Progress 2022

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What’s Inside Business 6

BEAUTIFUL INNOVATION Wolfe & Co. bringing talent together for single collaborative salon in downtown Austin.

12 IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK Austin Windshield Plus at home in family-established location.

16 WIND ON THE PRAIRIE Hundreds of local hires expected for 79-turbine Dodge County wind energy implement, NextEra says.

20 UNITING THE PROFESSIONALS OF AUSTIN Program brings together prime networking opportunity.

24 REINVENTING LANSING CORNERS New model notches first successful months of newest adventure.

Community 34 ‘THESE ANIMALS ARE COUNTING ON YOU’ Rural Austin hobby farmers dedicate their lives to furry, feathered friends.

38 PAST & FUTURE Sumit Bhagra, M.D. takes over Austin and Albert Lea Mayo sites with an eye on learning from the past and preparing for the future.

42 HIDDEN HEROES Behind the curtain of a Riverland Theatre production.

46 BACK IN THE PUBLIC EYE The Austin Bruins are working 2 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

their way back into the public in order to contribute.

Education 48 KARING FOR KIDS Kids Closet and Caring Closets support children and their education.

54 RUN IT FROM THE TOP Southland drama department gets boost with new auditorium.

58 NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN After years of volunteering, Lyle man starts new career as athletic director.

60 THE VOICE Mallory Brown finds her love in singing the National Anthem.

62 LEARNING TO LEAD THE WAY CEO program gives high school students a chance to learn on the job.

Diversity 64 CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Global backgrounds create vibrant culture at Hormel Institute.

68 TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL Austin soccer players taking their games to the college ranks.

70 RIVERLAND MULTICULTURAL CLUB EMPOWERING AUSTIN’S INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY Students give back in fostering all those who live in Austin.

72 JOIN THE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH

Friday, February 26, 2022

LIBRARY’S NEWEST BOOK CLUB Club forms around a new found love of reading during pandemic.

Small Towns 76 IT’S ALL COMING TOGETHER Cedar Courts in Adams is offering seniors an upgraded place to call home.

80 ALAMO ANNIE’S: HOMESTYLE AT HOME New eatery in Brownsdale offering food from the heart.

82 LITTLE RACE TRACK ON THE PRAIRIE RC drivers from across the country have come to new Blooming Prairie track.

84 IT TAKES A VILLAGE Hayfield’s The Village Pub Lounge takes advantage of some perfect timing.

PUBLISHER Crystal Miller

crystal.miller@austindailyherald.com

EDITORIAL Editor

Eric Johnson

eric.johnson@austindailyherald.com

Contributing Writers Rocky Hulne

rocky.hulne@austindailyherald.com

Savannah Howe

newsroom@austindailyherald.com

SALES & PROMOTION Sales Representatives Brenda Landherr

brenda.landherr@austindailyherald.com

Heather Biwer

heather.biwer@austindailyherald.com

Abrianna Klingele

abrianna.klingele@austindailyherald.com

88 RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE Carter Conradt graduated from Southland and hit the ground running with Conradt Tree Service.

90 NEW LE ROY RETIREMENT FACILITY ADMINISTRATOR LOOKS TO FOSTER A SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS Hoping to build a sense of home.

94 FROM PLAYER TO COACH Josh Bain was once a stand-out linebacker for the Superlarks. Now he will take over the program from one of Minnesota’s best coaches.

On the cover

Wolfe & Co. opens new and trendy downtown salon Austin Daily Herald 310 2nd Street NE Austin, MN 55912

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Business

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Beautiful

Innovation Wolfe & Co. bringing together like minds to single collaborative salon in downtown Austin

By Eric Johnson Sarah Wolfe, by her own admission, was looking for change. But she also had an idea.

Taken together, change and innovation can often have dynamic results and in this case, those dynamic results have led to Wolfe & Co., a unique collaborative business design that is bringing together like-minded personalities within one salon.

“I honestly just wanted to have a space where individual people could come in and start their own business,” Wolfe said from within the fresh and artistic home of Wolfe & Co., located at 128 Third Avenue NW in Austin. “That’s basically what this is. I’m a landlord lucky enough to be a co-worker at the same time.”

With four exuberant personalities already signed on to the experience and coming from a variety of backgrounds, Wolfe & Co. opened its doors in February of this year, enticing customers with a welcoming feel that makes it clear that all those coming in their doors will get the 100% treatment every time.

“A lot of people just know me and I’m kind of an open book,” Wolfe said. “I feel like I try to make people feel comfortable and I think people know that. Even with the product we choose. Everything is about diversity, LGBTQ ... that’s also what this is about. A place where anybody can feel comfortable.”

And it all started with change. An urge to step out and take on the world.

“I was just ready to move on,” Wolfe said. “I feel like for a long time I tried to do different things.”

After years with the Style Lounge, Wolfe’s first possible move was to take over Uptown Hair just off Main Street, but when that didn’t come to fruition, she began looking at other avenues.

However, those other things didn’t necessarily include something so grand. But the idea grew and after about a year of planning, it was time to move forward in a big and bold way. “(My husband) was like ‘go big or go home’ and I said, ‘fine, we’re going to do this,’” Wolfe said.

To say this has been a labor of love is probably understating the task that lay before them just a little. For starters, the building is the longest on the block and it required a lot of work.

“This building didn’t come up right away for us only because when we looked at it, it was like ‘holy crap,’” Wolfe said. “We gutted the entire thing. There was nothing but studs in here.”

“I honestly just wanted to have a space where individual people could come in and start their own business.

That’s basically what this is. I’m a landlord lucky enough to be a co-worker at the same time. ”

The duo set to work and after about four months and a lot of blood, sweat and tears, transformed the vacant space into something completely different.

The walls are painted in an eggshell white with accent lighting Sarah Wolfe running along the walls Wolfe & Co. throughout. The original ceiling, far overhead, was exposed and painted in gold to create a shrine to beauty. Beneath it all are four custom stations, designed by Wolfe and built by her dad.

Stretching back into the rest of the building is a line of hair washing stations with two rooms, one taken up by Jordan Parks, an esthetician who will provide personalized facials, luxe body waxing and lash extensions.

The other room will be taken up by a nurse practitioner who will offer Botox services.

Taken as a whole, Wolfe & Co. could be looked at as a canvas for the artists who now work within.

“I don’t care about making money off of other people,” Wolfe said. “That’s not what I’m about, it’s about creating this space for other people to create, express themselves and make money and not have to share it with anybody else was the point of how big this got.”

While each service is listed under the Wolfe & Co moniker, the artists within are their own business owner.

“This is just the house and there’s all these people who live here and they own separate businesses and that’s how I kind of want to display them because it’s just not mine,” Wolfe said.

However, that’s not to say Wolfe didn’t use a discernible nature when choosing people to bring under this umbrella.

She wanted those working within to be a part of something special and unique that created a sense of family.

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“I was slightly picky only because I wanted to make a salon where people had specific niches ,” Wolfe said.

“Things that they did were very specialty. Things so if somebody were to say, ‘I really want this one service,’ who can do this best?’ That’s when you call this person.”

“I really tried to create a space where everybody here

is very educated and can provide a ‘you get what you asked for’ situation,” she continued. That was important to me that these were truly artists, that they were willing to keep learning.”

What came about was a hybrid of individual business owners working within a collaborative space. A community, if you will, all working toward the same goal.

Meredith Heimer Meredith is a creator and customizer with an eye toward boosting confidence though looking and feeling great.

Services • Eyelash tinting • Eyelash perming • Eyebrow lamination • Hand-tied and tape-in extensions • Low maintenance blending • Wedding styles

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An important part of Wolfe & Co. is its welcoming nature, including the LGBTQ community.

What makes Wolfe & Co. Shine

Vision & Values

Integrity: Doing business with honesty and transparency.

Excellence: Providing the best experience in all services performed.

Innovation & Education: Crafting ahead-of-trend and on-trend styles with the desire to continue learning.

Katie Hanson

Diversity & Inclusivity: Embraces and encourages a team environment while also embracing the community and welcomes and includes all.

Jordan Parks

Katie, a color specialist, is determined to not just give you a hair style you’ll love, but ensure that its a party at the same time.

Having made beauty a passion, Jordan is looking to create a memorable experience for her customers.

Services • Global blonds • Power brunettes • Transformational and corrective colors • The OLAPLEX Experience • Facials and waxing.

Services • Personalized facials • Luxe body waxing • Lash extensions

It also created a fun unity with those at Wolfe & Co. All of the stylists working currently at Wolfe & Co were either former students of Wolfe’s when she taught at Riverland Community College or had worked with her.

While they didn’t necessarily know each other, they quickly came together.

Wolfe remembered a bonding moment over food and margaritas at El Mariachi one night. What was expected to be a one or two hour meal, stretched to four. It proved to be a pivotal moment for Wolfe & Co. “Time goes flying by because everybody was getting along and that made me really happy,” Wolfe said.

“That’s the environment I want to set. This job is supposed to be fun. It doesn’t have to be just about money and pushing product on people. It’s supposed to be literally a fun job and that’s the environment I wanted to create for people.”

In a lot of ways, a salon is also an artist’s studio. That was important for Wolfe, who has a background in art. And example of her work can be found in the restroom at Wolfe & Co. in the form of a wall-sized wolf mural.

Hair and beauty are very much an art and Wolfe was keen on reflecting that.

Kennady Belich Kennady brings with her a long time interest in hair whose goals is to ensure you are looking and feeling great.

Services • Blonding and coloring services • Hair extensions.

“I wanted to embrace art and what it means to me and how you can show that on someone’s hair,” she said. “Everything you do for your client is customized just like it should be. If you asked me to do a painting for you, you’re going to tell me exactly what you want and that’s what I’m going to do.”

This last year, and especially the last four months, has been a whirlwind for Wolfe and those at Wolfe & Co. and in some ways it’s a reflection of the last 10 years for Wolfe, who entered beauty school somewhat late at 28 years old.

But the dream of being a part of something like Wolfe & Co. has always been with her. Perhaps in that way, Wolfe & Co. has been in the process of coming to life for a lot longer than it really has.

“I always knew I was going to do something big, because sometimes you have a feeling you’re going to do something big,” Wolfe said. “Whether it was going to be hair, artist or educator, which I’ve done those things. I didn’t think I would do this.”

But it’s the end result that truly shines.

“I think my favorite part about the building itself and the people I work with is if you want X-Y-Z, I love that you can get all of those things under one roof,” Wolfe said.

For more on Wolfe & Co., visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wolfeandcompany128. P Progress 2022 | Austin Daily Herald | 9

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W

If these

ALLS

could talk

Austin Windshield Plus at home in family-established location 12 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

Terry Schmidt has brought his business, Austin Windshield Plus, back home to where his family has worked for decades.

Photos by Eric Johnson/ photodesk@austindailyherald.com

By Eric Johnson Heading out of Austin on 10th Drive SE, and past the four-way stop, you’ll find a little auto glass shop with more history than maybe one would expect.

From the front it’s a rather unassuming building, painted white and accented with hues of blue and yellow. The building’s simplicity is reflected inside by the business’ two-vehicle capacity.

But glance around and you’ll see markers of the history associated with the building, which dates back to the middle of last century, with a vein of family running through it all.

Pictures and newspaper clippings are visible most everywhere you turn. Neon signs hangs from the halls, a hint to another business that once called the building home. The building feels old, but rich at the same time.

This is Austin Windshield Plus, owned by Terry Schmidt, and he is the latest in the line of Schmidts to use the building for business.

Before we go deeper into the past, though, it’s important to understand Schmidt’s story first. Schmidt bought Viking Auto Glass and Bumper in 2013 from a cousin, Fred Schmidt. Keen to avoid any confusion, he re-branded in 2015 to Austin Windshield Plus.

“Viking Glass … was going out of business in 2015-16,” Schmidt said. “I was getting some calls; people were thinking I was going out of busi-

“Just to be a part of this building again is fantastic.”

Terry Schmidt

ness too. That was one of those signs I needed to reinvent myself a little bit.”

Schmidt remained in the original Viking location for seven full years. At that time, Viking was located along Fourth Street SE, not far north from Woodson Kindergarten School. However, Schmidt had the opportunity to move to his current location and took up the opportunity to buy the building from his oldest brother Bill Schmidt, who was doing vinyl signs at the site.

The youngest brother, Tony Jr., was also working out of the building, carrying on a tradition of neon signs started by Schmidt’s dad, Tony Schmidt, Sr. Schmidt officially opened Austin Windshield Plus at the new site on June 1, 2021.

And this is where we get the opportunity to look at the rich history of the building itself, which began on the foundation of a family-owned business — Theissen Signs.

“I believe this building was built probably in the 40s or early 50s,” Schmidt said. “My dad joined Don and Rudy Theissen … they were my uncles and dad’s two brother-in-laws.”

Schmidt said his dad joined the business after he returned home from World War II. At the time, the business was building signs that could be seen not only around Austin, but throughout the area.

The signs hovered over all sorts of businesses, but not long after, Schmidt’s dad felt the need to bring a new element to the business.

A picture of Terry Schmidt’s dad Tony Schmidt Sr. lays on the work table in Austin Windshield Plus.

Inset: Terry Schmidt begins the work of cutting lose a damaged windshield.

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Terry Schmidt disconnects a sensor housing from a truck in his garage before replacing the windshield in January.

“He went to learn neon tube bending — it was either South or North Dakota,” Schmidt said. “He joined the two brothers-in-law to bring some electrical sign opportunities here — electrical and neon signs.”

Eventually, after Schmidt’s father and uncles passed away, Bill and Tony took over the business with the vinyl side of things, as well as continuing the tradition of neon tube bending.

“They operated two separate businesses out of here for another 15-20 years or so after dad passed,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt smiles when he thinks back to spending time in the building, watching his father and uncles create signs that would be visible to all who came to Austin.

“That is one of the greatest parts of the whole story,” Schmidt said. “I like that some of my other brothers worked here when they were teenagers.”

Around 1990 or 1991, Schmidt and his then wife moved back to Austin. Schmidt once again spent a couple years working in Theissen signs with the intent of buying into the family business. But things didn’t work out and a manufacturing opportunity back in the Twin Cities drew him back north.

