Sunday, June 27, 2010

Trinity Lutheran Church in Holmes City holds "Western Hoedown"
















I've got a photo album from the event at the Herman-Hoffman Tribune website, under Dotphoto and "2010 summer events in the Tribune coverage area."

A video clip with their music playing in the background is under our Videos page as well. Karen Tolifson, originally from Herman, is playing the guitar and singing "Here I am, Lord."

Friday, June 25, 2010

Antique tractor pull video clips from Runestone Days in Kensington

These clips are from June 20 in Kensington.


The crops are looking outstanding

Shown are fields of corn and soybeans south of Hoffman, with the Grant County Wind Farm seen in the distance.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Hoffman Commerce and Ag donates $500 towards Hoffman Water Tower logo fund - other funds being raised as you read this!

At today's Hoffman Commerce and Ag meeting, held at Anderson's Dew Drop Inn, the group voted to donate $500 to kickstart the fundraising effort on the new water tower logo. It was also reported that the Hoffman Lions has pledged $500 to the cause.

Other funds have already come in, and many donors wish to remain anonymous. Look for more on the fundraising effort to this cause in future issues of the Herman-Hoffman Tribune!

MFU to attend DOJ/USDA workshop on the dairy industry

On Friday, June 24, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) Vice President Gary Wertish and MFU Government Relations Director Thom Petersen will be attending the Department of Justice and the United States Department of Agriculture’s workshop about the dairy industry. The workshop will be held at the University of Wisconsin – Madison at the Union Theater in Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street.


“Fair competition and price discovery are hampered by the concentration of the dairy industry in the hands of a few,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “This concentration serves the bottom line of the companies, not the family farmers or the consumers. I hope these hearings will start to pinpoint solutions for fairer competition and price discovery so our family farmers can compete and stay in business.”

The goals of the workshop are to promote dialogue among interested parties and foster learning with respect to the appropriate legal and economic analyses of these issues, as well as to listen to and learn from parties with experience in the agriculture sector. There will be a roundtable discussion; farmer presentations of issues; and panels on: trends in the dairy industry, market consolidation, and market transparency. The Honorable Eric Holder, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice and The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture will be in attendance.

To speak with MFU representatives before, during, or after the workshop, contact MFU Vice President Gary Wertish at 651.262.7128 or MFU Government Relations Director Thom Petersen at 612.860.9462. You can also find more information about the workshop at http://www.justice.gov/atr/public/workshops/ag2010/wisconsin-agenda.htm.

Minnesota Farmers Union (www.mfu.org) is a nonprofit membership-based organization working to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers, as well as rural communities.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Coming this weekend: Barrett Old Settlers' Reunion and a Western Ho Down Pork Chop Supper at Holmes City



Trinity Lutheran Church in Holmes City is hosting a Western Ho Down Pork Chop Supper on Saturday, June 26, from 4:00 to 7:00pm.

Menu: grilled chops, potato salad, beans, cole slaw, dessert, and beverages.

Adults $8, Children (4-10) $4. Three and under free

Music will be provided.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Lucky to be alive during pivotal point in human history

by Rep. Torrey Westrom

A strong argument can be made that issues pertaining to our economy, energy and the environment have put us on course to live the greatest story ever to be told by any generation.

As a member of the state's Energy Commission, I recently attended a seminar called Crash Course, conducted by research scientist Chris Martenson. His message is our economy, energy and environment are so deeply intertwined they must be addressed collectively if we’re going to make improvements in these areas.

Martenson says our economy must grow to support a money system based on borrowing, but is challenged by an energy system that cannot grow, and both of these are linked to a natural world that is rapidly being depleted (i.e., oil).

That is a lot to wrap your head around.

His take on our economy connects some dots – in light of what has happened to our economy. The way he explains it, our entire economic system – and by extension our way of life – is founded on exponential debt, and debt is founded on the assumption the future will always be bigger than the past.

But today our nation’s debt is 340 percent greater than the Gross Domestic Product, so we are in need of drastic changes if we are going to pay the debt we have today. Our country has failed to save money and outlived its means at virtually every level of society. That resulting debt does not belong to the President, Congress, or Washington in general; it ultimately belongs to you, me and all our taxpaying neighbors who will be responsible for paying it back, Martinson points out.

Martenson contends energy is the backbone of any given economy. But when an economy is based on an exponential debt based money system – otherwise known as a fiat money system – that is itself based on exponentially increasing energy supplies, the supply of that energy deserves our very highest attention.

