SLEEPY EYE

2022 News Highlights

January

5 — The Sleepy Eye Parks Department measured the Sleepy Eye Lake ice thickness at 14 inches after digging a hole in the ice on the east side of the lake. The park department measures ice thickness and lake oxygen levels three times a week.

5 — Zayden St. Martinez, the son of Abraham Martinez and Vanessa Astorga was the first 2022 baby born in Sleepy Eye. He weighed eight pounds, eight ounces and was 20.5 inches long and was delivered by Dr. Harman Dhaliwal at Sleepy Eye Medical Center.

February

4 — Carson Domeier became the Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s boys basketball all-time scorer, scoring 37 points to top assistant coach Sean Mathiowetz’ record of 1.838 points. Domeier added 11 rebounds and five assists in the game, a 78-45 win over the Sleepy Eye Indians.

22 — Sleepy Eye Community Theatre announced it returns in July 2022 to produce Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “West Side Story.” A large cast of singing, dancing and non-singing roles are needed.

March

12 — Katelyn Rutscher was crowned 2022 Miss Sleepy Eye at the Sleepy Eye Event Center. Princesses were Presley Braun and Natalie Marti. For their community service with the Holiday Lights in Motion (holiday lights project in Sportsmans Park), Shari Hittesdorf and Mike Suess received the Minneapolis Aquatennial Honorary Commodore Award.

24 — An agreement for the Sleepy Eye United football team was recently signed with support from Sleepy Eye High School and Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s athletic directors and football coaches. Junior high games will be played in the fall of 2022. Sleepy Eye United varsity games follow beginning the fall of 2023. A united booster club, pep band and cheerleaders are part of the plan.

24 — The Sleepy Eye High School Knowledge Bowl team of Brooke Arneson, Gunny Coulson, Adam Johnson, Alex Joramo and Mason Sellner advanced to the state contest. Coaches Mindy Berkner and Alyssa Stevensen said they are proud of how hard the team works.

April

14 — Poppy’s Pizza owner Dane Burton of Winthrop bought the former Railway restaurant and bar in Sleepy Eye. He plans to open a new establishment over the summer.

26 — Thanks to Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN, a non-profit organization, 80 Sleepy Eye Public School students received free bicycles from Allina Health and New Ulm Medical Center. Bikes were collected from donors last fall and refurbished before they were donated. Other partners are Pro Kinship for Kids and the Ivy House.

26 — Sixty Sleepy Eye FFA members attended the Minnesota FFA Convention at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

May

10 — The Sleepy City Council called for the first reading of an ordinance to sell five acres of land to Miller Sellner Implement for $95,000. The property is located just south of Miller Sellner Implement. It was acquired by the City of Sleepy Eye through a land swap for farm land in the Snow Farm addition.

14 — Sleepy Eye native Dr. Scott Jensen received the Minnesota Republican Party endorsement for governor on the ninth ballot in Rochester. His running mate is former Minnesota Viking Matt Birk.

30 — The Sleepy Eye YES! (Youth Eco Solutions) team won the Minnesota state championship, received a $500 prize and were honored May 15 at a Minnesota Twins game. The team includes Sleepy Eye High School and Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s students. Advisors are Deb Reinarts and Mary Beth Botz.

June

25 — The 2Wheels2Heal motorcycle run that began in North Mankato stopped at the Sleepy Eye Servicemen’s Club. The ride supports Mission 22, an organization that supports veterans with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and other issues. The number 22 refers to the daily number of veterans who commit suicide.

July

14 — After a five-year hiatus, the Sleepy Eye Community Theater presented the musical West Side Story in the Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s Auditorium. The cast included Sleepy Eye teachers, students and former students from Sleepy Eye, New Ulm and Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop.

August

19 — The Sleepy Eye Summerfest All Schools Reunion drew hundreds of former students. Beard Contest winners were tom Pelzel, best goatee, Mark Ladd. Longest beard, Mike Anderla, best mustache, Josh Carey, most unique and David Weiss, fullest beard.

25 — Sleepy Eye High School Social Studies teacher Troy Vangsness was named 2022-2023 Sleepy Eye Education Association Teacher of the year. The award was presented by Sleepy Eye Education Association President Kate Nelson. Kathy Haala was presented the Friend of Education Award.

