Kathy Ofstedal is educator of the year

April 16, 1964 – A spring storm hit the Pope County area, and it was hoped this was the last of the season. Winds reached 80 mph. The day started innocently enough with rain which turned to sleet and then snow. By mid-morning, blizzard conditions were evident with visibility down to near zero. NPS manager Gus Gasser reported that there were 30 to 40 places where tree branches broke power lines. 

Terri Anderson, only a freshman, was the only Glenwood student and the first Glenwood student in several years to qualify for the state speech meet. Anderson competed in the humorous interpretive reading division. 

Judy Ommen was named valedictorian and Donna Gaffaney, salutatorian for the Villard High School Class of 1964. The announcement was made by Principal Robert Blaine, who also said that both girls had been extremely active in school activities as well as being leaders in the classroom.

A Glenwood clergyman, the Rev. Thomas Zemek of the Union Congregational Church, told the Tribune he was going to Hattiesburg, to work in the civil rights movement. “I can’t just preach about it,” he said. His trip to Mississippi was to help blacks register for voting. 

April 18, 1974 – There were, as yet, no filings for the Glenwood school board. The terms of LeRoy Knutson and Richard Thompson would expire. In the Starbuck district, incumbents Ralph Chalenburg and Dr. S.B. Wilson had already filed for re-election. 

A benefit to help two Glenwood girls with funds for the opportunity they had to tour Europe with America’s Youth in Concert Choir was scheduled. The two, Marie Jorgenson and Laura Doughty, and other music students including the concert choir, would perform during the benefit. 

Linda Walker, a junior at Villard High School, was named as the school’s Girl Stater. The alternate was Cindy Ommen. Both girls were active in many areas of school life. 

April 19, 1984 – Area residents heaved a sigh of relief on April 13 when the final bit of ice remaining on Lake Minnewaska melted. High winds the previous day had pushed the ice up on the Starbuck shore only a few feet from Highway 29. The ice was piled 15 to 20 feet deep in places. Lakes Amelia and Reno were also clear of the wintertime reminder. 

Esther Femrite lost the diamond from the ring that her late husband, Ing, had given her 49 years before. She searched her own home and then called Central High School since she had attended the pops concert there. Bob Nordling helped her find the right garbage bag and Femrite took home about a gallon of dirt. Sure enough! There in the sweepings from under the gym bleachers was the stone.  

Glenwood High School students participated in the district speech tourney. Among them were Tracy Searcy, Cheri Erickson, Jill Kuntz, Linda Endres, Heather Weisel, Sara Larson, Jodi Blair, Lisa Endres, Chris Zimmerman, Julie Snider, Kim DeMorrett, Monte Fronk and Tim Witterwer. 

April 18, 1994 – Ice finally left Lake Minnewaska on April 17, four days after the average date of April 13. The Tribune showed ice piles on the south side of the lake that were 10 feet tall. 

Only two city taxpayers had attended the city of Glenwood’s board of equalization. The meeting was to review the assessed values for 1994 for property taxes payable in 1995.

Minnewaska athletes were pictured in the Tribune with the awards they received for their winter sports. Laker girls’ basketball players Misty Burns, Robin Himango, Julee McMahon and Josie Hoffman were pictured along with Laker boys’ basketball players Ben Starns and Luke Anderson. Dan Guggisberg was also pictured for an award with the Laker wrestling team. 

Kathy Ofstedal was honored as the Educator of the Year for her 20 years of work with the Ann and Andy Nursery School, which she had directed. She was cited for her positive influence on the young people with whom she has worked with over the years.  

April 12, 2004 – Jared Zimmerman knew he couldn’t change the whole world, but he knew he could have a positive impact on a piece of it. So that’s what he was doing. The 1998 graduate of Minnewaska Area High School had been working with peasant farmers in the Republic of Nicaragua. Zimmerman was home in Glenwood for a couple of days to visit his parents, to where he worked out of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. 

Jon Schley, of Glenwood, was competing as a senior for the Mankato State University Maverick tennis team. The Mavericks’ 2004 season started February and although the team had been off to a slow start, Schley had been holding his own.  

April 14, 2014 – Pictured in the Tribune, Jayda Kolstoe and her fellow students in Mrs. Barkeim’s class poured on the kindergarten charm as they performed The Tale of Peter Rabbit on Thursday for a room packed full of admiring family and friends. Behind Jayda on the risers is AJ Svec. All Minnewaska Area Elementary School kindergartners had their chance in the spotlight last week as students of Mrs. Johnsrud, Mrs. Larson, Mrs. Hoffmann, Mrs. Reichmann and Mrs. Barkeim performed the musical. 

Glenwood City Commissioners decided last week that the city’s beach on the east side of Lake Minnewaska will again be watched over by trained lifeguards. The city recently found out its lead guard, the one who does most of the guard scheduling, was not going to be back for the summer of 2014. Kim Johnson has been the lead guard at the beach for a number of years but resigned from that position earlier this year. At the time of her resignation, there was some discussion about simply posting the beach with “No Lifeguard on Duty” signs and saving some city funds by not guarding the beach at all this summer.  

Despite some soil quality challenges last fall and one of the coldest winters on record, construction of the GrandStay Hotel & Suites facility in downtown Glenwood continues to take shape, especially in the past few weeks. Construction workers were doing roof work on the 39-room hotel last Tuesday. It is hoped that the hotel will be open for business in July of this year.