The challenge then is in deciding which path will lead us to the greatest growth. Is it in more proficient use of any or all existing energy sources? Is it transitioning to a new, yet to be developed source, including some renewable energies?

This is where environmental issues come into play. Population growth continues to place more and more pressure on our planet’s resources. It took until 1927 for our worldly population to reach the two-billion mark, but we've added nearly five billion more people since. This growth has taken a toll on non renewable resources.

As ominous as this Crash Course between the economy, energy and environment may seem, we have the wherewithal to meet this challenge; it’s just going to take a willingness to make adjustments. I think most people would agree, we cannot continue on the same spending and consumption path we have taken. We must return to living within our means economically and make wise decisions where the environment and energy are centerpoint.

We need to set priorities and stick to them.

As Martenson puts it, we are lucky to be alive during a pivotal point in human history. We need our leaders at every level of government – especially in Washington D.C., where they control our money system – to understand how these aspects connect to one another. We must continue working for common-sense changes to make our lifestyle sustainable without going overboard on costly, burdensome and unneeded items or programs in our lives, state or country.

Bill Hilty, DFL-Hinckley, was key in bringing this speaker to our state and should be commended for helping spur deeper thought among us legislators. I wasn't sure what to expect going into the meeting.

Martenson challenged all of us to refute his facts, and in the six years he’s been researching and speaking about his Crash Course video, no one has been able to refute his assertions. I felt compelled to do more than just attend Martenson's presentation and wanted to share some of the points he raised to help Minnesota citizens become more aware of this information, conduct research themselves and draw their own conclusions. This may inspire us all to dig deeper for solutions that will again make our state and country great.

I hope you, too, review the material Martenson presented. Crash Course is available for free viewing at his Web site: www.chrismartenson.com. I welcome your feedback after you've reviewed Martenson's material. My email is rep.torrey.westrom@house.mn.

MFU VP represents Farmers Union at summit

Minnesota Farmers Union Vice President Gary Wertish represented the National Farmers Union (NFU) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Summit of Rural America event in Hillsboro, Mo., June 4. The event was a wrap up to the Rural Tour that has been ongoing since the summer of 2009. The objective of both the tour and summit was to gain insight from residents in small towns and collect their thoughts on revitalizing our agricultural nation.

Wertish co-chaired a breakout session on farm competitiveness and market productivity. Breakout sessions focused on providing solutions, ideas and success stories to address the challenges facing rural America. The philosophy behind the sessions was to create a constructive dialogue geared towards sharing success stories instead of reiterating problems or challenges.

“According to USDA statistics, one in twelve jobs in the U.S. are agriculture-related, and as rural residents we know how important we are to the U.S. economy,” said Wertish. “Our messages need to be expressed to the rest of the country and I truly believe that the USDA is on board with being proactive in obtaining the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers and rural residents.”

Hoffman-Kensington fastpitch season is halfways complete

Here are a couple players on the H-K fastpitch team playing on defense in a game against Brandon, held at the Hoffman athletic complex on Tuesday morning.


Sunday, June 20, 2010

Runestone Days is a big success in Kensington this year

I've got over 150 photos from the Grand Parade today at the Herman-Hoffman Tribune's website photo gallery.

Click on "Dotphoto" after visiting our homepage: http://www.hermanhoffmantribune.com

If you're on Facebook, check us out there by becoming a fan (Search for "Herman-Hoffman Tribune" and click Like)...I've got 30 preview photos there from the parade.

A scene from the Friday night kids' carnival in Kensington.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Miss Runestone is crowned for 2010

A great crowd descended on Main Street in Kensington on Friday night, as the annual Runestone Days celebration got underway.














The new Miss Runestone is Rachel Petersen, sponsored by Andreasen Motor Sports of Kensington.

Her princesses are Kristin Gilbertson (sponsored by Midwest Machinery of Alexandria) and Amanda Drechsel (sponsored by Blascyk Auto Body of Kensington).

The big parade is on Sunday at 1:30, but a ton of activities will take place between now and then. Look below for the full Runestone Days schedule, which is also published in this week's Herman-Hoffman Tribune on the back page.

A big thanks goes out to the First State Bank of Kensington and the Kensington Commercial Club, for sponsoring the advertising with us.

Here's the Kensington Runestone Days poster with the complete schedule

Click to enlarge. Once it's downloaded on your browser, you'll have to click on it again to blow up the JPEG so you can see all of it clearly.



















You can also find the attachment on the Herman-Hoffman Tribune website, where you can download a PDF of the schedule on the homepage.

All the fun started today! Hope to see many of you at the events tonight.

