SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | COURAGE | PROGRESS 2022 | PAGE 11
Hospice workers in the area share dedication to both their profession and their patients By Alex Guerrero
alex.guerrero@albertleatribune.com
Growing up, some people aren’t sure what they want to do. For others, their dream job turns out to be something completely different than what they went to school for. For Andrea Madrigal, her career path was inspired by her mother, Patty, who herself is a nurse. Madrigal started nursing in 2015 as a personal care assistant. She then worked up to a licensed practical nurse and finally to her current job at Embrace Home Care LLC as a registered nurse. “I love helping people,” she said. “I actually went to school to become an occupational therapist, and when my mom started this company I started out as a PCA and I found that I loved working with the clients.” Being a health care nurse isn’t just drawing blood and administering shots either. “Every day is different,” she said. “For the most part we try to help out with things needing to be done with patients such as paperwork, phone calls, schedules, handling employees,” she said. During one of her nursing shifts, she may have to take an evening shift from 3 to 10 p.m., though on occasion she’s worked 14-hour days with nothing more than a 30-minute or hour break. One shift constitutes seven hours with one client, and she’s currently alternating between three clients. Because Embrace is an in-home service, she also has to travel to patients’ homes. All of her patients are ventilator dependent, and some require gastrointestinal tubes. “Most of the time we are just caring for them, getting their hygiene cares done, their oral cares done,” she said. “Any patient appointments that they need to go to, we are there with them at the hospitals.” She also administers medications and treatments. Patients may also have diseases. “We take little ones out of St. Marys,” Patty Madrigal said. “We’re in the process of taking one now where we have a baby that was born with a disease or they were born prematurely, and we take them and we put them in the home and then we staff them with nurses.” Another challenge is staffing, and if they’re short-staffed or other agencies are, that means
Erin Brandenburg, a registered nurse, has worked at Mayo Hospice since 2008. ALEX GUERRERO/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
Jacqueline Carstens is a medical social worker at Mayo Hospice. someone in the community in need of care won’t have it. And like everything else, COVID-19 made Andrea Madrigal alter the way she works, whether it was being more mindful of things happening around her or washing her hands more frequently. She’s also wearing masks in patients’ homes at all times. “We’re just mindful of them and being more cautious,” she said. Embrace currently has around 60 clients and 10 employees covering seven counties, with most of their base in Steele, Freeborn and Mower counties. Madrigal is working on her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner, and she also serves as a case manager at Embrace.
‘Every patient is different’ One circumstance can alter a person’s life trajectory forever. This was the case for Erin Brandenburg, a BSN/RN at Mayo Hospice. “My dad had multiple sclerosis for many years,” she said. “He was diagnosed a year before I was born.” That meant she helped care for him at home while
in school, and her work drew her to the field. “When I worked in [a] rural hospital in Emmetsburg, we had a hospice room at the end of the hall and nobody wanted to take the hospice patients,” she said. “I kind of volunteered and enjoyed it and liked it, so then I kind of became the hospice nurse who would take the hospice patients when they were at the hospital.” So when she moved to Lake Mills and saw a hospice position open, she applied and was hired. As a hospice case manager, she and her team deal with six to eight patients. “I schedule visits throughout the week,” she said. “The thing with hospice patients is every patient is different. Some might be seen several times a week, some may be seen once a week, some maybe three to four times a week or daily depending on their needs and how they’re doing overall.” Typically, Brandenburg tries to see four patients daily within the 45-minute hospital radius. “I go into the patient’s home, the nursing home or wherever the patient resides, and I’m assessing the patient’s symptoms,” she said. That can mean figuring