24 — A new terrazzo floor was installed at St. Mary’s church because the wood floor could no longer be repaired and refinished.

September

18 — Sleepy Eye turned 150 years old today with a big birthday party. Miss Sleepy Eye royalty served birthday cupcakes at the Sleepy Eye Depot Museum. The Sleepy Eye Concertina Club and Mato Inaza Singers also performed at the depot museum.

30 — The Sleepy Eye FFA trap shoot team won the state title at Marshall, finishing first among 90 teams. Conor Strong was the stop sporting clay shooter for Sleepy Eye, taking 11th among 157 competitors. Devin Kunkel was sixth, Gavin Fischer 13th, Hayden Zarn 18th and Noah Rossbach 19th among 441 shooters.

October

2 — Sleepy Eye firefighters responded to a nine-alarm fire in downtown Fairfax that destroyed several buildings including a cafe, known as Smokey Hollow, the former Jimmy’s Pizza restaurant on South Park Street.

4 — Fiber optic cable installation has been underway for a couple weeks as part of Nuvera’s Gig Cities project. The company plans to invest more than $200 million for a new fiber optic network for all customers across southern Minnesota.

15 — The 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth’s barnstorming appearance at Sleepy Eye Ball Park drew a variety of people including WCCO-TV Channel 4 sportscaster Mike Max and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dana Kiecker, who talked about his friendship with Dean Brinkman of Sleepy Eye, who helped create the centennial event plus Minnesota Twins organist Sue Nelson. Kiecker threw batting practice for nearly two hours to batters young and not-so-young including 85-year-old Marvin Huiras of New Ulm.

29 — The Sleepy Eye FFA National Junior Quiz Bowl team placed 8th out of 44 teams at the 94th National FFA Convention. Team members were Lucia Martinez, Chloe Howe, Izzy Kunkel and Lily Kallevig. The Sleepy Eye poultry team was 12th in the nation out of 42 teams. Members were Noah Rossbach, Isaac Lendt, Adam Johnson and Winsten Nienhaus.

November

20 — The Schroepfer-Bertrand Research Fund in conjunction with the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) announced the completion of the Sleepy Eye newspaper digitization project. The MNHS online Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub now includes 82,000 pages from nearly 8,200 issues published in Sleepy Eye from 1875 to 1977 and no longer under copyright. Available newspapers include the Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch from 1908-1977, Sleepy Eye Progressive 1916-1930, 1940-1942; Sleepy Eye Herald 1882-1908, Sleepy Eye Dispatch 1890-1908, Brown County Republican 1881-1883, Brown County Pioneer 1881, Sleepy Eye Wide Awake 1879 and Farmer’s Criterion 1875.

December

5 — St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sleepy Eye presented a $6,421.20 check earned at its Halloween Lalapalooza event to the Sleepy Eye Police Dept. To use to buy surveillance cameras at Sportsman’s Park.

7 — A special mobility needs ride night was held at Holiday Lights in Motion in Sportsman’s Park. About 30 people participated in the vent aided by Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service. Hot chocolate and popcorn were served.

18 — Sleepy Eye Public School Supt. John Cselovszki told board members that former St. Mary’s football coach Barent Kucera was selected as head football coach of the new Sleepy Eye United football team.

SPRINGFIELD

2022 News Highlights

January

5 — Haley Runck received the Springfield Lions Citizenship Award. The award honors a student who has shown by words and actions that they possess the qualities and characteristics that inspire and encourage other students to be better citizens. She is active in volleyball and softball, FFA, yearbook president, YES team, Mock Trial, NHS co-secretary, Knowledge Bowl and Springfield Senior High Chamber Choir.

17 — Springfield High School senior Zach Granda, the son of Mike and Sandy Granda, received the Springfield Lions Club Citizenship Award. The award honors a student who has shown by words and actions that he/she has the qualities and characteristics that inspire and encourage other students to be better citizens. Granda stays busy participating in football, cross country, basketball, track, concert and jazz band, concert and chamber choir, fall musical, the Springfield Nativity Pageant choir and is an F&M Bank Student Ambassador.