This is fabulous - On Facebook you can find a group called "Who's Smarter: Michele Bachmann, or this turnip?"

While New Orleans congressman Joseph Cao was calling on BP execs to commit "hara-kiri" over the Gulf oil disaster, fellow Republican Michele Bachmann of Minnesota urged them to hang tough against getting "fleeced."

“If I was the head of BP, I would let the signal get out there -- 'We're not going to be chumps, and we're not going to be fleeced,'” she told Washington Post blogger David Weigel, who covers the conservative movement and the Republican Party.

Bachmann, you are an embarrassment to this state and our nation!

References: http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/96442239.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O

http://www.facebook.com/turnipN2010

Highway 55 project making progress

Traffic on Highway 55 in Douglas and Pope counties remains detoured during a reconstruction, resurfacing and bridge replacement project that began on May 10.


Motorists are being detoured on Highway 27, Interstate 94 and Highway 29 while Highway 55 is closed between Hoffman and Glenwood. In late July, the detour will be reduced to Highway 27 and Douglas County Road 1 while crews complete work between Hoffman and Kensington.

The work on the section of Highway 55 between Highway 28 and Highway 29 in Glenwood was completed in late May.

Crews have completed milling and reclaiming the 22.6 miles of roadway. During the reclamation process the existing pavement was recycled on-site and used as a foundation for the new surface of the road, resulting in cost savings and a longer pavement life.

This project also features reclaimed base test sections west of Kensington. Various products are being applied to the reclaimed base this week. These additives allow for a four-inch bituminous overlay, one inch thinner than the five-inch overlay that will be applied to the remaining 18.5 miles of the project. Mn/DOT will monitor the test sections to determine how the different additives affect the pavement strength, stability and durability.

The Chippewa River bridge replacement portion of the project east of Hoffman began Monday, and the bridge demolition began Wednesday. Rock boulders and stream barbs will be added to the river near the bridge area, aiding in the prevention of erosion and stabilization of the stream bank.

Central Specialties Inc. is the prime contractor for the $8.1 million improvement project, which is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 3, weather permitting. Upon completion, the improvements to Highway 55 will provide a safer roadway with better conditions.

During construction and road maintenance work, Mn/DOT urges drivers to:
• Check 511 for up-to-date information about traffic and road conditions.
• Stay alert, expect the unexpected.
• Never enter a road that has been blocked with barriers or cones.
• Minimize distractions.
• Don’t use cell phones.
• Remember text messaging while driving is illegal.
• Don’t eat or drink while driving.
• Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

This rocks - Nine candidates are in the Miss Runestone Pageant on Friday night

This is pretty awesome - nine candidates are a part of the Miss Runestone Pageant on Friday night!

It begins at 7:00pm at the Kensington Community Center. See you there.

WCA's Matt Wagner has a strong start on Day 1 of the Class A state golf meet

Matt is starting his drive on Hole #5 at Pebble Creek Golf Course in Becker, MN.













Update at 6:30pm...This just in - Matt's Day 1 score was a 48 on the front nine and a 45 on the back nine for a first day score of 93. He tees off again tomorrow for Day 2, so check back Thursday night to see how he fared in his first run at the state golf meet.

Monday, June 14, 2010

U.S. Flag is donated by Virgil Anderson's family at Good Samaritan Society Hoffman

Below is a video clip from the beginning of the dedication, led by Ed Persons of the Hoffman American Legion.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Grant County disaster drill held on Saturday morning in Hoffman

Below is the LP explosion drill, held in the parking lot between Hoffman Square and the water towers.



















And here's a video clip of the action.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

West Central Area's Kyle Toms and Beau Kashmark compete at the Class A state track and field meet

Here's Beau leaping in the Long Jump on Saturday, June 12 at Hamline University.


Kyle is starting the 3200 meter Run in this video clip at the state meet on Friday, June 11.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Here's Muriel Krusemark's presentation on Hoffman at the Symposium on Small Towns in Morris

Here's the first part...


...and here's the second part.


Stay tuned for more from today's events in Morris.

Symposium on Small Towns is underway at the University of Minnesota-Morris

Muriel Krusemark is one of the speakers at a morning forum at the UMM Science Auditorium.
























University of Minnesota-Morris Chancellor Jacquie Johnson talks about her unique story relating to small towns.



Here is part of Chancellor Johnson's address to the crowd...

"Rural America understands the importance of partnerships. This event today is the result of the willingness of our urban/rural partners to sing that same song with us.

Right here in Morris we have the Green Prairie Alliance, the research triangle. "move over North Carolina"... that triangle.. WCROC and USDA Soils Lab and UMM. A wonderful braintrust for this area.

