2023 Year in Review: January

JANUARY

Janski Farms of St. Augusta was recognized as the Stearns County SWCD’s Outstanding Conservationist at the 86th Annual Convention of the Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD) in December.

Knights of Columbus donated winter coats for Kimball Elementary students, sponsored in part with a grant from the Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust.

2023 Kimball Snow Daze King Chris Erickson and Queen Ellie Kuechle were crowned Jan. 6, during Snow Daze week. Both represented NHS.

On Wednesday, Jan. 11, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) was unanimously appointed by her colleagues to the House Ways & Means Committee which has jurisdiction over tax, trade, workforce, and health policies, among others.

Lake Union Covenant Church held a fundraiser for their Uganda mission, Friday Jan. 13

Ellia Kirschman wins District Spelling Bee at KAHS with the word “clarified.”

EV-W District Spelling Bee first place winner was Zach Heinen, in second place was Eddie Kramer, and in third place was Easton Rausch.

Long-time EV-W bus driver Roger Lang drove his bus route for the last time Tuesday, Jan. 17. Lang retired after driving bus for 53 years.

The Central Lakes Snowmobile Club held its first annual Poker Run on Jan. 21 and Feb. 18 to raise money for grooming trails.

The Eden Valley Sportsmen’s Club hosted their ice fishing contest Saturday, Jan. 21.

EV-W’s Isaac Ortiz got his 75th win during the Royalton double dual Jan. 27.

Members of Kimball’s middle school 739D-Kimball Cubs robotics squad celebrated their first-place honors at the Kimball Super Mega Tournament at Kimball Area High School on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The Kimball Robotics Vex IQ students had competed well at the Pact ES/MS Holiday Hoedown event on Thursday, Dec 29. They then hosted the Super Mega Robotics Tournament, the tournament took place at Saturday, Jan. 28. Kimball high school robotics students together earned second place at the Super Mega Robotics Tournament on Jan. 28.

The Kimball One-Act cast earned Runner-Up honors at the 2023 South Sub-Section 5A competition in Paynesville Saturday, Jan. 28. This was the first time since 2015 that Kimball has stamped its ticket to the One-Act Play 5A Section Final.

Fun Size Pet Spa opened on Main Street in Kimball in late January.

EV-W students Katelyn Utecht and Myles Dziengel were named the 2023 District 20 MSHSL AAA winners.

Tiny works of art by local artists were on display at the Kimball Public Library through Jan. 30.

Tri-County News and its staff won a record-breaking (for them) 12 awards at the January 2023 Minnesota Newspaper Association convention.

Departures

Ronald Daniels, 54, of Watkins; Jan. 5, 2023

Earl Kadechka, 89, formerly of South Haven; Jan. 8, 2023

Janet “Jan” (Blume) Maahs, 87; Jan. 8, 2023.

Randy Fabel, 63, of Cold Spring; Jan. 14, 2023

Rodney “Rod” Magnuson, 84, formerly of Litchfield; Jan. 16, 2023

Marie (Oldenberg) Lee Santa, 88, of Watkins; Jan. 19, 2023

Ruth (Killmer) Brower, 97, of Monticello; Jan. 21, 2023

Scott Lindemann, 71, of -Kimball; Jan. 22, 2023

Rose Renner, 75, of Watkins; Jan. 24, 2023

Donald “Donnie” Christofferson, 69, of Kimball; Jan. 25, 2023