After high school, Zach plans to study engineering at Iowa State University.

February

3 — Springfield senior heavyweight wrestler Shane Clemon won his 75th and 76th career matches in a triangular meet with Red Rock Central and Norwood Young America Central.

7 — Tom Goeritz of Springfield published a short story book, “A Bucket of Frogs.” The book includes more than 70 non-fiction stories about the places and people that touched his life.

26 — Springfield High School 160-pound wrestler Ashtin Johnson reached the Minnesota State High School Tournament, finishing second in the section meet. Seeded third, he upset second-seeded Breyer Hieronimus of Adrian Area and won a major decision from Chase Irlbeck of Wabasso.

The Springfield Tigers earned seven medals at the Section 3A tournament.

26 — Springfield High School seniors Brendon Buerkle and Lilly McCone were named Springfield’s Minnesota State High School League Triple A Award winners. Springfield Excel Awardees are Maddy Digmann and Kierin Lafferty.

March

14 — The Springfield Area Softball Association began a fundraising drive to support construction costs for a new saferoom complex at Riverside Park. Last year the City of Springfield was awarded $651,391.03 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMCP).

Funds are to go towards construction of a community safe room (storm shelter) for 491 individuals.

23 — The Springfield FFA Alumni Breakfast with pancakes and sausage proved to be popular with the community. Kitchen workers included Al van Grouw, Mike Krueger, Evan VanDerWal, Jordan Kieper, Scott and Matt Vogel.

April

4 — The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce named Tommy’s Central Street Steakhouse as 2022 Business of the Year and gave the Spirit of Springfield award to Cheryl and Neil Neidt.

18 — Former Springfield Advance-Press Editor Doris Weber, 82, died at Mayo Clinic Health System, Rochester. She worked at the newspaper for nearly 62 years, retiring in October 2019. She was inducted into the Springfield High School Hall of Fame in 2021 for promoting education in the community. Weber received the Springfield Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Springfield award in 2010. She was a founding member of the Springfield Area Nativity Association and Springfield Area Foundation.

In addition, she was a St. John’s Home Foundation board member, volunteered in the Meals On Wheels program, church and other groups.

23 — Five River Valley speech team members participated in the Class A Minnesota State Speech Championships in Apple Valley. Sarah Kottke was fourth in prose, Joseph Jensen sixth in humorous interpretation.

May

13 — Springfield Public School students, staff and community members broke ground for a new school addition. Retiring school teachers included Jeff Briard and Bob Fink. Briard coached football and wrestling for 30 years, softball for six years and baseball for four years. Jeff and his wife plan to move to Danbury in northern Wisconsin. He said other veteran Springfield teachers taught him the importance of holding students accountable and holding them to high expectations. Fink taught third, fourth and sixth grade and coached baseball for 16 years, plus volleyball and football. Students said he has the ability to get the best out of his students and athletes because he connected with them as individuals.

18 — Springfield Elementary School Hall of Fame inductees are Anne Nibbe, Sheena Dauer and the Pieschel Family Foundation. Nibbe taught for 39 years and coached volleyball and led the school speech program for 17 years. She was also known for her love of good books and for being a strong reading teacher. Dauer was very active in school, winning the subsection Triple A Award her senior year. Earning a doctorate in physical therapy at the University of North Dakota, she created a professional practice, Springfield Therapy, centered on pelvic, orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation. She competes in triathlons and ironman events across the country.

June

10 — Springfield’s Austin Ewing won four gold medals at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Fl. He won the medals in power lifting events including the deadlift, squad, bench and for all three events combined.

12 — Springfield softball catcher Megan Ploeger was selected to play in the senior all-star softball series at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Players are selected by coaches in the coach’s association.

July

18 — The former Lang’s Meat Market in downtown Springfield was demolished to make room for a new Superior Transportation storage garage. The building earlier housed an nice cream company, locker plant, and tavern.

25 — St. John’s Circle of Care added new music therapist Marissa Humberg. She visits weekly, spending 30 to 60 minutes with Riverhaven memory care unit residents. She works with other nursing home residents twice a month and visits the Maples twice a month as residents take part in a bell choir. She works with other long-term care facilities in the Mankato area.