out what’s bothering the patient, as well as prescribing treatment. She’ll also educate the family or facility staff depending on who is caring for the patient. She also tries to save one day for admissions. ”If there’s a new patient to take on, I like to have room for that,” she said. “Admission to hospice can pretty much take up your whole day.” Originally, unless absolutely necessary, COVID19 put a pause on patient visits and made her adapt. “We would do Zoom visits, video visits of any way, telehealth, all of that — phone visits sometimes if they didn’t have the technology for telehealth,” she said. “We were doing a lot of that when the pandemic started.” She’s also wearing personal protective equipment and goggles. “Facemasks obviously are a must, but it kind of hinders being able to see your patients and them being able to see you and … you miss that kind of connection you had with your patients prior to the pandemic.” Another challenge she has faced is not knowing how many staff she’ll have. “You may have to take on extra because somebody is sick or somebody is out or you pick up extra work because you just don’t know what the day’s going to bring or if you need it you might pick up an extra day here or there just to help out and get through.” During the pandemic, Brandenburg has learned the value of teamwork. “Having people there to support you as well as you supporting the patients, and just being able to work together to get through,” she said. “You just never know. “Some days you’re
working fine, everybody’s working. Next day somebody is out because we all have families outside of this.” She’s also spending less time at the physical hospital because she starts and ends her day at home. “I have my laptop, and so I just go from my patients to home to patient’s houses to back home,” she said. “Most of our meetings here in the office are all via Zoom now, so we don’t have to physically see each other in person very much.” And that’s something she was very appreciative about: easier access to patients. Brandenburg grew up in Buffalo Center, Iowa, and received her two-year nursing degree through Iowa Lakes Community College, and earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing through the University of Iowa. She has been a nurse since 2001 and has been with Mayo Hospice since 2008.
Supporting patients and families in new ways Knowing what you want can make life easier. That was the case with Jacqueline Carstens, a medical social worker with Mayo Hospice. “I started at [Naeve Hospital] as a discharge planner where I helped people get placed into facilities or health services at home,” Carstens said. “Then they started the Hospice program around 1985 and they were looking for social workers. So I was able to help with that when it started.” Besides that, she went to the nursing home that Naeve owned in Wells, so being in health care was always in her plans. “It’s a philosophy of caring for people at the end of life, and working as a team and just having that support to help people when a lot of times people are not wanting to be with people at the end of life,” she said. “I just thought it was a very rewarding experience, and I’ve stayed with it ever since.” As the social worker on her team, she tries to help people with social and emotional concerns. “A lot of times the nurse is focusing more on the symptom management of the patient,” she said. “A lot of what I do is try to help with the family.” That could mean making a phone call or taking a home visit, where she wants to support the
family with information on what to expect as their loved one progresses through a disease. “We work not only with the patient’s physical needs, it’s the social/emotional,” she said. “And then we have a chaplain on our team that helps with the spiritual. So we really work as a team of professionals.” Because of changes made during the pandemic, Carstens is able to work from home. “We all have laptops with all of the patient information in, and so we kind of look at what I’m going to be doing for the day, setting up my scheduling,” she said. “I usually try to see people at least once a month, but it may be every two weeks.” After organizing her data, she’ll make her visits or phone calls to some of her 23 patients. She said the pandemic hasn’t stopped their visits, but at the beginning it did change how she operated. “Some of the facilities where we had our patients reside in, the families weren’t always allowed to be there with them,” she said. “And so I remember being outside a window of a facility because they could only look at their loved one through a window. “So supporting them that way, that was a big change.” The emergence of telehealth has also interfered with any personal touches to one-on-one support. That’s not to say everything has been harder. “Sometimes things can be more efficient if you’re able to do things by telehealth,” she said. “We do a lot of Zoom meetings and connections.” But the current crisis has also taught her to not be afraid. Instead, she tries to do the best she can while still being careful. “Life is precious,” she said. She also admires her colleagues on the front lines of the crisis who aren’t afraid to go in with their personal protective equipment. “It is a tough time but we still have to be there to take care of the people that need us,” she said. “I think that made us stronger as a team, too.” Visits typically include assessing how patients are coping and answering any questions But make no mistake, not every day is the same. Carstens grew up in Blue Earth and graduated from St. Benedict’s with a major in social work and has worked in hospice for 26 years.
