Memorial Day ceremonies being planned throughout the county Fare For All veteran calls for volunteers City will proceed with phase one of Willow Creek improvements Buffalo officers stand guard at state memorial in St. Paul during National Police Week County Board receives good news about wRight Choice Crash car helping promote seat belt usage BACK ISSUES April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26 May 3 May 10 May 17 Howard Lake man dies due to Highway 12 crash Buffalo Days 2013 taking place from June 9-16 Best and the brightest (Press Feature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day ceremonies being planned throughout the county

     Memorial Day ceremonies are planned in communities across Wright County on Monday, May 27.

     In Buffalo, the Memorial Day program starts at 8:45 a.m. with a little parade and then posting the colors in front of the American Legion Club.

     The guest speaker will be Wright County Attorney Tom Kelly.  The Buffalo High School band will provide music during the ceremony.

     Traditionally, the ceremony also includes a roll call of deceased veterans, the placement of flags on crosses and a rifle salute.

     The ceremony is usually followed by a gathering inside the Legion with coffee and doughnuts.

     In other communities:

 

ALBERTVILLE-ST. MICHAEL-HANOVER-GREENFIELD

     St. Michael American Legion Post 567 has scheduled Memorial Day services in Albertville, St. Michael, Hanover, and Greenfield as follows: 8 a.m., St. Albert’s Parish in Albertville; 9 a.m., St. Albert’s Cemetery in Albertville; 9:35 a.m., St. Michael South Cemetery; 10:15 a.m., St. Paul’s Cemetery in Hanover; and 10:45 a.m., Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Greenfield.

     These are tentative times and could vary 5 or 10 minutes either way.

     Everyone is invited the come and take part in the Memorial Day observances.

     A brunch will be served at the Salem Lutheran Church following the services in the Greenfield cemetery.

 

ANNANDALE

     Annandale’s Memorial Day activities this year will include the traditional parade, rifle volleys, music, and speech on Monday, May 27, reports the Annandale Advocate.

     The parade, led by the Veterans Honor Guard, begins 10 a.m. at the Annandale Middle School.  The procession will follow its usual route west on Chestnut St. and north on Main to Annandale Municipal Park for a brief ceremony at Pleasant Lake, where the Annandale Girl Scouts will place flowers on the dock.  In addition, the Honor Guard will fire a rifle salute, and “Taps” will be played.

     The parade will return to Park St. and proceed east to Woodlawn Cemetery and the American Legion memorial, where the Annandale Community Band will play a few selections.  Annandale Veterans Honor Guard leader Bob Frappier will give a speech, and area residents are reminded to bring old flags to the ceremony for collection by the Boy Scouts, who will properly retire them.

     The morning also includes the 12th annual Boy Scout Troop 354 pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Annandale Lions Club from 8 a.m. to noon in the municipal park pavilion.  Veterans, soldiers on active duty and preschoolers will eat for free.

     Earlier in the weekend, honor guard members will place American flags on the graves of veterans at Woodlawn and most of the other area cemeteries.

 

BUFFALO

     In Buffalo, the Memorial Day program starts at 8:45 a.m. with a little parade and then posting the colors in front of the American Legion Club.

     The guest speaker will be Wright County Attorney Tom Kelly.  The Buffalo High School band will provide music during the ceremony.

 

COKATO

     The Memorial Day schedule in Cokato begins at 7:30 a.m. with the Cokato Legion Post 209 rifle salute at the Cokato Finnish Cemetery, the Herald Journal reports.

     The Raising of Colors takes place at 8 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park.

     The annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10:15 a.m. from Cokato Elementary School’s south side and travel north on Broadway Ave., ending at Cokato Elementary, with a Memorial Day program in the auditorium at 10:45 a.m.

     The guest speaker is Rev. Danville Swanson, retired pastor of First Baptist Church in Cokato where he served for 22 years.

     The Litchfield Area Male Chorus will perform during the observance.

