Warm, sunny days have been in short supply this spring, and early spring flowers have been reluctant to bloom. This grouping of yellow and violet crocuses were found on the east side of Bob and Jan Klug’s home in Caledonia.
                            Photo by Charlie Warner 

The Caledonia Area Elementary School gymnasium was a flurry of excitement last Tuesday when the grand finale lyceum for the “I Spy Reading Program” was held. Students in the various classrooms competed against each other to see who could spend the most time reading books. For every 960 minutes (16 hours) a classroom spent reading, a magnifying glass was taped in the hallway by the media center. Mrs. Pettit’s fifth grade class earned the most magnifying glasses with 42, which meant they spent 672 hours reading. Mr. Koepke’s class came in second with 448 hours. If the entire student body earned 100 magnifying glasses, Elementary Principal Connie Hesse had to dress up as a detective and participated in several “activities.” If the student body earned 250 magnifying glasses (4,000 hours of reading) Superintendent Mike Moriarty would impersonate Sherlock Holmes and participate as well. In the left photo the two administrators were all decked out. Above, Mrs. Hesse hands an item to Ashly Ideker during another detective game.   Photos by Charlie Warner

Sophie Burns, daughter of Patrick and Julie Burns and granddaughter of Bob and Marla Burns, stretched out and enjoyed some reading last week at the Caledonia Public Library.                             Photo by Greg Schieber

If the Caledonia Public Library were in the business of turning a profit, its number of clients would be increasing, sales would be setting quarterly records and stock doubling in value, an unusual trend in the current business sector. Of course, the tax payer funded, public service the library provides at no additional cost to the patron is not meant to fill the city coffers, but the point remains. The library is busy, and it keeps getting busier.

Caledonia Mayor Bob Burns read an official proclamation honoring the Warrior girls basketball team on their undefeated season and Minnesota Class AA State Championship last Friday morning in front of the student body. The school was presented a plaque for the trophy case from the city. The five Warrior seniors accepted the plaque. They are from left, Megan King, Cassie Gran, Theresa Ellenz, Laquita Becker and Libby Augedahl. Councilmembers attending the presentation included Tom Murphy, Peggy Perry and Randi Vick.                        Photo by Tom Murphy 

Caledonia Police Chief Randy Shefelibine, at left, and State Trooper Kelley McGraw handed out suckers to students and staff leaving the high school parking lot last week, as they reminded everyone to buckle up. The suckers had a note taped to them that either read “Only a DUM DUM forgets a seatbelt,” or “Don’t be a DUM DUM, wear your seatbelt.” The local police department has partnered with the State Patrol to bring more awareness to seatbelt use. “This is a very dangerous time of the year, with both high school proms and then graduations coming up. We feel this is a very good time to remind students and school staff, as well as the general public to always buckle up,” McGraw explained. McGraw and Caledonia Police officers spent several days reminding motorists to buckle up. According to the State Trooper, the first day about 50 percent of the motorists leaving the school parking lot were buckled up. By day two, nearly 100 percent of them had their seatbelts on.                      Photo by Charlie Warner

By Greg Schieber
Special for the Argus

If the Caledonia Public Library were in the business of turning a profit, its number of clients would be increasing, sales would be setting quarterly records and stock doubling in value, an unusual trend in the current business sector. Of course, the tax payer funded, public service the library provides at no additional cost to the patron is not meant to fill the city coffers, but the point remains. The library is busy, and it keeps getting busier.

The economic slump haunting our nation is being held responsible for increased attendance at public libraries as people brainstorm ways to trim the fat off their household budget.

What brings all of these new patrons to the library? Self-help, finance, job seeking, and do-it-yourself books are all popular according to libraryian Marla Burns. “People are also using the library for updating resumes and job hunting."

For the entire story on the upswing in business at the local library, see the April 8 issue of The Caledonia Argus.