‘This has been such a fun and exciting experience to be a part of’ MANAGER AT MERCYONE CLINIC IN ALBERT LEA HAPPY TO BE A PART OF NEW ENDEAVOR By Alex Guerrero
alex.guerrero@albertleatribune.com
Life often takes you on unexpected twists, and the road to the goal is almost never straightforward. Take Kristin Flatness, a registered nurse and the manager at MercyOne Albert Lea Family Medicine and Specialty Care, for example. “I was actually working in another health care administration position at a senior living facility,” she said via email. “One of my tenants was a member of the Save Our Healthcare organization (that is what Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition was called at the time) and convinced me that I would be a great candidate for the new MercyOne Clinic director.” So she decided to apply after she found the ad circled in red and placed in the middle of her desk. “I didn’t want to let my tenant down, so I decided to give it a shot and apply,” she said. “Low and behold, that got me where I am today and I couldn’t
be happier.” But being a nurse wasn’t her original goal. Flatness, who was always interested in the medical field, had previously worked for about nine years in a hospital in-patient pharmacy. “I wanted to go back to school to be a pharmacist,” she said. “But without any pharmacy schools in the area, that wasn’t an option for me. Nursing was the next best choice.” And despite not pursuing pharmacy, she’s happy where she’s at. “This has been such a fun and exciting experience to be a part of and I could not be more proud of the citizens of Albert Lea and thankful for the ALHC,” she said. “I am also grateful for being able to work with such a fantastic group of providers and staff here at the MercyOne clinic.” But like everything else, the pandemic changed how she and her team at MercyOne operate. “With COVID in full swing, we had to adapt
Kristin Flatness works as a registered nurse and the manager at MercyOne Albert Lea Family Medicine and Specialty Care. ALEX GUERRERO/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE our increasing acute visit demand to meet the needs of our sick patients,” she said. “We’ve created new safety protocols so that we are able to reduce exposure between our patients who are here for a well
visit and patients who are coming in because they are sick.” Those new protocols include specialty visits along with “well” visits such as regular child visits, physicians, Medicare wellness
checks, chronic disease management visits and pre-op physicals. But those procedures aren’t all. “We then clear the clinic following cleaning protocols, and start seeing those
with upper respiratory illness, possible influenza, strep, COVID-19 and other contagious illness,” she said. Before seeing them, she asks those patients to wait in their cars rather than the waiting room before being called into an exam room. She said she anticipated that process to change once COVID becomes more manageable. Above all, she’s learned to never predict what could happen. “Things can literally change minute-by-minute,” she said. “With COVID there were so many unknowns and policies and procedures changed hourby-hour some days.” Staffing was also a concern. “You have to learn to take everything in stride and be flexible,” she said. She encouraged anyone looking to join the health care field to visit mercyone.org/northiowa/ careers. Flatness graduated from Blue Earth Area High School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She also earned a master’s degree in health care administration.
PAGE 12 | PROGRESS 2022 | COURAGE | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022
RECOGNIZING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS WELLS FIRE DEPARTMENT Address of fire station:
180 Third St. SE, Wells
Current chief: Guy Kimpton
How old is your department:
139 years, it was established in 1883
How many firefighters are on your department: 29 Names of each person on your department: Guy Kimpton, chief
Richard “Bucky” Brandenburg, assistant chief Scott Berg, captain Dane Giese, rescue captain Scott Linde Gregg Wegner Shaun R. Olson Chad Swehla Brian Bullerman Adam Neubauer Craig Anderson Kirt Gossen Eric Neubauer Chad Harig Chance Kimpton Jon Bathke Jarod Billings Eric Lackey Adam Stenzel Josh Rebelein Kyle Neubauer Josh Stangler Nate Niebuhr Aaron Nasinec
Members of the Wells Fire Department are pictured in front row, from left, Josh Rebelein, Shaun Olson, Chief Guy Kimpton, Captain Scott Berg, Jared Billings, Eric Lackey, Aaron Nasinec, Eric Neubauer, Kyle Neubauer, Dane Giese. Back row, from left, are Kurt Gossen, Josh Stangler, John Bathke, Cody Winstead, Chance Kimpton, Assistant Chief Bucky Brandenburg, Scott Linde, Greg Wegner, Rescue Captain Brian Bullerman and Chad Swehla. Not pictured are Adam Neubauer, Craig Anderson, Chad Harig, Adam Stenzel, Nate Niebuhr, Josh Raimann, Cody Dobbe and Ethan Anderson. PHOTO COURTESY SOUTH CENTRAL NEWS
Cody Winstead Josh Raimann Seth Olson Ethan Anderson Cody Dobbe
What kinds of livelihoods are represented in the department?
