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Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Number 32 • Volume 134
Outstanding
Avon Post Office rededication to honor Plantenberg
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
Community invited to Aug. 17 event
pg. 6
BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
An Avon man known for his quiet kindness, gentle strength and service to his country and community will be saluted Thursday, Aug. 17. The Avon Post Office will be rededicated to honor Kort Plantenberg, at 9:15 a.m., at 317 Blattner Dr., in Avon. Community members are invited to the event, which recogCOMMUNITY COVERAGE 127 YEARS nizes Plantenberg, a 28-year-old military man who, along with James A. Rogers, 28, of Winsted; and Charles P. Nord, 30, of Perham, died in a helicopter accident near Kimball Dec. 5, 2019. PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN Congressman Tom Emmer (Left) Rosie (front, from left) and Art Kerfeld smile as they each are crowned a Stearns County Outstanding Senior Citizen by Stearns County Dairy Princesses authored a federal bill to rename Sophia Schiffler (back, from left) and Lanna Walter during the senior recognition program July 27 at the fair in Sauk Centre. The Kerfelds have attended the Avon Post Office to honor many Princess Kay of the Milky Way pageants where they watched young ladies being crowned. Plantenberg’s memory in Wash(Right) Rosie and Art Kerfeld display framed certificates July 27 after they were each named Stearns County Outstanding Senior Citizen during the fair in ington, D.C., with seven other Sauk Centre. The Kerfelds were applauded for community service. representatives joining him as Senior Citizen. Rosie couldn’t hold back laughco-authors. ter as they were crowned. “Kort embodied the very Program emcee Vern Frericks started the best of Minnesota,” Emmer said. BY CAROL MOORMAN | STAFF WRITER before the state fair opens. 20-minute program explaining 2021 was the “I am proud to honor his legacy July 27 the Kerfelds received their own last time the Minnesota State Fair named a state by creating a living memorial to Art and Rosie Kerfeld, of rural St. Rosa, crowns and an honor that went along with it. outstanding senior citizen, Marianne Walker him in the community he called As the sun was starting to rise Monday, Commercial have attended their share of Princess Kay of Stearns County Dairy Princesses Sophia Schiffrom Sauk Centre. home.” Contractors from were in- at the Minnesota the Melrose Milky Way pageants fler and Lanna Walter placed crowns on the Rogers andCompany Nord will workers have sideoffi theces Lisa’s On building working on securing State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, watching Kerfelds’ heads minutes before Art and Rosie post named in Main their honor, Princess Kay being crowned on the evening were each named Stearns County Outstanding the west wall. PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN Kerfelds page 3 as provided for in a legislative bill authored by Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach. Minnesota National Guard Warrant Officer Plantenberg, who grew up and lived in Avon, the son of Steve and Laura PlantenAlbany as interim city administrator. sat in the audience when the agreement was Council approves interim berg, died with his two friends He is now manager of Pine Needle, LLC, presented. when their helicopter, a UH-60 agreement with Schneider a Minnesota limited liability company whose Councilor Alan Amdahl moved to approve Black Hawk, malfunctioned and principal address is listed as 105 Whispering the independent contractor agreement with went down at the edge of a farm BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER Oaks Lane, Albany. Schneider. Amdahl’s motion was seconded by field right on the outskirts of MarThere was no council discussion of Schnei- councilor John Harlander and unanimously ty, while conducting a mainteFormer Albany City Administrator Tom der’s interim management proposal when it was approved by the council. nance test flight of the helicopter. Schneider is returning to Albany City Hall on a presented during an Aug. 2 Albany City Council contract basis. meeting as an agenda item. Plantenberg page 3 Administrator page 3 Schneider will perform temporary duties in Schneider attended the Aug. 2 meeting and
400 Block update
Kerfelds recognized for community service
Former Albany city administrator returns as independent contractor
Nights to unite
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Bennet Theiler wears Melrose firefighter gear, while gathered with firefighter Joe Matt Aug. 2 during the Night to Unite at the Melrose Community Farmers Market along the Lake Wobegon Trail near Coborn’s in Melrose. Melrose fire, ambulance and police personnel were present along with close to 20 vendors, and there was music by the Wobegon Blues Band of Jesse Kuechle and Don Neu.
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PHOTO BY CAROL MO Albany police office ORMAN rs Slone visit with Rand Derrick Bjork (from left) and Bryce y Pe lze r, of Al bany, during the Au 1 National Night Ou g. showcased park imprt at North Park in Albany, which ov em en ts. Slo ne, from Prior Lake, has been on the Al ba Bj Bjork, of Belgrade, ny department one month, and KOSIK 2 2015, and Police Chhas been an Albany officer since PHOTO BY MIKE ic Er d an k ne “boss” when they boief Ozzie Carbajal was Bjork’s first ft), Russ Pa le om (fr 1 itz g. hm Au “s “second boss” here inth worked in Belgrade; he is Bjork’s Gary Sc ring the Albany, Bjork said. Avon firefighterse of the department’s vehicles dud Park in Avon. Notch display on ut at the Lake Wobegon Trailhea and Fun. National Night Oe night was Friends, Family, Food The theme for th
PUBLIC NOTICES
BIRTHS page 3
Albany Area School Board Agenda, Aug. 9 ...................................................................... pg. 7 Sauk River Watershed District Budget Public Hearing ........................................................... pg. 7 City of Avon Public Hearing on Preliminary Plat ................................................................ pg. 7 City of Melrose 2022 Annual Disclosure Statement ............................................................. pg. 7
Wilson Robert Pillsbury
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