Kjergaard Sports holds sixth annual Buffalo Ridge Demo shoot
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
Jared Beck, left, watches as his younger brother, Jordan, fires a pistol at the handgun range at Kjergaard Sports Buffalo Ridge Demo Shoot on Saturday. - Photo by Dan Kuss
Firearm enthusiasts of all ages were given an opportunity to try out and shoot all types of guns at Kjergaard Sports’ sixth annual Buffalo Ridge Demo shoot on Saturday, July 24.
Representatives from all the major gun manufacturers were on hand to answer questions, demonstrate how the firearms work and allow patrons to take guns out to the various firing ranges that Kjergaard’s had set up.
“The nice part about having an event like this out here in the country is that we have a shooting range,” said Cheryl Kjergaard. “When they have events like this in town, people can look at the merchandise, but they don’t get to try them out.”
There were big tents set up for all of the various vendors and Beretta had a semi-trailer that opens up into an impressive showroom. There were handguns, rifles, ammunition, clothing, sporting clays and even Labrador puppies for sale.
“This is a one day event and some years we have trick shooters, which are always fun to watch,” said Kjergaard. “There is a two year waiting list for most of them and unfortunately for this year they had filled up their itineraries before we got to them. We have also had taxidermists show their wares and services as well.”
On the ranges and in between the vendor booths it was safety first as employees and dealer representatives were everywhere keeping the large crowd of enthusiasts following strict firearm safety guidelines.
“This is our sixth year and we’ve never had an accident,” said Kjergaard. “Everyone you see helping out there is either an employee or a rep and they are all concerned with the safety of our customers. They make sure everyone has access to hearing protection and follows firearm safety regulations to the tee.”
As one pulled up to the Kjergaard property, two young ladies directed people to the parking area, where they could catch a shuttle up to the main area. Porters Big Toys for Big Boys provided Rangers and Gators to haul people and merchandise to and from the parking areas.
Pipestone County Pheasants Forever was raffling off a Honda ATV four-wheeler.
Jared Beck said it’s a great event that Kjergaard’s puts on every year. “It gives us a chance to shoot all kinds of guns we can’t afford to buy,” said Beck. “Then again, if we find something we like a lot, we can save up for it and we know what we’re getting into.”
Beck was firing a pistol at the handgun range and gave his younger brother Jordan and opportunity to shoot it as well, under his careful watch.
A huge draw that made a big boom was the .50 Caliber rifle that participants had an opportunity to shoot. Another brother, Preston Beck, took a few shots at a rifle range target as Brandon Paluch gave instructions on how to properly load and where to aim the weapon.
“I was right next to one of those on the ground, under a Humvee,” said Jared Beck. “Not only was it loud, it shook the ground.”
High Prairie Sporting Clays of Canby brought their portable trap house for added fun. Nick Krog was trying out a shotgun and shot a couple of clay pigeons and a clay rabbit as well.
Matt Eickhoff, Kjergaard’s employee and son-in-law, ran down the list of who was there and what they had to offer. Pump action, over-unders, semi-automatic, bolt action, AR’s, you name it, they were all there from all of the major manufactures.
Browning, Remington, Winchester, Savage Arms, Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Walther Pistols, DPMS, CVA, Benelli USA, Beretta, Sako Rifles, Hornada, Under Armour and Trijicon Optics all displayed their wares and provided demos for potential customers to try out.
Dakota Ridge Labradors brought out some black and chocolate Lab puppies, which were happily playing in a pen, seemingly oblivious to the noise all around them.
There was a steady stream of people walking the grounds, browsing the store and waiting in line at the counter.
“It’s a great, great day,” said Kjergaard. “We could’ve done without the three inches of rain last night, but that didn’t stop people from coming. A couple of hours ago you could hardly walk in here due to all of the people, but we didn’t mind.”