Business owners, mechanics, truck drivers, factory workers, concrete workers, telecommunications workers, city employees including the street department and public utilities, farmers, electricians, tile and drainage workers
and a Department of Transportation inspector
Do you have an annual fundraiser or open house each year to raise money for the department? If so, when is it and what
do you have planned?
Yes, the department has an annual fundraiser in July. They also host a pancake breakfast in the spring and fall. The next fundraiser planned is from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 20 at the Wells Fire Hall.
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The Hartland Fire Department is part of the Hartland Community Center. KELLY WASSENBERG/ FOR THE TRIBUNE
HARTLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT Areas it serves:
Hartland and the surrounding towns
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The New Richland Fire Department is at 203 Broadway Ave. N. in New Richland. According to the city of New Richland website, the department has 25 volunteer firefighters. KELLY WASSENBERG/FOR THE TRIBUNE
NEW RICHLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT Address:
203 Broadway Ave. N., New Richland
Who the department serves:
City of New Richland, as well as the townships of Berlin, Byron, Lemond, New Richland, Otisco and Wilton
Hayward Fire and Rescue received an update to its facility in recent years. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
HAYWARD FIRE DEPARTMENT
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PAGE 14 | PROGRESS 2022 | COURAGE | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022
The Glenville Fire Department building is at 211 W. Main St. in Glenville. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
GLENVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT Address of fire station:
221 W. Main St., Glenville
Current chief: Matt Webb
How old is your department?
Organized in 1908
How many firefighters are in your department? 20
Names of each person
in the department? Taylor Atz Peter Berglund Lynn Heggestad Earl Heskett Travis Jacobsen Nick Jepson Tanner Kalvig Todd Kluender Jesse Knaack Greg Ladwig Jeremy Larsen Leif Martinson Eric Page Marc Rasmussen Ryan Rasmusson Dustin Rayman Trent Thoms Matt Webb Wes Webb Shaun Willaby
What kinds of livelihoods are represented
in the department?
We have members that are business owners, carpenters, maintenance workers, police officers and mechanics, to name a few.
Do you have an annual fundraiser or open house each year to raise money for the department? If so, when is it this year and what do you have planned?
The Glenville Fire Department Relief Association has an annual pancake breakfast that has been held the last Sunday in October. This has been going on for 30plus years.
EMMONS FIRE DEPARTMENT/ FIRST RESPONDERS
This statue of a firefighter is next to the fire department building in Glenville. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE 20 firemen and six first responders
Names of each person in the department?
123 years old, established in 1899
Danny Christenson, Perry Erickson*, Scott Marpe*, Kirk Burgett, Dave Meyer, Jason Wescott, Paul Lair, Andy Henschel, Nathan Christenson, Tyler Honsey, Nick Simmons, Lewis Rygh, Dan Vermadahl, Cody Hall, Logan Bidne, Jarrod Inderlie, Jake Wuerflien, Mitch Grove, Bennie Hostetler, Dominic Dreyling, Courtney Grove*, Denise Wescott,* Kaitlynn Indrelie*, Madison Drilling*
How many firefighters are in your department?
*Indicates responders
Address of fire station:
221 Main St., Emmons
Current chief:
Danny Christenson
How old is your department?
first
What kinds of livelihoods are represented in the department?
General laborers, farmers, business owners, health care, office workers
Do you have an annual fundraiser or open house each year to raise money for the department? If so, when is it this year and what do you have planned?