We are also beginning partnerships with MNSCU. We partner with Minnesota West Technical and Community College on a Biomass Class.

I've spent most of my life as an urban person. My first experience in a small town was Storm Lake, IA.. at Buena Vista. I learned many things about small towns. One thing is that everyone has a small town story. I am amassing my own on multiple levels."

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

State track and field meet schedule for WCA's Toms and Kashmark

At the Class A state track and field meet at Hamline University in St.Paul:

  • On Friday (June 11)...the action for West Central Area includes:
Beau Kashmark performing in the Triple Jump at 3:00pm.
Kyle Toms runing in the 3200 meter Run at 5:25pm.

  • On Saturday (June 12)...Kashmark in both the High Jump and Long Jump, both events beginning at 3:00pm.

Symposium on Small Towns coming to the University of Minnesota-Morris on Thursday - Editor will be blogging all day from the event

Here's a link to see the full schedule for the Symposium on Small Towns at the University of Minnesota-Morris, to be held tomorrow, Thursday, June 10:

http://www.morris.umn.edu/cst/symposium/2010/agenda_symp.php

The event begins at 9:00am, and at 9:30am Hoffman's Economic Development Authority director Muriel Krusemark will be a keynote speaker on a panel of “real people doing real stuff” emphasizing small communities with big success stories.

How cool is that?!?!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Glenwood man injured in lawn mower-motorcycle accident near Kensington on Monday night















According to the State Patrol, Jason L. Davidson was driving a 1998 Harley Davidson cycle on Highway 27 about seven miles east of Hoffman. He was following a 2009 GMC Sierra pickup driven by Reid A. Haberer, 22, of Cyrus. The pickup was pulling a trailer with a lawn tractor on it. The tailgate of the trailer came down and the lawn tractor fell onto the roadway. Davidson’s cycle hit the lawn tractor and both the cycle and rider were thrown into the ditch.

The Water Tower Logo idea in Hoffman is resurrected!













Breaking news in Hoffman - the new water tower just might get a fancy logo after all! Attached is the design created by Jessica Hanson that is scheduled to be painted later this month. Be prepared for lots of fundraisers this summer, in order to pay off the costs. A worthy cause for sure!

The editor will be in Morris on Thursday - the Tribune office in Hoffman will be open for limited hours that day

The editor is attending the Symposium on Small Towns at the University of Minnesota-Morris this week Thursday. Read more about the event in the June 10 issue of the Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

WCA track and field program sends two to the Class A state tournament next week

West Central Area junior trackster Beau Kashmark is headed to the State Class A Track and Field Meet in three events, and Kyle Toms has qualified in one event. The two West Central Area student athletes will participate at Hamline University on Friday, June 11 and Saturday, June 12.

Kashmark won the Section 6A championship in the long jump (20-11.25) and triple jump (42-03.25) with personal records in both events and also took second place in the high jump (6-00.00).

Toms was runner-up in the 3200 meter run (10:21.42).

Two other members of the WCA boys track and field team participated in the section meet. Brian Oachs had his personal best performance in the discus (127-00.00), placing eleventh, and John Olhoft was fifteenth in the 1600 meter run (5:04.87).

In the girls competition, Kylee Fernholz just missed qualifying for state as she finished third in the 1600 meter run (5:39.44). The 4 x 800 meter relay team also just missed qualifying, placing second with a season best time of 10:30.15. Members of the relay team are Abby Peterson, Jen Froemming, Jodee Oelke and Holly Vankempen. Fernholz, Vankempen, Froemming and Tee Rudnitski finished fourth in the 4 x 400 meter relay (4:18.65).

Last day today of the Main Street Galleria's School's out for Summer celebration in Hoffman

The Main Street Galleria hours are 9:30am to 5:00pm today - Saturday, June 5th.

Center For Small Towns at the University of Minnesota-Morris is set to host the

The schedule of events is below, for the Symposium on Small Towns taking place on Thursday, June 10th. I'll be attending the activities and blogging live from UMM.

