Caledonia Argus

The Year in Review

Posted: 1/16/02

Week of May 2...........Caledonia High School Industrial Arts teacher Ken Eglinton retires. The Sorenson Brothers Inc. construction firm was awarded bids for site grading and utilities for the new middle/high school. Lindsey Lampert and Josh Conway chosen CHS prom Queen and King. Brian Krambeer appointed president/CEO of Tri-County Electric. Margaret Goetzinger receives Valiant Woman award. Deaths: George Loken, 86, Houston; Robert Teff, 54, Arizona; William Schuldt, 88, Caledonia; Virginia Baumann, formerly of Caledonia.

Week of May 9............Megan Buttell wrote an essay on why her Mom, Julie, is special, which won the Chamber of Commerceís Motherís Day essay contest. County zoning ordinance amended. The intermediate division of CHSís future problem solving team won first place at state and travel to Athens, Georgia for international competition in June. Father Harold Gavin celebrates 50th Jubilee. Scott Polus breaks own record in 200 dash. A farmer at heart, Joe Hammell, lawyer in Caledonia, is featured in Beef tab about his Freeburg Ridge Angus farm. Deaths: Ruby Brinker, 88, Eitzen; Florence Palubicki, 82, La Crescent; Oscar Overhaug, 97, Spring Grove; Arnold Schroeder, 86, Caledonia.

May 16.................Public library will close during remodeling. Groundbreaking held for new school. Gary Lauden will retire this year after teaching for 31 years at CHS. Leslee Lapham and Nathan Renk chosen for Girls and Boys State; alternates are Robyn Lampert and Brad Nelson. Ellsworth Ulven chosen Syttende Mai Parade Marshal. The 2001 Syttende Mai Queen is Kendra Otterness, daughter of Craig Otterness and Kim Otterness. Scott Polus breaks 100 dash record. Dave Meyer received a plaque for being chosen ìHouston Countyís Outstanding Posse Member of the Year.î Deaths: Wilma Jennings, 85, Caledonia; Francis Driscoll, Brownsville; James Sheehan, 84, Hokah; Gertie Buxengard, 100, Spring Grove; Anna Schutz, 99, formerly of Caledonia.

Week of May 23..........District terminates six teachers: John Dykstra science; Megan Jones, Spanish; Cori Ronnenberg, physical education; Emily Sebo, 5th grade; Candace Wait, English and Diane Wilson, junior high music. Gayle Grippen is retiring at the end of the year after 33 years of teaching third graders. Mike Tornstrom and Karla Eppler, start new business, Coulee First Aid, LLC, in Caledonia teaching others lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid. Deaths: Myrtle Odegaarden, 79, Houston; Lulu Engene, 99, Spring Grove.

Week of May 30...........Virginia Schroeder Hughes chosen 2001 Founders Days Parade Marshal. Houston County may continue taking its garbage to La Crosse County until 2023 if it agrees to extend its contract with them. The faculty and staff of Caledonia Ind. District #299 selected their candidate for 2001 Teacher of the Year as Mrs. Gayle Grippen. Four Seasons Community Center plans unveiled. Kasey Meiners, Mitchell Lange, Kevin Schuldt, Kevan Meiners, Al Nutt and Jake Girard named All-Conference wrestlers. Deaths: John Maier, 85, Caledonia; Elizabeth Ellingson, 85, Spring Grove; Alice Klug, 50, Spring Grove; Robert Floyd, 62, Caledonia.

Week of June 6............Wrestling, gymnastics rooms to be included in new school. Founders Days begins Friday and continues through Sunday. SNB donates $100,000 to Four Seasons Center. C/SG girls golf advance to state competition. Amanda King, Kati Tweeten, Bethany Bergsgaard and Trisha Ingvalson were chosen softball All-Conference for Spring Grove/Caledonia. Dusty Lange, CD Doering, Chad Wiebke, Joe Ingvalson , Justin Conway, Pete Schiltz and Nathan Renk chosen for baseball All-Conference. Deaths: Henry (Skip) Kurth, 58, Durand, WI; Kenneth Husman, 83, Houston; Stafford Louks, 49, Houston; Dominic Felten, 88, Caledonia; William Ross, 54, Hokah.

Week of June 13..........In our Dairy Tab Glen Schroeder tells about his work as a nearly twenty year board member of the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council, which makes sure check-off dollars work hard for the dairy farmers. Alyssa Burg crowned Miss Caledonia Founders Days and Kelsey Reinke chosen Little Miss. A bear is spotted near the Ferndale Golf course in Rushford. Rita Noel named Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. Caledonia Boxing team places 4th in state. C/SG girls golf places 7th in state. Deaths: Alfred Storlie, 76, Spring Grove; Evelyn Von Arx, 84, Caledonia.

Week of June 20...........Margaret Stadtler, John Gaspard, Maureen and Ardell Lien and Marlys and Harold Thompson gardens will be on Caledonia Greenís Garden Tour. St. Maryís teachers, Peggy Burg and Courtney Kirchner received the Mathilda Becker awards. Deaths: Rita Frisch, 46, formerly of Caledonia; Manda Benson, 88, Houston; Leroy Mechtel, 87, Caledonia.

Week of June 27..............July 1 is the deadline for residents to have mail delivered to the new E-911 addresses. Friendship Wagon Train is making its annual trip to Camp Winnebago. ECM Publishers and New York Times look forward to a business partnership that will see The New York Times publication roll off the presses of ECM Publishers at its Princeton, MN, plant. Mark Coffield elected Chamber president. The Lutheran Home celebrates 10th anniversary. Deaths: Delores Koel, 85, Caledonia; Earl Liudahl, 81, Spring Grove; Erma Lager, 69, Caledonia; Clara Onsgard, 88, Spring Grove.

Week of July 4.............ABC Inc. (Ability Building Center) replaced Networks and began serving Houston Countyís DT&H clients July 2. Rev. Anthony Fink named pastor at United Methodist. Caryl Ryan receives Valiant Woman award. Deaths: Theodore Kuecker, 99, Caledonia; Luella Meyer, 65, Caledonia; Delrose Ellenz, 89, Caledonia; Orena Moen, 84, Caledonia; Frieda (Wunnecka) Roeber, 93, formerly of Crooked Creek-Freeburg area.

Week of July 11............A wet spring delayed planting for many farmers in Houston, but now itís dry. City shows interest in buying elementary school. Task Force chooses color of brick for outside of new school; two colors will be used: a lighter colored tan brick and a darker colored grey brick. Damn Yankees playing at Ye Olde Gray Barn in Spring Grove July 19-22. First Eurasian-Collared Doves in state nest here. Stone Church of Houston marks 135th anniversary. The Caledonia 15 and under volleyball team captured gold medals after winning first place in the Star of the North games. Death: Emma Pieper, 88, formerly of Caledonia.

Top of Page