Filed under Community |School Board adopts new health and safety document
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
The Lake Benton School Board adopted a new annual Health and Safety Document for the year 2011 and approved membership in the Minnesota School Boards Association at the rate of $1,877 per year. The MSBA is a good organization that offers good information.
The school board designated Kevin Rupp of Ratwick, Rozak and Maloney as district attorney, First Security Bank of Lake Benton as district depository, Lake Benton Valley Journal as district newspaper, Board meetings to be held on the Third Wednesday of the month with meetings to be held at 7 p.m. in the school library and mileage to be reimbursed at the current Government rate.
The 2011 revised budget has been prepared and the expenditures are right on target while revenues are a little less predictable. If enrollment increases, revenues will as well.
Revenues are expected to be $2,071,880 and expenditures are at $2,068,316, which is much closer to what the board anticipated after planned reductions leaving $3,564 to the good, the board said.
Superintendent Loy Woelber gave a legislative update and explained that the state is now $6 billion in the hole for the next biennium as opposed to the standard $5 billion in the hole.
There will be a 50-50 payment shift in the next few years and legislators have cut the basic formula. Schools can get a line of credit loan at low interest rates. The school will get back 27 percent now, though this year it is at 30 percent, so it appears that there is 3 percent missing. It’s goofy. The school will get it back, probably next year when that rate will also go up. Superintendent Woelber said “A lot of schools are in tough shape, but not us.”
The school board set tentative tax levy hearings with an initial meeting on Wednesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. a subsequent meeting, if needed, on Wednesday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. and an Adoption Hearing scheduled for Wednesday, December 22 at 6:30 p.m. When the levy goes down these meetings aren’t necessary, but they are held for the good of the public.
The board discussed lunch deficits and suggested that people not get over $30 in debt in a month, as they have a hard time catching up. Once they get near the $30 mark, they need to catch up rather than get down even further.
At this school, students pay for breakfast, but the school is working on it. Pre-school fees went to $85 for four year olds and $50 for three year olds with $45 and $20 as reduced amounts.
The fitness center fees went up $5 for individuals and $20 per year for family memberships.
Superintendent Woelber’s District report included that summer work is going well; the wood chips have been replaced in the upper playground with the rest going around the trees to enhance décor.
The school received a grant for a new walk-in freezer, which has been ordered, but the school will wait to install it until after the next school year.
The school needs a substitute janitor who is good with kids and has excellent people skills.
Principal Nielsen reported that the school may be gaining a new student or two for enrollment purposes. Tamara
Kremin said there is a new fifth grader named Braden hanging around town with the boys his age.
School technology needs a new server as there were issues with Donnita Bennett’s e-mail. E-mail services will be farmed out for now and revisited when a new server is purchased. They are not cheap. A new server will also help with the key card access for the fitness center.
Title 1 grant information will be submitted sometime in August.
Nielsen will check the bus driver situation for the coming school year and place an ad in the Lake Benton Valley Journal.
The next meeting will take place on August 18.
Filed under Government |Lincoln Co. Fair starts up this week with tons of events planned for everyone
The 4-H pre-fair entry judging got this years Lincoln County Fair started Tuesday afternoon.
Events are going to start picking up Thursday morning with the 4-H horse show and live-stock weigh-in starting at 9 a.m.
A number of free entertainment events are scheduled for this years fair including the Larry Olson Band which will be performing Friday night in the commercial building at 5 p.m.
A 4-H fashion review will also take place Friday night at 7 p.m. followed by a demonstration of “The Hazards of Texting” at 7:45 p.m.
The weekend rolls on Saturday, July 31 with a number of 4-H livestock judging events.
The Western Heritage Regional 4-H Kid’s Rodeo will start at 11 a.m. with the ranch rodeo to follow.
The Tyler Arts Council is hosting an “Apple” bake-off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Lonny Carpenter will be providing this years free grandstand entertainment at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Sunday will kick off with the 4-H Livestock Ribbon Auction starting at 12:30 p.m.
The Callens Family will perform at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The demolition Derby is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sunday.
