Pipestone County Star: Recent Episodes
Pipestone Publishing Co.
Local news & features for Pipestone, MN. Community journalism brought to audio from the pages of the Pipestone County Star. Government, business, features, and sports all available here.
The annual Relay for Life of Pipestone County event is planned for Thursday, Aug. 13 at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. Cancer survivor registration is from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., a community meal and bake sale is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., a silent auction will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., a kids run is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., there will be a kids sand prize pit at 7 p.m., and there will be fire truck rides, face painting, bingo, a heads and tails game, and barnyard bingo throughout the evening. The opening ceremonies begin...
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Pipestone City Council members during their July 20 meeting approved a commercial tax abatement policy. Mayor Dan Delaney said the policy is intended to serve as an incentive to bring new businesses to the city. “That’s something that we haven’t had in the past,” he said. “There’s tax abatement available for housing and development, but we didn’t have anything for new business. It’s a great incentive to try to get new business into the area.” According to the policy, the city will consider using tax abatement to help enhance and diversify the city’s economic base, encourage additional unsubsidized private development,...
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Jasper Ambulance to receive telemedicine equipment The Jasper City Council learned during its July 21 meeting that the Jasper Ambulance will be equipped with Avel eCare EMS Telemedicine Services using funds from a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Program that was awarded to Southwest Minnesota EMS Corporation. Brian DeHaai, with Avel eCare EMS, said an iPad, speaker, microphones and antennas will be installed in and on the ambulance. The equipment will allow ambulance personnel to access professional medical counseling services provided by Avel eCare, communicate with hospitals, obtain interpretive services, help...
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TO THE EDITOR: Thank you Farm Bureau for your wonderful Trunk and Treat night! The many business that were represented had fun interactive booths with great conversation and prizes. It kept adults and kids entertained! Many thanks to those who prepared, grilled and served an excellent meal. Farm Bureau well done! Denise Solma Pipestone
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The Jasper City Council during its July 21 meeting discussed using the previous Minnesota state flag rather than the one that became the state’s official flag in 2024. The city currently flies the new flag, but Mayor Kim Lape said there’d been talk among community members about reverting to the old flag. She said City Clerk/Treasurer Renae Jennings had reached out to the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) about the matter, but had not heard back as of the July 21 meeting. Jennings said there is no law that requires the city to fly any specific flag or any flag...
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A couple of decades ago my dad took the family to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, N.D. When the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opened there on July 4 of this year, we decided to go check it out. The structure itself is built to resemble the rugged terrain of the Badlands. It has a sloped roof with vegetation and a walking trail that leads to an overlook of the area. The walls inside are made of stratified layers of different types and colors of soil and rock, reflecting the layers visible in the rocky outcroppings outside. It’s a high...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) during its July 20 meeting approved three sign and awning grants for local businesses. The grants provide up to [post_excerpt],000. Property owners are responsible for any costs beyond that. The first sign application the EDA approved was from Bluepeak for its office at 110 W. Main St. The sign, made by Tailor’d Signs, has already been installed where the previous sign had been. It cost 2.39, according to the application, which will be fully covered by the grant. A second application approved by the EDA came from Jenna McGunegill for The Branded Barn at...
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Æbleskiver Days opened with an 18-hole golf tournament at Tyler Golf Club on Friday, July 24. The event featured a three-person best shot format. The winning team featured Alec Koster, Jackson Koster and Matt Koster. The Kosters are originally from Redwood Falls. Jackson Koster was at one time an assistant golf coach at Southwest Minnesota State University. The trio shot a 59. The second-place threesome was Shaun Thomas, Brandon Hagg and Austin Hasse, posting a 60. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton golf coach Tim O’Leary, along with his daughters Shae O’Leary and Teigyn O’Leary, finished third carding a 62.
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TYLER — Tyler Golf Club will be the site of a junior golf tournament on Monday, Aug. 3. This will be a nine-hole event. Registration is set for 9 a.m.; with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. The entry fee is , and includes lunch after the tournament. There will be three age groups: 10-under, 11-14 and 15-18. For information, email tylermngolf@gmail.com or call the clubhouse at 1-507-247-3242.
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ST. JAMES — Pipestone American Legion Post No. 6 was eliminated from the Senior Legion Division II Southwest Substate Tournament. Springfield defeated Pipestone, 10-3, on Thursday, July 16. Luka Quist walked and scored twice. Zayne Zollner also provided an RBI for Post No. 6. That loss sent Pipestone to the elimination bracket. Mankato Loyola nipped Post No. 6, 2-0, on Friday, July 17. Zollner pitched a complete game, and he had Pipestone’s lone extra-base hit — a double. Nick Bruns played well with two hits. In the championship bracket semifinals on Saturday, July 18, Sleepy Eye walloped Springfield, 12-4. St....
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A 3-on-3 basketball tournament is slated for Saturday, Aug. 1. Registration is set for 9 a.m., with games to follow at 10 a.m. Tournament organizer Chris Gorter said because of the expected weather, games most likely will take place in Harmon Park. Pipestone Area Schools’ gymnasium is a back-up option. There will be several divisions: men’s (18-plus), women’s (18-plus), boys (14-18), girls (14-18), seventh and eighth grade combined (boys, girls or coed) and fifth and sixth grade combined (boys, girls or coed). Teams must be made up of either three or four players. There is no entry fee. However, youth...
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The Holland Fire Department won the kickball tournament during Holland Days. Due to heat-related concerns, the entire event was conducted on Friday, July 24, concluding deep into the night. Six teams participated in the tournament, and the winners had to fight through the elimination bracket for the title. Here’s the team. Front row, from left, Lincoln Labrune, Cooper Schulze and Leah Schulze. Second row, Devin Schulze, Kolten Hoheisel, Josh Choudek and Chris Schulze. Third row, Jeff Hiniker, Ryan Labrune, Merle Zeinstra and Walker Kor. Back row, Zach Venable, Blaine Houselog, Holden Surat, Kyle Viland and Rogen Smidt.
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Pipestone Country Club will present a three-person scramble on Saturday, Aug. 1. Registration will take place from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. shotgun start. A club official has reported 19 teams have signed up; so there are openings. However, the registration deadline has been set for Thursday, July 30. The cost is 0 per team, which does not include the cost of a cart. There will be a sandwich bar with all the fixings. For information and to register, call 1-507-825-2592.
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Autumn LaBrune is the 2026 Pipestone County 4-H summer intern. LaBrune is the daughter of Adam and Gretchen LaBrune and a Russell Tyler Ruthton graduate. Next month she’ll begin her sophomore year at the South Dakota School of Mines where she’s studying civil engineering. She hopes to work in water resource. LaBrune said she applied for the internship because she’s been very involved in 4-H over the years and wanted to see what it would be like to be on the other side of the program. She started in mid-May and will continue through the Pipestone County Fair, which is...
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INFORMATION SOFTBALL Minn-Dakota Slowpitch Standings Through July 15 Team Record Lake Benton Bar 14-0 Anacondas 10-2 Lake Benton Bar II 8-2 Sluggers 5-7 D&T’s Meat Market 5-9 Alcobolics 4-10 The Starfish 3-5 Staci’s Bar 3-9 Dirty Dairymen 2-10 Schedule Tuesday, July 21 Open league bye week. Several make-up games will be played. Editor’s Note: All games begin at 7:30 p.m. TRAP SHOOTING At Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club Wednesday,...
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ST. CLOUD — When it was announced St. Cloud State University had hired Shane Bouman as new head softball coach, fans scurried to circle their 2027 calendars. Bouman announced during an interview with the Pipestone County Star that St. Cloud State will play Southwest Minnesota State University at Marshall in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday, April 17. So that means it will be Bouman versus Bouman in a high-stakes league doubleheader that day. Shane Bouman’s niece, Bailey Bouman, serves as SMSU’s head coach with his brother, Troy, assisting the Mustang program. Pipestone Area Schools’ head coach Robert Petersen gave...
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Dahl Motors conducted its third annual car show at the “dealership of the crossroads” at United States Highway 75 and State Highways 23 and 30 in Pipestone. Owner/CEO Scott Dahl reported 51 entries for the three-hour event. The overall winner was this 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Retromod owned by Jim and Janet Voges of rural Slayton. A retromod is a classic vehicle restored to preserve a vintage look, but upgraded with modern parts and mechanics for improved performance, safety and comfort. The 1961 Corvette featured a design upgrade with a four-taillight rear, a new and different mesh grille and V8 engine....
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Soon-to-be Pipestone Area Schools’ freshman Oliver Sterud will participate in the Prep Baseball Showcase later this week. “It’s going to be really cool to see good competition down there,” said Sterud, an all-Big South Conference first-team selection during the 2026 season as pitcher/outfielder for the Arrows. “I’m going to play against the best of the best.” Oliver’s younger brother, Elliott Sterud, is one of five local Southwest Minnesota Blaze 12-under baseball players that have been invited to compete in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament in early August at Cooperstown, N.Y. The other players of note are...
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Both the Pipestone A’s and Elkton Snappers head to the postseason this week. After the completion of Sunday’s Gopher League and First Nite League games, Pipestone finished as the 10th seed with a Region 10C record of 3-11. Since Lakefield nipped Pipestone, 5-4, on Sunday, June 14, the Frogs earned the No. 9 seed despite a 3-12 mark. The top five seeds have earned a bye into the Region 10C tournament: No. 1 Windom, No. 2 Fairmont, No. 3 Milroy, No. 4 Luverne and No. 5 Hadley. Pipestone (4-14 overall) has drawn No. 7 Worthington, with the first game between...
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MOORHEAD — Talented Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton runner Hannah Masselink will continue competing on the collegiate level. This past spring, Masselink announced her plans to join both the cross country and track and field programs at Concordia Moorhead. “I loved the atmosphere of the teams,” Masselink said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “Everyone was so inviting, and genuinely wanted to get to know me.” Masselink said she’s looking forward to seeing “how fast I can get” at the next level. What’s more, Masselink said she was drawn to Concordia Moorhead because of that’s school’s faculty. Concordia Moorhead is...
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The Pipestone County Star was present for the Southwest Minnesota Shootout basketball showcase. This event took place over two days on Wednesday-Thursday, July 15-16. Luverne High School served as the site, with four courts going at once. Ninety-six varsity and junior varsity teams participated. Due to a camera issue, some photos may appear washed. Star sports editor Eric Viccaro took all the photos seen here.
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LUVERNE — Tens of regional high school basketball teams participated in the Southwest Minnesota Shootout on Wednesday and Thursday, July 15-16. Both the Pipestone Area Schools boys and girls were among them. “It’s a great event,” said PAS head girls coach Grant Everson, who highlighted the convenience of having a showcase just 25 miles from here. The Arrows squared off with Rapid City Christian from South Dakota and a pair of schools from nearby Iowa in West Lyon (Inwood) and Western Christian (Hull). “There were some pretty good programs, teams that have been successful,” Everson added. Rapid City Christian and...
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Editor’s Note: This summer, the sports editor will be writing a six-week series on pickleball throughout the region. — BROOKINGS, S.D. — This past Sunday night, a casual drive on United States Highway 14 told the tale. Pickleball continues growing in Brookings, the fourth-most populous city in South Dakota. Four of the eight courts installed in Hillcrest Park were in use. “Honestly, it’s indescribable,” said Brookings resident Kim Carson regarding pickleball’s popularity. “The courts are used all the time. We’re seeing people of all ages, and families, out there. Carson said Deb Wolforth, a member of the Brookings Park and...
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Pipestone Area Youth Tackle Football sign-up is set for both Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 3-4. The site will be the Pipestone Area Schools’ elementary commons area. Equipment also will be issued on these nights. The fourth-grade sign-up session will be a 6 p.m. Aug. 3, with the fifth- and sixth-grade session at 6 p.m. Aug. 4. A 0 fee is due at the time of registration. Scholarships are available from the PAS administrative office. Registration is available through a Google document at the organization’s Facebook page. For information, email Tyler Rippentrop at: tarippentrop@gmail.com.
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TYLER — The yearly tradition known as Æbleskiver Days will begin on Friday, July 24 with several events. However, the signature æbleskiver bake-off originally set for Thursday, July 23, in the Lincoln County 4-H Building has been canceled. “We just didn’t get enough contestants to carry on with our plans,” said festival organizers on the Æbleskiver Days’ Facebook page. This year’s grand parade theme is “Disney Movies.” The parade is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, July 25. The line-up will begin one hour prior at the industrial park in the southeast corner of town. Tyler city administrator Terry East will...
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Pipestone Country Club conducted its first-ever youth tournament on Thursday, July 16, at the facility. Golfers were treated to warm, sun-splashed conditions. A reported 40 golfers participated in the tournament, which featured various age divisions from 5-6 year-olds. The age limit for a player was 17 years old. Youth ages 9-10 years old played five holes. Contestants in the 7-8 division played three holes from 150 yards out, and those ages 5-6 golfed Hole Nos. 3, 4 and 5 from 100 yards away. The event drew golfers from as far away as Russell and Luverne. Organizers reported PCC will conduct...
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The Pipestone County Museum has two interns this year. Olyvia Weber returned for a second year and it’s the first year for Julia Berkenpas. Berkenpas is a 15-year-old 10th grader at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS). She’s the daughter of Brandon and Nellie Berkenpas. Berkenpas said she was interested in the internship because she likes social studies and she thought it would be a good opportunity to learn about her community. She started her internship on June 4 and will continue until Aug. 21. Her primary focus has been cameras. She’ll be doing a coffee talk and a presentation at Ridge...
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Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water (LPRW) increased its net position by 5,813 in 2025. That’s according to the audit report presented by LPRW General Manager Jason Overby during the July 14 Pipestone County Commissioner meeting. Total revenue for the year was ,454,778. Of that ,230,973, which is about 69%, was from charges for services. Another ,481,934, which is about 24%, was from capital grants and contributions. The rest was from interest income and other sources. Expenses totaled ,878,965. Almost all of that was operating expenses, which totaled ,263,071. Revenue minus expenses left the 5,813 increase in LPRW’s net position. That brought...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their July 14 meeting approved an agreement whereby the county would share its highway engineer with Murray County. If approved by the Murray County Commissioners, the agreement would be in effect until Dec. 31. Highway Engineer Nick Bergman said Murray County asked if Pipestone County would share his services on a temporary basis until it can fill the position long-term following the retirement of Murray County’s previous highway engineer. He said he was willing to try it and that he expected it to work based on a decreasing workload as the construction season winds down. According...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) students have had several opportunities to travel this summer. French students went to France, Spanish students went to Spain, members of the Pipestone Area Marching Arrows went to Chicago, and a group of high school students went to New York. Below is a brief summary of each of those trips. Spain Seventeen students and three adults took a trip to Spain from June 10 to 21. Spanish teacher Jamie Danks said the trip to Spain takes place every other year and is available to students completing their junior or senior year of high school who are...
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Pipestone County Commissioners are considering added funding for Southwest Health and Human Services (SWHHS), which serves Pipestone, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Murray and Rock, in response to a variety of financial challenges facing the agency beginning in 2027. SWHHS Director Stacey Timm told the commissioners during their July 14 meeting that the federal government reduced the amount of funding it provides to counties to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from 50% to 25% of costs. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2027, the federal government will also assign a benefit cost share based on the payment error rate of...
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The first ever Holland Days is planned for Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25. Many communities in the area have summer celebrations and Nicole Buffington, speaking on behalf of the Holland Days Committee, said a group of community members decided Holland should too. Darbi Kor, owner of Kor’s Korner Pub in Holland, was planning to have a street dance and the Holland Days Committee, which includes about 10 people, thought they could combine their efforts to turn it into a weekend-long event. Friday will primarily be a kids night. Beginning at 5 p.m. there will be a little farmers...
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Soon-to-be Elkton-Lake Benton sophomore Quinn Slegers can call herself an All-American. This was based on her performance at the Amateur Athletic Union girls volleyball national championships at the Orange County Convention Center on Wednesday, July 1. Slegers was a member of the Avera Health Kairos 15 White squad. She was the team’s primary libero. “My goal this year for club was to play on a national team,” said Slegers, who participated in her school’s own three-day camp which wrapped on Friday, July 10 in the Elkton School north gymnasium under the direction of championship coach Daynica Brown....
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Wednesday, July 22 Amateur Baseball TBD, Pipestone A’s at Gopher League Tournament Thursday, July 23 Festival 7 p.m., Æbleskiver Days (bake-off, 4-H building, Lincoln County Fairgrounds) Friday, July 24 Amateur Baseball TBD, Pipestone A’s at Gopher League Tournament Festival 9 a.m., Æbleskiver Days (golf tournament, picnic, chalk the walk, pool party) 5 p.m., Holland Days (children’s night, kickball tournament, children’s movie) Saturday, July 25 Amateur Baseball TBD, Elkton Snappers at South Dakota district tournament (Castlewood, S.D.) Festival 7:45 a.m., Æbleskiver Days (five-kilometer run/walk/bike, softball tournament, vendor fair, barnyard zoo, children’s olympics, art bus, mural painting, bingo, inflatables, trolley...
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FARGO, N.D. — Pipestone Area Schools’ soon-to-be junior wrestler Miklo Hernandez is once again an All-American. Hernandez finished sixth overall — with a field of more than 100 wrestlers — in the junior freestyle 132-pound weight class bracket at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals. “I think Miklo performed well,” PAS head wrestling coach Paul Young said. “He was finding his shots, and his go-behinds. He showed a lot of strength on his feet.” The FargoDome, the longstanding home of the junior nationals, provided Hernandez with the backdrop for more success on the biggest stage. Young said Hernandez “learned a...
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WORTHINGTON — The Pipestone Athletics and Worthington Cubs were locked in a pitcher’s dual Sunday, July 12 in Gopher League action. Unfortunately for Pipestone, the team found itself on the business end of a 1-0 loss at Trojan Field. As A’s coach Avery Ploeger explained, the only run that scored was unearned. “Mark (Abrahamson) had 11 strikeouts and Matt (Geister) pitched phenomenally,” Ploeger said. The A’s continue to play competitive baseball; however, their record dropped to 4-12 heading into the regular-season finale Sunday, July 19 at Hadley. The playoff ramifications are monumental. A win most likely helps Pipestone avoid being...
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INFORMATION RED ROCK CONFERENCE All-Conference Teams ACADEMICS Baseball Landon Koehne, Adrian/Ellsworth; Cameron Brunck, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda; Carter Hanson, Murray County Central; Teague Meyer, MCC; Cayden Veldhuisen, MCC; Carter Therkilsen, Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove Golf Ellie Freking, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda/Westbrook-Walnut Grove; Neil Kuehl, HLOF/WWG; Dominic Lee, HLOF/WWG; Aiden Olson, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey; Brayden Oakland, MLAC; Reagan Petersen, MLAC; Lizzie Daniels, MCC; Rachael Huso, MCC; Abby Evans, Red Rock Central Softball Mersaydes Marten, A/E; Kaylyn Urdahl, A/E; Addysen Hendel, HLOF; Julia Brinkman, MLAC; Kelly Janzen, MLAC; Ellamae Peters, MLAC; Ashlyn Pfeifer, MLAC; Kylie Phommachan, MLAC; Nadia Phommachan, MLAC; Phithsada Phoumivong, MLAC; Kate Blankenship, MCC;...
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LAMBERTON — The Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian softball program tied Adrian-Ellsworth atop the Red Rock Conference. Both the Dragons and Flying Dutchmen posted 10-2 records. Meanwhile in baseball, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton finished second in the Red Rock Conference during the 2026 season. Thanks to those high placements, both E/SWC softball and RTR baseball received a slew of conference accolades. Five E/SWC softball players were named to the first team in top pitcher Presley Van Dyke, outfielder Reese Vande Griend, Kya Voge at third base, outfielder Liana Bloemendaal and second baseman Addi Nibbelink. Van Dyke, Vande Griend and Voge are all seniors, and these...
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The Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board of Supervisors during its July 9 meeting approved eight grant contracts totaling 1,730 to help Pipestone County farmers purchase soil health equipment. It was the first time the SWCD has offered such grants. SWCD Board members voted during their April meeting to offer the grants using 0,000 in project fund dollars from the state. The grants will reimburse 50% of the purchase cost of soil health equipment with a maximum grant award of ,000. Twenty people applied for grants totaling 1,730. The SWCD Board spent about an hour during its...
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JASPER — There will be plenty of sports-related events during Quartziter Days set for this weekend. There will be a classic car cruise-in and show from 5-8 p.m. Friday, July 17. The show is sponsored by Reclaim Community. There will be a sand volleyball tournament in City Park beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18. The festival also will feature both children’s and adult bale tosses, and turtle races. For information on the volleyball tournament, call Angel Garcia at 1-708-768-1964 or Matt Borneman at 1-907-792-9182.
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The Pipestone Country Club will conduct a pair of noteworthy tournaments this week. A “Dine On Nine” tournament is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 17. The cost is 0 per team. The concept of this four-person scramble-formatted tournament is there will be food to sample on every hole. Senior Tournament The Senior Tournament is slated for 11 a.m. Monday, July 20. This event is for players 50 years of age and older. The cost is per player. The Championship Flight will feature no scratch and no handicap. All others will be flighted based on handicap. All golfers are...
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MASON, Mich. — For the second straight year, Southwest Minnesota Christian trap shooter Riley Williams competed on the national stage. Although Williams didn’t make the final round — as Riley did in 2025 — he savored the experience. “It was really cool to be there again,” said Williams, who will be a senior at SWC, of his participation at the USA Clay Target League National Championship at the Michigan Trapshooting Association home grounds. The facility is located 20 miles south of East Lansing, site of Michigan State University. Thanks to Williams’ skill, trap shooting has gained exposure locally. “I’m happy...
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For the third straight summer, Pipestone-based auto dealership Dahl Motors will conduct a car show. The event will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18. The show follows from noon to 3 p.m. An awards program will take place at 3:30 p.m. “We’re hoping to get 80 entries,” said Dahl Motors CEO Scott Dahl. “This (show) seems to keep growing and getting better every year.” The dealership is located at 950 Seventh Street S.E. at the junction of State Highways 23 and 30 and United States Highway 75. There are fewer shows this year. In turn, Scott Dahl...
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HOLLAND — The Holland Community Foundation will present a kickball tournament during the Holland Days festival. The event will take place on Friday and Saturday, July 24-25. The championship is set for that Saturday. The cost is 0 per team. Teams are guaranteed three six-inning games, or a game lasting one hour. Rules and regulations will be given at the time of sign-ups. There will be concessions available. For information, call Holland Community Foundation member Danny Moffitt at 1-507-820-0026.
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The Pipestone Parks and Recreation Department conducted its annual trip to see the Minnesota Twins play on Thursday, July 9 versus American League Central Division foe, the Cleveland Guardians, at Target Field in Minneapolis. Forty-seven children signed up along with seven chaperones boarded a motorcoach for the game at about 6:30 a.m., returning that evening. The Twins scored single runs in both the fifth and seventh innings; however, it wasn’t enough as the Guardians prevailed 5-2. Candy Wurster said “Play Ball!” before the game and Jaxen Christiansen ran the ball onto the pitcher’s mound in a ceremonial tradition. Chaperones were...
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ELKTON, S.D. — The annual Elkton Harvest Festival begins with the gala and pageant set for Thursday, July 16. This scholarship-based pageant, “The Under the Sea” gala, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Elkton School North Gymnasium. Queen contestants are Kadence Olberding, Claire McMahon, Madelyn Jensen and Evelyn Foss. Little Miss contestants are Abigail Schuurman and Riley McLaughlin. Mr. Elkton will be voted on during the harvest festival during Family Fun Day on Sunday, July 19. Tickets cost per person or 5 for a reserved table of eight people. The Friday, July 17, game between the Elkton...
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During the public comments portion of the Pipestone City Council meeting of July 6, the condition of the JBS Sportsplex soccer fields was again brought to the attention of the council. Myron Koets opened by asking that the council hear from some local soccer supporters regarding the fields. Prior to these individuals speaking, City Administrator Stephanie LaBrune provided an update on actions taken by the city over the past number of weeks. Regarding the grass, she said that regular mowing is being performed by the public works department. She acknowledged that there is some clover growing amongst the grass and...
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Jasper Quartziter Days is Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19. Festivities begin Friday with a classic car cruise in on Wall Street sponsored by Reclaim Community, and a hot dog and hamburger meal by Reclaim at Memorial Hall from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will then be a Kids Fun Night at 8 p.m. at Bauman Hall, which is sponsored by the Bauman Hall Arts Grant. New this year is a Jasper Quartziter Day Royalty Raffle. People can register Saturday morning at the Jasper Lutheran Church where there will be cinnamon rolls, coffee and juice, and a what-not...
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LUVERNE — Local and regional high schools are set to participate in the Southwest Minnesota Shootout on July 15-16. This marks the 18th annual event, which draws teams from several states. The Pipestone girls are set to compete in a pool with Rapid City Christian (S.D.), West Lyon (Inwood, Iowa) and Western Christian of Hull, Iowa from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15. The Arrows first play Rapid City Christian at 8:45 a.m., followed by Western Christian at 10:15 a.m. and West Lyon at 11:45 a.m. The Pipestone boys will compete in the 12:30-5 p.m. block versus three schools...
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The second candidate filing period for the Nov. 3 election opens Tuesday, July 14 and ends Tuesday, July 28. The second filing period applies to all cities in Pipestone County except Pipestone, all school districts, and townships that hold their elections in November. Prospective candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and there is typically a filing fee. Most local seats up for election are for four-year terms, but mayoral terms are two years and township supervisor terms are six years. Exceptions are noted. Below are the local governmental entities for which the second filing period applies, the seats...
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The Pipestone Planning Commission, during its June 10 meeting, recommended that the Pipestone City Council approve a conditional use permit allowing the Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) to build a Head Start facility on property it owns at the corner of North Hiawatha Avenue and 11th Street Northeast. The recommendation included the conditions that a line of trees be planted to provide screening between the building and Pipestone National Monument, and that outdoor lighting be downward facing and dimmable. SMOC purchased the property from the county in 2022. The property is zoned multi-family residential (R-3) and the city of Pipestone’s...
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The Pipestone Country Club will conduct the first of two glo-ball golf tournaments this year on Friday, June 19. Play will begin at 9 p.m. This will be a two-person team tournament. The cost is per team, which does not include cart rental. The event is limited to 36 teams. Tournament organizers report 28 teams have signed up so far. The kitchen will be open; however, there is no meal special. For information, call Pipestone Country Club at 1-507-825-2592.
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The Pipestone County Star sports department will run a six-week series on outdoor pickleball across the region this summer. The series will lead off with pickleball courts found in Harmon Park here in Pipestone, running on Thursday, July 2. The Star also will cover pickleball venues in other surrounding communities. The communities selected are as follows: Edgerton, Marshall, Tyler, Brookings, S.D., Elkton, S.D. and Crooks, S.D. The Elkton and Crooks courts will be combined into one story. In recent summers, the Star has featured state parks and golf courses. Now, it’s your turn, pickleball. If you have a pickleball-themed story...
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REDWOOD FALLS — Pipestone Area Schools’ junior Brady Dunn was named to the all-Big South Conference boys tennis team. The team was officially released on Monday, June 8. This marks Dunn’s first-ever inclusion on the squad. “Making the team for the first time really makes me reflect on all of the efforts I have made, not only for my athletics, but also my academics,” Dunn said. PAS head coach James Skyberg was understandably proud of Dunn’s growth as a player. “Playing at No. 1 singles was a step up,” Skyberg said. Skyberg said Dunn took playing the top spot in...
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The Redstone Horse Company will present a three-event barrel racing series at Diamond H Acres beginning Saturday, June 20. Diamond H Acres is a facility located at 1527 41st Street be- tween Edgerton and Hatfield. Series dates will be: June 20, July 18 and Sept. 5. The arena will be open at 8 a.m., with the office opening one-half hour later. Exhibitions run from 9-10 a.m., followed by an open arena period. Official runs begin at 10:30 a.m. The order of events is as follows: pee wee, first barrel run and second barrel run, pole exhibitions and pole bending. The...
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Five local veterans were awarded Quilts of Valor during the Flag Day picnic Saturday, June 14, at Moore Park in Pipestone. Quilts of Valor is a national organization that began in 2003. The group’s founder, Catherine Roberts, had a son deployed in Iraq at the time, and had a nightmare in which she saw a young soldier sitting on his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over in despair due to his war experience. She then saw him wrapped in a quilt and his demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. Since it...
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One of the longest-running town festivals is the Dakota-Minnesota Saddle Horse Holiday. This marks the 80th annual event, which began on Monday with the Miss Lake Benton Pageant and runs through Saturday, June 20. This year’s pageant contestants were Rozlynn Thooft, Sydney DeVries and Angie Deutz. Starting this past Tuesday, there were daily hidden horseshoe clues. Find the clues through Friday, June 19. There is a disc golf tournament and community bean bag throwing contest at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 from Hole- in-the-Mountain Park. There is no entry fee. Friday’s events feature a hot dog feed at the Lake...
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MARSHALL — Luke Schreurs is a member of the Southwest Minnesota State University track and field squad. Schreurs, a resident of Arco in Lincoln County, also was a student-athlete at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton. At SMSU, Schreurs is a jumping specialist. However, he has competed in sprints for the Mustangs as well. Schreurs recorded his best-ever collegiate time in the 200-meter dash at 25.42 seconds at the St. John’s University Optimistic Meet in Collegeville. He also recorded a long jump mark of 5.84 meters (19-feet, 2-inches). At the St. John’s University Valentine’s Day Open back in February, Schreurs recorded his best placements of...
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LAKE BENTON — The team of Greg Stuefen and Don Kruger won the 2026 Lake Benton Sportsman’s Club fishing tournament conducted at Norwegian Creek County Park on Saturday, June 6. The pair caught two walleye weighing 9.48 pounds. The team of Chris and Nick Stassen won “big fish” honors for catching a 10.23-pound northern. The team of Lowell and Pam Scholtes placed second overall, reeling in three walleye weighing 7.23 pounds. Other teams that placed were: Austin and Brady Dekam and Jordan and Jaxyn Rolling. Tournament organizers reported 30 boats were entered in the event.
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Water Tower Festival activities kick off Sunday, June 21 at 5 p.m. when the first clue for this year’s medallion hunt is released. That and subsequent clues will be released at pipestoneminnesota.com and the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. In honor of this year being the city of Pipestone’s 150th anniversary, whoever finds the medallion will receive 0 in Chamber Checks. Other festivities begin Thursday, June 25, with kids night and the downtown grill-out on Hiawatha Avenue. The JBS community burger feed fundraiser begins at 5 p.m. with food served until it’s gone. The fundraiser will help support...
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The Jasper City Council during its June 9 meeting voted 3-2 to recommend that the Pipestone County Commissioners approve a conditional use permit allowing Wm. D. Scepaniak Inc. to operate a rock quarry northeast of Jasper. The Council previously voted 3-2 during their May meeting to take a neutral stance on the permit, but Pipestone County Commissioners expressed a desire for the Council to provide a clear recommendation. Pipestone County’s zoning ordinance requires a conditional use permit for all open pits and excavations. The zoning ordinance also indicates that “In the event the property in question is located within two...
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The Pipestone County Commissioners, during their June 9 meeting, heard from representatives of ONEOK, Inc, which is the parent company of Magellan Pipeline Company, and expressed support for the company’s plans to reroute a pipeline that runs through the county. It would replace a pipeline that was decommissioned in 2022, that ran under the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge – Pipestone Creek Unit and Pipestone National Monument. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) had granted Magellan a permit in 2024 for Route Alternative 1, which would take the pipeline about three miles north and about three miles west of...
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The Calumet Players are bringing “The Wizard of Oz” to the stage of the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) for two weekends beginning June 18. The musical will include all the well-known characters from the book by L. Frank Baum such as Dorothy, played by Phoebe Sheldon; the Cowardly Lion, played by Cheri Blom; the Tinman, played by Emily Blaeser; the Scarecrow, played by Jennings Wallace; Glinda played by Bronwyn Jones; and the Wizard played by Jeff Jones. It will also include the well-known music from the 1939 movie such as “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” “We’re Off To See The...
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Mark Abrahamson was busy during the 6th Annual Pepsi Invitational amateur baseball tournament this past weekend. Abrahamson played in four games for both the hometown Pipestone A’s and Harrisburg Woodies. A’s head coach Avery Ploeger reported the Minnesota Baseball Association had to approve Abrahamson playing for both. In the end, the Renner Monarchs won the championship based on their 2-0 performance. “They are arguably the best team in South Dakota,” Ploeger said. “To have them play over here was pretty cool.” The title contest between the A’s and Monarchs was halted during the second inning because of heavy rain stemming...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Monday, June 15 Legion Baseball 5 p.m., Pipestone at Marshall Orange (junior level only) Festival 5 p.m., Miss Lake Benton Pageant Tuesday, June 16 Summer Softball 6:15 p.m., Colman-Egan at Pipestone (Paulsen Athletic Complex) Wednesday, June 17 Festival 6 p.m., 80th Annual Dakota-Minnesota Saddle Horse Holiday (Hole-in-the-Mountain Park, disc golf and bean bag tournaments) Summer Softball 6:15 p.m., Pipestone at Howard, S.D. Amateur Baseball 7:30 p.m., Ramona Express at Elkton Snappers (City Field) Thursday, June 18 Legion Baseball 5 p.m., Pipestone at Windom (Island Park, junior followed by senior level game) Friday, June 19 Festival All Day, 80th...
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ALBERTVILLE — The Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton 4x400-meter relay quartet was motivated. Highly motivated. The group had waited nearly a full calendar year to erase the painful memories of being disqualified during the 2025 Minnesota State High School League Class A state meet. This time, a more experienced foursome earned second place in the 4x400 finals in a scintillating new school-record time of 3:22.99 on Friday night at St. Michael-Albertville High School. “I was pretty excited for them,” SWC/E head coach Brent Van Schepen said. They proved they belonged. It was the 15th-fastest time of the 2026 season, per Wayzata Results. ...
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With more success comes more awards. That’s what the Pipestone Area Schools’ softball team learned during its season-ending awards program on Sunday, May 31, in “The Commons.” PAS junior pitcher Kaysa Douty was named to the Class AA Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association (MFCA) second team. Douty also earned most valuable player honors as voted on by her teammates. “We gave the ball to her,” PAS head coach Robert Petersen said. “We said ‘It’s all yours,’ and she did a great job.” Douty became an innings-eater, especially during the postseason. Petersen also remarked Kaysa’s change-up pitch showed improvement, a key factor...
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INFORMATION SOFTBALL Minnesota State Tournament At Caswell Park, North Mankato Championship Games At Jane Sage Cowles Stadium University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Class A Tuesday, June 2 First-Round Games United South Central 10, Sebeka 0 (5) Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD) 4, Southland 1 Red Lake Falls 5, New York Mills 0 West Lutheran 3, Barnum 2 Wednesday, June 3 Semifinals United South Central 5, BOLD 3 West Lutheran 4, Red Lake Falls 0 Friday, June 5 Championship Game United South Central 1, West Lutheran 0 Note: United South Central finished the season with a 26-4 record. Thursday, June 4 Third-Place Game...
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ALBERTVILLE — Pipestone Area Schools senior sprinter Aurora Winsel capped her stellar scholastic career with two more runs. However, Winsel was unable to reach the finals in either the 200-meter dash or 400 run during the Minnesota State High School League Class A state meet at St. Michael-Albertville High School on Thursday, June 4. “I was extremely happy to compete again at state,” Winsel said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “This year has been trying.” Winsel said she has battled illness, so qualifying for state one last time against the state’s best “meant a lot.” For Winsel,...
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BROOKINGS, S.D. — Two Elkton-Lake Benton girls placed among the top-40 at the South Dakota High School Activities Association Class B state tournament. Contested over two days Monday-Tuesday, June 1-2, Evie Foss turned in a two-day total of 181. Foss finished in a tie for 32nd with Lita Fryer from Estelline-Hendricks, Warner’s Ellis Johnson and Halle Schulz from Howard. Evie recorded 11 pars and 12 bogeys as part of her round. Malyha Slegers scored a birdie on the par-3 Hole No. 17 during her opening round, finishing with a two-day score of 185 from the ladies’ tees (5,122 yards long)....
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BROOKINGS, S.D. — Pipestone Area Schools’ graduate Brooklyn Goelz competed for the South Dakota State University rodeo team during the 2025-26 season. Goelz specialty was breakaway roping, competing on her “handsome boy” Hashbrown. Breakaway roping is a fast-paced, timed rodeo event where a mounted rider attempts to rope a calf around the animal’s neck. The rider doesn’t dismount to tie the calf. Goelz was an animal science (pre-veterinary medicine track) major at SDSU, following into the family business. She also had minors in chemistry and animal health. During her time as a student at SDSU, Goelz served as the 2025...
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This weekend, the region will celebrate the life and times of Joseph Douty with the third annual #LiveLikeJoe Memorial Golf Tournament. The event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 13 at the Pipestone Country Club. There will be two 9-hole rounds with 18 teams per session. The first round will begin at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start. The second round starts at 2 p.m. The scramble-formatted tournament is mostly full, organizers reported. Douty will be remembered as a “founding father” of the Southwest Minnesota CEO program, a year-long course designed to encourage high school students in entrepreneurship. Pipestone...
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Participation numbers continue to grow for the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau golf tournament. Chamber executive director Erica Volkir reported 26 teams vied for the 20th annual championship on Thursday, June 4 at Pipestone Country Club. “That’s 104 golfers,” Volkir said in a press release. “It’s the largest number of golfers to date.” The tournament featured a scramble format. Players hit the best shot and combined their strokes for the lowest score possible. Rooted and Fruited, a new business venture on W. Main Street in downtown Pipestone, won the championship with a 28. The business — which...
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TYLER — The Tyler Golf Club will present its annual couples invitational tournament on Sunday, June 14. Registration will begin at noon, followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is 0 per couple for members and 0 non-members; a cart is not included in the price. That cost, however, features golf, one Mulligan per player, dinner and assorted prizes. Tyler Golf Club is located at 420 County Road 7. For information, call 1-507-247-3242, log onto the website www.tylergolfclub.com or email tylermngolf@gmail.com.
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The Pipestone Area Schools shooting sports program conducted an awards program at Pizza Ranch on Tuesday, May 19. The team will compete in the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League Championships on Monday, June 15 in Alexandria. Here are the award winners. Torin Schroyer was named Best Shot. Keely Burke earned the most valuable shooter honor. Jonah Basche was tabbed as the most improved shooter. Ethan Faber won the Annie Oakley Award. Lucas Faber earned outstanding achievement. Colin Bucher won the Rookie Award. Look for a recap on how the Arrows fared at the state competition in a future...
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Pipestone City Council members during their June 1 meeting voted not to extend a land lease and solar easement as requested by New Energy Equity LLC. The company had originally entered into a lease with the city in 2021 and planned to build a 1-megawatt solar garden on about 8.5 acres of city-owned land east of the city’s water treatment plant north of Pipestone. In 2024 the City Council approved an amendment to the lease that relocated the yet-to-be-built solar garden to an area near the existing solar array on North Hiawatha Avenue and east of the city’s tree dump,...
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Pipestone City Council members during their June 1 meeting voted not to extend a land lease and solar easement as requested by New Energy Equity LLC. The company had originally entered into a lease with the city in 2021 and planned to build a 1-megawatt solar garden on about 8.5 acres of city-owned land east of the city’s water treatment plant north of Pipestone. In 2024 the City Council approved an amendment to the lease that relocated the yet-to-be-built solar garden to an area near the existing solar array on North Hiawatha Avenue and east of the city’s tree dump,...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ boys tennis team conducted its season-ending awards program on Wednesday, May 27 at Pizza Ranch in Pipestone. Arrow head coach James Skyberg reported Brady Dunn was named the most valuable player. Mathew Swenson earned the prestigious most valuable teammate honor. Joel Cardenas was named most improved player. Mikah Weets was tabbed as Mr. Hustle. In addition, Dunn was named to the all-Big South Conference team. Look for a complete story on Big South Conference boys tennis accolades in the Thursday, June 11 edition of the Pipestone County Star.
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MARSHALL — Jackson County Central senior Mady Wachal tossed 16 strikeouts in eliminating Pipestone Area Schools during the Section 3AA championship game. “Mady was effective,” PAS head coach Robert Petersen said. “She was able to get us to swing on pitches outside the strike zone. We couldn’t lay off them. Good pitching defeated good hitting.” Despite the loss, PAS returned to the section title round for the first time since 2023. The Arrows finished with a respectable 18-12 record, including victories over New London-Spicer and Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta on Tuesday, May 26. Petersen said the girls grew in confidence throughout the...
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LUVERNE — The Pipestone Area Schools’ baseball team saw its season come to an end with a Section 3AA South subsection loss to rival Luverne. “They are a good program,” PAS head coach Rick Zollner said. “They take baseball seriously, and play a lot of games.” The Cardinals were simply better in the three major categories: offense, fielding and pitching. PAS finished the season with a 7-14 record. The Arrows lose Austin Musch and Trey Boelman to graduation. “We’re losing two outfielders who covered a lot of ground,” Zollner said, “and they were leaders for us practice and games. Both...