But, as all good stories go, Schmidt has returned.

“Just to be a part of this building again is fantastic,” he said.

There’s a fondness of the location, but there is also a fondness in owning a business in Austin, where Schmidt has strived to become a part of the community by joining such groups as the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and Spruce Up Austin.

But it was the memory of the signs that still pull Schmidt back, especially the neon sign making.

“Neon was always in the corner,” Schmidt said. “Dad taught me to make neon when I 14 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

was here in the early 90s and then I opened my own neon business, called Today’s Neon, up in Burnsville.”

Today’s Neon stayed up and running for 15 years, but as technology shifted to LED lighting, neon began taking a hit.

“I realized that and it wasn’t as busy as it used to be, so I sold all of our equipment.”

The old building he’s in today hasn’t changed much. Anybody who has spent time in Theissen Signs is likely to find the building familiar and Schmidt is looking to keep it that way.

At best, Schmidt is toying with the idea of acquiring new technology such as an alignment system that would allow him to calibrate lane departure warning system cameras, which would cut down on the time spent taking vehicles elsewhere after a windshield is installed.

Otherwise, “… it’s as big as I need,” he said.

Schmidt and the businesses before him have been able to remain a part of Austin because of community support and Schmidt recognizes that.

Shopping local has played a major part in Schmidt being able to be a successful part of the Austin business community.

“Thank you for shopping locally,” Schmidt said. “Thank you to the local community for shopping locally and helping me grow this business. Every year has experienced growth. I have so many repeat customers and the local insurance companies support us.”

“That’s really important,” he added. “As you know, people support each other in this town.”

Austin Windshield plus is located at 611 10th Drive SE in Austin. P

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Wind on the

PRAIRIE

Hundreds of local hires expected for 79-turbine Dodge County wind energy implement, NextEra says

By Savannah Howe With several months having passed since an update in the Herald on the Dodge County wind project, NextEra Energy has been busy in moving the 79-turbine endeavor towards the construction starting line.

According to project developer Mark Lennox, NextEra is “really excited” about where the project stands now.

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“... Probably the most interesting piece of news is that we’ve completed our economic analysis that was done through the University of Minnesota Extension School,” Lennox said. In October, NextEra reported some estimated numbers of what the direct economic impact of the turbine array would be. “But with the school, we’re able to have a broader picture of what those impacts are.”

“We’re really tied in at the county level with the county environmental offices. We do walkthroughs of the site plans, and we make plans on all of the impacts that the project has on the county level.”

Mark Lennox NextEra Project Developer

Lake Benton II turbines stand in fields near Ruthton, Minnesota, on Aug. 14, 2019. Lake Benton II Wind Project was developed for Excel Energy by NextEra Energy. Photo provided As reported by Lennox, the UM study found that NextEra’s investment into Dodge, Mower and Steele Counties will have “a really great impact,” creating 870 jobs over the life of the project and generating approximately $400 million in economic activity throughout the region over the next 30 years.

“Those [are] great benefits that we are able to talk about more specifically since October,” Lennox said.

The project’s timeline has been advancing on-schedule. NextEra recently submitted permit amendments, which currently are in the public comment stage with the Department of Commerce and the Minnesota Public Utility Commission. The energy developer is “hopeful to have [their] permits reviewed and approved roughly this time next year.”

“I think this community is going to benefit from the local jobs,” Matt Eissey, Senior Communications Specialist for NextEra, said. “It’s going to create local investments, and the economic impact of the tax revenue that it will provide for the community can go to local schools, local resources, possibly new roads. It’s going to have a broad spectrum of benefits for the area.”

With almost 10 years of development backing the wind project, environmental studies have been active, in-depth and rigorous, Lennox said, as is the State Department of Natural Resources’ and the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s review of NextEra’s findings. He explained that multiple studies have been conducted on impacts to wetlands and wildlife.

Eissey added that the land surrounding the turbine is remediated to its original state so landowners can continue to use it for farming purposes if they so choose.

“We’re really tied in at the county level with the county environmental offices,” Lennox said. “We do walkthroughs of the site plans, and we make plans on all of the impacts that the project has on the county level. At all levels of stakeholder activity, we try to be very active.”

Construction is still slated to kick off in May of 2023, and the company expects the turbines to be online by the end of that year.

Lennox said that NextEra has gotten a number of letters of support for the project since the dockets opened up in September, adding that the company has done “a lot of outreach to members of the community, ag community and economic development communities,” as well as local businesses.

Those dockets are posted publicly with the Minnesota Public Utility Commission, and Eissey says that NextEra encourages feedback via its website (dodgecountywind.com), through dodgecountywind@nexteraenergy.com, or through its Facebook page and newsletter. According to Lennox, this is the best way to watch for the job openings that NextEra will soon be posting.

“We will be active in letting people know job opportunities there, and we’re committed to being as local as possible when it comes to hiring for both the construction and the operation,” Lennox said. “So we will have job fairs to do outreach in the community for all of those open positions.”

With Austin and the surrounding regions a “wonderful area for renewable development,” the 79 turbines being installed in Dodge County is only the beginning of NextEra’s upcoming investments in southern Minnesota, Lennox said.

“We absolutely intend to continue working in these great communities that we’ve been in partner with for a long time,” Lennox said. P

Wind towers, similar to these in rural Mower County, will soon have investment impacts in Mower, Dodge and Steele counties.

Herald file photo

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Uniting the professionals of Austin Program brings together a prime networking opportunity

By Eric Johnson Over the years, Austin has worked to establish a strong and ever-growing business community.

That work has fallen to individual companies and entities, but is ultimately led by the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce.

A variety of programs and opportunities have been generated in an effort to continue strengthening business ties, but also draw more people to Austin. To that end, the Connecting Young Professionals program seeks to work toward all of these goals.

“The whole mission of it is to empower, connect and kind of grow the young professional network in Austin,” said Jaclyn Bird, president of the board heading the group. “We really wanted to focus on attracting young talent to the jobs, the opportunities, the events, everything in Austin and then retaining them too.”

A major part of The program acts as Connecting Young a base in order to really Professionals is the strengthen ties within the social dynamic. business community utilizing both social events as well as personal development and community service projects.

The group began in 2019, and enjoyed early successes before COVID-19 played its part. Despite good numbers, Bird said Connecting Young Professionals did see a drop when the pandemic anchored itself to our lives.

“We kept it going through COVID, which was a miracle,” Bird said. “We did a lot of virtual events. We lost a little bit of interest because it was the Zoom fatigue.

We’re kind of getting back to in-person events and getting people out.”

Which is important, because for the Connecting Young Professional group to optimally work, it requires face-to-face interactions. Relationships are much easier forged when people can be together rather than through a computer monitor.

The group, as Bird explains, is open to those who are, “21 to 40ish.” We don’t put a hard cap on it. You know, when you turn 40, we’re not like, ‘okay, see you later.’”

“We do 21 just because we do events at breweries and bars and places like that,” Bird further explained.

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From left to right, the Connecting Young Professionals Board: Jim Koenig, Hormel Food Corps.; Varinh Van Vugt, Austin Welcome Center; Jaclyn Bird, Jaclyn Bird-Edward Jones and John Atoyebi, Austin Area Chamber or Commerce.

Photos provided

While the social aspect is important, the group is about “We want to keep it light, but have that development as well. Many of the events are geared toward opportunity for people to make connections and if certain areas in which members currently work in an effort they want to take it further they can.” to strengthen all corners of the business and professional Jaclyn Bird community.

“Some events are going to be more tailored to a certain and making friends at first,” Bird said. “And then it works person or somebody that works at a company vs. somebody when you meet somebody who works at this company: ‘Hey who owns their own company,” Bird said. we’ve hung out a couple times, what do you do? Do you enThe group is also able to lean on the Chamber itself as a joy your job? Hey maybe I want to work there at some point resource. or vice versa.’”

“It’s a program of the Chamber so we are able to use their “We want to keep it light, but have that opportunity for expertise, which is very helpful,” Bird said. people to make connections, and if they want to take it furConnecting Young Professionals has done a variety of ther they can,” she added. community service projects in the years since it was estabThe group has even discussed doing an official networklished in 2019, including working with Spruce Up Austin, ing event to build up that base and to expose people to othadopting a patch of area between Wescott Athletic Comer’s experiences as much as possible. plex and Kwik Trip to keep tidy, as well as be part of clean-up An important aspect of that is finding out what profesprojects throughout town. sionals are looking for when coming to Austin.

But another large part of what they do is professional “We had a discussion last year with the City Council,” Bird development. Making use of the skills of those in the group said. “We had Mayor King, Oballa Oballa and a few other key as well as going outside and bringing development opporplayers in the city. We sat down with them and they said, ‘so tunities in. what do young professionals want?’ We are kind of that con“I’ve hosted Investing 101 a couple times. We’ve had Kris duit to the city and businesses that helps explain our needs The Connecting Young Professionals group takes Heichel come and do a Home Buying 101 type of thing and and what can you do to help us try to retain these young part in a number of community service projects what does that even look like. We just did a health insurance professionals.” throughout the year. one with Dan Sparks,” Bird said.

If you are interested in joining Connecting Young ProfesThe third aspect of the group is networking opportunisionals, they can be contacted through the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and you ties. Those returning or new to town can use the group to meet others, not only socially, can join through one of the board members. There is also a Facebook page you can mesbut professionally. sage at: www.facebook.com/cypaustin. P “When I came back, my networking was honestly just making connections with people

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Branch Manager • NMLS #27180 1403 15th Ave NW, Suite A, Austin, MN 55912 Office: 507-460-4500 Mobile: 507-438-1554 kris.heichel@fairwaymc.com www.yourwaymortgage.com www.krisheichelteam4heroes.com *Fairway Advantage pre-approval is based on a full review of the borrower’s creditworthiness and is contingent upon there being no material changes in the borrower’s financial condition or creditworthiness at the time of final loan approval. Final loan approval is subject to the following conditions: (1) borrower has identified a suitable property, and a valid appraisal supports the proposed loan amount; (2) a valid title insurance binder has been issued; and (3) borrower selects a mortgage program and locks in an interest rate that will support the pre-approved monthly payment amount. Loan must close before the expiration date provided in the pre-approval. You understand that submitting verifying documentation is not a requirement to receive an estimate of closing costs associated with a mortgage loan. Copyright©2021 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. All rights reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Equal Housing Opportunity. AZ License #BK-0904162.

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Steve Patterson, left, is native to Rochester and runs the front-end operations of Lansing Corners, north of Austin. Brian Miller, from Albert Lea, mans the kitchen and the brewery.

Photos by Savannah Howe/newsroom@austindailyherald.com 24 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

Reinventing Lansing Corners New model notches first successful months of newest adventure

By Savannah Howe The big red building at 27017 Hwy 218 north of Austin is a long chapter book, holding a different story for each generation.

Lansing Corners, the scarlet mammoth of a structure on the corner of the highway and Mower County Road 2, was first opened as a gas station and diner in 1938; it exchanged many hands and identities before most recently being purchased by Steve Patterson and Brian Miller, a Rochester-Albert Lea duo who took ownership of the monument and are working to turn the ‘Corners into a bustling beer and burger hotspot.

Reopening Lansing Corners was a roll of the dice for Patterson and Miller, who originally planned to open a brewery in Rochester. Like most business plans of March 2020, the pair’s hopes were quickly dashed as the pandemic progressed.

“Basically everyone said ‘tough luck,’” Patterson recalled. “There was no bailout for businesses that were almost open. The bank pulled our loan when we had already invested $60,000 into the project. So at that point we just decided that we had to wait for the right opportunity.”

The right opportunity just happened to be 45-miles-or-so south; Austin’s Clifford of a restaurant was ripe for the taking.

Patterson and Miller purchased the building and its 4.5-acre-lot and opened their reinvented version of Lansing Corners on Sept. 4 of last year.

It’s been almost half a year since opening, and the restaurant’s near-future agenda is chock-full with exciting updates and activities. The owners feel their up-

dated burgers-and-fries-forward menu has been received well. Business has been good since opening, Patterson said, but the new owners have a lot in store for the upcoming warm season that they’re eager to share with Austin.

“We’re planning to put in a patio in the spring and add some seats to our restaurant,” Patterson said. Outdoor concerts are slated to start this summer too.

“The inside of the restaurant is getting closer to where we want it to be (which includes new light fixtures, paint, and televisions). There’s so much work to do on this building. As we have the time and money, we’ll do it, but we’re short on both.”

Even in the winter months, Lansing Corners is teeming with activity. The restaurant hosts weekly free poker and bingo, periodical karaoke or comedy show nights, an indoor cornhole league every Thursday, and special one-time events like the upcoming Beer Olympics, set to take place on the last Saturday of February.

The Olympics, Patterson said, will be a tournament of all things beer games, like quarters and pong.

“I’m trying to create an environment that everyone wants to hang out in,” Patterson said. “I’m always super jealous of everyone that gets to just come in and hang out. … I’m really excited for what we’ve created here.”

Opening, the owner lamented, has been “a hell of a learning curve.” Lansing Corners has changed its hours four times since opening in an attempt to best meet Austin’s wants and needs; the restaurant is currently closed Monday and Tuesday, open 4 p.m. - 12 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. Patterson is also battling to get his Apple Maps listing updated; iPhone users, when putting Lansing Corners into their GPS, are informed that the restaurant is permanently closed. “iPhone users beware, we are not permanently closed,” Patterson laughed.

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In September, the two commitAfter over triple the expected ted to immersing in Austin culture amount of people showed up to Lansing Corners’ new set-up includes refreshed light fixtures, a new coat for the long-haul. While underthe restaurant’s soft opening last of paint and an array of TVs to tune into your favorite game. standing that locals may miss the year, the owners don’t plan to identities that Lansing Corners held have a grand opening this spring in years past, Patterson hopes he as expected — business seems to and his business partner have sold already be in full swing. the community on their food being Patterson and Miller are also good — and on them being good excited to begin their collaborapeople. tion brew with Austin’s Angry Hog “We’ve had to win some people Brewery and Taproom; in the colover because this building means lab, brewers from each place will so much to them, and everyone has come up with part of the recipe, had their favorite version of it,” Patand the resulting creation will be terson said. “... Everyone has a lot offered on tap at both locations. of great memories here.”

