JUNE
The Watkins Swimming Pool opened for the season on June 1.
The June 2 issue of the Tri-County News featured the Eden Valley Chamber business showcase of the American Legion Post 381.
Lynn Dingmann retired from Citizens Bank Minnesota in Watkins after 38 years of service, as of June 3. She was Assistant Vice President at the time. An open house was held June 2 in her honor.
The 10th Steps for EV-W Special Olympics 5K was held June 4 at EV-W Elementary.
Joleen Schoenecker was promoted to Branch Manager at Citizens Bank Minnesota, Watkins Branch.
The June 9 issue of the Tri-County News featured the Eden Valley Chamber business showcase on the Eden Valley Area Library.
The 2022 Tri-County Resource Guide was mailed out to TCN subscribers on June 9. Additional copies were made available at local businesses.
The Eden Valley-Watkins/Kimball girls’ track team became 2022 Class A State Champions after the June 9-10 state tournament at St. Michael-Albertville. The boys broke school records in the 4×1 and 4×2 relays, and received all-state honors.
The Kimball/Eden Valley–Watkins girls’ golf team were named CMC Champions headed to the State Tournament June 14-15 in Becker.
The city of Watkins hired Jared Erickson as public works assistant.
Kimball’s Legion Baseball team traveled to Morris June 18-19 for the Morris Legion’s Annual Wood Bat Tournament. The team brought home the championship bat. Shuggs Hanan and Cody Leither competed in the Home Run Derby; Hanan was crowned champion with 11 home runs in two minutes.
Assumption Church and St. Anthony Church hosted a Corpus Christi procession through Eden Valley June 19 to celebrate the Feast of the Body of Christ.
Thirteen Kimball students attended Stearns County Sheriff’s Youth Safety Camp June 21 at Warner Lake County Park in Clearwater.
Melody Staten won a MN DNR Lifetime Angling License from the Eden Valley Sportsmen Club. All EV-W sixth-graders were able to enter a short video explaining why fishing is important to them, and Staten’s video was selected.
Valley Daze 2022 was held June 23-26. Retiring police chief Ernie Junker was selected this year’s grand marshal. Glory Days won first place for its float in the parade. Music in the Park with “Harper’s Chord” kicked everything off Thursday evening. There was the Saturday parade, car and tractor shows, games and activities for all ages, and food and drink everywhere. “Stifle Band of Brothers” performed Saturday night.
Fair Haven 96th Old Settlers Day was June 25 after a couple of years off because of road construction and then COVID-19. The day included a parade, Kimball Area Historical Society display, tractor pulling, and of course lots of food and drink.
June 30 was Eden Valley police chief Ernie Junker’s last day. He announced his retirement back in February. A retirement party was held July 16 at the Eden Valley Community Center.
Evan Borscheid began his role as new chief of police in Eden Valley. Borscheid had been a Meeker County Sheriff’s Deputy for the past five years, and a part-time officer in Eden Valley. He brought with him trained police dog Chase.
June 30 was also Joyce Kuechle’s final day at Ehlinger & Associates (American Family Insurance) in Kimball. Kuechle retired as Agency Manager after 25 years there. An open house was held in her honor June 28 at the office. Sue Maus was promoted to fill Kuechle’s position, and there were other internal promotions as well.
A & H Donnay Trucking and Sons LLC in Watkins announced that it has expanded with the purchase of Davis Specialty Transportation of Minneapolis, adding 11 trucks and eight employees to their Watkins operations.
Departures:
June 6, Francis “Fran” Meierhofer, 86, of Kimball.
June 8, Patricia “Pat” (Athmann) Kruzel, 91, of Eden Valley.
June 11, Orville Meemken, 85, of Eden Valley.
June 17, Carol (Stelton) Fuchs, 84, of Watkins.
June 18, Cindy (Maurer) Wills, 59, of Fair Haven.
June 20, Kevin Stanz, 50, of Kimball.
June 28, Ethel Mary (Lytikainen) Prouty, 96, of Hillsboro, Ore.
June 30, Jean (Wandersee) McDonnell, 89, of Buffalo.