PROGRESS 2022
Saturday, February 26, 2022
‘There’s No Place Like Home’ Follow the yellow brick road through the Albert Lea area community for stories of exemplary brains, heart and courage
I
n the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy is on a quest down the yellow brick road to Emerald City, where she could ask the Wizard of Oz to help her return home. On her way, she meets a Scarecrow, who wants a brain; the Tin Man, who seeks a heart; and a Cowardly Lion, who wants to have courage. We, likewise, in this special section searched for people with exemplary brains, heart and courage in our own community, and we quickly found many examples of these traits. The people we feature in this issue make the Albert Lea area a great place to live, and they’re a simple reminder there’s really no place like home.
Sections inside: Brains
Heart
Courage
Down Through The Years
PAGE 2 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2022 | INDEX | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022
What’s inside? Brains Page 1
Alden-Conger supermileage students are making a name for themselves at competitions all over the world
Page 3
Continuing a legacy in Wells: Jake’s Pizza reopens in new location
Page 5
Boutique owners find success, expand store into new building
Page 6
Creating change one city at a time: Climate Action Plan looks at things the city can do to mitigate risks of climate change
Page 7
Teachers help students be math masters
Page 7
Behind the scenes with technology at the Albert Lea school district
Page 8
New company taking off in first year
Page 9
Company treats hearing loss in new facility at the Northbridge Mall
Heart Page 1
Citizen of the Year: Albert Lea woman finds joy in volunteering with numerous organizations in the community
Page 4
faith formation for youth
Celebrating unsung heroes: We asked readers to submit letters with information about their local heroes and why they inspire others
‘She loves working with kids’: Lake Mills woman has volunteered at sports games for a total of 41 years
Page 5
Page 17
Page 6
Courage
McDonald’s staff adapts to ongoing changes in the pandemic ‘I am just so proud of so many things’: Blue Zones Project lead looks back on improvements as she prepares for retirement
Page 7
Learning to speak a new language: Though numbers have dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, students press on in adult ESL program
Page 9
A family history of caring for children: Woman starts day care after she’s unable to find one for her own children
Page 11
Helping families in times of need: Albert Lea’s funeral homes have seen lots of changes in recent years
Page 12
Over 3 decades of teaching in the Albert Lea school district
Page 15
Changes in the heart of downtown Albert Lea during the last year
Page 1
Albert Lea firefighters utilize EMT training to respond to medical calls in the community Page 3 Serving the state and nation in the Minnesota National Guard
Page 4
Meet Albert Lea’s new officers
Page 6
Helping people on their worst days
Page 9
Work underway on veterans memorial in Emmons
Page 11
Hospice workers in the area share their passion for both their profession and their patients
Page 11
Supporting students where they need it
Manager at MercyOne clinic in Albert Lea is happy to be a part of new endeavor
Page 14
Pages 12-19
Page 13
Albert Lea’s First Lutheran begins program focused on
Recognizing area volunteer fire departments
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | INDEX | PROGRESS 2022 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 3
Index of Advertisers
112 on Broadway...................................................................... Courage........ 7 Accentra Credit Union............................................................... Brains...... 10 ADA Enterprises, Inc.............................................................. Courage...... 15 Addie’s Floral & Gifts.............................................................. Courage........ 4 Alamco Wood Products Inc.................................................... Courage........ 8 Albert Lea Area Schools..............................................................Heart........ 8 Albert Lea Art Center............................................................. Courage........ 4 Albert Lea Bus Company.............................................................Heart........ 9 Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau........................... Insert.......... Albert Lea Economic Development Agency........................... Insert.......... Albert Lea Family YMCA............................................................Heart...... 17 Albert Lea Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce........... Insert.......... Albert Lea Law..............................................................................Heart...... 13 Albert Lea Magazine............................................................... Courage...... 18 Albert Lea Monument............................................................. Courage........ 6 Albert Lea Public Warehouse................................................... Brains........ 9 Albert Lea Seed House - Garden Center................................. Brains........ 2 Albert Lea Steel, Inc................................................................... Brains...... 10 Albert Lea Tribune.......................................................................Heart........ 