The best way to stay up-to-date For those that have been a with the restaurant’s events and tougher sell since the ‘Corners hours are through Facebook. reopened, Patterson is asking for Despite not getting the chance a chance. The cheese curd bacon to spend much time in Austin outburger comes highly recommendside of the four walls of his restaued by both owners, and they have rant, Patterson feels he has gotten also decided to carry over the to know the community well in the supper-club-staple prime rib night last five months. into the restaurant’s new chapter.

“The people have been awePatterson and Miller are excited some,” he said. “I feel like I can to see more and more of the Austin community come through their doors. Each day they trust my regulars that come in here and everyone’s just really welcoming, really see their gamble on Austin turn into a greater reward. honest. That’s a great feeling, coming in here and having support. It can be tough to “We’ve taken some small risks, which has given us some confidence to take bigger come into a small town because everyone definitely knows you’re not from around risks,” Patterson said. “We’re stepping out of our comfort zone.” P here.”

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While Lansing Corners has seen plenty of upgrades, there is still plenty to remind those from Austin of what came before.

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Care when you need it.

Mayo Clinic Health System remains committed to providing the care you and your family need.

Whether you are seeking routine or preventive care, or treatment for a serious or complex condition, Mayo Clinic Health System has convenient and safe options available, including virtual or in-person appointments. mayoclinchealthsystem.org

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Community

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‘These animals are counting on you’

Katie Lunning nuzzles Nala the camel. Photos by Savannah Howe/newsroom@austindailyherald.com

Rural Austin hobby farmers dedicate their lives to furry, feathered friends

By Savannah Howe In the words of Banfield Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Katie Lunning, there’s no snow days on a farm, and her parents’ hobby farm just outside of Austin is no exception.

Mornings start early out on the Subra homestead; as the day beckons dawn, the farm’s many animals stir, braying and squawking for breakfast. One by one, the Subras haul buckets of feed to each coop and stall until breakfast is served by 6 a.m. to dozens of animals in rain or shine, flood or blizzard.

A backyard animal kingdom

Being the caretaker of a hobby farm is no easy feat, but it is not without reward—rewards like probably being the only Austin-area native who can call a camel part of the family. The Subras’ exotic animals roam the same land that Lunning’s father called home in his childhood; the original farmhouse, though no longer occupied, still stands on the

property. As a boy, Bill Subra’s chores were not unlike those of any other farm kid’s— cleaning up after cows and chickens—but when he set out to start his exotic hobby farm, he did so with a creature that had a bit more of a bite.

“He had a cougar, if you go way back,” Gail Subra said of her husband’s first venture into the animal kingdom. The big cat addition to the farm was over 30 years ago and long since passed away; now the stars on the Subra farm are the camels, including 20-year-old Nala, who have been around for most of Lunning’s life.

“I remember bringing Nala home,” Lunning recalled, adding that the camel is her “absolute favorite.” Of all the animals on the Subra farm, the camels are the biggest not only in stature but in personality, and are often playful and excited. “I was in I think second grade, she was probably a month old. We had to bottle-feed her for six months, four times a day.”

Camels, as it happens, are not very good mothers to their newborn offspring. As a result, the Subras have had to nurture camel calves in their first days of life just as they would a human baby, waking up to bottle-feed the animal every two to three hours.

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Because the caretakers bond so strongly with the calves in the infancy stages, the humans and camels often share a lifelong friendship; Nala, for example, has been with the Subras for two decades and will remain on their farm for the rest of her 40-something-year-long life, along with her daughter, Miley.

The Subra farm is also currently home to many species of donkey, sheep, and goat — as well as several of the winged variety, including a peacock — and in the past has seen ringtail lemurs, macaws, Amazon parrots, sugar gliders and llamas.

“I think it’s a lot of fun,” Lunning said. “We’ve had so many different kinds of animals and different experiences that a lot of people probably haven’t been able to experience.”

A day in the life

The oldest Lunning boy, Beau, poses for a picture with Nala — his “favorite on the farm” he shared many times.

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The days are busy here at this southern Minnesota menagerie: the flocks of birds must be fed before dusk when they begin to roost, big animals need to eat twice a day, lambs and calves must be tucked in safe and warm during the harsh winter temperatures. Drinking water supplies must be kept from getting frozen — and, if they are, must be promptly replaced.

“There’s no snow days on a farm,” Lunning laughed.

“No matter what the weather is: rain, snow, blizzard. We’re outside working, taking care of them.”

Bill Subra is retired and fields the morning round of chores; Lunning, along with her sons — Beau (5), Henry (2), and eventually baby Maclane, who gets to snooze in a warm running car Gail Subra as the older Lunnings make chore rounds — to help in the afternoons. It’s a family affair, Gail Subra explained, and so beneficial to children.

“Just look at my girls and how lucky they were,” she said.

“They might not have had all these video games and stuff, but look at my grandkids here. Beau is five and Henry is two, and

“Just look at my girls and how lucky they were. They might not have had all these video games and stuff, but look at my grand-kids here. Beau is five and Henry is two, and they love to help.”

they love to help.”

For young kids, there’s nothing like two lungs full of fresh air, and helping on grandpa’s farm does just that for the Lunning boys. Just seeing her grandkids get outside and play — usually naming the goats and chasing the chickens — brings Subra joy. Her and her husband’s goals for the farm in the future, she said, are just to keep bringing their grandkids happy memories as they grow, memories like the ones that have stuck with their mother and aunt for many years.

“When they have an interest in something, I’m sure Papa will always make sure they get that experience,” Subra

said, watching two-year-old Henry crash through a puddle and scatter a couple of perturbed ducks.

Vacations are difficult for the Subra and Lunning families. The hobby farm is a lot of work, Lunning said, a huge commitment with great reward.

“No matter what you do, where you go during the day, this is here,” Subra added. “These animals are counting on you.”

The Subra exotic animal troupe can be seen in action around Christmastime in live nativity scenes around Albert Lea, Austin and Adams, and shown at fairs during the summer. P

A warm sunset hangs over the Subra hobby farm.

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&

Past Future Sumit Bhagra, M.D. takes over Austin and Albert Lea Mayo sites with an eye on learning from the past and preparing for the future entrance and adding an entire new wing. That opened in 2012. The latest work on the hospital wrapped up all aspects in 2021.

Bhagra explained that all of this work has been able to improve the site in three priIt’s been an exciting time for Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Austin over the past demary areas: people, plant and processes. cade — filled with remodels, additions and growth.

Mayo has now established a tighter alignment with the Mayo Clinic in RochesSumit Bhagra, M.D. has been there for all of it and during that time has assumed ter, improving best practices and heightening medical science across the board. the position of site lead physician for both Austin and Albert Lea sites. Bhagra took Obviously, the site has been expanded to accommodate more and when it comes over the position from Dr. Mark Ciota in August of 2021. to people, both the Austin and Albert Lea sites combined has added close to 40 It is literally a world away from where he started his medical career. providers.

Bhagra started his career in India before taking the opportunity to train in internal “The people, the plant and the processes are functioning at a much higher level medicine and endocrinology with Mayo Clinic in Rochester. today than they were four, five years ago,” Bhagra said. “We were doing a great job “I’ve always been interested in metabolic health, sort of healthy living and becomat the time and at the time I think were delivering care as best as a ing a diabetes expert, as well as other hormonal disorders, seemed semi-independent hospital can, but truly getting this to be an integratlike a natural fit for me,” Bhagra said. ed medical system has helped us function at a much higher level.”

But it wasn’t necessarily the path Bhagra thought he would be Bhagra expects these changes to have far-reaching implications as taking. It was an opportunity that came along at the right time that well. couldn’t be turned down.

“I have some great things envisioned in the future, say over the next “They say life is lived forward and understood backwards,” Bhagra eight to 10 years and Austin and Albert Lea Mayo Clinic Health Systems said. “I took the opportunity and as I look back it all makes sense. Did is going to be in a much better spot in 2030 thanks to investments we I envision myself working in Austin or being a community provider in made in technology and the forward thinking things we’ve already Minnesota? Did I know the state I would be living in? I did not. At the done,” Bhagra said. time the opportunity was available and you grab the opportunity and While Bhagra has seen some truly monumental advances in both cityou run with it and find yourself in a place that when you look back it ies, there’s no way to talk about the last 10-15 years without mentionall makes sense. It does for me today.” ing the elephant in the room.

Bhagra completed his training in 2009 and chose to stay in the COVID-19, the pandemic that’s been dominating lives for the past area. two years, has placed extremely high levels of pressure on hospitals “The Mayo Clinic Health System was a good fit for me because my Dr. Sumit Bhagra across the nation. Mayo Clinic is no different. heart really lies in community practice,” he said. “I’ve been here for During this time, the hospital system has had to deal with staffing the last 12 years or so practicing.” shortages and capacity issues as it battles the pandemic even at the In 2015, Bhagra took on the medical director role at both the Auslocal level. tin and Albert Lea sites and that led into the lead physician role that blends the posiAt the same time, Bhagra said the hospital has been able to pivot in a lot of ways. tions of CEO and medical director.

“Sometimes adversity brings out the best of us and obviously COVID is a reality He’s been at that job for six months. we’ve dealt with,” he said. “But the way in which we’ve collaborated … for example The amount of change Bhagra has seen during this time in southeastern Minnesota our primary care physicians, who see patients in the clinic, have been helping out in has been staggering. Austin’s site has been defined by growth that broadens the lothe hospital because there was a need. They’ve been putting in their best efforts poscation’s capabilities. It’s built additions including the Family Birthing Unit, remodeled sible, despite all of the adversity they’ve faced.” surgical and enhanced other areas.

At the same time, there have been advances coming out of the pandemic. Mayo The site has explored and installed revolutionary technologies and has been a mahas expanded its telemedicine capabilities during the pandemic, which has improved jor part of centralizing collaboration among the health system sites, as well as Mayo overall how the hospital is meeting patients where they are.

Clinic in general.

It’s a shift Bhagra expects to continue into the future, even if the future is a difficult And all of that has taken part in a relatively slim time frame. The first mammoth adthing to read. dition expanded the hospital on the northwest edge of the site, remodeling the front

By Eric Johnson

“They say life is lived forward and understood backwards. I took the opportunity and as I look back it all makes sense.”

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Sumit Bhagra, M.D., medical director for Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and Austin and Mark Ciota, M.D. and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea and Austin in August of 2018, reveal plans for the new Family Birth Center and a time frame for construction during a news conference. Herald file photo “If you asked me to predict the future three years ago, I would not know where we would be today because COVID-19 did not exist,” he said. “Whatever I predict today, the caveat might be different in 2030.”

Mayo has found itself adapting to people’s needs, rather than people having to adjust to changes at Mayo.

“They want to consume health care differently and it no longer works to ask our customers to adapt to us,” Bhagra said. “We’ve got to adapt to what people want and what people want is consumerism. They want easy access, they want virtual access, they want to be able to see their providers in person as well as on video when needed.”

The pandemic has only served to heighten that expanded technological need. A need that is happening at an ever-quickening pace.

“Change happens slowly at first and then suddenly overnight we were able to switch because of all the investments we have done,” Bhagra said, speaking specifically to telemedicine capabilities. “It’s also said that luck favors the prepared, so the preparations 40 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

were under way for a new world that was going to be technologically driven.”

It’s probably a foregone conclusion that technology will continue to define how modern medicine is delivered to the public, but it’s hard to say in what way. Technological advances will continue to come faster and faster and Bhagra sees Mayo being on the front edge of that.

But even with shifts in technology, Mayo has to be ready to meet the main challenge first. All roads lead to patient care.

“The one thing that hasn’t changed is the singular focus on the needs of the patient coming first,” Bhagra said. “I’ve worked in and seen many other health systems and Mayo is unique in that they have a singular patient care focus. We always design our solutions based on what the patient would need.”

Part of that is establishing recruitment and retention to keep top-quality staff surrounding the patient, because at its core it’s all about top-notch patient care.

“Over the past 15 years we’ve become more nimble, we’ve become more fast moving, multi-faceted,” Bhagra said. “We realize the synergies of working together.” P

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Hidden heroes

Behind the curtain of a Riverland Theatre production

By Savannah Howe

Austin High School student Rylan Clark secures part of a platform frame together at Riverland Community College. Clark helps backstage as part of the school’s posetsecondary enrollment options program,

Photos by Savannah Howe/ newsroom@austindailyherald.com

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If only theatrical productions were as simple as lights, camera and action.

Playgoers being dazzled with carefully-rehearsed performances, beautifully-built sets and stunning tricks of light and sound doesn’t happen overnight. It is largely owed to hours of design, construction and technical work. Behind every actor is a sound technician hoping beyond all hopes that the microphone doesn’t fail, and behind every kickline is a stagehand scurrying a used set off the stage.

“The work that the students do is very important,” said Riverland Theatre technical director John Deyo. “I could not do all this by myself.”

Much of building a set involves high-intensity, heavy-lifting work, and thankless work at that; the Riverland Theatre stagehands dedicate hours of their time to preparing for a production despite having classes, jobs and other responsibilities. They are just as essential to a theatrical operation as the performers; the only difference is the lack of applause and flower bouquets when it’s time to close the curtain.

So just who are the unsung heroes in the John Deyo stage shadows?

Riverland Technical Ian Gearhart is a Riverland Community ColDirector lege student pursuing a degree in agricultural science. He has been working for Riverland Theatre and the Summerset Theatre for six years, doing much of the hammering, painting, sawing and heavy lifting that goes into getting sets and stages performance-ready.

“My sister, Lindsey Williams, is director of the [Riverland] theatre department,” Gearhart said. “It’s been her lifelong passion, and when I moved here, I needed something to do. I sort of fell into it. I love the community, and when I go to work every day, we’re always doing something different, whether it’s construction, or painting, or making props.

It’s never the same thing for too long, so it’s exciting and doesn’t get boring.”

