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2803 Clearwater Rd. • St. Cloud, MN Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Number 25 • Volume 134
A get-upand-go life 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
PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Ron (left) and Terry Butkowski hold a Father’s Day gift June 15 at the American Legion in Melrose that Ron received from their children and grandchildren. It has special meaning because of Ron’s military service, and both are active members of the Melrose American Legion Post 101 and Auxiliary and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and Auxiliary.
400 Block update
Butkowskis humbled by Riverfest grand marshal honor BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER
Chances are, when you see Ron Butkowski, you will see Terry, his wife of 52 years. Well, maybe with the exception of when he is on a lawn mower. It might be preparing food with other volunteers the day before a Friday fish fry at the Melrose American Legion or joking around with Sauk Centre/Melrose Golden Eagles athletes bowling at As the sun wasSpecial startingOlympics to rise Monday, Commercial Melrose Bowl. Contractors Company workers from Melrose were inhave On beenMain active Melroseworking American side Both the Lisa’s building on Legion securing members for more than 50 years, holding offi ces; Ron the west wall. PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN with Post 101 and Terry with the Auxiliary. They are also members of Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and Auxiliary in Melrose. Ron served on the Melrose City Council four years and on the Planning and Zoning Commission longer than that. For their community involvement, the Butkowskis were named Melrose Riverfest grand marshals, and they will ride in the 6 p.m. parade Saturday, June 24, possibly on the American Legion/VFW float. “Humbling,” Ron said, with Terry adding, “It’s not necessary,” about the honor June 15 sitting around a table at the American Legion before joining other volunteers getting ready for the June 16 fish fry.
Butkowskis page 3
The Gina and Kris Lomheim family leads the Henry’s Heroes Walk, supporting families of premature babies, June 3 in St. Martin. Henry, held by Dad Kris (fifth from left) was born Oct. 13, 2022, at 26 week gestation, weighing 2 pounds 7.5 ounces, and spent 87 days in the St. Cloud Hospital neonatal intensive care unit.
Precious preemie stories
COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS
More than 500 participate in first Henry’s Heroes Walk BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
E
lliot Rosenow stood next to his mom, Jessie Jensen, holding a sign that read “I’m Walking For Elliot.” Born at 1 pound, 15 ounces, at 27-week gestation, Elliot is a healthy, active little boy today. “We are so lucky,” Jensen said before the first annual Henry’s Heroes Walk, supporting families of premature babies, June 3 in St. Martin, with more than 500 people participating.. The idea to organize a walk was a goal for Gina and Kris Lomheim of Farming Township, whose son, Henry, was born Oct. 13, 2022, at 26 week gestation, weighing 2 pounds 7.5 ounces, and spent 87 days in the St. Cloud Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. He is a baby brother to Harrison, 5, and Madelyn, 3. The Lomheims are grateful for the support they
Back in the Saddle
Avon Spunktacular Days
received and wanted to do something to help other families of premature babies so they held the walk, with money raised donated to affected families. Before the 9 a.m. walk, people browsed around the St. Martin Community Center grounds, participating in activities, like having their photos taken and faces painted. Many had their own preemie stories. Kristin Gruber held daughter Avery in her arms, while daughter Reagan sat on her dad Brett’s shoulders. “Avery was born at 34 weeks and 2 (days) and spent 20 days in the NICU in St. Cloud,” Kristin said. “She’s 10 months old today.” Supporting them on this day were Brett’s parents Pete and Diane Gruber and Kristin’s parents Jim and Denise Blommel. Kristin is a nurse at the St. Cloud Hospital birth center in St. Cloud.
PHOTO BY MIKE KOSIK
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“Having a baby in the NICU gave me a totally new perspective on it and a whole new empathy for the moms that have babies in the NICU,” she said. “It’s fun to be able to do something to give back to all those families.”
Henry’s Heroes page 2
Holdingford council nixes sewer connection payment request BY HERMAN LENSING STAFF WRITER
Avon Lions Club members toss out candy along the Spunktacular Days parade route June 17 in Avon. The theme for the parade was Back in the Saddle. More photos can be found on page 12.
Jessie siie e JJensen ense en sse e and so son Elliot liliot ot R ot Rosenow o en os e ow w hold an a “I’m “I’Im Walking lkkin ng FFo For or El or Elli Elliot” lil sign n JJune une un e3 before the start of the He H Henry’s nrry Heroes Walk for premature babies in St. Martin. Elliot was 1 pound, 15 ounces when he was born.
The Holdingford City Council voted against paying for a part of a sewer correction June 12 at a monthly meeting at city hall in Holdingford. Sandy Skwira appeared before the council requesting the city help pay to correct the sewer line from her property to the main line. She has appeared at previous council meetings explaining an improper connection was installed over 20 years ago. In recent years, the connection has plugged and has needed to be cleaned out by a rooter service to unclog the sewer line. She has paid more than $2,000 to have this done. Mayor Eric Berscheid said he was under the impression a ground shift had caused the problem. Councilor Jayme Opatz agreed, citing statements from previous meeting minutes.
PUBLIC NOTICES
BIRTHS page 3
Assumed Name - Albany Fiber Communications - pg. 4B Albany Area School Ad for Bids - pg. 4B City of Avon Annual Disclosure Report - pg. 5B City of Melrose Ord. No. 06-15-2023 - pg. 4B Farming Township Change of Meeting Notice - pg. 4B Notice of Termination of Contract for Deed - pg. 4B Holding Township Notice - pg. 4B
Kinzey Rose Rademacher
Skwira explained she had been told ground shift may have caused the recent problems, but that did not change the fact that the wrong connection was installed. “Everyone I’ve talked to said it is not OK,” she said. “The plumbing is not OK.” Councilors did not debate the use of the wrong connector, but they did not know who was responsible for installing it. Available records showed it was part of a county work project, but do not show who signed off. A concern of the council was why the plugging started. Ground shift has occurred in other areas of town, but there were no complaints. There was a concern among councilors of a precedent being set if the city paid for the correction.
Sewer page 3
OBITUARIES page 4 Mildred M. Mueller Rose Mary M. Schmiesing
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