We generally have two fundraisers per year, a soup and pie supper that is coming up on Feb. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Emmons church, and the other is a pancake breakfast that is always in October during Fire Prevention Week.
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Members of the Emmons FIre Department are pictured, from left, Bennie Hostetler, Jake Wuerflien, Logan Bidne, Cody Hall, Jason Westcott, Denise Westcott, Perry Erickson, Courtney Grove, Mitch Grove, Madison Drilling, Nathan Christenson, Dominic Dreyling, Dan Vermedahl and Danny Christenson. Not pictured are Paul Lair, Dave Meyer, Scott Marpe, Kirk Burgett, Andy Henschel, Tyler Honsey, Nick Simmons, Lewis Rygh, Jarrod Inderlie and Kaitlynn Inderlie. PROVIDED
The Bricelyn Fire Department is pictured (not in order): Aaron Rame, Andrew Scholten, Brian Ehlert, Corey Ehlert, Craig Stallkamp, Dave Albrant, Jared Eilertson, Jordan Beyer, Kathy Ehlert, Megan Ehlert, Mike Beyer, Mike Gormley, Mike Johnson, Seth Holland, Shane Johnson, Tom Legred, Trevor Leland, Doug Ellickson, Emily Leland, Kathy Thorson, Peter Coffey, Phillip Ehlert, Resia Hromidko, Makenzie Ehlert and Melissa Hilpipre. PHOTO COURTESY SOUTH CENTRAL NEWS
Your locally owned community bank www.securitybankmn.com BRICELYN FIRE DEPARTMENT Address of department: 203 N. Main St., Bricelyn
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507.379.3433
email: Sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | COURAGE | PROGRESS 2022 | PAGE 15
The Northwood Fire Department is at 98 Eighth St. N. in Northwood. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
NORTHWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT Address of fire station:
98 Eighth St. N., Northwood
Calls the department has responded to in recent years: 2021: 399 2020: 375 2019: 401 2018: 417
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Members of the Kiester Fire Department are pictured (not in order): Standing, Jordan Alphs, Preston Alphs, Dan Willaby, Wayne Johnson, Sal Gonsalez, Mark Zabel, Jerry Alphs, Jim Schroeder, Adam Suhr, Jonas Gonsalez, Dylan Hemingsen, Lonnie Burkhow, Nic Knutson and Tyler Schroader. Kneeling are Tim Engebretson, Ashley Schroader, Michelle Alphs and Leah Johnson. Not pictured, Chastin Allen, Travis LaCore, Brandon Hagenson, Mike Hamson and Shane Steinke. PHOTO COURTESY SOUTH CENTRAL NEWS
KIESTER FIRE DEPARTMENT Address of fire station: 104 N. First St., Kiester
Hollandale’s fire department building is right off of Minnesota Highway 251 near the community’s water tower. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
HOLLANDALE FIRE DEPT. Address:
Park Avenue East in Hollandale/PO Box 220, Hollandale
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PAGE 16 | PROGRESS 2022 | COURAGE | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022
firefighters — 13 of these firefighters are also medical first responders. (EMR)
Names of each person in the department:
The Clarks Grove Fire Department stands in front of trucks at the fire station. PROVIDED
CLARKS GROVE FIRE DEPARTMENT Address of fire station:
101 N. Independence Ave., Clarks Grove, MN 56016
Current chief:
Steven Thisius
Vietze, Andy Rolands, Tyler Caron, Connor Klapperick, Grady Studier, Tyler Doran, and Kyle Anderson.
What kinds of livelihoods are represented in the department?
We have multiple mechanics, some that own and operate their own business, few in agriculture, welder/ fabrication
workers, windmill tech, and some engineers/IT people.
Do you have an annual fundraiser or open house each year to raise money for the department? If so, when is it this year and what do you have planned?
We have two fundraisers a year. The first one is
our Clarks Grove Fire Department Pancake Breakfast on March 26 from 8 a.m.-Noon. The second one is our Clarks Grove Fire Department Sweet Corn and Pork Chop Feed on Aug. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m.
ALDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Address of fire station:
Physical: 174 North Broadway Alden, MN 56009 Mailing: PO Box 241 Alden, MN 56009
Current chief:
Jim Thunstedt, nine years
How old is your department: Founded in 1888
How many firefighters are in your department:
How old is your department?
The official first meeting was held on Jan. 20, 1948 — 74 years.
Currently we have 22
Jim Thunstedt: Chief Firefighter EMR Paul Weigel: Asst. Chief Firefighter EMR Ross Skov: Asst. Chief Firefighter EMR Dan Erickson: Captain Firefighter Kyle Ignaszewski: Captain Firefighter EMR Rich Mirelli: Firefighter EMR Brad Tomschin: Firefighter EMR Chuck Schroeder: Firefighter Parker Hemmingsen: Firefighter EMR Brady VanEngelenburg: Firefighter Jason Hemmingsen: Firefighter EMR Shane Farris: Firefighter Kory Newman: Firefighter Alex Burris: Firefighter Wyatt Ladwig: Firefighter EMR Spencer Kolles: Firefighter EMR Rick Loock: Firefighter EMR Troy Newman: Firefighter Lucas VanEngelenburg: Firefighter EMR Ron Redman: Firefighter Dave Hemmingsen: Firefighter Tyler Stadheim: Firefighter EMR
What kinds of livelihoods are represented in the department:
Farmers, mechanics, teacher, agronomist, laborers, CNC operator, computer IT, engineering, carpenters and business managers.
Annual fundraiser:
Sweet Corn and Pork Chop Dinner will be Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, at fire station.
How many firefighters are in your department?
Tell us about the news
Names of each person in the department?
email: Sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com
in your neighborhood
25
Fire Chief- Steven Thisius, Asst. Chief- Cody Boverhuis, CaptainsMarvin Thompson and Aaron McCornack, Fire Department Secretary Carl Anderson, Firefighters- Dale Leeman, Robert Jensen, Matt Munson, Dan Smith, Joe Smith, Lance Loverink, Eric Heusinkveld, Kyle Ladlie, Alex Pobanz, Justin Hove, Dustin Knutson, Jesse Quam, Blake Peterson, Dennis Adams, Logan
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The Manchester Fire Department had two stalls for equipment. KELLY WASSENBERG/FOR THE TRIBUNE
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022 | COURAGE | PROGRESS 2022 | PAGE 17 Annual fundraiser: Fireman’s Dance: end of March or early April.
GENEVA FIRE DEPARTMENT Address of fire station:
105 E. Main St.
Current chief:
Curtis Boswell
What kind of livelihoods are represented in the department?
How old is your department:
Factory workers, trade workers, salesmen and farmers
How many firefighters are in your department?
Do you have an annual fundraiser or open house each year to raise money for the department? If so, when is it this year and what do you have planned?
22
ELLENDALE FIRE AND RESCUE
Names of each person on the department:
Curt Boswell, Chief** Jon Bartsch, Assistant Chief** Al Beenken, Captain* Chris Stangl, Captain** Steve Bailey Greg Bartsch* Lonnie Bartsch* Jim Beenken Dale Boverhuis Travis Broskoff* Craig Christenson Chris George* Garry Gordinier** Wyatt Grose
Address of fire station:
507 2nd St N, Ellendale MN 56026
Current chief: Logan Busho
How old is your department? Started in 1904
How many firefighters are in your department?
The department will host ham bingo on April 9, a pancake breakfast on Sept. 18 and turkey bingo on Nov. 19.
We want your marriage, engagement and birth announcements. Stop by the Tribune, 808 West Front St.
Building the Best for 65 Years
17, room for 21
Names of each person in the department?
It will be 103 years this summer. It was established in 1919
Hey!