A day in the life of a stagehand depends on what stages of

“Each student brings something unique to the table. Some are very artistic, some are musical.”

preparing for production the team is in. The initial steps are design, then Gearhart and the others get to work on hauling in supplies and cutting and assembling the material for platforms, stairs and other set components.

The construction work can be grueling, but Gearhart gets to flex his creative muscles just as much, too; an artist himself, he’s taken painting courses and gets the opportunity to paint set designs and panels after the construction is complete.

Certain “center-stage” components that are designed to stand out could take hours to assemble and paint.

“Each student brings something unique to the table,” Deyo said. “Some are very artistic, some are musical. Some are just good workers.”

Those working in stagecraft are under a lot of pressure to make sure that their work is structurally sound and safe, lest a disaster occur in the middle of a musical number. Deyo always checks over the stage workers’ finished works for sturdiness and safety.

Even after hours and hours of sweat equity, the stagecraft team’s work isn’t complete after the stage is ready for the show. On the night of the showing, Gearhart will work in the box office, selling tickets and interacting with customers, then will quickly move into the soundbox to work as a soundboard operator.

Deyo and the rest of the stagecraft staff must be careful to build safe and structurally sound platforms.

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John Deyo, Theatre Technical Director for Riverland Community College, hoists up a 2 X 4 for a set in progress.

As Deyo explained, many campus jobs allow students to multi-task, even study or do homework, while working. Stagecraft is not one of those jobs. The work is hard and demanding.

“They get dirty, they get paint all over them,” the director said. “They work hard while they’re here, and they do it by choice.

It’s not the easiest job on campus, but they want to be here because theater is important to them. Ian, in particular, I count on his artistic skills. He is a great painter.”

The students learn a lot while building a stage — everything from power tool safety to stage management to programming a soundboard to how to paint a realistic wall to look like concrete, brick or wallpaper — which is the goal of having students involved, Deyo said.

That education can start as early as high school; Rylan Clark is an Austin High School student who took an interest in the performing arts after his mom was involved in the Matchbox Theatre. Clark is working as a stagehand as part of a postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) course, a way for high school students to get college credits and explore college courses without paying college tuition. PSEO students don’t get a paycheck either, though, so Clark’s work is all volunteer

work to get a theater activities college credit.

“Perhaps they will find something useful for their futures,” he added. “There’s all kinds of benefits to students working here. And since they are very busy with their schoolwork and maybe an off-campus job, that means they really want to be here doing it, not because they have to.”

All in all, the behind-the-scenes staff have a ton of responsibility. A show can’t go on without it’s lead actress, but it certainly can’t go on without its set or sound equipment either.

“Two worst-case scenarios come to mind,” Gearhart said. “The first is that something isn't safe. We’re building things really fast, but as a community member, I’ve been an actor up on stage too. I care about our actors. So we always walk through everything, checking everything over. If we build a ladder we will go up and down it many times. “... The other is if there’s a technical issue, I’m up there troubleshooting as fast as I can to get everything back smooth, so the audience hopefully doesn’t notice.”

The Riverland Theatre stagecraft team is currently preparing for the upcoming performance of “Little Shop of Horrors, a deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical.” P

Insuring Homes & Farms Since 1885

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Ian Gearhart, center, along with John Deyo, left, and Rylan Clark work onset at Riverland Community College.

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Back in the The Austin Bruins are working their way back into public in order to contribute

By Rocky Hulne The Austin Bruins draw hundreds of fans when they take to the ice in Riverside Arena on Friday and Saturday nights, but there is more to the team then what the players do on game nights.

The Bruins, who are in their 11th season, have always been active in the community.

The most obvious way the team gives back is when it started Paint the Rink Pink, which inspired Austin to start Paint the Town Pink, but the team has also made an impact in many other ways.

Before the pandemic, Bruins players would stop by elementary schools and read to

Public Eye the students, but those events have been put on hold due to restrictions.

The team has still found ways to stay involved through youth clinics at local churches and by volunteering at Ruby’s Food Pantry.

The team’s biggest impact has come on the ice with the next generation of hockey players. The Bruins have held open skates with mites, squirts and pee wee players that include boys and girls.

Liam Whitehouse, a first year Bruin, said those skating sessions are a blast, especially when the players see those same kids outside their locker room on game nights.

“It’s fun. We were those kids once too. It’s fun to see their smiles when you’re out there with them. They love being on the ice with the older guys and we love being out there with them too,” Whitehouse said. “It’s cool seeing those kids on and off the ice.”

Austin head coach Steve Howard can relate to those youths as he was one of them as well. He knows the importance of sharing the game with younger players within the community.

After a year where COVID-19 forced the Bruins out of the public eye, the NAHL team is able to once again give back to the community. Photos provided

46 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

“When I was young, I had a pro team in town and that’s all I wanted to do was to be one of those guys,” Howard said. “Hopefully that’s what the Bruins are here, and hopefully they can inspire some of those young kids to keep at it, do the right things and try to attain the junior level, and hopefully college and pro after.”

Although COVID-19 restrictions have made things tricky, Howard wants his team to have as many opportunities as possible to help in the community. Not only is it important to give back, but it also helps mold the Bruins players into quality young men.

“That’s part of hockey. Once you get to the junior levels and beyond, it’s all about doing our part in the community,” Howard said. “Some doors are still closed and we get it and we understand. Some doors are wide open and we like coming out. If anyone would like to talk to us about community involvement or if they have any ideas, they should definitely reach out to us.”

Whitehouse, who is from Mount Kisco, New York, has enjoyed his first season with the Bruins and he’s also had a good time getting to know various community members while getting out and about in town.

“It’s a good feeling to give back to the community,” Whitehouse said. “You’re not just part of a hockey team, you’re part of a town.” P

Throughout their time in Austin, the Bruins have been fan favorites of the community’s children. Photo provided

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Education

Woodson Kindergarten Center Principal Jill Rollie demonstrates what is in her school’s own Care Closet, which is supported by the Early Risers Kiwanis’ Kids Closet program.

Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com 48 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

Karing for Kids Kids Closet and Caring Closets support children and their education

By Eric Johnson There’s a passion that is the undercurrent of education. The path of that current is always flowing to what’s best for the child and when a child is not in the proper frame of mind for education, the current can diverge elsewhere.

Throughout the nation, students are forced to cope with everyday hurdles that can get in the way of a proper education. Austin is no different, but a number of organizations have come together to support Austin’s schools in an effort to try and take away some of those obstacles away.

The Kids Closet program in Austin is an initiative to ensure that schools have the proper materials to get students through a day.

These materials range from pencils and paper all the way to clothing, including winter wear.

The Early Risers Kiwanis Club is the primary funder of the group, donating $3,000 each year. On top of that, money also comes from Faith Free Evangelical Church as well as the Austin Eagles.

It’s a single-minded effort to make sure kids are ready to learn.

“What brought it on is we’ve all known teachers who have been buying pencils and crayons and lined paper for the kids,” said Kiwanis member Rick Young. “One of the member’s wife is a teacher and he brought to the board of the Kiwanis Club that the teachers are spending a huge amount of money out of their own pockets on living essentials.”

With the knowledge that teachers were spending so much of their own money, the Early Risers decided to start donating funds with the first school year being 2015-16.

Early on, money would be split up between each Austin Public Schools elementary in town, coming to the tune of $500 for each school.

Eventually Faith Free came on board with another $1,500 and so more facilities were added to the mix, including the Head Start Program, Woodson Kindergarten Center and the Community Learning Center.

But the partnership didn’t end there.

The Eagles Club also donate $200 to the cause. The program has been a success throughout Austin’s education system.

“I would say that every day, when we are serving our children, we want to make sure they are ready to learn and that means basic needs we want to meet within our school.”

Jill Rollie Woodson Principal

Members of the Early Risers Kiwanis Club and Austin Public Schools board members and principals are photographed during a presentation of 3,700 to the Kids Closet program in August. Herald file photo Progress 2022 | Austin Daily Herald | 49

“We asked the various teachers and the principals if it was enough and they said ‘yes,’” Young said. “What they also do is they will, toward the end of the year ... if they need to shuttle supplies around.”

Many of the schools benefiting from the program have expanded on this program and created Care Closets within their schools, which include racks or drawers of clothing and even washing machines and dryers.

It’s a way to remove distractions that would otherwise be present from wet or cold clothing, lack of proper clothing or accidents that simply pop up during the day.

In the wake of these distractions can come a lack of concentration from the student.

“I would say that every day when we are serving our children, we want to make sure they are ready to learn and that means some basic needs we want to meet within our school,” said Woodson Principal Jill Rollie. “Just to hear about our families that may be experiencing some challenges or barriers and just be able to support our children as needs arise.”

While accidents may occur during the day, Rollie and others in APS administration understand that some families are coming from a point of hardship. Of struggle. That’s where the Care Closet and the Kid’s Closet program play a vital role in plugging in that support.

“It’s a tremendous resource from the community and we are so grateful for the many organizations in town who do support and partner with schools for exactly those reasons,” Rollie said. “Those basic needs.”

Young and those that organizations behind Kids Closet understand the need, but they also realize that there is a stigma that comes along with it.

The unfortunate fact is that some children will come to school and will reflect the lack of necessary essentials that maybe a family can’t provide.

They also understand that these hardships don’t go unnoticed by the children themselves.

“Kids know,” Young said. “When they are sitting in soiled clothing or when they are wet, dirty and cold, they know. When everybody else is running around the same way, it’s a little bit different. I think [Kids Closet] is one of the better programs we participate in.”

However, the program isn’t predicated on hardship alone. Sometimes things just happen.

Late in 2021, Rollie showed off the Woodson Care Closet, filled with school supplies and the aforementioned clothing options.

Discreetly tucked away in a room at the school, the Closet is arranged in such a way as to allow for quick access if a teacher needs it, because often the need can arise in flash. An accident at lunch, wet clothes from being outside or a student simply comes to school having forgot the necessary clothing.

Not only that, the circumstance may take away a prime opportunity to teach. Recess and holding classes outdoors is vitally important to the Woodson curriculum, but to do that the students need to be prepared.

“Across all children, recess is a critically important part of the day and at Woodson we focus on outdoor learning,” Rollie said. “It is critical that we have students ready and prepared to go outside and do some of that learning outside. It fills a plethora of development needs.”

Strip away those barriers and education stands on much more solid ground. The Kids Closet program is a foundation of that education. The Early Risers, Faith Free Evangelical and Eagles are playing a supremely important part in keeping children on track for a proper education.

“I think as educators, who work very closely with children throughout the day, we see what those needs are,” Rollie said. “We have lots of different advocacy to try and ensure and help support families in our community. This is one avenue in which with that funding we can supply those pieces right now, at the moment.”

For those that give, it’s an opportunity to help right here at home. The Early Risers generally stay away from donating to causes out of town, not because they are unimportant, but because the group feels that money is better used in Austin.

“We’ve always maintained there’s a need over there, but we’ve always maintained we’re raising money and we want to support our families and our town,” Young said.

“It starts here and you’re never going to get rid of the problem entirely and you’re never going to eradicate it. Hopefully you can put a dent in the problem. Helping your neighbor.” P 50 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

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Lydia Wilde and Myiah Wagner rehearse a scene from “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon!” in Southland’s auditorium, which was part of the school’s recent expansion.

Photos by Eric johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

54 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

“The community really has supported drama. Yes, we put on great productions, but the people came. They will come and through the years when they started catching on to one-act performances, we could easily have 100 people coming.”

Madlain Vander

Southland drama director Madlain Vander talks to her one-act play group before a rehearsal.

Run it from the top

Southland drama department gets boost with new auditorium

By Eric Johnson It’s a little after 5:30 p.m. on a weekday night in January and it’s crunch time for the Southland one-act play crew.

Not only are they nearing the Sub-Section 1A one-act play competition, but they were also trying to prepare for two home shows for parents, classmates and friends.

On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic is prodding them the entire way. A new mask policy was instituted by the Southland Public School system and they were dealing with

coronavirus exposure within their own ranks. On this night they are missing a few key players as they hope to lock down the final areas that need work.

Director Madlain Vander is going through notes that include not only play mechanics they want to work on, but other details outside of the play itself.

However, there is a sense of joy underpinning the rehearsals that take place in the Southland Auditorium, not only with the play and drama productions, but band and choir as well, and that’s due to the auditorium’s new look, part of the massive Southland remodel and addition that was wrapped up in 2020.

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“One, something that was their own pretty Among the many things the remodel and much,” Flaherty said. “Because this was a gym addition did was completely revamp the audifloor. We had no lighting to speak of.” torium to produce an authentic performance However, the drama club would have space for drama, band and choir. In particular to wait a bit to use the new and improved it’s been at the center of a drama renaissance space, because it’s here we have to bring the at the school.

COVID-19 pandemic into the story. Work was It’s come a long way from those early days finished in 2020, but there wouldn’t be a play when Vander took over, and she remembers performed there until September of 2021, one particular night when her daughter came because the school, along with other schools, to watch a rehearsal. had gone to distance learning toward the end “I remember her sitting there and she said, of 2020.

‘Mom, what is this?’” Vander said. “The stage “It was very anticlimactic,” Vander said lights were so dim you felt like you were in a when remembering back to when the space fog.” was done.

The way the lighting was originally set up, But when that first play was performed it the audience really couldn’t see a lot of what was a game-changer. had been going on. The electrical set-up in “I loved it,” Flaherty said. “‘Matilda was the place at the time couldn’t support too many first show we were able to show off the lightlights on at any one time. If they did leave The stage allows for more room and better lighting for drama productions. ing and I went overboard.” them on, the crew would find themselves reSouthland drama has now seen some replacing fuses. sults of the department’s growth. In January “Throughout production we figured it captured the Sub-Section 1A one-act play championship when they presented the out how many we can use at a time,” Vander said. “If you dimmed them enough, you incredibly witty production of “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon!” wouldn’t have to run and reset the fuse.”

It’s been able to reach into the community and it’s paid dividends for the players.