A number of other events are planned throughout the weekend.
See this years premium list for more information and read the other stories in this weeks Lake Benton Valley Journal.
Filed under Community |Singing from Chicago to Lake Benton
The Lake Benton Opera House production of “Chicago” will open on July 29, beginning a run of 10 shows over two weekends. Based on a true story, the musical is the story of Roxie Hart, played by Ashley Vogt of Florence, right, and Velma Kelly, played by Audrey Bloemendaal of Brookings, S.D., left, who are being held in the Cook County Jail under suspicion of murder. - Photo by Dan Kuss
The Lake Benton Opera House production of “Chicago” will open on July 29, beginning a run of 10 shows over two weekends. Based on a true story, the musical is the story of Roxie Hart (played by Ashley Vogt of Balaton) and Velma Kelly (Audrey Bloemendaal of Brookings, S.D.), who are being held in the Cook County Jail under suspicion of murder.
The women are defended by Billy Flynn (Adam Madsen of Tyler), who has never lost a case. The show is filled with vaudeville-style tunes such as “All That Jazz,” “Razzle Dazzle” and “Roxie.”
Director Mark Wilmes of Tyler says that fans of the popular movie will recognize the music. “If you are familiar with the movie version, you will hear all those songs plus a couple more,” said Wilmes. “There is something about seeing them performed live, however, that makes them even better.”
Show times are July 29, 30, 31 and Aug. 4, 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 1, 7 and 8 at 2 p.m. The afternoon show on
Aug. 7 is a special Senior Citizen Day performance.
For reservations call 507-368-4620 or email your ticket requests to lakebentonoperahouse@gmail.com.
Filed under Community |Fr. Ron Huberty joins community
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
Father Ron Huberty, the area’s new priest, is pictured on the streets of Lake Benton after serving Mass on Thursday morning at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church. Father Ron will serve the Catholic community at parishes in Lake Benton, Tyler, Ivanhoe and Wilno.
Fr. Ron Huberty arrived to the area this past week to serve the Catholic parishes in Lake Benton, Tyler, Ivanhoe and Wilno, territories.
Fr. Ron comes to the Catholic community here from the Franklin, Fairfax, Gibbon and Winthrop areas along the Highway 19 corridor, after seven years of service to those communities.
“I’ve been a Priest for 20 years,” said Fr. Huberty. “I have experience working with multiple parishes and that’s why the Diocese sent me here.”
Fr. Huberty had spent the previous 13 years serving in Marshall, New Ulm and the Murdock-Benson cluster prior to his last assignment.
“Though the distance between towns is farther out here with a bigger territory and more driving, I look forward to finding a way to bring all of these communities together in the spirit of honoring and celebrating what they are already doing,” said Fr. Huberty. “Bringing the four communities together is a challenge, but gives us more opportunities to share resources.”
Fr. Huberty is currently moving into his home, the rectory in Ivanhoe, and dealing with all of the things moving and getting set up entails. Fr. Huberty has already experienced a busy schedule in the area as he attended the Mass for Fr. Wiering in Tyler on July 3, and the festival in Wilno on the Fourth of July, in addition to serving Mass in each community since then.
Fr. Huberty is originally from Watkins, Minn., and comes from a family of four brothers and no sisters. He is the second oldest of five boys.
He attended St. Thomas University in St. Paul from 1982 to 1986 and graduated from that institution. He then attended the seminary at St. Vianney from 1986 to 1990, next to the College of St. Thomas.
“It’s exciting to be coming to these new parishes,” said Fr. Huberty. “I look forward to being here, serving and working with the people of this area.”
Fr. Ron enjoys the lakes, fishing and golf in addition to cheering on the Minnesota Vikings and Twins in his fun time. He looks forward to becoming involved in school activities and maybe helping out as a referee in some games in the area.
“Visiting coaches get a kick out of yelling at the ref, knowing it’s a Priest sometimes,” said Fr. Huberty. “I don’t mind because it’s part of the game.”
