THUMBS UP

Lilleoden receives Chamber Volunteer of the Year award

Andy Lilleodden received the inaugural Chamber Volunteer of the Year award Monday. The award created this year is given to those who go above and beyond in their support of the New Ulm Area Chamber. Lilleodden has served on Chamber Committees for 13 of his 15 years as a Chamber member and has regularly volunteered to assist with the Chamber’s Oktoberfest celebration. In December, he completed seven years of service on the Chamber Board, but continues to volunteer on the Chamber’s remodel committee. Many of New Ulm’s events and festivals are only possible through the work of volunteers. It is fitting that the Chamber creates a volunteer of the year award and few are more deserving than Lilleoden.

THUMBS UP

Mathiowetz reaches 3,000 career points

In the second half of the girls basketball game between Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s and New Ulm Cathedral, St. Marys’ Morgan Mathiowetz made a 3-pointer, putting her at exactly 3,000 career points. This is an impressive achievement. Only 28 other girls in the history of Minnesota have accomplished this goal. Mathiowetz is the second St. Mary’s player to reach 3,000 points. Her sister, Maddison, managed to reach 3,762 points in her career.

THUMBS DOWN

A cold blast impacts most of the country

After two years of moderate winters, the cold and snow is back. The weather on Wednesday was extremely blustery and was the precursor to a cold snap. Temperatures dropped to -18 by Friday morning. Temperatures are expected to remain below zero all weekend. Though conditions in south central Minnesota are expected to be brutally cold, it is the rest of the country that might suffer the most. States as far south as Texas and as far east as South Carolina could see snowfall before this cold blast is through. Minnesota is at least prepared for this kind of cold weather with infrastructure in place to help. Many of the southeastern states are not as fortunate.