Mabel News

By Stephanie Szuch

It was decided recently at the 2008 Gopher State Classic Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure competition that Shannon Wilkens, formerly of Preston, has one of the top figures in all of Minnesota - and she's got a second place trophy to prove it.

Shannon, a 1995 Fillmore Central graduate, is the daughter of Darwin and Genny Smith, of Preston. Currently she lives in River Falls, Wis., working as a sales associate for Endres Processing, an agriculture company in Hastings. When she isn't working or working out, she spends time raising her 5-year-old son, Landon.

Council members at last week's Canton City Council meeting on Wednesday evening discussed possible funding options for the proposed street light project.

The project will be broken into at least three segments including the purchase of 20 poles and lights, the wiring of the project and the boring of the underground wiring.

Two quotes will be solicited for each portion. It was decided to use available funds for the purchase of the poles and lights, with possible bonding for the installation and additional wiring of the project.

A state of emergency has been declared in Houston County in southeastern Minnesota where flood waters have damaged several roads, caused mudslides and forced more than 50 people to be evacuated from a ...

An Amish toddler died this afternoon after his teenage brother accidentally ran over him while moving a horse-drawn manure spreader.

“By using my resources wisely in my community, I too, can help solve some of Minnesota's challenges.”

In honor of Minnesota's 150th year of statehood, the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission held an essay contest for fourth, fifth and sixth grade Minnesota students.

The Web site announcing the contest states, "We want to inspire students to think and write critically and creatively and to publicly recognize them as the embodiment of Minnesota's future."

Mabel-Canton teachers Ruth Ann Sacquitne and Matt Jackson gave this 250-500-word essay contest as an assignment to all of their sixth grade students. Kaysie Kerns, daughter of Brian and Lorrie Kerns of Canton, is one of only three Minnesota students to win the contest. Read more

“We both like fishing a lot. When we go out, we see garbage. We want to do something about water pollution, so the fish will be alive.”

The sounds of tinny pop cans clanking and hitting the floor were somewhat unusual in the Fillmore Central Middle School gym last Friday. Everyone knows, of course, that you shouldn't have pop in the gym.

But the laughter and kids tearing around the gym quickly showed this was no typical day. This was the annual Earth Day fair, started three years ago by FC sixth grade teacher Jodie Daniels. She explained that, going to school in Chatfield where she grew up, they'd always had Earth Day activities. She brought the concept to Fillmore Central, instructing sixth grade students to create projects. Read more

Members of the Mabel-Canton School Board were presented with an update of the Response to Intervention K-8th grade reading initiative at the April school board meeting.

Sarah Holdmeyer, along with elementary students Mitchell Kuhn and Tanner Williams, presented an overview to the program. The fourth and fifth grade students, respectively, read comments regarding the RTI program submitted by their classmates.

Following their presentation, Holdmeyer covered the program in greater detail, giving the core principals of the reading program, as well as explaining briefly how it works within the elementary grades. Read more

Pope Benedict XVI pages through the Wisdom volume of The St. Peter Apostles Edition of The Saint John's Bible at a meeting of the Papal Foundation on April 4. Standing next to the Pope at the Vatican is Gerald ... via Minnesota Public Radio

“We picked libraries to be the official host of this special sesquicentennial banner and journal because libraries are essential to our civic and economic life as a state and in our local communities”

As the state's sesquicentennial draws closer, two ambassadors are making their way across Minnesota. These emissaries are banners that will make stops at libraries in every county in Minnesota before returning to St. Paul on May 11, 2008, for the 150th anniversary of statehood. The banner will be at the Fillmore County libraries:

* Mabel Public Library on Friday, April 4. The banner will arrive at the library in a covered wagon and the library will extend its hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* Harmony Public Library on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. It will arrive on April 5 at 10 a.m., and the library will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday when the banner will go to the Greenfield Lutheran Church for the Good Earth Village Choir Concert from 3 to 4 p.m. Members of the Fillmore Central High School Band may be playing for the arrival of the banner. Read more

“Jerry had some strong feelings about this”

The Harmony City Council decided at its March meeting that it will be proceeding with the community center project. The first step in that process was achieved when the council approved hiring an architect to design and prepare construction documents to install new outer walls and windows in the additional classrooms as well as the installation of individual heating and cooling units in each room.