It got to a point where Vander and the crew brought in garage lights and taped them “I’m hoping next year we can take over our conference,” Vander said. “Let’s do it here. to the edge of the balcony with duct tape.

We become leaders in the section. We are raising the performance level of our kids and During any one production, extension cords could be found winding throughout the I’m seeing that.” P auditorium. Even the sound system was fatigued by the current electrical.

Aside from the technical challenges, there were scheduling challenges. A number of groups made use of the space including drama, choir, band, wrestling and dance.

It was clear that the space needed an upgrade, but that wouldn’t come until addition and remodel work in 2019 and into 2020. Even then it required the help of the community. But it was a hand many were more than willing to extend.

Initially, when the referendum for the work was passed, voters gave the okay to much of the proposed work, but in the end the auditorium was one of the things that needed to be taken out.

However, United Farmers State Bank stepped up and donated additional funds to finalize some of the items, and that included the auditorium.

The bank donated $100,000. To that was added another $150,000 gift.

“This would provide nice renovations to the auditorium,” superintendent Jeff Sampson said in May of 2019. “Right now, the district has the initial $100,000 grant, plus some additional dollars that have been donated. We will be accepting donations through Dec. 1 of this year when design work will take place for the renovation of that area. I feel really great about the bank’s donation. What wonderful support for the district.”

The total estimate came out to be $630,000. Together with the bank’s donations and a community fund drive, the district was able to add the auditorium project back to the wish list.

“The community really has supported drama,” Vander said. “Yes, we put on great productions, but the people came. They will come and through the years when they started catching on to one-act performances, we could easily have a 100 people coming.”

During work, focus turned to what needed to be improved. Lighting and sound, along with electrical, came to the forefront and those behind the scenes knew what they needed.

“I put in a long, two-page thing of what they should go to,” said Tom Flaherty, long-time resident of Adams and a player himself, having acted in a number of local productions as well as doing theater with the United States Army when he was enlisted.

“Basically I said, we can go with incandescents, but you are going to have to put in new wiring. They did put in some new wiring but in the long run, they put in LEDs. They’re more expensive, but they don’t use as much power.”

It was also a chance to give the students a sense of ownership.

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Lyle athletic director Bill Smith announces starting lineups for a girls basketball game in Lyle in December.

Photos by Rocky Hulne/ sports@austindailyherald.com

Never too late to learn After years of volunteering, Lyle man starts new career as athletic director

By Rocky Hulne Bill Smith has always been attached to Lyle-Pacelli sports in one way or another.

He was the go-to guy for whenever a coach needed someone to take stats, work the scoreboard or even ref a youth game.

“I’ve done just about everything,” Smith said.

Smith went from a volunteer to a full fledged district employee in 2017 when he started working as Lyle’s assistant athletic director. By July of 2020, Smith was the school’s full time athletic director in the middle of a pandemic.

It was quite the change of pace for the 1987 Lyle grad, who had worked for Mayo Clinic’s patient services for 15 years after he had worked at Shopko and Rainbow Foods in Austin. Smith said one day it just hit him that he wanted to work for his alma mater in an 58 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

official capacity.

“I was sitting in the office in a back room (at Mayo) and it just wasn’t for me,” Smith said.

“I had to get out because it was a little bit too much for me. I knew this job was opening.”

When Smith was the assistant AD, he drove students from Lyle to Austin, the Southern Minnesota Education Consortium on Interstate 90 and Glenville. He now has a shortened route but still drives students occasionally, along with his regular duties which include everything from announcing football games from the booth and grabbing the team a pizza if they need one.

“I’ve got a lot of good supporters on the staff and they help me out a lot,” Smith said.

“You just have to work with the other ADs and work with your coaches to see what kind of opponents they want.”

Smith entered the AD field at a very challenging time as games and seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also had to make sure Lyle-Pacelli’s crowds were never over capacity.

“It was challenging. We had limitations on fans and in football it was confusing, where they only allowed 250 people at an outdoor event,” Smith said. “We had to spread out tickets to both schools. It was difficult.”

This year has been refreshing for Smith as the crowds have been full and the concessions are back. When he smells the popcorn coming and sees youngsters running down the hallway in anticipation of a high school game, Smith can’t help but smile.

“I’ve been sticking around here for so long and I’ve enjoyed it. I really enjoy watching the kids and it’s nice to help out,” Smith said. “It’s a small town environment.

That’s what I really enjoy. Everybody knows everybody and I get to watch these kids grow up and I get to see their kids grow up and play. I’ve probably seen three generations here.”

If Smith ever gets stressed out in his office or starts to feel down, he always gets a lift when the elementary kids walk by.

“A lot of times the kids will come by the office saying ‘Hi Bill,” Smith said. “That’s always nice.” P

“I’ve been sticking around here for so long and I’ve enjoyed it. I really enjoy watching the kids and it’s nice to help out.”

Bill Smith

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VOICE The

Mallory Brown finds her love in singing the National Anthem

By Rocky Hulne Whenever an athlete hears the National Anthem before a big contest, their nerves are tingling and the adrenaline is pumping. Those feelings double when it is one of the athletes who is singing the anthem.

Austin senior Mallory Brown knows that feeling as she has sung the National Anthem before her volleyball matches with Austin Packers these past few years. Brown also sings with the Austinaires and the concert choir, but she has a special interest in singing the anthem in front of the community.

“My choir director, Mr. (Kalle) Akkerman has always said it’s the hardest song because if you mess it up, it is not good at all,” Mallory said. “I’ve always taken it to heart that I can’t mess it up, because it’s a song for the people who have fought for us. It’s a song to represent them and represent our country. It’s a very serious thing for me to do.”

Brown’s desire to sing before games came when she was a sophomore in high school.

She asked her dad, Dave Brown, who is the site supervisor for Austin home games, if she could sing it.

“I gave it a try and I’ve loved doing it ever since,” Mallory said.

Over the last three years, Mallory has sung in nearly empty gyms during last year’s season, which was flooded with COVID-19 regulations, and she has sung in front of big crowds, like this year’s boys basketball opener. She has even sung at an outdoor bicycle race.

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Mallory Brown sings the National Anthem before an Austin boys hockey game in January. Photos by Eric Johnson/

photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“I was a little nervous, because I didn’t know what I was getting into.

I had never been to a bike race before and the environment made me a little nervous,” Mallory said. “I also sang at our first home boys basketball game this year and it was the first game with students and families back in the crowd. I got a little nervous, but once I get singing I know that I’m fine with it. I always get nervous before I sing.”

Mallory, who is taking PSEO classes at Riverland for her senior year, is also in many other activities at AHS. Brown was a captain on the volleyball team, she is a captain on the golf team, she is student council co-president, she is the school band president, she is on the National Honor Society, she is involved in Youth Leadership and she is a LINK Crew commissioner.

Mallory also helped get the Packer Pantry started as she and other students helped prepare Alexa Dolan Peterson’s office space to make

“I’ve liked it ever since. Hearing the applause after you sing is so reassuring and so motivating” Mallory Brown

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room for coats, clothing, shampoo and food. They also set up social media pages for the pantry, which offers resources to families in the district who are in need.

“It came to life and we’ve had nonstop donations ever since,” Mallory said.

While she won’t be able to focus on singing as much in the future, Mallory has made a lot of memories with her voice. She may continue to sing anthems in the future as a hobby if the opportunity allows.

“My first solo was in the eighth grade and I was so nervous because I hadn’t sung in front of people before. I was so nervous, but I did it and then I really liked it,” Mallory said. “I’ve liked it ever since.

Hearing the applause after you sing is so reassuring and so motivating.” P

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Learning to lead the way CEO program gives high school students a chance to learn on the job ed rugs that she hopes can improve people’s mental health. Heimer said that the CEO program has turned her focus inwards to her community and opened her eyes to some things that she was not previously aware of.

The days of learning about career possibilities in a stuffy classroom with a grainy slide “We’re really good at encouraging each other and we’re all from different backshow are long gone at Austin High School. grounds,” Heimer said. “We’ve really grown with teamwork, and personally I’ve noticed For the past four years, a select group of 22 students have had an in-person learning that I’ve grown in my ability to speak and make plans. experience on how to run a business and make connecWe’ve done a lot of networking and made a lot of connections. The Mower County CEO program allows students tions. We’ve really learned about Austin. I had no idea Austo create their own ideas, form their own plans, and learn tin had this many businesses. It honestly opened my eyes to about current businesses that reside in Austin. how amazing Austin is.”

The CEO program includes students from AHS and PaAustin senior Hewan Dagmawi used to be shy and recelli High School. served, but she has learned to believe in herself from the The students involved in the program describe it as a confidence that she has gained through the program. She field trip every day and it offers a unique learning expenow has visions of getting into the fashion industry in a rience that teaches real life skills for real life experiences. business management role.

Austin senior Christina Velazquez is using the program to “I think I can put a lot out there and maybe change the work on her business, which involves bringing plants into world,” Dagmawi said. “There are ups and downs, but creative work spaces. when it comes to the CEO program, it’s a boost in my perShe has enjoyed watching her idea grow into an actual sonality and my work ethic. CEO really pushes you to be the business plan. best. I wish I would just have CEO for eight hours straight, “This is a place to be creative, be myself and a place for because I’m more engaged and I put my all into it.” me to show all of my talents and what I can bring to the Austin senior Ryan Aguilar has also learned to be more table,” Velazquez said. “Being with like-minded people social through the CEO program. He has learned a lot is really rewarding. It helps you feel like you’re not alone.

Hayden Lunt talks members of the Mower CEO Program about money management and he’s learning how to work Sometimes being in a school with people who don’t alboard about progress on the class fundraiser during a with others on projects. ways think the way that you do can be a little bit draining meeting at the YMCA at Austin Community Recreation “The program allows us to do something that we always and people don’t understand. The people in this class Center. wanted to do. Whether it’s a cooking business, or a profeshave the same entrepreneurial spirit.” sional business, CEO will give you the opportunity,” Aguilar Program facilitator Emily Hovland has been involved said. “It’s so diverse and you get an insight of what being in with the CEO program for all four years. The first year of the program had 16 students the outside world really is. You’re able to build connections and build networks.” sign up and this year there were 50 applicants, with only 22 spots available.

In the grand scheme of things, the CEO program is a springboard that could propel “It’s growing a lot, our students are developing skills and they are thriving with it,” all of its students in the direction their life will be headed in the years to come. They will Hovland said. “Everything they do is in the community. They visit 55 businesses and they make lasting business connections and learn lessons that will help them well beyond learn from various speakers. They run everything and they can make money.” their time in high school. P Austin senior Denni Heimer has developed a business model that includes hand craftBy Rocky Hulne

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Carrie Whiteaker leans over to confer with Kadence Morehouse, right, and Emma Haugen, left during a meeting of the Mower County CEO program in January at the YMCA at the Austin Community Recreation Center. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

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Celebrating Diversity

Diversity

Global backgrounds create vibrant culture at The Hormel Institute

By Savannah Howe/Photos provided Over 6,500 languages, roughly 650 ethnic groups, and infinite combinations of cultures, histories and backgrounds. The world is abounding with diversity: people with different knowledge, stories, recipes, dances, skills, struggles. Austin is no exception, in particular the Hormel Institute, where scientists from all over the world put their heads together to research industry-leading medical innovations—and to create some of the best potlucks out there.

Three scientists came together to talk about the diversity at the Institute, and what benefits it brings academically, medically and culturally.

Leading the Institute’s Cancer Stem Cells and Necroptosis lab is Assistant Professor Dr. Ilana Cefetz. Chefetz was born in Belarus and lived in Israel, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in food engineering and biotechnology, and her PhD in molecular dermatology and genetics. She discovered the Hormel Institute during her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan, and came to Austin four years ago to study fatal and recurring ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer cures, specifically cancer stem cells.

Dr. Rendong Yang is an Assistant Professor and leader of the Computational Cancer Genomics lab. Originally from the northern Chinese city of Tangshan, Yang obtained his undergraduate degree in computer science and bioinformatics graduate degree at Chinese Agriculture University. He obtained his PhD and then studied cancer genomics at Emory University in Atlanta before joining the Hormel Institute in 2017.

Yang chose the Institute for its generous support network, friendly collaborative environment and high-performance computer systems. His research focuses on developing an efficient and precise treatment of prostate cancer, through next-generation sequencing technology and molecular biology.

Hailing from Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia, Associate Professor Dr. George Aslanidi also came to Austin in 2017 after graduating from Tbilisi State University and working for the University of Florida from 2001 to 2016. Aslanidi chose the Institute for its outstanding support facilities, equipment and staff, and small campus setting. He heads the Molecular Bioengineering and Cancer Vaccine lab at the Institute, and his work is focused in the development of therapies for treating genetic diseases and cancer.

Associate Professor Dr. George Aslanidi

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‘The Hormel Institute hosts scientists from all over the world.

How do you feel this global perspective positively impacts the work that goes on at the Institute?’

“Scientists from all over the world bring us multiple different angles and diverse expertise to view and solve the events and problems happening all around the world,” Yang said. “As global citizens, we need to

work collaboratively across nations and cultures to solve the most important and urgent scientific problems, such as COVID-19, cancers and global climate change.”

Chefetz agreed, adding that “it is great to have different perspectives and ideas.” Academia, Aslanidi said, is an open, borderless system where people, ideas and information are exchanged.

“We are glad that we are bringing that feeling of global perspective to Austin, and grateful for warm hospitality and unconditional support from the local community,” he said.

‘From a cultural perspective, what do you like about working with such a diverse team? Have you learned anything new?’

With so many diverse cultures in one team, the Institute’s scientists exchange more than just research; they are often sharing the games, recipes and history that they know and love with their colleagues.

Assistant Professor Dr. Rendong Yang

For Rent

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Associate Professor Dr. Ilana Chefetz

As Chefetz explained, the Institute can even celebrate certain holidays more than once. New Year’s, for example, occurs on different days for so many cultures that the new year could be celebrated many times over. She frequently learns about holidays that her colleagues’ culture celebrates, and the local way to do so.

“I like sharing about how we celebrate [in my culture], and I always take my team out for our New Year’s, which happens in September or October,” she said.

