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Christmas is a time for Care and Share
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Christmas is a time of giving and what better way to remember those less fortunate at this time of year than by giving a toy, clothing item or a monetary donation to help some child in Houston County have a better Christmas.
Houston County Care & Share is once again accepting donations to help less fortunate families. Unwrapped items can be dropped off at any bank in the county and will be picked up by volunteers to be sorted and bagged to each family’s needs. Any monetary donations will be used to purchase additional items needed and to purchase grocery certificates in each family’s hometown grocery store to help with Christmas dinner.
This is a county wide project. In 2007 we helped 462 children have a brighter Christmas. We also purchased food certificates for 114 elderly and/or disabled people for use at their local grocery store. Charlie Bubbers also refurbishes used trikes for the families.
This project continues to grow each year. With the help of volunteers, we do the purchasing, sorting, bagging and delivering to a location in each town for the families to pick up. Please join us by donating to Houston County Care & Share this holiday season. The deadline for donating is Friday, Dec. 12.
If you have donations to pick up or have any questions about this project, please call Jill Hahn at 507-724-3475 days or 724-3157 evenings.
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Houston County Airport will no longer offer GPS service
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Persons flying into the Houston County Airport, located just south of Caledonia, will have to depend solely on visual controls. As of Nov. 29, 2008, the local airport was forced to cancel its global positioning system (GPS) service it had been offering to incoming and departing air craft.
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Hunting mishap reported Nov. 23
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On Sunday Nov. 23, at 1:31 p.m. the Houston County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a hunting accident. It was reported that the victim, Mark Edward Stanke, 27, of Madison Lake Minn., had been shot in the lower leg.
Spring Grove Fire, Caledonia Fire and Ambulance, and Medlink all responded to the scene in rural Spring Grove. The victim was transported by Medlink helicopter to Gundersen Lutheran hospital with non life threatening injuries.
The investigation of the incident determined that the victim’s father, Gerald Duane Stanke, 56, of Janesville, Minn. fired the shot that hit the victim. All hunters were wearing the required blaze orange clothing and none were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The investigation determined that this was an accidental shooting and there will be no charges filed.
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Speaker at St. Mary’s gets point across about dangers of bullying
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Jim Jelinske, right, made quite an impression on the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at St. Mary’s Catholic School last week during a presentation on the dangers of bullying and harassment. Above, seventh graders Adam Buttell and Lottie Augedahl displayed a mixture of emotions during the presentation. Photos by Charlie Warner
Jim Jelinske had the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students at St. Mary’s Catholic School totally captivated. At times they were laughing and dancing. Other times they were very quiet…somber, some with tears streaming down their young cheeks.
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U.S. Senate race recount goes smoothly in Houston County
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Part of the group that was on hand Nov. 19 in the Houston County Board room during the U.S. Senate recount. Photo by Charlie Warner
“Everything went quite smoothly. We had a wonderful group to work with, and completed the recount in about four hours. That’s pretty much what I had anticipated,” reported Houston County Auditor Char Meiners. Meiners was referring to the state-wide recount that began on Nov. 19. The recount was prompted when Sen. Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken ended up in a virtual tie, with less than 250 votes separating the two.
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Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign
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This year The Salvation Army faces more challenges in large part due to the state of the economy. The Salvation Army is making an extensive effort this holiday season to be a beacon of hope to local families who desperately need a helping hand. Since 1896, The Salvation Army has been sharing the joys of Christmas with SE Minnesota. Last year’s total collected from Caledonia and La Crescent was over $3,100; this year’s goal for the kettles is $4,000. The funds raised during this campaign stay in the community and provide financial assistance to individuals/families during the holiday season and throughout the year. The Salvation Army supports local programs such as the “Little Red Schoolhouse” which helps area schools with needed school supplies and the “League of Mercy” where gift items are brought to the local nursing homes during Christmas and Easter.
The kettle will be located at Quillin’s in Caledonia. Ringing will be Nov. 28 - 29, Dec. 5 - 6, 12 - 13, and 19 - 20 from 4 - 7 p.m. Fridays and 10 - 2 Saturdays.
Volunteers are needed for bell ringing. To sign up for bell ringing and for more information about our local Salvation Army or the services available please call: Kathy Lawson 507-894-2676 or 507-458-5798.
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Landmark overlooking Highways 44 - 76 intersection coming down
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Harley Doering stands in front of all that is left of the century-old barn he milked cows in for several decades. It’s taken a crew from Onalaska a month to dismantle the landmark, which overlooked the intersection of Highways 44 and 76. Photo by Charlie Warner
Folks driving along Highways 44 or 76 on the north side of Caledonia have probably noticed a work in progress for some time. A century-old barn, located on a hill overlooking the intersection of the two state highways has been methodically taken down, piece by piece. As of last Wednesday, all that remained were the huge six by six and eight by eight hardwood beams and rafters that had been fighting Mother Nature and gravity for more than 100 years.
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Benefit drive for cancer victim Anne Fink underway
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 A benefit drive has been organized for former Caledonia resident Anne (Demmer) Fink. Anne, her husband Dr. Jim Fink and their two children recently moved from Caledonia to Green Bay, Wis.
Anne was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, which was recently removed. She is now undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Due to her medical condition, she is no longer working and the donations are to help with expenses of treatment.
The Finks are living with Jim’s mother in Green Bay at this time. Dr. Fink had a chiropractic practice in Caledonia, which he closed earlier this year. Their house is still for sale in Caledonia.
Donation containers have been distributed to businesses in Caledonia. Merchant’s Bank will also be a collection point for people to drop off donations to be put into an account for Anne. For more information about the benefit fund at the bank, persons can call Nancy Schroeder at Merchants Bank.
The Finks’ mailing address is 1064 Morrie Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54304.
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