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MILROY — The Adrian-Ellsworth baseball team proved to be Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s kryptonite all season long. And the Dragons earned their fourth win of the season over the Knights, 5-3, in the Section 3A Tournament elimination bracket semifinals on a cool, cloudy Saturday, May 30 at Irish Yard. With the exception of the Section 3A South subsection contest between A-E and RTR on May 23, an 8-0 Dragon shutout, the rest of the games were quite competitive. “Adrian-Ellsworth has a bunch of senior experience,” RTR head coach Danny Moffitt said, “and they capitalized on it. They’re a good team, and it was...
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WORTHINGTON — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton senior Teigyn O’Leary qualified for the Minnesota State High School League Class A state tournament a fourth time. That was by virtue of her finish at the Section 3A tournament on Wednesday, May 27, at GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness Club. O’Leary carded a 30-over par 172 in this 36-hole tournament spread over two days, with the earlier round on May 20. She tied Canby’s Maddison Richter for second place. “This means a lot to me,” RTR head coach Tim O’Leary, Teigyn’s father, said. “It’s just a testament to her. She’s worked at her game.” During her second...
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MARSHALL — Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian pitcher Kaitlyn Flann threw a complete-game four-hitter to eliminate Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian during a Section 3A elimination game on Tuesday, May 26. Flann struck out 10 and allowed just one walk in 93 pitches, 69 of them for strikes (74.2 percent efficiency). Cara Ruiter went 2-of-2, Cali Wagner doubled, Kaya Voge singled and Liana Bloemendaal walked; but that was the only offense to show for the Flying Dutchmen (15-12). Presley Van Dyke allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits. Van Dyke allowed eight walks and seven hits with just five strikeouts in 142 pitches...
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Several years ago, the Pipestone A’s approached Pepsi Bottling Company President/General Manager Tim Haubrich about sponsoring a local amateur baseball tournament. A partnership was formed. The Sixth Annual Pepsi Invitational is set for Friday, June 5, and the A’s will play the opening game versus the Volga (S.D.) Cormorants at Westview Park. “We’re big on sports and everything Pipestone,” Haubrich said. “Add everything together, and it’s a win-win. People will be coming into town to enjoy baseball.” Jordan Karels, one time A’s manager, was the brainchild behind this joint venture. Pipestone Area Schools graduate Bayley Colemer plays multiple positions and...
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Five Elkton-Lake Benton athletes earned podium finishes at the South Dakota High School Activities Association Class A state meet. The drama unfolded at Howard Wood Field, with recent ELB graduate Taiton Boersma grabbing silver in the discus with a mark of 167-feet even. Boersma also was sixth in the shot put, marking at 50-4.75. ELB head coach Mark Harming said Boersma is considering joining the program at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University. “Tait leaves the program as arguably the most dominant thrower in school history,” Harming said, “having school records in both the shot...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ senior track and field athlete Aurora Winsel has enjoyed a storybook career. Winsel will add one final chapter this week at the Minnesota State High School League Class A state meet. That’s because Winsel earned gold in the 400-meter run, her signature event, with a time of 1:00.10, which also happens to be a season-best performance. “I’m extremely happy and grateful to be running at the state meet again this year,” Winsel said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “Being able to qualify for state is an amazing way to wrap up my senior season.”...
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The Pipestone City Council during its June 1 meeting tabled the lone bid of 8,000 to repair the east wall of the former Carnegie Library building in order to obtain more information about another potential funding option. The bid included an alternate involving the use of salvaged stone from the city’s stock pile that would deduct ,000 and another alternate involving the use of a manufactured stone product that would deduct ,000. Even with the possible deductions, however, the bid was higher than the estimated cost of 0,250. The city was awarded a 2,162 grant by the Minnesota Historical Society...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) during its June 1 meeting approved a childcare incubator application from Rhonda Van De Brake, allowing her to use the former Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church as a daycare for 0 a month for the first six months. EDA members also approved a childcare development forgivable loan for Van De Brake that she plans to use for daycare equipment, toys, activities and startup costs. Both approvals were contingent upon her obtaining her childcare license. According to the applications, she’s in the process of obtaining a childcare license and plans to serve 10 children the...
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The long-awaited sunshine and summer months are here. Kids are at home with new routines, or you could argue no routine at all. If you have followed my column long enough you know that we like routines in my house. With four kids in the house, and a 10-year age difference between the oldest and the youngest, the activities that fill the calendar vary greatly. Weightlifting, softball games in the Jasper league, basketball league in Cottonwood, gymnastics, swimming lessons, and the start of the youngest in baseball are just a few that have started already. As I squeezed another thing...
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When it came to the “Windy Cities,” Chicago sound of the ‘60s, no single group quite defined the sound as well as Chi-Town’s New Colony Six. This sextet, along with the Buckinghams, Cryan’ Shames, Shadows of Knight, American Breed, Chase and the Ides of March jointly defined Chicago ‘60s rock and roll. The New Colony Six were a recording and hit making machine. In total they recorded for such labels as: Mercury, MCA, Sunlight, Sentar, Polydor and Centaur Record labels. They charted TWENTY-ONE singles on Billboards charts, while releasing four amazing LPs. These guys really did rock the Windy City!...
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LUVERNE — The Pipestone Area Schools’ baseball team will open the Section 3AA South subsection tournament on Tuesday, May 26. The Arrows will square off with longtime Big South Conference and section rival Luverne, with the first pitch set for 5 p.m. at Redbird Field. PAS (7-10 record) drew the No. 7 seed when pairings and seedings were announced on Wednesday, May 20. Luverne earned the second seed. Luverne handily won the two regular-season games, inducing the mercy rule in both. The Cardinals downed the Arrows 15-4 on Friday, April 10 at A’s/City Field — followed by a 16-6 conquest...
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The Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) plans to build a Head Start facility on property it owns at the corner of North Hiawatha and 11th Street Northeast. SMOC purchased the property from the county in 2022. The property is zoned multi-family residential (R-3) and the city of Pipestone’s zoning ordinance requires a conditional use permit for schools in R-3 districts. The Pipestone Planning Commission voted during its May 13 meeting to table a request for a conditional use permit for the facility in order to get more information. According to information presented during the Planning Commission meeting, the proposed building...
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Several Memorial Day programs are planned in Pipestone County on Monday, May 25. Below is an overview of when and where the programs will be and what they will include. Pipestone The Memorial Day program will begin at 10 a.m. at New Woodlawn Cemetery. Lieutenant Colonel Myron Koets, of Pipestone, will be the keynote speaker. Koets was drafted into the U.S. Army in the fall of 1965 at the age of 19. After basic training, he went to Officer Candidate School. He went on to serve in the military for 27 years, including over seven years on active duty, and...
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Rich and Theresa Stangle, of Pipestone, have purchased the Hot Spot property at 223 West Main Street in Pipestone and plan to create business spaces and add murals to the building. Theresa Stangle presented their plans to the city of Pipestone’s Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) during its May 12 meeting. Stangle said they plan to put in a new door and window and create a new entrance for an area that had been used for storage on the west side toward the back of the building. She said they have a business interested in using that space. They plan to...
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About 74 members of the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) graduating class of 2026 will receive diplomas on Sunday, May 24 in the high school gymnasium. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Each year the senior class committee helps plan certain elements of the graduation ceremony and other events leading up to graduation. This year’s senior class committee includes Vivian Brockberg, Trevor Doppenberg, Samantha Stokesbary, Ericka Vivanco, Katie Hanson and Alivia Fruechte. The committee helped select elements of the baccalaureate program on May 20 and the senior breakfast on May 13. They also came up with options for the class colors,...
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For too long, a common-sense solution to lower gas prices and support American energy independence has been tied up in red tape. Families and farmers in Western Minnesota and across the country have been subjected to frustrating, outdated, and unnecessary regulations. The House of Representatives has taken a major step toward cutting that tape by passing H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which included my language for permanent, nationwide, year-round E15. I was proud to lead the efforts through my seat on the Rules Committee for this bipartisan bill, which will provide the certainty that our...
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The Jasper City Council during its May 12 meeting voted 3-2 to take a neutral position on a conditional use permit Wm. D. Scepaniak Inc. is requesting from Pipestone County that would allow the company to operate a rock quarry northeast of Jasper. Pipestone County’s zoning ordinance requires a conditional use permit for all open pits and excavations. The zoning ordinance indicates that “In the event the property in question is located within two miles of a municipality in Pipestone County, a Conditional Use Permit may be granted only after review and recommendation by the governing body of such municipality.”...
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A routing open house is planned for Tuesday, June 2 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Leo Catholic Church. Representatives of Xcel Energy presented preliminary route options for the PowerOn Midwest transmission line project to the Pipestone County Commissioners during their May 12 meeting. The proposed 750 kilovolt (kV) transmission line would run from the South Dakota border across southern Minnesota. All of the preliminary route options in southwest Minnesota pass through Pipestone County. Some pass through the northeast corner north of Ruthton and others pass through the more central part of the county. County Board Chairman Luke...
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Desire expressed for curbside collection Maureen Bell asked the Jasper City Council during its May 12 meeting to bring back curbside collection during the city-wide clean up days. The City Council plans to consider the request later this year when the fall clean up day is scheduled. Typically, the city requires items to be brought to the public works shop as it did during this year’s spring cleanup day on May 2. Man hole cover painting suggested Deb Tillma shared an idea for a community project that would allow people to paint flowers on man hole covers in the city....
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The first filing period for candidates in the Nov. 3 election opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 19 and ends Tuesday, June 2 at 5 p.m. This filing period is for federal, state, county and city of Pipestone offices. There is a second candidate filing period for all other cities, townships that hold elections in November and school districts in the county. That filing period begins July 14 and ends July 28. All candidates must be eligible to vote in Minnesota, must not have filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election, must be at least 21...
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LUVERNE — Pipestone Area Schools competed at the Big South Conference small school championships on Thursday, May 7. Cardinal Field was an electric place to be as track and field athletes attempted to earn all-conference honors (which went to the top-three in individual events and top-two relays. What’s more, the St. James-Madelia boys and Luverne girls earned championship bars. While the Arrows finished last in the team standings, there were plenty of successes to celebrate. PAS seventh-grader Adeline Wrenn earned all-conference honors in both an individual event and relay. Wrenn was third in the 100 hurdles, clocking in at 18.05....
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MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton standout athlete Jonah Uilk will keep a certain directional component this coming fall. That’s because Uilk has signed with Southwest Minnesota State University, set to compete for the Mustangs in both track and field and cross country. “SMSU was in a list of colleges that I had heard of,” Uilk said in an email to the Pipestone County Star, “and was interested in since the beginning of the school year.” Uilk said SMSU head track and field and cross country coach Kirk Nauman was eager to get him on board. Jonah said the school’s familiarity...
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Punk and heavy metal bands have nothing on the Pipestone Area Schools’ baseball team. See, the Arrows endured a “mosh pit” schedule last week versus Big South Conference contenders Windom Area and Fairmont (which was a doubleheader) and a home date versus Murray County Central Thursday, May 7. The Rebels are unbeaten, rolling through their schedule like a hot knife buttering sweet summer corn. MCC could very well represent Section 3A at next month’s Minnesota State High School League state tournament. “Murray County, its a nice Class A team,” PAS head coach Rick Zollner noted. The Rebels have four dependable...
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REDWOOD FALLS — For the second consecutive year, Pipestone Area Schools’ golfer Vivian Brockberg is an all-Big South Conference performer. Brockberg finished sixth overall in the season standings, moving up from ninth spot during the 2025 campaign. “All-conference, obviously, was a goal for her,” PAS head coach Grant Everson said. “She was rewarded.” On Monday, the conference slate had its climax with an 18-hole tournament at Dacotah Ridge, which measures 6,217 yards from the ladies tees. Everson reported Brockberg struggled with her driving; however, Vivian made up for that by scrambling well to keep her final tally as low as...
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JACKSON — The Pipestone Area Schools’ softball team earned second place at the Jackson County Central Tournament on Saturday, May 9. During the event, Arrows’ Kaysa Douty and Amyra Mahik both homered and PAS showed on-field improvement after a period of struggles. PAS has won four of its past six games, and now stand at 9-10 on the season. “We played a lot better defensively,” PAS head coach Robert Petersen said. “We put the ball in play more, and we didn’t strike out as much. We took better swings.” Yes, Petersen said the Arrows showed selective aggressiveness — and that...
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The Pipestone Athletics would have savored a win over the Milroy Irish in the Gopher League opener on Sunday, May 9 at City Field. That didn’t materialize, however, as the Irish scored at least one run in every single inning for a 14-5 victory. “Our goal is to compete to win,” Athletics manager Avery Ploeger said. “I thought we put out the best lineup for a chance to do that.” Still, Ploeger has to be thrilled many earned playing time, including five pitchers (starter Mitchel Carson, Pipestone Area high schooler Zayne Zollner, Dawson Schelhaas, Mark Abrahamson and himself). During the...
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BENSON — The Pipestone Area Schools’ boys tennis team wrapped up the regular season with a match against Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg. “Benson has a good team, up and down the line-up,” PAS head coach James Skyberg said. Skyberg reported the Arrows will only play in the singles draw at the upcoming Section 3A individual tournament scheduled for Redwood Valley High School. That means expect to see juniors Brady Dunn and Mathew Swenson and freshmen Joel Cardenas and Mikah Weets out on the court. Skyberg reported the Section 3A Team Tournament draw would be announced on Wednesday, May 13. The Arrows will most...
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The Minnesota State High School League has conducted draws for the upcoming softball and boys tennis playoffs. Pipestone Area Schools’ softball team has been seeded second, facing No. 7 Worthington at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, in a Section 3AA South subsection opening- round game at Paulsen Athletic Complex. No. 3 Windom Area will play No. 6 Luverne following the Arrows-Trojans game. The winners will meet at 6 p.m. Top-seeded and state-ranked Jackson County Central received a first-round bye, and will square off with the winner of a game between No. 4 Redwood Valley and fifth-seeded Minneota/Canby in Jackson. In...
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The Pipestone Athletics’ amateur baseball team opened the 2026 season at the Flandreau Blue Teal this past Sunday. And this Sunday, May 10, Pipestone plays host to the Gopher League opener versus the Milroy Irish. The first pitch is set for 2 p.m. at A’s/City Field. “Milroy is a tough game, and they have a good squad,” Pipestone head coach Avery Ploeger said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge.” Ploeger said the A’s already have conducted some practices. The Gopher League will be packed with talented teams this season, including the Windom Pirates and the Luverne Redbirds. Both Luverne and...
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Thursday, May 14 Amateur Baseball 7:30 p.m., Elkton Snappers at Flandreau Blue Teal High School Baseball 4:30 p.m., Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 4:30 p.m., Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (Ruthton) 5:30 p.m., Worthington at Pipestone Area (A’s/City Field) Softball 4:30 p.m., Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey 4:30 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove (Plum Creek, Walnut Grove) Track and Field 1:30 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Dakota Valley Conference meet (Gilbertson-Andersen Field, Arlington, S.D.) 4 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Red Rock Conference meet (RTR School, Tyler) Friday, May 15 Baseball 4...
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Three local high school wrestlers were named academic all-state selections. The Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association and The Guillotine publication announced the team in a press release dated Thursday, May 7. Pipestone Area Schools’ Mason Fruechte and Marshall’s Brayden Chandler (a student at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton) and Lincoln Christenson were chosen. Fruechte was 34-9 during the 2025-26 season. The junior earned a fourth-place finish at state, also balancing his coursework with a 3.673 grade-point average, while coached by Paul Young. Fruechte also excelled in FFA, and was recently featured in the Pipestone County Star for his agriculture-based successes. He becomes the second-ever Arrow...
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WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Community Club will have summer recreation offerings. Club officials have reported O’Hearn Field will be available for use — from practices to games. There will be a men’s slowpitch softball league, which will travel on Tuesday nights. Youth T-ball will be offered for children in second grade and younger. This program will run for five straight Monday nights from June 8-July 6. Games will be 45 minutes in duration starting at 6:15 p.m. The entry fee is per child. Coaches are being sought at this time. Venmo is offered, or make checks payable to the...
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The Elk Nation Hall of Fame conducted its Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, April 25 at the Elkton Community Center. The 2026 inductees are (from left), Steve Brown, Nikki (Kinner) Holmen, Michelle Gilbertson, Mary Jo Culhane, Annette Stein and Joyce Kramer. Inductee Jayne Duin is not photographed. This photo was contributed to the Pipestone County Star.
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The Class AA fourth-ranked Jackson County Central softball team is as advertised. With quality pitching and mashers up and down the batting order, the Huskies took care of Pipestone Area Schools in a Big South Conference doubleheader at the Paulsen Athletic Complex on Thursday, April 30. “They have pitching depth,” PAS head coach Robert Petersen said, “and from No. 1 to No. 9, there’s not a hole in their lineup. They put good swings on the ball.” In the opener, PAS all-conference pitcher Kaysa Douty pitched well early; however, the Arrows committed four errors and that turned into nine unearned...
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BLUE EARTH — The Pipestone Area Schools baseball team enjoyed its long bus ride home on Thursday, April 30. That’s because the Arrows swept Blue Earth Area by scores of 9-1 (Game One) and 11-1 (Game Two, reduced to five innings by the mercy rule). “Well, in baseball, you can’t take anything for granted,” PAS head coach Rick Zollner said. The Arrows are now creeping back toward the .500 mark, with a 4-5 record, and playing with confidence. PAS played better, in part, due to the return of junior infielder Luka Quist. Zollner said Luka is a dependable fielder and...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Thursday, May 7 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Murray County Central at Pipestone Area (A’s/City Field) 4:30 p.m., Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (Ruthton, Parents Night) 4:30 p.m., Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Adrian-Ellsworth Boys and Girls Golf 9 a.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Colman-Egan Invitational (Sunrise Ridge, Colman, S.D.) 4 p.m., Windom Area at Pipestone Area (Pipestone Country Club) Softball 4 p.m., St. James Area at Pipestone Area (Paulsen Athletic Complex) 4:30 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda (Okabena) 4:30 p.m., Adrian-Ellsworth at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian (City Field) Track and Field 4 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Murray County Central Invitational (Slayton) 4 p.m., Pipestone...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ student Lane Fruechte competed at the Minnesota/USA Wrestling freestyle tournament last weekend in Rochester. The meet was conducted at Rochester Community & Technical College. Fruechte finished fifth in the Junior 138-pound bracket. Mason Fruechte also competed in the tournament (Junior 144). Lane Fruechte (shown in the photograph at the far right) earned fifth on a medical forfeit (Nathan Richter was unable to wrestle). Lane and Mason Fruechte also competed in a Greco-Roman event as well with Lane taking fourth and Mason fifth in their respective weight groups. The weekend before, Miklo Hernandez competed at 60 kilograms in...
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Shots were fired on Saturday, May 2 at the Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club shooting range. Those shots marked the beginning of the year for the venue, which conduct its fourth annual fundraiser banquet on Friday, May 8 at the Pipestone National Guard Armory. The event begins with a social hour and drawing sales at 5 p.m. — followed by the dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided by the Pipestone County Pork Producers. The menu reportedly will feature pork tenderloin, corn, potatoes, and beverages. Pepsi has donated pop and water. There also will be an ice cream machine. Cocktails will...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ boys tennis team dropped three matches last week against staunch competition. Redwood Valley topped the Arrows, 7-0, on Tuesday, April 28 — followed by a 7-0 road loss to St. James Area on Thursday, April 30. Fairmont defeated PAS, 6-1, on Friday, May 1, with Joel Cardenas earning the team’s lone victory. PAS played at home versus Worthington on Tuesday, May 5, before this Saturday’s match at section foe Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg. The section team tournament begins Friday, May 15. INFORMATION BOYS TENNIS Tuesday, April 28 At PAS Courts Redwood Valley 7, PAS 0 Singles No. 1: Zach...
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For Pipestone Area Schools senior golfer Vivian Brockberg, the weather keeps changing. Especially during her home meets. “The day started okay,” PAS head girls coach Grant Everson said, “It was sunny, and not too bad. But, by her fifth or sixth hole, the winds picked up and it was cloudy and cold.” Still, Brockberg managed a third-place finish at the second girls Big South division event at Pipestone Country Club — firing a 44. Brockberg recorded four pars on Holes Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 7. Two of those holes are par-3. She also recorded bogeys on Holes Nos. 1...
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MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota State University pitcher Cody Wichmann just wrapped up his junior season playing baseball. Wichmann, during the 2026 season, was named National College Baseball Writers Association Central Region pitcher of the week, and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference pitcher of the week once (Feb. 25). A former Russell-Tyler-Ruthton student-athlete, Wichmann pitched in 13 games with 10 starts. He finished with a 3-4 record and 5.52 earned-run average. On April 20 versus Jamestown (N.D.), Wichmann struck out a season-high nine batters. He also tossed a nine-inning complete game with six strikeouts versus Minot State (N.D.) on Feb. 23. Overall...
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The City of Pipestone Parks and Recreation Department has announced its offering the annual trip to see the Minnesota Twins play. This season, local fifth- and sixth-graders will have the opportunity to watch the Twins play the Cleveland Guardians in this American League Central clash. The Twins-Guardians game is set for Thursday, July 9, with the first pitch at 12:40 p.m. Cleveland currently leads the American League's Central Division with a 24-21 record, while Minnesota is in a three-way tie for last (joining the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers). The cost is , which includes a ticket and round-trip...
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The Pipestone County Board of Appeals during its April 27 meeting approved a variance allowing Allan Hachmann to build a new house less than 150 feet from the center line of U.S. Highway 75, as required by the county’s zoning ordinance. The approval included the condition that the structure be no closer than 125 feet from the center line of the highway. Hachmann said he plans to remove an existing house and garage at his property in the southeast quarter of Section 20 of Elmer Township and build a new house and garage on the same site. He said the...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ sophomore Americ Suvandy defended his home track at the 50th Annual Bob Nangle Relays. Suvandy claimed gold in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes during the event. Americ posted a time of 11.41 in the 100 and 23.35 in the 200. With those performances, Suvandy scored 20 of the 24 points the Arrow boys accrued. The 4x400-meter relay group featuring freshmen John Goelz and Austin Jorgenson (who ran the anchor leg) clocked in with a time of 4:12.81 for seventh. Emir Alvarado Herrera, Alex Suvandy and anchor Jakob Dion joined Goelz in the 4x200 relay, with the...
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Howard Wood Dakota Relays are a showcase event for the activity of track and field. In the 101st installment of this event, both the Elkton-Lake Benton and Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton programs showed they belong on the grand stage at Howard Wood Field. The relays featured dozens of schools from across the five-state area, including Minot High School in North Dakota, a 7-hour, 25-minute one-way trip to the field according to Google Maps. ELB senior throwing specialist Taiton Boersma found himself on the medals stand after posting a new personal-best mark of 164-feet, 11-inches in the...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD Thursday, Nov. 13 High school football Minnesota playoffs Orono 15, Marshall 14 Hills-Beaver Creek 30, Fertile-Beltrami 14 Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 27, Kittson County Central 21 Edina 42, Minnetonka 41 South Dakota playoffs Class 9B state championship: Dell Rapids-St. Mary’s 54, Avon 6 Class 9AA state championship: Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy 46, Elkton-Lake Benton 22 Friday, Nov. 14 High school football Minnesota playoffs Jackson County Central 38, Eden Valley-Watkins 0 Kasson-Mantorville 16, Grand Rapids 14 Spring Lake Park 39, St. Thomas Academy 23 Goodhue 24, Holdingford 7 Moorhead 26, Lakeville South 14 South Dakota playoffs Class 9A championship: Wall 60, Howard...
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VERMILLION, S.D. — For one quarter, Elkton-Lake Benton stayed stride for stride with Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy. However, the Phoenix rose in the second quarter, outscoring the Elks 21-0 en route to a 46-22 victory in the South Dakota High School Activities Association Class 9AA state championship Thursday, Nov. 13, at the DakotaDome. “They played a really clean game,” Elkton-Lake Benton head coach Kaleb Haas said. “Their two forced turnovers in the first half were a momentum swing.” Haas said FMFA put its athletes in space to make plays on offense. “They were calling plays to beat the coverages we were running...
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INFORMATION BOWLING SCORES From Bole-Mor Lanes Pipestone Lynnette’s Ladies Standings B&B RV Service, 22-14; The Bowling Stones, 20-16; American Legion, 20-16; Dolls with Balls, 19-17; Stay in Your Lane, 17-19; JBS, 16-20; Rock Lobsters, 16-20; Gutter Gals, 14-22 Scores High game (scratch): Holly Olberding, 184; Raechelle Kor, 181; Julie Bauer, 171; Kayla Smith, 171 High game (handicap): Holly Olberding, 231; Evie Long, 224; Raechelle Kor, 218 High series (scratch): Raechelle Kor, 460; Chris Hollingsworth, 455; Holly Olberding, 446 High series (handicap): Chris Hollingsworth, 599; Holly Olberding, 587; Evie Long, 587 High team game (scratch): JBS, 465; American Legion, 458; Stay...
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CROSS COUNTRY All-Big South Conference Small Schools Girls Addie Thomes, Redwood Valley; Reese Prescott, Redwood Valley; Summer Mollberg, Luverne; Lola Luze, Redwood Valley; Naiya Ayers, Jackson County Central; Katelyn Friesen, St. James Area; Khloe Visker, Luverne; Cora Pauling, Jackson County Central; Mary Slavin, Redwood Valley; Vanessa Johnson, Redwood Valley Honorable mentions: Rhaelee Heidebrink, Pipestone Area; Amelia Bucher, PAS Boys Tyler Robinson, Redwood Valley; Andrei Rivera, St. James Area; Zach Malecek, Redwood Valley; Dylan Anderson, Redwood Valley; Bryce Green, Windom Area; Marcus Papik, Luverne; Ben Jorgenson, Redwood Valley; Caelen Ralston, Windom Area; Isaac Bordewyk, Windom; Nolan Tjentland, Windom Honorable mention: Ramon...
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REDWOOD FALLS — Two Pipestone Area Schools volleyball players were named to the All-Big South Conference Gold Division volleyball team. PAS senior 5-foot-8 outside hitter Taryn Tuinstra and 5-foot-10 outside hitter Jadyn Kor were both selected. “It means so much to me to be named all-conference,” Tuinstra said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “It just puts a label on all the hard work I’ve done. I am super grateful.” Kor chimed in through email as well: “To me, being named all-conference is such an amazing award. It truly shows the passion the athletes have for the game,...
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VERMILLION, S.D. — Pipestone Area Schools graduate Jake Terry picked up a valuable piece of hardware during the South Dakota state football championships. The South Dakota Football Coaches Association named Terry the Class 11B football coach of the year. Terry guided Elk Point-Jefferson to its third state championship game since the 2022 season, finishing runner-up to first-time winner St. Thomas More of Rapid City. The Cavaliers topped the Huskies, 48-38, on Friday, Nov. 14 at the University of South Dakota’s DakotaDome. St. Thomas More’s Broeden Sales proved too tough to stop with 167 yards in receptions (a new state record...
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Minnesota West Community & Technical College volleyball team placed fifth at the NJCAA Division III national tournament Saturday, Nov. 15. The Bluejays capped a 38-5 season by sweeping Sandhills (N.C.), 25-18, 25-22, 25-20 in 70 minutes at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse. The 38 victories is the program’s best-ever total. In the match, Minnesota West had a .160-.025 advantage in hitting efficiency — thanks in part to former Russell-Tyler-Ruthton standout Ally Nelson. A 5-foot-9 sophomore middle blocker, Nelson powered the Bluejays with eight kills on 19 attacks (.211), and the team had a 38-27 edge in...
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MADISON, S.D. — Dakota State University football player Jack Hemmen wrapped up his collegiate career this past Saturday, Nov. 15. Hemmen, a native of Elkton, S.D., recorded one solo tackle and three assisted stops as the Trojans overwhelmed Montana State-Northern, 50-3, in the regular-season finale at Brian Kern Family Stadium. One of Hemmen’s tackles was for negative yardage. The Trojans held the Lights to just 88 yards, including just nine rushing. Thanks to local players Cole Paulson (Pipestone Area), Seth Gawerecki (PAS) and Hemmen, DSU cracked inside the final NAIA Top-25 poll of the season released Sunday, Nov. 16. This...
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WAYNE, Neb. — Jadyn Kor, Pipestone Area Schools’ all-time leader in career scoring, made her decision known during national signing day Wednesday, Nov. 12. Surrounded by family and friends in the PAS library, Kor officially put pen to paper joining the women’s basketball team at Wayne State College. “The main reason I signed with Wayne State was because of the opportunity to play basketball at a competitive level while also receiving a really good education,” Kor said in an email to The Pipestone County Star. Kor explained how welcoming the coaching staff was — and how she could contribute to...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ girls basketball team embarks on the new season Thursday at Montevideo. Varsity tip-off is set for 7:15 p.m. in the Montevideo High School gymnasium. The Arrows and Thunderhawks played each other in the season opener last year with PAS coming out on top 76-67. Recent Wayne State College signee Jadyn Kor and Taryn Tuinstra both tallied 20 points and Amyra Mahik added 19 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. The Arrows were 13-of-19 from the free-throw stripe, and Kenzley Pater also contributed with six offensive boards. Montevideo will present a challenge with 11 wins in...
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ST. PAUL — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton senior middle blocker Ava Karbo was honored during state tournament week. Karbo earned Class A all-state accolades, walking across a platform set up inside Roy Wilkins Auditorium Tuesday, Nov. 4, to receive her plaque. “It really meant a lot to me because I worked really hard to be where I am at,” Karbo said in an email to the Pipestone County Star Monday. “All that work I put in finally paid off by receiving this award, and getting recognition for it,” she said. “I am very thankful for all teammates and coaches who have helped me...
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ST. PAUL — For the second time in three seasons, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball reached the Minnesota State High School League Class A state championship. This time, however, Mayer Lutheran had too much experience and the edge on firepower as the Crusaders swept the Knights, 25-17, 25-15, 25-23 at Grand Casino Arena Saturday, Nov. 8. “They put up a solid block against us,” RTR head coach Daynica Brown said. “They are a veteran, seasoned team that plays year ‘round. They were able to read our setters to put up the block.” Brown reflected on the rise of the Knights’ program these past...
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CORALVILLE, Iowa — Iowa Heartlanders forward Jaxon Nelson has been named the Warrior Hockey ECHL player of the month for October. Nelson is a native of Magnolia who played for Luverne High School and the University of Minnesota. He is just the second player in Heartlanders history to win the honor, joining Ryan Kuffner (February 2022). Through 11 games this season, Nelson has scored nine goals and distributed seven assists for 16 points. Five of Nelson’s nine goals were on the power play. He’s recorded 41 shots on goal during such time. The Heartlanders, an affiliate of the National Hockey...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ volleyball concluded the 2025 season with an awards program Sunday, Nov. 9, at Dar’s Pizza. The Arrows improved immensely, finishing with a 17-7 overall record and winning the St. James Area Invitational eight-team tournament in mid-September. They also reached the championship bracket in the Wabasso Tournament. Overall, it was a nine-win improvement. “It was a fun season,” PAS head coach Shelly Hennager said, who wrapped up her first year leading the team. “We made a lot of great memories.” Hennager highlighted the Arrows earned sweeps in seven contests this season, and went 2-1 in five-set matches (beating...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ volleyball concluded the 2025 season with an awards program Sunday, Nov. 9, at Dar’s Pizza. The Arrows improved immensely, finishing with a 17-7 overall record and winning the St. James Area Invitational eight-team tournament in mid-September. They also reached the championship bracket in the Wabasso Tournament. Overall, it was a nine-win improvement. “It was a fun season,” PAS head coach Shelly Hennager said, who wrapped up her first year leading the team. “We made a lot of great memories.” Hennager highlighted the Arrows earned sweeps in seven contests this season, and went 2-1 in five-set matches (beating...
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Monday, Nov. 17 Boys Basketball First allowable practice date per Minnesota State High School League guidelines Wrestling First allowable practice date per Minnesota State High School League guidelines Thursday, Nov. 20 Girls Basketball 7:15 p.m., Pipestone Area at Montevideo 7:15 p.m., Edgerton Public at Windom Area Friday, Nov. 21 Girls Basketball 7:30 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, Tracy Saturday, Nov. 22 Boys Basketball 9 a.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Lakeview, Cottonwood, scrimmage Monday, Nov. 24 Girls Basketball First allowable practice date, per South Dakota High School Activities Association guidelines 7:15 p.m., Edgerton Public at Luverne, Classic Gymnasium Tuesday, Nov. 25 Girls Basketball 7:15...
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INFORMATION BOWLING SCORES From Bole-Mor Lanes Pipestone Lynnette’s Ladies Standings B&B RV Service 21-11, The Bowling Stones 19-13, Dolls w/Balls 18-14, American Legion 17-15, Rock Lobsters 15-17, Stay In Your Lane 14-18, JBS 13-19, Gutter Gals 11-21 Scores High game: Kayla Smith (Stay In Your Lane) 214, Julie Bauer (American Legion) 191, Chris Hollingsworth (B&B RV Service) 179 High series: Raechelle Kor (JBS, sub.) 515, Kayla Smith (Stay In Your Lane) 506, Julie Bauer (American Legion) 497 High team game: Stay In Your Lane 511, JBS 474, B&B RV Service 444 High team game: Stay In Your Lane 1,384, JBS...
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WORTHINGTON — Minnesota West Community & Technical College volleyball player Ally Nelson will be returning to a familiar scene later this week. The Bluejays have qualified for the NJCAA Division III tournament, where they finished second in the nation to Dallas, Texas-based Eastfield College in 2024. Matches are conducted at Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena in Cedar Rapids. Minnesota West faces Monroe University-Bronx (N.Y.) in the opening round at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 13. The Express are 20-5, and had a 13-match winning skein during the season. The Bluejays enter as the No. 2 seed with a 35-4 record, including 15-1...
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ELKTON, S.D. — The will to win can consume a team. But, earning that victory is all the sweeter when the will accomplishes the feat. That’s essentially the dynamic that carried Elkton-Lake Benton past state powerhouse Parkston, 14-8, in the South Dakota Class 9AA semifinals at teeth-chattering Elkton Athletic Complex Friday, Nov. 7. This marks ELB’s first state championship appearance since 2006 — after the past four years as a semifinalist. The 9AA second-ranked Elks (10-1) will play the top-seeded undefeated Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy coop at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the University of South Dakota’s DakotaDome in Vermillion. “I...
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VERMILLION, S.D. — Elkton-Lake Benton versus Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy is just one of several South Dakota High School Activities Association state championship football games set to be played this week. In addition to the Elkton-Lake Benton versus Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy clash, Elk Point-Jefferson against St. Thomas More (Rapid City) also is of interest to local fans. Jake Terry serves as the head coach at Elk Point-Jefferson. Title games are listed by class: 11A: Sioux Falls Christian vs. Lennox, Noon, Nov. 15 11AA: Yankton vs. Pierre T.F. Riggs, 7 p.m., Nov. 14 11AAA: Brandon Valley vs. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 5 p.m., Nov. 15...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ cross country team recalled the 2025 season with an awards program Thursday, Nov. 6, at Faith Community Church. Eight awards were presented to the runners (four male and four female). Rhaelee Heidebrink, the Arrows top finisher at the Section 3A meet, earned the Steve Prefontaine Award. Steve ‘Pre’ Prefontaine was a stellar American long-distance runner — setting records from 2,000 to 10,000 meters — before his untimely death in 1975. Prefontaine’s legacy includes Pre’s Rock in Eugene, Ore., which also is the site of a meet and track club named in his honor. PAS head coach...
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The Tyler Arts Council will present “Leaving Iowa” from Friday-Sunday, Nov. 14-16, at the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton School Performing Arts Center. The physical address for the PAC is 111 Lincoln County Road 8. Friday and Saturday performances will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday’s show is a matinee scheduled for 2 p.m. The show will have a running time of 122 minutes. Ticket prices are .30 per adult, .22 per student and .10 per child (which includes applicable fees). “Leaving Iowa” is a comedy about family vacations written by Spike Manton and Tim Clue. The play has received critical acclaim on the...
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The 2025-26 deer hunting season is underway. Hunters were seen all across Pipestone County on Saturday, adorned in blaze orange — with some organized parties. However, changes are ahead per a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources press release dated Oct. 27. Minnesota’s shotgun-only zone for deer hunting will be changed in 2026. The current shotgun zones remain in effect for this year. Once the law goes into effect, hunters generally will be allowed to use legal rifles or shotguns throughout the state during the deer season, wherever permitted. However, individual counties such as Pipestone County will be allowed to make...
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WORTHINGTON — Minnesota West Community & Technical College is currently seeking a new athletic director. Minnesota C&TC is currently running an advertisement for the open position on its Facebook page, and on the school’s website, mnwest.edu. Currently, Bluejays’ head women’s basketball coach Rosalie Hayenga-Hostikka is listed as the women’s athletic director on the school’s website. Former men’s athletic director Bob Purcell announced his retirement from the post last spring. Purcell had been athletic director for the past eight years, and served as the college’s head wrestling coach from the late-1990s until 2017. He was a two-time Minnesota College Athletic Conference...
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Both the Edgerton Public and Elkton-Lake Benton football teams prepared for the postseason with convincing wins. Edgerton downed New Ulm Cathedral, 52-7, on a woefully foggy Wednesday, Oct. 15, in this Minnesota Educators Association week special. Meanwhile, ELB traveled to Hayti, S.D., beating longtime nemesis Hamlin, 46-14, on Friday, Oct. 17. The Flying Dutchmen (7-1) were set to play the winner of a Section 3 9-Player game between Adrian-Ellsworth and Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 3 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals at Edgerton. Edgerton head coach Andrew Fleischman said he expected the Dragons to beat the Coyotes. “We know how difficult it’s going...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Thursday, Oct. 23 Cross Country 4 p.m., Pipestone Area, Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Section 3A meet, Madison Country Club (Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd serves as host) Football 7 p.m., Class 9AA first-round playoff game, De Smet at Elkton-Lake Benton, Elkton Athletic Complex Friday, Oct. 24 Competition Cheer 5 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at South Dakota High School Activities Association Class A state meet, Watertown Civic Arena, Watertown Volleyball 7 p.m., Fairmont at Pipestone Area, PAS Gymnasium 7 p.m., Red Rock Central at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Knights Gymnasium Saturday, Oct. 25 Cross Country Noon, Elkton-Lake Benton at South Dakota High...
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MINNEAPOLIS — Pipestone Area Schools’ senior Vivian Brockberg is making a return trip to the Minnesota State High School League Class A tournament. Teammate Jasmine Boeke, a junior, will be in Brockberg’s spot from the 2024 event as a first-time state qualifier. Those are just two of the dynamics as the Arrow duo competes at state beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 from the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center. “It feels amazing to make it to state again for tennis,” Brockberg said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but I feel fortunate...
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LUVERNE — Three Pipestone Area Schools cross country runners earned honorable mentions from their performances at the Big South Conference meet Tuesday, Oct. 14. Runners battled wet grounds and chilly and blustery conditions for the first time this season, with the temperature barely scraping 50 degrees. The conference meet features a unique format in which competitors from small and large schools run together. Later, times and places are extracted into divisions. “The important thing to remember at this conference meet is to run your race regardless of who’s in it,” PAS head coach Mark Moeller explained. “The big schools in...
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GARRETSON, S.D. — Elkton-Lake Benton freshman runner Adam Kinner has punched his ticket to the Class A state cross country meet. Kinner placed 17th in a time of 17 minutes, 24.68 at the Region 2A meet on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at River Ridge Golf Course. Elks’ head cross country coach Mark R. Harming said Kinner’s mental approach has served him well all season. In South Dakota, the top-20 individual placements and top-four schools reach the state meet, which will take place at Broadland Creek Golf Course in Huron. Several Flandreau runners also qualified for state, including defending state Class A...
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COLMAN, S.D. — Elkton-Lake Benton runner Adam Kinner has finished in the top-11 of every single meet during the 2025 season. Kinner added to his resume with a second-place finish at the Dakota Valley Conference meet on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Sunrise Ridge Golf Course. “Adam is a hard-working, dedicated runner,” ELB head coach Mark Harming said of the freshman in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “The reason that he’s been near the top for most of the season is all the work he has put in outside of the season.” Kinner clocked in with a time of...
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There were plenty of things to like about the Pipestone Area Schools’ football team’s performance on Friday, Oct. 10. The Arrow offense bounced back from a 14-point performance versus Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial to generate 413 yards en route to a 41-0 victory at Paulsen Field. “We were able to let loose on offense,” PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden explained. “We opened up, and (Austin) Musch made big plays with his feet and seeing the open guy, which was good to see.” The Arrows improved to 4-3 ahead of Wednesday’s regular-season finale at Le Seuer-Henderson. Sibley East remains winless on the...
