Posted: 6/14/05
Founders Days starts on Thursday
Caledoniaís 2005 Founders Days celebration is here.
It starts on Thursday evening with the Little Miss and Miss Caledonia coronation at 7 p.m. at Caledonia Middle/High School.
Friday evening has a Motocross at the fairgrounds at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $8. The band Tumbleweed will play there at 8 p.m.
Saturday has most of the action. Hereís a rundownî
ï Knights of Columbus breakfast at St. Maryís Auditorium from 8 a.m. - noon;
ï Seventh annual car, truck, tractor, and motorcycle show at Ellingson Motors from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
ï Croquet tournament at the high school, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.;
ï Horseshoe tournament, fairgrounds, noon. It includes A&B class singles and mixed A&B doubles. First and second place trophies will be awarded in each. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call Tony Grohman at 724-5340.
ï Euchre tournament, Vetís Club, 2 p.m.;
ï Jail tours, 1-4 p.m. The last tour starts at 3:30 p.m. People must preregister by calling 725-3379.
ï Vehicle Fair, 4-5:30 p.m., Ellingson Motors;
ï Battle of the Bands, Sonny and Bevís, 3-8 p.m.;
ï Kids games, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Gazebo Park;
ï Bed races, 6:30 p.m.
ï Parade, 8 p.m. including a Gold Wing motorcycle parade at the end.
Many queen candidates
Miss Caledonia candidates are Safiyyah Abdul-Alim, Nathalie Besse, Justine Kruckow, Brittney Meyer, Michelle Meyer, Hannah Rohrer, Amelia Schaller, and Brenda Welscher. Heidi Welscher is the reigning queen. Attendants are Allison Wagner and Jennifer Schulze.
Little Miss Caledonia candidates are Shelby Bedard, Samantha Colleran, Alison Goergen, Kendra Heim, Cassaundra Kirchner, Kristina Kirchner, Michaela Mullen, Ella Pieper, Casey Scanlan, Meggan Scanlan, Jadi Traff, Mickayla Traff, and Abagail Wruck. Last yearís Little Miss was Hannah Klinski; attendants were Daysha Mashak and Mariah McCabe.
Experience smoke-filled house
The Caledonia Fire Department is having the La Crosse Fire Department bring in a small-scale house during Founders Days so that people can experience what it is like to be in a smoke-filled house.
It will be set up by Ellingson Motors and open from 4-5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Firemen fill the house, which is on a trailer, with non-toxic, simulated smoke. It shows the importance of staying low in case of a real fire, Caledonia Fire Chief Chuck Gavin said on June 10.
There is also a phone set up outside the house so that people can practice calling 9-1-1 to report a fire.
ìItís good training,î Gavin said.
Heidi says Miss Caledonia reign was a lot of work, but worth it
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
As a little girl, Heidi Welscher liked to look at the pictures of past Founders Day queens that hang in City Hall. Way back then, she decided that she would want to try for the crown if she ever got the chance.
Today, Heidiís picture hangs with the rest of the Founders Days royalty. She has the distinction of being the city sesquicentennial queen and reigned over activities at the cityís sesquicentennial celebration last year.
Heidi said she was ìin aweî when her name was called as the new queen. It was emotional for her not only because of her win, but because her grandfather, Maynard Welscher, was honored as volunteer of the year at the same event.
She recalled that she had to answer her question for the judges right after her grandpa accepted his honor. She doesnít remember what she said, but it must have been good enough to impress the judges.
The past year has held many new experiences for Heidi and her attendants, Jennifer Schulze and Allison Wagner. Theyíve been in about 20 parades, volunteered at the Bloodmobile, read to kids at the Family Fair, made appearances at the Founders Days parade and play, worked at the Ken Schmitz benefit and attended the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
At the Winter Carnival, queens from all over the state and even Wisconsin participated in a wide range of events, including a ball at the Landmark Center.
A member of the #1 girls golf team in the state, Heidi has run into some of the queens from other cities on the golf course. The opportunity to meet a lot of people will be good preparation for college, Heidi feels. She will attend St. Maryís University in Winona this fall and study management or marketing.
Heidi says that the best part of her reign has been getting to know Jennifer and Allison better and spending time with them.
To anyone considering becoming a candidate, Heidi would say that ìitís a lot of work, but itís worth it. Itís good giving back to the community.î
Heidi said she appreciates all the hard work the Founders Days committee puts into its events, and for the privilege of being Miss Caledonia/Founders Days. She also appreciates her parents, Jan and Sandy Welscher, who gave up many weekends to take the girls to the parades.
ìIt was a fun experience,î she said.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com