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Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Number 29 • Volume 134
Melrose kicks off public participation for new comprehensive plan
Wielenbergs remember humble, hardworking Melrosefarmer, researching policing options ... pg. 3 Hiltner happy to carry on legacy ... pg. 7 family man ‘A Team’ has first baby boy in 2017 ... pg. 16
ATKINSON TO TALK ABOUT SPACE MISSIONS BOOK AT MELROSE LIBRARY
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Gymnasts scoring with the best ... pg. 10 PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Project website, interactive map, online survey available BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
Allison (front) and her mom, Sandy Wielenberg sit in one of their tractors before the start of the July 9 Dan Wielenberg Memorial Tractor Drive, sponsored by the Albany FFA Alumni, at the Stearns County Pioneer Club grounds in rural Albany. Dan, their dad and husband, loved driving tractors, especially when Allison sat next to him in the buddy seat.
The city of Melrose is starting work on its new comprehensive plan by launching the plan’s website, collecting community ideas for the city’s future and inviting residents to join a Project Steering Committee that will work with city staff and consultants to guide the work. Melrose’s new comprehensive plan will help guide the city’s evolution over the next 25 years and will include recommendations for land use, housing, business development, parks, transportation and downtown vitality, among others. “The new plan will provide a single, comprehensive umbrella that expresses the community’s vision for the future in all those areas and maps a way to get there,” said Sheila Hellermann, community deAs the sundirector. was starting to rise velopment “The plan willMonday, Commercial Contractors Companyfor workers from Melrose were inalso provide guidance key locationsthe in town redevelopment side Lisa’swhere On Main building working on securing is expected to occur.” PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN the west wall. The city’s last comprehensive plan update was done in 2011 and there have been significant changes within the city since then. BY CAROL MOORMAN ORMAN STAFF WRITER The work of the plan will be managed by a Project Steering ed ribbons with the Committee made up of residents, words “Big Dan. business owners and city staff. To Dearly Missed. Nevincrease representation, the city is er Forgotten” were displayed on seeking community members to tractors and T-shirts during the join the PSC. Applications are open July 9 Dan Wielenberg Memountil Aug. 4. To apply, residents are rial Tractor Drive at the Stearns encouraged to contact Hellermann County Pioneer Club grounds in at 320-256-4278 or visit the plan’s rural Albany. website at www.MelrosePlan. Dan loved driving tractors, org for additional details. especially with daughter Allison sitting in the buddy seat, his wife, Plan page 3 Sandy, said July 13.
400 Block update
COMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS
Red ribbons
for Dan
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Sacred Heart Parish Parade
Cartoons through the Years
Avon is one of the latest cities to approve cannabis-related ordinance amendments. City leaders acted July 10 to temporarily prohibit operation or establishment of a cannabis business within the city limits until the state starts its licensing program. The sale of edible cannabis products, lower potency hemp edibles or similar products is similarly prohibited. State law permits adopting an interim ordinance. The council also prohibited smoking, vaping and the use of cannabis products including THC or hemp-infused products on public property in the city of Avon.
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The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
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Wielenberg tractors had ribbons with the words “Big Dan. Dearly Missed. Never Forgotten” tied onto them as they were parked before the start of the July 9 Dan Wielenberg Memorial Tractor Drive at the Stearns County Pioneer Club grounds in rural Albany. Dan Wielenberg (above) and daughter Allison drove in the Albany FFA Alumni tractor drive for years, and after Dan passed away, it was named in memory of him.
Avon approves cannabis-related ordinance changes BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER
Popeye, played by Mike Renneker (left), shows his spinach-eating strength, with sailor, played by Peter Heidgerken, on the Popeye and the sailorman float in the July 16 Sacred Heart Parish Parade in Freeport. The theme of the parade was Cartoons Through the Years.
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It is support like this that continues to help Sandy and Allison live life without Dan. “We are so very blessed to live in the rural farming community we do,” she said. Sandy reminisced about their 18 years of married life. They both graduated from Albany High School in 1985, and knew each other most of their lives, living north of St. Anthony on different sides of County Highway 238.
City leaders act regarding business operation, smoking tion without having laws in
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
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“When W the Albany FFA Alumni first started the tractor drive, Dan and Allison would go together,” she said. “After he passed, they changed it in honor of him.” Dan passed away Dec. 4, 2019, from injuries received in a farm accident. Sandy figures if he were still alive he would just shake his head about the recognition. “It was a huge honor because he was such a humble man and hated any attention on himself,” Sandy said.
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PUBLIC NOTICES Probate Notice - Woodruff ...................................................... pg. 7 Melrose School Notice of Filing for Election School Board ...... pg. 6 Avon Township Notice of Rescheduled Meeting ..................... pg. 6 Assumed Names .................................................................... pg. 6 City of Melrose Advertisement for Bids................................... pg. 7 Albany Area Schools Reg. Board Meeting, July 12 .................. pg. 7 City of Avon Notice of Hearing on Assessments ...................... pg. 6 City of Albany Planning Commission Public Hearing .............. pg. 6 City of Avon Summary of Ord. No. 231.................................... pg. 6 City of Avon Ord. No. 232 ........................................................ pg. 6
City administrator and clerk Jodi Austing-Traut and Police Chief Corey Nellis used St. Cloud’s no smoking ordinance and Albany’s cannabis ordinance as models. The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management will issue licenses statewide in January 2025. Local government will be responsible for registration. A county, city or town may register retail businesses. A local governmental unit may limit retailers and charge registration fees and penalties. A city or county may limit retail time, place and manner and set minimum distances from any youth-oriented locations. Nellis said the state jumped on cannabis legaliza-
place. “It’s very strange how this got traction,” he said. “They legalized it before they were ready for enforcement or sales regulation.” Austing-Traut said in a follow-up email she did not present ordinance language to City Attorney Mike Couri for review because the ordinances she and Nellis used to craft Avon’s resolutions had already been reviewed by paid attorneys. “Corey and I got some examples of other cities’ ordinances, put them together, read through the law and picked it apart,” she said July 10. “This is the best we’ve got for now. This is an evolving situation with the state.”
Cannabis page 3
OBITUARY page 4 Anton “Tony” Hanneken
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