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Short memories sure would serve the Pipestone Area Schools football team well Tuesday night. The No. 4 Arrows (4-4) are coming off a 61-point shellacking from Mid-South District, Brown subdistrict foe Le Sueur-Henderson. But, tonight’s Section 3AA first-round game versus fifth-seeded Windom Area marks an opportunity for PAS to start fresh. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Paulsen Field. “Every team is 0-0,” PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden noted. “We will see how Windom has improved over the year. We’ll need to be prepared and mentally focused.” Other 3AA first-round games in this seven-team section pit Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, Oct. 6 Girls Tennis Section 3A Team Tournament Montevideo 4, Pipestone Area 3 Volleyball Garretson d. Elkton-Lake Benton, 29-27, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21 Tuesday, Sept. 7 Volleyball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton d. Red Rock Central, 25-6, 25-18, 25-9 Edgerton Public d. Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey, 21-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-22 Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda d. Southwest Minnesota Christian, 25-19, 19-25, 16-25, 25-10, 15-10 Thursday, Oct. 9 Football Springfield 49, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 0 Boys Soccer Section 2A Playoffs Southwest Minnesota Christian 4, Cannon Falls 1 Volleyball Westbrook/Walnut Grove d. Pipestone Area, 25-14, 25-19, 25-12 Deubrook Area d. Elkton-Lake Benton, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23 Hills-Beaver Creek d. Edgerton Public,...
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ST. PETER — The Southwest Minnesota Christian School boys’ soccer team saw its season come to a close Saturday. St. Peter downed SWC, 3-1, in the Section 2A semifinals. The Saints will take on top-seeded Tri-City United (14-5) in the 2A championship at 5 p.m. Thursday from the Wescott Sports Complex in Austin. The winner will advance to the 2A state quarterfinals. “St. Peter is a well-disciplined, well-coached team,” SWC head soccer Brian Busker said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “We made a few mistakes that came back to bite us.” The Eagles (9-6-1) reached the second...
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INFORMATION BOWLING SCORES From Bole-Mor Lanes Pipestone Lynnette’s Ladies Standings American Legion 11-5, The Bowling Stones 10-6, B&B RV Service 10-6, Rock Lobsters 10-6, Dolls w/Balls 8-8, Gutter Gals 7-9, JBS 4-12, Stay In Your Lane 4-12 Scores High game: Amanda Olberding (Rock Lobsters) 220, Nancy Terry (American Legion) 204, Ashly Bainbridge (Dolls w/Balls) 197 High series: Amanda Olberding (Rock Lobsters) 514, Tami Miller (The Bowling Stones) 493, Julie Bauer (American Legion) 484 High team game: American Legion 507, Rock Lobsters 501, B&B RV Service 460 High team game: American Legion 1,354, Rock Lobsters 1,278, The Bowling Stones 1,268 Three...
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BRITTON, S.D. — Elkton-Lake Benton football players and coaches wonderfully handled a week with an unplanned alteration to its schedule. In the end, the South Dakota Class 9AA third-ranked Elks defeated Britton-Hecla, 36-13, on Friday, Oct. 10, at Hugh Schilling Field. On Monday, Oct. 6, Deubrook Area informed the Elkton school district it wouldn’t be able to field a team for what would have been an Elks’ home game — as well as Senior Night. “Due to a combination of injuries and unavailable players, we will be unable to field a full team for Friday night’s scheduled game against Elkton-Lake...
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Pipestone Area Schools’ tennis players Vivian Brockberg and Jasmine Boeke advanced to the second day of the Section 3A individual tournament. (Editor’s Note: A recap from the second day of the tournament will be found in the Thursday, Oct. 23, edition of the Pipestone County Star.) The top-seeded Arrow tandem of Brockberg and Boeke dispatched their first-round and quarterfinal opponents, yielding just five games en route to the semifinals at Huether Family Match Pointe. “Vivian’s been here before, obviously,” PAS head coach James Skyberg noted. “She knows what it takes.” Skyberg also complimented Boeke’s low-key, laid-back...
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For a brief spell during the second set, the Pipestone Area Schools’ volleyball team had the lead. That was much to the delight of first-year head coach Shelly Hennager. “We passed well, and that allowed us to run our big offense,” Hennager commented. “Taryn (Tuinstra) had three of the best swings she’s hit.” Tuinstra found seams between Westbrook/Walnut Grove’s blocking scheme, and the Arrows were ahead 13-11. Moreover, Emersyn Smidt served effectively to help PAS pull in front. There is video of this portion of the match on the Pipestone County Star’s Facebook page. WWG head coach Meghann Westover then...
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CORALVILLE, Iowa — Former Luverne and University of Minnesota hockey player Jaxon Nelson has a new home. Nelson will be playing for the Iowa Heartlanders, a member club of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliated with the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild. The ECHL is a developmental league. Earlier this year, Nelson was not tendered a qualifying offer from the NHL’s Boston Bruins. As a result, the former Bruins prospect became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Nelson, a native of Magnolia in Rock County, eventually signed with the Heartlanders on Aug. 6. During his time with the...
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The Little Arrows youth wrestling program will be conducting sign-ups on two days, Monday, Oct. 20 and Monday, Oct. 27. Sign-up sessions will run from 6-7 p.m. both nights in the Pipestone Area Schools middle school/high school commons area (1401 Seventh Street SW). A membership fee is , with a maximum of for an entire family with three or more wrestlers. There is a deposit for a singlet — with a new design this year. Parents/guardians are asked to bring two different checks for the membership and singlet deposit. There also is limited gear available to try on...
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The Elk Nation Hall of Fame banquet was conducted at the Elkton (S.D.) Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 4. Several athletes were inducted into the Elkton School hall of fame that evening. Here’s the group (from left), Lisa (Koch) Nicholas, coach Ervin Gebhart, Cameron Harming, Cole DeRuyter, coach Mark Harming, Quinn Fargen and Deb (Stein) Mahanke. The ceremony was complete with dinner. Read more about the inductees in a story featured at the Pipestone County Star website: www.pipestonestar.com.
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The Pipestone Area Schools football and volleyball teams learned their playoff fates on Thursday. The Arrows (4-4), after a rough loss to Le Sueur-Henderson on Wednesday evening, have been seeded fourth in Section 3AA. That means PAS will serve as host for a home game versus No. 5 Windom Area at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Paulsen Field. The Arrows will face the Eagles in the playoffs for the first time since 2023 when Windom Area came out on top. PAS won this year’s regular-season contest, 26-7, on Sept. 5. The PAS-Windom winner will face top-seeded, defending Class AA...
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Pipestone County Pheasants Forever chapter will present its 17th annual youth/mentor hunt on Saturday, Oct. 25. The hunt will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event offers youth ages 11-17 the opportunity to learn safe hunting practices and gain hands-on experience in the field while preserving Minnesota’s hunting heritage. Participants will meet at 9 a.m. at Luann’s Gas & More — followed by a gun safety presentation and trap shooting at 9:30 at an acreage west of Pipestone near State Highway 30. Pheasants Forever will provide lunch at Pizza Ranch, and a discussion period on safety, etiquette, tradition,...
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MARSHALL — Malayna Hemmen is currently a sophomore on the Southwest Minnesota State University women’s cross country team. Hemmen was a standout multi-sport athlete at Elkton-Lake Benton. This past weekend, Hemmen ran for the Mustangs at the Dordt University Classic in Sioux Center, Iowa. She recorded a time of 29:38 in the women’s varsity 6,000-meter race, and SMSU placed 16th in the Gold Division with 443 points. Minnesota State was the overall champion, and Bellevue’s Grace Steinmetz took top honors in 20:40. Earlier this season, Hemmen clocked in with a time of 18:38 in the women’s 3,600-meter race during the...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Friday, Oct. 17 Football 7 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Hamlin, Hayti, S.D. Marching Band 8:30 a.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Sioux Valley Marching Festival, Volga, S.D. Saturday, Oct. 18 Marching Band All Day, Pipestone Marching Arrows at Quad City Marching Competition, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S.D. Volleyball All Day, Elkton-Lake Benton at Dakota Valley Conference Tournament, at Arlington, S.D. Monday, Oct. 20 Volleyball 7 p.m., Section 3A south sub-section playoffs, Red Rock Central at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton 7 p.m., Section 3A south sub-section playoffs, Edgerton Public at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, Tracy Tuesday, Oct. 21 Football 7 p.m., Section...
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MARSHALL — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team capped a historic week by winning the Jimmy John’s Classic championship. But, Central Minnesota Christian made the Class A fourth-ranked Knights work for it. In the end, RTR downed CMCS in three tough sets by scores of 25-19, 22-25, 15-12 at Marshall High School during a week that saw head coach Daynica Brown surpass the 200-win mark. The Knights improved to 22-5 overall. “It was a great win, and to go 5-0 (in the tournament) is very impressive,” Brown noted. “We enjoyed playing CMCS in the championship. They were very quick and scrappy. Typically,...
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Last year, the Pipestone Area Schools and Southwest Minnesota Christian volleyball teams played a five-set classic. Fast forward to the 2025 encounter, with the Arrows sweeping the Eagles 25-20, 25-11, 25-23. In all fairness, scrappy SWC made PAS work hard to win that third and final set. “I think they were playing with ‘nothing to lose,’” PAS head coach Shelly Hennager said. “They were hitting the floor to get the ball up.” The Eagles closed within one point in the third set as SWC delivered an attack right at PAS senior Taryn Tuinstra — who actually caught the ball. One...
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LE SUEUR — The Pipestone Area Schools football team will look to enhance its standing before the Section 3AA playoffs begin next week. With a win over Le Sueur-Henderson tonight, PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden said the Arrows would most likely be the No. 2 or No. 3 seed. A loss could send the Arrows as low as the fourth seed. The first two teams in this seven-team section will receive a first-round bye, so a win tonight is imperative. “They are big and physical, and don’t give up a lot of points,” Boomgaarden said of the Giants. On defense,...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, Sept. 29 Boys Soccer Southwest Minnesota Christian 7, Fairmont 0 Volleyball Jackson County Central d. Southwest Minnesota Christian, 25-10, 23-25, 25-20, 25-14 Luverne d. Edgerton Public, 25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 25-16 Tuesday, Sept. 30 Boys Soccer Southwest Minnesota Christian 6, Wings United 1 Volleyball Pipestone Area d. Redwood Valley, 25-18, 25-20, 29-27 Hills-Beaver Creek d. Southwest Minnesota Christian, 16-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 Elkton-Lake Benton d. Flandreau, 25-19, 25-13, 25-20 Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda d. Edgerton Public, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton d. Murray County Central, 25-21, 25-16, 25-16 Thursday, Oct. 2 Volleyball Pipestone Area d. Southwest Minnesota Christian, 25-20, 25-11, 25-23...
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INFORMATION BOWLING SCORES From Bole-Mor Lanes Pipestone Lynnette’s Ladies Standings B&B RV Service 9-3, American Legion 8-4, The Bowling Stones 7-5, Rock Lobsters 7-5, Dolls w/Balls 7-5, Gutter Gals 4-8, JBS 3-9, Stay In Your Lane 3-9 Scores High game: Jennifer Cronin (The Bowling Stones) 184, Ginger Olberding (American Legion) 175, Mandy Matthiesen & Sarah Johnson (both Dolls w/Balls) 174 High series: Jennifer Cronin (The Bowling Stones) 505, Julie Bauer (American Legion) 465, Chris Hollingsworth (B&B RV Service) 464 High team game: American Legion 463, The Bowling Stones 460, B&B RV Service 431 High team game: American Legion 1,309, The...
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LUVERNE — Pipestone Area Schools’ junior runner Amelia Bucher continues to excel, and the Luverne Invitational was no different. Bucher raced in with a sixth-place finish in a competitive field — clocking in at 22:29.74. “Amelia really put herself out there, and ran a solid race,” PAS head cross country coach Mark Moeller explained. “She was within five seconds of her first and second miles. She makes running consistent like that look easy from week to week. She really hasn’t ran a bad race.” Moeller said Bucher is in position to run a personal-best time at some point in the...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Friday, Oct. 10 Football 7 p.m., Sibley East at Pipestone Area, Paulsen Athletic Complex (Homecoming) 7 p.m., Westbrook/Walnut Grove at Edgerton Public (Homecoming) 7 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Britton-Hecla, Britton, S.D. Saturday, Oct. 11 College Football 1:30 p.m., Minnesota West C&TC at Vermilion C.C., Ely Competition Cheer 10 a.m., Elkton-Lake Benton Invitational, Elkton School, South Gymnasium Boys Soccer 1 p.m., Section 2A playoffs, Southwest Minnesota Christian at St. Peter Marching Band All Day, Pipestone Area at Dutchmen Field Championship, Orange City, Iowa Youth Football 10 a.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Pipestone Area, Paulsen Athletic Complex Sunday, Oct. 12 Music 2...
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LAKE CRYSTAL — With a glass half full mentality, optimism abounds, right? The Pipestone Area football team, despite all of its trials and tribulations, still had a chance to win at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial and spoil the Knights Homecoming Friday, Oct. 3. The Arrows were driving inside the 20-yard line during the fourth quarter, but it stalled out and the Knights secured a Mid-South District, Brown Subdistrict 18-14 victory. PAS dropped to 3-3 while much-improved LCWM now stands at 4-2. The Arrows are preparing for their Homecoming game while the Knights continue their homestand versus Minnesota Valley Lutheran. “We had...
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The Pipestone Area Schools football team will look to get back on track with a Friday date against Sibley East. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Paulsen Field. There are two dynamics at play. First, this week marks Homecoming activities. Second, how do you motivate a team when the opposition is winless and hapless? PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden said the Arrows must avoid distractions this week. “We have to show up ready to play,” Boomgaarden said. “We have to be better in the small details. Boomgaarden also explained the Arrows can’t afford the sheer number of penalties (12...
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ALEXANDRIA — The Pipestone County 4-H Shooting Sports program once again shooting sports program continues to shine as one of Minnesota’s best. Pipestone County earned 36 individual medals and 40 more team medals during the Minnesota 4-H State Shooting Sports and Wildlife Invitational from Friday-Sunday, Sept. 5-7. “For the past 30 years we’ve been involved with 4-H, we’ve always been well-represented (on the state level),” said Dean Schulze, who serves as one of the organization’s coaches. Both coaches Robert Faber and Schulze were proud of how the team battled through adverse weather conditions. The tournament was distressed by rain, heavy...
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HILLS — Hills-Beaver Creek tallied 22 second-quarter points en route to a 41-6 victory over Edgerton in the Battle of the Red Rock. This trophy game was created several years ago; however, Edgerton still has yet to win a single contest in the series. The quartzite trophy itself weighs 20 pounds, and features a designation noted the 35 miles separating the schools. “Friday was another big game with two good football teams,” Hills-Beaver Creek head coach Rex Metzger said in an email to The Pipestone County Star. “The Battle of the Red Rock is always a fun game for the...
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ELKTON, S.D. — Eliot Erickson had a record-setting performance in the Elks’ convincing Homecoming victory over Garretson at the Elkton Athletic Complex. Erickson rushed 16 times for 350 yards and six TD as ELB continuously put points on the scoreboard, including 29 in the second quarter. The Elks had a massive 625-308 margin in total yards. Erickson’s yardage total surpassed the previous-best mark of 293 set by Eli Swenson during the 1994 season. The prior mark for rushing TD was three (Ryan Krog and Tanner Stein). Colt Beck added 217 yards passing and rushing, with three more scores. Myles Poindexter...
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EDGERTON — Diamond H Acres has announced the winners of various divisions during the rodeo facility’s Summer Buckle Series. The next buckle series will take place beginning Nov. 14 indoors at the venue, located between Edgerton and Hatfield off County Highway 16. There also were prizes for pee wee contestants. Here are the results, by rider and horse (if provided). Open Barrels 1D: 1, Sadie DeRuyter, Cowboy; 2, Makayla Cross, Kix; 3, Megan Rosendahl; 2D: 1, Makayla Cross, Runaway Rumchatta; 2, Kalley Modder; 3, Brilee Rieck; 3D: Kellie Vanderbrink, Cowboy; 2, Kally Modder; 3, Keisha Baum; 4D: Morgan Ober; 2,...
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HILLS — The clash of the unbeatens is set for this Friday, Oct. 3, Edgerton Public School, fresh off a 56-0 victory over Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda from Friday, Sept. 26, will square off with Hills-Beaver Creek. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. During a postgame interview with the Christensen Broadcasting Network, Edgerton head coach Andrew Fleischman said the Flying Dutchmen will “learn a lot about ourselves.” Fleischmann added: “The kids have worked really hard to put themselves in a position to play a big game like this.” Evan Skyberg capped the Flying Dutchmen’s scoring in the victory over HLOF with a...
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SLAYTON — Pipestone Area Schools freshman Ramon Macias continues making strides on grass. Macias recorded an 11th-place finish (19 minutes, 30 seconds) in a field of 73 varsity boys at the Warrior Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Slayton Country Club. "Roman ran a really aggressive race that put him in a great situation to run fast on a difficult course," PAS head coach Mark Moeller said. "I think he will make even more progress going into the postseason." What’s more impressive, Slayton Country Club provides for an old-school setting with demanding hills, several loops and plenty of spectator-friendly spots...
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Progress continues on the addition and remodeling project for the Edgerton Public School District. Ground was broken on the project last April. R.A. Morton of St. Cloud is serving as the construction manager, with the help of the architectural, engineering and planning team at TSP. A new single-story gymnasium is part of the project, which also will include new classrooms for preschool students, a sensory room, weight room, fitness center, band room, office area, lobby and restrooms plus bays for up to seven vehicles. The updates will also satisfy ADA requirements.
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The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton school district conducted homecoming week exercises last week, beginning with coronation in the Performing Arts Center at RTR in Tyler. Juhl Drake was named homecoming king and Ava Guida as queen. The week featured dress themes, including pajama day, tropical day, jersey day, USA day and spirit day with the school’s colors. A powder puff football game, parade and pep festival all took place last Friday running up to the 7-0 victory over rival Tracy-Milroy-Balaton.
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ girls tennis team was “super” during the super tie-breaker format. No. 1 singles player Kate Hanson needed 24 points to win the tie-breaker, 13-11, helping the Arrows to a 6-1 conquest over Big South Conference foe Worthington on Thursday, Sept. 25 at PAS Courts. PAS head coach James Skyberg also put together an impromptu team at No. 3 doubles — Iva Witte and Emma Smidt — and the tandem won its match over Claire Schultz and Isabella Poe, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 (super tie-breaker). “It’s huge to end the (regular) season,” Skyberg said of the dual conquest,...
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EDGERTON — The Central Minnesota Christian School boys’ soccer team flicked in a goal during the 80th minute, forging a 1-all tie with Southwest Minnesota Christian on Friday, Sept. 26. Levi Van Essen posted SWC’s lone goal in the 26th minute on a cross from Kade Fey, and the Eagles nearly made it stand up. CMC’s Moses DeGroot booted home the equalizer on a breakaway. SWC goalkeeper Josiah Hoftyzer made seven saves. The Eagles had a 5-2 edge in corner kicks; however, the Bluejays had a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Minnesota State High School League announced last...
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ELKTON, S.D. — The Elk Nation Hall of Fame banquet is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. The banquet will take place in the Elkton Community Room on Elk Street in downtown. Several athletes will be honored — as well as the 2013 state championship cross country team. Social hour will run until 6 p.m., with the meal and program to follow. The meal will feature barbecue chicken, smoked macaroni and cheese, a vegetable and dessert. Tickets will be sold at the door for . Individual inductees are Deb Mahanke (Stein) for basketball and track and field; Lisa Nicholas...
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ST. JAMES — A signature win. That’s what the Pipestone Area Schools volleyball team earned during the St. James Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 20, from the St. James Event Center. During pool play, the Arrows downed previously undefeated Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart in three sets by scores of 13-25, 25-23, 15-13. “Like Windom and Canby, they didn’t allow the ball to drop,” said PAS first-year head coach Shelly Hennager about BLHS. “We rose to the occasion, and showed we were able to compete at a higher level.” The victory, in turn, made the crossover championship match versus Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton somewhat anticlimactic. The Arrows...
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LAKE BENTON — In the late-2000s, Lake Benton made the decision to begin sending middle and high school students across state lines from Minnesota to South Dakota. However, Lake Benton Gymnasium still serves as host site for one volleyball match per season. "The gym is much smaller, which makes it far louder," ELB head coach Mikaela Hoeke said. "It's difficult to adjust to court awareness when the gymnasium size changes." Players from both teams also adjusted to a lower ceiling, which the coach commented can become an issue. Last Thursday, Sept. 18, De Smet needed four sets to beat ELB...
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MARSHALL — Logan Roelofs is currently competing on the Southwest Minnesota State University cross country team. Roelofs, who ran scholastically for Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, is a sophomore in academic standing at SMSU. On Friday, Sept. 5, Roelofs ran in the Augustana University Twilight Race, which featured roughly two dozen colleges and universities. Roelofs recorded a time of 22:07.5 over the course in Sioux Falls, S.D., which was a pace of 5:31.9. There were 394 runners in the field. This coming Friday, Roelofs will run at the famed Roy Griak Invitational on the University of Minnesota campus. The men’s race is set for...
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BURNSVILLE — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton middle blocker Ava Karbo was named to the all-tournament team based on her performance at the Midwest Warehouse Tournament Saturday afternoon. Karbo, and the rest of the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class A fourth-ranked Knights, claimed the Silver Division title by sweeping No. 5 Class A MACCRAY, 25-22, 25-19 in the bracket championship. “Ava stepped up as a true senior leader from creating energy on and off the court,” RTR head coach Daynica Brown said, “to her play from her aggressive hitting.” Brown said Karbo also transformed herself into a wall — with three key solo ace...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, Sept. 15 Boys Soccer Southwest Minnesota Christian 4, Wings United 2 Volleyball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton d. Westbrook/Walnut Grove, 25-11, 25-10, 25-18 Also Hamlin d. Elkton-Lake Benton, 3-0; 25-8, 25-14, 25-11 Tuesday, Sept. 16 Girls Tennis Fairmont 6, Pipestone Area 1 Volleyball Pipestone Area d. Blue Earth Area, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19 Red Rock Central d. Edgerton Public, 12-25, 19-25, 26-24, 27-25, 18-16 Adrian-Ellsworth d. Southwest Minnesota Christian, 25-18, 25-20, 25-14 Chester Area d. Elkton-Lake Benton, 25-11, 25-16, 25-9 Thursday, Sept. 18 Girls Tennis New Ulm Public 4, Pipestone Area 3 Volleyball De Smet d. Elkton-Lake Benton, 12-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19...
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The Class AA No. 1 ranked Jackson County Central football team came as advertised in last Friday’s game at the Paulsen athletic complex. Most everyone talks about how prolific the offense is. But, what about that defense, too? The Huskies held the Arrows to just 46 total yards of offense in a 48-6 conquest. “They play fast and physical,” PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden noted. Boomgaarden said the Arrows had “opportunities to move ball,” but it never quite materialized. Jackson County Central stopped one possible drive on an Isaac Hesebeck interception. Other times, quarterback Austin Musch had the ball sail...
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EDGERTON — A goal-line stand in the second quarter propelled Edgerton Public to a 24-0 victory over Adrian-Ellsworth on Friday, Sept. 19. Brady Jandl made a key stop on third down, and the team built an impenetrable fortress on fourth down — stopping Adrian-Ellsworth’s Jackson Jenniges short of the end zone. “It was a good test to have,” Jandl said in post-game comments on the Christensen Broadcasting streaming service. There was plenty of history entering this game. At one point, Edgerton and Ellsworth formed a coop for football. A-E shifted to the nine-player game this year. After the stand, Colin...
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INFORMATION BOWLING SCORES From Bole-Mor Lanes Pipestone Lynnette’s Ladies Standings Rock Lobsters 3-1, Stay In Your Lane 3-1, Dolls w/Balls 3-1, American Legion 2-2, JBS 2-2, B&B RV Service 1-3, The Bowling Stones 1-3, Gutter Gals 1-3 Scores High game: Holly Olberding (Rock Lobsters) 182, Nancy Terry (American Legion) 181, Shelly Hennager (Stay In Your Lane) 176. High series: Val Aubert (JBS) 474, Nancy Terry (American Legion) & Brooke Legler (Stay In Your Lane) 471, Amanda Olberding (Rock Lobsters) 458. High team game: Stay In Your Lane 451, American Legion 450, Rock Lobsters 435. High team series: American Legion 1260,...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ girls tennis team honored its seven seniors before a Big South Conference match versus New Ulm. Arrows’ No. 2 singles player Ava Boucher, one of those seniors, play inspired early on in her match versus New Ulm’s Natalie Fischer. However, Fischer eventually won 7-5, 6-0. PAS head coach James Skyberg served as the master of ceremonies for the ‘Senior Day’ festivitives — with video on the Pipestone County Star’s Facebook page. “It’s a big deal for us every year,” Skyberg said of the ceremony. The coach was proud the Arrows had their largest class of seniors...
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WALL-E. Johnny Five. Optimus Prime. And R2-D2. Those all are famous robots seen in the motion pictures. Now, Pipestone Area Schools has a robot of its own with Turf Tank Two, affectionately named “Betsy,” which could be seen lining the main football field at Paulsen Field Thursday, Sept. 18. PAS groundskeeper Cody Heidebrink said the robot has provided instant relief in many aspects. “There’s a cost savings with paint,” Heidebrink said. “It uses 7-1/2 gallons of paint every time it lines the (football) field.” Painting the field by hand used as many as 35 gallons each time, he reported. What’s...
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LOCAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thursday, Sept. 25 Competition Cheer 6 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Sioux Valley Invitational, Volga Cross Country 4:30 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Redwood Valley Invitational, Redwood Falls Girls Tennis 4:30 p.m., Worthington at Pipestone Area, PAS Courts Marching Band 9:30 a.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Arlington Festival Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Pipestone Area at Jackson County Central 7:15 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton 7:15 p.m., Murray County Central at Edgerton Public Friday, Sept. 26 Boys Soccer 4:30 p.m., Central Minnesota Christian at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton Football 7 p.m., Luverne at Pipestone Area, Paulsen Athletic Complex...
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For the first time in a number of years, Pipestone will serve as the site of a high school cross country meet. The meet is set for Monday at Pipestone Country Club. “I’m happy we were able to get a meet established, and hopefully have a spot on more teams’ calendars in the future,” PAS head cross country coach Mark Moeller said. “I just want to make sure we run a smooth meet.” Moeller said he hopes the athletes and coaches “have a great experience so that we can continue to have this meet grow.” There will be divisions for...
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A food drive will be conducted during the “Battle Axe” game between Pipestone Area and Luverne set for Friday, Sept. 26, at Paulsen Athletic Field. Dahl Motors of Pipestone and Papik Motors of Luverne are serving as the drive’s co-sponsors. Bring a non-perishable food item to the “Battle Axe” game. Boxes will be placed near the south entrance. The food drive will benefit your community’s food shelf, and claim victory. For information, call event coordinator Peyton Elbers at 1-507-215-2322.
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EDGERTON — Diamond H Acres will be the site of a special goat tying clinic on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26. Multi-time Wisconsin state champion Kallie Parrish will be the guest clinician. Parrish’s personal-best time is 7.6 seconds. She has competed at the National High School Rodeo Finals, and is currently a member of the RodeoNow Junior Pros. During this two-day clinic, participants will learn the basics, drills and work with their horses. The Saturday, Oct. 25 session will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 26 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost is 0, and includes lunch...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, Sept. 8 Boys Soccer Southwest Minnesota Christian 2, Marshall 0 Volleyball George-Little Rock Tournament Edgerton Public d. Sibley-Ocheyedan, 19-21, 21-13, 15-12 Edgerton d. Harris-Lake Park, 21-16, 21-19 George-Little Rock d. Edgerton, 21-13, 21-16 Also Hamlin d. Elkton-Lake Benton, 3-0; 25-8, 25-14, 25-11 Tuesday, Sept. 9 Competition Cheer Elkton-Lake Benton places third at the Parkston (S.D.) Invitational. Volleyball Edgerton d. Southwest Minnesota Christian, 3-1; 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-19 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton d. Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey, 3-0, 25-12, 25-14, 25-17 Windom Area d. Pipestone Area, 3-1; 25-21, 15-25, 25-16, 25-16 Thursday, Sept. 11 Boys Soccer Southwest Minnesota Christian 5, Butterfield-Odin 1...
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Yes, Minnesota state high school football fans already have seen the video game-like results from Jackson County Central this season. The Huskies’ 77-0 thrashing of Sibley East on Friday, Sept. 12 served as the latest example of what the defending Class AA champions do. As noted by Jackson County Pilot sports editor Dan Condon, in the win, JCC established new school records for points in a quarter, half and game. The Huskies have scored 191 points through three games, and allowed 46. With possibly wet conditions later this week, PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden said he knows what to expect...
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NEW ULM — The Pipestone Area Schools’ football team excelled in red zone defense to earn its second victory of the season Friday, Sept. 12. The Arrows denied the Chargers on several trips inside PAS’ own 20-yard line en route to a 28-7 victory over Minnesota Valley Lutheran in Mid-South District, Brown Subdistrict action at Johnson Field. “We didn’t break,” PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden noted. “We tightened up inside the red zone and made it tough to score. It was a gritty performance.” Boomgaarden credited senior linebacker Xavier Banjoko for a pivotal quarterback sack in the win. (Due to...
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TYLER — A ground-swelling revival continues for the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton football program. The Knights finished with a 462-193 edge in total offense as RTR knocked off previously undefeated Lakeview, 42-14, Friday, Sept. 13. RTR head coach Ted Kern applauded the efforts from the Knights’ offensive line. “I was very pleased with our line both in the run and pass game,” Kern mentioned in an email to The Pipestone County Star. “They stayed on blocks well, and gave our backs a chance to get a head of steam (in the run game),” Kern continued. “We ran the ball hard, and kept Gavin...
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EDGERTON — Turnabout was fair play as the Edgerton Public volleyball team knocked off Southwest Minnesota Christian in four sets Tuesday, Sept. 9. Set scores in this Red Rock Conference match were 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-19 in favor of Edgerton. The Eagles had beaten the Flying Dutch on Tuesday, Sept. 2 in four. Edgerton’s Reese Vande Griend played, perhaps, her finest scholastic match ever with 19 kills and teammate Kya Voge supplied 18. Vande Griend also had five solo ace blocks. Cara Ruiter and Voge joined forces for 38 assists combined in Edgerton’s 6-2 aligned offense. Ailynn Johnson served up...
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WABASSO — The Pipestone Area Schools volleyball team advanced to the Thumper Division of the Wabasso Tournament Saturday, Sept. 13. Then the Arrows ran into Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association Class A seventh-ranked MACCRAY (Maynard-Clara City-Raymond) in the opening round. MACCRAY’s front-row prowess proved to be the difference as the Wolverines powered past PAS, 25-19, 25-15. “They have a couple of hitters with a lot of experience,” PAS head coach Shelly Hennager noted. One of those hitters is 6-foot-1 middle blocker Brielle Janssen, who happens to be teammates with PAS’ Jadyn Kor with the Minnesota Rise basketball program. Emma Thein also...
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ST. JAMES — Both PAS and Edgerton Public will compete in the St. James Invitational set for Saturday, Sept. 20. All teams are guaranteed four matches, and there will be two round-robin pools — with matches beginning at 9 a.m. Here are the pools: Pool A: PAS, Le Seuer-Henderson, New Ulm Cathedral, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Pool B: Edgerton, St. James Area, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton and Madelia. PAS plays New Ulm Cathedral at 10 a.m., Le Seuer-Henderson 11 a.m. and BLHS noon. Edgerton takes on JWP at 9 a.m., SJA 10 a.m. and Madelina noon. Crossover matches will take place at 1 p.m., a...
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ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources would like to remind off-road enthusiasts about matters concerning safety. Minnesota offers a network with thousands of miles of trails available for riding off-road vehicles. These vehicles are convenient for traversing from one point to another, and allows for a positive way to experience the outdoors. The DNR has plenty of safety tips: First, ride only on designated trails at a safe speed. Like when in motor vehicles, drive on the right side of the trail. Clothing also is important. The DNR suggests riders wear googles, long sleeves, long pants, over-the-ankle...
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INFORMATION LOCAL CALENDAR Monday, Sept. 15 Boys Soccer 4:30 p.m., St. James Area at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton Cross Country 4 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Arlington Invitational, Lake Region Golf Course, Lake Norden Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Westbrook/Walnut Grove at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Knights Gymnasium, Tyler Tuesday, Sept. 16 Cross Country 4:30 p.m., Pipestone Area, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Lac qui Parle Valley Invitational, Madison Country Club, Madison, Minn. (Meet was cancelled due to heat) Girls Tennis 4 p.m., Fairmont at Pipestone Area, PAS Courts Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Red Rock Central at Edgerton Public 7:15 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Chester Area...
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REDWOOD FALLS — Pipestone Area Schools’ Ireland Draper and Emma Smidt picked up their first varsity win during a Big South Conference girls tennis match at Redwood Valley Thursday, Sept. 11. The Arrows won all three doubles matches; however, Redwood Valley captured all four singles points for a slim 4-3 victory on the school’s newly resurfaced courts. Draper and Smidt defeated the Cardinal pair of Iris Vogland and Emma Lindsmeier, 6-4, 6-4. PAS head coach James Skyberg said he had to juggle the lineup, and was pleased to see Smidt and Draper pull through — giving them confidence to play...
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MARSHALL — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team had a historic performance in the Southwest Challenge this past weekend. The Knights earned 10th place in a field of 32 teams. “I’m very happy with our team’s performance at this point of the year,” RTR head coach Daynica Brown said. “Achieving the highest ranking in RTR history (at this tournament) speaks volumes about this team.” These hard-working Knights squared off with 2024 Class AAAA runner-up Champlin Park — topping them in three sets 25-20, 27-29, 15-12 — before losing to Chanhassen 25-16, 25-20. Eventually, Chanhassen reached the championship match, but Marshall stopped the...
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TRACY — Thanks to threatening weather, the Panther Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 4, turned into a McMeet. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton served as event host. Boys and girls were combined into three races: varsity covering 5,000 meters, a junior varsity race going 4,000 meters and a “C” division event (2,000 meters). Heavy rain began to fall at Tracy Golf Club just moments after conclusion of the varsity race, with runners, coaches and fans scurrying to their vehicles. Mother Nature provided a mixed bag during the condensed 80-minute meet: sun, rain, 30 seconds of pea-sized hail and plenty of wind. PAS head coach Mark...
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EDGERTON — Jonah Uilk played “beat the clock,” scoring with two seconds left in the first half to give Southwest Minnesota Christian a 2-1 lead. However, St. Peter put home two goals in the second half for a 3-2 victory. SWC (1-4) played at Marshall on Monday evening, a game result which will be included in the Thursday, Sept. 18 edition of the Pipestone County Star. Graham Moosey opened the game’s scoring with a nifty goal in the fourth minute — off a feed from Kade Fey. Josiah Hoftyzer was busy for the Eagles with 13 saves. SWC had a...
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TRUMAN — Edgerton Public demonstrated balance on offense while the defense earned a shutout en route to the Flying Dutchmen blanking Granada-Huntley-East Chain-Truman Saturday, Sept. 6. Edgerton (2-0) will play its first home game of the season 7 p.m. Friday versus Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey. Colin Scholten threw long-range TD passes to Tucker Arp and Michael Gunnink, both of whom also scored in the first half on runs. Gunnink added three two-point conversions, and Kaisen Hendriks one as the Flying Dutchmen staked themselves to a 38-0 lead by intermission. Arp also returned an interception for a TD and Weston Van’t Hof...
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NEW ULM — The Pipestone Area Schools’ football team played the role of movie producers during a 2024 game versus Minnesota Valley Lutheran. The film’s title was “Escape from New Ulm.” During the fourth quarter, the now-graduated Hayden Brooke booted a punt under heavy pressure from the Chargers’ punt block unit and Cayden Zephier batted away an MVL “Hail Mary” attempt on the game’s final play. What’s more, Johnson Field isn’t an easy place to play. “It’s different,” PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden said. The Arrows don’t suit up in uniform at the stadium. The place is typically teeming with...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ balanced offense and stingy defense were both on display in last Friday’s home opener. PAS nearly doubled Windom Area in total yardage en route to its first victory of the season as the Arrows downed the Eagles, 26-7, at the Paulsen Athletic Complex. On Parents Night, parents went home happy. And so did players, coaches and fans. “I thought the kids played well,” PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden said. “We made big plays when we needed to, and we executed.” The Arrow offense generated 367 yards with Cayden Zephier rushing for 96 yards on 13 carries....
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The Pipestone Area Schools girls tennis team capped off a busy stretch with a road split Saturday, Sept. 6. The Arrows nipped Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, 4-3; however, lost to Morris Area-Hancock/West Central Area, 5-2. “It was huge for the girls,” PAS head coach James Skyberg said of the team earning two match wins last week. The Arrows also topped River Valley (Springfield), 5-2, on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Skyberg said the Arrows are beginning to play with more confidence, and that has resulted in more success. To beat Benson/KMS, PAS swept the doubles matches and Aleryn Brinkmeyer picked up a 6-4, 6-4 victory...
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The Pipestone Country Club will serve as host for a couples tournament on Saturday, Sept. 20. This 18-hole scramble formatted tournament will begin at 11 a.m. The cost is ; however, a cart is not included in the entry fee. The physical address for the club is 1003 8th Avenue SE in Pipestone. Big Cup Tournament Sept. 27 PCC will serve as host of a “Big Cup Tournament” on Saturday, Sept. 27. Traditionally, “Big Cup” events are modified, with holes intentionally enlarged and often featuring cups twice the size of standard ones measuring 4-1/4 inches. This 18-hole three-person scramble formatted...
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Here are the Pipestone Area Schools cheerleaders for the 2025 football season. Front row (from left), Alexia Vivanco, Ashley Caso, Stephanie Campos, Melanie Campos and Valencia Murphy. Back row, Amelia Homandberg, Violet Dougherty, J’anasia Larkins, Abbi Haack and manager Matthew Swenson. Mariah Swanson serves as the PAS cheer coach and sponsor. The Arrows will perform at all football games this season.
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LOCAL CALENDAR Boys Soccer 7 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University Volleyball 4 p.m., Edgerton at George-Little Rock Tournament, George, Iowa 7:15 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Hamlin, Hayti, S.D. Tuesday, Sept. 9 Cross Country 4 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton and Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Jesse James Invitational, River Ridge, Garretson, S.D. 4:30 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Canby Invitational Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Pipestone Area at Windom Area, The Nest 7:15 p.m., Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Knights Gymnasium 7:15 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Edgerton Thursday, Sept. 11 Boys Soccer 4:30 p.m., Butterfield-Odin at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton Cross...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD Tuesday, Sept. 2 Girls Tennis Pipestone Area 5, River Valley 2 Volleyball Pipestone Area d. Luverne, 3-1; 25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 25-10 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton d. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 3-0; 25-8, 25-17, 25-13 Southwest Minnesota Christian d. Edgerton, 3-1; 25-11, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21 Elkton-Lake Benton d. Castlewood, 3-0; 26-24, 25-21, 25-19 Thursday, Aug. 28 Girls Tennis Luverne 4, Pipestone Area 3 Volleyball Pipestone Area d. Adrian-Ellsworth, 3-1; 25-23, 18-25, 25-21, 25-22 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton d. Canby, 3-2; 25-22, 17-25, 22-25, 25-20, 19-17 Lakeview d. Edgerton Public, 3-1; 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-17 Elkton-Lake Benton d. Oldham-Ramona-Rutland, 3-0; 25-18, 25-15, 25-17 Friday, Aug. 29 Football Pipestone Area...
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WORTHINGTON — Ally Nelson brings experience to the Minnesota West Community & Technical College volleyball team. Nelson, a native of Tyler who played at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, is a second-year player on the Bluejays squad. So far this season, Minnesota West has compiled a 10-1 record. The Bluejays are currently ranked third in the country in the latest NJCAA Division III poll, scoring 79 voting points. Dallas College Eastfield is No. 1, and Sandhills Community College is second. Minnesota West will be home for three matches later this week, versus Rochester C&TC at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and matches versus Western Technical College...
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WABASSO — Both the Pipestone Area and Southwest Minnesota Christian volleyball teams play in the Wabasso Invitational set for Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Activity Center. Teams will play two sets, with a cap on 27 points. Points will be earned for each set won, and to the winner of each match. The maximum number awarded per match will be three points. Pool A will feature host Wabasso, MACCRAY, Redwood Valley and Southwest Minnesota Christian. Pool B is composed of Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD), Central Minnesota Christian, Pipestone and Springfield. The top two teams from each pool will then move...
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BROOKLYN CENTER — The Minnesota State High School League has formed a new partnership with USA Wrestling. The announcement was made on Wednesday, Sept. 3. USA Bracketing will now be the go-to site for all events, results, statistics and weight management. With this new endeavor, all section and state tournament events in Minnesota will use USA Bracketing. Moreover, all school-hosted dual meets and tournaments will be able to use software at no additional cost to any district in the state. This software features the latest in fully integrated graphics. “The league is proud to partner with USA Bracketing,” MSHSL associate...