  • 8:00 a.m.—9:00 a.m.
    Breakfast, Registration and Networking
    Turtle Mountain Café & Oyate Hall, Student Center
  • 9:00 a.m.—9:30 a.m.
    Joint Symposium Welcome
    Center for Small Towns, Director—Bart Finzel
    Minnesota Rural Partners, Director—Jane Leonard
    Poet, UMM English faculty—Athena Kildegaard
    City of Morris, Mayor—Sheldon Giese
    Science Auditorium
  • 9:30 a.m.—10:30 a.m.
    A panel of “real people doing real stuff” emphasizing small communities with big success stories
    Moderator: Dave Engstrom, Minnesota Association of Small Cities
    Panelists: Muriel Krusemark – Hoffman Economic Development Association, Stephanie Ibarra - Madelia Mobile Home Co-op
    Science Auditorium
  • 10:30 a.m.—11:00 a.m. Break
  • 11:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
    Various Locations
  • 12:00 p.m.—1:30 p.m. Lunch - Featured speaker: Colleen Landkamer, MN State Director USDA Rural Development
    UMM Food Service
  • 1:30 p.m.—2:30 p.m. Showcase Fair
    Community Leadership Cities, Success Stories, Community Pride Communities, Rural-Urban Connection examples
    Oyate Hall, Student Center (Mall)
  • 2:30 p.m.—2:45 p.m. Short Break
  • 2:45 p.m.—3:45 p.m. POLICY PANEL—“How Public Policies are Improving Rural Small Town Viability”—Gubernatorial candidates
    Moderator: Kate Smith, Minnesota Public Radio
    Proscenium Theatre, Humanities Fine Arts
  • 3:45 p.m.—4:15 p.m. Closing—review highlights and comment on upcoming activities
    Proscenium Theatre, Humanities Fine Arts
  • 4:30 p.m.—6:00 p.m. Rural-Urban Partnering Council—POST SYMPOSIUM
    Student Center—Study Hall

Friday, June 4, 2010

Upcoming games in the Prairie Rivers Baseball Association youth league

Monday June 7th
Orioles vs. Cubs at 6pm in Ashby - Athletics vs. Diamondbacks at 7:30pm in Ashby

Cardinals vs. White Sox at 6:30pm in Hoffman - Twins vs. Pirates at 6:30pm in Kensington

Tuesday June 8th
Cardinals vs. Pirates at 6:30pm in Barrett - White Sox vs. Twins at 6:30pm in Barrett

Diamondbacks vs. Orioles at 6:30pm in Evansville - Cubs vs. Athletics at 6:30pm in Evansville

Monday June 14th
Orioles vs. Pirates at 6pm in Barrett - Athletics vs. White Sox at 6pm in Barrett

Twins vs. Diamondbacks at 7:30pm in Barrett - Cardinals vs. Cubs at 7:30pm in Barrett

Tuesday, June 15th
White Sox vs. Orioles at 6:30pm in Ashby - Pirates vs. Athletics at 6:30pm in Ashby

Cubs vs. Twins at 6:30pm in Brandon - Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals at 6:30pm in Brandon

Monday, June 21st
Athletics vs. Orioles at 6pm in Hoffman - Cardinals vs. Twins at 7:30pm in Hoffman

Diamondbacks vs. Cubs at 6:30pm in Elbow Lake - White Sox vs. Pirates at 6:30pm in Elbow Lake

Tuesday, June 22nd
Athletics vs. Twins at 6:30pm in Barrett - Orioles vs. Cardinals at 6:30pm in Barrett

Pirates vs. Diamondbacks at 6:30pm in Evansville - Cubs vs. White Sox at 6:30pm in Evansville

Matt Wagner advances to the state golf tournament

In a nutshell...

The WCA girls' golf team finished in 4th place at Section 5A today in Benson. They carded a 425 on the top four scorecards.

Osakis won the girls' title.

The WCA boys' golf team took runner-up honors at the Section 5A tournament, with Matt Wagner advancing to the state tournament individually.

Wagner actually defeated fellow teammate Calvin Anderson in a four-hole playoff, after they finished the two rounds of nine with scores of 84 each.

Ortonville won the boys' title.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Wheaton/Herman-Norcross Warriors' baseball team wins sub-section opener

The coach's report from WHN head coach Tony Thiel:

We beat West Central Area 20-4. We had 4 home runs hit. Riley Wilson, Dylan McCalip, Mason Lampe and Kevin Coffman each hit one. We had 14 hits to WCA 2 hits. We only left two runners on base. Tanner Kirkeide got the win on the mound, Tucker Belgum took the loss. Tanner pitched 3 2/3, Mason Lampe pitched the final 1 1/3. We scored 14 runs in the 4th inning to break the game open.

W/HN now faces #4-seeded Brandon-Evansville in the semi-finals. They meet at 2:00pm at Chizek Field in Morris on Thursday, June 3.

Memorial Day program held at West Central Area high school

Phil Corrigan narrated a Flag-folding ceremony during the Memorial Day program on Monday at the WCA High School auditorium.