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2803 Clearwater Rd. • St. Cloud, MN Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Number 26 • Volume 134
Cities ponder impact of state marijuana legalization
2023 Little Miss Melrose Melrose researching policing options ... pg. 3 Hiltner happy to carry on legacy ... pg. 7 royalty ‘A Team’ has first baby boy in 2017 ... pg. 16 named Gymnasts scoring with the best ... pg. 10
Albany, Avon, Melrose will address regulation during July meetings
ATKINSON TO TALK ABOUT SPACE MISSIONS BOOK AT MELROSE LIBRARY
pg. 6
BY TIM HENNAGIR AND CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITERS
Albany, Avon and Melrose are preparing city responses to Minnesota’s recently approved marijuana legalization. After Gov. Tim Walz signed the 300-plus page bill into law May 30, local government sprang into action. The House and Senate gave final approval to the bill just days before the 2023 legislative session ended. BY It will no longer be a PHOTOS CAROL MOORMAN crime for Minnesotans to Abigail Welle have up to 2 pounds of shows excitement marijuana in their homes when she is and transport 2 ounces crowned Little Miss Melrose while in public. The new law also cre- princess by Hoeschen,Commercial As the sun was starting rise Monday, ates a regulatory frame- toAlyssa a former Miss Contractors Company workers from Melrose were inwork for licensing. Melroseworking princess,on securing BY CAROL MOORMAN side the Lisa’s On Main building Local governments STAFF WRITER while candidate the west wall. businessesPHOTO BYPoepping CAROL MOORMAN cannot prevent Wrenn Abigail “Abby” Welle raised both that would cultivate, man- (front, left) and arms in celebration June 24 and said “thank ufacture and sell marijua- (back, right) 2022 you,” as she was crowned 2023 Little Miss na at retail dispensaries, Little Miss Melrose Melrose princess on the Melrose American but city government can Queen Willow Legion stage in Melrose. A few minutes latdetermine their location Gregory reacts er Katelyn Roelike joined her as a princess and prohibit them near June 24 during the coronation at the followed by the naming of Daniella Pyka schools. as Little Miss Melrose queen. They were A new Minnesota Melrose American in Melrose. crowned by Alyssa Hoeschen, a former Office of Cannabis Man- Legion Welle is the Miss Melrose, and given their sashes and agement will license can- daughter of Craig flowers by 2022 Little Miss Melrose roynabis and hemp business and Jean Welle. alty, queen Willow Gregory and princesses in 2025. Lexi Worms and Nora Depute. Marijuana Wrenn Poepping was named Miss Pholegalization togenic.
COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS
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400 Block update
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PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
w n o rand sash time Little Miss Melrose Princess Katelyn Roelike (from left), Little Miss Melrose Queen Daniella Pyka and Little Miss Melrose Princess Abigail Welle gather following their June 24 coronation at the Melrose American Legion in Melrose. They were among eight candidates from around the Melrose Area School District.
The eight candidates included Lucy Hemmesch, 6, daughter of Dave and Cindy Hemmesch; Abigail Welle, 6, daughter of Craig and Jean Welle; Wrenn Poepping, 6, daughter of Gabby Poepping; Scarlett Bennett, 6, daughter of Corbin and Morena Bennett; Daniella Pyka, 6, daughter of Dave and Tonia Pyka; Addison Orbeck, 6, daughter of Doug and Kayla Orbeck; Katelyn Roelike, 8, daughter of Russ and Kayla Roelike; and McKenzie Bussman, 7, daughter of Chad Bussman. They were each escorted onto the stage by a parent or parents and one grandma, as announced by emcee Jessica Housman. “Great job for your eight contestants,” Housman said. “You nailed it.” Each girl was presented with a partic-
ipation trophy and their professional photo by Integrity Photography & Design as they stood side-by-side on the stage. The three judges – Lindsey Trimbo and Kathi Sauerer, both involved with the Miss Sauk Rapids pageant, and Michelle Rust, a former Miss Sauk Centre in 1981 – sat off to the side, watching the hour-long program. The girls were judged beforehand and during the contest on presentation and evening gown. In front of a Legion filled with family, friends and community members, candidates answered what their favorite place was within the community and why. Earlier in the day they presented a photo of themselves in their favorite place.
Quilt of many
memories
Schreifels has treasured keepsake of African experience BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Sister Chrispina Lekule (from left), Karen Schreifels and Monika Kraker gather in front of a quilt June 15 at Kraker’s Melrose home. Schreifels purchased some of the block material when she was on a trip to Tanzania, Africa; others are from dresses she received as gifts while in Tanzania.
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Karen Schreifels has fond memories of Tanzania in east Africa. Now she has a quilt, filled with African memories, she can wrap herself in. That quilt of many memories, hanging on a rope between two trees in Chuck and Monika Kraker’s Melrose yard, blew in the wind June 15 as Schreifels and her friend, Sister Chrispina Lekule, a member of the Missionary Congregation of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary, from Tanzania, east Africa, explained how this quilt, made from material from Africa, came to be. Also listening, and asking questions, was Schreifels’ sister, Marlene “Molly” Schneider, and Pat Luetmer, friend and quilt collaborator. “I liked all the material because you (Lekule) and I were together (in Zanzibar-Tanzania) when we bought all of it, and that’s a memory for me,” said Schreifels, a 1976 Melrose High School graduate who lives in Crystal.
Quilt page 3
PUBLIC NOTICES Farming Township Change of Meeting Notice - pg. 9 Notice of Termination of Contract for Deed - pg. 9 Holding Township Notice - pg. 9 Albany Area Schools Agenda, June 28 - pg. 9 City of Avon Public Hearing Notice - pg. 9 City of Albany Notice of Job Opening - pg. 9 Stearns County Board of Adjustment Public Hearing - pg. 9 City if Albany Planning Commission Public Hearing - pg. 9 Holdingford School Request for Proposals - pg. 9 Holdingford School Board Briefs - pg. 9
Little Miss Melrose page 2
Lawmakers pass tax exemption for Albany schools Kreuzer, Demuth instigate $60,000 property tax relief BY HANS LAMMEMAN STAFF WRITER
Recent legislation spared the Albany school district more than $60,000 in property taxes courtesy of a collaborative effort between Board Chair Matt Kreuzer and State Rep. Lisa Demuth. The district closed on an unoccupied former Albany Hospital building at a purchase price of $400,000 Sept. 13, 2022, with funding from a bond referendum approved by voters last August. Kreuzer said the district submitted necessary paperwork for property tax exempt status with Stearns County immediately after finalizing the deal.
Albany school page 3 BIRTHS page 2 Emma Janet Arceneau Westin Albert Yarke
OBITUARY page 4 Mary Ann Mitchell
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