The Highway 14/15 bridge construction, which started in April 2018 and ended this month, was voted the main local story of 2019. Journal file photo

NEW ULM — It was a project two years in the making, affecting the lives of countless people in New Ulm and the area, and costing millions of dollars to complete. So it is no surprise that the completion of the Highway 14-15 Gateway project on Dec. 18 ranks as The Journal’s top local news story of 2019.

The stories following the Gateway project include:

2. The Diocese of New Ulm reaches a $34 million settlement agreement with victims and survivors of clerical sex abuse in the diocese.

3. The RENU projects get underway with improvements to Johnson Park.

4. Duane Johnson of Searles is charged and convicted in the death of his wife, for whom he said he threw a “death party.”

5. Changes in leadership in City Hall as a new city manager, assistant city manager and PUC director are hired.

6. A St. James man is convicted in Brown County Court of murdering his wife and stepdaughter in St. James on June 16, 2018.

7. St. Paul’s Lutheran School completed a $6.7 million expansion project.

8. Alliance Bank clears most of the block between Third North between Minnesota and German Streets to start construction on a new building.

9. Heymann Construction, the construction firm that built most of the major edifices in New Ulm over the past 100 years, announced in June that it was shutting down.

10. After the Mayo Health System announced it would close down its hospital and clinic operations in Springfield in March 2020, and its clinic in Lamberton, the City of Springfield and Lamberton decided to partner with Allina Health to operate clinic services. Allina operates the New Ulm Medical Center.

1. GATEWAY PROJECT

The $35 million Gateway project began in April 2018, and closed off 7th North Street, the 7th North Street bridges over the Minnesota River, and the Highway 14-15 intersection just across the river from New Ulm — the infamous “Y” intersection.

Correcting that intersection was the main purpose of the project. The intersection over the years had been the site of many serious accidents and fatalities as the traffic heading south on Highway 15 crested a hill and headed toward the intersection. The crossroads intersection put that traffic too often in conflict with traffic from Highway 14 coming from the east, with Nicollet County 21 coming from the west, and northbound traffic on 15 that tried to turn left onto 21.

The project involved building a Highway 15 overpass and adding traffic circles and ramps to separate the intersecting traffic, and rebuilding the bridges over the Minnesota River over New Ulm.

The intersection was largely completed by the end of 2018, but the bridge construction took longer, hampered in part this past summer by high water on the Minnesota River that interfered with construction equipment.

For people who traveled into New Ulm each day from their homes across the river to jobs in New Ulm, the detours added a good 15 to 20 minutes to their daily trek. The project also rerouted heavy traffic onto Broadway in New Ulm.

When the bridge was finally opened on Dec. 18, it was met with cheers from long-suffering travelers, and hopes that the completion of this project will spur the state of Minnesota to complete the Highway 14 expansion project from Nicollet to New Ulm. The Gateway project is designed to hook up with the expansion project.

2. DIOCESAN SETTLEMENT

After the State of Minnesota passed the Minnesota Child Victims Act, lifting the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits for child sex abuse claims, the Diocese of New Ulm was named in 101 lawsuits. In March 2017 the diocese filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to provide for settlements with victims and survivors of abuse while protecting assets to maintain its operations.

In June 2019, the diocese announced it had reached a settlement agreement to provide $34 million for 93 people who filed the lawsuits. Under the agreement, the Diocese and parishes would contribute $8 million, with the rest coming from the Diocese’s insurance.

The settlement plan has been filed with the federal bankruptcy court, which is reviewing the plan. If it approves the plan, the survivors will then vote on the plan, and their claims will be evaluated to determine their individual awards.

3. RENU PROJECTS UNDERWAY

The renewal of the New Ulm municipal sales tax is providing funding for a variety of new Park and Recreation improvements. The RENU (Reinvest in New Ulm) projects got underway this past year when plans were approved for improvements at Johnson Park, at a cost of $1.375 million. The project is expanding the grandstand, the concession stand and restrooms at the baseball park, which will be hosting the Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament in August 2020. The construction on the project began this year in order for it to be completed by this coming summer. Meanwhile, designs and plans are being developed for other RENU projects.

