The Caledonia Chopper Club, made up of a group of eight Caledonia Area High School students led by industrial education instructor Scott Martin, is one of five high school teams across the United States chosen to compete in the 2010 Donnie Smith Chopper Class Challenge. Judging for the motorcycle-building challenge will take place March 27 and 28 at the St. Paul River Centre, St. Paul, Minn. The eight-member Caledonia team will compete against teams from Clearfield, Pa., Eden, N.Y., New Richmond, Wis., and Mitchell, S.D. Last year’s winner from New Brunswick, Canada, is unable to attend due to winter travel restrictions. Club members shown above with their rebuilt 1978 Honda Hawk 400 are from left, Ricky Pitts, Rebecca Sabo, Ben Schoh, Bill Ranzenberger and Elliot Breeser. Club members not shown, Brandon Becker, Lyndon Becker and Albert Kilger.            Photo by Charlie Warner

While it’s not quite Orange County Choppers or the hit TV reality show American Chopper starring Paul Teutul, Sr. and his two sons Paul, Jr. and Mike, a group of motorcycle builders from Caledonia are basking in the limelight just the same.

Caledonia Area High School is observing Snow Days this week. The week was highlighted with the Snow Days Coronation. In the photo above, members of the junior class were chosen by the student body to reign over the festivities. They are Queen Rachel Bauer and King Doug Welscher. At right, Amelia Lidstrom performed during the "talent show" portion of the coronation. For more photos of Snow Week, see the Feb. 17 issue of the Caledonia Argus. Photos by Charlie Warner

Editor’s note: With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we thought we’d interview a Caledonia couple, Del and Lorraine Cochran, who have enjoyed nearly 70 years of marital bliss.

“I was born near the Lake of the Ozarks down in Missouri, between the little towns of Tightwad and Racket,” Del Cochran said. In case you don’t believe him, just check a map.

Del’s wife Lorraine, grew up in Caledonia, where her father worked for the highway department. Out towards the edge of town in the late 30’s, young men lived and worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1939, at the age of 17, Del moved into the barracks there.

Austin Dundee of the Caledonia Middle School band concentrated on his music during the middle school band and choir concert which was held Feb. 1. “Music of the Tropics” was presented by the sixth grade choir, the seventh and eighth grade choir, the sixth grade band and the seventh and eighth grade band under the direction of Eliott Kranz and Carrie Thompson. For more photos of the concert see page 16.
                       Photo by Zach Thomas