2023 Year in Review: February

FEBRUARY

The ribbon cutting for the Eden Valley Motel took place on Wednesday, Feb. 1, celebrating new owner Shelbie Cox. The motel was built in 2012 and is located on Hwy. 55 in Eden Valley. It offers 12 rooms with 24/7 self check-in online or at the lobby kiosk.

2023 EV-W Sno Daze Princess Anna Kramer and Prince Anthony Fink were crowned Monday afternoon, Feb. 6.

KAHS exchange student Sila Özbayrak was concerned about her family back in Turkey after a strong earthquake hit her homeland on Feb. 6. While her own family was okay, she and other Turkish exchange students started a GoFundMe.com account to help victims in Turkey.

Kimball Vex IQ Robotics earned two awards at the Thief River Falls competition Saturday, Feb. 11.

Boundary Waters Advisory Committee honored Cheyanne Nyholm with the 2022 Junior Trail Advocate Award.

Holly Hansen has been named Activities Director and Dean of Students from among a pool of 18 candidates. Hansen is currently the ADSIS (Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services) administrator for the District, and EV-W/K cross-country head coach. She also has been an elementary teacher at EV-W for 16 years, and holds a master’s degree from St. Mary’s Univ.

The Eden Valley American Legion Auxiliary selected Anna Kramer as the student to represent the community at Girls State this summer. Kiera Stommes was chosen as an alternate.

EV-W junior Megan Blonigen of Eden Valley competed Saturday, Feb. 25, in the state-wide competition and she was named Minnesota American Legion Oratorical Contest Champion. Semi-finals were held at the Osseo American Legion Post in the morning, and she was selected as one of the four finalists. The finalists competed at the Anoka American Legion Post in the afternoon.

Kimball and Eden-Valley/Watkins grapplers competed at the 2023 MSHSL Section 4A Individual Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Norwood-Young America High School. 160# Logan Kuseske (K), 2nd place. 106# Connor Carlson (K), 2nd place. 132# Mark Schiefelbein (K), 1st place. 160# Isaac Ortiz (EV-W), 1st place. 145# Blake Brutger (K), 2nd place. 170# Caden Guggisberg (K), 2nd place. 182# Hank Meyer (K), 1st place. 195# Sonnie DeHeer (EV-W), 2nd place.

KAHS musicians earned eight Superior ratings and four Excellent ratings at the Feb. 27 Section Solo and Ensemble competition at EV-W.

Departures

Leon Kieke, 89, of St. Cloud; Feb. 1, 2023

Joseph “Joe” Nistler Sr., 90, of Watkins; Feb. 5, 2023

Michele (Hendrickson) Swart, 55, of Apache Junction, Ariz.; Feb. 11, 2023

Rodney Walters, 80, of Buffalo; Feb. 15, 2023

Victoria “Vickie” McCollum, 94, of Oceanside, Calif.; Feb. 21, 2023

Carole (Getting) Klaers, 81, of Watkins; Feb. 27, 2023

Gordon Lyrek, 72, of Watkins; Feb. 27, 2023

B. Darlene (Boyster) Green, 96, formerly of Kimball; Feb. 28, 2023

Celebrations

Karen Mozena 80th birthday celebration, Feb. 25