The food, Aslanidi and Yang added, is a worldly experience too. At the Institute’s many potlucks, one is likely to find a mouth-watering array of dishes from all over the world, perhaps starting with a side of Chinese Báizhōu (a rice porridge), a helping of knikhali (Georgian dumplings filled with meat and spices) and a warm Isralean falafel (the nation’s national dish, a chickpea and fresh herb fritter deep-fried).

“I like to work with people from different backgrounds because language and cultures make big impacts on the way we think and approach scientific problems,” Aslanidi said.

“This benefits all of us since we tackle complex scientific problems from different angles.

At the same time, I enjoy a variety of food and stories from my colleagues about their families and early research careers.”

‘What about from your own culture—what have you enjoyed sharing with your coworkers?’

Institute researchers like Aslanidi, Yang and Chefetz delight in sharing their culture 66 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

with others—the places they have called home have shaped who they are.

Tbilisi, the Georgian capital city that Aslanidi hails from, translates to “warm” because it was built around sulfuric hot springs 1,500 years ago. Georgia is a beautiful country, Aslanidi said, “with ancient history, unique language, and diverse nature from high, snowy mountain tops to green valleys, from dense beaches and oak woods to the warm Black Sea.” Grape culturing and wine production has been a staple of the country for centuries, and each countryside produces a unique cheese.

“I like to share stories about the ancient history of my country and home city, its nature and animals,” Aslanidi said. “[I like to] cook some authentic food, and show some artifacts and souvenirs.”

Yang has shared the Chinese culture’s love of celebration with his colleagues. The two most important festivals in China are the Mid-Autumn Festival—a fall-time festival meant to welcome the harvest and worship the moon—and Chinese New Year.

“I like to share some traditional foods, such as Mooncake and dumplings, with my coworkers,” Yang said. “This fall, we had a tree sculpture event at the Institute. I made steam egg pudding to share with my colleagues and was able to try other foods, such as chili, tacos and pasta.”

‘Overall, what do you like the most about living and working here?’

Southern Minnesota has brought a sense of openness to Aslanadi. He loves the fields,

“I like to share stories about the ancient history of my country and home city, it’s nature and animals” Dr. George Aslanidi

beautiful trails and lakes—and has likely passed Chefetz and her three children on those trails too.

“I like walking trails around the Hormel Institute and I also play ping pong every day,” Chefetz said. “My kids like attending Woodson, I.J Holton, and Ellis School and going to different parks, mostly Todd Park.”

Aslanidi enjoys the quiet, spacious facilities at the Institute, “which help me focus on something I enjoy the most: doing science and developing novel therapeutics.” Yang added that commuting to work in Austin is far less-time consuming than in large cities. P

Mooncakes are Chinese delicacies usually made during the Mid-Autumn festival.

This dessert’s filling is made with lotus seed, green tea, salted egg yolk and mixed nuts. Photo by Alexa Soh via Unsplash

Progress 2022 | Austin Daily Herald | 67

Taking it to the next level

Austin soccer players taking their games to the college ranks “The passion will always be there, but playing at a higher level made it even bigger.”

Abel Gebrekiros, who spent his senior season with the Packers after moving from Ethiopia to Austin, was one of the first trend setters as he recently finished his third season at Division I Gardner Webb. GebreThe Austin Packer boys soccer team has grown by leaps and bounds kiros racked up 10 goals in his first 26 games and he had three assists over the past five years and now the program is having an impact well in 14 games in the 2021 season. beyond Austin.

Henry Tolbert, who was Minnesota’s Mr. Soccer winner in his senior The Packers are starting to produce some solid college players and season with the Packers, played at Iowa Lakes Community College last some Austin grads are even pulling in athletic scholarships. Andres fall, where he scored five goals and had two assists in 20 games.

Garcia was part of a class that won four Big Nine titles and four Section Garcia still plays with highly talented players and is motivated by 1A titles for Austin and now he is getting his feet wet with a fresh start playing next to them. in St. Cloud State University, which dropped football for soccer recent“The passion will always be there, but playing at a higher level ly. made it even bigger,” Garcia said. “It was hard on our bodies to play Garcia is part of a group of players that are hoping to build a new Andres Garcia two games in three days in the weekends, but we kept going. I’m very program. excited. I feel like we can go somewhere with this program. I can’t “The pressure was definitely there, but we all chose St. Cloud bewait for these next few years.” cause we wanted to start something new and build a good program here in St. Cloud,” Garcia may be focused on his college career, but he still has his sights set on Austin. He Garcia said. was able to get back to the Packer Dome occasionally to work out with the current Packer Garcia led the Huskies with eight goals in 16 games in his freshman season. It took him team, which includes his younger brother, Aidan Martinez. a little while to catch up to the speed of Division II soccer, but he was able to get there by Garcia has high hopes for the end of the year.

Aidan and all of the future “It was a good first year. It’s Packer teams. different from high school,” “My brother has always Garcia said. “It’s way more been there for me and I’ve intense with older and bigger always been there for him,” guys. I wasn’t starting at first, Garcia said. “I tell him to keep but I got my rhythm back and doing his things and I hope it went well from there.” that he overtakes me and Garcia began playing socgoes to the Division I level. cer when his mom signed him I’ve always known what he is up for the sport as a four-year capable of and I expected that old. As he grew up in Austin, from him.” P he had plenty of soccer role models to look up to.

By Rocky Hulne

Austin alumni Andres Garcia punches a shot forward for St. Cloud State University.

Photos provided by St. Cloud State University

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Former Austin High School standout, Andres Garcia is making waves at the college level in just his first year.

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Riverland Multicultural Club empowering Austin’s international community

By Savannah Howe Through the Multicultural Club, Riverland Community College’s global students are connecting with each other and their communities.

As Jesus Aquino explains, the Club has two missions: helping people, and bringing them together. During his tenure as Club President, he is looking to do both.

“When I met [the Club adviser], he told me about the program, and I loved the idea,” Aquino said.

“I like to help others, and with this, I have the options to do that.”

Aquino moved to the U.S. from Puerto Rico to play baseball, and does so for Riverland. He says he’s gotten other international baseball players involved with Riverland Multicultural Club (RMC) too, helping them branch out from just practice and classes.

“I try to involve them in what’s going on here,” Aquino said.

The RMC is focused on community service, and often donates their time to various causes. For example, on the last Friday of each month, they partner with Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), a by-and-for-Latinos nonprofit organization, to hand out food donations in the Terp Ballroom.

This, Aquino said, is one example of how the club benefits both its members and their neighbors.

For him personally, his mom back in Puerto Rico gets to see him posted on RMC’s social media — and she appreciates any chance to see her son.

RMC VP Guadalupe Perez added that RMC members often get to take home leftover donations — a huge help for college students.

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Multicultural Club President Jesus Aquino stocks cans at the CLUES food donation event on Friday Jan. 28. Savannah Howe/newsroom@austindailyherald.com

“When I met [the Club adviser] he told me about the program, and I loved the idea. I like to help others, and with this, I have the options to do that.”

Jesus Aquino Riverland Community College Multicultural Club

The biggest benefit from a Club like this is diversifying the college’s and Austin’s definition of community, Aquino and Perez agreed. Janelle Calvlo with CLUES added that the Club’s volunteers are an essential factor in connecting organizations like CLUES with people who need their services, as manpower is often the biggest struggle and most precious commodity.

“We invite people from all cultures, races and ethnicities to sign up and come and get together and share from their culture,” Perez added. “We get to know new people. For example, I got to meet the person in charge of CLUES, and I want to be a social worker so that’s helpful because when I’m ready for internship I can go and apply with them.”

Immigrants often don’t know where to go for things like vaccine clinics, which is where RMC steps in to help, at times volunteering at the clinics as well. The members also frequently volunteer to teach international community members valuable skills like paying utility bills.

The Club has been only meeting online since the pandemic, but in normal times, meeting in-person means sharing food and games from their diverse cultures. RMC also celebrates many cultural holidays, such as Dia de Los Muertos.

Aquino graduates in May, but before he leaves he hopes to see the club’s face-to-face festivities recommence, and wants to get more people involved in the program.

“We just want to continue helping people in the community and enjoying ourselves while we do it,” Aquino said. P

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By Savannah Howe Three Austin organizations have teamed up in an effort to start important conversations in the community as our world continues to change.

Numerous studies and surveys had revealed the increase of book sales and reading during 2020, as people were forced to choose isolation and solitary hobbies during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the world outside ached under blow after blow of civil unrest, protests, violence and tragedy. For a library director, an opportunity to create a new circle of passionate readers could not have been more perfect.

The library has many other book clubs, but meetings during the pandemic had come to a halt. Director Julie Clinefelter could sense the desperation to reestablish the human connection.

“We noticed there was a sudden increase in desire for people to get together and talk about books,” Clinefelter said.

“Everybody had spent 2020 reading, and now they wanted to talk about it.”

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. As the lasting effects socially and culturally rocked Minnesota and the nation, Clinefelter and many others were craving conversation. In the following September, she and a small group of library staff started meeting outside to discuss trending books on socioeconomic happenings and equality.

A monthly book choice and regular meetings ensued.

The Human Rights Commission, it turned out, had been doing the same thing in the meantime, and the organizations coincidentally picked the same book for January.

In January of 2021, the Austin Public Library and Human Rights Commission, along with Riverland Community College, joined forces to found the Social Justice Book Club.

When the weather turned cold, meetings transitioned to Zoom.

Austin Public Library Director Julie Clinefelter has been instrumental in organizing the Social Justice Book Club.

Photos by Savannah Howe/newsroom@austindailyherald.com

72 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

Join the important conversations with library’s newest book club

The institutions had already unknowingly been working on two parallel, but identical, causes: using literature to ignite conversations about equity and inequality as they exist in our world.

“Books can be a fabric that brings everyone together,” Clinefelter said. “It’s a way to talk about something even if there’s a lot of emotion attached to it.”

The Club organizers and members understand, Clinefelter explained, that reading books and talking about them is not going to solve all of the world’s problems.

So, the club has a few unofficial guidelines in place to keep the conversations productive in a meaningful way: don’t get bogged down, respect each other’s opinions, and keep in mind that these are big, complex topics with big, complex solutions.

It’s no secret that the topics of the books are, for some, often hot-button, controversial or political in nature. Clinefelter said that, while the Club wants to be unabashed and bold in choosing the books it discusses and not avoid something for the sake of spared feelings, conversations have always remained mature and respectful.

Some of the book choices have challenged white readers to look at culture or society in a new perspective, through the lens of someone different from them, but race is not the only thing worth discussing. The Club has explored ageism, disabilities, gender identity and socioecoJulie Clinefelter nomic issues. According to Clinefelter, the group also plans to infuse some relevant fiction options into the mostly-nonfiction lineup.

“Reading fiction can sometimes help you envision a different or new world,” Clinefelter said.

The Club doesn’t have lofty goals of significant cultural change, per se; they don’t brawl over politics or create a space for anger and finger-pointing. The members just leave each meeting a little more thoughtful, a little more aware, and hope that their newfound perspectives will create positive little ripples in their day-to-day lives.

“In my experience with book clubs, you don’t usually come at it with a goal,” Clinefelter explained. “You’re just coming to discuss things. ... The hope is that whoever is there later has those conversations over dinner with their family, or has those conversations with their friends in the community.

Some of the titles that the Club has already explored include “So You Want to Talk About Race,” “The Indigenous History of the World,” “Gender: Ideas, Interactions and Institutions,” “The New Jim Crow,” “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American Workplace,” and “Breaking Through Bias.”

“Books can be a fabric that brings everyone together. It’s a way to talk about something even if there’s a lot of emotion attached to it.”

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“The initial part of some of the social justice work that we felt like we could help with here in town was just kind of that curiosity, that initial … awareness,” Clinefelter said. “Realizing that there are other things going on out there, and it’s not just those people. It affects all of us.

The Club has books picked out for each month through June, and the library and commission take turns hosting and facilitating the conversations. Books are provided by the library, with print, audio and ebook versions available in most cases. As of December, anywhere between four to 10 people participate. Clinefelter is excited to see the club grow, and hopes the Club can reconvene face-to-face soon; all adults no matter their demographic, walk of life or political affiliation are welcome.

To join the Social Justice Book Club, call the library at (507) 433-2391 or email ask@aplmn. org.

“It’s the whole idea of building a community, talking about a work of literature even if you’re a Republican, Democrat, or any gender,” Clinefelter said. “You usually start a book club with people that have things in common. That’s what we’ve tried to do here, is find that commonality in the desire to make the world a better place. In being curious about how to improve yourself and the community you live in.” P

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Small Towns

It’s All Coming Together Cedar Courts in Adams is offering seniors an upgraded place to call home 76 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

A Bird Aviary at Cedar Court lends a sense of serenity to Cedar Courts.

Photos by Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

By Rocky Hulne Cedar Courts has had just over two years to fit into the community in Adams and the facility has made itself a comfortable home for seniors to settle down in the community.

Adam Worke, Director of Finance for Colony Court Senior Living Solutions, which owns the Cedar Courts, said that there have been a lot of changes thanks to opening during a pandemic, but things are starting to feel right.

“This is exactly what we hoped for. The families and the clients have been amazing,” Worke said.

“They’re good, fun people and our staff is so caring and professional. It’s been a real blessing for all that they’ve gone through. I couldn’t ask for a better welcome and a better reception of us.”

Cedar Courts has seen a lot of upgrades since March of 2020, when Colony Court took over.

The rooms have been upgraded to become more modern and safe, a large section of the roof was replaced, the phone system was upgraded, the landscape was improved, total wifi was added in the building and client charting is now electronic and more convenient.

One of the most noticeable changes is the food. The menu was upgraded and the residents have taken notice.

Adam Worke “We've gotten rave reviews from our food and it’s been a real improvement from what we hear from our clients,” Worke said. “A lot has happened in the two years that we’ve been here. It’s been a lot.”

Although the site used to be a nursing home, Worke said they had to change to an advanced assisted living facility in December of 2020. Cedar Courts still provides memory care and a large majority of the patients stayed on when the switch was made.