4. DEATH IN SEARLES

The death of a Searles woman, Debra L. Johnson, shocked the area. Johnson had been in residence at a nursing home in Meeker County, but had been removed from the home against medical advice by her husband, Duane A. Johnson. He told police she had told him she wanted to die at home. In January, Deputies were called to Johnson’s home in Searles. Duane Johnson met them, informed them that his wife was dead. He also told them he had thrown a “death party” for her, at her request, that lasted about five days and involved giving her methamphetamines.

Duane Johnson was sentenced in August to three years in prison after being convicted of felony criminal neglect. Felony charges of third degree murder had been dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

5. CITY HALL CHANGES

Changes and turnover in New Ulm City Government led to a new roster of top city officials in 2019.

After City Manager Brian Gramentz left the city in November 2018, Assistant City Manager Chris Dalton had been filling in for him. After conducting a search for a new city manager and interviewing candidates, including Dalton, the New Ulm City Council offered Dalton the position on a permanent basis in April, leaving the Assistant City Manager position open.

The city then hired former New Ulm Chamber of Commerce president Audra Shaneman as assistant city manager and economic developer. Shaneman had left the Chamber in April to work with Greater Mankato Growth. But she applied for the city position, and was hired on June 25.

In the Public Utilities office, Utilities Director Rod Marshall left his position abruptly in February. He reportedly walked out of a human resources meeting to discuss his performance. Marshall claimed he was being accused of not meeting PUC standards, which he described as “spin.”

The PUC voted on Fe. 15 to formally terminate Marshall’s employment. He had held the position since September 4, 2018. Kris Manderfeld was appointed as interim director, and later appointed to the position permanently.

6. ST. JAMES CASE DECIDED IN BROWN COUNTY

Scott F. Engelbrecht, accused of murdering his wife and step-daughter on June 16, 2018, and threatening his step-grandson, had his trial moved from Watonwan County to Brown County over concerns about prejudicial pre-trial publicity. Engelbrecht’s trial began in late October with jury selection and testimony started on Nov. 4, 2019. Engelbrecht was charged with shooting his wife and step-daughter over an argument about their wedding anniversary.

Engelbrecht was convicted on Nov. 7 on all counts, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

7. ST. PAUL’S EXPANSION

Construction crews worked throughout the summer to complete a $6.7 million expansion project at St. Paul’s Lutheran School. The expansion included room for pre-K classes, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes, and a new entrance. The expansion was completed with only a week’s delay in the beginning of classes.

8. ALLIANCE BANK BUILDING PROJECT

Alliance Bank began work this summer on building a new bank building next to its current location at 4th North and Minnesota Street. Alliance cleared the south half of the block, tearing down a large house at Third North and German, its annex building and its ATM driveup, to make room for the new building.

Construction has been going on all summer. Once construction is complete, the existing bank building will be vacated and a new development plan for that space be developed. The new bank will be a two story building, totaling over 20,000 sq. ft. All banking services will be located on the main level. The top floor will be designated for operations, finance, IT and compliance to support Alliance Bank’s seven branches. The lower level will house storage and safe deposit boxes.

9. HEYMANN CONSTRUCTION CLOSES

Since 1918, Heymann Construction Co. in New Ulm has been the contractor and builder of many of the major buildings in New Ulm and the area, from churches, to schools, to government buildings, to residences. So it was a shock when Heymann Construction’s owners announced that it was ceasing operations on June 14, 2019.

10. SPRINGFIELD CLINIC, HOSPITAL CHANGES

The challenges facing health care in rural America hit home in early December when Mayo Clinic Health System announced it would be closing the Springfield Hospital and Clinic and the Lamberton Clinic in March 2020. The hospital cited the dwindling patient volume and physician shortages as reasons for the closing, along with competition from other health care services in the area.

Within two weeks, however, the cities of Springfield and Lamberton announced they would be partnering with Allina Health, which operates the New Ulm Medical Center, to provide clinic services in both towns.