Fr. Ron has experienced some friendly meetings and coffee with people in Lake Benton’s St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church and the surrounding area since he has been here.
“Now, I’ve got to remember 1,673 names, which is the number of parishioners on the roster in the four churches I’ll be serving,” said Fr. Huberty.
Filed under Community |Just passing through town
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
Tom “EZ” Goen of Dyersville, Iowa, home of “Field of Dreams,” stopped over in Lake Benton on day two of his trek through all 49 states in the mainland to raise awareness of medical help out there for those who desperately need it. Private citizens of Lake Benton fed and put Goen up for the night at Becker’s Resort.
Tom “EZ” Goen of Dyersville, Iowa, home of Field of Dreams, stopped over in Lake Benton on day two of his trek through all 49 states in the mainland to raise awareness that there is medical help out there for those who desperately need it.
Private citizens of Lake Benton fed him a hot meal and put Goen up for the night at Becker’s Resort. Becker’s, in return, gave them a discount on the room and fed Goen breakfast before he ventured back out on the road to see where his travels and fate will take him.
“It’s good therapy to be out on the open road,” said Goen. “I truly appreciate the hospitality and friendliness of the people in Lake Benton.”
Goen is 48-years-old and plans to drive through all of the lower 48 states and hopes to catch a ferry to Alaska in his travels. He rides to raise awareness that there is help out there for people who desperately need medical help. Goen’s goal is to arrive back at the Field of Dreams on 10/10/10, which is his birthday. He mapped out a course on an atlas as to which states he will head to, but will wing it when it comes to where he will go or what course he will take through each state.
Goen has an auto-immune medical condition and sever psoriasis. He lay on his couch for three years not knowing if he would survive. He had no medical insurance until doctors at the University of Iowa hooked him up with Iowa-care, which is a free state health insurance program.
Iowa-care provided doctors visits and the expensive prescriptions that Goen needed to treat his condition. One of the prescriptions was a shot that Goen received twice a week that added up to $40,000 per year, for that one prescription alone. There were others that were expensive as well.
“I wouldn’t have made it without the help of Iowa-care,” said Goen. “I want to send a message to people to never give up. There is help out there; you just need to find it.”
Goen went from 167 pounds to 120 pounds, became anemic and depressed.
His mother finally came to him, started feeding him and helped him get started on the road to better health. He was administered over six pints of blood and kept losing blood for awhile.
When he became healthy enough, he decided to travel through as many states as possible. His mission is called PURPAL, which stands for People United Relieving Painful American Lives.
He walks with a custom cane that breaks down and fits in a compartment on his bike for easy access, sits on his leather hat and rides an Ultra Classic bike with a Voyager kit on it, custom made for him. He carries a suitcase, tent and sleeping bag in addition to a video camera, a laptop and other gadgets to help him communicate with friends and family back home and to document his trip and add new friends along the way.
He now uses a Rand-McNally Harley Atlas, which lists all the Harley Davidson Dealerships in the country, in case he has vehicle trouble.
He plans to head to North Dakota, then through South Dakota and the Badlands on his way to Montana, where he will visit with his brother before heading to Washington and hopefully Alaska.
He will then ride down the west coast to San Diego and weave his way up and down the southern states.
“I can hit a lot of the east coast states in a single day, since they’re so close together,” said Goen.
“On my way home I will stop in Belleveder, Ill. and pick up my daughter. She will ride the last leg of the trip with me.”
While in Lake Benton, Goen was overcome with the hospitality and compassion shown to him. Bert Kuehl of Lake Benton and one of the bartenders, who wished to remain anonymous, split the cost of a room at Becker’s Resort.
Goen shared his story with all and signed copies of a news article about him by the Dubuque, Iowa Telegraph Herald.
“EZ” Goen made quite a stir during his short stay in this town along the way. “I had driven about 300 miles and as I came close to Lake Benton, I thought, that sounds like a nice place to stop for the night,” said Goen. “I’m sure glad I did. I had no idea that there were people out there as nice as this.”