“We’re just trying to educate people on what a care suite and a memory care model looks like,” Worke said. “We made a big technology update on our nurses on call. It’s really improved our efficiency and our ability to take care of our clients.”

“This is exactly what we hoped for.”

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Colony Court is based out of Waseca and opened in 1991. The company also owns facilities in Fairmont and Waseca. Worke said that he’s very much enjoyed branching out to Adams, where the people are friendly and easy to work with.

“We’ve always maintained the mission that came from my grandparents about caring for everyone,” Worke said. “We’ve never turned away a client because of their ability to pay.

We’re very thankful to continue that mission here.” P

78 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

A mural within Cedar Courts in Adams, was painted by Sandy Jones of Blooming Prairie.

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Diane Nyhus answers a take-out order at Alamo Annie’s in the heart of Brownsdale. The homestyle eatery has seen plenty of success since opening late last year.

H

Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Alamo Annie’s

significant charm to the establishment as soon as you walk in. You feel like you’re home and that’s exactly how husband and wife team Christ and Diane Nyhus want you to feel when you sit down for one of Diane’s homestyle meals.

“We wanted to have that old time feeling,” Diane said as both she and Christ sat down at the end of a busy day. “Like you’re going to your grandma’s or your mom’s.”

Just eight weeks into the business’ life and Alamo Annie’s was already at home in Brownsdale, but maybe that’s because, in a way, it’s a kind of homecoming of sorts for Nyhus, though there are some in the community who might say she never left.

Diane has been working in small towns and small town cafes for around 35 years. After some time in Austin and then another few years in Wisconsin, where her family is from, Diane moved back to the area and began working at the Langtry Cafe in Brownsdale.

That was across the street on Highway 56 from where Alamo Annie’s is now. While liv-

omestyle at Home New eatery in Brownsdale offering food from the heart

By Eric Johnson

Something strikes a chord when you walk into Alamo Annie’s Homestyle Eatery in Brownsdale.

The friendly atmosphere with a sense that you are visiting grandma’s house lends a 80 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

out of the special.” ing in Austin again, the buildTo that end, the menu is ing Alamo Annie’s calls home, confined to three dishes in the had an apartment come morning and three over the open. She started renting the lunch hours. In fact the only apartment and eventually item they make to order are purchased the entire buildpaninis because of the panini ing, running Alamo Annie's press they have.

Sweet Salvage underneath Diane comes in before 4 the apartment. a.m. in the morning, preps “I would leave the doors the food for the day and open and people would run stores the food in a steam taacross the street and pay,” ble and serves when ordered.

Diane remembered. “Some“I tell people, it’s like going times I had somebody watch to your grandmas,” Diane the store, but if I didn’t I quipped. “You get what you would just say come to the get and don’t have a fit.” restaurant and pay.”

The one constant is biscuits The antique store eventuand gravy in the morning ally closed and was used for with a plate special for lunch. storage, but after marrying The other familiar dish people Christ in 2015, the couple will find is a chicken salad, began putting work into the Christ and Diane Nyhus sets up Alamo Annie’s Homestyle Eatery in the community that has supported them. which can come in a variety of building once again, includBelow: A meal at Alamo Annie’s Homestyle Eatery is like going home to mom’s house. flavors and arrangements. ing the apartment.

However, one must not But talk eventually kept forget the homemade cinnamon rolls as big as a plate and topped with luscious icing. turning to the idea of an eatery.

Enjoyed warm and it’s just about the best thing you’ll have all day.

It took a furnace going out to finally push them in the direction they are in today.

One thing that stays consistent through the meal planning is the fact that all of the “We called MJ O’Connor,” Christ said. “They came in, threw a furnace in for us and dishes Diane and her brother, Ernie Hix, make are from scratch. There is nothing prethen Diane and I just started gutting.” made.

“We just decided we’re going to do it,” Diane added. “We talked about it and talked “Almost all of the things we make are things that I learned growing up,” Diane said. about it. I know, in the middle of a pandemic is kind of strange, but I’ve always wanted to “I’ve been working very hard in writing down the recipes because I cook … I just cook.” do it.”

Diane and Christ are happy where they are, open 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through It certainly wasn’t easy, but the couple held true because they knew they were supSaturday, and are entertaining just a few ideas in terms of growth. ported by a community eager to have a place to dine and come together.

While ruling out opening at night, Diane would like to eventually see the eatery offer a “I have a great love, and Christ has also acquired a great love, for the community,” Dipie and coffee hour as well as a take-and-bake aspect to the business. A convenience for ane said. “The people here are wonderful.” people who either don’t have time to cook or maybe forget to have something prepared.

The couple set to work, bringing in Ken Davis Construction for most of the construc“When Diane and I discussed prepping, making meals, cooking them the way we are tion work, MJ O’Connor who did all the plumbing, Matyas Electric handled the electrical doing them — it’s perfect for to-gos,” Christ said. “It’s perfect.” work and Superior Mechanical took care of the HVAC needs while Jason Culbert and Pat For now, Alamo Annie’s is going to enjoy the support of a warm and caring communiCampbell did the tiling and linoleum work respectively. ty. In just the short amount of time they’ve been open, the eatery has already built a loyal Mark Owens was the architect of the work. customer base, filled with plenty of repeat customers.

Alamo Annie’s held a soft opening the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, “We have regulars,” Christ said. “We have a lot putting no more word out other than a sign that of regulars. They come in for breakfast, they probsaid “Open.” However, the following Tuesday afably put gas in their car and they probably come ter Thanksgiving the restaurant was fully open. back for lunch.”

“We’ve learned a lot of things and I think that Brownsdale businesses such as Akkerman and improves over time,” Diane said with Christ addIBI Data have all purchased heavy orders of toing, “We’ve made some changes for efficiency go meals for their employees with IBI Data even and then added a few things.” working on meal certificate plans for their emFrom the very beginning Diane and Christ ployees every quarter. settled on a unique model for Alamo Annie’s. For Large farm operations around the area have one, there is no ansul system or deep fryer. It realso been repeat customers, there’s a graduation quired too much regulation and having the apartparty already planned and area Shriners have exment above the kitchen put the idea out of reach. pressed interest in Alamo Annie’s doing a dinner Rather, Diane fell back on her time working in every once in a while. cafes. She noted a specific observation and put it “They love it that they have a place where they at the center of Annie’s. don’t have to go all the way to Austin,” Diane “I worked in small towns, small cafes for 35 said. “The older population, I think, love to go out years and mostly, I would say the vast majority, and see their neighbors in different places. It’s a they order the special until it’s gone,” Diane said. sense of pride.” P “They don’t even ask for a menu unless you are Progress 2022 | Austin Daily Herald | 81

Little racetrack on the prairie RC drivers from across the country have come to new track

preparation included tearing down a shed, developing the land, and putting up a grandstand.

By summer, the track was hosting weekly races for If you’ve made the trip north on Highway 218 at any area racers. Justin is hoping the track will draw bigger time in the past few months, you’ve surely noticed that and better events in the summer of 2022 as he is looka new speedway has popped up. ing to add concessions, retail and eating booths.

But this isn’t your typical speedway, it’s built for “It’s been a slow moving process. It’s more work than remote control cars and is a welcome addition for RC everyone thinks it is,” Justin said. “Just to get the land drivers all around the Midwest and beyond. to build and to get to the time to build it, it’s been an Southern Minnesota Raceway, which is located right adventure. But we’ve had some good racing out here.” off of 218 as you enter Blooming Prairie from the south, Justin began RC racing at a young age and he said was started by Justin Dokken of Austin and his wife Nathere are a lot of tracks in Northern Minnesota. He has dia. Their four children have all contributed to the track seen people race with a variety of cars, but the more exas well. pensive the RC car, the better it will perform on the track.

The track was formerly located at Clarks Grove off InThe Dokken family, from left: Sam, Dru, Nadia and Justin have “Hobby grade RC cars are a good start, but when terstate-35 by a gas station and it sat there for six years, brought radio control action to Blooming Prairie. they break, you want to upgrade to better cars,” Justin before Dokken moved it to its BP location in the sumsaid. “It’s like going from a Chevy to a Porsche. You mer of 2021. The new location will offer indoor racing work your way up and it gets a lot more expensive, depending on your budget. I’ve had in the winter, as well as lights for nighttime races.

Walmart cars out here before, but they usually don’t make it a lap before they break.”

“We’re going after the biggest fish. We’re going after the big events. We didn’t want RC racing has helped bring the Dokken family together, and sometimes they get a to go small, we wanted to go big or go home,” Justin said. “We need a big enough place to host big events for people around the United States to run on and we wanted a profes- little bit caught up in trying to beat each other. Justin often tries to top his oldest son Dru and Nadia gets on the track and joins in the fun as well. sional track that the pros run on.”

“It’s something we can all do together and on race day, the competitive spirit really Justin and his family spent a good portion of the spring preparing the track, which was ramps up,” Nadia said. P designed by Bobby Moore, a renowned trackmaster from North Carolina. Some of the

By Rocky Hulne

82 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

Southern Minnesota Raceway in Blooming Prairie offers racing on the small scale with radio controlled action.

Sam Dokken launches one his car off a jump.

Photos by Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

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Rod Hegna, from left, Kevin Linbo and Weston Koski have brought the Village Pub to downtown Hayfield. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

It takes a village Hayfield’s The Village Pub Lounge takes advantage of some perfect timing

By Rocky Hulne If the timing is right, the rest will come easy.

A trio of Hayfield men recently made the right move at the right time and their move has brought a little bit of nightlife and a great place to eat in their hometown.

Rod Hegna and Kevin Linbo opened The Village Pub Lounge in the spring of 2021 and the restaurant and bar has turned into a smashing success with the help of bar manager Weston Koski, who worked at the Flying Monkey, which used to exist in the Village Pub Lounge’s location. The Flying Monkey closed in 2018, and another investor had been renovating the space during the pandemic before they ran out of money. When that investor ran out of funds, the site went up at auction and Hegna and Linbo took advantage of the opportunity and purchased the freshly remodeled location.

“It’s kind of turned into a restaurant,” Hegna said. “The food here 84 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

“There have been a lot of people around the community, Blooming, Kasson and Rochester coming in here” Weston Koski The Village Pub Manager

has taken off tremendously and it’s more than I ever thought. At about 8 p.m., it starts becoming a bar.”

Hegna owned a bar in Waltham for 14 years and Limbo has owned a bar before, so they have plenty of experience in the business. They both cook on a regular basis, along with Koski, and the restaurant’s burger selection has been an instant hit in a town that was in great need of a place to grab a drink and a meal. “(Hayfield) was praying for a place like this to come here,” Hegna said. “The bowling alley is here, but if you want to have a few drinks, you don’t want kids around. The Legion is only open a couple of nights a week and this worked out really good for us.”

The Village Pub Lounge also offers pool, dart leagues and has a cribbage tournament every Saturday. The establishment hires a DJ about once a month.

Koski said that the Village Pub Lounge has quickly become one of the primary places to go in Hayfield. He was excited about the opportunity

from the start, and business has been booming since the opening week, when the Lounge live streamed Hayfield High School’s baseball games at the state tournament.

“I always wanted to do this, so I talked to Rod and Kevin about it,” Koski said. “There have been a lot of people around the community, Blooming, Kasson and Rochester coming in here. We see a lot of new faces here and a lot of faces keep coming back. We must be doing something right.”

The Village Pub Lounge stands out in Hayfield's business district as a fresh start, but it wasn’t always a guarantee that the business would get its chance to start. It opened as COVID-19 restrictions

were easing up, but there was always a chance that those restrictions would return.

“It was scary. We were just getting past the masks and the half capacity when we opened up,” Hegna said. “It worked out great for us and the first two months were absolutely crazy.”

The Village Pub Lounge is open seven days a week. It is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

It is located at 4 Center Ave S in Hayfield. The building has existed since 1963 and used to be a library, a fire station and city hall. P

The Village Pub in Hayfield adds a nice atmosphere to catch a drink and a meal in.

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The Lyle Fire Department has been important in not only emergency situations, but as a core part of the community for 125 years. Photos by Eric Johnson/eric.johnson@austindailyherald.com

One call away: Lyle FD serving its community for over 125 years

By Savannah Howe The most everyday heroes are not easily spotted every day. They are not always in uniform or sporting badges, nor driving giant fire engines and wielding impressive equipment. The t-shirt-clad guy picking up a gallon of milk at the local gas station could have been the same one kneeling over your loved one in distress just the night before.

Teachers, farmers, tradesmen, small business owners have put the safety of cherished neighbors and faceless strangers over their own wellbeing, jobs, hobbies and families.

Their acts of service are uncounted, and often forgotten as life moves unflinchingly on after their help was needed.

In the case of the smallest volunteer fire departments, community impact goes far beyond extinguishing flames. Few jobs are as thankless and as depended-on as a small-community firefighters, and the men in Lyle battling fires, fist-bumping kindergarteners at Fire Safety Week and saving the occasional kitten in distress are no exception.

Wayne Frank is a longtime resident of Lyle and has stoically notched 38 years of volunteer service with the Lyle Fire Department. When asked why he stuck around to donate so much time to the cause, Frank said — over some jovial ribbing from a fellow firefighter that he simply “didn’t know any better” — that “somebody’s gotta do it.”

Frank is one of 18 on the FD’s roster, a slimmer lineup than in years past after losing five men to retirement. It’s not that finding volunteers in Lyle is difficult; it’s that those who would volunteer are already doing so elsewhere, usually in many places. Chief (and son to Wayne Frank, the Lyle FD is a Frank family affair) Dan Frank explained that, of the approximately 500 residents of Lyle, perhaps a couple dozen are regularly seen volunteering around town.

To no fault of anyone’s own, the elder Frank added. Careers, children and their extracurriculars such as sports, and other commitments demand more time than ever of the 86 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

average person, but as a consequence, small-town organizations that depend on volunteerism are “doing less with more,” as Wayne described.

“You get that group of people that are willing to help in your community, that are willing to volunteer, but the hard part is they are spread out between so many different groups,” Dan said. “If we were only in the fire department, it’d be pretty easy, … but you just get pulled in so many different ways.”