31 — St. Paul Lutheran Church celebrated 150 years of faith and fellowship with a community celebration. The Gospel Express including Bailey Cords, Jeff Krueger, Jo Schwartz, Susie Winkelmann and Megan Quesenberry sang.

August

3 — Lindsey Beyer is the new St. John’s Circle of Care administrator. She earlier served with the St. John’s leadership team as a foundation director, before she furthered her education to become an administrator. Kaitlyn Dreher joined the Riverside Animal Clinic veterinary staff. She enjoys reading and taking two dogs for hikes.

Linsy Ludewig, a 2004 Springfield High School graduate, became the new Bridging Brown County executive director.

7 — A Vietnam War era Huey helicopter was part of the Springfield Airport Fly-in Breakfast event. Due to rain, no airplanes flew in. The North Air Care helicopter from Redwood Falls also was part of the event. Michelle Markgraf became the new United Way of Brown County Area interim executive director.

15 — The Springfield Public School Board and administration toured the school as the construction project continued. New teachers at Springfield Public School included Tabatha Schwint, Sarah Eckstein, Andrea Berends, Ashley Cook, Alexandra Row and David Rowe. Maggie Vogel and James Herzog are among new teachers at St. Raphael Catholic School. Amber Meidl is the new St. John’s Circle of Care therapeutic recreation activities director. Michelle Roiger is the new St. John’s Home administrative assistant.

16 — The City of Springfield completed its $5 million 2020/2021 Central Street project. Mary Windschitl joined the F & M Insurance staff formerly held by Kaye Richert who retired earlier this year.

19 — The Springfield High School Class of 1966 enjoyed a reunion weekend, gathering at the fire station to honor classmate Lennis “Red” Arndt who died in 2021.

September

18 — Bob Sturm received the Catholic United Financial Community Service Award at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church. The award goes to those who demonstrate and are committed to achievements in church and community.

26 — Springfield Elementary School was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

30 — Springfield Elementary students and staff raised $30,608.75 to enhance education in the annual Tiger Trek Color Run/Walk.

October

25– The Springfield Tigers football team advanced to the Section 3A title game with a 42-21 win over Sleepy Eye and a 21-7 win over Martin County West.

26 — The Springfield High School boys cross country team won the Tomahawk Conference title for the third straight year. Luke Amsden was named Tomahawk Conference boys coach of the year. The Springfield girls cross country team finished second in the conference meet.

27 — Sharon Pieschel received the 2022 Bridge Builder of the Year award at the Bridging Brown County Annual Networking Dinner at the Comfrey Community Center. The event featured silent and live auctions and a wine pull.

28 — Springfield High School cross country runner Katie Thram advanced to the state high school cross country meet at St. Olaf College, Northfield. Thram broke the school 5k (3.1 mile) record twice.

November

3 — Springfield Tiger volleyball player Jaeli Richert topped the 1,000 career set assist mark.

4 — Superintendent Keith Kottke attended a Washington, D. C. ceremony and plaque presentation as Springfield Elementary School received a National Blue Ribbon Schools award. The award was for exemplary achievement of continuous high academic performance demonstrated by students.

5 — The Springfield Tigers football team won the Section 3A title, topping Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 40-28, earning a state playoff spot.

December

6– The Springfield Rotary Club sang carols at St. John’s Home and the Maples. Singers included Sharon Pieschel, Jeff Krueger, Ramsey Beyer, Paul Muske, Kay Pingeon, Lindsey Beyer, Bracey Lerner, Amanda Frank, Michelle Tauer, Jim Miesen, Maxine Meine, Clayton Beyer, and Chaplain Noel Wetter.

19 — Springfield Post 256 American Legion Auxiliary members gathered supplies to provide holiday cheer and comfort to area veterans. Ladies made giftbags and baked goodies for Eagles Healing Nest in Redwood Falls. The non-profit organization works to serve veterans, service members and their families. Gift bags included toiletries, hats and headbands, activity kids, puzzles, snacks, homemade cookies and more. The project was organized by Darlene Trapp and Arliss Petersen with help from Alicia Sturm, Pat Ryan, Rosie Potter, Maureen Miesen, Dalores Stern and Peggy Larson.