Central Minnesota Senior Care is a hidden asset for Lake Benton

Central Minnesota Senior Care Center in Lake Benton will hold an open house on Saturday. Check out their facility and meet their staff. Pictured are Cindy Nielsen, Susan Nestlen-Fox, Isabel Daluz, Kash Pierce, Resident RN Mashauna Brudwick, and Program Coordinator Dianne Hurd. Also on staff are Kris Benson, Linda Borresen, Holly Forester and Itzel Vincent.

By Shelly Finzen
lbvjeditor@gmail.com

 
Ensuring that loved ones have the best care is a primary concern for most Minnesotans. It becomes even more important when those loved ones are nearing the end of their lives. Fortunately, Lake Benton has a hidden asset, the Central Minnesota Senior Care Center (CMSC), formerly known as The Homestead.
CMSC is a nine-bed senior care facility tucked away on Mork Street. They provide customized living programs, offering a cozy home setting, private bedrooms, and trained on-site staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lake Benton’s CMSC also offers an on-site Registered Nurse, who is on call 24 hours a day.

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

“Enchanted Bookshop” opens this Saturday at Lake Benton Opera House

The Lake Benton Opera House production of “The Enchanted Bookshop” will be presented Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Pictured from left are Charlie Thooft (seated) Dilyn Werkman, Sophie Peterson, Jack Rybinski, Lydia Erb, Adalia Matzner and Issy Bakker. The show is under the direction of Crystal Enga of Marshall.

By Shelly Finzen
lbvjeditor@gmail.com

 
Bookworms around the world wish their favorite storybook characters could come to life. What if they could? A couple of jewel thieves find out in this year’s Lake Benton Opera House Children’s Theater production, “The Enchanted Bookshop.”

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

2018 General Election results; Worth retains mayoral seat

Mayor Bob Worth

By Shelly Finzen
lbvjeditor@gmail.com

The 2018 general election was labeled the “most important midterm in history,” by many media sites. The results of the various races were surprising to some, and expected by others.
Locally, in the U.S. Senate race, Republican Jim Newberger beat incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar in a very close race. Newberger earned 49.96 per­cent of the Lincoln County votes while Klobuchar earned 47.94 percent of the votes. Dennis Schuller gained 1.69 percent and Paula Overby obtained 0.41 per­cent of the Lincoln County votes. Statewide, Klobuchar retained her Senate seat, gaining 60.31 percent over Newberger’s 36.21 percent.

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

Sheriff Chad Meester

Program brought endangered animals to life for LBE students

Kelly Campbell, a professional puppeteer from Oregon, shared her love of puppets and her love of animals with Lake Benton Elementary School students last week. One of the stories she shared was a true story about a goose that was raised by a Golden Eagle.

By Shelly Finzen
lbvjeditor@gmail.com

The Lake Benton El­ementary School students had a special visitor late last week. Kelly Camp­bell from Oregon came to share her love of puppets and her love of animals with the students in a Da­kota Assemblies presenta­tion. During her program, Campbell showed students that not every puppet has to be fancy, and not every story has an expected end­ing.

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

Lake Benton Elementary celebrated local veterans

A sailor went to “shoo-bop-sho-wop” during the preschool and kindergarten performance.

Pastor Daren Junker spoke about the reasons veterans don’t always want to share their stories. “Just be there to listen to what they do have to say,” he encouraged the audience.

For more photos, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

Lincoln County board approves several resolutions

By Shelly Finzen
lbvjeditor@gmail.com

The Lincoln County Commissioners met Nov. 6 for their regular meeting. All commissioners were present for the meeting.
Vince Robinson, repre­senting Lincoln County HRA, was on hand to re­quest that the county sup­port the HRA in their ef­fort to provide small cities grants to rental property owners in Tyler and Lake Benton. The Small Cities Development Program would provide zero per­cent loans to rental prop­erty owners to address health and safety needs, energy efficiency and ac­cessibility improvements…

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

The new Lake Benton Diner’s Club replaces Senior Dining

Lake Benton’s Senior Dining program gathered at the old Community Center building for the final $2 meal. Beginning in December, the group will be known as the Diner’s Club and will meet at The Lunch Box for a weekly hot meal and entertainment. A monthly $3 meal special will be sponsored by area businesses.

There is always some­thing new happening in Lake Benton, and now the Senior Dining program is announcing some exciting changes.
The current Lake Ben­ton Senior Dining program operates out of the Lake Benton Community Center building, which is locat­ed on Benton Street and owned by the City of Lake Benton. The Senior Dining Program is responsible for the Meals on Wheels ser­vice to our local residents and for the in-house senior meals served on Thursday each week. The current Senior Dining Program is managed and subsidized by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS), out of St. Paul.

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

Vet’s life brings him full circle to his hometown

Minnesota Veterans Home residents (seated) Willie Oltmans and Joan Klitzke were visited by (from left) Betty Klitzke, volunteer Donna Landsman, Barb Hurd, Donna Lynn and Garnet Petersen.

By Mark Wilmes
tributeeditor@gmail.com

Long-time Lake Ben­ton resident Willie Olt­mans has traveled a long and winding road in his life, which took him from his youth in Luverne to businesses in Tyler and Slayton, then on to Lake Benton. He now resides at the Minnesota Veterans Home in his hometown of Luverne. His walls and shelves are peppered with memories. The first thing that catches the eye is the big black and white sign that says Private Park­ing—Walleye Fisherman Only. Beneath that is a Certificate of Continuous Service for 70 years with the American Legion. He received the recognition three years ago. Below that is a Plank Owner’s Certificate dated 16 Oct. 1945 from the U.S.S. Point Cruz. There are pictures of his children and a wedding day picture of him and his wife of 53 years, Elsie.
He was excited to share a Halloween card he re­ceived from the Belview American Legion, and said he would love to hear from his friends in the Lake Benton and Tyler Legions.

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

Navy veteran Willie Oltmans, formerly of Lake Benton.

The Flag Code, a gentle reminder in flag respect

By Shelly Finzen
lbvjeditor@gmail.com

According to the Flag Code posted on usflag.org, “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.” This means that respect is due our flag. With Veterans Day just around the corner, here are some gentle reminders on respecting the US Flag. The following is taken from the Flag Code at usflag.org.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag should be made by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform, men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and give the military salute.

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.

City partners with other agencies to provide small cities grants for rental properties

Vince Robinson requested that the City of Lake Benton partner with other agencies to provide small cities grants to rental property owners.

By Shelly Finzen
lbvjeditor@gmail.com

The Trustees of the City of Lake Benton met for their regu­lar meeting on Monday, Nov. 5. The evening began with a public hearing where sealed bids for the former Community Center building were opened. According to Christensen, the bid request was posted in the legal section of the Lake Benton Valley Jour­nal for two weeks No bids were received by City Administrator/Clerk Eileen Christensen. Mayor Bob Worth asked the council what they wanted to do next. Al­though the city was advised that they did not need to go through the bidding process, they felt that since it was city property, they should follow the correct process. The council decided to table the issue until the Dec. 17 meeting.

For the full story, read this week’s Lake Benton Valley Journal.