Celebrating Tyler citizens during Æbleskiver Days 2010
By Robert Wolfington
tributeeditor@gmail.com
Don Buhl, left, and Jerry Bly help to honor Paul Bartz, who was named this year’s Tyler Citizen of the Year during the Tyler Tonight Show Saturday, July 23. - Photo by Robert Wolfington
The crowd at the Tyler Tonight Show rose to their feet Friday night as Paul Bartz was honored as Tyler Citizen of the Year, kicking off the 2010 Æbleskiver Days.
In a speech given by Don Buhl on behalf of Bartz, he said he was honored by the recognition and appreciates the community’s support.
Employer of the Year Wally Dybdahl accepted the honor for the second time in five years, later hosting an open house at his business, Tyler Electric.
Jeanne Blomgren was honored as Volunteer of the Year for all the work she does in the community.
Mona Christianson was recognized as Employee of the Year for the work she does at at the Tyler Dental Clinic.
Æbleskiver Days rolled on throughout the weekend with events ranging from an eating contest to Danish dancing and just about everything in between.
The weekend concluded Sunday with a dinner hosted by the Tyler Kiwanis Club with a silent auction benefiting the Lincoln County Veterans Honor Flight.
For more photos of the event look throughout this week’s Tyler Tribute.
Filed under Community |Roof collapses at Maynard’s store in Tyler Friday night
The roof over part of Maynard’s Grocery in Tyler collapsed late in the evening of Friday, July 23 following a heavy rain storm.
The Tyler Police Department reported the incident at about 11:30 p.m. Friday night, notifying the owners of Maynard’s of the incident.
Staff at Maynard’s worked on cleaning part of the store to reopen the store later in the day on Saturday.
The portion of the store effected by the roof collapse has been covered with a tarp and is not accessible to the public at this time.
Maynard’s occupies three building spaces in downtown Tyler. The undamaged portion of the store will remain open.
Filed under Community |Lincoln Co. Fair starts up this week with tons of events planned for everyone
The 4-H pre-fair entry judging got this year’s 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 year’s 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 year’s 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 year’s premium list for more information and read the other stories in this week’s Tyler Tribute.
Filed under Community |RTR School Board votes on school year bids
The RTR School Board acted on a number of bids for the 2010-2011 school year during its regular board meeting Monday, July 19 in Russell.
The RTR School Board accepted bids from Tyler Wholesale for its bakery quote over a bid from the Sara Lee Bakery Group.
The board only received one bid for its dairy quote from Dean Foods-LeMars, which was accepted.
The school board also set its athletics and activities fees for the new school year, with most activities seeing an increase.
The athletics and activities fees have nearly all been raised to $65 per high school student per activity with the exception of instrumental rental which will be $45 and football which was already set at $65.
Middle school activities fees are set at $30 with the exception of football, which will stay at $35 and track and golf, which will be $25.
Speech and football are each at $35 while band instrument rental is set at $40.
The board also voted to keep the Tyler Tribute as its official newspaper.
It also voted to keep its official depositories the same, with each school building going with the bank in its community.
The board had the second reading of the 2010-2011 student handbook and it was approved for the new school year.
Historic fire truck rides in Æbleskiver Days parade
The Lake Benton 1938 fire truck has been restored to its original glory and travels around the country to antique car and truck shows. The fire truck is scheduled to be driven in the 2010 Æbelskiver Days Parade in Tyler this July. - Submitted photo
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
LAKE BENTON — Lake Benton’s old 1938 Chevrolet fire truck has been restored, been in a movie and is coming back to the area in the very near future.
Bob Johnson of Tyler collects, restores and admires antique vehicles. Johnson attended a concourse show for restored antique automobiles and trucks at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo. in 2006 when he saw it.
“I happened to walk past this beautiful bright red fire truck that had recently been restored,” said Johnson. “When I saw the writing on the side of the truck, I had to do a double take. To my knowledge, there is only one Lake Benton in the world and that is in Minnesota.”
Johnson tracked down the owners, Tony and Linda Van Beek of Monument, Colo., to gain a little more information about the rig boasting Lake Benton Fire Dept. on its doors.
Johnson’s connection to the people of Lake Benton and both gentlemen’s love for restored vintage vehicles made them fast friends, which lasts to this day.
Read more in the July 21, 2010 edition of the Tyler Tribute.
Filed under Community |Lincoln Co. Relay For Life 2010 wraps up
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
American Cancer Society Relay For Life Honorary Co-chair for Lincoln County, Doris Kragh of Tyler, speaks about surviving cancer at the 10th annual event on Friday at Gilson Field in Ivanhoe. - Photo by Dan Kuss
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is about remembering those who have lost their lives to cancer, honoring and celebrating the lives of those who have survived it, thanking caregivers and fighting back against the disease through fundraising.
Relay For Life in Lincoln County began in 2001 after Joyce Knutson, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, was invited to the Pipestone Relay For Life that year. Knutson was impressed with the Pipestone event and thought, “We could do this in Lincoln County.”
The very next year, with the help of many good friends, Lincoln County held its first Relay For Life event in Tyler. Lincoln County is the only group that moves their event to different cities within the county and does so every three years.
“We are blessed with more than one good sized town in Lincoln County and we’re kind of spread out, where most counties have one large centralized town that they hold Relay in every year,” said Knutson. “We move our Relay For Life to a new town in the county every three years to touch new people and pick up supporters that have never been to one before.”
The first three Relay events were held in Tyler, the next three in Lake Benton, the following three in Hendricks and this was the first of three years in Ivanhoe.