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DELL RAPIDS, S.D. — Former Pipestone Area Schools head volleyball coach Carrie Smith continues coaching the sport she loves. The Dell Rapids school board officially approved Smith as a high school assistant at its July meeting. Smith also will serve the Dell Rapids district as an elementary school special education teacher. She receives a stipend for coaching volleyball. “I wanted a change of pace,” said Smith, who had spent the previous decade plus working for the Brookings school district, in a Friday, Aug. 29, telephone conversation with the Pipestone County Star. “I’m a small-town girl,” added Smith, who played for...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ girls tennis team is still seeking its first win in a dual setting this year. The Arrows suffered a pair of 7-0 losses last week to Blue Earth Area at home at St. James Area on the road. This will be a busy week for the team. After Tuesday’s home match versus River Valley (Springfield), PAS has a Big South Conference road match at Luverne Thursday — followed by two more Saturday, Sept. 6, at Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (10 a.m.) and Morris Area-Hancock-West Central Area (1:30 p.m.). Results from last week’s matches are found in agate accompanying this story....
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The youth football season begins for both Pipestone Area and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton this Saturday, Sept. 6. Pipestone Area will play at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton this Saturday, while Russell-Tyler-Ruthton squares off against Marshall Orange at home in Tyler. Kickoff for both of these Little Ten Youth Football League match-ups is set for 10 a.m. Youth football is for students in third through sixth grade. The format for games will remain the same as in previous years, with both teams spending 20 minutes on both offense and defense. Last weekend, Pipestone Area participated in a joint practice/scrimmage versus Heron-Lake Okabena-Fulda at the Paulsen Athletic Complex....
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MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton’s Jonah Uilk and Hannah Masselink were the region’s top finishers at the Marshall Invitational on Monday, Aug. 25. Runners traversed Marshall Golf Club, with a limited number of schools participating. Uilk, who qualified for the 2024 Class A state meet, clocked in with a time of 17:32.6. Masselink recorded a time of 20:14.5 on the girls’ side. As for Pipestone Area Schools, Rhaelee Heidebrink was the Arrows’ top girls finisher in 21:53.1 — which was good enough for 17th. “This is the best start to the season she’s had as a cross country athlete,” PAS...
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Minnesota West Community & Technical College offensive lineman Codin Bullerman (50) blocks during the Bluejays’ season-opening football game versus national powerhouse College of DuPage (Ill.) at Trojan Field in Worthington. Bullerman (6-foot-5, 285 pounds) is a former standout for Adrian-Ellsworth. The NJCAA Division III No. 1 ranked Chaparrals downed the Bluejays, 37-7. However, the Bluejays played much better than the final score indicated with 339 yards in total offense, including 261 passing. Minnesota West went 0-for-5 in the red zone, with three costly turnovers, two of which were Armon Vinson interceptions. Justin Spears collected 25 tackle points to pace Minnesota...
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WORTHINGTON — Minnesota West Community and Technical College head volleyball coach Brittney McNab recently marked a milestone. McNab earned her 100th career coaching victory in a 3-1 victory over Northland Community & Technical College at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. The Bluejays won by set scores of 25-17, 26-28, 25-19, 25-20. In the win, former Russell-Tyler-Ruthton standout Ally Nelson provided seven kills, four digs and three solo ace blocks. Minnesota West stands at 7-1 after the Siouxland Invitational in Sioux City, Iowa — with tournament wins over Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College, Labette (Kan.) and Western Iowa Tech. Highland (Kan.) is the only...
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ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to avoid shooting marked research bears. The bear hunting season officially opened on Monday, Sept. 1, across the state. These bears are marked with distinctive, large and colorful ear tags. They also are wearing radio collars. Researchers are monitoring 50 black bears across the state. These bears live primarily near Chippewa National Forest, Camp Ripley or the Brainerd and Duluth areas. All but three of the bears are female. Photos of collared research bears and findings are available on the Minnesota DNR bear hunting page. Select seasons are...
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The Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club summer trap shooting league came to a conclusion on Wednesday, Aug. 27. This was the first-ever league of its kind at the grounds located northeast of Pipestone. Here’s the group (from left): Dalton Van Dyke, Gary Groth, Mark Templin, Dar Sietsma, Justin Kroschell and Cal Tinklenberg. Results may be found in agate form on the inside rail of Page 2 in the sports section of The Pipestone County Star. Sietsma was also the winner of the lawn mower drawings.
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INFORMATION LOCAL SCOREBOARD Tuesday, Aug. 19 Girls Tennis Yellow Medicine East 5, Pipestone Area 2 MACCRAY (Clara City) 4, Pipestone Area 3 Thursday, Aug. 21 Boys Soccer New Ulm 3, Southwest Minnesota Christian 1 Girls Tennis Montevideo 7, Pipestone Area 0 Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd 4, Pipestone Area 3 Friday, Aug. 22 Football Elkton-Lake Benton 59, Waubay-Summit (S.D.) 8 Saturday, Aug. 23 Volleyball Sideout Classic At New Prague Mayer Lutheran d. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 25-21, 24-26, 25-14, 25-20 HOW THEY STAND As of Sunday, Aug. 24 Standings Football School Record Elkton-Lake Benton 1-0...
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LOCAL CALENDAR Tuesday, Sept. 2 Cross Country 10 a.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Redhawk Run, Hendricks Golf Course Girls Tennis 4:30 p.m., River Valley (Springfield) at Pipestone Area Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Pipestone Area at Luverne, Cardinal Gymnasium 7:15 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Castlewood 7:15 p.m., Edgerton at Southwest Minnesota Christian 7:15 p.m., Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Knights Gymnasium Thursday, Sept. 4 Cross Country 4:15 p.m., Pipestone Area and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Invitational, Tracy Golf Course Girls Tennis 4:30 p.m., Pipestone Area at Luverne Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Pipestone Area at Adrian-Ellsworth 7:15 p.m., Oldham-Ramona-Rutland at Elkton-Lake Benton 7:15 p.m., Edgerton at Lakeview (Cottonwood)...
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WORTHINGTON — Pipestone Area Schools’ seniors Vivian Brockberg and Kate Hanson were paired together for a doubles tournament Saturday, Aug. 23. And the new tandem was successful, feeding off their success from a doubles match versus Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd Thursday, Aug. 21. “They did really well together,” PAS assistant coach Tanya Schroyer said. “They both stepped up and scored a lot of points.” The Worthington Tournament has a non-traditional format, with two PAS doubles teams in each one of three flights. Winning a single game in a match was worth one point. Yellow Medicine earned the overall team title...
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The Pipestone Area Schools football team returns five starters from last year’s squad that produced a 7-3 record. All of the starters are two-way players, as reported by PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden. Those players are 2024 offensive player of the year Cayden Zephier (who will play running back this year), quarterback/defensive back Austin Musch, offensive/defensive lineman Jackson Post, wide receiver/defensive back Kayden White and running back/linebacker Xavier Banjoko. Zephier, as a wide receiver last season, paced the Arrows with 655 yards including a 94-yard TD. He picked off three Redwood Valley passes during the Section 3AA playoff game. Playing...
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NEW PRAGUE — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team opened the 2025 season at The 12th Annual Sideout Classic Saturday, Aug. 23. In a contest of teams ranked in the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll, No. 2 Mayer Lutheran defeated No. 5 RTR in four sets, 25-21, 24-26, 25-14, 25-20. Laken Baartman, who just celebrated her 17th birthday Monday, paced the Knights defense with 30 digs and Sara Thooft added 10. Dru Ellefson distributed 23 assists and Brezlyn Buchert 10 as four different players scored in this statistical category. Ava Karbo pounded down 11 kills and Sara Thooft nine. Brynn Borresen...
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ROCHESTER — Minnesota West Community & Technical College football opens the season this Saturday, Aug. 30. And the Bluejays have been picked to finish third in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference’s preseason poll. Head coaches from all the member schools cast ballots, sharing their thoughts on the 2025 season. Minnesota West will play NJCAA Division III national champion College of DuPage (Ill.) at 1 p.m. Saturday from Trojan Field in Worthington. Jermaine Smith, the ex-Green Bay Packer, begins his second season as Minnesota West’s head coach. Former Pipestone Area Schools offensive coordinator Ryan Koopman will be quarterback coach/special teams coordinator...
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LAKE BENTON — The 30th Annual Buffalo Ridge Pheasants Forever banquet has been set for Saturday, Sept. 13. The Lake Benton Events Center will be the site. The physical address is 114 Center Street South. Happy hour and drawings will take place from 5-7 p.m., with the dinner and live auction to follow. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
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Football helmets gleamed from bright, morning sunlight. Such was the atmosphere as Pipestone Area Schools and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton conducted a scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Paulsen Athletic Complex. Both PAS’ head coach Scott Boomgaarden and RTR head coach Ted Kern were mostly satisfied with what transpired. “It was good to see live reps,” Boomgaarden noted. Making tackles in this live setting was just one positive takeaway. “I was pleased with our physicality,” Kern said. “I thought the kids responded well.” The Arrows and Knights varsity and junior varsity units took turns on offense and defense. Series were scripted with 15...
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WAUBAY, S.D. — And the beat goes on for the Elkton-Lake Benton football team. The Elks scored 28 first-quarter points en route to thrashing Waubay-Summit, 59-8, in the season-opening game for both schools on Friday, Aug. 22. ELB (1-0), ranked No. 1 in South Dakota Class 9AA preseason poll, lived up to the hype. But, the Elks will face a stern test with No. 4 Viborg-Hurley coming to town Friday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Elkton Athletic Complex. ELB defeated the Vikings by 16 points last year. Colt Beck scored the first three Elks’ TD...
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EDGERTON — Results from the Rock River Rodeo Days event on Saturday, Aug. 16, have been released. Chaz Carda from Hartford, S.D., was tops in bull riding, with Keagan Deuschle, a contestant from Iowa, second. John Thelen from Pierre, S.D., was the overall saddle bronc champion. Owen Mason, of Cannon Falls, took top honors in the ranch bronc competition. Scores from bull riding, saddle bronc and ranch bronc were not provided to The Pipestone County Star. Ranch bronc and saddle bronc are not the same. In ranch bronc riding, the contestant uses a standard working saddle and rides may use...
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The Pipestone Parks and Recreation Department conducted its annual trip to see a Minnesota Twins game on Thursday, Aug. 21. Forty-four youth and seven adults boarded a motorcoach for Target Field bright and early that day, Parks and Recreation department director Robert Petersen reported. The Athletics defeated the Twins, 8-3, as Tyler Soderstrom went 4-for-4 and Nick Kurtz blasted a home run with an exit velocity of more than 111 mph. Brooks Lee, Kody Clemens and Luke Keaschall scored runs for Minnesota, and Jose Urena absorbed the loss.
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The Pipestone Parks and Recreation Department is offering plenty of fall youth programs. Here’s a little rundown on each program offered: Flag football will take place Monday, Sept. 8, Sept. 15, Sept. 22, Sept. 29 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 from the Paulsen Athletic Complex. The cost is . Pipestone Area Schools football coaches will serve as instructors. Volleyball is for players from five years old through sixth grade at PAS Gymnasium. The program runs on Friday, Sept. 5, Sept. 12, Sept. 19, Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 from 3:30-4:15 p.m. The cost is . Tennis...
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INDIANAPOLIS — While there are no sweeping rules changes in football this season, the National Federation of High Schools and Minnesota State High School League are looking at several points of emphasis. A main point concerns the defenseless player/targeting issue. A defenseless player is one, who because of physical position and concentration, proves vulnerable on a given play. The NFHS says this is not determined by another player’s actions, and the organization moved the matter from one section to another in the national rule book. Illegally and improperly worn player equipment will be scrutinized, including jewelry, tinted visors, towels, non-compliant...
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New sneakers and happy feet will run at Marshall Golf Club Monday, Aug. 25. It will signal the beginning of a new cross country season for Pipestone Area Schools and other teams across Minnesota. The meet begins at 5 p.m. And for head boys and girls coach Mark Moeller, now in his fourth season leading the Arrows, goals have been defined. “I would really like to see our girls place in the top five at sections this year,” Moeller said. “Last year, I was hoping for a fifth-place finish, but we had some nagging injuries that I think kept us...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Monday, Aug. 25 Boys Soccer 6:45 p.m., Fairmont at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton Competition Cheer 6 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at St. Mary’s Invitational, Dell Rapids Cross Country 4:30 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Lakeview Invitational, Cottonwood 5 p.m., Pipestone Area at Marshall Invitational, Marshall Golf Club Tuesday, Aug. 26 Girls Tennis 4:30 p.m., Blue Earth Area at Pipestone Area, PAS Courts Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Minneota 7:15 p.m., Fairmont at Pipestone Area, PAS Gymnasium 7:15 p.m., Luverne at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton 7:15 p.m., Dell Rapids at Elkton-Lake Benton, Elkton, S.D. Thursday, Aug. 28 Boys Soccer 4:30 p.m., Southwest...
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Winners have been made public from the 3-on-3 basketball tournament conducted at Pipestone Area Schools on Saturday, Aug. 9. Fifteen teams participated in all, said tournament organizer Chris Gorter. Tarheels won the 18-plus men’s division, a team with Falcon Abers, Jonnie Gorter, T.J. Shellman and Choike Mannie. Gorter is a Pipestone resident. The Triplets took the 14-18 boys title, a threesome composed of Chas Shumaker, Henry Voight and Oliver Voight. In the seventh/eighth-grade division, Swish Squad took the title. The team featured Brody Winter, Ethan Musch, Finn Juhl and Thain Smidt. Winter, Musch and Smidt are Pipestone-based youth. The fifth/sixth-grade...
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Reid Homann will be one of many Pipestone A’s alumni set to play in a special benefit game Sunday, Aug. 24. Homann was a standout pitcher/infielder for the A’s for three seasons (2020-22), and beforehand with Pipestone Area Schools. Game time is 3 p.m. at A’s/City Field. Players are requested to arrive one hour beforehand. “I’m really grateful to Avery (Ploeger) for putting so much effort into this,” said Homann, the son of the late David G. Homann, who passed away on July 14, 2022, at the University of Iowa Health Center. Proceeds from the event — chiefly concession sales...
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Let a new season of bowling begin. Bole-Mor Lanes will conduct a sign-up and informational meet for both teams and substitutes during the first week of September. The ladies league meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. The mixed league presentation is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4. Bole-Mor is located at 102 7th Avenue SE. For information, call Taya DeRycke at 1-507-562-2531, and or log onto the website: www.bolemorlanes.com/league.
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McCaden Biever took the championship flight title at the Pipestone Country Club championships. Biever carded a two-day total of 151, topping Mitchell Biever by one stroke, in the event concluding on Sunday, Aug. 17. Wade Newgard was third, three strokes back. Both McCaden Biever and Mitchell Biever will represent Pipestone Country Club at the NB Cup set for Saturday, Sept. 13, at Hendricks Golf Club. Newgard, one of the tournament’s organizers, said 61 golfers participated. In the executive division, Conner Zephier was tops with a 156. Braxton Heidebrink placed second with a 160, and Merrick Heidebrink third (164). Executive division...
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The Great Plains Tractor Pullers Association conducted a pull during the Pipestone County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 2. Here are the top results. INFORMATION Pipestone County Fair Great Plains Tractor Pullers Association Event Pull Saturday, Aug. 2 At Grandstand Top-Three Performances (Per Division) Pure Stock 8700 1, Blair Sandbulte, 205.02 feet; 2, Austin Van Kekerix, 199-22; 3, Pat Kremer, 195.61 Pure Stock 9700 1, Landen Beek, 236.03; 2, Justin Belluyt, 231.30; 3, Austin Van Kekerix, 226.42 Pure Stock 10700 1, Dean Wenzel, 300.67; 2, Gerald Sandbulte, 298.73; 3, Landen Beek, 293.08; 4, Kade Kor, 289.49 Pure Stock 11700 1, Gerald...
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Prepare to hear the thud of volleyballs crash landing onto hardwood floors. Pipestone Area Schools will open the 2025 regular season with a pair of home matches next week. The Arrows will take on Big South Conference foe Fairmont Tuesday, Aug. 26, followed by Canby Thursday, Aug. 28, at PAS Gymnasium. Matches will start at about 7:15 p.m. Senior setter Carmen Wiese and senior outside hitters Taryn Tuinstra and Jadyn Kor will provide leadership for a PAS team coming off an 8-19-1 record. “We have experienced senior leaders, and many players who can play multiple positions,” first-year head coach Shelly...
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TYLER — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Ted Kern has been part of the Knights’ football coaching staff for more than three decades. This year, Kern ascends to the role of Knights’ head coach for the first time. “I’ve been a part of this for 31 years as an assistant,” said Kern, who replaces Darren Baartman. “It’s just a natural fit to take over.” Kern praised the young coaching staff that will learn from him. Carter Hansen will serve as RTR’s offensive coordinator. Curt Gosser will run the Knights’ defense. Former Minnesota West Community & Technical College and Minnesota-Morris player Derrick Baartman, Darren’s son,...
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The Elkton-Lake Benton football team embarks on the 2025 season this Friday. ELB will open with Waubay-Summit at 7 p.m. on the road. Last year, the Elks blanked the Mustangs, 42-0. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Edgerton will follow the following week with road games on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 28 and 29, respectively. Kaleb Haas is the new Elks coach, replacing Ethan Pearson, who piloted the team to a 9-2 record and semifinal appearance in the Class 9AA playoffs. The Elks, who were seeded third in last year’s draw, finished with a plus-31.5 point differential per game average. This marks the second...
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Russell-Tyler-Ruthton opens the season at the Breakdown Sports USA Sideout Classic this Saturday, Aug. 23 at New Prague. The Knights will play Mayer Lutheran at 1:30 p.m. on the main court as part of the showcase of matches features premium teams. The Knights then travel to Minneota on Tuesday, Aug. 26, so the schedule is sandpaper-rough right away. Sideout Classic games are set to air on the Neighborhood Sports Programming Network. Admission is for adults and for both students and senior citizens aged 65 or older. Here’s the complete Sideout Classic event schedule: Main Court 9:30 a.m., New...
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New Pipestone Area Schools head volleyball coach Shelly Hennager has begun putting her stamp on the Arrow program. PAS has been practicing diligently since the first allowable date on Monday, Aug. 11, and the Arrows participated in a multiple-team scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 16. “I played volleyball here from my sophomore to senior year,” Hennager said. “And I’ve helped out with the JO’s (Junior Olympic teams) for 20 years. I haven’t stopped coaching, so it means a lot to coach the high school team I played for.” Hennager was an assistant coach last year for the Arrows, who finished with an...
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A glo-ball golf tournament will take place on Friday, Aug. 22, at Pipestone Country Club. The event will feature, first, a nine-hole scramble during the evening followed by a meal and, finally, a nine-hole glo-ball format during darkness. The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. The tournament is full, per club officials; however, you will be placed on a waiting list should others cancel. The country club will furnish the meal, which will be roast beef and mashed potatoes. For information, call 1-507-825-2592.
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — United Wolf Pack will have its 17th annual poker run on Saturday, Aug. 23. The event will make two stops in Pipestone County. All proceeds from the run benefit Special Olympics’ United Wolf Pack team. Registration will take place at the Red Eye in Sioux Falls from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The route will follow through to Dog House Bar in Baltic, S.D., Steve’s Bar in Trent, S.D., Hatfield Roadhouse, Trosky Bar & Grill and The Gulch in Garretson. The entry fee is , and includes one free meal ticket. Additional meal tickets are each. The...
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TYLER — Lincoln County is blessed to have an 18-hole facility in the form of Tyler Golf Club. “We are very lucky to have such a great course in our small community,” said Tim O’Leary, a Tyler G.C. member who also serves as head boys and girls golf coach for Russell-Tyler-Ruthton. O’Leary’s daughters have used the course as a training ground, with both qualifying for the Minnesota State High School League state tournament on multiple occasions. Tyler G.C. is not lengthy by any means. The par-71 (a par-35 on the back nine) plays 6,232 yards from the blue tees, 5,918...
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DENVER — The National Football League’s Denver Broncos in May promoted Russell native Reed Burckhardt to assistant general manager. The position opened when Darren Mougey was named New York Jets general manager on Jan. 25, 2025. Burckhardt moved up from director of player of personnel to his new role, now next-in-command to Broncos’ GM George Paton. “It was a natural transition,” explained Burckhardt, a Class of 2004 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton graduate. He played under then Knights’ coach Kent Mikkelsen. Burckhardt said as assistant GM he will serve as the department head over both pro personnel and college scouting. In his role, Burckhardt...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Tuesday, Aug. 19 Girls Tennis 11 a.m., Yellow Medicine East at Pipestone Area, PAS Courts 2 p.m., MACCRAY at Pipestone Area, PAS Courts Volleyball 12:25 p.m., Scrimmage, at Pipestone Area Schools (with Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Luverne, Hills-Beaver Creek and Murray County Central) Thursday, Aug. 21 Girls Tennis 10 a.m., Pipestone Area at Montevideo 1 p.m., Pipestone Area at Lac qui Parle Valley, Madison Boys Soccer 6:45 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at New Ulm, Eagles Stadium Friday, Aug. 22 Football 7 p.m., Regular season, Elkton-Lake Benton at Waubay/Summit, Waubay, S.D. Saturday, Aug. 23 Football 9 a.m., Scrimmage, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Pipestone Area,...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ senior Vivian Brockberg, a 2024 state qualifier, is among eight experienced returning players. However, Brockberg lost her doubles partner, Alicia Haack, to graduation. Brockberg and Haack advanced to state with a 7-6 (7-3 in the tie-breaker), 6-1 victory over Lac qui Parle Valley’s Hannah Ole and Kayla Jahn. The Arrows were unable to win on the state level. Last year, Brockberg finished with a 16-5 mark in singles and doubles matches combined. The 2025 season features a new wrinkle. The Minnesota State High School League during board of directors meetings last year agreed to add a third...
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ELKTON, S.D. — The Elkton school district has officially named Kaleb Haas as the Elks’ new head football coach. Haas replaces Ethan Pearson, who resigned and moved to North Dakota. Pearson is now a middle school physical education teacher and assistant coach with Central Cass in Casselton, N.D. “We’ve focused on building the program from the ground up,” said Haas, who worked with Pearson since 2020. “We’ve built a culture, and the kids have bought in to the sport.” “We’re excited to promote Kaleb to the head football coach position,” ELB athletic director Steve Erickson said in an email. “He’s...
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The Pipestone Area Schools football team on Monday began preparing for the season opener coming in less than three weeks. PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden reported 38 players out for football, what he considered an “average” amount for this Class AA program. The Arrows’ season opener is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 at Redwood Valley, emanating from the Inglis Athletic Complex in Redwood Falls. Boomgaarden said the team worked on “basics” during Monday’s training session, which included stretching, team offensive and team defensive drills, some special team work and customary strength and conditioning. Since school is not in...
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The Pipestone Area Schools volleyball team will prepare for the season with a pair of upcoming scrimmages. The Arrows will square off versus Big South Conference foe Jackson County Central and several other schools on the road at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Other squads set to appear in this scrimmage are Southwest Minnesota Christian, Worthington, Luverne and Canby. There will be a six-team scrimmage at PAS Gymnasium on Tuesday, Aug. 19, beginning at 12:25 p.m. In addition to Pipestone, the following schools will participate: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, Murray County Central, Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek. Parents wishing to attend will need...
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EDGERTON — Rock River Rodeo Days has become a staple event in its third year, the second featuring a full card, at Diamond H Acres. The rodeo will be spread over two days, Friday-Saturday, Aug. 15-16. “We are so appreciative of the sponsors and the community,” said event organizer Kayla Hulstein, a Pipestone Area Schools graduate. “It’s a family-friendly event, and gives people another thing to do in the summer.” Diamond H Acres is located off Pipestone County Road 16 between Hatfield and Edgerton. The event begins at 6 p.m.; however, gates will open at 4 p.m. Diamond H Acres...
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The NRA Foundation presented a donation to Pipestone County 4-H Shooting Sports in the form of two Crossman Challenger 2021 air rifles. Photographed (from left) are coach Robert Faber, Lincoln Labrune, Ethan Faber, Colin Bucher, Lucas Faber and Tyson Faber. Local youth shooters will use the new rifles at practices, which are conducted in the basement at American Legion Post No. 6. The program has needed new air rifles as older models become obsolete. The NRA Foundation has given more than 9 million in grant money and equipment to shooting sports organizations across the country. The Pipestone County 4-H Shooting...
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Pipestone Country Club will be the site of the two-day club championships Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16-17. Several men’s and women’s divisions will be contested this weekend during the Pipestone Country Club championships. On the men’s side, there will be a championship flight, two senior contests (men 60 years of age and older), legends level (70-and-over), executive flight and handicap match play. There are two women’s contests (championship and handicap). Wade Newgard, a member of the tournament committee along with Nate Pottratz, McCaden Biever, Michelle Niehus and Shane Biever, said golferss sign up for the division he or she wishes...
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Longtime softball player Robert Petersen (center) shows off a plaque as part of his enshrinement into the North American Fastpitch Association Hall of Fame from Saturday, Aug. 9, in Rockford, Ill., during the NAFA World Series. Petersen is flanked by (from left), Scarletts player Zach Warne, NAFA president Mike Oehlke, Scarletts coach Blake Meshke and NAFA commissioner Robert Hernandez. The Scarletts went 2-3 at last weekend’s tournament, a middle-of-the-pack finish. Petersen’s family attended the event, including his wife, Teri, and grandson, Hayden Elbers.
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Dahl Motors conducted a car show this past Saturday, Aug. 9, with five individuals earning awards across four divisions. Rick and Judy Forde of Pipestone presented a 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang, which took best of show honors. This Mustang is a distinct early version of the iconic pony car considered a separate model in the eyes of both collectors and historians. There were several engine options, and it was available as either a coupe and convertible. Dahl Motors general manager/owner Scott Dahl reported there were more entries this year. A 1968 Chevrolet Camaro shown by Ben Karels of Ben’s Auto Glass...
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The Prairie Riders Saddle Club Fun Show will take place on Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. The Pipestone Jaycees co-sponsor the event. The Fairgrounds are located at 422 10th Avenue SE in Pipestone. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the first event at 10 a.m. Beginners 11 years old and younger will be charged , with leading allowed. The cost is for all other age groups: juniors (12-17), intermediate (18-30) and seniors (31 years of age and older). The entry fee covers all events, except “Ride A Buck.” This is a prize show placing to fifth...
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DELL RAPIDS, S.D. — Rocky Run Golf Course is part of the GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness Club family of 17 facilities. Rocky Run was founded in the early 1960s, and then sold to Spruce Glen, Inc., on Dec. 27, 2014. One of the most prominent characteristics of Rocky Run is the number of short par-4s. There are eight par-4s measuring 385 yards or less (from the regulation black tees). Like the GreatLIFE course in Worthington, Rocky Run features a short par-3 measuring 118 yards (Hole No. 6). The longest hole at the venue follows, a 526-yard, par-5. Don’t let Rocky...
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Dahl Motors, the Chevrolet and GMC-branded dealership based in Pipestone, will conduct its second annual car show Saturday, Aug. 9. Registration begins at noon, with the show from 1-4 p.m. Dahl Motors’ physical address is 950 7th Street SE, at the confluence of U.S. Highway 75 and Minnesota State Highways 23 and 30. The cost is , and serves as a fundraiser for the future Pipestone Veterans Memorial located in Moore Park. “This is for a good cause that we believe in,” said Connor Dahl, sales manager at Dahl Motors, who also serves as the main organizer for this event....
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Saturday, Aug. 9 Basketball 10 a.m., 3-on-3 Tournament, Pipestone Area Schools Gymnasium Special Event 1 p.m., Dahl Motors car show Monday, Aug. 11 Cross Country The first allowable date for practice as set by the Minnesota State High School League Football The first allowable date for practice as set by the Minnesota State High School League Girls Tennis The first allowable date for practice as set by the Minnesota State High School League Volleyball The first allowable date for practice as set by the Minnesota State High School League Saturday, Aug. 16 Golf 9 a.m., Pipestone Country Club,...
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Both the Pipestone Area and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton youth football teams will begin the season on Saturday, Sept. 6. Youth football is for students in third through sixth grade. Pipestone Area will play at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton in the opener, while Russell-Tyler-Ruthton squares off against Marshall Orange at home. The Pipestone Area/RTR clash is set for Saturday, Oct. 11. The league features two Marshall-based teams plus Canby, Minneota, Dawson-Boyd, Lakeview (Cottonwood), Murray County Central, TMB, RTR and Pipestone Area. All games begin at 10 a.m. Saturdays, with play a duration of two hours. INFORMATION YOUTH FOOTBALL 2025 Schedule Pipestone Area September 6, at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton;...
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FREMONT, Neb. — Recent Elkton-Lake Benton graduate Logan Miller will continue competitive powerlifting on the collegiate level. Miller has signed with national powerhouse Midland University based in Nebraska, a program that competes with the likes of LSU and Texas A&M University in the sport. “I’m pretty excited,” said Miller, a resident of Lake Benton. “This lets me know I am good enough to compete at the next level.” Midland provided Miller with some scholarship money. Logan said he’s undeclared on his college major; however, he’s leaning toward exercise science. The school is a private university affiliated with the Lutheran church...
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STAPLES — This summer, Pipestone Area Schools graduate Paige Ahrendt found the perfect opportunity. Ahrendt has been named the community education/activities director for the Staples-Motley school district. Ahrendt, in a telephone interview with the Pipestone County Star last Friday, said her recent position at NCAA Division I LSU prepared her for this moment. She was an operations graduate assistant for the venerable SEC school, while enrolled in a Master’s degree program and receiving a modest stipend. “I loved the job, and I had a great experience,” said Ahrendt, who was looking to come back home to Minnesota. “I wanted to...
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The Pipestone Area Soccer League formed this year under the direction of Eric VanderPlaats. Games were played during the spring at the JBS Sportsplex. There were 18 games in all. About 50 youth soccer players participated, with a concluding league tournament on June 1. The Grades 4-6 White and Grades 2-3 Green teams were the winners. The 4-6 White squad featured Damian Salazar, Julian Perez, Elexis Perez, Kevin Perez, Daniel Osias, David Gomez, Angel Gabriel, Eli Paul and Sebastian Escobar, with Leo Salazar coaching them. The 2-3 Green team was composed Calyn Hulstein, Tyson Faber, Michael Barrios, Justin Lopez, Leo...
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The Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team saw its season come to an end on Saturday with an 8-1 loss at Hadley. The Buttermakers’ quality pitching proved to be the difference in the two-game sweep of this Region 10C Tournament series. Minnesota West Community & Technical College alum Tucker Sorenson and Lincoln Swonjord earned wins in the first and second games, respectively. Hadley won the opener, 3-0, at A’s/City Field Wednesday. “Tucker (Sorensen), he’s one of the top two or three pitchers in the league,” A’s coach Avery Ploeger said. “He’s tough. We were able to get six hits off him,...
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SCOREBOARD SOFTBALL Minn-Dakota Slowpitch Standings School Record Lake Benton Bar 18-0 Anacondas 12-3 Lake Benton II 12-4 D&T Meat Mkt. 12-8 Sluggers 10-7 The Starfish 7-7 Dirty Dairymen 8-10 Alcobolics 7-11 Staci’s Bar 5-13 Ice Spice Elite 3-15 SB2 1-17 Schedule Tuesday, Aug. 5 The first week of playoff games...
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BLAINE — One of my most joyous childhood memories was attending the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open in Connecticut with my grandfather. My grandfather, Nicholas Viccaro, and I would attempt to predict the winner of the tournament each year. In 1984, as an 11-year-old, this sports editor successfully forecasted that Peter Jacobsen would win — and he did so by two strokes over Mark O’Meara at Wethersfield Country Club (where the event was before moving to the TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.). Jacobsen also claimed the 2003 championship. Last Thursday, as a member of the working press,...
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ELKTON, S.D. — The Elkton-Lake Benton youth football program will conduct sign-ups at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10. There also will be equipment checkout during such time, with the event behind the GeoDome. The cost is . Youth football is for third- through sixth-grade students. The first practice for the fifth- and sixth-grade team will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12. The first session for third- and fourth-grade players is 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15. For information, call Lance Weber at 1-605-695-3252.
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The Pipestone Area Schools athletic department will conduct an all-sports informational meeting on Thursday, Aug. 7, in the PAS auditorium. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. PAS activities director Rick Zollner will cover topics such as physicals, concussion testing, academic eligibility and both Minnesota State High School League and school rules. Remember, a student-athlete cannot practice until the appropriate forms have been filled out and approved. The proper paperwork will be available on site for parents to fill out at this event. After the informational meeting, coaches will conduct parents’ meetings in four different rooms. Those meetings will be for...
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WORTHINGTON — The Minnesota West Community & Technical College volleyball team will open the 2025 season on Aug. 13. The Bluejays will serve as hosts of a scrimmage at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, versus Iowa Lakes Community College. Minnesota West will open the regular season on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Crossover Tournament, playing Williston State (N.D.) and Alexandria Tech at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids. The Bluejays also will play in the Siouxland Invitational versus Iowa Central, North Dakota State College of Science and Western Iowa at the CNOS Fieldhouse in North Sioux City, S.D. on...
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ROCKFORD, Ill. — Robert Petersen reported he played his first fastpitch softball game as a six-year-old. Fast forward to Saturday, Aug. 9, when Petersen will be enshrined in the North American Fastpitch Association Hall of Fame — the culmination of a lifetime playing this sport. “It’s quite an honor,” Petersen said in a telephone interview with the Pipestone County Star Monday. “I’m humbled. I’m fortunate to receive this honor from my peers.” Petersen serves as both the City of Pipestone recreation director and Pipestone Area Schools’ head softball coach. The future honoree said he’s been around great players and he’s...
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Æbleskiver Days festivities opened up on Friday morning with a tournament at Tyler Golf Club. This was a three-person formatted event. The winners were Rainey Reynolds, Justin Techen and Lance Collins; this threesome also won the tournament shootout.
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TYLER — Tyler Golf Club will conduct a youth nine-hole tournament on Monday, Aug. 4. The club’s physical address is 420 Lincoln County Road 7. Registration is set for 9 a.m., with the shotgun start set for 10. The entry fee is . There will be several age group categories: 10-under, 11-14 and 15-18. For information and to register, call 1-507-247-3242 or email: tylermngolf@gmail.com.
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The annual Æbleskiver Amble was conducted on Saturday morning, July 26, under partly to mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the 70s. There were several formats, including five-kilometer and eight-mile bicycle rides and a five-kilometer road race. Tyler’s Tarin Bingham was tops in the eight-mile bike ride. Avery Schreurs placed first in the five-mile bike ride, and Merrick Bloom of Tyler took second. Adam Kinner of Elkton, S.D., was the men’s five-kilometer winner, with Sawyer Schwartz of Garvin second. The Overgaauw sisters of Lake Wilson were the top-two finishers in the women’s division, with Ashley first and Amanda second. The...
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The Pipestone County Fair will feature a pair of tractor pulls and two rodeo-style events later this week. Here’s a rundown of what’s ahead: Thursday, July 31 Pole Bending Pipestone Smokin’ Barrels will conduct a pole bending run at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds horse arena. Exhibitions will start at 6 p.m., with runs to follow starting at 7 p.m. Entry fees are for an open run, for youth runs and for exhibitions. Anyone is welcome to compete in this jackpot event, which will feature an unspecified amount of added money and other prizes. Water will be available...
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LUVERNE — By and large, the Southwest Minnesota Shootout summer showcase was successful again with 96 regional teams holding court. Two gymnasiums were used, including Luverne High School’s historic classic venue with its auditorium-like feel. For nearly two decades now, this event has been a staple these parts — under the direction of Ellsworth resident Curt Schilling. Pipestone Area Schools, Edgerton, Southwest Minnesota Christian and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s boys program participated. “Curt runs a really good tournament,” PAS head girls basketball coach Grant Everson said. “The games start on time, and the referees are really good. It’s good for our girls.” Schilling...
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FARGO, N.D. — There were more than 100 wrestlers in the 16-under 126-pound bracket at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in the Fargodome. When the dust settled, Pipestone Area Schools’ own Miklo Hernandez became a national champion with a 7-0 decision over Tommy Marchetti, whose family has a noted history in this sport. “It means a lot (to be national champion),” Hernandez said. “It’s been something I’ve been dreaming about since I was little.” Hernandez said his goal was to place at the national tournament, especially based on his strong result from the CLAW U.S. Open in April at...
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INFORMATION SOFTBALL Minn-Dakota Slowpitch Standings School Record Lake Benton Bar 16-0 D&T Meat Mkt. 12-6 Anacondas 10-3 Lake Benton II 10-4 Sluggers 8-7 Dirty Dairymen 8-8 Alcobolics 7-9 Staci’s Bar 5-11 The Starfish 3-7 Ice Spice Elite 3-13 SB2 1-15 Schedule Tuesday, July 122 Alcobolics at Lake Benton II, Lake Benton Dirty...
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The summer amateur baseball season will soon reach its crescendo. And both the Pipestone A’s and Elkton Snappers participate in postseason tournaments this week. Pipestone, seeded fifth in the Region 10C Tournament with an 8-10 overall record, will play host to the No. 4 Hadley Buttermakers at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at A’s/City Field for Game One. Game Two is set for Laurie Mahon Memorial Field in Hadley beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26. If needed, Game Three will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 27. The A’s and Buttermakers split regular-season games, with each team winning in their own...
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(Editor’s Note: The Pipestone Country Star will be running an eight-part series on local golf courses to promote the game from this issue through Aug. 21.) LUVERNE — Jerilyn Britz began playing golf when she was a teenager at Luverne Country Club. The golf course recognizes Britz on signage throughout the facility, and she was the first women ever inducted into the Rock County Historical Society’s Hall of Fame. “LCC is the prettiest little nine-hole golf course I have ever played,” Britz said in a statement found on the country club’s website. “If someone is a golfer in southern Minnesota...
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Every few years,the Pipestone County Fair board comes up with a new activity. In recent years, the Ag Olympics has become a popular feature, and it’s on the docket again in 2025. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the grandstand. (For more information, read a full preview on the Pipestone County Fair on the front page.) “We try to get both children and adults involved,” said Pipestone County Fair board of directors member Ryan Bosma, who is in charge of these Ag Olympics. Bosma said there will be both round and square bale activities, four events in...
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EDGERTON — The Raise ‘Em Rank rodeo series will make a stop in the community for Rock River Rodeo Days on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Diamond H Acres. Gates will open at 4 p.m., with contestant check-in to follow at 5. The rodeo begins at 6 p.m. There will be 100 percent payback, and added money. Champions will receive a buckle and the top-two finishers in each division will receive an undetermined cash prize. This is just one stop on the 2025 season tour, which also visited Sioux Falls, Artesian and Irene in South Dakota and Spencer, Iowa. Upcoming shows...
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Dahl Motors will be conducting a car show on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the dealership. The dealership is located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 75 and State Highways 23 and 30. Registration is set for noon, with the show from 1-4 p.m. There is a registration fee, with proceeds for the upcoming Pipestone Veterans Memorial in Moore Park. All vehicles are welcome: classics, sport class, pick-up trucks, motorcycles and ratrods. Dash plaques will be given to the first 125 entrants, and there will be door prizes. D.J. Mylan Ray provides the musical entertainment. Backyard BBQ and Grill and...
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Quartziter Days featured a volleyball tournament in City Park. The event lasted nearly seven hours with seven competitive teams vying for the top spot. In the end, Team Houselog was the champion. The team was, in no particular order, Josh Houselog, Angie Houselog, Ashley Hoheisel, Holden Surat, Michaela Surat and Briana Wallin. Team Garcia placed second, a group composed of Zachary Bradley, Maya Garcia, Luis Javier Garcia, Angel Garcia, Uribe Hernandez and Jorge Mendez. The event is an annual tradition, with Angel Garcia organizing it. Look for a photo gallery from this event online at pipestonestar.com.
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The #LiveLikeJoe Memorial Tournament featured a slightly adjusted format this year with two nine-hole tournaments. Both morning and afternoon sessions featured full participation, per tournament organizers, this past Saturday at Pipestone Country Club. Robert Petersen’s group was victorious during the morning nine, scoring 29. Petersen’s team featured Brent Dinger, Zach Warne and Mitch Warne. Ties were broken by “handicap holes.” In the afternoon, Mitchell Biever’s group was tops, a foursome also with Cooper Kanthak, Maddox Biever and McCaden Biever. The group carded a 30 to win by one stroke. Complete results with team captain’s names accompany this story in agate...
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(Editor’s Note: The Pipestone Country Star will be running an eight-part series on local golf courses to promote the game from this issue through Aug. 21.) WORTHINGTON — GreatLIFE Golf and Fitness Club serves as the main hub for the sport in Nobles County. That’s in part because Prairie View Golf Course was decommissioned several years ago — now primarily used as a site for cross country meets and practices. GreatLIFE Golf and Fitness Club is part of an extended network of golf courses throughout the region, including Rocky Run in nearby Dell Rapids, S.D. — which will be the...