     The Cokato Museum & Historical Society will host an annual Memorial Day Open House on Monday, May 27, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  Stop by the museum for refreshments before, during and after the Cokato Legion and Auxiliary parade and program.

     The Cokato Finnish-American Historical Society will conduct an annual spring event on Saturday, May 25 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Temperance Corner.  Paul Raisanen will be the honored veteran.  A noon historical program is plan-ned.  A bake and craft sale starts at 10 a.m.  All historical buildings will be open with displays.  This historical site is located at the junction of Co. Rds. 3 and 100, 3 miles north of Cokato.

 

DELANO

     Lining up for a parade will begin 10:15 a.m. at the Delano American Legion Club, and the parade will start at 10:30 a.m.  A brief stop on the bridge will be followed by a march to the city park.

     The guest speaker is Retired Sergeant First Class Mike Mills.

     Following the ceremony in the park, a dedication of a new veterans’ memorial is taking place at the Delano Legion.  Everyone is invited to lunch in the Legion.

 

HOWARD LAKE

     Members of American Legion Post 145 will assemble at the St. James Luth-eran Church parking lot at 9 a.m. and then march to the city cemetery, where the program will begin at 9:15 a.m., reports the Herald Journal.

     American Legion Post 145 Commander Darrin Blanchette will give a welcome, followed by the raising of the flag.

     The guest speaker will be Cmdr. Robert Koehler.

     A student address will be given by Jordan Jeseritz and Jacob Peterson.

The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Band under the direction of Tricia Johnson will play several musical selections.  Loren Zander and Dorothy Mitchell will hang the memorial wreaths, followed by the roll call of deceased veterans by HLWW High School students: Gabe Hausladen, Cole Leukuma, Heather Leukuma, Liam Eberhard, and Rachel Thomas.  The Post 145 Honor Guard will conduct a rifle salute to the deceased.  “Taps” will conclude the ceremony.

     Refreshments will follow at the Howard Lake American Legion.

 

MAPLE LAKE

     Marching units are meeting 9:30 a.m. at the Maple Lake American Legion Club for a 10 a.m. parade start, reports the Maple Lake Messenger.

     A procession will conclude at the memorial monument in the city park.  The guest speaker is State Senator Bruce Anderson.

 

MONTICELLO

     A gathering at St. Henry’s Cemetery is planned at 9 a.m., followed by a 9:20 a.m. ceremony at Hillside Cemetery and the tossing of a wreath on the river in Ellison Park at about 9:40 a.m.

     A 10 a.m. parade begins at Pinewood Elementary School and will follow Third St., Maple St. and Fourth St. to the Monticello American Legion Club.

     An 11 a.m. ceremony is planned at Riverside Cemetery, and the guest speaker will be Bill Johnson of Maple Grove, the American Legion 10th District Adjutant.

 

MONTROSE

     The Memorial Day ceremonies in Montrose begin with a short parade from the Old Stock Building (300 Zephyr Ave.), following along for two blocks and ending at the new VFW Post Home at the east end entrance of Montrose right off Highway 12.  A program begins at 10:30 a.m.

     The parade line-up is at 9:45 a.m.  In case of rain, the program will be moved to the Montrose Community Center.

     There will be refreshments following the program.  This event is sponsored by Wright County VFW #1901 and Ladies Auxiliary.

     The guest speaker is Lt. Col. Andrew Swartzer, son of Robert and Mary Lynn Swartzer of Montrose and a 1993 graduate of Delano High School.  Lt. Col. Swartzer received his bachelor’s degree and was commissioned through Auburn University’s (Alabama) Air Force ROTC program in 1998.  He holds master’s degrees from Central Michigan University and Troy University.  He is a career space and missile officer with operational assignments in the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System at Minot AFB, N.D. and the Global Positioning System (GPS) at Schriever AFB, Colo.  Additional assignments include Vandenberg AFB, Calif., Maxwell AFB, Ala., and Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Va.  Lt. Col. Swartzer is currently assigned as the Executive Officer to the Director, Joint Exercises and Training, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.

