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Pope County Tribune's 2008 Year In Review Part II
Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Tim Douglass - Pope County Tribune Publisher   
Thursday, 08 January 2009 15:51


• A lawsuit was filed against Pope County for the board's decision to issue a permit for the Hackberry Creek RV Park. Minnewaska South Homeowners Association, Roger Granberg, James Aydt and James Gloege filed the lawsuit citing concerns over the RV park's proposed proximity to Hackberry Creek and Lake Minnewaska's south shore. In July, Hackberry Creek RV Park developers Kevin and Bev Anderson scrapped their county permit application for the Hackberry RV Park, and replaced the permit with an application for South Pointe Park - a 30-unit RV park that would be set back further from the lake than the Hackberry project.

• The 2008 Pope County Fair was full of fun and memorable moments, despite thunderstorms creating a few soggy spots across the fairgrounds. This year, the county fair date was moved to July 16-20 - the weekend before Waterama. In years past, the fair followed Waterama weekend and was held the first weekend in August.

• On July 7, District Court Judge Gerald Seibel dismissed a lawsuit without prejudice that was filed against Pope County for the board's decision to issue a permit for the Hackberry Creek RV Park.

• Dan Douvier, of Glenwood, was named Glenwood Fire Department's new assistant chief. Douvier has been with the department for 21 years.

• Villard United Methodist held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new church to be constructed across the street from the current 111-year-old church.

• The community celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Ann Bickle Heritage House - a home preserved in Glenwood.

• Longtime State Representative Bud Heidgerken announced he would not seek re-election and in turn endorsed Paul Anderson, of Starbuck, for the job.

• The Villard community celebrated its 125th anniversary during the Fourth of July weekend. Events included a parade, pork chop feed and street dance.

August


• On August 20, the TV show "Good Morning America" featured a photo taken by Glenwood resident and Tribune staffer Angela Cole. The photo was taken at sunset over a calm Lake Minnewaska with an egret fishing in the foreground.

• What was always referred to as "Minnewaska Lutheran Home" in Starbuck underwent a name change to Minnewaska Community Health Services. The new name encompasses the services the facility offers: Minnewaska Lutheran Home, Therapy Services, Home Care and Holly Ridge Manor Assisted Living.

• Long-time high school counselor Diane Cordes took over as principal for Minnewaska Area Schools' Day Treatment and Alternative Options programs.

• The community celebrated the 100th anniversary of Glenwood Public Library.

• Glenwood Municipal Airport underwent a $1.5 million improvement project including new runway paving, fencing, lights and airport entries.

• Starbuck hosted the First Annual Dragon Boat Races on August 9. Nineteen teams and thousands of spectators were at the city's park to catch the action.

• The City of Glenwood completed a series of sidewalks that criss-cross City Park. In addition, the local organization, Glenwood & Beyond, raised the money to install a node at the center of City Park. The large, round patio-like area features paver blocks that encircle an inlaid image of Lake Minnewaska.

• A total of 162 individuals completed the Minnewaska Triathlon.

September


• The Glenwood Fire Department launched recruitment efforts to hire four to six new volunteer firefighters. The need for new recruits was due to retirements, pending retirements and relocations.

• Alaskan artist Ronald Senungetuk was the featured speaker as part of Pope County Historical Society's Annual Meeting on September 20.

• Pierce Peters and Emily Roering were crowned Minnewaska Area High School's 2008 Homecoming Royalty.

• Dairyland Healthcare Solutions announced the Glenwood-based company's name change to "Healthland." In addition to its headquarters in Glenwood, the business also operates offices in Minneapolis, Louisville, Ky. and Waco, Texas.

• The Glenwood Rotary Club and Minnewaska Laker Foundation hosted the Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show at Minnewaska Area High School.

• Preliminary tax levies were set this month: Taxpayers would see a slight reduction on school district taxes; the county property taxes would jump about 6 percent; and city of Glenwood taxes were expected to increase about 5 percent.

• The Primary Election narrowed the general election vote to Gordy Wagner and Cody Rogahn for the District Pope County Commissioner seat. Kyle Thompson and Scott Formo were also candidates in the primary election.

• Glacial Ridge Health System asked the City of Glenwood to consider rezoning one residential lot to commercial for the health system's business office to relocate to. However, with a 3-2 vote, the commission denied the rezoning request.

• An April blizzard forced the Big Top Chatauqua's performance of "Old Minnesota" to be rescheduled to September 30 at Central Square.

• Dozens of skinny-wheeled Model Ts rolled into the area on September 6 as part of the Glacial Ridge Trail Model T Tour. The tour made a stop in Glenwood and Starbuck.

• Glenwood residents Greg and Chintana Ohl had front row seats at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul on September 4. The two heard Senator John McCain deliver his acceptance speech for the Republican party's nomination for President of the United States. Chintana was pictured with McCain's running mate Sarah Palin on the front page of the September 8 issue of the Pope County Tribune.

• Yes, Minnewaska schools will be ready September 2 for the first day of school. That was the word from Minnewaska Area Schools Superintendent Greg Ohl. Over the summer, a major energy efficiency upgrade project left the elementary and high schools looking like construction zones. "Contractors are completing final tasks and will be out of public areas at of end of business [Thursday, Aug. 28]," Ohl said.

October


• Becky Rafferty and her children, Scheie and Devin, were the newest family to move into a Habitat for Humanity of Prairie Lakes house. The new home is located at 416 Third Ave. SE in Glenwood.