5 Albert Lea Vet Clinic.................................................................. Brains........ 7 Alden -Conger Public School District..................................... Brains........ 2 AllWeather Roof............................................................................Heart...... 13 Americana Insurance Group......................................................Heart...... 12 Amy Swain Hearing Center................................................... Courage........ 8 Antiques of the Midwest......................................................... Courage...... 12 Arcadian Bank............................................................................. Brains...... 12 Arcadian Bank - Hartland...................................................... Courage...... 12 ARO Accounting...................................................................... Courage...... 12 Arrow Builders.............................................................................Heart........ 5 Attig Construction, LLC...............................................................Heart........ 8 Bakkedahl Trucking................................................................... Brains........ 7 Balchem..................................................................................... Courage........ 2 Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home.............................................Heart...... 16 Becker Auto.............................................................................. Courage...... 13 Between Friends Boutique..................................................... Courage........ 4 Blake’s Body Shop...................................................................... Brains........ 5 Blue Zones......................................................................................Heart...... 10 Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Services................................Heart...... 17 Bowman Electric..........................................................................Heart........ 9 Broadway Bikes....................................................................... Courage........ 4 Bubba’s Bar & Grill................................................................. Courage...... 14 Calico Hutch............................................................................. Courage...... 13 Cargill........................................................................................ Courage...... 18 CCF Bank.......................................................................................Heart...... 17 CCI Granite............................................................................... Courage........ 8 Christianson Plumbing & Heating........................................ Courage........ 7 Church Offset - North American Label - Marketing Plus.....Heart........ 3 City of Albert Lea.........................................................................Heart...... 16 Clarks Grove Veterinary Clinic............................................ Courage...... 16 Clothing Care Center.............................................................. Courage........ 4 Collins Auto Repair................................................................. Courage........ 8 Conger Inn & Victory Catering............................................. Courage...... 17 Conger Meats........................................................................... Courage........ 4 Country Care Boarding Kennels........................................... Courage...... 16 Crescendo Exquisite Food & Fine Wines..................................Heart...... 17 Crossroads Trailer...................................................................... Brains...... 11 Crystal Valley Coop................................................................. Courage...... 13 Czech Inn Bed & Breakfast & Retreat................................. Courage...... 13 Dewey Kruger Music Center................................................. Courage...... 15 Dolan Landscaping.................................................................. Courage...... 18 Eastside Liquor........................................................................ Courage........ 8 Edward Jones................................................................................Heart...... 11 Elm Homes....................................................................................Heart........ 8 Emmons Lutheran Church..................................................... Courage........ 9 Endres Windows...........................................................................Heart........ 9 ETC Tanning & Clothing......................................................... Courage........ 6 Farmers Mutual....................................................................... Courage...... 16 Federal Foam Technologies................................................... Courage...... 15 Fisher’s Fine Jewelers............................................................ Courage........ 4 Freeborn Construction............................................................ Courage...... 13 Freeborn County.......................................................................... Insert.......... Freeborn Mower Electric....................................................... Courage........ 8 Geno’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C.......................................... Courage........ 8
Who cares about public notices?