 

ROCKFORD

     The Memorial Day parade and events in Rockford start with a 10 a.m. parade (with a 9:30 a.m. parade lineup in front of the Middle School).

     The parade route follows: Ash St. to Walnut St. to Main St. to Bridge St. to Mechanic St. to Cedar St. to Maple St. to Elmwood Cemetery.  Parade members stop at the Crow River Bridge for a Navy Memorial Program and then continue to Elmwood Cemetery for a memorial service at about 10:20 a.m.

     No bicycles are allowed in the cemetery in respect for the honored dead.

     All are invited to a pork chop dinner in Riverside Park (8220 Elm St.) and the Stork House (8131 Bridge St.) for a pie and ice cream social (10 a.m.-3 p.m.).

 

WAVERLY

     Charles Claessens Legion Post 305 and Auxiliary will observe Memorial Day with services at 10:30 a.m. in Railroad Park in Waverly.  All veterans are invited to march in a parade, which will assemble in front of the Village Hall at 10 a.m.

     The keynote speaker will be Father Kenneth O’Hotto from St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  The 2012 Girls and Boys’ state representatives will recite “In Flanders Fields” and “We Shall Keep the Faith.”  The Veteran’s Role Call will take place with the decoration of crosses, followed by the Salute to the Dead, Artillery Salute and “Taps.”

     The unit and post would like to encourage everyone to attend the service or one in your community to pay tribute to the dead of all wars.

 

 

Fare For All veteran calls for volunteers

Mary Zahratka

 

By Ed DuBois

     For over 20 years, Mary Zahratka enjoyed her “social Saturdays” as she organized Fare For All distribution events in Buffalo.

     Known as Mary Z to the many people who worked with her and met her at the Fare For All events, she retired from her Wright County Human Services career in 2008, but even though she was hampered by poor health, she continued helping with Fare For All up until a month ago.

     “The only Saturday I missed was my husband’s funeral,” Mary said.

     Her husband passed away in 1993.

     Volunteers are now needed to help fill the void left by Mary Z.  If you think you would like to lend a hand, give Barb Collins a call at 763-682-4864.

     Mary said the Fare For All program has taken place at three different sites in the 20-plus years she was involved.  It moved from the city public works building just off Lake Blvd. to Functional Industries, and during the past few years the once a month distributions have taken place at Zion Lutheran Church.

     Fare For All offers fresh food the whole family can enjoy at a low cost.  The next distribution is taking place this Saturday, May 25 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church on Highway 25 S. in Buffalo.

     Volunteer drivers pick up the food at a food co-op in New Hope.  The food is sorted into bags, and volunteers help carry bags for those with disabilities and elderly participants.

     Mary invented a very useful bag, which is a combination of a brown paper bag and two plastic bags stapled together.  The “Z Bag” never fails.

     A native of New Prague, she joked that she got married to get away from the farm and milking.  Mary and her husband, John, were married in 1952.  After he served in the Army, he had jobs in meat cutting and construction.  A job for John brought the couple to Wright County in the 1960s, and Mary began a 40-year career with Human Services, initially serving as a provider of homemaker services.  Other jobs follow-ed, including money manager and installer of medical alerts.

     One day Jeanne Fobbe told the office about a great new program called Fare For All.  Mary immediately stepped up to get involved.

     “For a long time, I brought my grandkids along,” she recalled.

     A daughter and a son are still involved as drivers.

     Mary compared Fare For All to Christmas.

     “You know you are getting food, but you don’t know what,” she said.

     The assortment of food depends on what the food co-op has available.  Discovering what’s in the bags is part of the fun.

     Now 77 years old, Mary Z lives in Annandale.  Until a month ago, she was still showing up faithfully on her “social Saturdays.”  She hopes others will now help keep the program going.

     If you would like to lend a hand, call Barb at 763-682-4864.