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ADRIAN — Adrian eliminated Pipestone Post No. 6 from the American Legion junior tournament on Monday, winning 11-3. Pipestone grabbed an early lead only to watch Adrian score eight runs in the third to take command. Nick Bruns singled and scored in the first, and Zayne Zollner was later hit by a pitch and also scored. Trey Boelman singled and scored in the third inning to account for Pipestone’s final run. Jibril Razzaq absorbed the loss. Adrian’s Matthew Geister was the winning pitcher. Here are the Legion tournament scores from last week. INFORMATION SCOREBOARD Senior Tournament At Windom Thursday, July...
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Sure, the Pipestone A’s dropped a pair of games last week. But, the team was competitive in both and it was the perfect preparation for the upcoming Region 10C Tournament. The Luverne Redbirds, thanks to pitcher Jake Haugen, blanked the A’s 4-0 on Wednesday, July 9, at A’s/City Field. On Sunday, July 13, the Milroy Irish nipped the A’s, 6-5, scoring what proved to be the game-winning run in the fourth inning. “We’ve started clicking, and I am happy with the direction we are going,” Pipestone head coach Avery Ploeger said. “I think we’re playing good baseball.” The A’s won’t...
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ST. PAUL — Both wrestling and volleyball fans agree that a building’s recent name change will be an adjustment. The National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild announced on Monday, June 30, the new name for their facility: “Grand Casino Arena.” The rink had been known as the Xcel Energy Center since it opened on Sept. 29, 2000. “It will always be the ‘X’ to me,” said longtime Pipestone Area Schools wrestling coach Brian Bos. “I’ll probably call it that forever.” The Mille Lacs Brand of Ojibwe, which owns casinos in Mille Lacs and Hinckley, and the Wild struck a 14-year naming...
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SLAYTON — There will be a benefit drive-in and fundraiser and dinner on from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 31 at the Murray County Fairgrounds. Proceeds benefit Slayton mechanic Johnny Meyer, owner of John’s Automotive, who is battling unspecified medical issues. He has experienced costly hospital stays and more. Funds raised will alleviate financial stress as Meyer works to return to his car shop as a self-employed mechanic. There will be a pork burger dinner, courtesy of the Murray County pork producers, and milkshakes on the menu. A silent auction is scheduled, plus door prizes. Tony Moger will be the...
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ELKTON, S.D. — The Elkton Harvest Festival is slated for this Friday through Sunday, July 18-20. Festivities begin with the “Slice of Greatness” gala at 6 p.m. July 18. The cost is per person, or 5 for a table of 8. Reservations are requested for the gala. The Miss Elkton Pageant follows at 7:30 p.m. Ashya Flores, Charlie Thooft, Jocelyn Prosch and Payton Kuehl are running for Miss Elkton. Little Miss contestants are Isidore Thielen, Kaydence Bushman, Litzy Enriquez, Nora McMahon and Sophia Chavarin. Saturday’s events feature a breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community Center. The...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARDS INFORMATION SOFTBALL Minn-Dakota Slowpitch Standings School Record Lake Benton Bar 14-0 Anacondas 9-3 Lake Benton II 8-4 D&T Meat Mkt. 9-5 Sluggers 8-6 Dirty Dairymen 7-7 Alcobolics 6-8 Staci’s Bar 5-9 Ice Spice Elite 3-9 The Starfish 2-6 SB2 0-14 Schedule Tuesday, July 22 Lake Benton II at D&T Meat Market, Paulsen Athletic Complex, Pipestone Dirty Dairymen at Lake Benton Bar, Lake Benton...
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GUTHRIE, Okla. — Ruthton area resident Sadie DeRuyter placed well at the National Little Britches Rodeo Association meet. DeRuyter placed fourth in the short go on July 5 at Lazy E Arena, recording a time of 24.939. The trail course is not as easy as it sounds, and there was a new pattern for the short go. Contestants first had to traverse a bridge, followed by retrieving a piece of mail from box, backing through two barrels and working a gate. There is a short video of the performance on the Pipestone County Star’s Facebook page. DeRuyter scored 943 world...
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TYLER — The Æbleskiver Amble is set for Saturday, July 26, starting from the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m., with the race beginning at 8:30 a.m. The cost is . The event features several formats, a five-kilometer run, walk or bicycle ride and an eight-mile bicycle ride. Call the race organizer to ensure a T-shirt, and several sizes are available. A registration form may be found on the Æbleskiver Days Facebook page. Make checks payable to Æbleskiver Days. For information, call race organizer Natalie Madsen Jerzak at 1-507-828-1074.
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South Dakota State University multi-time NCAA Division I Tournament qualifier Cael Swensen will serve as guest clinician for the Little Arrow camp. The camp will take place Monday-Wednesday, July 21-23, in the Pipestone Area Schools wrestling room. Swensen will return to the Jackrabbit lineup after missing the 2024-25 season as a medical redshirt. “It’s exciting to be back,” Swensen said in a brief telephone interview with The Pipestone County Star Monday. Swensen, who primarily competes in the 157-pound division, said it wasn’t easy staying on the sidelines as a spectator. The Wayzata High School product will be officially listed as...
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The Pipestone Country Club will serve as the site for a “Dine on Nine” Tournament Friday. This will be a four-person scramble starting at 5:30 p.m. The cost is 0 per team. However, a cart is not included in that price. There will be food and drink on every hole. A country club board member reported there are still open spots for this event. For information and to register, call 1-507-825-2592.
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LUVERNE — The Southwest Minnesota Shootout two-day basketball extravaganza will take place Wednesday and Thursday, July 16-17. All games will be played at Luverne High School. Curt Schilling serves as director of the event. The Pipestone Area Schools boys will play three games on Wednesday evening, leading off with a contest versus George-Little Rock (Iowa) at 5 p.m. The Arrows also play DeSmet (S.D.) and Adrian-Ellsworth at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. The morning session features both Edgerton boys and girls teams. The Flying Dutchmen boys will begin the day with an 8 a.m. match-up versus Madison (S.D.). Southwest...
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In the bottom of the fourth inning, Pipestone A’s Mark Abrahamson drew a walk. Out trotted courtesy runner Luka Quist, who raced all the way around from first base to score on Brandon Alfson’s double to deep center field. Left-handed pitcher Mitchel Carson took care of the rest as the A’s defeated the Hadley Buttermakers, 3-0, at City Field on Moeller Brothers Chemical Night. “This was the best defense we’ve played, by far, behind him,” said A’s head coach Avery Ploeger. “Mitchel pitched a gem of a game. He hit his spots, and it was fun to watch.” Every pitch in...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Sunday, July 13 Amateur Baseball 4 p.m., Elkton Snappers at Ramona Express 5 p.m., Pipestone A’s at Milroy Irish, Irish Yard Wednesday, July 16 Basketball All Day, Luverne Festival, Luverne High School Amateur Baseball 8 p.m., Castlewood Ravens at Elkton Snappers, City Field Thursday, July 17 Basketball All Day, Luverne Festival, Luverne High School Friday, July 18 Festival Evening, Jasper Quartziter Days (car cruise-in, community meal, children’s movie) Saturday, July 19 Festival All Day, Jasper Quartziter Days (turtle races, children’s hay bale toss, activities in the park, volleyball tournament, parade, adult hay bale toss, chuck a duck, street...
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EDGERTON — There will be plenty of sports-themed options during the forthcoming 75th Annual Dutch Festival. The theme is “Diamonds: Through the Decades.” Here’s a list of sporting events taking place during the festival, which runs from Thursday-Saturday, July 10-12. Thursday Mini bulls and Mutton bustin’ Great Frontier Bull Riding — based in Maynard — will present a mini-bulls rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. July 10, with three divisions of competition, in City Park. The divisions are: pee wees (ages 6-8), juniors (9-11) and seniors (12-14). The entry fee is . Registration spots are limited, with 24-hour advanced notice required...
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(Editor’s Note: The Pipestone Country Star will be running an eight-part series on local golf courses to promote the game from this issue through Aug. 21.) SLAYTON — Since the late 1950s, Murray County golfers have enjoyed playing at Slayton Country Club. One recent change has been made to the par-5 Hole No. 2, now converted into a dogleg with slightly different yardage. Slayton Country Club has plenty of distinct features, including that tee boxes on Holes Nos. 1, 4 and 7 are just steps from the clubhouse. The course plays as a par-35, which plays at 2,853 yards from...
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The Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association has honored three regional softball players with major accolades. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Laken Baartman played several different positions en route to earning first-team Class A honors. “There is a lot of great talent in this state, so it’s an honor for me to be one of the few chosen on the first team,” Baartman said in an email to The Pipestone County Star. “It means a lot to me to be recognized.” Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Elliott Fleischman, a catcher, joined Baartman on Class A’s top squad. “Being honored by the state association my junior and senior year...
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The Prairie Riders Saddle Club has rescheduled its fun show for Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. The Sunday, June 29, event was cancelled on account of thunderstorms dumping heavy rain just before it was to begin. Because of the cancellation, there only will be one fun show event this year. Look for more information in a future edition of the Pipestone County Star.
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JASPER — The Quartziter Days community festival this year will feature a sand volleyball tournament. The event will begin at 11 a.m., with registration beforehand, at City Park. Teams will be made up of six people, and several have already signed up per the event organizer. The first-place team will receive , then for the runner-ups and for third. For information, call Angel Garcia at 1-708-768-1964. For information on Quartziter Days, read a story in this week’s edition of The Pipestone County Star.
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Joseph Kor from the Pipestone County 4-H Shooting Sports program recently competed at the national competition in Grand Island, Nebraska. The University of Nebraska helps administer the contest. Kor finished with a three-day total of 691, which earned him ninth place in a field of 73 shooters, in the air pistol division. There were slow and rapid fire contests, and silhouette shooting. Kor, a recent Pipestone Area Schools graduate, will attend Minnesota West Community & Technical College in Jackson where he will be enrolled in the school’s electrician program. He’s shown here with his shooting coach, Mike Porter of Bemidji.
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Soon-to-be Elkton-Lake Benton junior Malyha Slegers is all smiles after helping Kairos 16 Gamma place third in the Aspire Division at the AAU National Tournament, which was conducted at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Gamma had a 11-3 record during the tournament, winning 20 of 29 sets. There were nearly 200 teams in the division, making the accomplishment all the more remarkable. At the USA Junior Nationals Volleyball Tournament in Dallas, Tenley Witzel and Nahla Fjeldheim played for the Kairos 15 Alpha team which placed 13th out of 36 teams in the 15 Open division. Witzel and...
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LAMBERTON — Four Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian and three Russell-Tyler-Ruthton softball players earned all-conference honors. It was another successful season for the Flying Dutchmen, who finished with an 18-9 record and 10-2 in Red Rock Conference games. E/SWC split conference games with Adrian-Ellsworth and eventual league champion Murray County Central. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (7-14) was fifth overall in Red Rock games with a 4-8 mark. Eventual Section 3A champion Wabasso ousted RTR in the first round, 11-1, on Thursday, May 22. Then the Rabbits eliminated E/SWC in the championship round, 5-1, one week later at the Marshall Softball Complex. For E/SWC, the four...
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INFORMATION BASEBALL All-Red Rock Conference Chase Christianson, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton; Eli Determan, RTR; Brayden Chandler, RTR; Tyler Wichmann, RTR; Cameron Fenske, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian; Josh Groen, E/SWC; Trevin Prins, E/SWC; Blake Schultz, E/SWC; Brenton Erdman, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda; Dillon Smith, HLOF; Tanner Schultz, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey; Travis Weiss, Adrian-Ellsworth; Joe Rahe, A-E; Kyler Kunkel, A-E; Matt Giester, A-E; Austin Imker, Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove; Hudsen Jenniges, RRC/WWG; Dylan Kluis, Murray County Central; Teague Meyer, MCC; Dugan Kluis, MCC; Krew Schneider, MCC Honorable Mentions Seth Cowell, RTR; Sean Griesse, RTR; Gavin Schreurs, RTR; Caden Sas, E/SWC; Kahlid Fontanez, MLAC; Landon Simon, MLAC; Garrett Penning,...
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SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Morningside University sophomore sprinter Meredith Draper recently earned another academic distinction. College Sports Communicators released its academic all-district list for women’s track and field on Tuesday, June 24. Draper, an elementary education major, was among five Mustangs on the list. Teammates Courtney Sporrer, Jolee Mesz, Nicole Zuehl and Kinsey Alt all joined Draper. The CSC Academic All-American program recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for a combination of success in competition and in the classroom. Student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better and rank in the top-25 in the conference in a single...
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Golfers and bean bag throwers are set to participate in the second annual #LiveLikeJoe Memorial Tournament Saturday, July 12. The tournament honors the legacy of Joe Douty, who passed away during the summer of 2023. “It means a lot,” said Alison Douty, Joe’s wife. “Our biggest hope is to keep Joe’s memory alive and make sure no one forgets him or what a great man he was. This day includes all of Joe’s favorites, food, drinks, fun, games and the people who loved and cared about him.” Lejendary Events, a new business in Pipestone, is coordinating the event. “I’m excited...
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(Editor’s Note: The Pipestone Country Star will be running an eight-part series on local golf courses to promote the game from this issue through Aug. 21.) GARRETSON, S.D. — Golfers who enjoy a challenging par-5 should make River Ridge Golf Course an appointment destination. “River Ridge has one of the longest par-5’s in the Midwest,” boasts the official course guide. From the blue tee, Hole No. 4 plays 601 yards. There are three other tee-box lengths: 451 yards (red), 471 yards (gold) and 552 yards (white). What’s more, the fourth hole plays uphill and upwind most of the time —...
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The Pipestone Area Schools wrestling team will be conducting its annual Arrow Camp from Monday-Wednesday, July 21-23. The first session for kindergartners through sixth-graders will run from 10 a.m. to noon. A second session for junior high and high school wrestlers will be from 2-4:30 p.m. All instruction will take place in the PAS wrestling room. South Dakota State University wrestler Cael Swensen will serve as guest clinician. He has been a two-time NCAA Division I Tournament qualifier for the Jackrabbits. The cost is , and registration runs through Friday, July 18. The purpose of the camp is to reinforce...
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ST. PAUL — Three Pipestone Area Schools graduates were honored for their academic work on the collegiate level in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. University of Northwestern (Roseville, Minn.) freshman indoor and outdoor track and field athlete Naomi Wallace was named academic all-conference. Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.) women’s basketball players Aubrea Kor and Arinn McGee also were recognized. Individual students who earn a 3.5 grade-point average or better during the winter and spring semesters are honored. Overall, 114 student-athletes from University of Northwestern were chosen for the academic all-conference team. This year, there were 772 individual academic all-conference...
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Two Pipestone Area Schools golfers earned their way onto the boys and girls all-Big South Conference squads, respectively. The teams were officially released on Thursday, June 12, by Big South Conference league secretary and Redwood Valley High School activities director Andy Ourada. “It was one of my goals this season,” said PAS junior Matt DeBates, who aspires to play collegiate-level golf, of making the all-Big South boys team. “This shows me I can compete with the rest of the guys in the league,” DeBates added. DeBates was the lone Arrow to reach the second round of the Minnesota State High...
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Pipestone Area Schools three-sport athlete Kaysa Douty capped her sophomore season with a heap of softball honors. The Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association named Douty to Class AA’s second team, and she also was an all-Section 3AA player. Douty pitched and played shortstop for the Arrows. What’s more, Douty was one of two Arrows chosen to be on the all-Big South Conference squad when honors were released on Friday, June 6 — by league secretary and Redwood Valley activities director Andy Ourada. “She deserves it, and she worked really hard,” PAS head coach Robert Petersen. “She was one of our leaders...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Monday, June 30 Legion Baseball 5 p.m., Pipestone Post No. 6 at Luverne, Cardinal Field (junior followed by senior) Tuesday, July 1 Legion Baseball 5 p.m., Pipestone Post No. 6 at Tracy (junior followed by senior) Wednesday, July 2 Amateur Baseball 7:30 p.m., Hadley Buttermakers at Pipestone A’s, City Field 8 p.m., Elkton Snappers at Volga Cormorants Friday, July 4 Special Event 11 a.m., Ruthton Fourth of July celebration, parade, lineup begins at Peace Lutheran Church Festival All Day, Ruthton Fourth of July celebration (lunch in the park, car show, petting zoo, balloon art, bingo, money pit and...
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Five Pipestone Area baseball players received plaudits when the Big South Conference released its all-league honors. Big South secretary and Redwood Valley activities director Andy Ourada distributed accolades to local media on Tuesday, June 17. “We had some good players, and it speaks to the ability of the kids,” PAS head baseball coach and activities director Rick Zollner said. These are the rewards for playing baseball. What’s more, Coach Zollner announced senior infielder/catcher/pitcher Landon Quist was named an all-Section 3AA performer. Quist is one of three first-team, all-conference Arrows, joined by senior ace pitcher/infielder Weston Reinhard and senior starting third...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ Makhi Winter was named to the all-Big South Conference West Division boys tennis team. Awards were released on Friday, June 6. Winter along with doubles partner Brady Dunn, reached the second round of the Section 3A individual tournament in mid-May at Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, S.D. PAS head coach James Skyberg let Winter decide whether he would play singles or doubles during the season. Makhi ultimately opted to play a mix of both formats. “It’s the best year he had,” Skyberg said. “It was big for him to end his career (like that). He...
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EDGERTON — The Edgerton Pickleball Association will be having two tournaments during the 75th Annual Dutch Festival this year. Tournaments will take place at Edgerton City Park. The first tournament is a recreational event from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, July 12. This will be formatted as a round robin. The cost is . There also will be a competitive tournament on both Friday and Saturday, July 11-12. There will be a round robin and bracket play. The cost is . For information, call Dena Berghorst 1-507-825-3799.
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The Pipestone A’s will receive a forfeit victory from Sunday’s home game versus the Worthington Cubs. “No game today due to a lack of Cubs’ players,” was posted on the Worthington Cubs’ Facebook page during Sunday morning. The A’s Facebook followed suit, stating the game had been cancelled. A’s head coach Avery Ploeger said the two teams attempted to find a make-up date that worked for both sides; however, nothing came to fruition. The final decision rested with Gopher League and other association officials. This means the A’s are 6-7 heading into Wednesday’s game at Windom (Island Park). Pipestone will...
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For Roughly the past 15 years, the Pipestone Cruizers Car Show has been a staple of the Water Tower Festival. “It’s great to see all the classy cars,” said Cruizers member Ron Belcher, whose event brings much enjoyment to vehicle enthusiasts across the board. The show is open to traditional cars, trucks, imports, motorcycles, tractors, rat rods and even golf carts. A rat rod, according to Wikipedia, is a style of custom car with a “deliberate, unfinished appearance built to be driven.” This category is often seen as a budget-friendly way to customize a vehicle. “You never know what you’re...
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JASPER — Swimming lessons are available for Jasper youth through Luverne Aquatics. Lessons will begin on Monday, July 7 and run through Thursday, July 17, from 10:15-10:55 a.m. The cost is per child. Transportation from Jasper to Luverne and back will be provided, with pick up and drop off at City Park. Go to the city of Luverne website or scan a QR code available at: https://clients.municipalimpact.com/documents/669/Luverne_Swimming_Lessons_2025.pdf. For information, call Luverne Aquatic Center manager Samantha Honerman at 1-507-449-5036.
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The Prairie Riders Saddle Club Fun Show will take place on Sunday, June 29, at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. The Pipestone Jaycees co-sponsor the event. County fairgrounds are located at 422 10th Avenue SE in Pipestone. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the first event at 10 a.m. Beginners 11 years old and younger will be charged , with leading allowed. The cost is for all other age groups: juniors (12-17), intermediate (18-30) and seniors (31 years of age and older). The entry fee covers all events, except “Ride A Buck.” This is a prize show placing to fifth...
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The Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club will soon be offering competitive trap shooting leagues. League play will open on Wednesday, July 2, with the season running through Aug. 27. Register either as an individual, or with your team. There will be men’s, women’s and co-ed divisions, and it’s open to club members and non-members. Everyone is welcome. For information and registration, call either Joe Schelhaas at 1-507-215-2401 or Heine Walhof at 1-507-220-5960 — or log onto the website: www.pipestonesportsmensclub.com.
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LOCAL CALENDAR Monday, June 23 Legion Baseball 6:30 p.m., Heron Lake-Okabena at Pipestone, juniors, City Field 7 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Adrian-Ellsworth Wednesday, June 25 Amateur Baseball 7:30 p.m., Pipestone at Windom, Island Park 8 p.m., Lake Norden Lakers at Elkton Snappers Thursday, June 26 Legion Baseball 5 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (juniors then seniors) 5 p.m., Adrian-Ellsworth at Pipestone, City Field (juniors then seniors) Friday, June 27 Amateur Baseball 7:30 p.m., Lakefield at Pipestone A’s, City Park Festival All Day, Water Tower Days, Pipestone Saturday, June 28 Car Show 10 a.m., Pipestone Cruizers, next to the Pipestone County Courthouse Festival...
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STILLWATER — Pipestone Area Schools track and field athlete Troy Mead reported he stood up in front of his teammates, and apologized. Mead was sorry for his false start to open a 4x200-meter relay at the Section 3A meet. Arrow teammates rallied around him. “I was devastated,” said Mead, now a Sioux Falls-based firefighter working in the hazardous materials division. “We all came together. We said, ‘Where do we go from here?’” The Arrows ultimately earned their way to the state true team meet as a wild card. Middle distance specialist and teammate Casey Kooiker was working with Mead at...
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INFORMATION SOFTBALL Minn-Dakota Slowpitch Standings School Record Lake Benton Bar 6-0 Anacondas 4-0 Lake Benton II 4-0 D&T Meat Mkt. 4-4 Dirty Dairymen 4-4 Staci’s Bar 3-3 Sluggers 3-5 Alcobolics 2-4 The Starfish 0-0 Ice Spice Elite 0-4 SB2 0-6 Schedule Tuesday, June 24 Lake Benton Bar vs. Alcobolics, Lake Benton West Ice Spice Elite vs. Lake Benton II, Pipestone, Paulsen Athletic Complex D&T Meat Market...
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BECKER — There she was, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton junior Teigyn O’Leary standing among the state’s best in Class A girls golf at Pebble Creek. A Minnesota State High School League official presented O’Leary with her medal after a scorching performance — tying for seventh place overall with two other golfers (Alyssa Swedzinski from state team champion Dawson-Boyd and Kianna Johnson of powerhouse Walker-Hackensack-Akeley). “It’s a tough course,” said RTR head coach Tim O’Leary, Teigyn’s father. “Teigyn hit it really straight with her driver both days. She played well.” Teigyn O’Leary’s second-round 81 is a personal-best score, and she carded her first-ever 36...
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(Editor’s Note: The Pipestone County Star will run a separate story on all-Big South Conference and all-state honors in the Thursday, June 26, edition.) The Pipestone Area Schools softball team recalled the 2025 campaign during a special season-ending awards night at a local residence on Tuesday, June 10. Two awards were voted on by the Arrow players: most valuable performer and most improved. Senior Mariah Moeller was selected as the team’s most valuable player — fresh off a performance in the Minnesota all-star games on Sunday, June 8, at Caswell Park in North Mankato. “I got to meet a lot...
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By virtue of winning the Pipestone Tournament championship, Pipestone has qualified for the 11-under state tournament set for Brooklyn Park on July 26-27. The tournament was conducted the Paulsen Athletic Complex. Pipestone defeated Luverne, 8-7, in extra innings — and followed that with a 4-0 victory over Montevideo. Here's the squad (in no particular order): Blake Einck, Connor Thode, Elliott Sterud, Emmett Bleyenberg, Gracen Tibbs, Greyden Douty, Jaxen Christensen, Kason Bosma, Liam Schrecengost, Luis Quilantan and Murphy Legler. Jeff Einck, Jason Christensen, Brady Legler and Scott Sterud coach the team.
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INFORMATION BASEBALL Minnesota State High School League State Tournament Class A: Joe Faber Field, St. Cloud; Bob Cross Field, Sauk Rapids; Knute Nelson Field, Alexandria Class AA: Dick Putz Field, St. Cloud; St. Cloud Orthopedics Field, Sartell Class AAA: Mini Met, Jordan; Chaska Athletic Park, Chaska Class AAAA: CHS Field, St. Paul; Palm Field, St. Anthony Prep Championship Series At Target Field, Minneapolis Wednesday, June 11 First-Round Games New Ulm Cathedral 6, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2 South Ridge 2, Hayfield 1 (8) Parkers Prairie 4, Frazee 1 Red Lake County 10, Legacy Christian Academy 0 (7) Thursday, June...
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SAUK RAPIDS — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton senior Eli Determan pitched the Knights to the eventual Class A consolation championship. At least that’s what the Minnesota State High School League determined, partially based on poor weather that rained out remaining games at Bob Cross Field. “Russell-Tyler-Ruthton received the consolation trophy by virtue of winning its consolation semifinal game,” MSHSL spokesman Tim Leighton said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “They will not share that trophy because neither Frazee nor Legacy Christian advanced from their consolation semifinal when it was canceled because of inclement weather,” Leighton added. So, for RTR, a historic...
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MARSHALL — Paris Van Dyke, a sophomore at Southwest Minnesota State University, has been recognized for her academics. Van Dyke, a Luverne resident who played for Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, was named an all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honoree for the spring 2025 semester. Overall, 10 Mustang softball players were so honored, with six in baseball, two in women’s golf, six in men’s track and field and 15 in women’s track and field — bringing the total to 39. To be eligible for the NSIC all-academic team, a student must have a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average or higher. Van Dyke is a...
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The Pipestone Cruizers Car Show will take place on Saturday, June 28, as part of the city’s Water Tower Festival. This event will be conducted on the west side of the Pipestone County Courthouse (2nd Ave. SW). Contestants are asked to enter from the south of the venue. Registration will take place from 9-10 a.m., with the show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The awards ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m. The cost is per entry, and all proceeds will be donated to charity. Divisions will feature cars, trucks, imports, motorcycles, tractors, hot rods and golf...
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HADLEY — Hadley Buttermaker pitcher Tucker Sorenson yielded just one hit in a 7-0 victory over the visiting Pipestone A’s on Sunday, June 15. Sorenson played for Kentucky Christian and currently serves as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Minnesota West Community & Technical College. He struck out 12 on 76 pitches (with 51 strikes for a 67.1 percent efficiency), allowing no runs and one hit. Carson Frank took the loss for Pipestone, allowing seven runs (just two earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 3-2/3 innings. Mitchel Carson also pitched for the A’s. Jaymes...
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MILROY — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s trip to the Class A state tournament, save for The Beatles reference, was a “long and winding road.” In the opening round back on Saturday, May 24, the Knights survived a 12-inning, one-run thriller over Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and the Panthers’ premium pitcher Trevor Smith. Then RTR (19-7) defeated county rival Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian and twice beat talented Dawson-Boyd 9-2 (Wednesday, May 28) and 5-4 (Tuesday, June 3). The Knights’ lone tournament hiccup versus Yellow Medicine East, a 7-6 loss on May 31, meant they would need to sweep the Sting in the Section 3A championships Thursday, June 5,...
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LOCAL CALENDAR Wednesday, June 18 Amateur Baseball 7:30 p.m., Milroy Irish at Pipestone A’s, City Field 8 p.m., Elkton Snappers at Castlewood Ravens Thursday, June 19 Baseball 7 p.m., Windom at Pipestone, American Legion, City Field Friday, June 20 Amateur Baseball 7 p.m., Elkton Snappers at Renner Rangers Clay Target Shooting All Day, Minnesota State High School League state tournament, Minneapolis Gun Club, Prior Lake Sunday, June 22 Amateur Baseball 2 p.m., Worthington Cubs at Pipestone A’s, City Field 5 p.m., Elkton Snappers at Milbank Firechiefs Editor's Note: Have an event to add? Email sports editor Eric Viccaro at sports@pipestonestar.com,...
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Here’s the good news. The Pipestone A’s reached the Pepsi Tournament championship game for the first time in team history. Now, you’re going to get the bad news. The Sioux City (Iowa) Futures were loaded for bear with college players, and that vintage showed in a 9-0 victory over the A’s at City Field on a blustery Sunday, June 8. “Every one of their players is at some sort of college program,” A’s head coach Avery Ploeger noted. “They’re good athletes.” Futures players compete for Morningside, Briar Cliff, Northwestern, Sioux Falls and community colleges scattered throughout Iowa. Clean-up hitter Clayton...
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ROCHESTER — Minnesota West Community & Technical College softball player Kya Alderson has been named to the 2025 Division III All-Region 13 team. The National Junior College Athletic Association made the announcement on Monday, June 2. Coaches from the Minnesota College Athletic Conference and independent schools selected the team. Alderson, a former standout at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, saw time as pitcher, shortstop and leftfielder this season for the Bluejays. Teammates Faith Kazemba (third base, catcher) and Hannah Kazemba (shortstop, pitcher) also were selected. Minnesota West finished with an 11-8 overall record, including 8-4 in conference games. Alderson finished fifth in the conference...
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The Jasper 10-under softball team placed second at the Pipestone Area Youth Fastpitch Fifth Annual Arrow Classic here in Pipestone. Baltic, S.D., won this division. The Jasper team is composed of Vera Stangle, Addi Fraser, Hailey Steuck, Eleanor Hollingsworth, Ellie Mastbergen, Allison Berkenpas, Hensley Dykstra, Lacy Odland, Amelia Otter and Mackendra Lange. The Brookings Outlaws (S.D.) won the 12-under division, with Volga, S.D., second. LeAnn Bloemendaal and Shelby Baatz served as the coaches for Jasper’s team. Email youth team photos to The Pipestone County Star at: sports@pipestonestar.com. The Star will run them on a first-come, first-served basis, and the image...
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INFORMATION SOFTBALL State Tournament At Caswell Park, North Mankato Championship Games At Jane Sage Cowles Stadium University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Class A Wednesday, June 4 First-Round Games United South Central 12, Blackduck 0 (5) Braham 3, Wabasso 2 Bethlehem Academy 7, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley 2 Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 10, Moose Lake/Willow River 3 Semifinals United South Central 6, Braham 0 Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 1, Bethlehem Academy 0 (9) Friday, June 6 Championship Game United South Central 2, Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 0 Note: United South Central finished the season with a 26-1 record. ...
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Four Pipestone Area Schools’ baseball players shared in team honors during a season-ending program on Sunday, June 1, at City Field. The team celebrated with hamburgers and other favorites after the Pipestone A’s no-hit the Heron Lake Lakers. Landon Quist earned most valuable player accolades, and he also shared Arrow top hitter and “Iron Mike” honors with senior teammate Nohel Vivanco. “Landon was a great leader for us,” PAS head coach Rick Zollner noted. Quist was a four-year starter who conveyed positive messages to the underclassmen throughout the 2025 season as the Arrows went 8-12. He was the Arrows primary...
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The Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club on Tuesday, June 3, conducted the soft opening for its new clay target shooting area before a small crowd at this facility northeast of Pipestone. The event was well-received, with the board of directors present. The event began with a ceremonial breaking of three targets. “All the board members were smiling from ear to ear,” Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club treasurer Brad Bolluyt said in a telephone interview with the Pipestone County Star Monday. “It’s a stepping stone in our growth,” Bolluyt continued. “For young kids, and families, this will give them something to do.” Pipestone County 4-H...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ golf team conducted its postseason awards presentation on Thursday, May 29, at Pizza Ranch. Several players received special awards, leading off with most valuable performer Matt DeBates, who was the lone Arrow to qualify for the second round of the Section 3AA boys tournament at Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake. DeBates also was honored as the best caddy. He finished 16th overall at the Section 3A meet, carding a 13-over par 157 spread over May 21 and May 28 with three birdies and seven pars during his second round. PAS eighth grader Carson Van Hoecke...
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ST. PAUL — With the passage of the Memorial Day weekend not too long ago, lakes and rivers are busier than ever. Recreation boating season is underway, joining anglers and paddlers who have been on the water since the ice melted. Lake Benton and Lake Shetek, near Slayton, are two popular destinations for boating enthusiasts. “Everyone who uses the water has a role in keeping Minnesota’s lakes and rivers safe,” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Matt Miller said in a prepared press release. Here are some safety tips the Minnesota DNR would like to share: •Wear a life...
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Despite unfavorable weather, a record number of teams participated in the 19th Annual Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Golf Classic last Thursday, June 5. Golfers handled temperatures in the upper 60s with moderate wind, blowing 15 mph with higher gusts. The tournament was played as a four-person scramble format. The Pipestone Country Club team earned the championship with a 28. Team members were Wade Newgard, Megan Newgard, Tim Rustad and Duane Hess. Dari King was second overall, shooting a 29. Two teams tied for third, Fuller Paving and Mark’s Electric both fired 30s. Winter Title and Abstract...
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BUFFALO LAKE — For Pipestone Area Schools’ Vivian Brockberg, she’s making a second trip to the Minnesota State High School League Section 3AA second round. Meanwhile, the Arrows’ Matt DeBates also finally broke through to play on Day Two. Those were the major highlights last Wednesday and Thursday, May 21-22, from Oakdale Golf Club. The course measures 5,108 yards from the ladies tees, and the boys’ layout covered 6,374 yards. “It means a lot to me to have had a good first day of sections,” DeBates said. “After missing the cut the first four years of my career, it’s rewarding...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ Makhi Winter competed in his final scholastic match on Wednesday, May 21, with doubles partner Brady Dunn. For the second straight year, Winter advanced to the second round in the No. 1 doubles draw — however, that’s as far as he would get at the Section 3A individual tournament. Chase Wilson joined forces with Winter last season. “For Makhi and Brady to get a high seed was an accomplishment,” PAS head boys tennis coach James Skyberg noted. Winter and Dunn breezed past their first-round opponents from Luverne (Chris Severns and Ethan Van Batavia) by scores of 6-0,...
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MARSHALL — The Pipestone Area Schools’ softball team coasted right along for 5-1/2 innings on Saturday in the Section 3AA Tournament elimination bracket. The Arrows were ahead, 5-0, at the Marshall Softball Complex — then, seemingly in the blink of an eye, their season was done. Windom Area rallied for an 8-5 victory, advancing to consolation championship round game versus last year’s Section 3AA representative Dassel-Cokato on Tuesday. This marked the third time the Eagles (13-10) beat the Arrows. Meanwhile, the Arrows finish the 2025 season 12-11, short of qualifying for state again. It marked the final game for seniors...
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The Pipestone Area Schools cheerleading squad for the 2025-26 academic calendar has been announced. Here’s the group. Front row (from left), Alexia Vivanco, Stephanie Campos, Valencia Murphy and Ashley Caso. Back row, Amelia Homandberg, Sophie Oliver, Abbi Haack and Janasia Larkins. Melanie Campos and Violet Dougherty are missing from the photograph. Mariah Swanson serves as the Arrows’ cheer coach and sponsor. The group will perform at both PAS football and basketball games.
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EDGERTON — The Edgerton Swimming Pool will open tentatively on Monday, June 2. Pool hours will be from 1-5 p.m. and 6-8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Lap swim is available Monday-Thursday 5-6 p.m. Teen swim night is Wednesday from 8:30-10 p.m., on June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23 and Aug. 6. Private parties are available from 8:30-10 p.m., with a cost of 5 plus lifeguard fees. Pool prices are as follows: 5 for a family season pass, individual pass and monthly pass. The daily admission is per person and for...
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Justin Nepp hit into a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth inning, driving home Jackson Melcher with the A’s only run in a 7-1 loss to the Jackson Bulls Sunday at City Field. Melcher reached base on an error, advanced to second base on a single from Kolby Louwagie. Merrick Heidebrink flew out to center field — ending the game. Brandon Alfson and Louwagie both went 2-for-4, and Jaymes Zollner also had a hit for Pipestone (2-3). Carson Frank took the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out three and walking two in...
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The 19th Annual Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Golf Classic is set for Thursday, June 5, at Pipestone Country Club. The rain date has been set for Friday, June 6. Interested parties are asked to respond to play in the tournament by Friday, May 30, through either email or voicemail to the chamber office. Teams will check in at 1 p.m., with a shotgun start at 2 p.m. Dinner will follow at 5:15 p.m., catered by Hatfield Roadhouse. The meal will feature barbecue ribs, macaroni cheese and cupcakes. The cost is 0 per team, which does not...
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ELKTON, S.D. — Eleven Elkton-Lake Benton athletes have qualified for the South Dakota High School Activities Association state meet. The event will take place Thursday through Saturday, May 29-31, at Howard Wood Field (1200 N. Western Ave.) in Sioux Falls. Tanner Stein and Blake DeVries have qualified in three events each. Stein will compete in the 200 dash and 400 run plus the long jump. DeVries is set for the 110 high and 300 intermediate hurdles, and the 4x200 relay. The relay group also will feature Alexis Hernandez Garcia, Colt Beck and Caden Crofutt. Eliot Erickson will participate in the...
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This was a test. A test of the future softball playoff system, and Pipestone Area Schools head softball coach Robert Petersen made some adjustments to the Arrows’ batting order last Friday versus Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian. The changes worked out, and PAS swept E/SWC by scores of 3-0 (Game One) and 13-2 (Game Two, reduced to five innings). Petersen moved Mylee Weber into the No. 2 slot. Amyra Mahik was dropped down to the fifth spot. Mariah Moeller was in the clean-up role, Kaitlyn Adelman eighth and Addison Draper ninth. “Kaitlyn and Mariah had been in a slump, so it was...
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Two Pipestone Area Schools’ junior golfers received all-Big South Conference honors based on their performances from regular-season meets this season. Vivian Brockberg and Matt DeBates were so honored. “Vivian getting all-conference was great to see,” PAS girls coach Grant Everson said. “It was a goal she had coming into this year because of how close she was last year. Hopefully, that will give her more confidence.” PAS boys coach Craig Boeddeker was equally pleased with DeBates. “Matt is by far, for me, the best example of a student-athlete who recognizes the responsibility one had to his sport,” the coach commented....
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INFORMATION LOCAL CALENDAR Sunday, May 25 Amateur Baseball 2 p.m., Jackson at Pipestone A’s, A’s City Field Graduation 2 p.m., Pipestone Area Schools Class of 2025, PAS Gymnasium 2 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Class of 2025, Knights Gymnasium Tuesday, May 27 Baseball Afternoon, Pipestone Area at Section 3AA Tournament, TBD Afternoon, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Section 3A Tournament, TBD Boys Tennis 8 a.m., Pipestone Area at Section 3A individual tournament, Huether Family Match Pointe, Sioux Falls, S.D. Softball Afternoon, Pipestone Area at Section 3AA Tournament, Marshall Softball Complex Afternoon, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Section 3A Tournament, Marshall Softball...
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INFORMATION LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, May 12 Softball Parker Triangular Elkton-Lake Benton 11, Parker 9 Arlington 7, Elkton-Lake Benton 4 Tuesday, May 13 Baseball Big South Conference Redwood Valley 9, Pipestone Area 4 Also Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 7, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 1 Boys Tennis Section 3A Team Tournament Montevideo 6, Pipestone Area 1 (Arrows eliminated from team tournament) Softball Big South Conference Game One: Windom Area 4, Pipestone Area 2 Game Two: Windom Area 7, Pipestone Area 2 Also Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 11, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 0 (5) Deuel 16, Elkton-Lake Benton 0 (4) Thursday, May 15 Baseball Big South Conference Pipestone Area 14, Worthington...
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Cold, harsh winds raged at more than 30 mph last Friday in southwest Minnesota. In the end, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian handled the conditions better than Pipestone Area Schools in a 22-9 victory at A’s/City Field. Such substandard weather continued early into the new week, bringing about more canceled games for both schools. The Flying Dutchmen (12-5) were scheduled to play Dawson-Boyd and the Arrows (8-11) had Tracy-Milroy-Balaton on the docket, but rain Monday shelved them both. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s game versus Canby also was scrubbed, with the Knights standing at 13-6. That’s not ideal, especially when you’re trying to tune up for...
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WORTHINGTON — The Pipestone Area Schools boys and girls track and field teams wrapped up the regular season on Tuesday, May 13, at Worthington High School’s Trojan Relays. Teams were split up by enrollment sizes. The Arrow girls scored 47 points for sixth place while the boys racked up 26 points. PAS sprinter Aurora Winsel was the highlight yet again, setting another school record in the 200-meter dash with a personal-best time of 25.60. She also earned gold medals in the 100 dash (12.85) and 400 run (59.64, breaking through the one-minute threshold). Complete results accompany this story in agate...
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SLAYTON — Several Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton athletes earned gold medals at the Red Rock Conference meet on Thursday, May 15. On the boys’ side, SWC/E’s Ryan Pap came through with a first-place finish in the 400-meter run, clocking in at 51.97. Teammate Silas Van Essen recorded a time of 41.22 to win the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Josimar Van Hulzen, Tyler Pap and Jonah Uilk joined Ryan Pap to win the 4x400-meter relay in a strong time of 3:37.71. Soon-to-be Dakota State University football player and current Russell-Tyler-Ruthton senior Sean Griesse continued preparations for his upcoming gridiron season by...
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Pipestone Area Schools once again is offering a middle school acceleration program set to begin on Tuesday, June 11. This is run through the Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic, affiliated with Avera, with a cost of per child. The program is for student-athletes entering fifth and sixth grade, and will focus on plyometrics, running and strength training — in an effort to create a foundation for future success in sports. PCMC athletic trainer Jeff Haufschild will administer the program, which will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon in the PAS high school gymnasium....