You can follow Tom “EZ” Goen and his journey on Face book, by searching for Tom Goen. Here are some excerpts from Goen’s Face book page as he rolled into and out of Lake Benton.
Tom Goen: Just got a call from the Director of the National Psoriases Foundation. Said they Googled me. Not sure how they got my cell number. Wanna do a video shoot when I get to Portland. August is National Psoriasis Month. I’ll be staying with Adam when I get there.
Tom Goen: Done for the day after 300 miles. In Lake Benton, Minnesota. Lake Benton Bar is owned by the city. I’m gonna camp at the Lake. The bar is giving me a free meal. I went through Nebraska and welcomed them to the Big Ten. I asked if it was true that their State Tree was a Telephone Pole. In Nebraska was in the Winnebago Indian Territory.
Tom Goen: Wow, the Lake Benton bar is wonderful. I showed them my story and all are buying me cold beer. The bar fed me a hot meal and the folks here paid for a real nice room at the lake resort. I will be in their newspaper next Wednesday. www.thelakebentonnews.com.
Tom Goen: Relaxing at the lake listening (to)something howl. It might be prairie dogs close to South Dakota. Big thanks to Lake Benton Lake for being so kind and taking care of me. This place will always be in my heart.
Tom Goen: Getting ready to leave Lake Benton Resort. I just got done with breakfast and it was on the house. They won’t take my money here in Lake Benton, Minnesota.
City Council discusses dance coming up in August
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
The Lake Benton City Council met with the American Legion manager Guy Pribyl in reference to blocking off a section of Center Street for an upcoming street dance in August with a live band performing. It would be the section of Center Street from the bottom of the hill, in front of the American Legion, encompassing the alley and extending to the back for security reasons.
All proceeds for the event will go to Honor Flight Southwest Minnesota to assist in sending three or four WWII veterans from Lake Benton on the next Honor Flight some time in September.
Pribyl suggested the American Legion would put up a snow fence so access could be granted in case of emergency.
The council granted the request for a license similar to the Fireman’s street dance, asked Pribyl to verify insurance and asked him to file for the license with the clerk.
Police Chief Guy Harding reported that Saddle Horse Holiday went smoothly. There were a few issues with horses being ridden downtown after the parade. Harding noted that because of safety issues, things may change after the accident during a Fourth of July parade in Iowa when a team of horses bolted through the crowd, killing one person and injuring several others.
Harding also reported that new uniforms, vests and equipment have been ordered for the new officers and asked that they be sworn in at the next meeting.
Sherry Jessen, Lake Benton Municipal Bar manager, presented the council with a check for $2,000 to go back into the general fund for costs associated with remodeling and adding an outdoor patio at the bar.
Jessen reported that the bar is coming together nicely and operating in the black. The air conditioner was working hard and froze up during Saddle Horse weekend due to the large number of people in the building, but is okay if regulated properly.
Jessen also reported that there are some fun things coming up with caricatures being drawn for patrons from 6 – 8 p.m. on July 22, a Big Brother game and picnic on the patio.
Community director Heather Ulrich-Glynn met with the council as the Economic Development Association to discuss incentives for bringing a business into the community. There are 10 acres with city water lines and necessary utilities for new businesses. This is a very preliminary proposal for new business in the city.
The EDA also discussed that the Nature Conservatory owns 1,381 acres in Lincoln County and they are trying to discourage them from purchasing any more land in town. Though they don’t pay a lot of taxes, the city won’t hold them back as they paid 100 percent of their street assessment.
The EDA will invite the county commissioners, Pheasants Forever and the Department of Natural Resources to meet and discuss options.
The council discussed the National Flood Insurance program through the DNR. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will not declare a disaster area unless communities participate. Many areas of the lake meet the criteria as flood plains as they are less than 1,763 feet above sea level. The City of Lake Benton is qualified and will proceed.
