By SARAH LIDEEN Staff Writer The Gunderson family isn’t new to hosting exchange students. In December 2011, they brought in their third student, Johanna Verholen from Northwest Germany. “I grew up with exchange students, so it’s pretty natural for me,” said Tina Gunderson. “It’s a pretty big commitment.” Verholen arrived in America in August and Read more »
By SARAH LIDEEN, Staff Writer Steve and Nancy Potter of Long Prairie have always had an interest in weather. Now, the couple has a weather station in their own backyard. Four and a half years ago, Nancy saw that the National Weather Service (NWS) was looking for cooperative observers in the Long Prairie area. After Read more »
By LIZ VERLEY Staff Writer Wedding plans can be as simple or as complicated as a couple want to make them. If they want to elope, have just a few guests or go all out, every couple should have the wedding that they want. One Sauk Centre couple that is in the midst of planning Read more »
By SARAH LIDEEN, Staff Writer, sarah.lideen@ecm-inc.com “We did not look for it, it found us,” said Marla Waseka, owner of The Olive Branch Retreat in Grey Eagle. Once occupied by nuns as a means to retreat during the year, eventually the upkeep and maintenance became too much and they decided to sell. Sheila Burski, owner of The Read more »
By SARAH LIDEEN, Staff Writer, sarah.lideen@ecm-inc.com For a typical principal, their daily routine might involve disciplining students and attending meetings, but for Holy Family School Principal Lynn Peterson in Sauk Centre, being a principal is hands-on and getting involved with students. “The job is a combination of paperwork, working with students and just being available,” Read more »
By SARAH LIDEEN, Staff Writer, sarah.lideen@ecm-inc.com Growing up, St. Joseph resident Jean (Wendt) Marthaler had a growing interest in her family history. “I was always interested in it as a young girl,” said Marthaler, who is originally from Terrace, Minn. By the time she got to high school, she was writing her great aunts and uncles asking Read more »
By LIZ VERLEY, Staff Writer Born in North Minneapolis, author Paul Streitz has overcome many obstacles in his life and has chosen to share his experience in his book “Blue Collar Buddha.” Streitz no longer lives in Minneapolis but calls Sauk Centre home. His book is the result of his journaling. Streitz said, “I was Read more »
By Liz Verley, Staff Writer Located in Brooten, MaxBat, a spin off of Glacial Wood Products, sends its product worldwide. Baseball bats are the only product MaxBat produces, and they are all made from wood. Paul Johnson, a co-owner along with his father Richard, said, “We produce over 400 different models out of three species Read more »
By LIZ VERLEY, Staff Writer Kathy Berscheit was not happy with the quality of clothing for kids, so she decided to make her own children’s. Other people began to ask her to make clothes for their children. That is how she began her career as a seamstress. For several years she worked at Stearns Manufacturing Read more »
By LIZ VERLEY, Staff Writer Carolyn Oswald has been blessed with many talents. From cooking to quilting and decorating for the Christmas holidays, her talents are appreciated by family, friends and acquaintances. Oswald said, “I used to take off a month before the holidays to do my decorating and baking, now I only take off Read more »