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Pipestone Family Aquatic Center has announced there will be newly designed pool passes this year. These passes are available to be picked up at the Ewert Recreation Center in downtown Pipestone. The pool is reportedly set to open on Wednesday, June 4, per the Pipestone Parks and Recreation Department. The pass features a bar code on the back that will need to be scanned upon entry to the pool — like in previous years. A single resident pool pass is , with additional passes each. The non-resident fee is , with additional passes each. Additional passes will act...
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The Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team earned a split on the road Sunday, defeating Fox Lake, 7-1, while falling to Fairmont, 6-0. Mitchel Carson tossed a complete-game four-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out 10, walking five and issuing one hit batsman in the conquest over Fox Lake at Truman. Second baseman Merrick Heidebrink performed well as the A’s lead-off hitter, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jackson Melcher, fresh from attending North Dakota State University, also scored twice. Mark Abrahamson doubled and contributed two RBI, and Carson helped his own cause with a 2-for-4 performance...
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The Pipestone Area Schools baseball team posed with representatives of Pipestone County Medical Center and Family Clinic after the Arrows’ game on Tuesday, May 13, versus Redwood Valley. The baseball team raised [post_excerpt],310.05 through the sale of walking tacos and other food at the Rock Steady Boxing 5K conducted on Thursday, May 8, at the Paulsen Athletic Complex. Overall, the event drew more than 150 participants with more than ,000 in contributions to support Rock Steady Boxing, surpassing a fundraising goal by nearly double the dollars. Rock Steady Boxing is a recognized, worldwide non-contact boxing-based fitness program for people with...
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A group of former active servicemen with Pipestone ties raised the American flag before a Minnesota Twins game versus the San Francisco Giants outside Target Field on Saturday, May 10. The group was composed of, from left, Dean Ebsen, Clint Ebsen, Brian Douty, Ron Abbink and Bob Douty. Also with the group that day were Jeff Douty, Myron Koets, Ed Hansen and Bob Buffington. The Twins defeated the Giants, 2-1, with Trevor Larnach going 2-for-4, including a two-run homer, and pitcher Joe Ryan striking out seven in picking up the win. The Armed Forces Flag Raising program was created by...
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SIOUX CENTER, Iowa — Dordt University student-athlete Micah Schaap has been listed as an alternate for the upcoming NAIA national outdoor track and field meet. The event is set for Wednesday through Friday, May 21-23, at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. The Defenders have qualified for all three relays: the 4x100-, 4x400- and 4x800-meter contests. Kaden Van Wyngarden, the Great Plains Athletic Conference champion and school record-holder, will compete in the 1,500 run to wrap up the Defenders’ contested events. Schaap is an alternate for the 4x400 relay, which came in with the 18th-best seed time, clocking in at...
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MONTEVIDEO — Montevideo eliminated the Pipestone Area Schools boys tennis team from the Section 3A team tournament on Tuesday, May 13. The Thunderhawks downed the Arrows, 6-1. PAS’ only win was at No. 1 doubles as Makhi Winter and Brady Dunn teamed up to defeat Chris Negen and Jackson Viessman, 7-5, 6-1. Matthew Swenson played hard at No. 2 singles, but suffered a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Hunter Anspach. The Arrows’ No. 3 doubles team composed of Austin Jorgenson and Charles Haak also managed to get three games off Montevideo’s Alex Fultz and Caleb Winter in the first set —...
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BROOKLYN CENTER — The Minnesota State High School League on Wednesday released pairings for upcoming section tournaments. In Section 3AA South, the Pipestone Area Schools (8-11) was seeded fifth and will travel to Windom for a first-round game, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, at Island Park. Interestingly enough, PAS defeated No. 4 Windom twice during the regular season with Weston Reinhard winning both games — but, the decision was made to send the Arrows on the road. Fairmont, one of the premier Class AA teams in Minnesota, was given the first-round bye and top overall seed....
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HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD Big South Conference Small School Meet Saturday, May 10 At Paulsen Sports Complex, Pipestone Team Scores Boys 1, Jackson County Central, 151; 2, Redwood Valley, 143.5; 3, Luverne, 135; 4, Windom Area, 98.5; 5, St. James-Madelia, 63; 6t, Pipestone Area, 46; 6t, Blue Earth Area, 46 Girls 1, Luverne, 202.5; 2, Redwood Valley, 151; 3, Jackson County Central, 124; 4, St. James-Madelia, 75.5; 5, Pipestone Area, 60; 6, Blue Earth Area, 36; 7, Windom Area, 33 Complete Pipestone Area Results Boys 100-meter dash: 4, Americ Suvandy, 11.72; 19, Xavier Banjoko, 12.41 200...
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She sprinted to glory. That’s what Pipestone Area Schools’ Aurora Winsel accomplished last Saturday during the Big South Conference small schools track and field meet at Paulsen Athletic Complex. Winsel claimed gold in the 100-meter dash as well as the 200 dash and the open 400. She clocked in with a time of 12.91 in the 100, 25.82 in the 200 and 1:01.24 (400). “Aurora is simply a lot stronger compared to her prior years,” PAS head coach Mark Moeller said. “Her durability gives her the ability to bounce back faster between those races.” Winsel established a new league record...
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Home cooking. That’s what the Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team enjoyed in its season-opening victory over the Flandreau Blue Teal, 9-4, on Wednesday evening at City Field. “They were a young, energetic team,” Pipestone A’s manager Avery Ploeger said of the Blue Teal, one of two summer baseball teams based in Flandreau. Ploeger said the Blue Teal featured challenging pitchers — starter Emmet Nathan settled down after a wild first inning allowing the A’s six runs. Speaking of pitching, five different A’s shared in the win, starter Carson Frank, Riley Bosma, Mitchel Carson, Mitchell Biever and Mark Abrahamson. Ploeger said...
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BROOKLYN CENTER — The Minnesota State High School League has posted playoff draws for softball. And the Section 3AA seeding is quite surprising — considering Windom Area swept Pipestone Area Schools in a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Arrows are a No. 2 seed, and have been given a first-round bye. Meanwhile, Windom is seeded fourth and plays Minneota/Canby in the opening round. PAS (9-9) will face the winner of a game between No. 3 Luverne and sixth-seeded Redwood Valley on Tuesday, May 20, at the Paulsen Sports Complex. The winner of the game between Minneota/Canby and Windom will take on...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ baseball team faced its most daunting task of the season last Friday at City Field. Fairmont provided the opposition. The Cardinals entered play with the second-highest Quality Results Formula (QRF) used by minnesota-scores.net (105.1) in Class AA. Fairmont is 33rd overall among the 359 baseball-playing schools in the state. What’s more, Fairmont (13-1) was fourth overall in Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association polling. The Cardinals’ lone loss was to Esko, 6-2, on Friday, April 11. “I looked at their QRF,” PAS head coach Rick Zollner noted. “They are very athletic, and they hit the ball...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Sunday, May 18 Amateur Baseball 2 p.m., Pipestone A’s at Fairmont 5 p.m., Pipestone A’s at Fox Lake Music 2 p.m., Pipestone Area Schools’ spring band concert, PAS Performing Arts Center Special Event 7 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Senior Awards Night, RTR Performing Arts Center Monday, May 19 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Pipestone Area at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, Tracy 4:30 p.m., Canby at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Ruthton 4:30 p.m., Dawson-Boyd at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian Softball All Day, Elkton-Lake Benton at Dakota Valley Conference Tournament, Field of Dreams, Colman, S.D. Tuesday, May 20 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Wabasso Boys and Girls Golf 9...
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MARSHALL — Pipestone Area Schools rallied from down 2-0 to beat Marshall in Game One of a Big South Conference doubleheader on Saturday. Avery Reinhard and Josie Danks crossed home plate on Kaysa Douty’s two-run, line drive double to center field. Addison Draper then added an insurance run on Sienna Rieck’s sacrifice fly, properly tagging up from third base to score. So it was the unsung Arrows who came through in a pinch, and eventually PAS swept the host Tigers during a warm day at the Marshall Softball Complex. The Arrows took Game One, 4-2, and followed with a run-rule...
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INFORMATION LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, May 5 Baseball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 10, Adrian-Ellsworth 5 Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 12, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 3 Softball Big South Conference Pipestone Area 16, Luverne 6 (5) Also Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 8, Yellow Medicine East 7 Adrian-Ellsworth 9, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 8 Tuesday, May 6 Baseball Big South Conference Pipestone Area 3, Windom 0 Also Murray County Central 9, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 7 Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 6, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 3 Edgerton/SWC 12, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 4 Boys Tennis Worthington 4, Pipestone Area 3 Softball Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 14, Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 0 Adrian-Ellsworth 12, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2 Thursday, May 8 Baseball...
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ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Pipestone Area Schools’ senior Haylie Tripp has signed with Northwestern College. Tripp made it official during a special signing ceremony on Friday, April 25, in the PAS school library. “I had been following their program for a couple of years, and when I met with coach (Scott Bahrke), and detailed it for me, I felt like it would be a great fit.” PAS head track and field coach Mark Moeller cited Tripp’s willingness to try new events as a reason why colleges were attracted to her. “She was willing to try the sprints,” Moeller said. “We’ve...
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INFORMATION GIRLS GOLF Monday, May 5 Big South Conference Division Meet No. 3 At Jackson Golf Club Par-74, 5,180 yards Team Scores 1, Blue Earth Area, 395; 2, Fairmont, 425; 3, Jackson County Central, 427; 4, Luverne, 451; 5, Redwood Valley, 485 Pipestone Area Scores 6, Vivian Brockberg, 100; 20, Olyvia Weber, 119 Note: Brockberg parred Hole No. 7/16 and birdied Hole No. 2/11 during her round. Top-Six Individual Scorers (And ties) 1, Katelyn Storbeck, Blue Earth Area, 81 (7-over par); 2, Madison Ehrich, BEA, 93; 3t, Leslie Zarling, 99; 3t, Ingrid Mostad, Luverne, 99; 3t, Katherine Zelaya,...
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The Pipestone Area Schools boys tennis team began the playoff push this past Tuesday with a Section 3A team tournament match at Montevideo. The Arrows came into the tournament seeded sixth, and the Thunderhawks No. 3. Other first-round matches took place Tuesday, too, with fourth-seeded Lac qui Parle Valley at No. 5 Yellow Medicine East in Granite Falls and No. 2 Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg versus seventh Luverne. Redwood Valley drew the No. 1 seed, and opening-round bye. “Like most of the other teams, they will have more depth and experience,” PAS head coach James Skyberg noted regarding Montevideo. Skyberg said there was...
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ST. JAMES — The St. James school district has announced it plans on leaving the Big South Conference. St. James’ school board officially approved the measure, 4-1, during a meeting with a “full house” in attendance, per a story written in the St. James Plaindealer newspaper. “The vote was an important one, with strong support for the change demonstrated throughout the process,” St. James superintendent Steve Heil said in a statement. School officials and coaches cited the district’s small enrollment size. Blue Earth Area officials also have discussed possibly leaving the Big South Conference as well, with the topic on...
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WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Community Club will be conducting sports programs this summer. Youth T-ball will take place on four straight Monday nights beginning June 16, with game time at 6:15 p.m. The games are 45 minutes long. Coaches are sought as well. There will be a youth fundamentals camp for kindergartners through fourth graders on June 9. There will be an introduction to T-ball session from 6-7 p.m. for kindergartners and first graders, followed by fundamentals session for second through fourth graders from 7-8 p.m. There is a fee each for both youth T-ball and the fundamentals camp....
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The Pipestone Arrows Summer Acceleration program will begin on Tuesday, June 3, at the school. This program, sponsored by the Pipestone Arrows Athletic Booster Club, is for boys and girls entering seventh through 12th grade. Students are asked to use their school emails when signing up, and there is a QR Code available on the flyer. The cost is , and make checks payable to PAS. Make payment to either coaches or the office staff. Financial assistance is available through the activities office. The tenants of the acceleration program are: strength training, conditioning, speed and agility work. Sessions will be...
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SPEARFISH, S.D. — Caden Strasser is currently wrapping up his sophomore season as a member of the Black Hills State University track and field program. Strasser placed 24th in the 1,500-meter run at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference track and field championship conducted in Golden, Colo., in late April. He clocked in with a time of 4:22.14. The RMAC features such universities as Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colorado Mesa, Chadron State (Neb.), Colorado State-Pueblo, Western Colorado, Fort Lewis State, and South Dakota School of Mines. This season, Strasser posted a best time of 4:00.64 in the...
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, April 14 Baseball Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 9, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 1 Softball Lac qui Parle Valley 13, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 0 (5) Tuesday, April 15 Baseball Pipestone Area 9, Windom Area 4 Adrian-Ellsworth 6, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3 Softball Flandreau 14, Elkton-Lake Benton 2 Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 12, Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 2 Adrian-Ellsworth 10, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 5 Wabasso 8, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 2 (10) Thursday, April 17 Baseball Pipestone Area 10, Jackson County Central 6 (5) (official) Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 3, Minneota 2 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 5, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 4 Softball Minneota 10, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 6 Hanson 16, Elkton-Lake Benton 0 Elkton-Lake Benton 17,...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Monday, April 28 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Canby at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian Boys and Girls Golf 4 p.m., Pipestone Area at Big South Division Event, Minn-Iowa Golf Course, Elmore (girls) 4 p.m., Pipestone Area at Big South Division Event, Redwood Falls Golf Club (boys) 4:15 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton vs. Hills-Beaver Creek, at Larchwood, Iowa Track and Field 4 p.m., Tal Farnham Pole Vault Invitational, Elkton Athletic Complex, Elkton, S.D. Tuesday, April 29 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 4:30 p.m., Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Ruthton 5:30 p.m., Luverne at Pipestone Area, A’s...
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Mark Moeller was officially approved as the third Pipestone Area Schools’ head track and field coach earlier this year. The first was Robert “Bob” Nangle. PAS coaches and athletes will continue Nangle’s tradition with the 49th Annual Arrow Relays on Tuesday, April 29, at Paulsen Sports Complex. The event was named in honor of Bob beginning with the 2004 meet. Nangle died on Nov. 9, 2016, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, the same city he was born. He was 77. “Bob left a remarkable legacy,” Moeller said, “and I am honored to be a part of this, and help...
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MARSHALL — The Pipestone Area Schools boys and girls track and field teams had their best success in the sprints during the Marshall Invitational on Monday, April 14. The Arrow girls scored 42 points for sixth place and the boys compiled 30 for seventh in the meet, which was conducted at Southwest Minnesota State University. Aurora Winsel was the gold standard in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 27.79. She also was second in the 100 (12.84). Haylie Tripp placed second in the high jump, marking at 4-feet, 6-inches. Winsel also helped propel the Arrows to a bronze medal finish...
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TRACY— Tracy-Milroy Balaton pushed across five runs in the bottom of the fourth, and the Panthers made that hold up in a 5-4 victory over visiting Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Thursday, April 15. RTR’s rally in the top of the fifth fell short. Brayden Chandler scored on an Eli Determan RBI double. Sean Griesse then pushed across a run on a Drew Chandler ground out. Tyler Wichmann drove home Determan with a single. The Knights (8-2 before Monday’s doubleheader) were set down in order in both the sixth and seventh innings. Wichmann absorbed the loss, throwing four innings with the following linescore: five...
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WINDOM — Pipestone Area Schools’ Weston Reinhard nearly pitched a complete game. And Windom Area’s defense proved charitable with several errors as the Arrows downed the Eagles, 9-4, in Big South Conference action at Island Park on Tuesday, April 15. Reinhard surrendered four runs (only three earned) on five hits while striking out seven and walking seven. Trevor Chaulsett came in to pitch, and struck out Charles Erickson to end it. “Weston threw really well,” PAS head coach Rick Zollner said. “He threw strikes when he needed to. It was a gutty performance out of him.” Reinhard effectively mixed his...
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Golf duals can be competitive. That was certainly the case last Thursday, April 17, as Pipestone Area Schools boys defeated Big South Conference foe Worthington by one stroke. The Arrows finished with 178 strokes, and the Trojans 179 per results gleaned from iWanamaker. (Readers, take a look at statistics accompanying this story for the explanation.) “We’ve lost by a single stroke several times, or we’ve had ties,” said PAS head boys golf coach Craig Boeddeker, happy to be on the right side of a final result this go round. These tournaments matter because of a point system in Big South...
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BROOKINGS, S.D. — Former Pipestone Area Schools track and field standout Aiden Voss will return for South Dakota State University’s 2025-26 indoor and outdoor seasons. Voss told the Pipestone County Star of his plans during a short telephone interview last Friday afternoon. He said he will be ready before the first indoor meet in 2025. Aiden was unable to compete this season due to an unspecified injury. The injury reportedly occurred during a training session before the Jackrabbits’ first meet — which was the SDSU Holiday Open on Dec. 6, 2024. Voss’ teammates competed last weekend at the Long Beach...
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The Third Annual Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club fundraiser and banquet is set for 5 p.m. Friday, April 25, at the Pipestone National Guard Armory and Community Center. This event typically provided the greatest source of funding for the organization, which formed in 2023 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) by a group of local volunteer sportsmen and sportswomen. “We’re seeing our dreams come true,” said Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club president Troy Budden regarding its growing facility located at 1480 131st Street northeast of downtown. “The community-oriented support for us has been phenomenal,” Budden added. Pipestone-Helping Farmers is providing the meat, which will be prepared...
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INFORMATION BOWLING At Bole-Mor Lanes, Pipestone From April 16-117 Lynnette’s Ladies Standings Team W-L The Bowling Stones 38-18 American Legion 35.5-20.5 JBS 35-21 Stay In Your Lane 30.5-25.5 Dolls With Balls 29-27 Sister Chicks ...
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Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic will be conducting a five-kilometer fun run and walk on Thursday, May 8. Registration begins at 6 p.m., with the event to follow 30 minutes later at the Paulsen Sports Complex (1401 7th Street SW). The entry fee is by cash or check. Make checks payable to PCMC’s Rock Steady Boxing. Participants must register by April 30 to guarantee a T-shirt. Rock Steady Boxing is a program for Parkinson’s Disease patients actively fighting the following symptoms: tremors, slowness and limb stiffness. Donated funds will go toward purchasing new equipment, continuing education and...
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ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 73c state parks and recreation areas this Saturday. One of those state parks is Split Rock Creek in the Pipestone County community of Ihlen. This “Free Park Day” is one of four days each year which the DNR waives the requirement for a vehicle permit. These days are spread out over the year — giving recreationalists plenty of opportunities to visit a state park for free. “Spring is a wonderful time to get outside and enjoy everything Minnesota state parks and recreation areas have...
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TRACK AND FIELD HONOR ROLL Friday, April 11 Pipestone Area Invitational At Paulsen Sports Complex Team Scores Boys 1, Hills-Beaver Creek, 170; 2, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda, 110.5; 3, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 102.5; 4, Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton, 98; 5, Pipestone Area, 68; 6, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 64; 7, Adrian-Ellsworth, 35; 8, Harrisburg, S.D., 21 Girls 1, Hills-Beaver Creek, 103; 2, Adrian-Ellsworth, 100; 3, Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton, 97; 4, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda, 94; 5, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 87; 6, Pipestone Area, 81; 7, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 72; 8, Harrisburg, S.D., 10 Individual Results Pipestone Area Schools Boys 100-meter dash: 4, Americ Suvandy, 11.94 200 dash: 2, Cayden Zephier, 24.01; 4, Suvandy, 24.47...
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INFORMATION At Bole-Mor Lanes, Pipestone From April 9-10 Lynnette’s Ladies Standings Team W-L The Bowling Stones 34-18 American Legion 32-19.5 JBS 32-20 Stay In Your Lane 30.5-21.5 Sister Chicks 26-26 Dolls With Balls ...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ boys and girls track and field teams served as host of the first of three meets scheduled for the Paulsen Sports Complex. Overall the Arrow boys scored 68 points, which was good enough for fifth place. The girls compiled 81 points; however, they finished sixth on the team ladder. “Team wise, we didn’t place very high,” PAS head coach Mark Moeller said. “But, that’s not our goal. ... I saw good performances individually, and got to see some things that helped me measure out where we’re sitting for this first week on our meet schedule.” The...
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Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton met up for both a single baseball and softball game Thursday, April 10. RTR triumphed in the baseball game at Edgerton, 8-2, while E/SWC downed the Knights, 12-2 in the softball game at Tyler. Here’s a short recap on both games. Softball Cathryn Feikema threw a complete game and both Reese Vande Griend and Elliot Fleischman rapped out three hits to fuel E/SWC. E/SWC forged ahead in the first inning on RBI singles from Kya Voge and Fleischman. Addie Nibbelink opened the inning with a crafty bunt single. The Knights responded with two runs in...
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INFORMATION LOCAL SCOREBOARD Monday, April 7 Baseball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 10, Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 4 Softball Lac qui Parle Valley 13, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 0 (5) Tuesday, April 1 Baseball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3, Yellow Medicine East 2 Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 15, Lakeview 5 Softball Game One: Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 3, Pipestone Area 2 Game Two: Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 6, Pipestone Area 5 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 11, Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 5 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2, Lakeview 1 Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 12, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 5 Thursday, April 10 Baseball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 8, Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian 2 Boys Tennis Milbank, S.D. 9, Pipestone Area 0 Softball Game One:...
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Paulsen Sports Complex was filled with curious spectators for a season-opening softball doubleheader on Tuesday, April 8. Two fan bases wanted to be outside, and the fresh air was inviting. How would Pipestone Area Schools fare against Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, a 2024 Class AA state tournament runner-up? The Arrows gave the Knights all they could handle, falling in a pair of one-run games (Game One, 3-2, and Game Two, 6-5). “We competed very hard and had chances to win,” PAS second-year head coach Robert Petersen said. “We were ahead in both games. I was very happy with how we...
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INFORMATION LOCAL CALENDAR Monday, April 21 Baseball 1 p.m., Minneota at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Ruthton 4:30 p.m., Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Adrian-Ellsworth 4:30 p.m., Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Ruthton Boys Golf 4 p.m., Pipestone Area at Big South Conference division event, at Adrian Country Club, Adrian Girls Golf 4 p.m., Pipestone Area at Big South Conference division event, at Windom Country Club, Windom Softball 4:30 p.m., Murray County Central at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton City Fields Track and Field 4 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Luverne Invitational, Cardinal Field Tuesday, April 22 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Murray County...
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Max Taubert and Matt DeBates took turns recording the low round for the Pipestone Area Schools’ golf team last week. Taubert carded a nine-hole 39 during a triangular versus Southwest Minnesota Christian/Murray County Central on Tuesday, April 8, at Pipestone Country Club. DeBates scored a 13-over par 84 during the Worthington Invitational on Friday, April 11, at GreatLIFE Golf and Fitness Club. PAS head boys golf coach Craig Boeddeker discussed how both Taubert, a senior, and DeBates performed last week. “For Max, I think he played to his strengths and understanding of the course,” the coach commented. Taubert’s lone blemish...
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The Pipestone Country Club has announced its 2025 summer schedule, including tournament dates. Men’s league will begin on Tuesday, May 13, with the women’s league opening on Wednesday, May 28. The Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce will have its golf tournament on June 5, with two additional events that month: Glo-Ball (June 7) and a couples tournament (June 21). The 2nd annual #LiveLikeJoe tournament has been scheduled for July 12. Other events that month are a women’s invitational (July 16), soybean tournament (July 17), Dine on 9 (July 18), the senior handicap open (July 24) and the Hurd Open (July...
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ST. LOUIS PARK — Building relationships. That’s one reason why Kimball Area head football coach Clay Anderson has enjoyed such a successful career, according to Pipestone Area Schools’ Scott Boomgaarden. “He builds relationships with the kids,” Boomgaarden said. “He has been able to get the most out of them; they give him 110 percent.” Boomgaarden said he’s learned plenty from Anderson, who served in the same role here in Pipestone from 2015-2019. Scott was Clay’s defensive coordinator. “Clay is a very deserving individual,” Boomgaarden said. “He was great to work with, and instilled the same values (seen in the Arrow...
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ADRIAN — Pipestone Area Schools’ Landon Quist smacked his first home run of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Adrian-Ellsworth defeated the Arrows, 13-8, last Friday. The Dragons took control of the game early, pushing across seven runs for a 7-0 lead. The Arrows responded with three runs in the third, but they couldn’t close the deficit to less than three runs. PAS fared well at the plate; however, the Arrows had trouble squelching the Dragon offense. Weston Reinhard went 3-for-5, Landon Johnson 3-for-3 with a triple and Troy Boelman 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Quist was 2-for-4 with...
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Five Southwest Minnesota Christian students participated in a trout stocking event — in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — at Camden State Park in Lynd on Tuesday, April 8. The students who assisted in stocking were Tyson Bleyenberg, Cash Decker, Nathan Hoekman, Nilson Van Hulzen and Case Van Dyken.
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MILBANK, S.D. — The Pipestone Area Schools boys’ tennis team traveled to face Milbank on Thursday, April 10. South Dakota has a different format from Minnesota, allowing for repeats along with six singles and three doubles matches to be played. Here are the results: INFORMATION BOYS TENNIS Thursday, April 10 Results At Milbank, S.D. Milbank 9, Pipestone Area 0 Singles No. 1: Charles Whitesitt, M, d. Makhi Winter, 6-2, 6-4 No. 2: Greg Grabow, M, d. Brady Dunn, 6-1, 6-0 No. 3: Will Muellenbach, M, d. Baptiste Phillipon, 6-1, 6-1 No. 4: Alex Baugh, M, d. Matthew Swenson, 6-2, 6-3...
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WORTHINGTON — Former Russell-Tyler-Ruthton standout Kya Alderson is dazzling so far at the junior college level for Minnesota West Community & Technical College. For the second straight period, the Minnesota College Athletic Conference has named Alderson its South Division pitcher of the week. Alderson appeared in two games last week, with one start and one in relief. She was the winning pitcher of record in both games as the Blue Jays defeated Rochester Community & Technical College 17-1 (Game One, five innings) and 19-15 (Game Two) on Tuesday, April 1. During the pair of games, Alderson pitched 9-2/3 innings with...
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Both the Pipestone Area Schools girls golf and boys tennis teams opened the season with matches last week. PAS junior Vivian Brockberg recorded a 23-over par 94 for third place overall at the Worthington Invitational last Friday, April 4, at GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness Club. Arrow head coach Grant Everson was encouraged by the results. “I was really proud of how both girls played,” Everson remarked. “We hadn’t even played a full nine holes this year, so jumping into it and playing 18 Friday was a big adjustment.” Everson noted that both Olyvia Weber and Brockberg shot scores that were...
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ELKTON, S.D. — Three Elkton-Lake Benton basketball players were named to Dakota Valley Conference teams. And those honors were distributed during the Elks’ winter sports awards program conducted on Monday, March 24, in the Elkton High School North Gymnasium. E-LB senior Tanner Drietz was named to the DVC first team while Joseph Nibbe, a sophomore, was honorably mentioned. On the girls’ side, Andrea Renkly earned an honorable mention nod as the Elks finished with a 7-14 record. Head boys basketball coach Steve Erickson, head girls coach Miakken Vincent and cheerleading coach/sponsor Nicole Bye presented awards in those activities during the...
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INFORMATION BASKETBALL South Dakota High School Activities Association GIRLS State Tournament Event conducted Thursday-Saturday, March 13-15 Class AA: Summit Arena The Monument, Rapid City Class A: Donald E. Young Center, Black Hills State University, Spearfish Class B: Huron Arena, Huron Class AA State championship: Bishop O’Gorman 47, Brandon Valley 46 Third-place game: Sioux Falls Washington 67, Rapid City Stevens 64 Consolation championship: Mitchell 49, Spearfish 38 Seventh-place game: Sioux Falls Jefferson 52, Pierre T.F. Riggs 51 Class A State championship: Sioux Falls Christian 57, Mahpiya Luta 56 Third-place game: Hamlin 60, Dakota Valley 45 Consolation championship: Sioux Valley 74, Mobridge-Pollock...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR SCHEDULE Saturday, April 12 Baseball 1 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Dawson-Boyd, Dawson Boys Tennis 9 a.m., Pipestone Area at Worthington Invitational, Worthington Middle School courts Speech 9 a.m., Pipestone Area, Edgerton Public and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Section 3A Meet, Redwood Valley High School, Redwood Falls Softball 9 a.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Avon Tournament, Avon, S.D. Track and Field 10 a.m., Vince Relays, Elkton Athletic Complex, Elkton, S.D. Monday, April 14 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian at Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove, Lamberton 4:30 p.m., Adrian-Ellsworth at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Ruthton Boys Golf 1 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Marshall, Marshall Country Club Boys and...
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INFORMATION At Bole-Mor Lanes, Pipestone From April 2-3 Lynnette’s Ladies Standings Team W-L American Legion 31-17 The Bowling Stones 31-17 JBS 31-17 Stay In Your Lane 28.5-19.5 Dolls With Balls 23-25 Sister Chicks ...
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Somehow, some way, the Pipestone Area Schools baseball team played three games last week. The Arrows split Big South Conference games on Thursday, April 3, at the Sanford Sports Complex Diamonds, defeating Redwood Valley 6-2 and falling to Luverne, 9-1. “We had the opportunity to play a conference doubleheader there,” PAS head baseball coach/activities director Rick Zollner said. “The weather was nice, and it was a great environment (for baseball).” The complex opened in 2012, complete with five turf fields for baseball — plus five more for softball. PAS wrapped up the week with an 11-1 loss, in six innings,...
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INFORMATION SCOREBOARD Monday, March 31 Schedule Changes Softball: Wabasso at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, no make-up date announced Softball: Hanson at Elkton-Lake Benton, postponed, make-up date, Tuesday, April 15 Tuesday, April 1 Schedule Changes Baseball: Dawson-Boyd at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, moved to Monday, May 19 Track and Field: Luverne Invitational No. 1, moved to Monday, April 21 Thursday, April 3 Baseball Luverne 9, Pipestone Area 1 Pipestone Area 6, Redwood Valley 2 Schedule Changes Baseball: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Lakeview, moved to May 12 Boys and Girls Golf: Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Hills-Beaver Creek at Pipestone Area, Pipestone Country Club, will not be made up...
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The Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team will open the 2025 season with a home game on Wednesday, May 7, against nearby Flandreau Blue Teal. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at A’s City Field. A’s head coach Avery Ploeger said the customary opener versus Minneota couldn’t happen this year. “They weren’t going to be able to get enough guys,” Ploeger said. “We wanted to find someone to play.” Additionally, Ploeger said he wanted to “get a game in with live pitching” before opening Gopher League play versus Luverne on Sunday, May 11. The game versus Luverne will be a...
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SIOUX CENTER, Iowa — Southwest Minnesota Christian volleyball players Madyson Fey and Hannah Caspersen will both continue playing the sport they love on the collegiate level. Fey and Caspersen in late January both signed NAIA National Letters of Intent to play for Dordt University in the competitive Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Dordt, under head coach Jacki Smith, finished with a 14-16 overall record (8-8 in the GPAC) during the 2024 season. With the move to Dordt, Fey and Caspersen will reunite with former teammate Myah Vander Maten, currently a libero/defensive specialist combination. “Madyson is an all-around standout athlete and...
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For the first time ever, Pipestone Area Schools will be fielding a sporting clays target shooting team. The Arrows will join other local schools — Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton Public and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton — with this offering. The Minnesota State High School League has sanctioned this activity for a number of years, administered by the Minnesota State High School Clay Target Shooting League. The PAS school board officially approved the sport at a previous meeting. The Arrow squad is quite young, with six boys and one girl. Here’s the team: ninth-graders Ethan Faber, Thomas Reese, Torin Schroyer and Keely Burke, eighth-grader...
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SIOUX CITY, Iowa — For the second time in her collegiate career, Morningside University sprinter Meredith Draper will compete in the famous Sioux City Relays. Morningside serves as the host for the annual event set for Elwood Olsen Stadium. The Sioux City Relays are both a regional track and field tradition and celebration, featuring colleges and high schools. Draper is set to run in both the open 100- and 200-meter dashes. Recently, Draper ran at the Central Methodist University meet in Fayette, Mo., recording a time of 13.07 seconds in the 100 dash and 27.69 in the 200. For Draper,...
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ROCHESTER — The Pipestone Little Arrows wrestling program competed at the Northland Youth Wrestling Association state tournament last weekend at the Mayo Civic Center. The Little Arrows returned with a pair of second-place finishes. Briggs Evans earned second in the third- and fourth-grade 72-pound division. Evans reached the final with a major decision over Davis Artmann from New Prague, a technical fall versus Maverick Miner of Westfield and Lola Barrett of St. James Area. Colter Wilhelmi from Foley recorded a 7-1 decision over Briggs in the championship match. Oliver Sterud also placed second, in the seventh- and eighth-grade 160-pound bracket....
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Two Pipestone Area Schools’ boys basketball players have received all-Big South Conference accolades. Senior shooting guard/swing forward combination Makhi Winter was named an all-league first-team selection in the Big South’s Blue Division. Senior point guard Tagon Woelber was honorably mentioned. “It is always awesome to have kids selected to the all-conference team for the Big South,” PAS head coach Michael Slaba said. “We have a very competitive conference with a ton of talent and big schools. It’s a well-deserved honor for both Makhi and Tagon.” Both Winter and Woelber also chimed in on their accomplishments. “Being named to the Big...
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Keira Larson, a senior on the Elkton-Lake Benton cheerleading squad, has signed to continue cheering on the collegiate level at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. Larson, a basketball cheerleader, is shown here with E-LB cheer coach and sponsor Nicole Bye. She received the Determination Award during the winter sports awards program on Monday, March 24, in Elkton School's North Gymnasium. Augustana fields both cheer and dance squads, under the direction of head coach Betzi Plucker and assistant Camryn Reid. Larson will major in special education.
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This Saturday, the Pipestone Area Schools’ boys tennis team embarks on the 2025 season with a pair of matches on the road. The Arrows will face Section 3A champion Montevideo at 10 a.m., followed by the short jaunt to Granite Falls to face Yellow Medicine East at 1 p.m. — weather permitting. As has been in the case in recent years, PAS has struggled with numbers. PAS head boys tennis coach James Skyberg said the Arrows will need to field a full varsity roster. What’s more, the Minnesota State High School League doesn’t allow for players to repeat in both...
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INFORMATION SCHEDULE Editor's Note: Schedules are subject to change, weather and field conditions permitting. Friday, April 4 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Pipestone Area at Murray County Central, Slayton (“B” game will be played in Hadley) 4:30 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Lakeview, Cottonwood 4:30 p.m., Canby at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian Softball 4:30 p.m., Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial at Pipestone Area, Paulsen Sports Complex (DH) 4:30 p.m., Clinton-Grace-Beardsley vs. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, at Dawson-Boyd 4:30 p.m., Jackson County Central at Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, City Field Track and Field 4 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Invitational, Tyler junior high meet Saturday, April 5 Baseball Noon, Minneota at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Ruthton Boys...
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The Minnesota State High School Clay Target League will open up practice the week of Sunday, March 30. Team registration wrapped up on March 24. For the first time ever, Pipestone Area Schools will field a squad. Kyle Viland will serve as the head coach with Gavin Viland and Robert Faber as the assistants. PAS’ first practice was set for Tuesday, complete with gun inspection and in-person training. Edgerton Public, Southwest Minnesota Christian and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton also will have teams this season. Conferences will be announced, and state tournament registration is set for April 14, with competitions beginning six days later....
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Pipestone Area Schools’ wrestler Miklo Hernandez ascended to the top of the podium for the second straight season at the Minnesota State High School League Class A individual tournament. Arrow teammate Mason Fruechte recorded his first state podium finish. For those achievements, sophomore 114-pounder Mason Fruechte and Hernandez, the 121-pound freshman dynamo, shared most outstanding wrestler honors during a special awards program in the PAS Commons on Monday, March 17. PAS head coach Paul Young and assistant Gary Haupert presented individual statistical honors, and Mason Fruechte and Hernandez both presided at the top of many. Amazingly, Hernandez scored the first...
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INFORMATION From Bole-Mor Lanes Pipestone From March 19-20 Lynnette’s Ladies Standings Team W-L American Legion 29-11 Stay In Your Lane 24.5-15.5 The Bowling Stones 24-16 JBS 24-16 B&B RV Service 20-20 Dolls With Balls 20-20 Sister Chicks ...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ Mylee Weber prepares to field a ball at second base while Kaysa Douty swings away during a preseason scrimmage on Saturday, March 22, at the Wescott Sports Complex in Austin. The Arrows participated in another scrimmage on Saturday, March 29, versus St. Peter and Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial at Minnesota State University in Mankato. Weather permitting, the regular-season opener is set for Friday, April 4, versus LCWM. The doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m., moved up one-half hour.
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INFORMATION BOYS BASKETBALL State Championships At Williams Area, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis At Maturi Pavilion, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis At Gangelhoff Center, Concordia University, St. Paul Class A Thursday, March 20 First-Round Games Cherry 89, BOLD (Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian) 57 Nevis 58, Henning 52 Dawson-Boyd 69, Heritage Christian Academy 46 Red Lake County 68, Goodhue 61 Friday, March 21 Semifinals Dawson-Boyd 80, Red Lake County 66 Cherry 79, Nevis 70 Saturday, March 22 Championship Game Dawson-Boyd 81, Cherry 74 Third-Place Game Red Lake County 67, Nevis 62 Consolation Championship Henning 73, Heritage Christian Academy 69 Note:...
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This season, the Pipestone Area Schools’ girls basketball faced countless challenges from tough opposition. Still, the Arrows persevered — finishing with a 14-13 overall record including three Big South Conference wins, twice over rival Luverne. PAS players Jadyn Kor and Amyra Mahik were both honored by conference officials when awards were released on Tuesday, March 18. Kor was named a first-team selection while Mahik was honorably mentioned for the first time ever. “For me, it’s a validation of all the practice, the sacrifices I’ve made, and the ups and downs of the season,” Kor said. “Making the all-Big South Conference...
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Four Pipestone Area Schools’ boys basketball players received special accolades when awards were presented on Tuesday, March 18. Awards night, inside the PAS Commons, also was an ice cream social. PAS head boys basketball Michael Slaba presented six major awards, three based on statistics and three more voted on by the team members themselves. The players’ choices all were unanimous, the coach reported. Tagon Woelber received three golden statues as the overall most valuable player, MVP offense and for recording the most assists this season. “In the second half of the year, the last 10 games, Tagon averaged 19.5 points...
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Eleven experienced players will figure into the mix for the Pipestone Area Schools baseball team. Senior infielder/pitcher Weston Reinhard will headline the squad as a 2024 all-Big South Conference selection. Reinhard recorded a .373 batting average on 25 hits. He also posted a .481 on-base percentage, five doubles, plated a team-high 20 runs, had 11 RBI and swiped 17 bases. That number of stolen bases figures high on the PAS record board. PAS head baseball coach Rick Zollner said seniors and leaders will fuel the success of the squad. Other top senior returners are: infielder/catcher Landon Quist, infielder/pitcher/catcher Landon Johnson,...
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LAMBERTON — The Red Rock Conference wrapped up winter awards on Monday, March 17, releasing boys basketball honors. The team is composed of three players from Southwest Minnesota Christian, two at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and one from Edgerton Public. Seniors Trevin Prins and Gavin Rieck and sophomore Ryan Pap represent Southwest Minnesota Christian, who tied RTR for second place in the league with a 15-3 record. Seniors Chase Christianson and Sean Griesse are the Knights’ selections. Kade Moffitt is the lone representative from Edgerton, and the Flying Dutch compiled a 6-12 record in the league. This season, Prins, Christianson and Moffitt all...
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MADISON, S.D. — Pipestone Area Schools’ senior kicker Nohel Vivanco will continue playing football at the next level for Dakota State University. Vivanco made it official on Wednesday, March 12, with a signing ceremony in the school library attended by his mother, Nefris, and father, Alex. “I know my football career isn’t done,” Vivanco said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “I am excited to play at the next level, and it means so much to me,” he said, thanking his parents for their support. Vivanco was unable to kick during the early stages of the 2024 season...
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Three Pipestone girls are participating in the Blue Mound Figure Skaters organization based in Luverne. This past Saturday at the Blue Mound Ice Arena (from left), Lydia Amen, Taylor Harter and Hope Olund performed in the season’s climax event, “Showtime.” Every year, Blue Mound Figure Skaters have a themed presentation, and this year’s focused on elements of time.
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The Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club will be conducting its third annual banquet on Friday, April 25. The event will take place at the Pipestone National Guard Armory and Community Center, with social hour between 5:30-6:30 p.m. There will be drawing sales during such time. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., provided by Pipestone-Helping Farmers and prepared by the Pipestone County Pork Producers. Grilled pork chops will be the featured menu item. Tickets cost for the meal, which includes an annual membership. The meal alone costs for one meal, and for additional ones. For information, email bbolluyt@frontier.com or joeschelhaas@gmail.com.