City Maintenance Supervisor Todd Draper performed a walk-through with committee members and Reinert on designated street repairs. They will drill down one-and-a-half inches and fill with asphalt adding fabric where it is wet underneath. Rural Development said it is not needed, but Banner says it would be a good idea.
They will also look at the alley behind the Community Center and American Legion as water runs down and shoots out about six feet.
There is also a lot of traffic under the viaduct now that Becker’s have added their new dining room and will look at asphalt when the street project is at the asphalting stage.
Draper suggested the Morton Street issue be dealt with as the longer the city waits, the more it is going to cost. The city can get a break on recycled asphalt, which can be used in some places but not others.
Some can be overlaid but the alley must be dug out. Draper suggested that a sewer ordinance be adopted or mingled to deal with seven or eight individual septic tanks within the city limits.
Draper mentioned that the softball players really came through on the softball fields by doing a lot of work with tiling and addressing safety issues. The DeZeeuw family donated a double first base which also helps with the safety issues.
The city and the ball teams have received many compliments on the field updates.
Mayor Carpenter asked Draper to look at some of the trash barrels in town as they are rusting out at the bottom.
Draped mentioned he will be on vacation the week of July 12–16 and again Aug. 1–7. There is a lot of mowing to be done all the time and vendors call to deliver to the bar during the day. Mayor Carpenter will cover in Drapers absence.
The city clerk got a call from the county on the GIS agreement. There are 581 parcels at 2.5 and a lot of different layer. The program is difficult at best. The city is trying to find a rebuilt old desktop computer and monitor for the program which will be on the agenda in two weeks.
Committee member Don Hughes reported that the estimate to update the Community Center comes to $8,411.64, which doesn’t include painting and the ceiling. The council will look at this issue at the next meeting. The project would be slated for early winter and would require closing down for a few days to get the work done.
The final audit is in from Kinner. Council members should review it as soon as possible and there is a copy for the general public.
Aug. 10 is the primary election. Election judge training will be on July 21 for City Clerk Rosie DeZeeuw, Bea Nordmeyer, Joyce Miller, Muriel Grooters and Barb Hurd, who have served as election judges in the past.
The council discussed the Library Project as an application for the grant is due by Friday, July 16. Banner has worked to reduce the cost from $400,000 to nearly half of that estimate. After further discussion, the council set up a special meeting for 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13 to meet with all of the parties involved and get feedback from the community.
The next regular meeting of the Lake Benton city council will be on July 19 at the Heritage Center.
Keeping seniors comfortable in their homes
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
Jody Nomeland of Lake Benton, left, and Allison Hubers of Pipestone, right, are pictured above in Lake Benton. Nomeland provides care in the Lake Benton area for Comfort Keepers, which is owned and operated by Hubers and her mother, Lisa Hubers, also of Pipestone. - Photo by Dan Kuss
By 2011 the oldest baby boomer will have reached the age of 65. Once that milestone is reached, 10,000 boomers will turn 65 every single day. As people come to the age of retirement, their housing and lifestyle needs change.
Allison and Lisa Hubers, a mother and daughter team of in-home care providers from Pipestone, provide a service to help keep retired people in their homes.
“People want to stay in their homes,” said Allison Hubers. “The biggest tragedy is when someone has to go into a nursing home before their time. We help them remain independent and safe in their home.”
Hubers graduated from Augustana College last May with a degree in Business Administration and Gerontology, which is the study of the elderly.
While in high school and in the summer months, she worked at the Pipestone Nursing Home and in college, she worked with Comfort Keepers, an organization dedicated to in-home care which uses technology solutions, such as a personal emergency response system with GPS technology to help keep seniors safe at home.
Lisa Hubers, Allison’s mother, received her RN degree from SDSU in 1988. She has worked in the health care industry ever since.