Relay For Life originates from an idea in 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma, Wash. colorectal surgeon, who wanted to boost the income of his local American Cancer Society office. He decided to personally raise money for the fight by doing something he enjoyed, which was running marathons.
In May of 1985, Dr. Klatt spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at Baker Stadium in Tacoma at the University of Puget Sound and running or walking for more than 83 miles. Throughout the night, friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He raised $27,000 to fight cancer. Continue reading »
Filed under Community |Cross country trips hit Tyler
By Robert Wolfington
tributeeditor@gmail.com
Tim Welsh, back left, George Lakely, Andrew Fersch and Suzanne Bay are part of the Big Ride, a bike ride including 25 riders going from the west coast to east coast for the American Lung Association. - Photo by Robert Wolfington
The first group came through Thursday and a smaller group came through Monday.
Two unrelated cross country bike tours made pit stops in Tyler over the last two weeks, missing each other by only a few days.
Izzy Cohan, 17, of Brooklyn, N.Y. was one of 25 riders making their way across the United States on bikes that stopped in Tyler Thursday, July 15.
Cohan and his fellow riders were part of an annual bike ride that leaves from the State of Washington and ends up at the U.S. Capitol, crossing the country over 48 days.
Cohan, an avid bicyclist, said he was making plans to take a trip across country when he found the American Lung Association ride online.
“My mom suggested I find a group I would ride with, I wanted to find a group of people kind of like me that were comfortable on their road bikes and have been riding for a while,” said Cohan. “I also wanted it to be a ride for charity.
“I found this one online which was great for me. Breathing clean air is important to me,” he added.
Pam Turner and her husband Frank Turner pulled into Tyler Monday, July 19 unaware that another group was only a few days ahead.
“I’m riding to promote donations and awareness for Courageous Kids of Lane County (Oregon),” said Pam Turner. “It is a grief organization for kids who have lost (family members or friends).”
Frank Turner was riding for a different charity, Lane County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic.
This marks the second cross country bike ride for Frank and Pam Turner who said they made a similar trip for charity six years ago.
Andrew Fersch, a member of the American Lung Association ride is documenting his trip for his students back home.
“I’m interviewing people in each community we stop in,” said Fersch who had a pocket video camera to document his trip.
Seeing the country side on the back of a bicycle was a new experience for Fersch and he said he needed his students permission before heading out.
“I actually missed the last few days of school to be on this trip,” said Fersch. “The kids are following me along through the Internet as part of their summer learning.”
Pam Turner said they weren’t aware of the American Lung Association ride going on just a few days ahead.
Both groups started from different locations and will finish at different end points but both made sure to travel through the Black Hills of South Dakota and found their way to Tyler.
“It’s such a beautiful area,” said Pam Turner. “It was great to see all the wind farmers out here.”
The Turners are expected to end their journey on Aug. 31 at a lighthouse in Maine.
The American Lung Association expects to be in Washington by Aug. 7.
Filed under Community |Fr. Ron Huberty joins community
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
Fr. 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. - Photo by Dan Kuss
Fr. Ron Huberty arrived to the area this past week to serve the Catholic parishes in Lake Benton, Tyler, Ivanhoe and Wilno.
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 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, next to the College of St. Thomas from 1986 to 1990.
“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 |Tyler Council approved creation of TIF district Monday, July 12
By Robert Wolfington
tributeeditor@gmail.com
A new Tax Increment Finance District was formed during the Tyler City Council meeting Monday, July 12.
The district was formed following a public hearing at the city council meeting.
MLSPC Properties will be the first business to take advantage of the TIF district with a 6,000 square foot office facility along Highway 14.
Through the TIF district, the property taxes on a new or upgraded property will be set at its previous rate with any increase going into improvements.
The Tyler Lumber Company is another group that could utilize the TIF district formed Monday night.
The council agreed to hold a public hearing about a possible conditional use permit for Karen Meyer, who has requested to house one horse on her property on the east side of Tyler.
Meyer has been in front of the council a number of times over the last six months requesting the ability to house a horse on property she recently purchased.
The property has had horses on it in the past but rezoning from 2006 made it so the property could no longer have horses.
Meyer said only one neighbor objects to her having horses on the property. Meyer presented the council with signatures from all but that neighbor saying they would have no problem if a horse was housed on the land.
Mic VanDeVere was not on the council when the Meyer issue was last discussed.
VanDeVere said he would have no problem issuing a conditional use permit.
The rest of the council had previously maintained the position of the rezoned status.
The issue will be discussed at a public hearing during the next Tyler City Council meeting.
The Council voted to allow the Tyler Police Department to hand out administrative citations for people speeding in town and other infractions that would previous be given a standard ticket.
The administrative citation is for $60 and those given the citation will not have it count against the points on their license.
Police Chief John Spindler said the citations will cut down on the need for Tyler law enforcement officers to go to court as much for tickets.
The police department will have the discretion on when to hand out an administrative citation or to give a traditional ticket.
The Police Department and city are still working on how the policy will work.
City crews are still working on getting the baby pool to be usable.
Utilities superintendent Dean Beck said the construction on the baby pool is complete but they are working to make the water usable in the pool.
The council has issued the Æbleskiver Days committee a 3.2 temporary liquor license for Friday, July 23 through Sunday, July 25 as part of Æbleskiver Days.
The committee will be serving beer at the baseball fields during the weekend.
Filed under Government |Way over knee high by the Fourth of July
Sisters Dana Ahl, left, and Jocelyn Klein took time out from playing to measure the corn near their grandma’s acreage south of Tyler on County Road 115. The corn at the edge of the field measured over five feet tall. - Photo by Sandy Hanson