Kateri Mancini was named Director of Social Concerns for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud.
At a March 2 sentencing hearing, Zachary Anderson pled guilty to numerous charges related to the kidnapping and death of 5-year-old Alayna Ertl. The plea avoided a trial that would be agonizing for the Ertl family. For the first time in court, Anderson recounted the events of that dreadful day that started early in the morning Aug. 20, 2016; he told the court what he had done to Alayna, and how she died. Alayna’s mom Kayla read a victim statement on behalf of the family. The judge sentenced Anderson to life in prison with no chance of parole or release.
Around this time, Alayna’s family announced their founcation: Sharing Alayna’s Love. Its purpose is to help children and families in need, with events like Alayna’s birthday/Halloween party each year at St. Anthony Church in Watkins. The foundation’s website is alaynaertl.com, and they also have a Facebook page. What a wonderful, loving tribute to Alayna.
EV-W boys (basketball) topped Kimball March 2 by a score of 67-46 ending the Eagles’ season 23-2.
The FIRST Robotics regional tournament was held March 2-3 in Grand Forks. The Eden Valley-Watkins team and the “Mystery Machine” won first place. This qualified them to go to the World Championship April 25-28 in Detroit.
Litchfield author Rosie Hartwig-Benson was the featured speaker at Eden Valley Area Library March 3. Her book “Petals of Distinction” is her story of faith and endurance as she persevered painful health challenges.
The Knights of Columbus held a breakfast at St. Anne’s Church in Kimball March 4. Proceeds went to the Kimball Area Food Shelf and to St. Anne’s Religious Education Program.
Kindergarten Roundup at EV-W was held March 5 at both elementary schools.
As of its March 6 meeting, the South Haven city council had another vacancy as Karleen Baker resigned after moving away.
Spring Garden Dreams was held March 8 at Eden Valley Community Center. Presentations included Master Gardener Donna Christen, Gene Haag on honey bees, Steve and Jamie Ries of Fresh on 55, and the Seed Library.
St. Anthony Church in Watkins hosted a fish fry March 9.
The Darwin Rod & Gun Club held their 60th annual all-you-can-eat Smelt Fry March 9.
Generations Ballroom hosted “March Mayhem,” a FLWA Pro Wrestling event March 10.
St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church in St. Augusta hosted an Authentic German Dinner March 10 at the Parish Center.
The Meeker County 4H Share the Fun and Performing Arts Day was March 11 at the Family Services Center in Litchfield.
The Kimball city council reviewed plans March 13 for MnDOT work on Highway 15 through downtown Kimball. Sidewalks will be replaced along Main Street and a concrete boulevard added; the result will be narrowing the highway by 8 feet (with a goal of slowing traffic through town). MnDOT will pay for the basic work to be done, while anything extra (like replacing water mains under the street, special light poles, or tinted concrete for the boulevards) would be the responsibility of the city.
Township elections were held around Minnesota March 13. Bob Hennen was elected Supervisor, and Stacey Thielen elected Clerk, in Eden Lake Township. Mark Schindele was elected Supervisor, and Leslie Rose elected Clerk, in Fair Haven Township. Vic Geislinger was re-elected Supervisor, and Bob Geislinger re-elected Clerk, in Forest Prairie Township. Jeron Thielen was elected Supervisor, and Lee Bautch re-elected Clerk, in Luxemburg Township. Dennis Loewen was re-elected Supervisor in Maine Prairie Township. Dan Schumacher was elected Supervisor as was Mike Lux; Deb McCann was elected Clerk, in Manannah Township.
Members of the Watkins Ambulance and Watkins Rescue received Lifesaving Awards in a ceremony hosted by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office March 13. They saved the life of Tom Geislinger of Watkins after he suffered a heart attack, in October 2017.
March 15 Lutheran Social Services ended the senior dining site in Eden Valley and replaced it with home-delivered meals through the Watkins dining site. One reason for the change is low attendance. Call (320) 453-4407 or (866) 974-0289 to sign up for home-delivered meals; the menus are listed in the Tri-County News each week under Senior Dining Site menus.
Margaret Arnold and Tammy Konz testified March 15 at the State Capitol in support of Rep. Jeff Howe’s library construction funding program. Kimball hopes to receive a matching grant that would help to construct a new library building near the high school.
The Kingston Legion and Lions held their fish fry March 16.
Pearl Lake Lodge hosted the 11th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade March 17.
Hawkins Nyholm of Kimball, age 9, won the 2018 MAA/NFAA State Indoor archery championship March 17, in Becker.
The EV-W Knowledge Bowl team won subregionals March 19 in Sartell. They will compete in the state tournament April 12-13 in Brainerd.
Brian Kuechle was awarded the Helen Keller Sight Award at the March 19 awards night of the Kimball Lions Club.
On March 21 Kimball Area High School was filled with police, EMTs and firemen, all first-responders training to respond to a potential school shooting. The goal in responding to such an incident is to “first stop the killing, then stop the dying.” No rescue attempts will be made until any shooter(s) have been stopped. No one but emergency personnel will be allowed near the school. Students will be evacuated off-site when it is safe to do so, and that is where parents will be directed for reunification. The other rule that applies in any shooting incident, whether in the workplace or in a school, is to “run, hide, fight” in that order. Run away if you can; get out even if others do not follow. Hide if you can’t get away; turn off lights and cell phones, be totally quiet. And fight when you must: throw anything you can at their head. A similar training drill was conducted at Eden Valley-Watkins High School a few days later.
The Watkins Lions hosted the 8th annual Easter Egg Hunt March 24 indoors at the Watkins Elementary School because of weather.
St. Wendelin Parish in Luxemburg sponsored a chicken Alfredo supper March 24.
March 25 was the 41st annual Kimball Area Firemen’s breakfast at the fire hall. A record 1,489 came out for the breakfast (150 more than the previous record).
Three Webelos became Boy Scouts in a Troop 357 ceremony March 27 in Kimball: Ethan Erpelding, Jonny Serbus, and Nathan Just.
The KAHS FFA Food Science team placed second in regions earlier in the year, and they took second at state competition March 27 at Jennie-O Turkey. The team will be honored at the state FFA convention April 24.
The South Haven Easter Egg Hunt was held March 31.
In his fourth year of teaching at Eden Valley-Watkins, Tyler Warren was named Agriculture Education Association Young Ag Teacher of the Year.
Departures:
March 6, Marvin Marohn, 87, of Annandale
March 7, Stanley “Stan” Stay, 74, of Annandale
March 13, Marlys (Dahnke) Dillon, 86, of Minneapolis (formerly of Fairhaven)
March 18, Loretta (Vannurden) Olson, 91, of New Hope
March 19, Wallace Hanson, 59, of Watkins
March 21, David Myllykangas, 58, of South Haven
March 26, Gary Fabel, 78, of Brooklyn Park (former Kimball principal)
March 27, Delwyn “Red” Colwill, 59, of South Haven
March 30, James Myllykangas, 86, of Litchfield (formerly of Kingston)
Arrivals:
March 23, Lillian Christine Petty, to Travis and Chrissy Petty of Viborg, S.D.
Transitions:
Carol Lundeen celebrated her 80th birthday with an open house March 23.