The Ellendale Fire Department is pictured here. PROVIDED
Levi Hanson Daryl Paulsen Tyler Peterson Justin Stieglbauer* David Thompson Jon Warnke Shannon Wobschall Taff Worrell ** denotes firefighters who also serve as Emergency Medical Technicians * denotes firefighters who also serve as Emergency Medical Responders
The Geneva Fire Department is pictured near a fire truck. PROVIDED
Allison Mullenburg, Brian Flatland, Bud Olson, Charlie Spinler, Dan Rhoades, Frank Altricher, Joel Adams, Jordan Rosacker, Josh Otto, Logan Busho, Matt King, Nolan McGowan, Pat Kruger, Rick Johnson, Shawn Larson, Travis Ladwig, Tyler McGowan
What kinds of livelihoods are represented in the department?
Auto body, working for northern natural gas, technician with metronet, working on Mayo helicopters, city worker, family flooring business, Viracon worker, construction and bidding, digging and trenching lines, driving semi, diesel mechanic, working for an appliance company (Sorenson’s appliance), teacher at NRHEG, owning a butcher (neighbors meat), and working in I.T.
Do you have an annual fundraiser or open house each year to raise money for the department? If so, when is it this year and what do you have planned?
We usually try to do a couple of fish frys, activities during Ellendale Days (pedal pull challenge and help with vendors and activities, and we try to have a dinner and auction. Currently the two scheduled for this year would be our fish frys on March 11 and April 8.
The Lake Mills Fire Department last October during its 125th celebration. PROVIDED Dayna Larson Derek Lenz Jeremy Linn Tim Sailor David Steele Wyatt Ladwig Andy Yost Greg Ladwig
What kinds of livelihoods are represented in the department?
Farmers, trucker drivers, IT managers, construction workers, teachers, healthcare workers, ooffice workers
Do you have an annual fundraiser or open house each year to raise money for the department? If so, when is it this year and what do you have planned?
Yes, we have a pancake breakfast on Palm Sunday and a pork chop dinner around the Fourth of July. They have been on hold for the last several years due to COVID, but we are hopeful they will return this year.
CONGER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
LAKE MILLS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Address of fire station:
Address:
51 S. School St. PO Box 241 Conger, MN 56020
Current chief: David Steele
How old is your department? Established in 1954
How many firefighters are in your department? 21
Names of each person in the department? Sarah Dulitz Jason Dunlap Shane Engen Dylan Enser Sarah Enser Cole Grunzke Lonnie Grunzke Jacob Helland Michelle Hintz Sam Hintz Matt Jacobs Jeremy Johnson Doug Kuethe
408 W. Main, Lake Mills, Iowa 50450
Current chief:
Jason (Kirby) Holtan
Age of Department:
126 years — started in 1896. We celebrated our 125th October. 2021
Number of firefighters:
24 firefighters, 1 fire chaplain
Names:
Kirby (Jason) Holtan, fire chief Nathan Ostrander, 1st assistant chief Ross Hanson, 2nd assistant chief Ryan Joynt, fire marshal Will Welter, training officer Doug Domokos, fire chaplain Jim Boehmer John Budach Andy Gudmonson Scott Hagenson Jordan Harang Nick Honsey, probationary enrolled: Firefighter I Joe Jamtgaard Justin Kester Aaron Mannes Logan McCormick, probationary enrolled: Firefighter I Aaron Olson Justin Overland Jason Peterson Nick Peterson, probationary enrolled: Firefighter I Chris Rogstad Rusty Schipper Brian Thompson Jake Thompson Dawson Van Ryswyk, probationary enrolled: Firefighter I
500 Larson Ave Lake Mills, Iowa (641) 592-2282
Livelihoods:
Factory workers, farmers, business owners, city workers, police officer, teacher, self-employed
www.larsondoors.com
THINK
LOCALLY ACT
GLOBALLY
Our students enjoy the benefits of small, friendly classes which are supplemented by on-line education from around the state, the nation, and the world.
“Through our collective efforts we are committed to teaching & learning for all.”
Lake Mills Community School 102 South 4th Ave. East Lake Mills, IA 50450-1628
641-592-0881
PAGE 18 | PROGRESS 2022 | COURAGE | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2022
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