Lake Benton teen killed in weekend crash on Highway 14
A Lake Benton teen was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Sunday, April 13 on Highway 14 near Lake Benton. Pictured above is the semi-truck involved in the crash.
By Robert Wolfington
tributeeditor@gmail.com
A Lake Benton teen was killed in a head-on crash Sunday, April 13 at 5:03 p.m. on Highway 14, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Delbert Willert, 17, of Lake Benton was driving a 2002 GMC Yukon traveling westbound, the Minnesota State Patrol said.
Jimmy Nystrum, 60, was driving a Kenworth truck traveling east on Highway 14.
Willert’s vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane and struck the Kenworth truck driven by Nystrum, State Patrol said.
Willert was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nystrum was taken to the Tyler Healthcare Center with non-life threatening injuries.
The Lake Benton Police Department and Lake Benton Fire Department assisted at the scene.
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Delbert Willert
Spring Concert held at Lake Benton Elementary
Alexis Christensen, Karissa Olsen and Madeline Bressler are pictured in the foreground as they take turns performing solos to the song “Cups” while their classmates keep the beat with actual cups in the background.
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
The Lake Benton Elementary gymnasium was filled with the friends and family members of students during the elementary school’s spring concert held last Wednesday evening.
Those in attendance were treated to an evening of classic children’s songs and some more modern musical selections as well as the children played their instruments and sang their selections under the direction of Lake Benton Elementary Music Director Marijane Borresen.
The night’s performances began with grades one through six performing “The Concert Etiquette Rap.”
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Filed under Community, School |Chamber works on Saddle Horse schedule
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
The Lake Benton Chamber of Commerce worked on getting the complete schedule for Saddle Horse Holiday 2014 lined up at their meeting on Monday evening.
A number of new events are being planned for this year’s annual town celebration. Many events that have been held in previous years will be returning as well. Some of the new events being planned are a 5k walk/run, bed races, cow chip bingo and an iron man junior competition.
The bed races are open to anyone interested in participating. Participants must provide their own “modified” beds, and two to three participants will race the beds down Center Street on Saturday afternoon. Registration for this event will be open until the day of the event and any teams interested in participating can register at the city office.
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Filed under Community |City and DNR talk lake access
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
The Lake Benton City Council met with Phil Nasby and Kent Skaar of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to discuss the possibility of upgrading the public water access facility located on Lake Shore Drive in town.
Nasby is the Parks and Trails Area Supervisor for the DNR, and he came before the council last August to mention that this project was a possible option for the city and the state to collaborate on.
The city expressed interest at that time, and Nasby filed the appropriate paperwork to have the lake access facility considered for redevelopment. Nasby filed the project as a priority and Lake Benton is now at the top of the pile, so the redevelopment process was explained to the city council at a special meeting held last Thursday afternoon.
“We’re just here to start the talk and the process as far as expectations and the scope of the project,” explained Nasby. “I’m hoping that everyone will talk freely of expectations and ideas, and then we’ll go from there after today.”
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Filed under Community, Government |Up-close look at agriculture
Katie Elvehjem of Hubbard Feed, left, answered questions from the young students in attendance during the Lincoln County Farm Bureau’s Ag Awareness Day last Thursday morning at Lake Benton Elementary School.
Lake Benton students were treated to a closer look at farming through Ag Awareness Day
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
For the second year in a row, the Lincoln County Farm Bureau (LCFB) has given area students the opportunity to learn about agricultural impacts in our region during a special event called Ag Awareness Day.
Ag Awareness Day took place in the gymnasium at Lake Benton Elementary School this past Thursday morning. Third and fourth grade students from Ivanhoe along with third, fourth and fifth grade students from Hendricks were present at the event.
The 70 students were split up into groups and spent 15 minutes at each station or presentation at the event.
A total of nine stations were set up with various agriculture-related categories.
Minnesota State Beef Ambassador Maria Weber provided a presentation about beef for the children, while Katie Elvehjem of Hubbard Feed brought along a newborn calf and gave a presentation on dairy products.
