2023 Year in Review: December

DECEMBER

Dec. 1, Minnesotans (and many others in northern states were treated to a double-feature Northern Lights show. At about 6-6:30 a.m. that Friday, a strong solar storm hit the earth and created a powerful aurora before dawn. Later that evening, about 12 hours later to be exact, a lesser show of the Northern Lights appeared; it did not last as long as the morning show.

The Eden Valley-Watkins High School cafeteria was again the site of Santa Day, this year on Saturday, Dec. 2, in the cafeteria. Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand for photos, and volunteers handed out free fruit and snacks to those present.

St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kimball held their annual Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 2. Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City also held their Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 2.

The Forest City Stockade held their 27th annual Pioneer Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 2. Mild weather made for a pleasant outing, although a little snow might have made it look more festive. A winter encampment was again featured in 2023, and pioneer food was served up all day (cream-can stew, hand-cranked ice cream, fry bread, lefse, and old-fashioned root beer).

The St. Augusta Lions held a S.A.N.T.A. event Dec. 2: Saint Augusta Night Together.

Maine Prairie Studio held an open house holiday sale Dec. 8 in their newly remodelled building on Main Street in Kimball (formerly the Tri-County News building, and before that it was the hardware store). The downtown Kimball location is an expansion of their operations. They offer ceramics classes and workshops, and the downtown location provides retail space to feature their finished ceramic pieces.

Dec. 9 was Santa Day in Watkins, with the annual play at 1 p.m., followed by a visit from Santa. This year’s play was “Frosty,” the first year without founder and playwright Jerry Oster who had died in October. This was the 34th year of the famous Cardboard Art Productions plays. The Watkins Chamber and Watkins Lions together made it a fun day for children of all ages.

Santa was busy again this year. He visited South Haven City Hall for their Santa Day on Dec. 10.

The Eden Valley Area Library again sponsored Letters to Santa this year.

The Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad Holiday Train passed through Kimball, with stops in Annandale and Eden Valley, on Wednesday night, Dec. 13. This was the 25th anniversary of the Holiday Train. The Eden Valley Lions and EVC4P sponsored a gathering at the Eden Valley Community Center before the train’s arrival; they had soup, cookies, and cider or cocoa, and live music all evening.

Hank Meyer and Jordyn Theis were selected to represent Kimball Area High School as ExCEL award winners.

KAHS held its Sno Daze the week of Dec. 18-21. William Serbus and Paige Merten were crowned Sno Daze King and Queen as a culmination of the week on Thursday (there was no school Friday).

The Dec. 21 issue of the Tri-County News again included an insert section with Christmas drawings done by students at the EV-W and Kimball elementary schools. Winners were announced in January.

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile was in Watkins the afternoon of Dec. 26 for a blood drive.

For the first time ever, the Tri-County News did not print a paper for the Dec. 29 issue. The timing was right to close our office for the week between Christmas and New Year so we could spend time with our families. And nothing was missed, as the first paper of January was filled with everything that happened since our Christmas Dec. 21 issue.

The year 2023 ended with two local tragedies. A fatal traffic accident Dec. 22 on Highway 15 just north of Kimball claimed the life of Elton Hatcher, 80 of Watkins. And on Dec. 28, Bryan Demarais, 35, was arrested for the shooting death of his wife Kayla, 29, in rural Dassel, with their two young children in the house; the husband is still in jail while Kayla’s family are left to pick up the pieces.

Departures

Donald “Don” Geislinger, 85, of Cottage Grove; Dec. 6, 2023

Maxine (Johnson) Doran, 84, of Kimball; Dec. 8, 2023

Glendale Ramsey, 90, of rural Kimball; Dec. 12, 2023

Irene (Schaefer) Manuel, 90, formerly of Watkins; Dec. 14, 2023

Franklin Renner, 83, formerly of Dassel and Kingston; Dec. 16, 2023

Werner Brinkman, 82, of South Haven; Dec. 27, 2023

Donald Donabauer, 61, of Fair Haven; Dec. 30, 2023

Here’s to a great 2024 ahead of us, with plenty of memorable moments and highlights to feature a year from now!

Compiled by George Matua and Jean Matua.