  

 

City will proceed with phase one of Willow Creek improvements

By Samantha Lefebvre

     Upon completion of the Willow Creek Watershed Drainage Improvements Feasibility Report, the Buffalo City Council unanimously voted last Monday, May 20 on moving forward with the proposed first phase of the enhancement project.

     The Willow Creek Watershed, located in the vicinity of County Road 134 and Hwy 55 by Menards and the Buffalo Airport, has been prone to flooding during heavy rainfalls.  There is currently an overflow channel fully lined with rocks north of Menards.  According to Brad DeWolf, city engineer, during rainfall events larger than a 50-year probability (approximately 5.3 inches in 24 hours) this channel reaches its ultimate capacity and causes water to flood the surrounding area.

     Through the feasibility findings, DeWolf proposed that the city replace the rock-lined channel by fully lining it with concrete and making it slightly deeper, which will increase the capacity of the channel.

     This improvement and others, such as lowering culverts in the area, will increase the flow downstream into Fredrick’s Creek wetland, an area obtained by the City of Buffalo in 2012, and Mary Lake.  These phase one improvements would reduce the flood stage at the airport by 9.6 inches and reduce the flow volume to downtown Buffalo Lake by 16 percent.

     “These are very dramatic improvements to the watershed,” said DeWolf.

     “There are a lot of eyes on this.  People have expectations and people want to see things get done,” said Councilman Steve Downer. “This is a good project and I think it is going to help downtown and the lake and the airport.”

     DeWolf said he would like to have this first phase completed by the end of this construction season.  The cost of the project is estimated at $435,000, which the city intends to come from the storm sewer utility fund.

     Phase two, which would possibly occur at a later time, would reduce an additional seven percent flow to Buffalo Lake and reduce total peak water elevation at the airport by 14.4 inches.  It would also improve water quality by removing sediment and nutrients from a large concrete-lined holding pond.  This phase would also help lower the water levels at the rodeo grounds.

     “I have struggled with this, struggled a lot with the cost.  As important as the airport is, you can’t look at it as just as important to the airport.  When I look at the 16 percent and the 9.6 inches to the airport and the benefit to the rodeo grounds, I become more comfortable with it,” said Mayor Brad Nauman.  “If we stop at phase one, we haven’t gone the full step.  Phase two, we improve water quality and the rodeo grounds more.  No one wants to be back here discussing this five years from now.  I encourage everyone to work together on this.  I have that confidence in our engineers.  I can support this and I will support this.  It is a benefit to the airport and the City of Buffalo.”

     In conjunction with the approval of phase one and how to move forward and pay for the project, the Council also called for the sale of refunding the city’s outstanding General Obligation Refunding Bonds for interest cost savings and for restructuring purposes.  The city plans to restructure the current Capital Anticipation Bond, which would save the city approximately $3.5 to 4 million in interest costs over the course of the current bond structure.

     “This is the most opportune time for us to do this,” said City Administrator Merton Auger.

     The call for the sale will be considered at the June 17 city council meeting.

 

Bid awarded for 2013 street maintenance

     The city council awarded a $903,614.47 bid to MidMinnesota Hot Mix, Inc. of Annandale, Minn. to complete sections A and B of the 2013 street maintenance project, which includes pavement maintenance on multiple streets throughout the City of Buffalo.

     The maintenance operation will include reclaiming or milling the existing pavement and then overlaying the street with a new asphalt pavement layer.  The city received three bids, all of which were lower than what the engineer estimated, so they added a mill and overlay project at Centennial Drive for an additional $60,000 and still came in more than $64,000 under budget.  De-Wolf said it was the next street on the list to do anyway.  Section C was dropped from the project be-cause it was recommended by city staff they not go forward with it.

 

CUP granted to taproom

     The council approved a Conditional Use Permit brought forth by the Planning Commission for Andy Hayes and First Street Property Management.  The CUP would be for the proposed tap room that would be located in the mall area adjacent to the Travel Gallery in downtown Buffalo.

