.

“The diocese actually encouraged it.”

In his prepared remarks, Nett recalled a time when his ordainment became part of an at-bat. He was hit on the backside, and as he went to first, someone called out, “Father Aaron, just turn the other cheek.”

Currently, Nett serves as a pastor in the Eden Valley and Watkins communities, another good baseball area, and will soon take an assignment in the Pierz-Buckman area, also known for baseball. He did have one request for those he has come across in games or even outside of games.

“I ask forgiveness for anyone I have offended on or off the field through the years by letting my pride or the game get the best of me, or for not living up to the Christian name I have been given,” he said.

St. Martin 2, Farming 1

The ceremony followed the 12-inning game between the Flames and Martins. Won by St. Martin, it was a

pitcher-dominated game. St. Martin scored a run in the second, as Avery Schmitz and Ben Schroeder singled off Farming’s Adam Nibaur. Only three Martins reached base across the next five innings. St. Martin’s Scott Lieser let only five Flames reach base in the first six innings. The Flames tied the game in the seventh, after Aaron Eiynck’s second hit. Pinch runner Isaac Evenson stole second and took third on Owen Sunderman’s infield single. He scored on an infield error.

The Martins missed a chance to score in the eighth after loading the bases with singles from Kyle Lieser, Nolan Rueter and Brady Goebel, but Nibaur got a strikeout, popout and flyout to strand them.

Farming had runners at second and third in the ninth before Scott Lieser struck out the next batter to end the inning, his 14th strikeouts of the game. The Martins took the lead in the 12th without a hit. Kyle Lieser walked with two outs, stole second and scored from second on a wild pitch.

Carter Thelen earned the win, pitching the final three innings and striking out five. Adam Winkels pitched the final four frames and took the loss. Spring Hill 12, Roscoe 2

Home runs highlighted the Spring Hill Chargers’

12-2 win over the Roscoe Rangers June 18 in Spring Hill.

The Chargers had 12 hits, with seven going for extra bases. Dylan Gertken’s 4-for-4 day included a home run and a double. Owen Meyer had a two-run homer.

Devin Orbeck, Jamie Terres and Austin Schoenberg all doubled.

Winning pitcher Ben Welle helped his own cause with a home run.

Welle pitched a complete game. The two runs he gave up were home runs by Jordan Schleper.

Buckman 10, Freeport 2

The Freeport Black Sox fell 10-2 June 18 in Buckman.

Freeport’s Bryan Benson singled twice to lead the Black Sox attack.

Iver Papke added a double for Freeport while Ike Sawyer, Mason Tautges and Carter Neuenschwander singled. Andrew Kerzman pitched a complete game in the loss.

Freeport 2, Swanville 0 Matt Johnson delivered in the clutch as Freeport topped Swanville 2-0 June 17 in Freeport.

Johnson’s first-inning sacrifice fly scored Benson from third base. The game then became a pitching duel between Swanville’s Levi Beseman and Papke. Both pitched complete games and routinely recorded 1-2-3 innings.

Freeport scored an insurance run in the eighth. Johnson led off with a triple and scored on Ben Millard’s RBI single.

Papke retired the side in order, using his ninth and 10th strikeouts to end the game. He allowed only four hits and walked four.

“It seemed like I had good location on my fastball,” he said. “I was getting a lot of first-pitch strikes and getting ahead in the count, which helps. The defense played standup. Everybody made plays. All-and-all, a good game and a good team effort.”

PHOTOS BY HERMAN LENSING

St. Martin’s Kyle Lieser comes across home plate with the deciding run as coach Carl Lieser (back) applauds June 18 in Farming. Kyle Lieser scored from second on a wild pitch in the 12th inning of a 2-1 victory.

Iver Papke fires to home against Swanville June 17 in Freeport. Papke pitched a complete game for the Black Sox, striking out 10 in a 2-0 win.

(Above) Holdingford’s Class A track and field qualifiers – Brandon Hall (from left), Antanas Martinaitis, Connor Patrick, Dawson Hofer and Jeffrey Hall – display the medals they earned at the Minnesota State High School League Class A Boys and Girls Track and Field Meet June 9 at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael. Both participating Huskers relays reached their respective event finals and a trip to the podium.

(Above, right) The 4x100 relay team of Jeffrey Hall (from left), Antanas Martinaitis, Connor Patrick and Brandon Hall climb the podium to receive their medals at the Minnesota State High School League Class A Boys and Girls Track and Field State Meet June 9 at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael. The grouping snagged eighth place with a time of 43.91 seconds.

(Below right) Dawson Hofer takes part in the 4x200 relay at the Minnesota State High School League Class A Boys and Girls Track and Field Meet June 8 at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael. Hofer and relay teammates Connor Patrick, Brandon Hall and Antanas Martinaitis took eighth place in preliminaries and fifth place in the finals.

PHOTOS BY EVAN MICHEALSON