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Head to a state park

THUMBS UP: We’ll have to wait and see if the weather holds up, but if it does, here’s an idea for something to do Saturday: Go to a state park – call it an early Father’s Day treat for your dad. It won’t cost you a thing to get in. The Department of Natural Resources is waiving the requirement for a vehicle permit ($5 one-day or $25 year-round) and will provide free admission at all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas Saturday in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day.

State tourneys

THUMBS UP: The spring sports tournament season is winding down. We congratulate our local athletes who have been competing this week in their state tournaments – the Springfield Tigers baseball team was competing in the Class A Baseball Tournament this week, and were playing in the consolation finals as this was being written.

Local golfers did a fine job. Kelton Schmitz of New Ulm High School and Lauren Laffen of Sleepy Eye HIgh School both finished 7th in the state Golf Tournament, Schmitz in Class AA, and Laffen in Class A. Schmitz finished his high school career with a nice sub-par round. Laffen, a sophomore, has plenty of promise for the next two years. Corinne McKeeth also compete for New Ulm in Class AA.

Congratulations to all.

Gieseke resignation

THUMBS UP: District 88 School Board Member Sharon Gieseke resigned from the school board this week, citing the extra demands on her time from the Minnesota Brain Injury Force, of which she is the founder.

We appreciate her willingness to serve on the school board and thank her for the year and a half of work she has put in. It is a tough, demanding job in the best of times, and especially so with the pressure of the district seeking approval of a bond referendum for building a new high school.

We are confident more dedicated and capable candidates will be stepping forward to take Gieseke’s place.

Albrecht honor

THUMBS UP: It wasn’t hard to set up Joel Albrecht for a surprise presentation of the Tourism Person of the Year award this past Wednesday. All organizers had to do was show up as he reported for another one of his many volunteer activity stints, this time working the Brat stand at CashWise for the Sister Cities Commission.

Albrecht can usually be found doing something useful somewhere in New Ulm, like watering the flowers along Minnesota Street in the summer. During his stint as mayor, he served tirelessly on a variety of committees, and was a one-man welcoming committee.

Congratulations, Joel.

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