     Applicant Andy Hayes clarified that he would meet the stipulations brought forth by the Planning Commission, which included the intended time of deliveries not be during peak traffic hours.  Councilman Downer added that since it is a liquor establishment that they add a review to the permit.  Council members agreed and added a yearly review to the permit.

     The council also adopted an ordinance that allows only two tap brewer licenses in the city limits.  The ordinance also limits the off-sale of malt liquor to be sold in 64-ounce growlers and not exceed 500 barrels per year.  The annual fee for an off-sale brewer license is $250.

     Councilman Paul Olson said Hayes is projected to open this fall but only on Fridays and Saturdays.  The taproom will not be serving food at this time but will offer four staple beers, British ales and two seasonal brews.

 

 

Buffalo officers stand guard at state memorial in St. Paul during National Police Week

Several members of the Buffalo Police Department stood guard at the Minnesota Police Memorial.  This is Buffalo Police Officer John Lees.  (Photos courtesy of Pat Kaulfuss, Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association (LEMA).)

 

     Standing guard at the Minnesota Police Memorial on the eve of Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Day has become standard practice for members of the Buffalo Police Department, and this year, three Buffalo officers carried on the tradition.

     Established by President Kennedy to honor fallen officers, National Police Week surrounds May 15, a day that is officially recognized as Law Enforcement Memorial Day each year.  More than 21,000 peace officers have lost their lives in the United States while serving their communities, and 270 of those deaths involve officers from the State of Minnesota.

     As in years past, Buffalo officers once again had the fortune of being the first group to stand guard at the memorial.  Officers began by drawing one of 270 names of Minnesota’s fallen officers from a basket.  After standing guard at the memorial, the name drawn is announced by the officer just before he or she rings the bell three times, comes to attention and salutes in memoriam.  For Buffalo’s newest police officer, Jerad Zachman, it was his rookie year at the Memorial, and out of 270 names, he drew that of Cold Spring Police Officer Thomas Decker.

     “I was in shock.  I could hardly believe that I drew his name,” said Officer Zachman.

     Tragic deaths such as the murder of Officer Decker serve as a solemn reminder of the dangers that our nation’s peacekeepers face each and every day.

     The officers of the Buffalo Police Department wish to express their great honor and respect for those officers who have served, and who have sacrificed everything in the interests of others.

     Everyone is asked to say a prayer for the members of the law enforcement community and for their continued safety, and take a moment to thank them for all they do.    

 

County Board receives good news about wRight Choice

By Ed DuBois

     Good news was received by the Wright County Board last Tuesday, May 21 about the wRight Choice Pro-gram, which is a unique alternative to suspension at area high schools.

     Over the past two and a half years, wRight Choice has been offered in the Wright County Government Center and has seen continual success and growth.  The program now involves eight schools: Buffalo, Big Lake, Delano, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Maple Lake, Monticello, Rockford, and St. Michael-Albertville.

     Buffalo High School Principal Mark Mischke said a cooperative restorative justice arrangement like this “doesn’t happen anywhere else.”

     BHS Assistant Principal Kris Thompson said the uniqueness of wRight Choice has attracted attention statewide, and she pointed out Wright County previously developed other unique programs, Safe Schools and MEADA (Methamphetamine Education and Drug Awareness), which were also recognized statewide and beyond.

     The wRight Choice Pro-gram won an innovation award, and the Minnesota Department of Education requested a wRight Choice training.  A presentation to the State Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) led to a two-year grant award of $126,000 for wRight Choice.

     In the past, suspended students would go home and play video games, the County Board was told.  Now if they are approved for wRight Choice, they can go to the courthouse and keep up with their school work under the supervision of a licensed teacher.

     The program goes beyond school work.  Students mentor those who are new to the program, and they also get involved with community service.  For example, they work a backpack project that provides food for students in need (those qualifying for free and reduced lunches).

     A student in a video shown to the County Board said wRight Choice helps kids get on the right path.

     Thompson talked about a True Thought Curriculum, which helps program participants think about how they interact with others and helps them realize they can control their own thoughts and choices.

