Congratulations to Triton BPA, Hayfield Citizen of the Year

Congratulations are in order this week to the members of the Triton Business Professionals of America (BPA) Chapter and to Kasey Krekling, teacher and coach at Hayfield Community Schools.
Triton’s BPA Chapter historically has done very well at the State and National events but this year they have excelled even more.
This past weekend at the State Leadership Conference members came home with 10 State Champion, including Katya Wheeler who became the first ever two-time state champion, 14 national trip winners and 14 top ten finishers. Chapter member Ashley Romero also was crowned a double state champion by winning in two categories. Over 80 chapters from across Minnesota attended the Leadership Conference. Those who won trips to the National Leadership Conference will head to Orlando, Fla. in May.
Kasey Krekling Hayfield’s Citizen of the Year
In Hayfield Saturday night, Hayfield teacher and coach Kasey Krekling was named Citizen of the Year by the city’s Chamber of Commerce.
Krekling is a Hayfield native and Hayfield High School graduate who chose to return to his hometown as a teacher after his graduation from Waldorf University in Iowa. Since returning home in 2011 he has been involved in a variety of school, sports and community activities.
In accepting the honor, he told chamber members that many of those in the audience were role models as he was growing up as were his parents who taught him that giving back to your community is the right thing to do.
Dodge County learns about vaping, fentanyl
On another more serious note, students, teachers, school staff and the community from Dodge Center have learned about the dangers of vaping and fentanyl use among students from an individual who speaks from first-hand experience.
Michael DeLeon, founder of Steered Straight, was in Dodge County this week to speak with students and staff at Hayfield, Kasson-Mantorville, Hayfield and Triton public schools.
On Monday night, he presented a program to interested parents and community members at Kasson-Mantorville Middle School. The majority of his presentation dealt with vaping and fentanyl although he also talked about what he called the “trifecta gateway” — nicotine, alcohol and marijuana.
DeLeon said he could speak to kids from experience as he was addicted from age 11 to 30 and served 12 years in prison. He added that if “it takes a village” then the entire village must be educated.
It was an interesting nearly two-hour long presentation.
One important take away from the event was that the drug crisis in the United States should not be about politics and division. Everyone, no matter where they stand politically, should agree that drugs are prevalent in society and kids should not be caught up in the politicalization of the issue.
The best way to stop the crisis, he said, is education. Drug use is based on lies and if the students, who are tired of lies, learn the truth they will reject drug use.
He had some good talking points, and they were worth listening to him talk about them.