The sports week

A man convicted of torching his own house on fire in Ellendale more than three years ago will spend almost five years in prison.
Steele County Judge Joseph Bueltel handed down a 58-month sentence last Wednesday for Mark Allan Misgen, 43. The sentence comes after Misgen was convicted last fall of first-degree arson and insurance fraud. 

Up until two years ago, Luke Swenson had never been involved with the Blooming Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce. But that quickly changed as he entrenched himself by taking on leadership roles and just this month he became the group’s president.

Stan Groff, Steele County interim public health director, has added another interim position to his duties.
The joint Dodge and Steele County Board for the Community Health program last week appointed Groff to the interim director position following the retirement of Dodge County Public Health Director Peggy Espey who was also CHS director.

Ann M. Klemmensen, 85, of Ellendale, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Koda Living Community.
Ann was born Aug. 23, 1929, on the family farm in Berlin Township, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Clara (Anderson) Thompson. She was baptized on Sept. 22, 1929, and confirmed her faith on June 18, 1944. 

Elaine H. Johnson, 88 formerly of Austin, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, at Lake Shore Inn Nursing Home in Waseca. 
Elaine Harriet Hendrickson was born Oct. 21, 1926, in Owatonna to Henry C. and Marie E. (Lofthus) Hendrickson. She graduated from Blooming Prairie High School. On Oct. 5, 1946, she was married to Erling Nathan Johnson, the son of Eddie M. and Nellie (Hagna) Johnson, in Blooming Prairie. 

Willis ‘Bud’ Miller, age 89 of Blooming Prairie, died Monday, January 12, 2015, at Prairie Manor Care Center. He was born August 9, 1925, in Wanamingo, Minnesota, to Edward and Nettie (Anderson) Miller. A Kenyon High School graduate, Bud served his country in the U.S. Navy from June 1943 until his honorable discharge in June 1946.

Esther Margie Wiese, age 91 of Blooming Prairie, died Saturday evening, January 17, 2015, at Mayo Clinic Hospitals, St. Mary’s Campus, Rochester. She was born April 6, 1923, in Hayfield, the daughter of George and Ragnhild (Nesheim) Simonson. She attended country school district #91 near Evanger, Minnesota, and after completing her education lived in Hayfield, Rochester and Austin.

The awe of community journalism and its powerful impact on communities hit me at an age when most of my friends were busy concentrating on other things.