The Hubers opened their own Comfort Keepers franchise on Nov. 2, 2009 and now serve 40 clients within their southwestern Minnesota territory, which runs from the Iowa and South Dakota borders as far north as Morris and east to Windom, with a population base of 175,000 persons.
“We make a good team and we share a passion to serve the elderly,” said Allison Hubers. “We are closing the gaps where in-home medical care commitments end and companionship and other needs continue, such as taking a person grocery shopping, sitting with them in church or taking them to get their hair done, things that help a person’s well-being.”
Comfort Keepers has 560 franchises world wide including Singapore and New Zealand. The mission of Comfort Keepers is to provide clients with the highest level of quality of life that is achievable.
The goal is to keep individuals engaged in life mentally, emotionally, physically and socially and to treat each client with the respect and dignity they deserve, as though caring for a family member.
Some of the services performed by Comfort Keepers are conversation and companionship, personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, incidental transportation, light housekeeping and laundry services in addition to many other forms of help that people need to remain independent.
“Older people are constantly losing something,” said Hubers. “Their hearing, their home, their spouse or ability to drive. Their family may not even know they need groceries at times and that’s where we step in and help out.”
The Hubers meet with their clients one-on-one to determine the type and amount of individual care they need. It is cost effective, as someone may only need a couple hours of care a week. Continue reading »
Filed under Community |Lake Benton community projects receive donations
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
The Lake Benton Area Foundation awarded grant checks for non-profit projects within the Lake Benton community in 2010. Pictured from left to right are Gary Serie, Southwest Minnesota Honor Flight; Ann Lichtsinn, Lake Benton Opera House; Patti Peterson and Carl Burk, Lake Benton Area Foundation; Joyce Knutson, Lake Benton Opera House; Janet Kuhn, Lake Benton Library Board and Loy Woelber, Lake Benton School Superintendent. - Photo by Dan Kuss
The Lake Benton Area Foundation and the Southwest Initiative Foundation awarded grants to several non-profit projects within the Lake Benton community for 2010.
Loy Woelber, Superintendent, Lake Benton School District #404, accepted two checks. One for the sixth grade class National History Day competition project in the amount of $300 and another for the surfacing project at the new playground in the amount of $800.
Woelber and Principal Ryan Nielsen have been researching playground surface types to replace the pea rock that is currently in place at the playground in front of the school.
The pea rock is perfectly fine and legal, but causes a hazard when it spills onto the cement sidewalk. In the interest of student, staff and visitor safety, the pea rock will be moved to the large playground behind the school and be replaced with a more suitable surface for the front of the school.
Gary Serie, representative for the Southwest Minnesota Honor Flight, accepted a check for $400 to help send WWII veterans from Lake Benton to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. in September. The flights are free of charge for all WWII veterans and include their stay in a hotel and meals.
Janet Kuhn of the Lake Benton Library Board accepted a check for the Lake Benton Library for a new computer and book purchases in the amount of $1,000.
Joyce Knutson and Ann Lichtsinn of the Lake Benton Opera House Board accepted a check for the Lake Benton Opera
House in the amount of $1,000 to upgrade the Opera House sound system to include wireless headsets for some actors.
Total grants disbursed this year were for $3,500 for various community enhancement projects.
Representatives from Lake Benton Area Foundation were Carl Burk and Patti Peterson.
These granting funds are made possible every year from income from the Lake Benton Area Endowment Fund through Southwest Initiative Foundation. If you are interested in contributing for the betterment of the Lake Benton area, you can donate to the Lake Benton Area Foundation by contacting the following board members: Carl Burk, Rick and Mary Middlen, Vern and Mary Paschke, Jodi Weber, Pam Nibbe, Jim and Pam Veire, Janet Kuhn, Vince Robinson, Patti Peterson and Glenn Krog, honorary board member.
Total grants distributed from the Lake Benton Area Foundation and Southwest Initiative Fund over the last three years amounted to $7,370.
If you are interested in becoming involved with the Lake Benton Area Foundation, please contact one of the board members.
Filed under Community |