     Commissioner Charlie Borrell commented that the program appears to be a fast track to maturity.

     Thompson said the program helps participants step back and see the world as a whole as they learn to put aside an “us against them” attitude.

     The County Board was thanked for supporting the program.

     Board Chair Pat Sawatzke asked what will happen after the two-year grant money is gone, and Mike MacMillan, the county’s court services director, said it is hoped the participating schools will be able to offset the loss of the funds.

     The grant will allow a paraprofessional to join the licensed teacher at the program site.  The program is designed for ten students, but with just one person supervising, any more than 5 or 6 students creates some uneasiness.

     Meanwhile, the program has grown in effectiveness, and the number of repeat participants has been coming down.

     Participants can stay in the program up to 45 days, but most stays are much shorter.  The daily enrollment has been around 4-5 students, and roughly 160 students took part in the program last year, MacMillan said.

     In other business:

 

DITCH 10

     The Board discussed engineering work on Ditch 10, which is located in the area south of Howard Lake.  The Board could possibly act next Tuesday on bid specifications on ditch repair work.

 

MISC.

     In other actions, the Board:

     * reappointed Stephen Michel to the Personnel Board of Appeals;

     * approved two property tax abatements involving the correction of clerical errors;

     * awarded a micro-surfacing highway contract to Astech Corp. with a bid amount of $226,567;

     * approved one more week for a review of proposals regarding a 911 upgrade and maintenance contract;

     * accepted a recommendation to hire a consultant to help with the process of updating Sheriff’s Office records management and a cad system in the communications center;

     * approved attendance at a June 13 Association of Minnesota Counties District 5 meeting in Little Falls; and

     * approved claims amounting to $111,275 from 205 vendors and involving 369 transactions.

 

 

Crash car helping promote seat belt usage

     A crash car is on display this week in front of the Wright County Government Center to help tell about the importance of buckling up your seat belt.  A sign on the trailer states: “In the middle of a sweeping curve, this vehicle hit a patch of frost on a Wright County road, causing the car to slide sideways into the ditch and crash into a utility pole.  The driver survived because she was wearing her seat belt.”  The display resulted from an agreement between Safe Communities and the Wright County Board.

 

Howard Lake man dies due to Highway 12 crash

     A head-on crash on High-way 12 at 12th Ave. in Howard Lake resulted in the death of a 66-year-old Howard Lake resident last Tuesday, May 21, the State Patrol reports.

     A 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Keith R. Hardel, 66, of Howard Lake was eastbound on Highway 12 when the vehicle veered into westbound traffic and collided head-on with a 2008 Jeep Liberty driven by Karrie A. Taylor, 45, of Hutchinson.  Hardel perished.  Taylor had no apparent injury, and a passenger in Taylor’s vehicle, Steven E. Anderson, 42, of Buffalo, had no apparent injuries.

     The roads were wet at the time of the crash, which occurred at about 12:20 p.m.

 

Buffalo Days 2013 taking place from June 9-16

     Buffalo Days, the annual early summer community celebration, is taking place Sunday, June 9 to Sunday, June 16.

     This year’s week-long festival includes many activities, including the following examples: a Twin Cities River Rats Water Ski Show on Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m.; a Movie in the Park on Thursday, June 13 at approximately 9:30 p.m.; a Beer Garden on Friday, June 14, opening at 6 p.m.; a live band on Friday, June 14 from 8 p.m. – midnight; Fireworks on Friday, June 14 at dusk; Saturday in the Park on Saturday, June 15 from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.; the Buffalo Days Parade on Saturday, June 15 at 6 p.m.; the annual Car Show, Fly-In Breakfast (and Air Show) and a Craft Show on Sunday, June 16 at the airport and the Civic Center; and the Miss Buffalo Coronation on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16, 6 p.m., in the Buffalo High School PAC.

     With information from the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce, we plan to provide more details in the coming weeks before June 9.