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ST. PAUL — Pipestone Area Schools’ graduate Naomi Wallace recently wrapped up her first-ever indoor track and field season. And the University of Northwestern freshman was richly rewarded for it. Wallace was named an all-Upper Midwest Athletic Conference selection based on her performances in the 4x200-meter relay and high jump. The meet was conducted at the Dr. Lydia C. Thering Fieldhouse on the University of Wisconsin-Superior campus. The Eagles 4x200-meter foursome of Alvine Njounang, Emery Maki, Deanna Ammermann and Wallace raced to a first-place finish in 1:53.03. What’s more, Wallace was second in the high jump, marking at 1.47 meters....
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WORTHINGTON — The Minnesota West Community & Technical College football team has released its 2025 season schedule. The Bluejays will open up with a home game against defending NJCAA Division III national champion College of DuPage (Ill.) on Saturday, Aug. 30. The Chaparrals defeated Louisburg (N.C.), 31-14, for the title. Minnesota West will play three additional home games versus North Dakota School of Science on Sept. 13, Minnesota North-Mesabi Range Sept. 20 and Rochester C&TC on Oct. 4. The Bluejays went 0-8 last season after academic and enrollment eligibility problems came into question. Players were able to keep the statistics...
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MADISON, S.D. — Cole Paulson is enjoying a solid collegiate football experience playing for Dakota State University. Paulson is a 5-foot-9, 205-pound linebacker for the Trojans. He impressed the coaching staff to the point of being named one of DSU’s team captains. Last weekend, Paulson helped the DSU football team in a 19-8 conference victory at Valley City State in North Dakota. He recorded four tackles, including two solo stops and one for a two-yard loss. So far this year, Paulson has seven solo tackles and three assists for 17 points in the Pipestone County Star’s defensive system. He has...
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INFORMATION LOCAL BOWLING From Bole-Mor Lanes Pipestone From the period from Sept. 16-20 Lynnette’s Ladies Standings: JBS 4-0, B&B RV Service 4-0, American Legion 3-1, Stay In Your Lane 3-1, The Bowling Stones 1-3, Sister Chicks 1-3, High Kickers 0-4, Lady Blue Jays 0-4, Dolls w/Balls 0-4. High game: Kayla Smith (Stay In Your Lane) 199, Julie Bauer (American Legion) 191, Ginger Olberding (American Legion) 157. High team game: American Legion 1350, JBS 1172, Stay In Your Lane 1153. High series: Julie Bauer (American Legion) 490, Kayla Smith (Stay In Your Lane) 473, Nancy Terry (American Legion) 443. High team...
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Pipestone Country Club will be the site of a glow golf tournament on Saturday, Sept. 28. Registration is set for 3 p.m., with a 4 p.m. shotgun start. This event is open to everyone. Golfers will participate in a nine-hole scramble — followed by dinner and then nine more holes at night. There are three levels of cost: 0 per team for both nine-hole events and dinner, for dinner and glow golf and for glow golf only. The greens fee is included. Cart rental is extra. For information and to register, call PCC at 1-507-825-2592, or stop by...
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Pipestone Smokin’ Barrels wrapped its series of events on Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds rodeo arena. There were six double runs during the course of the summer. Here are the complete results, by category: Open Series 1D 1, Brilee Rieck; 2, Tessa Bucher; 3, Makayla Cross; 4, Kenley Fluit; 5, Josey Fey Open Series 2D 1, Julia Hoogland; 2, Kaydence Onnen; 3, Kennedy Safar; 4, Kara Onnen; 5, Sandy Steenhoven Youth Series 1D 1, Brilee Rieck; 2, Makayla Cross; 3, Kenley Fluit; 4, Josey Fey; 5, Hatty Fey Youth Series 2D 1, Kaydence Onnen; 2, Dru Ellefson;...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Sunday, Sept. 29 Special Event 7 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Homecoming coronation Monday, Sept. 30 Boys Soccer 6 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at West Central, Hartford, S.D. Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Luverne at Edgerton Tuesday, Oct. 1 Boys Soccer 7 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Fairmont, Jeffery Kot Soccer Complex Cross Country 4:30 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Montevideo Invitational Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Tyler 7:15 p.m., Flandreau at Elkton-Lake Benton, Elkton, S.D. Wednesday, Oct. 2 Cross Country 1 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Colman-Egan meet, Sunrise Ridge Thursday, Oct. 3 Boys Soccer 4:30 p.m., St. James Area...
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INFORMATION Tuesday, Sept. 17 Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd Invitational At Madison Golf Course Madison, Minn. Team Scores Varsity Boys 1, Redwood Valley, 21; 2, Murray County Central, 75; 3, Montevideo, 92; 3, Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd, 101; 5, Canby-Minneota, 115; 6, Lakeview, 137; 7, Pipestone Area, 194; 8, Central Minn. Christian, 201 Varsity Girls 1, Redwood Valley, 26; 2, Canby/Minneota, 61; 3, Border West, 115; 4, Central Minnesota Christian, 121; 5, Murray County Central, 126; 6, Pipestone Area, 140; 7, Lac qui Parle Valley, 143; 8, Montevideo, 173 Medalists Boys: Kilen Cilek, Redwood Valley, 16:36.91 Girls: Addie Thomes, Redwood Valley,...
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Ashley Whipkey, of Pipestone, has opened a new counseling office in Pipestone called Facing the Waves. She said she chose the name because mental health is often compared to waves. “Emotions and symptoms come in waves,” she said. “We need to understand that fighting against the waves, fearing the waves and avoiding the waves will typically increase our suffering. So in therapy, it is my goal to teach everyone I come in contact with that we need to prepare for the wave, acknowledge its presence and ride it out. Once we understand that we can’t change the waves and that...
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Some providers at Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) have recently started using ambient listening software powered by artificial intelligence to generate medical notes from patient visits. Melissa Scotting, a certified nurse practitioner at PCMC, was one of the first providers to sign up to start using the software, called Freed AI. She said she signed up because she wanted to improve her work-life balance and not have to do paperwork at home. “I hate that part of healthcare,” Scotting said. “I would see as many patients as I could see and just let somebody else do all the paperwork.” To...
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Representatives of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) presented an overview of projects planned for Pipestone County and District 8 over the next 10 years. This year, MnDOT has been resurfacing state Highway 23 from Pipestone to Russell and is now replacing the bridge deck just east of the intersection of Hwy. 23 and U.S. Hwy. 75 in Pipestone. That project is expected to be completed by Nov. 1. The next state project planned in Pipestone County is the resurfacing of Hwy. 75 from Pipestone County Road 57 south of Pipestone to near County State Aid Highway 9 west of...
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The believe in ME fundraiser took place at American Legion Post No. 6 on Saturday, complete with both a run/walk and a bean bag tournament. The father-son combination of James Skyberg and Damian Skyberg won the bean bag tournament with Bayley Colemer and Taylor Colemer second. Bayley Colemer also recorded the longest toss at the event, with a bean bag flying an astonishing 63 feet. Logan Winge was the top male finisher in the five-kilometer run/walk, clocking in with a time of 22:55. Paige Petersen was the women’s division champion at 24:57 and Candace Wurster placed atop the youth category...
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TO THE EDITOR: The demonizing of people in Hitler’s Nazi Germany resulted in the deaths of millions of Jews during the 1940’s. Today we have political forces who have been demonizing immigrants with false information. Locally, the immigrant community is essential for the operation of our meat processing plants, dairies, and construction projects. Historically, the immigrant communities have energized our economy. Jim Perkins Pipestone
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TO THE EDITOR: You need not be a superhero to save a life. You can simply begin with a caring conversation. It’s not an easy conversation, but September is Suicide Awareness Month, and the courage you show when you talk to someone who’s struggling might be lifesaving to a friend or family member. It’s easy for us to pretend it’s not happening, but ignoring mental health conditions is not an option, because they have a potential serious outcome. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that more than 90% of people who die from suicide have depression and other mental...
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As many of you know, I started teaching as a graduate assistant at South Dakota State University. So far, I am really enjoying the experience! However, while I am learning many wonderful things from and about my students, I am also being handed out real life lessons in patience, compassion, and the use of authority. This classroom setting is far different from those I am used to. I have taught many classes in the military, on topics such as basic soldier tasks and drills, and public affairs concepts. The students in those settings are inherently focused on being disciplined and...
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The last name Lundeen is synonymous with high school football in the state of Minnesota. Pipestone Area Schools fans will see that legacy firsthand again Friday — during Homecoming no less — as Redwood Valley head coach Matt Lundeen brings his Cardinals for this pivotal rivalry game. Matt Lundeen is the son of Dwight Lundeen, who is the only football coach Becker (a suburb of St. Cloud) has ever known. The Lundeens are known for football and ministry through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “Dwight’s a legend in Minnesota high school football,” PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden noted. “Obviously, when...
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MAPLETON — Lean on that defense. Such words continue to fuel the Pipestone Area Schools’ football team this season as the Arrows surrendered just 150 yards in total offense — downing Maple River 13-7 at Swanson Field in a thrilling South District contest Friday, Sept. 13. Maple River’s final drive of the game served as a microcosm of PAS success. On four straight downs, Tagon Woelber recorded a tackle for loss and Nehemiah Ostermeier and Makhi Winter joined forces for three passes defensed as Eagle quarterback Zach Trio’s pass attempts innocently fell to the turf. “When our backs were to...
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DE SMET, S.D. — The Elkton-Lake Benton football team continued its winning ways last Friday with a convincing 42-0 victory at Wilkinson Field. The Elks scored five first-half TD as Tanner Stein rushed for four scores and 146 yards. He also had three receptions for 42 yards and another TD. Blake De Vries added 129 yards on nine carries and a score. Quarterback Colt Beck also accounted for 129 yards passing and rushing. Stein also propelled the Elk defense to a shutout with 11 tackles, including three for losses. Elliott Erickson, Quintin Westley and De Vries also played well defensively...
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REDWOOD FALLS — Pipestone Area Schools sophomore Jasmine Boeke has endured a tough season playing the opponents’ top singles players. Boeke’s singles point proved to be the difference as the Arrows registetered a 4-3 road victory on Tuesday, Sept. 10. “She has a great attitude,” PAS head girls’ tennis coach James Skyberg said, noting Boeke’s steady improvement this season. Skyberg said Boeke is learning to cover more of the court. “She’s moving the other girls around more, she’s not just a backboard,” Skyberg explained. Boeke has begun using lob shots to her advantage as well, the coach commented. Boeke defeated...
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WORTHINGTON — First-year Pipestone Area Schools runner Leo Salazar appears to be a quick study in cross country. Salazar raced in with a time of 18:44.91 for 34th place at the 57th Annual Turkey Trot, which was conducted at Prairie View — the former golf course located two miles north of Worthington. “I was impressed,” PAS head coach Mark Moeller said. “He was able to go out there and press to the best of his ability and piece it together.” This marked the first meet of the season the PAS boys ran as a varsity unit. Prairie View, as a...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Sunday, Sept. 22 Special Event 7 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton National Honor Society, Induction, RTR Performing Arts Center Monday, Sept. 23 Boys Soccer 7 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at St. James Area, St. James Football 5 p.m., Redwood Valley at Pipestone Area, Paulsen Field (subvarsity) Cross Country 2 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Dell Rapids Invitational, Rocky Run Golf Course Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Edgerton Public at Pipestone Area 7:15 p.m., Great Plains Lutheran at Elkton-Lake Benton, Elkton, S.D. Tuesday, Sept. 24 Cross Country 4:30 p.m., Pipestone Area and Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Murray County Central Invitational, Slayton Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Pipestone...
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The Pipestone Area Schools volleyball team is still learning how to win, so that concept remains a work in progress. The Arrows pushed Windom Area and Jackson County Central to four sets in last week’s Big South Conference contests, but ultimately the visitors prevailed. Windom Area won by scores of 25-23, 6-25, 25-16, 25-16 while Jackson County Central took the Arrows, 16-25, 25-23, 28-26, 25-20. In the loss to the Eagles on Tuesday, Sept. 10, serving efficiency proved to be the difference as PAS committed scores of errors in the sets they lost. Meanwhile, in one set the Arrows dominated,...
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The Pipestone Area Arrow Marching Band took third from among six bands at the King Turkey Day Parade in Worthington on Saturday, Sept. 14. Director Zach Ploeger said shortly after the parade that he thought the band did well in its first competition of the season. “We’ve got some marching technique things that we need to clean up, [such as] keeping the lines really straight,” Ploeger said. “There were a few lines that weren’t quite right. But, for the most part, I saw them roll stepping and they were in step and it sounded really good.” Students agreed. “I feel...
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The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) during a Sept. 12 meeting approved with a 3-2 vote a pipeline route permit allowing Magellan to install a pipeline to the west and north of Pipestone. The pipeline will replace a line under the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge – Pipestone Creek Unit and the Pipestone National Monument that was decommissioned in 2022. The PUC approved Route Alternative 1, which was one of four routes under consideration. The route was suggested by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and would put the pipeline about three miles west and north of Pipestone National...
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EDGERTON — The Southwest Minnesota Christian-Edgerton cross country team is serving as host of an elementary school fun run. This free event will take place at Rock River Park on 16th Street. Registration is set for 4 p.m. Here’s the rest of the schedule in table form: 4:30 p.m., Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten run, one-quarter mile 4:40 p.m., First- and second-grade run, one-half mile 4:50 p.m., Third- and fourth-grade run, three-quarters of a mile 5:05 p.m., Fifth- and sixth-grade run, one mile 5:20 p.m., Awards presentation For information, email SWC-E head cross country coach Brent Van Schepen at: bvanschepen@swcschools.org.
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LOCAL SCOREBOARD HIGH SCHOOLS Monday, Sept. 9 Boys Soccer Marshall 4, Southwest Minnesota Christian 1 Girls Tennis Fairmont 5, Pipestone Area 2 Volleyball Hamlin d. Elkton-Lake Benton, 25-23, 25-15, 16-25, 17-25, 15-9 Tuesday, Sept. 10 Girls Tennis Pipestone Area 4, Redwood Valley 3 Volleyball Windom Area d. Pipestone Area, 25-23, 6-25, 25-16, 25-16 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton d. Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda, 25-15, 25-13, 25-19 Adrian-Ellsworth d. Edgerton Public, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24 Southwest Minnesota Christian d. Westbrook-Walnut Grove, 26-24, 25-16, 20-25, 25-19 Thursday, Sept. 12 Girls Tennis Marshall 6, Pipestone Area 1 Volleyball Jackson County Central d. Pipestone Area, 16-25, 25-23, 28-26, 25-20 Southwest Minnesota...
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Pipestone Area Youth Softball youth fastpitch will have a clinic in conjunction with Southwest Minnesota State University. Mustangs head coach Bailey Bouman and SMSU players will administer the clinic set from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Paulsen Softball Complex. Everyone is welcome, from second through 12th grade. The clinic will concentrate on hitting and fielding. Cost is , and day-of-registration is accepted. Cash, check or Venmo are accepted forms of payment. For information, email: PAYFsoftball@gmail.com.
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The Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail held a ribbon cutting ceremony Sunday afternoon, Sept. 8 in recognition of two miles of recently paved trail to Woodstock from the west. The newly paved miles create 10 continuous miles of paved trail from Pipestone to Woodstock. Myron Koets, Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail president, welcomed about 30 people to the ribbon cutting, Pipestone County Commissioner Dallas Roskamp said a few words, and Rep. Joe Schomacker spoke about the funding it takes to create such trails and the benefits of having them. He said those benefits include engaging families...
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WABASSO — Both the Pipestone Area Schools and Southwest Minnesota Christian volleyball teams compete today at the Wabasso Tournament. The Arrows are set to square off with Bird Island-Olivia (BOLD), Springfield and Central Minnesota Christian. SWC takes on MACCRAY (Clara City), host Wabasso and Redwood Valley during the event. Results will be available in the Thursday, Sept. 19, edition of the Pipestone County Star. R-T-R places 20th at SW Challenge MARSHALL — Defending Class A state champion Russell-Tyler-Ruthton placed 20th in a field of 32 teams at the SW Challenge on Sept. 7-8. Marshall High School served as the event...
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Coming into last Tuesday’s home opener versus Southwest Minnesota Christian, the Pipestone Area Schools’ volleyball team had yet to win a single set. That all changed as the Arrows found a way to beat the Eagles in a five-set thriller by scores of 19-25, 25-16, 25-16, 24-26, 15-13 at PAS gymnasium. What’s more, PAS equaled last year’s win total. “It was great to see the girls work extremely hard to earn their first win,” PAS head coach Dave Dulas said. “We can move forward.” Camren Wiese and Taryn Tuinstra posted kills on the final two points of the match as...
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TRACY — Pipestone Area Schools freshman Josie Danks raced in with a time of 22:13.87 for 17th place at the Panther Invitational last Thursday at Tracy Country Club. PAS head cross country coach Mark Moeller was pleased with Danks’ performance. “Every course’s distance is measured a little differently,” Moeller said. “She was more than one minute faster (than any of her times) last year. It was a surprise.” Varsity runners traveled 5,000 meters. Danks is a competitive student-athlete, paraphrasing Moeller, and the hope that this spurns on her and her Arrow teammates for the rest of the season. Running conditions...
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Senior Pipestone girls’ tennis players Alicia Haack and Addison Draper were both celebrated during last Thursday’s 4-3 victory over River Valley at the PAS Courts. River Valley is a combination of players from both Sleepy Eye and Springfield High Schools. Draper has been associated with the program since she was in eighth grade, while Haack joined one year later. “They’ve both come up this year and did pretty well,” PAS head girls’ tennis coach James Skyberg said. Because of last year’s losses to graduation, Draper has moved to No. 1 and No. 2 doubles with partner Kate Hanson. Meanwhile, Haack...
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MAPLETON — The Pipestone Area Schools’ football team found itself on the business end of a 20-0 shutout loss to Maple River last year at Paulsen Field. The Arrows mustered just 121 yards passing and completed just 16-of-41 attempts (less than 39 percent accuracy), and the Eagles scored all of their points in the final 17 minutes. What’s more, PAS was just 3-of-14 on third-down conversions. It’s a game all Arrow fans would like to forget. Maple River, under longtime coach Dusty Dreger, uses a spread offense with lots of motion. “They have good athletes all over the field,” PAS...
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In football, quarterbacks call audibles at the line of scrimmage to change a play on offense. But, what if that audible involves changing the quarterback out of necessity? That’s what happened to Pipestone Area Schools during its home-opening 19-7 victory over Le Sueur-Henderson last Friday at Paulsen Field. Landon Quist, who serves a dual role as both the Arrows’ starting quarterback and safety, was injured early in the first quarter while playing defense. In stepped junior Austin Musch, who finished with three passing TD. “Austin did a great job,” PAS head football coach Scott Boomgaarden said. “He did a great...
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Pipestone Area Youth Football has added another game set for Thursday, Sept. 26. This will be a home date at Paulsen Field against Windom. The fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade squads all will have games. This means the Arrows will be playing seven games total this season, including this weekend at Canby. The fifth-, and sixth-grade contests are set for 10 a.m., with fourth grade playing at noon.
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TYLER — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton football team fared well in all three phases en route to a 29-0 drubbing over Wabasso in the Knights’ home opener Friday. Sean Griesse returned a punt 82 yards for a score. Teammate Luke Schreurs raced in with a 77-yard kickoff return for a TD. And the Knights’ defense recorded a shutout. “It was good to get in the win column,” RTR head coach Darren Baartman said. “We had a good week of practice, and did some good things in the game.” Baartman was pleased with the Knights’ tackling on defense and the team was more...
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Sales of drawing tickets for the belive in ME fundraiser will end on Saturday, Sept. 14, the day of the event at Pipestone American Legion Post No. 6. There are great prizes for you to win, including two tickets to a Minnesota Vikings-Indianapolis Colts game on Sunday, Nov. 3. The seats are near the endzone and underground parking is included. There also are four tickets available to the South Dakota State University-University of South Dakota game set for Saturday, Oct. 26. Seating will be in the John Stiegelmeier Family Student-Athlete Center, formerly the Dykhouse. There also is a signed Philadelphia...
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MADISON, S.D. — Hannah Evans, a former Pipestone Area Schools volleyball player, is currently a junior on the Dakota State University roster. In her career at DSU, she has totaled 126 kills (495 attack chances) in 41 matches played — also recording 47 digs, 12 ace blocks, 84 ace block assists and 179 points. Last weekend, Evans participated in the Viterbo Tournament in Wisconsin as the Trojans split matches, beating Judson (Ill.) in three sets but falling to the host in four. Evans had two ace block assists, one dig, one assist and one kill versus Viterbo. She had two...
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INFORMATION LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR Monday, Sept. 16 Coronation 7:30 p.m., Pipestone Area Schools Homecoming, PAS Auditorium Cross Country 4 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Arlington Invitational, Lake Region Golf Course Tuesday, Sept. 17 Boys Soccer 7 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Sioux Falls Christian, Sioux Falls, S.D. Cross Country 4:30 p.m., Pipestone Area, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Southwest Minnesota Christian-Edgerton at Lac Qui Parle Invitational, Madison Girls Tennis 4:30 p.m., Luverne at Pipestone Area, PAS Courts Volleyball 7 p.m., Chester Area at Elkton-Lake Benton, Elkton, S.D. 7:15 p.m., Hills-Beaver Creek at Edgerton 7:15 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Red Rock Central, Lamberton 7:15...
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Russell Tyler Ruthton (RTR) Public Schools is asking voters in the school district to approve a million bond on Nov. 5 to expand the school district’s preschool to 12th grade facility in Tyler. Voters in the RTR school district approved a million bond request for the construction of that facility and the closure of the district’s three previous schools in February of 2019. The school opened in 2021. Superintendent Dave Marlette said that since voters approved the bond for the new school in 2019, the school district has gained around 150 students, bringing enrollment to approximately 725 at...
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The Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) will open its 31st season on Saturday, Sept. 14 with the show “Sweet Seasons: A Celebration of Carole King” performed by Michelle Foster and a live band. PPAC Managing Director Mark Thode said Foster is a New York-based singer, pianist, actress and dancer. She also produced, created and starred in “Broadway 2020,” an original musical review of Broadway hits that premiered in 2019. “She’s a very talented performer,” Thode said. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are for adults and for students with an early bird special of for...
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T’was the night before a birthday and all through the house, not a soul was stirring - not even my husband. The birthday traditions run thick within the walls of our home. As I stirred the frosting again I worked to get the right thickness before settling in to tackle tradition number one. The tradition of homemade cake decorating takes roots back to my childhood. A Betty Crocker cookbook with the pages falling out had images of the coolest cakes my little eyes had ever seen. My Mom would take a cake request and overnight while we slept, she would...
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Homecoming activities started early this year at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) with members of the senior class nominating king and queen candidates the first week of school. The top five nominees for king and queen were announced Friday morning, Sept. 6. This year’s queen candidates are Addison Draper, Rylee Folkerts, Alicia Haack, Mariah Moeller and Mylee Weber. King candidates are Bentley Pater, Weston Reinhard, Nohel Torres, Connor Wagner and Makhi Winter. When asked to describe how it felt to be selected as homecoming candidates in one word, they said honored, proud, excited, respectable and weird. Students in grades nine to...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Aug. 27 meeting heard a budget proposal for the highway department and a request for funding in the 2025 budget from the Pipestone County Area Food Shelf. The commissioners previously heard budget proposals for the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office during their Aug. 13 meeting and spent several hours during a special meeting on Aug. 22 hearing budget proposals for departments including information technology, ambulance, emergency management, probation, Extension, court administration, buildings and grounds, fairgrounds, planning and zoning, conservation, veterans services office, recorder, assessor and others. The county commissioners will hear updates on additional departmental budgets...
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INFORMATION CALENDAR Friday, Aug. 30 Cross Country 10 a.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Mountain Lake Area Invitational, Mountain Lake Golf Course Football 7 p.m., Pipestone Area at Blue Earth Area, Wilson Field 7 p.m., Elkton-Lake Benton at Viborg-Hurley Saturday, Aug. 31 Volleyball 8 a.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Unity Christian Tournament, Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, Sept. 3 Cross Country 10 a.m., Elkton/Lake Benton at Redhawk Run, Hendricks High School Girls Tennis 4:30 p.m., St. James Area at Pipestone Area, PAS Courts Volleyball 7:15 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian at Pipestone, PAS Gymnasium 7:15 p.m., Castlewood at Elkton/Lake Benton 7:15 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton...
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Pipestone County Star sports editor Eric Viccaro was present for the second round of the Pipestone Country Club championships on Sunday, Aug. 18. Golfers competed in seven divisions. Here's a mix of action shots, and those of the winners.
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The Pipestone Area Schools boys and girls cross country teams officially open the 2024 season with the Marshall Invitational on Monday, Aug. 26. And the Arrows already are hard at work, which included a training session on Tuesday, Aug. 13, devoted to form, stride and footwork. PAS returns 14 athletes, including 11 letterwinners, head coach Mark Moeller reported. Moeller is entering his sixth season with the program, including three years as the lead skipper. There is one key loss to graduation in Taylor Post, who helped the Arrows to a seventh-place team finish at the Section 3A meet and as a...
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Wade Newgard and Brooke Legler were the respective men’s and women’s open champions at the Pipestone Country Club championship. The two-day event was conducted on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17-18, under ideal weather conditions. Newgard, shooting a two-day 153, was three strokes clear of second-best McCaden Biever. Legler recorded a two-day composite of 168, which was two fewer than Emaleigh Rippentrop. Course superintendent Trey Pottratz was pleased to see nearly double the turnout from the 2023 tournament. Ninety-one golfers competed across seven divisions. Results accompany this story. Look for a photo gallery from the event on the Pipestone County Star...
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The Pipestone Area Schools and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (RTR) volleyball teams will be competing in specials Saturday. Big South Crossover PAS will play Waseca at 1 p.m. in the Big South Conference Crossover at New Ulm High School. There will be other matches on the docket: 10 a.m., Redwood Valley vs. Fairmont 11:30 a.m., Belle Plaine vs. Marshall 2:30 p.m., New Ulm vs. Luverne Jackson County Central High School also is serving as special host with three matches: St. James vs. Worthington at 10 a.m., Blue Earth Area plays Windom at 11:30 a.m. and the Huskies square off with Tri-City United at...
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The bridge over the dam at Split Rock Creek State Park has been closed due to a crack in one of the piers that supports it. Chris Ingebretsen, parks and trails supervisor for Blue Mounds and Split Rock Creek state parks, said park employees looked over the dam after the heavy rains and flooding in June and noticed that one of the support piers for the bridge over the dam had a “pretty severe crack.” The crack is thought to have been caused by weathering over time and not the heavy rains and flooding earlier this year. Ingebretsen said the...
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TO THE EDITOR: “White man hear me! History, as nearly no one seems to know, is not merely something to be read. And it does not refer, merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it with us...And it is with great pain and terror that one begins to realize this... In great pain and terror because...one enters into battle with that historical creation, Oneself and attempts to recreate oneself according to a principle more humane and more liberating...”—James Baldwin In Pipestone justice is just -...
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TO THE EDITOR: While Christians may be the numerical majority in the U.S., we must bear in mind that we are still a Christian-Jewish-Muslim-Hindu-Sikh-Buddhist-Shinto-Druid-Agnostic-Atheist country, as well. The Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, eschewed defining under which specific God we were to live. This in all probability was due to their own variety of beliefs: Christianity, theism, deism and others. Sincerely, Faith Sullivan Formerly of Pipestone Minneapolis
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Every day presents new challenges, some unexpected, others, sought out. Last week I began a new challenge, student teaching at South Dakota State University. I and a group of about 10 other graduate students spent the week (and will continue into this week) preparing to teach a new wave of scholars about the foundations of communication. This is something that I have looked forward to for some time, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity. During our training, our instructor asked us to think about a teacher we have had in the past who had an impact on our...
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TO THE EDITOR: As the country and the rest of the world experience another year of scorching heat waves, private for-profit utility companies — who we rely upon for our basic necessities like heating, cooling and electricity — are keeping us reliant on climate-wrecking fossil fuels while reporting record profits. When they work well, utilities exist in the background of our lives: they power our homes, cool us down when it’s hot, and give us heat when it’s cold. But too often, they are sources of aggravation: The power goes off when it’s dangerously hot or cold out, our bills...
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The Pipestone Area Arrow Marching Band will perform this year’s field show and parade show at Paulsen Field at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23 during their annual community night performance. Prior to the show, which is free and open to all, there will be a burger feed fundraiser with a free will offering beginning at 5:30 p.m. This year’s field show is titled “Elevate.” Director Zach Ploeger said the name refers to a dozen blue stair props that will be used to elevate color guard and band members during the show, and an effort to rebuild the band program....
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For openers, the Pipestone Area School girls’ tennis team embarked on the season Saturday by splitting matches with Benson and Morris Area-Chokio-Alberta/West Central Area. The Arrows topped Benson in the opening match, 4-3, while dropping the afternoon contest versus MACAWCA by the same score. Assistant coaches Tanya Schroyer and Skylar Mendro, a former Southwest Minnesota State University player, jumbled the singles and doubles lineups. In the victory over Benson, doubles teams Addison Draper-Kate Hanson and Laura Minet-Iva Witte won their matches. Draper and Hanson were pushed to a third set before beating Molly Jones and Anabelle DeToy, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5....
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Pipestone County Star sports editor Eric Viccaro attended a recent practice. Here are some photos. Pipestone Area Schools’ Kayden White prepares to make a reception while defended by Jibril Rassaq during a training session on Friday, Aug. 16. Coach Trevor Tiefenthaler looks on in the background. The Arrows open the season at Blue Earth Area on Aug. 30. Pipestone Area Schools’ head coach Scott Boomgaarden talks to members of the Arrow offense. Pipestone Area Schools' offensive and defensive players work in the trenches, where football is ultimately won or lost. Pipestone Area Schools' offense will be capably led by a...
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Ricochets, boomerangs and recoils are all listed in the Oxford Thesaurus as synonyms for “bouncing back.” That’s exactly what the Pipestone Area Schools volleyball team is seeking in 2024, coming off a one-win season (a two-set conquest over Hills-Beaver Creek). Several Arrow players spent last spring playing as part of Pipestone Junior Olympic volleyball, which included tournaments in our own backyard. What’s more, Shelly Hennager has been added to the coaching staff, bringing her collegiate experience to the table. Taryn Tuinstra, the dynamic Arrows’ junior outside hitter, also played at the national level. Other players to watch are senior outside...
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EDGERTON — Chazz Gabe of Timber Lake, S.D., was named champion bull rider during Rock River Rodeo Days on Saturday at Diamond H Acres. Raise’em Rank from rural Canton, S.D., was the livestock contractor. Gabe is a noted bull rider across the region, having won two straight Northwest Ranch Cowboy Association championships in 2022 and 2023. He now competes for Mitchell Technical College’s rodeo squad. D’Angelo Garduna of Belle Fourche, S.D., was the reserve champion in the bull riding competition. Mason Hood from Burke, S.D., was the saddle bronc champion with Gareth Spears of Solway the ranch bronc winner. Kyle...
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With the goal in mind to become a year-round player, Pipestone Area Schools’ Taryn Tuinstra opted to join the Sanford Sports Academy in Sioux Falls, S.D. “I got involved with Sanford by seeing it on Instagram,” said Tuinstra, who fills the role of outside hitter for the Arrows. “I wanted to meet new people and play throughout the whole spring and summer.” In June, Tuinstra and the Sanford 16-under Red squad competed in the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Girls National Tournament. Sanford certainly held its own, placing second in the Premier Diamond Division, placing in the top third (48th in...
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — All Elite Wrestling will have a professional wrestling card on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. The show will begin at 6:30 p.m., and will be a television taping for the show Collision, broadcast nationally on TNT. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. There are several ticket packages available, including VIP seats — called All Elite Experience Gold — for 0. Me and Three four ticket packs cost .75 or .75 depending on section. Five-plus packs run from .90 to .45. Standard admission is - per ticket. There is an eight-ticket limit. The...
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Former South Dakota State University and current Philadelphia Eagles’ starting tight end Dallas Goedert has signed a jersey for the upcoming believe in ME fundraiser to honor Cody Enger and Justin Rops. Tickets for the drawing will be available from Sunday, Sept. 1 through Saturday, Sept. 14. There also will be a five-kilometer run and bean bag tournament. Goedert was team captain for the Jackrabbits during their 2017 season, ranking in the top-five in several statistical categories including career receptions, receiving yards and receiving TD. The former two-time FCS All-American has played his entire NFL career with the Eagles. believe...
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Bill Brockberg has been named Conservationist of the Year for Pipestone County. Brockberg, and his wife, Jody, live on and work around 240 acres west of Edgerton. The Brockbergs have been working to make their farm conservation friendly for many years, with everything starting around 20 years ago when they installed a new windbreak at their farm. “It is given the wind will blow but it sure is nice to see the snow in the trees and not in the yards,” Bill said. Around 15 years ago, the couple started planting cover crops, before it was the “cool” thing to...
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Some parts of Minnesota, including Pipestone County, are experiencing a higher than typical number of rabies cases in skunks and cattle this year, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The agency recently sent out a rabies alert notice for Pipestone, Rock and Stearns counties. “The alert was really just for some general situational awareness for people to maybe be a little bit more aware of wildlife this year,” said Carrie Klumb, senior epidemiologist with the MDH. In a typical year, she said, MDH sees three to five instances of rabid skunks and zero to one rabid cattle in...
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Change is afoot at the former Pizza Hut building along U.S. Highway 75 and state Hwy. 23 in Pipestone. The building had most recently been an antique store called nine Vintiques, which was owned by LeWayne Carlson, of Marshall. Dave and Sheila Sommers bought the building in July and are remodeling it for multiple uses, including growing Dave’s Guns. Dave opened the gun shop as a side business in 2016 at S&S Truck Repair. He sold S&S to his stepdaughter, Kayla Smith, and her husband, Greg Smith, last year, and has continued to work there part-time and operate Dave’s Guns...
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Robin Schulte recently opened a longarm quilting studio, called The Lofty Stitch, in her Pipestone home. The Brookings native said the quilting business is her “side hustle” for now and her full-time job is with Pathward, a corporate bank in Sioux Falls. Her goal is to eventually build up a client base, retire from her financial services career and focus on quilting. Schulte said she’s been interested in quilting for many years, but was hesitant to take it on while she was raising her family. She decided to give it a try a few years ago after her four children...
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EDGERTON — The Edgerton High School football program is rich in tradition under head coach Andrew Fleischman. The Flying Dutch, coming off a 9-2 season, will open the 2024 campaign on Thursday, Aug. 29, at home versus New Ulm Cathedral. Edgerton then hits the road for a Friday, Sept. 6, game at Mountain Lake Area. Athletic director Eric Schultz reported the Homecoming game will be on Friday, Oct. 4, versus Cedar Mountain. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Flying Dutch also have home games versus Grand Meadow at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, and on Wednesday, Oct. 16 versus...
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IHLEN — Before summer is done and dusted, how about a trip to the beach? Split Rock Creek State Park, Pipestone County’s state facility, features a man-made beach that provides local water recreation opportunities — including swimming. “A sandy, shallow area provides a great location for families to swim,” says Split Rock Creek literature. The facility is less than an eight-mile drive from downtown Pipestone. The Works Progress Administration, under the guidance of then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, built a dam in the late-1930s. The dam created a lake in an area that needed one since there are few natural...
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The Pipestone Area Schools district officially hired Sean Kallevig at its regularly scheduled board meeting in May. In the classroom, Kallevig will be serving as a world history, psychology and sociology instructor. What’s more, Kallevig gives the Arrows an adaptable coach for three different sports: football, wrestling and baseball. “He had lots of experience being at Adrian the past seven years,” PAS head football coach and dean of students Scott Booomgaarden said. “He’s a knowledgeable guy. He’s been good with the kids, and I am excited to have him on staff.” In football, Kallevig will fill a role with the...
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With His Booming voice carrying throughout the Pipestone County Fairgrounds grandstand, Dale Bartels commanded attention. Bartels served as public address announcer for the National Tractor Pullers Association and United Pullers of Minnesota-sanctioned event during the fair on Friday, Aug. 2. It also served as a homecoming for the Pipestone native. “It’s my hometown,” Bartels said, “and it’s always special. I played football and summer baseball (at the grandstand). The fair always was a highlight of summer for me, and it’s fun to go back.” While a youth, Bartels showed hogs (most of them Hampshires) during the fair. He played offensive...
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Bole-Mor Lanes of Pipestone has set dates for bowling league sign-ups and informational meetings. These meetings are for teams and substitutes. The ladies league will convene at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4. Mixed league meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. According to the bowling center’s Facebook page, the mixed league still has two team openings and the women’s one. For information, log on to bolemorlanes.com or call 1-507-562-2531.
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On the north side of the Jasper Cemetery is a small, white, weathered stone with a metal star that says Veteran. On the stone is the name William Ellis Stork. While his stone may be nondescript, Stork has the distinction of being the last Union veteran of the Civil War to be buried in Pipestone County. On Saturday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m., the Col. William Colvill Camp 56 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) will recognize Stork as such with a ceremony at the Jasper Cemetery. Jim Johnson, junior vice commander and researcher of SUVCW Camp...
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A second woman has been charged with murder by selling fentanyl in relation to the November 2022 death of Justin Rops, of Pipestone. Breeann Lenore Krueger, 32, of Burnsville, was charged on Aug. 8 with third-degree murder by selling a controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment and a ,000 fine. The charges against her follow charges of third-degree murder by selling a controlled substance and third-degree sale of fentanyl against Miranda Michelle Sanow, 26, of St. Paul, in April. Sanow plead guilty to the third-degree murder charge on Aug. 6. A criminal complaint filed Aug....
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By Dr. Klint W. Willert, PAS Superintendent of Schools At Pipestone Area Schools, we believe that education is a shared responsibility. As we prepare to launch the new school year, we know that for our students to thrive and reach their fullest potential, it’s crucial that parents and guardians join hands with the district in the educational process. This includes the academic work of the classroom as well as supporting and enforcing important school policies. This year, the district is emphasizing three key areas: attendance, dress code, and cell phone usage. Recent school board action regarding these important policies are...
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The cooler temps this past week (after a scorching hot week at the Pipestone County Fair last week) has been much appreciated. The drop in temperature was perfect to set the stage for the Frozen Jr. production put on by Arts & Mentoring Project (AMP) in our community over the weekend. With three older sisters in the house, our little man at 2.5 years old has experienced a lot in his short lifetime. Just this summer, some of those experiences accumulated on the list include: late nights at the softball field, endless jumps in the city pool, riding carnival rides...
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MARSHALL — City of Marshall civic leaders had every reason to rejoice on Wednesday, July 26. That’s when the NCAA Division II Championships Committee officially announced Southwest Minnesota State University as host of a 2026 NCAA Division II Super Region wrestling tournament at the R/A Facility. The one-day event has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. “SMSU is excited to (serve as) host for this outstanding championship,” SMSU director of athletics Jen Flowers said in a prepared statement on the Mustangs’ website. “Our campus and community take pride in putting on outstanding events, and this will be no exception,”...
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The Prairie Riders Saddle Club will conduct a playdate fun show on Sunday at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds horse arena. The event begins at 10 a.m., with the Pipestone Jaycees serving as the co-sponsor. The entry fee is for beginners — with leading allowed — and for all other age groups, juniors, intermediate and seniors. The entry cost covers everything except “Ride A Buck.” Prizes will be awarded through fifth place. Categories are as follows: pole weaving, keyhole, softball toss, western jumping, speed barrels, two-person rat race, four-in-a-line barrels and “Ride A Buck.” Concessions will be offered. Western...
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The Pipestone County Star was there for the second practice of the season for the Pipestone Area Schools' boys and girls cross country teams. The Star will be running a season preview in the Thursday, Aug. 22, edition. The first two meets are scheduled for Marshall (Aug. 26) and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (Sept. 5).
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Aiden Hiniker, 18, won the Champion Premier Showmanship trophy and Will DeBates, 19, won the Reserve Champion Premier Showmanship trophy Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Pipestone County Fair. “It means a lot,” Hiniker said. “My mom and dad always talked about how cool it is to have that award. Back when my dad showed, he was reserve, so they’re always saying, ‘You’ve got to win premier, so you can one up him.’” His parents are Mark and Carrie Hiniker. Now that he has one upped his dad, he gave the credit for his success to his older sisters, Chelsey and...
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Here are some sports-related photos from the Pipestone County Fair, which was conducted from Wednesday, July 31-Saturday, Aug. 3. These photos are from either sports editor Eric Viccaro, or contributed images.
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INFORMATION HIGH SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL EVENTS This Week’s Schedule Saturday, Aug. 17 Girls Tennis 11 a.m., Benson at Pipestone Area, Pipestone Courts 1:30 p.m., Morris Area at Pipestone Area, Pipestone Courts Special Events Golf 10 a.m., Pipestone Country Club championship, men, women 3-on-3 Basketball 10 a.m., Tournament, Harmon Park Sunday, Aug. 18 Special Event Golf 10 a.m., Pipestone Country Club championship, men, women Monday, Aug. 19 Football 8 a.m., Pipestone Area Schools, first day of practice for seventh- and eighth-grade teams Tuesday, Aug. 20 Girls Tennis 11 a.m., Pipestone Area at Yellow Medicine East, Granite Falls 2 p.m., Pipestone Area...