Skott and Anderson Architects from Mason City will be doing the preliminary work for a cost of about $23,000, which is about 10 percent of the total estimated project. Read more

“It was one of the toughest fires I've ever had to fight. I've never run into an all-wood basement before.”

Houston County officials Monday were unable to make a positive identification of a body found Sunday afternoon in the basement of a burned Brownsville home. via La Crosse Tribune

“We feel like we're robbing the school, because we enjoy what we do.”

It appears the historic Jailhouse Inn in Preston will be hosting a number of arts events in the coming year, if the enthusiastic response to an initial event in January is any indication.

The Preston Area Arts Council hosted Fillmore Central High School band director Lane Powell, along with his wife Jessica Powell, who teaches band in the lower grades, along with an English class. They spoke on the life lessons one can learn from involvement with music.

Introducing them, the Rev. Francis Galles said the couple was the area's own "Mr. and Mrs. Holland's Opus," citing excellent musical programs and the creation of enthusiasm among band students. The movie "Mr. Holland's Opus" is summarized as "a frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher." Lane Powell does both, having earned recognition for his compositions. In addition to teaching, he serves on the staff of composers with the C.L. Barnhouse Music Company. Read more

“We will really have to be on our toes”

Fillmore Central's one-act play cast and crew came home from Saturday's conference meet with a first-place finish. Their performance of the play, "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" inspired positive remarks and accolades from the three judges on site that day.

"They did everything right," said faculty adviser Jackie Whitacre. "It was a great performance."

Whitacre explained that there were nine plays presented on Saturday with three judges offering both verbal and written critiques. The Fillmore Central play received a "clean slate," she said, with three first place rankings and three "A"-ratings given by the judges. Read more

“We don't toot our horn that we're 90.”

Audrey Morgan is 90 or 94. It depends on when you ask the jubilant 94-year-old. "I'm a little forgetful," she said, laughing. via Winona Daily News

“I've found the people in Mabel to be absolutely wonderful, but I think having the tax rate so high discourages people and other businesses from coming in.”

The city of Mabel held its Truth in Taxation hearing last Wednesday evening prior to its regular meeting. Bruce and Linda Hoveland of Rushford attended the meeting to discuss their tax statement.

Lynda Hoveland explained that they own a house in Mabel that they have as a rental property.

She said that their home, located in Rushford Village, is valued at $214,200 and the taxes on that are just over $2,000 a year. Their rental house in Mabel is valued at $80,000, but she noted that they paid $65,000, and the taxes on that property are just over $1,600 a year. Read more

Alta Dahl was born March 12, 1913, in Preble Township, Fillmore County. She attended the Tawney School and graduated from Mabel High School. via Postbulletin.com Obituaries

“It's a great way to ring in the new year”

During the next few weeks, there will be several events held that will benefit the children and families served by the Camp Jornada Foundation.

According to its mission, the non-profit organization is committed to providing free summer camp programs and a year-round support network for children faced with cancer and their families. Camp Jornada offers children, ages 5 to 17, fun activities and the setting to share their experiences with the goal of instilling self-esteem and the opportunity to make every day a journey. Read more

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5, the Canton City Council met with Mike Gaven, who is currently serving other area communities in the role of Animal Control officer.

Gaven, from Caledonia, explained his credentials, as well as described his facility in his hometown. According to Gaven, he is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for response to animal complaints.

His facility consists of a 60 by 60 foot heated shed, with the capacity to house more than 60 animals. He has been trained in animal care and has a 24-year history of working with animals. His experiences include the handling of bats, coyotes, squirrels and other wild animals, in addition to domesticated animals. Read more

“This is just another one of the ways we like to reach people”

Signs and luminarias will guide those traveling County Road 12, five miles southwest out of Preston, on Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. to an amazing sight. The farm of Milo and Beth Ann Broadwater is the place where the Greenleafton Reformed Church is hosting "Night at the Stable."

This "live nativity" focuses on the birth of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of the innkeeper of Bethlehem. A song written by Spring Valley songwriter Melissa Schmidt of the Irish Minstrels entitled, "The Innkeeper," also gives this perspective with a refreshing twist often overlooked. Read more