2023 Year in Review: July

With town ball in full swing for the season, the Kimball Express and Watkins Clippers met up on July 2 in Kimball. In an exciting game with twists and turns toward the end, the Clippers won the day, 7-5.

This summer, a small group of baseball old-timers started the Wood Bat Batting Practice Club. They got together weekly at the Kimball ball field. 

Cindy DeMorett was celebrated with cake and ice cream July 3 upon her retirement from Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins. She was one of the original employees of what is now Hilltop Health Care Center. She had worked that first month out of Watkins City Hall, before the first resident arrived. 

The resurfacing of Highway 15 was slated to begin July 10. Highway 15 between Kimball and Dassel was closed for resurfacing and culvert replacement for most of the summer. As of Sept. 15, driving lanes were being paved with asphalt. Construction was completed on-schedule on the $11.5 million MnDOT project, and the road re-opened Oct. 6. 

Col. Daniel D. Kersten, U.S. Army-Retired, wrote a summary of his training and service. The 1995 KAHS alumnus served 28 years in the U.S. Army, and retired from active service in the military in 2023. He grew up in Fair Haven. He is now a civilian endodontist in private practice in Colorado.

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association was awarded a $19 million grant as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect Program. This funding, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enable Meeker Cooperative to deploy a fiber-to-the-premise network, connecting hundreds of people, several businesses and farms, and an educational facility in Kandiyohi, Meeker, and Stearns counties in Minnesota. 

The Holy Cross Parish Party was held July 8 in Marty. 

Don Schiefelbein was one of five Minnesota witnesses who testified and answered questions from members of the U.S. Ways & Means Committee Monday, July 10, on the Schiefelbein Farm near Kimball. Fifteen members of the Committee were bussed to the Schiefelbein Farm – complete with an escort by State Patrol and county sheriff deputies – for another in their series of field hearings, this one on how various factors adversely affect both agriculture and mining of critical minerals.

Meeker County 4-H’er Henry Lemke of the Valley Victors had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Henry was one of 29 outstanding youth who were selected to serve as a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador, a more than 50-year tradition of Minnesota 4-H. Lemke submitted a written application, participated in an interview, and gave a presentation before being selected. State Ambassadors are the youth leaders and spokespeople for Minnesota 4-H. Being selected as a State Ambassador is one of the highest honors that a 4-H member can achieve. 

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile was at St. Anthony Parish Center in Watkins on July 12.

The Kimball Babe Ruth baseball squad secured the 2023 District Championship on July 15, and stamped their ticket to State. 

Ostmark Lutheran Church held their annual homemade ice cream social on July 16 in rural Watkins. 

Hundreds of people attended the funeral service held for Leo Wirth on Friday, July 21, in the gymnasium named after him, the Leo J. Wirth Gymnasium. Wirth came to Kimball in 1964 as a teacher, and he quickly wove himself into the fabric of the community by serving many roles in many organizations: school, sports, church, chamber, amateur baseball, and various businesses.

Kimball’s high school summer softball team went 7-1 in the 2023 Minnesota Softball State Championships July 22-23 to earn the Tier 4 title in North Mankato. Kimball had walk-off hits in three games July 23 to fight their way back to the Championship game and beat the St. Charles Gamblers twice for first-place honors. 

Kimball considered an ordinance to allow backyard chickens within city limits, an ordinance that later passed.

The Watkins Swimming Pool opened for the summer season, but they were unable to offer swimming lessons because of a staff shortage.

Eden Valley approved a new Comprehensive Plan for 2023-09. The city also voted to not adopt state building codes (Watkins also has not, but Kimball has).

St. Wendelin Parish in Luxemburg held their annual Parish Festival on July 30. 

Departures

Gail Winings, 82, of Watkins; July 2, 2023

Linda “Lin” (Gabrelcik) Johnson, 72, of Cannon Falls; July 9, 2023

Leo Wirth, 82, of Kimball; July 14, 2023

Leonella “Noney” (Thielmann) Plantenberg, 94, of Eden Valley; July 19, 2023

Gale Pope, 74, of Kimball; July 22, 2023

Michael “Mike” Rosenow, 78, of Kimball; July 29, 2023

Dennis Rossman, 70, of Clearwater; July 29, 2023

Denise Humphrey, 71, of Minneapolis; July 31, 2023

Celebrations

Pastor David Milz retirement, July 9, 2023

Deloras Reid 90th birthday celebration, July 16

Duane and Renee (Marschel) Berscheid 50th anniversary celebration, July 29