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Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Number 17 • Volume 134
Melrose park project progressing – when winter ends 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
Current amenities include new campsites, restroom, playground, basketball court
pg. 6
BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
Once winter ends and the ground dries out, work is anticipated to begin again on the Sauk River Park renovation project that started last fall with site work for new campground sites. The Melrose Parks and Recreation Board has been meeting on a regular basis to discuss park upgrades. COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS Council members, during their April 20 meeting at Melrose City Center in Melrose, approved awarding bids for remodeling the restroom on the south side of the park PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN to include showers and upFrances Breth is all smiles April 12 in front of birthday cards in her Grace Court room in dated fixtures and making it Albany that she received for her 100th birthday March 30. In the back is a Blessed Virgin more accessible to St. Rosa Mary statue she purchased when she married Mike in 1943. (Right) Breth holds a gift she Lumber, the low bidder at received from a granddaughter. She has 32 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and $299,665. one great-great-grandchild with another on the way. They approved going out for bids on a new basketball court and ordering hoops and poles. City Planner Sheila Hellermann, during her report, said the original estimated cost for BY CAROL MOORMAN long life. thethe court STAFF WRITER As sunwas was$40,725. starting The to rise Monday, Commercial “I love the Blessed Virgin. I bought her city receivedCompany a $15,000workers grant from Melrose were inContractors when we (husband Mike) were married. She’s fromthethe Bernick’s family. side Lisa’s On Main building working onappy securing 100th birthday cards line 80 years old,” Frances said. She said streets and parks BY CAROL MOORMAN a table in Frances Breth’s Grace the west wall. PHOTO Her long life started March 30, 1923, on department staff would be There was no running water to take a Court room at the Mother of Mer- a farm southwest of Holdingford, the sixth of doing the site prep work in cy Senior Living campus in Albany, in front eight children born to Simon and Margaret quick shower. order to save costs. Her dad cooked moonshine in their baseof a wall filled with family photos. Overlook- Ebnet, and the lone survivor. New playground equiping the cards is a statue of the Blessed Virgin She pauses a few seconds before answer- ment, which was illegal. She recalls driving ment in the area near Mary with a red rosary wrapped around it. ing, “Dr. Watson,” when asked the name of with her mother and their hired man to the Dathe new restroom and ex“I think God is keeping me alive because I the doctor who came to the farm to deliver her. kotas to sell the moonshine. panded campground, estimatFrances talks about when federal governhave to help people, and I have to pray for my She loved life on the farm, every morning ed to cost $50,000, will be orchildren,” this happy 100-year-old said April and night milking four of the eight cows her ment officials came to their house when she dered, after council members was around 4 years old. 12 relaxing in a recliner wearing a bright or- parents owned, along with sheep and horses. approved this action. ange shirt and pink fingernail polish. “When you went to school you hoped you She credits her family and faith for her didn’t smell like the barn,” she said. Breth page 3 Park page 3
400 Block update
Breth a happy 100-year-old
H
Ministry
Albany prom: An
Enchanted Forest
on the move Klassen takes position as Broken Strength director BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK Mason Plumski and Raelynn Hennen strike a prom pose during the grand march April 22 at the Albany Area High School gym in Albany. Enchanted Forest was the theme.
Prom page 2
The Rev. Paul Klassen and wife Becky watched snow fall for what might be the last time from their Melrose kitchen window April 21. After 12 years of pastoring Birch Hills Community Church in Melrose, they are moving on to a new ministry in the Twin Cities where Paul has taken a position as executive director of Broken Strength, a Christian non-profit.
Klassen page 3
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PUBLIC NOTICES Melrose Township Annual Road Tour ...................................... pg. 7 Summons............................................................................... pg. 8 Holdingford School Minutes, April 19 ..................................... pg. 8 Probate Notice - Kroll ............................................................. pg. 7 Mortgage Foreclosure Postponement .................................... pg. 8 Probate Notice - pg. Kroll ....................................................... pg. 7 Albany Area Schools Reg. School Board Minutes .................... pg. 7 Albany Area Schools Work Session ......................................... pg. 7 Stearns County Board of Adjustment Public Hearing .............. pg. 8 City of Albany Planning Commission Public Hearing .............. pg. 7 City of Holdingford Notice of Public Hearing .......................... pg. 8
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Becky and the Rev. Paul Klassen display a plaque given to Paul for being pastor at Birch Hills Community Church in Melrose following his final Sunday April 23 at the Marit Elliott Performing Arts Center in Melrose. He has led the church 12 years and is moving on to a new ministry.
BIRTHS page 3 Taylor Josephine Housman Jayce John Schleicher
OBITUARIES page 4 Eldred W. Athmann Peter Maile Robert W. Opatz Rita H. Ritter John H. Schneider Diana T. Yorek
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