The Sigma Alpha Sorority from South Dakota State University was present to talk about water and its role in agriculture.
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Mike Goblirsch of Redwood Falls, right, provided a presentation about beekeeping at Ag Awareness Day at Lake Benton Elementary School this past Thursday morning.
Showing off the new clinic
LuAnn Weber, Stacey VanDyke, Eric Ocampo and Laurie Ellefsen took time away from their guided tours to pose for a photo during the open house at the Lake Benton Medical Clinic last Wednesday evening. These four will be serving the Lake Benton area now that renovations on the clinic complete.
Community Choir preps for Saddle Horse show
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
The Lake Benton Community Choir has been hard at work for the past four weeks as they prepare themselves for a concert to be held during the festivities of Saddle Horse Holiday.
Graham Wrightson of Brookings, S.D. had the idea to start a community choir in Lake Benton after being unable to find one that suited his talents, so he contacted Opera House President Mark Wilmes.
“We were looking for a choir that wasn’t connected to a church or a university that does nontraditional choral music,” explained Wrightson. “There used to be one in Brookings, but it ended, so I asked Mark if Lake Benton would be interested in having one.”
Wrightson’s inquiry came at the perfect time as Wilmes was already looking for some entertainment to perk up the festivities surrounding Saddle Horse Holiday.
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Filed under Community |City revisits new water meters
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
City Maintenance Supervisor Todd Draper explained to the Lake Benton City Council what he had learned regarding the proposed new water meters during the regularly scheduled meeting this past Monday evening.
The city is considering the replacement of the older, outdated meters in residences within town. New meters will save time, labor and money for the city.
Three quotes for the software, installation, maintenance and warranty were received by Draper, but each meter has its own unique features. The lowest quote was approximately $124,000, and the highest quote was approximately $174,000. According to Mayor Carpenter, the city has the money to complete this project and additional money could also be gained by scrapping the old meters.
Draper suggested that the council ask the three businesses which submitted quotes to come before select council members to explain their respective products’ pros and cons. This way the council will be well-informed before making a decision.
The council agreed with this suggestion and a motion was approved to authorize Draper to set up meetings in order for the council to obtain further information.
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Filed under Community, Government |Elks go to prom
Elkton-Lake Benton prom attendees are pictured waiting for their schoolmates to finish the first round of the Grand March this past Saturday evening in the high school gymnasium.
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
The Elkton-Lake Benton prom was held this past Saturday, March 29 at the high school.
Professional photos were taken of the decked-out couples before they sat down to a meal. The couples then prepared for photo opportunities at the Grand March, which was held at 8 p.m., and was followed by a dance in the school cafeteria.
After the dance concluded the students dressed down and boarded a bus to Brookings, S.D. for their after-prom party where they enjoyed a night full of activities and games at the South Dakota State University Wellness Center.
Those in attendance then stopped for breakfast at a fast food joint before being bussed back home in the early morning hours of Sunday.
Gabby Kampmann and Jose Flores are pictured during the Grand March at the Elkton-Lake Benton Prom held this past Saturday evening, March 29 in Elkton, S.D.
Elementary to present “Campfire Tales” Friday
Eager students await the instructions of directors Carolyn Willem Van Dijk and Harrison Fry during Monday afternoon’s rehearsals for the production “Campfire Tales” to be presented on Friday.
By Steven J. Hurd
lbvjeditor@gmail.com
Dakota Players, in association with the Lake Benton Elementary School, will be providing a night of entertainment this Friday when 47 talented students will be performing a musical entitled “Campfire Tales” in the school gymnasium at 7 p.m.
Auditions took place on Monday and rehearsals will take place each night this week until the whole show comes together on Friday.
This special week-long event gives children at Lake Benton Elementary School a chance to learn what it’s like to take part in a professionally produced stage musical, from auditions and rehearsals through the final performance.
For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Filed under Community, School |