Glenville-Emmons School...........................................................Heart........ 3 Grace Lutheran Church.......................................................... Courage........ 9 H&S Door System.................................................................... Courage...... 10 Hanna Heating & Air Conditioning...........................................Heart........ 8 Hanson Tire Service................................................................... Brains...... 10 Hearing Associates.......................................................................Heart...... 12 Hillcrest Cemetery.................................................................. Courage........ 7 Home Solutions Midwest.............................................................Heart...... 18 Injection Technology Diesel Service.................................... Courage...... 15 Innovance.......................................................................................Heart...... 18 Intellicents................................................................................ Courage........ 9 ITC Midwest................................................................................ Brains...... 10 Jakes Pizza................................................................................ Courage........ 4 Jensales..................................................................................... Courage...... 16 Knudtson Automotive Services............................................. Courage...... 15 Lake Mills Chamber Development Group........................... Courage...... 17 Lake Mills Community School............................................... Courage...... 17 Larson Contracting.......................................................................Index........ 4 Larson Manufacturing............................................................ Courage...... 17 Leland Drainage and Excavating.......................................... Courage...... 10 LeVerne Carlson Fitness Center........................................... Courage...... 16 Lewis Charles........................................................................... Courage........ 7 M&M Insurance....................................................................... Courage...... 12 Main Street Dental.................................................................. Courage...... 13 Main Street Program.................................................................. Insert.......... Manchester-Hartland Telephone Company......................... Courage...... 16 Manpower.................................................................................... Brains........ 5 Mary-Go-Round Shoppe.......................................................... Courage........ 4 Mayo Clinic Health System................................................... Courage...... 10 Midwest Repairables.............................................................. Courage...... 13 Morreim Drainage................................................................... Courage...... 16 Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen...................................................................Heart........ 3 Munson Body Shop.................................................................. Courage...... 16 Nick’s Meats & Grocery......................................................... Courage...... 13 Nicks Trading Post.................................................................. Courage...... 14 Plaza Landscaping & Garden Center.................................... Courage........ 7 Poet............................................................................................. Courage...... 14 Produce State Bank................................................................. Courage........ 4 Produce State Bank......................................................................Heart...... 18 Produce State Bank - Glenville............................................. Courage...... 14 Produce State Bank - Hollandale.......................................... Courage...... 15 Purple Cross............................................................................. Courage...... 14 R&R Flooring............................................................................ Courage...... 16 R80, LLC.................................................................................... Courage...... 15 Raleigh’s Ace Hardware......................................................... Courage........ 6 RDO Home Inspection............................................................... Brains...... 11 Reindal Electric....................................................................... Courage...... 16 REM Woodvale, Inc.................................................................... Brains...... 10 Rightway Roofing & Remodeling.......................................... Courage........ 7 Riverland Community College................................................. Brains...... 11 Security Bank Minesota - Emmons...................................... Courage...... 14 Security Bank Minnesota............................................................Heart........ 3 Security Bank Minnesota - Alden......................................... Courage...... 16 Southern Lock & Glass.................................................................Heart........ 2 St. John’s.................................................................................... Courage........ 3 Strong Insurance..................................................................... Courage........ 4 T & W Towing................................................................................Heart........ 8 Thompson Electric.......................................................................Heart........ 3 Thompson Sanitation............................................................... Courage........ 8 Tom’s Taxidermy Studio......................................................... Courage...... 16 Torey’s Restaurant & Bar....................................................... Courage........ 3 Total Security of Southern Minnesota.................................. Courage...... 16 Trades & Labor Credit Union.................................................... Brains........ 2 TruStile Doors.......................................................................... Courage...... 15 United Employees Credit Union........................................... Courage........ 3 Ventura Foods................................................................................Heart...... 10 Waldorf University..................................................................... Brains........ 3 Wangen Excavating - Septic Services.................................. Courage........ 7 Waste Management/Freeborn County Enviromental Services. Brains........ 3 Wedgewood Cove..................................................................... Courage........ 2 Wells Concrete......................................................................... Courage...... 12 Wells Marketplace................................................................... Courage...... 12 Worth Lumber Company........................................................ Courage...... 15
YOU SHOULD
YO U H AV E TH E RI G H T TO K N OW W H A T’S H A PPEN I N G I N YO UR COM M UN I TY
Read in the Tribune each week or search the public notice archives: Freeborn County: albertleatribune.com/category/public-notices/ State of Minnesota: mnpublicnotice.com
Helping you make well informed decisions and be an active participant in a democratic society. 507-373-1411
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