Many of the department members are cross-dedicated to other groups, such as the first responders, the Lions Club, the Lyle annual celebration committee and the Lyle Area Cancer committee. But even if they weren’t, being on the fire department alone is a huge time commitment, and not just to the department’s 25 to 30 calls per year.

125 years of service

The City of Lyle was officially incorporated on June 18, 1870. The Lyle FD, in an unusual coincidence, was founded exactly 25 years later to the day. The town and its fire department held a shared anniversary celebration in the summer of 2021, where the FD participated in a few festivities including a traditional water fight, but Lyle firefighter Alex Block explained that nothing specifically celebrating the FD’s milestone has been planned yet.

On the third weekend of February, the department will resurrect its annual firefighter appreciation chili supper after being forced to cancel due to the pandemic last year.

Three volunteers who dedicated at least 20 years of service will be recognized: Les Frank (33 years), Jim Guthmiller (20 years) and Brant Strouf (20 years).

“That’s a lot of time to volunteer on a fire department,” Dan Frank said. Many of the Lyle FD members are dedicated to supporting the department for the long haul because, as the chief explained, if no one does it, those small-town services disappear. And, as Block added, being an emergency responder in a very small community brings a starkly different challenge than in large communities.

When the victim is a friend “It puts a different feel on it when you’re going to your neighbor’s when they’re in crisis,” Block said.

Those calls, after all, never happen for a good reason, and seeing a neighbor, coworker or friend in a car accident or losing their home to a fire is extremely difficult.

“To me, being in the fire department is easier [than being a first responder] because it’s generally property you’re dealing with,” Dan Frank explained. “You don’t have the personal connection as far a patient with first responders, the medical side of things.”

On the other side of the coin, Block and the Franks understand that having your neighbor, coworker or friend respond to your emergency may bring a lot of security to the community. But responding to those car accidents will always linger for the firefighters, Dan Frank said, especially when the faces of the victims are known.

“When the semi went into the school back in 2018, any fire department could have just done what they needed to do and gotten out of there,” Block said. “It happened in the beginning of the day just as school got started, and we had guys there right when it happened, and they were still there at 6 o’clock at night just helping with cleanup when it wasn’t necessarily the fire department’s job to be in there picking up brick and mortar off the floor. But, you know, it’s our community. And so we all take part in that.”

Dan Frank explained that he and his fellow firefighters take pride in their community, school and churches just as much as they do in the fire department. Small-town fire departments are often called upon since they are organized manpower, his father added.

“We carry pagers and have that structure that you need in an emergency,” Wayne Frank said. “That’s who you call, no matter what it is. You don’t know who to call, you call the fire department.”

The firefighters are happy to give their time, labor and sometimes safety to the people they care about. That is “why the fire department gets themselves into the things they do,” Dan Frank laughed. Everyone on the fire department has a natural affinity for helping others, but with everyone being volunteer and having full-time employment elsewhere—the roster includes farmers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and more—that means sacrifices and juggling responsibilities.

That all plays to the department’s advantage, though. Being experts in many other fields means having a diversely skilled team of responders; if it were a paid fire department, everyone’s primary field of expertise would be exactly that: fighting fires.

“We have a lot of talents and resources within everyone here,” Wayne Frank said.

“If one might not be able to do it himself, he knows someone who can. The school accident was a good example because we had to do a lot of things, but we had contacts and in a pretty short time we basically cut the truck out, got the hole plugged and stabilized the building.”

Always of service

Small-community firefighters are serving their towns in more ways than suiting up for fires. The Lyle FD has scaled trees in cat rescue missions, helped at local events and fundraisers, and given countless fire engine rides, photo opportunities, and high-fives to admiring children. The huge smiles and waves from an excited child’s perch in a fire truck, Dan Frank said, is one of the best parts of being a firefighter.

While they are the ones climbing out of bed or clocking out of work to answer a neighbor’s SOS, the firefighters are not the only ones making sacrifices. They often leave spouses and children behind, something they’re always aware of.

“Sometimes we spread ourselves thin,” Dan Frank said. “We try to be real with the guys that are talking about joining the department. It’s a family commitment. It’s not just about us when the pager goes off at three in the morning and you might not be back for hours. You have to know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Still, Lyle’s volunteers are there at every beck of the pager—many of whom have been responding for decades. The chief is coming up on 20 years of service, and Block will celebrate 9 years of volunteering soon. They wouldn’t change a thing about the day they were sworn in.

“Just being able to help people makes it worth it,” Dan Frank said, recalling a day several years ago when the department responded to a camper fire on Christmas Day. “[The resident] said ‘just having you guys show up was a weight lifted off my shoulders.’ Being able to help somebody that much… sure, we went out there on Christmas Day and it was colder than heck, but it’s just little things like that that keep me going.” P

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Right Out Gate of the

Carter Conradt graduated from Southland and hit the ground running with Conradt Tree Service

Carter Conradt has quickly built a successful tree service since graduating from Southland High School in 2017.

Photos by Rocky Hulne

By Rocky Hulne When Carter Conradt graduated from Southland High School in 2017, he didn’t look to run off to college or take some time to find himself.

Conradt went right to work and he did so by becoming his own boss right out of the gate. He started Conradt Tree Service in August of 2017, and business has been good so far.

His company provides clean up duties in yards and it also takes down trees for anyone looking to make some space.

“I’ve built some pretty good contacts through word of mouth over the last couple of years,” Conradt said. “I love the work and I love the people. I’ve had a lot of really good customers and I can’t thank them enough.”

Conradt had two employees working for him as of mid-January and he’d like to have some more help, but he has been able to keep up with jobs in residential areas, commercial areas and business areas. He even took on the task of clearing the streets of Brownsdale over the summer.

88 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

“We need trees and we need people,” Conradt said. “Finding people is the hardest thing, but that’s everybody right now.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have good people with the ones I do have.”

Conradt has spent a lot of time bidding jobs and corresponding with customers.

He’s also come to appreciate storms a little more than he once did as it means he will have some yards to clear out.

“Storm work is good and bad at the same time,” Conradt said. “It was good for business right before Christmas and people got stuff done that they may have put off.”

Conradt’s parents run the Rose Creek Lockers, which has stood in Rose Creek since 1956. Conradt was able to get the courage to start his own business thanks to the advice of his father.

“My dad said, if you’re going to fail, then now is the perfect time to do it. So far it’s worked out,” Conradt said. “I’ve learned a lot and I’m always learning. If you’re not learning, you should be in a different business or doing something else.

Going to work and thinking you know everything is not the way to get it done.”

To reach Contract Tree Service, you may call 507-438-6621. P

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New Le Roy retirement facility administrator looks to foster a sense of togetherness “They give 100% here all of the time.

I can’t believe the number of volunteers that do things here.”

said. “I would bring the kids down here to do decorations and other activities with the residents. I just have been here long enough that I’ve gotten to know some of the older gals in town, and it’s so nice that they A new administrator has joined the ranks at the Wildwood Grove Reknow me. I think that familiarity is really important.” tirement and Assisted Living Facility in Le Roy, and she is eager to foster a Whalen’s familiarity doesn’t stop with knowing the residents. Her warm and inviting environment for her colleagues, residents and fellow mother had been in assisted living for eight years and recently moved community members. into a nursing home, so Whalen can relate with families on the other Diane Whalen is native to Rochester but has called Le Roy home for side of the coin. the last eight years. Upon first moving to the area, she worked for the Le “I’ve seen the side of the family perspective,” she explained. “I think Roy-Ostrander Public School District first in school-aged childcare, then that helps me in relating to people who are here … and seeing the resiin early childhood and family education. Prior to her move, she worked dents and getting to know who they are. I find that to be so important, I in the 4-H department for University of Minnesota Extension.

Diane Whalen think from experience with my mom.”

In a lucky break, Whalen and the assisted living facility were both Whalen has been in the assisted living field before. She worked at the looking for a change. Whalen liked working with youth, but was ready Mower County Senior Center and a local elementary school in the 80s; while the adminfor a full-time opportunity. At the same time, Wildwood needed an administrator that istrator jokes that she only works with the young or the old and no in-between, she says was local to Le Roy and dedicated to its community. that the Le Roy community has been amazing no matter the age.

“I know a lot of the residents from when I worked in school-aged childcare,” Whalen

By Savannah Howe

Pictured (left to right): Jill Megraw, Vilma Linderman, Anne Prigge, Jan Dolhman, Katie Pavlovec, Diane Whalen, Dawn Brossard, Tammy Loecher, Kari Mensink, R.N., Director of Clinical Services and Ashley Kulish. Wildwood currently has 50 employees. Photos by Axel Gumbel, DCI 90 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022 ily Herald | Progress 2021

Diane Whalen, the new administrator for Wildwood Grove Retirement and Assisted Living Facility in Le Roy has made it her goal to make the facility a warm and inviting place to live.

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“They give 100% here all of the time,” Whalen said. “I can’t believe the number of volunteers that do things here. … If there’s anybody that ever is having poor health or some kind of financial trouble, everybody groups together and really supports them, and I think that’s also how it is at Wildwood Grove. I think it’s had some hard times where financially it’s been a challenge but everybody wants to see this stay in place, and so they all work together to make it a good place, because it really is an asset to our community.”

When she’s not working, Whalen enjoys hanging out with her husband and grandkids, and baking (much to the delight of the former). The new administrator will be taking classes to become a licensed assisted living director. She is looking forward to showing her new community how dedicated she is to bringing stability and security to Wildwood Grove because “I plan on being here until they tell me to leave,” Whalen said.

“Maybe I’ll move into an apartment here or something,” she laughed. “But, no, I don’t plan on going anywhere. I want everybody here to be happy and enjoy working here. We’ve had a lot of turnover, and in this nature of job, it’s hard work. The aides that work here, the nurses, the housekeeping, all that they’ve been through with COVID, you would not believe how many hours some of these people are working. They’re working so hard because they care about the residents, so I’m hoping I can support them in the way that they deserve to be supported.”

“The aides that work here, the nurses, the housekeeping, all that they’ve been through with COVID, you would not believe how many hours some of these people are working. They’re working so hard because they care about the residents, so I’m hoping to I can support them in the way that they deserve to be supported.”

Diane Whalen

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Progress 2019

Megan Padilla - Owner/Hair Stylist

507-438-6451

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Josh Bain will take over the helm of one of Nine Man’s most storied football programs.

Photos provided

From player to coach Josh Bain was once a stand-out linebacker for the Superlarks. Now he will take over the program from one of Minnesota’s best coaches

By Rocky Hulne Josh Bain grew up watching the Grand Meadow Superlarks football team and eventually playing for them.

Now the Grand Meadow grad will be running the program as the former assistant coach is taking over as head coach after six years of helping out. Josh is replacing his own former coach in Gary Sloan, who was named to the Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame after he announced his retirement. Sloan won four state titles with the Superlarks and he sees Bain as an avid replacement.

“It’s kind of nice having a Grand Meadow guy, because he knows what our program is all about. He needs to be himself, but he wants to keep things as much the same as he can,” Sloan said. “He’s been here six years and honestly 94 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022

when we hired him a few years ago, I thought he could potentially be the next guy. It was always known to be a possibility.”

Sloan expects Bain to be hard, but fair, on his players.

After all, Bain was a hard worker and a weight room guy when he played football. After playing for GM, Bain played football at St. Olaf College and Hamline University. He also coached with the Albert Lea wrestling team before returning home to GM. “My athletic career came to an end after college, but I was not ready to be done with sports,” Bain said. “I have been fortunate to have great coaches for wrestling and football at both the high school and college level. I can only hope to leave a positive impact on these students and athletes as my coaches did for me.”

GRAND MEADOW Superlarks Pre-K To Public Grand Meadow Statement: School Mission Grade 12 for all ational excellence Educ society learners in a global

At one point Bain was a member of the Albert Lea wrestling staff before coming home.

Bain learned about the fundamentals of blocking, tackling, protecting the football and limiting pre snap penalties from Sloan. He also learned to teach players how to become successful young men after their playing days are over.

Bain is a father of four as his wife recently gave birth to twins. He credits her for holding down the home front as he takes on a big coaching position. He’s happy to be back in GM, where he can work and raise his family.

“It was great growing up in Grand Meadow, a small town with great community support,” Bain said. “I have had a lot of support from my family, but also members within the community. They have made a big impact on my life and my career choices.

Ultimately, leading me to return to my hometown of Grand Meadow to raise my family, teach, and coach the Superlarks. “ Bain is taking on a historical program that has had a lot of success and just two coaches over the last few decades. Sloan coached with Jerry Reker before he took over as head coach and Bain recognizes the importance of both of those men.

“We will continue to play Grand Meadow football by being physical and relentless,” Bain said. “We want to instill a hard nose, blue collar work ethic, and never give up attitude all while doing it the Grand Meadow way. I want to keep the tradition that was installed with Coach Jerry Reker to Coach Gary Sloan.” P

“It was great growing up in Grand Meadow, a small town with great community support. I have had a lot of support from my family, but also members within the community.”

Josh Bain

Grand Meadow Public School Will: Provide a safe and secure learning environment Integrate technology as a learning tool for all students Differentiate instruction Provide global perspective

ATHLETICS/ACTIVITIES

Football • Boys/Girls Cross Country Volleyball • Boys/Girls Basketball Wrestling • Baseball • Softball • Golf Clay Target League • Boys/Girls Track Cheerleading • Band • Choir Art Club • Fall Play • One Act Play Spring Musical • FFA

Grand Meadow Public School Vision Statement: To create a safe learning environment that inspires & prepares students for a global society

At Grand Meadow Public School District, promoting student excellence is our number one goal. Our rigorous curriculum challenges students to take accountability for their learning opportunities.

Additionally, students are encouraged to participate in both co-curricular & extracurricular activities.

As students continue their educational journey, we celebrate their success both in & outside of the classroom as a community.

Welcome to Grand Meadow School!

PHONE: 507-857-1120 710 4TH AVE NE • PO BOX 68 • GRAND MEADOW, MN 55936 Progress 2022 | Austin Daily Herald | 95

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Who you choose as your lender matters!

Contact me today for all your home financing needs.

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