While I'm at it, publishing blog posts, I can't forget to add this Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross Spartans football season preview

Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross
Football season preview

with contribution from Coach Dave Hofland

The Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross Spartans graduated five seniors from their 6-4 football team of a year ago, but will return eight starters from that squad.

Seniors Alex Erickson (QB/DB), Mac Kampmeier (TE/DE), Justin Holslin (C) and Brandon Staples (DB/WR) will serve as team captains.

Juniors Evan Ellison (DE/G), Zach Gibson (G/NG), Daniel Nelson (LB/RB) and Patrick Backman (LB/FB), and sophomore Chandler Erickson (CB) join Alex Erickson, Kampmeier and Holslin as returning starters.

Senior Aaron Vold (DB/RB), juniors Kelly Engquist (QB/DB), Tanner Kirkiede (TE/DE), Cole Rundquist (G/NG) and Adam Asfeld (C), and sophomores Austin Dierks (TE/DE) and Clay Staples (G/NG) are all expected to contribute at the varsity level this season.

"Our strength this year will be our experience and leadership," stated head coach David Hofland. "We don't have great numbers this fall but the kids we have are kids of great character and have been working extremely hard to get ready for the season. We will have a little bit of size with some speed to go along with it. We could have nice mix. Our weakness will, once again, be our depth. We cannot afford injuries. Some of our younger players are going to have to step up to give us that needed depth."

Neal Hofland and Matt Fragodt will assist Coach Hofland, and Steve Haren will coach at the junior high level.

Wheaton, Brandon/Evansville and Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley are the teams to beat in the Pheasant South Conference, while Wheaton, Hills-Beaver Creek and Edgerton are the top teams in Section 3 of 9-man.

The Herman-Hoffman Tribune Editor's blog has a record number of posts in August

With but a few hours left for me in the month of August, I just noticed that I have over 57 "posts" on this blog during this past month. It's been pure crazy! That's almost two unique blog posts per day in August, when many newspaper editor/reporter blogs barely get one or two updates a month! Starting with the first week of August, when I made the trip south to Farmfest for a governor candidate debate, then two county fairs, updates for the Hoffman Harvest Festival, and finally the Donnelly Threshing Bee.

Then the usual civic and community updates on a weekly basis. I've tried my best to keep readers of the Tribune up to date on what's taking place in our local areas and our region. It's important to have an engaged and informed public, especially during an election season like we are in right now.

Prior to this month, the "busiest" months I've had with this blog were December of 2009 (51 posts), 48 in July of this year, 51 in March of this year, and 49 in October 2009.

I will admit, this blog can be very time consuming when I'm dealing with uploading videos and editing photos. Some of the time this work has come at great sacrifice for family time, which can't be sustained long term. I try to be brief on here and keep the good stuff for my hard copy issues that are published every Wednesday at Quinco Press in Lowry.

At the end of the day, though, a newspaper will not survive - in rural areas or the big cities - without a strong, substantial web presence. Over the next few months, we will be working to make the Herman-Hoffman Tribune more profitable in its internet ventures. I ask that you do whatever you can to help us out, mainly by supporting the businesses who advertise on our website and in our print edition.

Thanks for your interest in the Herman-Hoffman Tribune coverage area!

WCA Knights volleyball drops season opener to Underwood tonight

The West Central Area Knights volleyball team lost its home and season opener tonight in a 3-1 match against visiting Underwood.

The Knights now prepare for a second straight home match, coming this week Thursday when neighboring rival Wheaton/Herman-Norcross visits the high school gymnasium in Barrett.

Area volleyball results:
Underwood 3, West Central Area 1
Marshall Area 3, Alexandria 0
Holdingford 3, Foley 2
BOLD 3, Renville County West 0
Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 3, Benson 0 (a big win for K-M-S against their Swift County neighbors)

Area girls tennis results on Monday this week:
Osakis Triangular
Pierz went 1-1 at the Osakis Triangular, defeating Parkers Prairie 4-3 and falling to Osakis 4-3.

The Highway 55 bridge by Hoffman is open! Detour signs are taken down

Shown is the final work being done on the Highway 55 bridge between Kensington and Hoffman on Monday morning this week.


According to MN-DOT District 4 public affairs spokesperson Dana Hanson, "There will still be a little miscellaneous work going on but the road will be completely open as of August 31."

WCA Knights volleyball opens the 2010 season at home tonight against Underwood

Best of luck to the WCA Knights volleyball team as they open the 2010 season at home tonight against non-conference Underwood. The B/C squad matches begin at 5:00pm at the WCA High School, with the Varsity match to follow at 6:30.

Bring your Knights pride and cheer them to their first win under first-year head coach JaNee Staples!

In other WCA sports notes... the WCA Knights boys Cross Country team placed sixth out of 18 teams at the season-opening meet in Morris on Monday. They were paced by senior Kyle Toms, who won the title for the second year in a row with a time of 17:12 in the 5K race.

Dog poisoned in Hoffman - he recovered but still might not make it

Click on the poster to enlarge for the details.


...What happened to the dog disgusts me. The criminal(s) will be brought to justice!

West Central Area Knights cross country opens the 2010 season today in Morris

Best of luck to the WCA Knights cross country teams, as they open the 2010 season at Pomme de Terre Golf Club in Morris today at 5:30pm.






In the photo above by Tribune sports editor Kris Beuckens, they are warming up before a long run at a practice last week. They have seven seniors who will lead them to a successful season!

Read more on the team in this week's September 2 issue of the Herman-Hoffman Tribune.

The WCA Knights volleyball team opens up their 2010 season tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 31) with a home match against Underwood. B/C squad matches begin at 5:00pm, with the varsity match to follow at 6:30. More on that will follow later.