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Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Repurposing people Bussmanns enjoy crafting unique projects, including St. Mary’s auction donations
Number 09 • Volume 134 PHOTOS BY TIM HENNAGIR
Stearns County polar plungers pass through a giant inflatable bear before reaching the jumping platform and diving into the bone-chilling waters of Middle Spunk Lake in Avon Feb. 18. More than 300 plungers participated in the Special Olympics Minnesota winter fundraiser in Avon.
BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
ATKINSON TO TALK ABOUT SPACE MISSIONS BOOK AT MELROSE LIBRARY
Melrose researching policing options ... pg. 3 Hiltner happy to carry on legacy ... pg. 7 ‘A Team’ has first baby boy in 2017 ... pg. 16 Gymnasts scoring with the best ... pg. 10
Scott and Andrea Bussmann are repurposing people. This Melrose couple enjoys taking materials, thought to be unusable, transforming items into something unique, whether it is a barn door made into a countertop, a bench made out of an old silage box or a heart made out of metal on a wood sign. Scott laughs Feb. 22 when told the auction bill for the Saturday, March 4, St. Mary’s Auction 4 Education at the Melrose American Legion lists their donated item as a redneck table. “I guess it kinda is,” he said sitting next to Andrea. They describe it as a beverage table that could be used in a man cave or a sheshed. Cut out of car Avon community helps rims, it looks like a motorcycle is holding Special Olympics Minnesota Andrea Asa table, the sun was said. starting to rise Monday, Commercial Like many of workers top fundraising Contractors Company from Melrose were in-goal their homemade projside the Lisa’s On Main building working on securing ects, idea came PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN the westthe wall. BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER from something Scott saw, and he put his own spin on it. von made quite a splash as a firstThat is the artist time host of the Stearns County in this vehicle techniPolar Plunge for Special Olympics cian by trade. Minnesota. More than 300 brave souls entered the icy waters of Middle Spunk Lake for the Feb. 18 Bussmanns page 3 fundraiser.
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Spunky’s Bar of Avon team members Tim and Megan Studniski launch themselves into the air during their Stearns County Polar Plunge Feb. 18 on COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARSMiddle Spunk Lake in Avon. Spunky’s was a community sponsor for the event.
400 Block update
makes record-setting visit to Middle Spunk Lake
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Plungers raised more than $86,000 locally for life-changing programs for people with intellectual disabilities. “We’re above our fundraising goal,” said Emma Fiedler, the organization’s Minneapolis-based special events coordinator. “This location is perfect.” Spectators lined the shore near Fisher’s Club at 425 Stratford St. W. on an unseasonably warm Saturday to watch costume-clad teams and individuals finish their plunge-based fundraising missions. “We did about 70 to 80 jumpers during a 15-minute time span,” Fielder reported. “This is a great fundraising event. We also had a lot of our Special Olympics athletes plunging. It was
fun to see such a good crowd.” Sartell Superheroes team members Amber Molitor and Shelby Lane were among the day’s first plungers. “I jumped in honor of my stepsister, Erin, who has cerebral palsy,” Molitor said. “She was part of Special Olympics for many years. It was really cool to see the experiences she had through this organization.” Molitor made her fifth Polar Plunge jump dressed as Superman. Lane, dressed as Wonder Woman, was a first-timer. “It’s a good cause, and I just wanted to do it,” Lane said. “We made our fundraising goals.”
Wild wish
American Legion Post 482 will comment on proposed location
BY EVAN MICHEALSON | STAFF WRITER
BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER
ic disorder that affects lung health and digestion, among other symptoms. Popp’s lifelong, arduous battle against CF received a sharp, upward turning point in recent months. Three months after completing her highest pulmonary function test, the longtime Minnesota Wild fan received the gift of a lifetime from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Holdingford resident went through a whirlwind pair of days with the Wild Feb. 10-11. “It was a lot more than I could have even thought to ask for,” Trista said. “A lot of fun experiences.”
Popp page 2 PHOTO SUBMITTED
Trista Popp, of Holdingford, celebrates a Minnesota Wild goal in her signed Kirill Kaprizov jersey Feb. 11 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The game was part of an incredible two-day experience arranged by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Publications The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
Albany council receives electric vehicle charging site update
Holdingford’s Popp receives incredible experience through Make-A-Wish
From an outside glance, Trista Popp is your prototypical threesport high school athlete. The senior is a captain and one of the sparkplugs of the 20-win Holdingford Huskers girls basketball team, a reliable back-row performer for the volleyball team and a strong hitter and fielder for the softball squad. Along with her formidability in whatever activity she plays in, she is well-regarded amongst her peers as a humble, selfless leader who always looks out for her teammates. Hidden through this energetic, lively exterior is something Popp has battled with for most of her life: cystic fibrosis, a rare genet-
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Polar Plunge page 2
PUBLIC NOTICES • Mortgage Foreclosures (2) - pg. 7 and 8 • City of Albany Police Patrol Officer Position Opening - pg. • City of Albany Notice of Drainage and Utility Easement 8 Vacation - pg. 8 • City of Albany Ord. No. 30 Amendment - pg. 8 • Notice of Juvenile Hearing - pg. 8 • Assumed Name - Rubber Ducky Marine and Outdoors • Albany Township Notice of Annual Meeting, Election and - pg. 8 Testing - pg. 8 • Notice of Application for a Livestock Feedlot Permit - pg. • Holding Township Notice - pg. 8 7 • Krain Township Notice - pg. 8 • Farming Township Notice of Election and Annual • Holdingford School Board Briefs - pg. 8 Meeting - pg. 7 • City of Albany Tax Inclement Financing District - pg. 7
Xcel Energy’s proposal to install a downtown Albany electric vehicle charging station has hit a snag. The utility wants to install the station adjacent to Fifth Street in the southwest corner of Legion Park. American Legion Al Besemann Post 482 members will meet this week and discuss the proposed site. That’s what Albany clerk and administrator Tom Schneider reported during the council’s Feb. 15 meeting. Schneider said the original station location proposed on the southeast corner of the city parking lot will not work because it is on Minnesota Department of Transportation leased land.
Electric page 3
BIRTH page 3 Clayton Jon Klaphake
OBITUARIES page 4 Joseph A. Boecker Donna Weber Deters Michael J. Ellering Thomas N. Stein
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