2023 Year in Review: September

SEPTEMBER

The Watkins Sportsmen’s Club held their 76th annual picnic Sept. 3. The day’s events included a Youth Trap Shoot contest.

Students returned to elementary schools: Aug. 30 in Kimball, and Sept. 5 in Eden Valley.

Kimball Schools hired new staff for the 2023-24 school year: Amanda Olson (high school science), Josh Olson (high school science), Abby Lorentz (second grade), Jordyn Broich (second grade), and Isabelle Miller (band).

Eden Valley Elementary hired new staff for the school year: Taylor Walz (grade 1), Cooper Hansen (grade 3), Makayla Schutz (grade 6), Megan Beckius (grade 2), Kimberlie Bulau (grade 2), and Michelle Stark (special ed).

Scouts BSA was pleased to announce it formed an all-girls troop for grades 6-12 in Kimball. Enrollment is open to all female youth ages 11-17 in the area. The troop is sponsored by the Kimball Lions and meets at 6 p.m. the second Sunday of the month at Lake Union Church in rural South Haven. The youth-run troop focuses on leadership, outdoor activities, hands-on learning, and much more. There were activities at the Kimball Rod and Gun Club, Stearns Scout Camp, and other locations around the area. Youth learn to shoot bow and arrows, .22 rifles, build model rockets, tower climbing, fishing, STEM programs, and hundreds of other activities depending on their interests.

A life-size bronze statue was created of Watkins native Alayna Ertl by Brodin Studios with help from Weststar Curb & Concrete, Little Falls Granite Works, and the Watkins Lions. The memorial was placed on a pedestal in McCarthy Park in Watkins, and the Lions planted flowers around it.

The Church of St. Anthony in Watkins held their annual Fall Festival on Sept. 10. River Canyon Band played.

On Thursday, Sept. 14 We Work for Health announced a STEM Talent Pipeline educational grant of $2,000 for the Eden Valley-Watkins High School to support their robotics team. State Representative Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) presented the grant that day at an event alongside school officials and students. We Work for Health worked with Eden Valley-Watkins High School to bring this vital funding to local students. The high school started its robotics program in 2016, and in 2023 it included 15 students from grades 9 through 12.

Tetiana Chibova and her daughters Sofia and Olena arrived in Kimball. They fled Kherson, Ukraine, at the beginning of the Russian invasion there, and their journey took them through Poland and Norway before arriving in Minnesota. The Chibova family is now one of about 30+ families in our area, sponsored and assisted by local residents.

The Kimball High School Class of 1952 met Sept. 14 for a reunion at Triple R in Kimball with seven class members attending.

The KHS Classes of 1956 and 1957 held a joint reunion Sept. 15 at Triple R in Kimball.

There was a state-wide drought, the weekly drought monitor map showed in mid-September. Our area was in a moderate/severe drought like 69% of the state.

This year’s Assumption Fest was held Sept. 17 at Assumption Catholic Church in Eden Valley. Timbre Junction played Bluegrass, and there were Wagyu burgers and brats on the grill.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile came to St. Anthony Church Social Hall in Watkins on Sept. 19, and to St. Anne’s Church in Kimball on Sept. 21.

The Kimball Wrestling Boosters bean bag tournament was held Sept. 22 at the Kimball Legion Club.

The KHS Class of 1959 met for a reunion Sept. 22 at Triple R in Kimball with 11 class members attending.

Kimball’s clean-up day was held Sept. 23 in the A.M. Maus & Son parking lot.

Brooklyn Glenz recorded her 1,000th career dig. Glenz was the first player in EV-W High School history to do so. She accomplished this during their game against Kimball Saturday, Sept. 23.

Concordia Lutheran Church held a pork chop dinner at Fair Haven Park on Sept. 23.

The Church of Our Lady in Manannah held their grilled pork chop supper and raffle on Sept. 24 at the church.

Eden Valley-Watkins Homecoming coronation took place Sunday evening, Sept. 24 along with their annual Variety Show. Ashlyn Schreifels and Lane Harff were crowned 2023 Homecoming Queen and King to reign over the week’s activities.

Kimball Homecoming coronation kicked off their Homecoming week Sunday afternoon, Sept. 24. Andy Becker and Brookelyn Kuechle were crowned King and Queen, and they participated in activities throughout the week.

The Kimball High School Class of 1960 met for their 63rd reunion Sept. 28 at Triple R in Kimball, with 14 class members attending.

Kimball Area Community Education hosted its first annual Fall Festival Friday, Sept. 29, at Kimball Elementary School. Families with children ages birth to 5th grade were invited to attend. This fundraiser event included carnival games, prizes, art projects, music, and food. All proceeds from the event will go towards the future birth-to-5th-grade playground at the elementary school.

Departures

Paula (Brixius) Searle, 68, of Ogden, Utah; Sept. 1, 2023

David “Dave” Mackereth, 58, formerly of Kimball; Sept. 8, 2023

Sharon (Ruben) Smith, 87, formerly of Cokato; Sept. 25, 2023

Gordon “Gordy” Hokkala, 73, North Port, Fla.; Sept. 30, 2023

Celebrations

Monica Messer Douglas 85th birthday celebration, Sept. 24