Ellendale Class of 1937

10 Years Ago
June 5, 2012
Rick L. Bussler, Publisher
The Blooming Prairie High School softball team is headed for state for the third straight year. The team members are Hunter Henderson, Julie Manges, Kelsey Kubista, Tricia DeBoer, Kelsey Wolf, Savannah Allard, Teresa Ivers, Tori Poe, Megan O’Connor, Madison Worke, Jenna Krell, Mariah Holland, Shelbi Swenson, Sam Ivers, Delaney Nelson, Ashley Kronberg. Their managers are Kelli Naatz and Taylor Farr. The girls are coached by Coach Alison Mach and assistant coaches, Duane DeBoer and Brandi Halsey.
Fun and excitement is headed for the Blooming Prairie Boys and Girls Club as staff members prepare for Monday’s summer opening. The club is open weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm. “It’s an open-door policy. We never know when we are going to get kids or how many we are going to have,” said Mary Sherman-Ahrens, director since 2008. Youths who attend are given breakfast, afternoon snack and hot lunch catered by Nick’s Prairie Café. Many activities are included such as morning classes in math, fitness, Spanish, scrapbooking and outdoor games, trips to the library and the pool.
20 Years Ago
June 6, 2002
Elsie Slinger, Editor
Golf and Track athletes are headed for state tournaments. Freshman Calla Swenson turned in a fine 18-hole 83 to place third in the Section 1A golf meet and qualified for the state meet at Izaty’s near Mille Lacs Lake. In track, Kyle Verley and Lisi Ingvalson advanced in their specialties, Andrea Rumpzas will compete in the 800m run along with the girls’ 4 x 400m relay team of Lisi Ingvalson, Andrea Rumpza, Laura Wurst and Leah Heimerman. Good luck to all our athletes at state.
It was an emotional day for many people packed in the Blooming Prairie gymnasium, as 66 seniors received their diplomas amidst parents, friends and relatives on Sunday. This is the 100th graduating class from the local school, who celebrated before, a little during and a lot afterwards. The class valedictorian is Kristi Schwake and the Salutatorian is Margaret Romeo.
50 Years Ago
June 7, 1972
Victor, Vernon & Vryle Krejci, Publishers
The Minnesota Safety Council’s Governor’s Award was presented to the Blooming Prairie Elementary School Safety Patrol at a special luncheon in Minneapolis on May 16th. The award was accepted by Captains Kathy Swenson and Kathy Gullickson.
Four Blooming Prairie organizations presented checks to the Village Council for payment of new park equipment on Monday. Carl Myers, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Otto Jensen, president of the Jaycees, Mrs. Sandra Gergen, president of Mrs. Jaycees and Ron Malecka, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus presented the checks. Due to this community cooperation, the park will have several new items of playground equipment. Included will be three animals on springs, a swinging gate, new baby swings, little engine climber, a large climber, see-saw and toddler’s merry-go-round.
75 Years Ago
June 6, 1947
Frank Krejci, Publisher
Legion Commander George D. Carroll, on behalf of the Legion Post and Legion-Auxiliary presented the awards for meritorious scholarship to Donald Blockhus and Delores Johnson at the commencement exercises at Blooming Prairie last Thursday. These medals are awarded annually to two outstanding seniors. They are based on scholarship, character and general excellence as a student. Both of these students have participated in a wide variety of school activities and maintained high grades.
Eight teachers of the Blooming Prairie Public Schools will not be returning next year. They are Mary Meier, English and speech; Frances Edel, Commercial; Robert Roberts, Social Science; Gordon Pitel, Mathematics; Violet Fehrman, Journalism; Iva Christenson, library; Mildred Hammer, Home Economics; and Dorotha Payne, Grades 2 and 3.
OwatonnaPhoto News
31 Years Ago
June 6, 1991
Tom Shea, Publisher
Six members of the Owatonna Tennis team were named to the Big Nine All Conference Tennis Team. They are Ryan Meschke, Ben Hosfield, Joey Arnold, Andy Bohrer, Ryan Soukup, and Matt Nelson. Team awards were also announced, Ben Hosfield, Sportsmanship; Mike Zetah, Most Improved; Andy Bohrer and Jory Arnold, Best Record. Also, Coach Ron Phillips was chosen as Big Nine Coach of the Year. Congratulations to all.
Bruce Wood, who has been the Owatonna High School Orchestra director for six years, has submitted his resignation to the Board of Education so that he may pursue a new position as Assistant Professor of Orchestra at St. Cloud State University. “It was an agonizing decision, but the new position offers a great challenge and advancement in my career,” said Wood. “I am going to an orchestra program that is not nearly as developed as the Owatonna High School program. There is great potential and it offers me a great challenge.”