• Minnewaska Area High School's Team Wired Waska took fourth place in a robotics competition. The newly formed group had just six weeks to build and operate a robot that had to be used to assemble a model airplane in just a matter of minutes.

• Glacial Hills Elementary School, the charter school in Starbuck, hired a new director - Deb Mathias.

• Pope County Commissioners approved plans for a new boardroom in the courthouse. The $45,000 relocation and remodel project will move the boardroom to the east end of the courthouse on the first floor where the U of M Extension Service Office is currently located. The new space will include furnishings for commissioners and staff, seating for the general public, a podium for citizens to address the board and a presentation area for visitors utilizing audio and video devices.

• The Glenwood City Commission decided it would not pursue locating the city's police department in the county's new law enforcement center. It was estimated the police officers would use about 10 percent of the facility's space, but the county asked for $350,000 up front.

• A Candidates Forum was held October 23 at the high school to hear from candidates running for local office.

• On October 26, a brief snow storm blew across the state leaving about six-tenths of an inch of snow blanketing Pope County.

• The Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce's Salute to Industry event honored Tanis Aircraft Products, Inc. and the Glenwood Municipal Airport Commission during its annual luncheon.

• Trinity Lutheran Church of Cyrus celebrated its 40th anniversary on October 16.

• It was reported that Glacial Ridge Health System's $10 million expansion project was about 85 percent complete and on-schedule to wrap up in February 2009. As part of the project, the main entrance was relocated, new operating rooms and emergency room suites were built, outreach services and the clinic facility were expanded.

• The Minnewaska Lake Association released 50,000 walleye fingerlings into Lake Minnewaska on October 2.

• Kim Krueger, long-time technician for Pope Soil and Water Conservation District, retired after a 34-year career. He assisted landowners with erosion problems, feedlot projects, land retirement programs and wetland issues.

• Rebecca Bartell and Cole Iverson were credited for their hard work during the summer to water and maintain the hanging baskets in downtown Glenwood.

• More than 30 farmers and neighbors converged on the Bill Kennedy farm on October 3 to offer a hand in getting his 370 acres of beans off the fields. Kennedy was about to undergo treatment for cancer. The harvest help was coordinated by Jamie Knoblauch and Paul Freeman.

November


• A total of 467 people attended the 15th Annual Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner; that's a noted increase from the 2007 dinner, when 408 meals were served.

• Lake Minnewaska officially froze over during the early morning hours of November 21. Ice anglers quickly descended upon the state's 13th largest lake to do some fishing during the Thanksgiving weekend.

• Pope County Commissioners gave the go-ahead to bond for a $3.4 million law enforcement center in Glenwood. The new facility will include three holding cells, office space, storage and space for potential expansion.

• Pope County Commissioners also approved a Winter Feeding ordinance that provides some regulation of the agriculture practice allowing livestock to graze on recently harvested cropland.

• As part of the state-wide U.S. Senate race vote recount, Pope County held its recount on November 19. The recount of votes cast for Al Franken and Senator Norm Coleman matched the election night results and two ballots were challenged by the recount observers representing the Coleman campaign.

• Ninety percent of Pope County's eligible voters took part in the 2008 election. It was the second highest voter turnout in Pope County history. New local leaders were elected to office: Paul Anderson, of Starbuck, was elected to represent District 13A in the Minnesota House of Representatives; Gordy Wagner and Paul Gerde were elected to serve as Pope County Commissioners; Lonnie Hoffman, Julie Gaffaney and Jim Peters were elected to serve as Minnewaska Area Schools Board of Education directors.

December


• Jim Gremmels of Glenwood cast an electoral vote in the historic election of Senator Barack Obama as President of the United States.

• Minnewaska Area Elementary School head cook and kitchen manager Deb Gorder and her staff received the third perfect score during a recent health department inspection.

• Pope Soil and Water Conservation District named Nathan and Karla Johnson as the 2008 Conservationists of the Year for Pope County.

• The Ann Bickle Heritage House is in need of expensive repair and the historic home's board is planning to host several fundraisers to try to raise $33,000.

• City of Glenwood leaders considered a storm water fee for all city residents as some parcels were never charged a fee.

• About 100 Starbuck city taxpayers gathered during the city's Truth in Taxation hearing to question the proposed 75 percent property tax hike.

• The finalized levy for Glenwood taxpayers dropped by to 55.73 percent, or $30,000, to total $955,081 for 2009. It's reportedly the lowest that the tax rate has been in a number of years.

• Good Samaritan-Lakeview's bowling team took first place in the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce's Battle of the Businesses Bowling Event.

• Across Pope County, local school kids were all dressed up in their holiday best as they performed Christmas concerts for families and friends.

• The 2009 county tax levy was finalized by county commissioners. Property taxes will increase 5.99 percent and generate $360,228 more than the 2008 levy. In 2008, the county increased taxes by 3.99 percent.

• A Golden Retriever dog was shot and abandoned in a ditch near Glenwood. The dog, named "Orphan Annie," was treated at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Clinic. A reward fund was established to help generate information about the shooting that drew nationwide media attention.

• Glacial Ridge Ambulance received its Advanced Life Support licensure which certifies some EMTs and the service's paramedic to provide advanced patient care in the ambulance, en route to the hospital.

• Minnewaska Area High School received the "Bronze Award" from U.S. News & Word Report magazine. The award recognizes standardized test performance and proficiency rates of all students.