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2803 Clearwater Rd. • St. Cloud, MN Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Number 22 • Volume 134
A tale of two valedictorians 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
pg. 6
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Tanner Tomasek
Grace Woitalla
Tanner Tomasek plans to attend South Dakota State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. His parents are Paul and Mary Tomasek.
Grace Woitalla plans to double major in agribusiness and precision agriculture at Ridgewater College in Willmar. Her parents are Keith and Patty Woitalla.
St. Mary’s Catholic School Principal Autumn Nelson (from left) congratulates Tony and Carol Niehaus on their school yearbook dedication May 19 in the school gym in Melrose. The dedication applauded the Niehauses for giving their time, talent and treasures to their COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS school family.
A yearbook dedication
400 Block update Tomasek, Woitalla share
to dedicated volunteers
Holdingford’s top class rank BY HANS LAMMEMAN | STAFF WRITER
Two Holdingford students will receive their diplomas on stage at Holdingford High School this week with the unique titles of co-valedictorians. Tanner Tomasek and Grace Woitalla underwent their entire academic careers thus far – preschool through 12th grade – as Huskers at Holdingford Public Schools, graduating with the 59 other 2023 seniors at 7 p.m., Friday, June 2, in the high school gym in Holdingford. While the co-valedictorians As the sun was starting to rise Monday,participated Commercial in separate extracurriculars and had different career Contractors Company workers from Melrose wereas-inpirations, the two students shared the achievement of side the Lisa’s On Main building working on securing flawless 4.0 grade point averages. the west wall.followed inPHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN Woitalla her family’s footsteps, excelling in agriculture classes and spending the last five years heavily involved with her school’s FFA organization.
Graduation page 3
Principal Autumn Nelson read the 2022-23 dedication. “Tony and Carol have been a special part of St. Mary’s School for many years, giving their time, talent and treasures to our school family. They have become adoptive grandparents to the kindergarten class over the years with watermelon parties, baking cookies and sewing quilts. Tony and Carol have taken care of our flower garden in front of the school, sold their produce to benefit our school, given the students pumpkins, hosted mini-courses at their house, fed the staff yummy treats and so much more,” Nelson said. Long-time teachers Sue Pundsack and Jennifer Frank-Heinze
Niehauses humbled by St. Mary’s School honor BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
“It’s humbling,” Tony Niehaus said as he walked into the St. Mary’s Catholic School gym with wife Carol May 19. Both were being honored by students and staff with their school yearbook dedication. The Niehauses knew about the dedication beforehand, but what they did not know about was the large contingent of family, friends and neighbors who attended the afternoon presentation.
tag-teamed sharing stories about this Melrose couple, who lives across the street from the school. Frank-Heinze, who lived next door to the Niehauses, called them the best neighbors, Tony even mowing her lawn. And her kindergarten students were the recipient of May baskets and learning how to quilt and eat watermelon. Pundsack applauded Tony for his smile, the twinkle in his eyes and his warm welcome and Carol for sharing her treats. She described the time she brought an outfit to Carol to be ironed.
Niehauses page 3
AREA
Memorial Day PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK
Albany American Legion Commander Ray Fuchs and Auxiliary President Beatrice Schmidt place a wreath during Memorial Day services May 29 at Veterans Park in Albany. The program included remarks by Albany Mayor Tom Kasner and Albany Police Chief and retired Minnesota National Guard First Sergeant Ozzie Carbajal.
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PHOTO BY HERMAN LENSING
Army Warrant Officer Ed Feia stands at attention during the May 29 Memorial Day service at the Soldiers Shrine in Holdingford, which included Mass by the Rev. Gregory Mastey. Names of deceased area veterans were read during the service.
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Joe Wilwerding (from left), Donnie Van Drehle, Bud Moening and Ivan Blenker and fellow firing squad members perform a gun salute during the May 29 Memorial Day service at the Melrose American Legion in Melrose. A roll call of veterans buried at area cemeteries and elsewhere were read during the hour-long service.
PUBLIC NOTICES Melrose Area School Reg. Board Meeting April 24 .................. pg. 7 Melrose Area School Notice of Sealed Bids ............................. pg. 7 Albany Public Works Hydrant Flushing Notice ........................ pg. 7 City of Albany Planning Commission Public Hearing .............. pg. 7 Holdingford School Board Briefs............................................. pg. 7 City of Freeport 2022 Drinking Water Report.......................... pg. 8 City of Freeport Notice of Public Hearing ................................ pg. 9
Memorial Day page 2
BIRTHS page 3 Arlo Olson
OBITUARIES page 4 Rita M. Hiltner Katelyn T. Nolting
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