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TYLER — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2024 football schedule will feature seven sub-district opponents. The opener, however, will be a crossover contest with meaty Minneota on the road Thursday, Aug. 29. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Vikings have been a powerhouse since for NFL standout Les Josephson’s days back in the 1950s. Minneota downed RTR, 55-6, last season in Tyler with Blake Christensen accounting for the Knights’ only score on a 23-yard TD run. The Vikings’ potent offense gained more than 500 yards in the contest, and Ryan Meagher chewed up 128 yards on just seven carries. “Minneota has a...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ football team will have a new offensive coordinator this season. In steps Andy Yost, who was officially hired by the PAS school district in January. Yost was most recently an assistant coach at Dakota State University in nearby Madison, S.D. “Obviously, getting a guy with all of his experience is good for our guys,” PAS head football coach Scott Boomgaarden said. “We’re going to use his knowledge to be the best offense we can be,” added Boomgaarden, who said the players look up to Yost, who has coached both indoor arena-style football and the college game....
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LAKEFIELD — Nestled between Windom and Jackson is Kilen Woods State Park. The park is located roughly 77 miles from downtown Pipestone, making it an easy day excursion for most outdoor enthusiasts. While this park is not as lavish as Blue Mounds, Camden or Lake Shetek State Parks, there still are plenty of amenities to check out. The Des Moines River is the notable water feature at Kilen Woods, and two of the premier sites at the facility are Dinosaur Ridge Overlook and the Prairie Bush Clover Scientific and Natural Area. This area provides protection for hundreds of prairie-dependent plants,...
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Seven years ago, Adrenaline Volleyball devised a summer tournament to help elevate the profile of the sport. Thus, the Summer Slam tournament began — which has turned into a much-needed top-flight event at The Pentagon. This year’s field featured 64 high schools from across Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton took advantage of the tournament, placing in a tie for third with West Fargo (N.D.) in the two-day extravaganza on Monday-Tuesday, July 29-30. “It’s a great summer opportunity,” RTR head coach Daynica Brown said. “The girls played some tough teams, and were able to...
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INFORMATION PIPESTONE COUNTY FAIR RESULTS At The Fairgrounds Thursday, Aug. 1 Pole Bending (Name, Horse, Time) Youth Jackpot 1D Placings 1, Kylie Wiittnebel, Mercy, 21.973; 2, Makayla Cross, Kix, 22.714; 3, Serie Risty, Pete, 23.083 2D Placings 1, Hatty Fey, Sage, 24.008; 2, Rayah Kuiper, Spice, 24.456; 3, Kelsey Sneller, KC Shady Cash, 25.295 3D Placings 1, Jack Goelz, Cinch, 26.280; 2, Harper Hanisch, Chica, 26.320; 3, Jasmine Fuller, Shesa Hard Rock, 26.580 Main Poles Jackpot 1D Placings 1, Kylie Winnebel, Mercy, 21.973; 2, Emily Kruger, Peptos Pretty Kaidas, 22.252; 3, Kensey Allen, BR SnippysGoGoDrift, 22.515 2D Placings 1, Sadie...
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The National Tractor Pullers Association-sanctioned truck and tractor pull last Friday at the Pipestone County Fair was competitive from start to finish. Michael Lee Adams, in the pro stock semi class, recorded the best pull of the evening. Adams, from Carver, pulled his Stier Trucking unit 349.488 feet, winning the class by more than 15 feet. Brainerd’s Justin Schlegel was tops in the super stock four-wheel drive class with a pull of 333.906, about 1.5 feet further than Ben Lunderby — a contestant who came all the way from Sidney, Mont. David O’Connor of Blooming Prairie claimed the four-wheel drive...
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EDGERTON — Rock River Rodeo Days will present its main rodeo at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17. The event will be conducted at Diamond H Acres, who also is serving as the host. The facility is located at 1527 41st Street (Pipestone County Highway 63, roughly two miles northwest of downtown Edgerton). Gates will open at 4 p.m., with check-in to follow one hour later. There will be vendors, food trucks and a full bar. The cost is at the door, with children 10 years old and younger and youth three years old and under admitted free....
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Justin and Crissa Fruechte are this year’s Pipestone County Farm Family of the Year. “I think it’s a really cool honor,” said Justin Fruechte shortly after the family was recognized for the honor in the show arena at the Pipestone County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 3. “I feel pretty humbled.” The Fruechtes and their five children — Mason, Lily, Faith, June and Wells, who range in age from 7 months to 15 years of age — live and farm northwest of Pipestone in Altona Township. Fruechte said the family has about 250 ewes and 80 cows, and grows forages, corn,...
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ELKTON, S.D. — Elkton/Lake Benton sideline and competition cheer will begin on Monday, Aug. 5, in accordance with the South Dakota High School Activities Association. There will be a football player/parent meeting tonight at 7 p.m., with individual and team photos to follow. The first practice is set for Thursday, Aug. 8. The boys and girls cross country and volleyball teams will open practice on Thursday, Aug. 15. For both cross country and volleyball, player/parent meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14. Volleyball will convene at 6 p.m., with cross country to follow at 7 p.m. Both meetings will be...
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TYLER— The Minnesota Twins and the Twins Community will be offering a youth baseball clinic on Saturday, Aug. 10. This free event runs from 1-3 p.m. at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds (200 Strong Street). In case of poor weather, the clinic will take place at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School. The clinic promotes baseball and softball to boys and girls ages 6-12 years old in the region. Your child’s age is as of Sept. 1, 2024. Children are asked to bring water, a glove, cap and sunscreen. They will be given instruction in hitting, throwing and fielding. The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Baseball Association is...
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A National Tractor Pullers Association-sanctioned event headlines sports-related activities coming to the Pipestone County Fair this week. “We are going to have a good pull,” said event organizer Scott Crawford, who also serves as Pipestone County Fair board vice president. The pull begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds grandstand. Three tractor and three truck-pulling classes will be contested. The tractor divisions are light limited pro, super farms and pro farms. Truck divisions are as follows: super stock four-wheel drives, pro stock semis and four-wheel drive trucks. Crawford reports prizes will be awarded to the...
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Here are the key dates in table form, as provided by MSHSL. August 12, Practice begins; 15, First allowable competition date, girls tennis; 22, First allowable competition date, soccer, cross country, volleyball and swimming and diving (girls); 29, First allowable competition date for football September 2, Adapted soccer practice begins; 12, First allowable competition date for adapted soccer October 15, Last date of sectional playoffs, girls tennis; 18, Last date of sectional playoffs, soccer; 26, Last date for sectionals, cross country November 2, Last date for sectionals, football and volleyball; 9, Last date for sectionals, swimming and diving (girls) State...
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BROOKLYN CENTER — The Minnesota State High School League has announced fall sports practices will begin on Monday, Aug. 12. There will be a no-contact period from Thursday, Aug. 1 until Sunday, Aug. 11. The following activities are contested during the fall: football, volleyball (girls), tennis (girls), cross country and boys and girls soccer. Adapted soccer practice begins Sept. 2. Only Southwest Minnesota Christian in Edgerton offers boys soccer in the Pipestone County Star coverage area. Pipestone Area Schools fields the only girls tennis squad. A reminder, athlete physicals and concussion baseline testing must be updated every three years. PAS...
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Input is being sought from childcare providers, employers and parents as part of an assessment of childcare needs in Pipestone that’s being done with the Rural Child Care Innovation Program. Surveys for child care center directors can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCCD-CityofPipestone, for family childcare providers at www.surveymonkey.com/r/FCC-CityofPipestone, for employers at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Employer-CityofPipestone, and for parents/employees at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Parent-Employee-CityofPipestone. The city of Pipestone was selected to participate in the Rural Child Care Innovation Program earlier this year. The program involves a community engagement process to address the challenges of childcare in rural communities. The process includes a core team of individuals representing the...
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Among the vast list of activities scheduled for this year’s Pipestone County Fair are several new events and features. One of those new events is the Ag Olympics, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on the first day of the fair, Wednesday, July 31 in the grandstand. Fair Board President Skip Moeller said the event was added in recognition of the summer Olympics, which opens July 26 and continues through Aug. 11 in Paris. The Ag Olympics will include teams of four local participants, including at least one female, that will compete in a series of agriculture-related events that emulate...
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The Pipestone City Council during a special July 19 meeting approved the sale of a 4.65-acre piece of land near the intersection of 121st Street and County Road 67, near the city’s water treatment plant, to Hord Farms Holdings, LLC for ,750. The city’s charter requires that city-owned property be sold by ordinance and an ordinance authorizing the sale was introduced at the council’s regular meeting on July 15. In addition to the sale, the council approved a resolution granting a minor subdivision of property for the site on July 15 and a right-of-way easement along the west side of...
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Collin Moeller didn’t wear a cape during Sunday’s best-of-three finale between the homestanding Pipestone Athletics and Worthington Cubs. Still, Moeller played the role of hero — lacing a three-run single to deep center field scoring Keegan O’Brien, Landon Quist and Greg Quist as the Athletics topped the Cubs, 5-4, in this Region 13C first-round rubber game. O’Brien drew the fortune of opening the bottom of the ninth reaching first base on a Blake Ahrenstorff error. The Quists followed by drawing back-to-back walks. Then Moeller delivered the sure hit. “I knew it was hit, but I wondered how far it would...
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WORTHINGTON — The Minnesota West Community & Technical College football schedule has been released. The Bluejays will open the season in Madison, S.D., versus Dakota State University’s junior varsity squad. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The home opener is set for Aug. 31 versus Minnesota State Community & Technical College (Fergus Falls), with kickoff at 1:30 p.m. Other home games are scheduled versus Central Lakes College (Brainerd) on Sept. 21 and Minnesota North Vermilion on Oct. 5. The playoffs follow on Oct. 19 with the quarterfinals. The semifinals are scheduled for Oct. 27 and the state conference championship is...
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Pipestone Area Youth Tackle Football players will begin season practices on Monday, Aug. 12. But, first, the organization will be conducting sign-ups and equipment check out on both Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 5-6, at the equipment shed next to Paulsen Field. Fourth-graders will check out equipment at 6 p.m. Aug. 5, with fifth- and sixth-graders the following day. The cost is 0, and Pipestone Area Youth Football reports scholarships are available by calling the Pipestone Area Schools administration office. Pipestone Area Youth Football (PYFB) also has a flyer with a QR code in order for players to pre-register. “We’re excited...
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A second candidate filing period for candidates in the Nov. 5 election opens Tuesday, July 30 and closes two weeks later on Aug. 13. The second filing period applies to all cities in Pipestone County except Pipestone, all school districts and townships that hold their elections in November. Prospective candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and there is typically a filing fee. Most local seats up for election are for four-year terms, but mayoral terms are two years and township supervisor terms are six years. Exceptions are noted. Below are the local governmental entities for which the second...
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Pipestone native Randy Mortensen will be at the Stonehouse and Quarry Lounge on July 27 from 2-4:30 p.m. to sign his recently released book, “God Took Me to Las Vegas...to Get Sober.” “It’s a story about my journey that actually started in Pipestone,” Mortensen said. “My short version and testimony is that we all have memories, some positive, some not so much, but my first memory was, I was playing pool in the basement of a friend’s house when I was 13 and to this day, I don’t know whether I liked the taste of the beer that I snuck...
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TYLER — The Æbleskiver Amble will take place during the community’s heritage festival on Saturday, July 27. This marks the 145th Æbleskiver Days celebration for the city located in Lincoln County. Register now or the day of the event at 7:45 a.m. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. near the secretary’s office at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds (200 Strong Street). Entrants may choose from the following: the eight-mile bicycle ride or the five-kilometer run/walk/bike. Registration costs , with checks payable to Æbleskiver Days. Forms are available on the Æbleskiver Days Facebook page. For information, email aebleskiveramble@gmail.com. Other sports There...
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This week marks the Sports Drive & Revive Event through SoJo’s Sportswear in downtown Pipestone. The Pipestone Arrows Athletic Booster Club is coordinating the event. Walk-ins are welcome to donate gently used or like-new items for any sport and any size. The following sports-related equipment will be accepted: softball/baseball pants, singlets, bats, gloves, helmets, balls, knee pads, cleats and basketball, wrestling or dance shoes. The drive will run through Friday, July 26. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Pipestone Arrows Athletic Booster Club says, “don’t let the high price of sports gear deter your...
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In May, the Pipestone County Museum brought on its first summer intern to help in all areas of its programming. Isabel Van Veldhuizen, a Sioux Falls resident and a sophomore at Augustana University, began her internship at the museum the week of May 20, and will wrap up 12-week stint there on August 10. Van Veldhuizen, who is currently majoring in anthropology, history and environmental science, saw an advertisement for the internship on the museum’s Facebook page and decided to apply. “I chose the internship here because they are letting me get an overview of everything and so I’m doing...
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General Surgeon Dr. Michael Brozik and Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) Becky McDugle have joined Pipestone County Medical Center’s (PCMC) surgical team through a partnership between PCMC and the Surgical Institute of South Dakota. According to its website, the Surgical Institute of South Dakota specializes in general surgery and its surgeons are on staff at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital, Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota and Sanford USD Medical Center. It also offers services at outreach locations in the surrounding area including Flandreau, Dell Rapids, Freeman, Hendricks and Tyler. Brozik has worked with the...
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The Pipestone Planning Commission plans to review its energy conversion system ordinance pertaining to wind and solar energy facilities and similar ordinances used by other cities or counties to see if there are changes that should be made to the city’s ordinance. Planning Commission members and city staff discussed the topic during the commission’s July 10 meeting. The discussion followed the Pipestone City Council’s approval on July 1 of an interim ordinance authorizing a study by the planning commission and imposing a moratorium on the establishment, construction or expansion of renewable energy facilities within the city to give the planning...
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Soon-to-be South Dakota State University sophomore Brady Roark will serve as the guest clinician for the Little Arrow Wrestling Camp set for Monday-Wednesday, July 22-24. The action will take place in the Pipestone Area Schools’ wrestling room adjacent to the gymnasium. “I’m excited to help the kids,” Roark said in a telephone interview with the Pipestone County Star. “I want to help them get better.” Roark said he enjoys giving back to the sport he’s participated in for many years. His main goal for the camp is for wrestlers “to be open to learning new” techniques. Like during the 2023-24...
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WORTHINGTON — The Minnesota West Community & Technical College football program will be conducting a one-day youth football camp. The event is set from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, July 20. This is for boys and girls ages 7-16 years old. The cost is per camp. Registration will be at the Minnesota West Center for Health & Wellness, Room No. 302 at 1450 Collegeway. Campers are asked to bring either tennis shoes or cleats, workout clothes and a mouthpiece. Former Carolina Panther and University of Nebraska safety Mike Minter will be the headline instructor — joined by fellow...
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TYLER — The Tyler Arts Council will present the musical “Annie” from Thursday-Monday, July 18-22 at the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Performing Arts Center. “Annie” is based on the 1977 Broadway musical assembled by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin and Thomas Meehan — based on the Harold Gray “Little Orphan Annie.” Harper Petersen will play the title role of “Annie,” and Mark Guetter is Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Mark Wilmes is serving as director. Shows on July 18, 19, 20 and 22 will begin at 7 p.m., plus a special 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, July 21. Tickets are available at the door and also...
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Nelson receives favorable review Councilman Rodger Smidt, in substitution for the absent Mayor Dan Delaney, provided a summary of the performance review of City Administrator Deb Nelson. The review was conducted during a closed session on June 26. Nelson has been serving as city administrator since June of 2023 and was the interim administrator for six months prior to her taking the position last June. The summary noted that, “Administrator Nelson is exceeding expectations.” The council’s summary went on to cite Nelson’s accomplishments including: “the development of a strategic plan, management of city staff, advancing a number of business and...
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The annual Jasper Quartziter Days celebration is scheduled to take place on Friday July 19 - Sunday July 21. Lisa Peterson, the president of the Quartziter Club, said a few new items will be taking place this year. “On Saturday, July 20, Bauman Hall is having an open house,” she said. “Reclaim Community has redone the Bauman Hall and has gotten that ready so they can host an open house. Saturday night we have a different band than we have had in the years prior. The band is 10 Miles from Nowhere from Sioux Falls, and they play more current...
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HADLEY — Here’s the good news first, the Pipestone Athletics’ scoring drought is now over. However, the A’s still came up short as the host Hadley Buttermakers earned a 6-3 victory at Laurie Mahon Memorial Field Sunday — marking Pipestone’s 10th straight loss. Pipestone scored all three of its runs during the fourth inning. Mitchell Biever opened the frame by drawing a walk, followed by a Landon Quist home run over the high-walled short porch in left field. Then Collin Moeller smacked a solo homer in nearly the same spot as Quist’s clout — and a scoreless stretch dating back...
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All four Pipestone Area Youth Fastpitch teams competed at a difficult tournament in Fargo, N.D. on Saturday and Sunday, July 6-7. The 10-under squad earned a top-four finish in a field of 17. The group went 3-1, and yielded just eight runs in four games. Candy Wurster struck out 43 during the event. The 10-under contingent features the following girls: Candy Wurster, Parker DeGroot, Brynly Boomgarden, Hadlee Smidt, Ellie Steenstra, Addison Hamann, Hayden Russell, Maren Whipkey, Brooklyn Caster, Alli Berkenpas, Ella Dibbern and Brielle Bullerman. Raleigh Smith serves as the manager. Brooke Legler and Kayla Smith coach the team. The...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ football team will enter the second and final year of this scheduling cycle. That means the Arrows will open with the same opponent as the 2023 slate: Blue Earth Area. And last year’s game was taut. “It should be competitive,” said PAS head football coach Scott Boomgaarden, entering his fourth year as head coach. “They are young, but they have good athletes, a big line and a similar style.” Pipestone’s edge in special teams provided the difference last year, with the Area topping the Buccaneers 21-18 thanks to both a successful one-point kick and two-point conversion...
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TYLER — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton will begin gearing up for the 2024 football season with camp beginning this week. Sessions started on Tuesday, July 9. Today’s training runs from 7-8:30 p.m. at the football field. There is no charge to attend. Other dates are as follows: Sunday, July 14 and July 28: 7-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, July 22-25: 8:30-10 a.m. Saturday, July 27: 6:45 a.m. (and campers will be asked to help with Æbleskiver Days) Tuesday-Thursday, July 16-18: 8:30-10:30 a.m. (fourth through sixth grade only) Monday-Thursday, July 22-24: 8:30-10:30 a.m. (seventh through eighth grade) The football camp will provide fundamentals, including stance, blocking,...
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TO THE EDITOR: I would like to thank the Human Rights Commission for holding a Juneteenth event. The event was very informative about its origins and how slow communications were in the 1860’s or how the union allowed the cotton harvest to be completed prior to freeing all the slaves. Perhaps it may have been both. To fully understand why the Confederate Army west of the Mississippi River didn’t surrender at the same time as the army of Northern Virgina, you will need to study the issue of states rights in the confederacy. It should serve as a warning and...
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The first-ever #LiveLikeJoe Memorial Golf Tournament will continue the late Joe Douty’s philanthropic mission in Pipestone. The day-long event is set for this Saturday, July 13, with golfers checking in after 8 a.m. at Pipestone Country Club. Golfers will tee off at 9 a.m., with a shotgun start. “It has been somewhat helpful in the healing process,” said Alison Douty, Joe’s wife. “He gave so much of himself to so many different people and different groups. He wanted to make a difference in his community and his country in anything he did.” Event organizers noted the tournament filled up quickly....
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INFORMATION AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL Senior Tournament Event Schedule At Westview Park Thursday, July 11 5 p.m., Edgerton vs. Windom 8 p.m., Adrian vs. Pipestone Friday, July 12 11 a.m., Minneota vs. Adrian/Pipestone winner 2 p.m., Luverne vs. Edgerton/Windom winner 5 p.m., Elimination game 8 p.m., Elimination game Saturday, July 13 11 a.m., Championship Game 2 p.m., Third-place Game Note: Top-three teams will advance to the next round; the junior bracket has not been released yet.
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INFORMATION TRACK AND FIELD STATE MEET Minnesota State High School League Thursday-Saturday, June 6-8 At St. Michael-Albertville High School St. Michael Class A Team Scores (Plaque winners only) Boys 1, Caledonia-Spring Grove, 67; 2, Cotter/Hope Lutheran, 39; 3, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, 38.5; 32, Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton, 11.5 Girls 1, Cotter/Hope Lutheran, 41; 2t, Eden Valley-Watkins-Kimball Area, 40; 2t, Bagley-Fosston, 40 Class AA Boys 1, Fridley, 59; 2, Mankato East, 57; 3, Rockford, 47 Girls 1, Alexandria, 79; 2, Monticello, 68.5; 3, Providence Academy, 62 Class AAA Boys 1, Rosemount, 53; 2, Wayzata, 52; 3, Mounds View, 50 GIrls 1, Minnetonka,...
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For the first time since June of 2022, no part of Minnesota is experiencing drought conditions. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) all of the state has been drought-free since June 4 due to abundant rainfall so far this year. The rain didn’t stop there, however, and by Tuesday, June 25, the Pipestone County Commissioners approved a resolution declaring a state of emergency due to damage to public property caused by heavy rain and flooding. Pipestone County Emergency Management Director Casey Sievert said Tuesday morning that she had received damage estimates from townships that totaled just under...
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Katelyn Welgraven, of rural Pipestone County, will be competing for the 2024 title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Growing up on the dairy farm started by her grandfather, Welgraven, who is the daughter of Keith and Jeanna Welgraven, never expected to make it this far. “I wanted to compete last year but I couldn’t because I had a play that I was in the same weekend as the May event,” she said. “I was never fully sure if I was going to compete in it, but this year I knew I really wanted to. So we went to...
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The Pipestone Board of Appeals and Adjustments during its June 11 meeting recommended the approval of a variance that would allow Kwik Trip to install more signs on the property at 722 Eighth Ave. S.E. than is allowed by city code. The Pipestone City Council will consider the recommendation during its July 1 meeting. According to city code, “one monument or free standing and one wall mounted sign identifying the premises shall be allowed” and “no more than one electric sign shall be attached to each face of the building for any one occupant.” Kwik Trip’s plans call for 10...
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The Pipestone Cruizers Car Club, in its current form, was established in 2011 by Larry Otter, his wife Eileen, and Ron Belcher. And from a historical perspective, there has been some kind of de facto car enthusiasts organization since the 1990s in Pipestone. The Pipestone Cruizers will be conducting its annual Car Show in conjunction with Watertower Festival Days — beginning with registration at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 29. “We like giving back to the community,” Belcher said. “It gives people something to do, and it’s a fun event.” Fellow Cruizers member Shawn Johnson chimed in, “We have a...
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LUVERNE — Maddox Biever had the only hit for the Pipestone A’s in a 12-0 loss to the Luverne Redbirds at Redbird Field on Sunday. This marked the fifth straight loss for the A’s (4-8) while the Redbirds have improved to 9-1 heading into a future game versus the Jackson Bulls. Pipestone will look to break its skid when the club returns to action on Friday, June 28 versus the Fairmont Martins. This will be a seven-inning game; it was originally scheduled for Sunday, June 23. The Redbirds scored nine runs in the second inning to effectively put the game...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ softball team conducted its awards program at Dari-King on Monday, June 3, with several notable accomplishments honored. Arrow freshman jack-of-all-trades and pitcher Kaysa Douty was selected as the team’s most valuable player and Amyra Mahik was named the “most improved player.” Those two awards were voted on by the players, head coach Robert Petersen noted. “She was our leader in hitting (.472), batting lead off,” Petersen explained. “She has good speed on the bases and pitched well.” Petersen said the opposition respected Douty’s hitting prowess, and she was issued several intentional walks as the season went along....
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LAMBERTON — Red Rock Conference baseball and softball teams produced a competitive and memorable 2024 spring season. Those accomplishments, along with all-conference all-academic teams, have been released by league secretary Bryce Pack. In softball, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian vied for supremacy in the league — with both the Knights and Flying Dutch finishing as co-champions with 11-1 records. R-T-R eventually defeated Edgerton/SWC during the Section 3A tournament, snapping the Flying Dutch’s longstanding streak of state appearances. The Knights placed third at the Minnesota State High School League Class A state tournament in North Mankato, winning two of three games...
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MSHSL State Tournaments Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10-11 Class A Boys At Pebble Creek, Becker Top-three teams 1, Fertile-Beltrami, 627; 2, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, 635; 3, Legacy Christian, 637 State champion Parker Brock, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, 140 Class A Girls Top-three teams 1, Fillmore Central, plus-108; 1, Dawson-Boyd, plus-108; 3, Park Christian, plus-120 * Fillmore Central and Dawson-Boyd shared the overall championship. State champion Lindsey Lund, Dawson-Boyd, plus-11 Class AA Boys At The Ridges of Sand Creek, Jordan Top-three teams 1, Holy Family Catholic, 438; 2, Detroit Lakes, 454; 3, Totino-Grace, 464 State champion Jack Justesen, Hawley, 105; 5, Jayden Manthei, Marshall, 110 Class...
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BECKER — Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s Shae O’Leary found herself in 27th position after the opening round of the Minnesota State High School League state tournament at Pebble Creek Golf Course. O’Leary eventually battled back for a top-20 finish in 17th place — with a two-round total of 164 strokes. MSHSL tournament officials scaled back the tournament to 34 holes because of thunderstorms that rolled through after 7 p.m. Wednesday, when there were still several groups out on the course. “She needed a lot more putts (during Tuesday’s first round),” R-T-R head coach Tim O’Leary noted. “She was a lot closer to the...
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The first-ever #LiveLikeJoe Memorial Golf Scramble will take place on Saturday, July 13, at Pipestone Country Club. The tournament will honor the late Joe Douty, one of the community’s leading philanthropists. The country club is located at 1105 Eighth Avenue S.E. Tournament officials have reported on Facebook the field of 27 teams is full, and there is a waiting list. There will be golf, a silent auction, bean bags, fun and the band Old Indian Trick (based in Waubay, S.D.) will perform. Golf will tee off and bean bags will fly at 9 a.m. The auction runs until 8 p.m.,...
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The Pipestone County Star will be running a series on regional county and state parks beginning with the June 27 edition. Talcot Park in Cottonwood County has been selected first by sports editor Eric Viccaro. Most of the parks chosen are operated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, except the Cottonwood County-run Talcot Park and those found in South Dakota. All of the parks are less than a two-hour drive from Pipestone. Here’s the list: June 27: Talcot County Park, Cottonwood County July 4: Camden State Park, near Marshall July 11: Palisades State Park, Garretson, S.D. July 18: Lake...
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LOCAL SCHEDULE Friday, June 28 Special Event 5 p.m., Watertower Festival, Pipestone Saturday, June 29 Special Event 10 a.m., Watertower Festival, Pipestone Sunday, June 30 Special Event 10 a.m., Watertower Festival, Pipestone Thursday, July 4 Special Event 11 a.m., Fourth of July parade, Ruthton Thursday, July 11 Girls Basketball All Day, Pipestone at Luverne Festival Special Event 7:30 p.m., Edgerton Dutch Festival, Edgerton Friday, July 12 Special Event 8 a.m., Edgerton Dutch Festival, Edgerton Saturday, July 13 Special Event 6 a.m., Edgerton Dutch Festival, Edgerton Special Event 9 a.m., #LiveLikeJoe Memorial Tournament, Pipestone Country Club Friday, July 19 Special Event...
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The main events of the 35th Annual Water Tower Festival are set to take place June 28 - 30, with the first clue of the medallion hunt being released on the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce website and Facebook page at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. The medallion winner will receive 0 in Chamber Checks and must call the chamber as soon as the medallion is found at 825-3316. The parade theme this year is “Level up Pipestone,” a tribute to family-friendly video games. Erica Volkir, the executive director of the chamber, said that parade goers can expect to...
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The Jasper City Council during its June 11 meeting approved the purchase of equipment and a command center cabinet for the splash pad planned for the Jasper City Park from Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) for 3,198.53. The quote from CRS had the lowest cost from among two quotes received. State statute allows cities to use direct negotiation for contracts between ,000 and 5,000 as long as at least two quotes are obtained when possible. The second quote came in at 3,510. Jasper City Council members voted to approve the quotes during a special June 4 meeting, according to the minutes...
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For the last several summers, my girls have been taking horse riding lessons at my friend Lori’s farm in Valley Springs, S.D. Once a week, we visit the farm and after they turn 8 years old each girl gets to start lessons on one of her horses. This venture has turned into a highlight of their week to visit the farm and the animals. I grew up in rural South Dakota, but my family lived in the city limits of the small town. That meant that almost every other family owned horses, cattle, or sheep - but we did not....
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DECORAH, Iowa — The decision to wrestle at the collegiate level weighed heavily on the mind for Pipestone Area Schools’ graduate Brayden Burmeister. In the end, Burmeister opted to continue pursuing the sport he loves at Luther College, nestled in the northeastern corner of Iowa. Burmeister reported he will major in biology at Luther. During discussions with Norse head coach Dave Mitchell and his assistants, Burmeister learned he will most likely compete in the 133-pound division, which currently features competition in the form of Isaac Ayers, Hunter Goodwin and Quentin Vilmenay. “I’m happy with the decision to wrestle,” Burmeister said...
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Bruce Crevier juggles basketballs on his back during a special performance called “Spin-tacular” at Southwest Minnesota Christian Elementary School in Edgerton on Wednesday, June 5. Crevier, a South Dakota native, performs all over the world with his wife, Diane, and their 12 children. Basketballs spin and the Creviers ride 10-foot unicycles. But, ministry is performed through the act, as part of his Champions Forever mission, which included a book sale. Crevier holds the distinction of having the Guiness World Record for spinning 31 basketball at one time. Look for an additional photo gallery from the event here at: www.pipestonestar.com.
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The Brookings (S.D.) Cubs dominated the field at the Fourth Annual Pepsi Tournament this past weekend at Westview Park. Brookings is considered a Class “A” level amateur baseball team in South Dakota, and the Cubs are off to a dynamic start with a record of 8-1. Keep in mind, many of the Minnesota ball clubs at this event are designated Class “C.” In three games, Brookings outscored the opposition 32-2, with Pipestone actually scoring two of those runs during Friday’s 13-2 result. The Cubs have a wealth of college-level talent on the roster. “They have guys from all the colleges...
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ST. MICHAEL — The Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton boys track and field team scored 11.5 points at the Minnesota State High School League Class A state meet. That number may seem small to some, but it was a significant figure if you ask Eagle head coach Brent Van Schepen. “It was so fun to watch, and we had a good time,” Van Schepen said, looking back at all of the Eagle accomplishments last Thursday and Friday at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Before competing in Friday’s finals, Van Schepen noted that senior Aidan Schaap requested to change positions with sophomore Silas Van...
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MARSHALL — Cody Wichmann, a former Russell-Tyler-Ruthton standout, played for the Southwest Minnesota State University baseball team this spring. Wichmann, a Balaton native, played in 20 games during the 2024 season as the Mustangs compiled a 27-24 overall record — including 20-19 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Concordia-St. Paul eliminated SMSU from postseason contention back on Thursday, May 9, beating the Mustangs 8-4 at BNC Field in Mandan, N.D. Wichmann started 11 games, and finished with one double and two RBIs. Cody’s best game of the season was on March 29 versus Bemidji State when he rapped four hits...
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ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has developed a new tool to help make finding shooting ranges easier. According to a DNR press release, there are about 350 shooting ranges throughout the state — both archery and firearms. The web tool does not yet feature the forming Pipestone County Sportsmen’s Club range northeast of the city. “Shooting sports continue to increase in popularity in Minnesota,” said DNR shooting range coordinator Chuck Niska in a prepared press release. “This new web tool will make it easier for people to locate ranges that provide exactly what they need,” Niska...
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The Hartquist Funeral & Cremation Services team took the championship at the 18th Annual Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Golf Classic on Thursday at Pipestone Country Club. This was a scramble-formatted event with 22 teams of four competing. “This was our largest event to date,” Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau executive director Erica Volkir said in a press release emailed to the Star. “It was a terrific event of fun, networking, friendly competition and enjoying our beautiful golf course,” Volkir added. Jeff Hartquist, Kevin Paulsen, Graham Hartquist and Henry Hartquist were on the first-place...
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When the first filing period for candidates in the Nov. 5, 2024 election ended Tuesday, June 4, the following individuals had filed as candidates for the following seats: Pipestone County Commissioners: Incumbent Luke Johnson filed for District 1, incumbent Dallas Roskamp filed for District 3 and incumbent Chris Hollingsworth filed for District 5. Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors: Incumbent Calvin Spronk filed for District 1, Michael Fruechte and Richard Cunningham filed for District 2, and incumbent Ken Christensen filed for District 3. Pipestone City Council: Incumbent Dan Delaney filed for mayor, and incumbents Verdeen Colbeck and Danielle...
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Tuesday morning, June 11, the sun was bright, the wind was calm, the temperature was a pleasant 67 degrees. It was a perfect morning for pickleball play at the newly constructed courts located at Pipestone’s Harmon Park. On this morning, like most, a group of 14 local pickleball enthusiasts took to the courts for friendly competition and some exercise. Joining the local players Tuesday were representatives from the city of Pipestone and JBS who were on hand to officially dedicate the courts. The eight Harmon Park courts were made possible by a ,000 grant from JBS of Pipestone. “We’re so...
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Since 1984, The Clothier by Dawn has been a fixture of downtown Pipestone. To mark the occasion of 40 years in business, Dawn Heidebrink, the Dawn of The Clothier by Dawn, is having a birthday celebration from June 10 to 22. There will be cupcakes, specials and sales to mark the milestone. “It’s kind of a thank you for my customers for supporting me over the last 40 years,” Heidebrink said. Heidebrink said she’s always had a love for fashion and she turned that love into career even before she owned her own business. She started selling clothing for Wilson’s...
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A bit of creepy, kooky fun is coming to the stage of the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) this month with the Calumet Players production of the musical “The Addams Family.” The musical features the well known members of the Addams family, as seen on the television show of the 1960s and based on characters created by Charles Addams — Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Lurch and Cousin Itt. The music and lyrics are by Andrew Lippa and the book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. In the musical, Wednesday Addams has grown up and fallen in...
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U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited the Pipestone Municipal Airport Sunday, June 9 as part of an economic development-themed tour of southwest Minnesota. “We went there because we were able to successfully advocate for a grant for the airport out of this FAA Improvement Program for smaller airports,” Klobuchar said by phone Monday afternoon. The 7,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program will be used to replace the Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) and Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) at the airport and update the airport master plan. The existing PAPIs and REILs have reached the end of...
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After just recently wrapping up her 11th year teaching third grade at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS), Lisa Pease is shifting her focus to her new role as director of curriculum, teaching and learning, and continuous improvement. She officially begins her new role July 1, but has already begun taking on some of the duties that need to be done prior to then. The Flandreau native, who now lives near Florence, has been a teacher for 31 years, all but one of those in Pipestone. She’s taught middle and high school special education, fifth grade and third grade. She said her...
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The Pipestone Farmers Market will be in a new location when it begins Saturday, June 15. It will now be located in the city-owned parking lot at the corner of Second Avenue Northwest and Second Street Northwest behind the Stonehouse and Quarry Lounge. That’s a change from its previous location in the True Value parking lot where it had been for several years. Lisa Smith, a vendor and coordinator of the farmers market, said the market will be open from 8 a.m. until the vendors sell out or until noon, whichever comes first, on Saturdays. It will be open Wednesday...
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The Pipestone City Council plans to hold a special meeting on Thursday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss concerns that have emerged during the process to develop a master plan for Hiawatha Pageant Park. The city plans to develop a master plan in order to have the park designated as a regional park, which could help obtain funds to develop a trail through the park. It is working with the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program (NPS-RTCA) to develop the master plan. According to its website, the RTCA supports locally-led conservation and outdoor recreation projects...
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https://youtu.be/HBPCixJK3xc The Pipestone National Monument kicked-off its artist-in-residence program last week, with its first featured indigenous artist, Mercedese Young Man Afraid Of His Horses, who worked at the monument May 25-May 31. Three more artists are set to appear at the monument throughout the summer into August, and during their tenure they will demonstrate their artwork and engage with visitors from 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Young Man Afraid Of His Horses, 28, who is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe on Pine Ridge Reservation, completed her associate of arts degree in Lakota art in 2018 at the Oglala...
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BROOKLYN CENTER — The Minnesota State High School League set seeds and brackets for forthcoming baseball tournaments. Pipestone Area Schools was seeded sixth, and the Arrows will open the Section 3AA South tournament versus No. 3 Windom. The game will take place at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at Island Park in Windom. The Arrows finished the regular season 8-12, with only four wins in the Big South Conference. The Eagles (15-5) defeated PAS twice, 20-9, on April 23 and 11-10 on May 7. In order to advance into the double-elimination portion of the tournament, PAS must beat Windom in...
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Pipestone City Council members plan to discuss potential uses for tax increment financing (TIF) funds generated by a downtown TIF district prior to a 2026 deadline. A TIF district allows cities to capture most of the increase in local property tax revenue from new development or redevelopment in a specific area for a specific period of time. The taxes from the base value of the properties in the district continue going to the local taxing jurisdictions and the captured revenue based on the value added by development can be used to fund projects in the TIF district. TIF District 13...
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Pipestone City Council members during their May 6 meeting approved reducing the number of pickleball courts being built at Harmon Park from 10 to eight to increase the amount of space between the courts, and adding 4-foot high fencing between the courts. The approval reversed a decision the council made during its April 15 meeting. At that meeting, City Engineer Travis Winter presented a change order from contractor Duininck Inc. that indicated that the changes, which were proposed by local pickleball players, would have added ,685 to the cost of the project, bringing it to 6,410. Councilor Rodger Smidt made...
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BROOKLYN CENTER — The Minnesota State High School League has set upcoming Section 3AA and 3A tournaments. Sections conducted seeding meetings, and pairings were released on Friday morning. Tournaments feature a double-elimination format. In Section 3AA, 2023 state qualifier Pipestone Area (11-7 record) has been seeded fourth, and they will play No. 5 Minneota/Canby in the opening round at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 21. The winner of that game will face top-seeded Luverne, who topped the Arrows 7-6 this past Thursday — which ultimately helped determine the pecking order. In the other half of the bracket, Windom has been seeded...
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REDWOOD FALLS — Personal achievement was the rule of the day for the Pipestone Area Schools’ track and field teams Saturday at the Big South Conference small school meet. Senior Davina Darveaux established another school record in the javelin on the girls’ side while male sprinter Americ Suvandy keyed the Arrow boys to success. The top-three teams or athletes earned all-Big South Conference distinction. The Big South splits its meets by class enrollment, with the large school competition set for Tuesday, May 21, at Bob Bonk Track in Fairmont. “Americ had one of his best days with a personal-best in...
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Editor’s Note: At the Section 3A True Team meet, every athlete scored points for his or her team. We will be listing the placements for only the top-10 due to space constraints. Thank you for understanding. INFORMATION TRACK AND FIELD TEAM SCORES Tuesday, May 7 Section 3A True Team At Luverne Boys 1, Luverne, 722; 2, Windom Area, 584; 3, Redwood Valley, 575.5; 4, Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton, 567; 5, Hills-Beaver Creek, 541.5; 6, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda, 514.5; 7, Murray County Central, 480; 8, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, 431; 9, Lakeview, Cottonwood, 429.5; 10, Canby/Minneota, 313; 11, Pipestone Area, 276.5; 12, Westbrook/Walnut Grove, 181.5; 13,...
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INFORMATION SCOREBOARD Monday, May 6 Baseball Edgerton/SW Minnesota Christian 14, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 4 (6) Luverne 4, Pipestone Area 0 Softball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 10, Yellow Medicine East 0 Tuesday, May 7 Baseball Windom 11, Pipestone Area 10 Dawson-Boyd 6, Edgerton/SW Minnesota Christian 0 Softball Game One: Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 6, Pipestone Area 1 Game Two: Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 8, Pipestone Area 0 Edgerton/SW Minnesota Christian 8, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 2 Thursday, May 9 Baseball Red Rock Central/Westbrook/Walnut Grove 6, Edgerton/SW Minnesota Christian 5 Adrian-Ellsworth 4, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3 Softball Game One: Pipestone Area 15, St. James Area 0 (4) Game Two: Pipestone Area 12, St. James...
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BLUE EARTH — The Pipestone Area Schools baseball team wrapped up a tough week salvaging a split at Blue Earth Area on Saturday. The Arrows (8-8) claimed the first game, 6-2, but dropped the second, 7-1. PAS didn’t commit a single error in the doubleheader, much to the delight of head coach Ryan Koopman. “The fielding was impressive,” Koopman noted. “Zero errors over 14 innings should lead to wins. Unfortunately, we stranded a lot of hitters on base in game two.” Riley Bosma, Weston Reinhard and Trevor Chaulsett all recorded two hits in the first game. Jackson Melcher, Reinhard and...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) sixth grade teacher Todd Tinklenberg plans to retire at the end of the school year, bringing an end to a teaching career that spanned over 33 years, all of it in Pipestone. The Woodstock native didn’t always know he wanted to be a teacher. He went to college for a year and a half after graduating from Southwest Christian in Edgerton, but wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, so he ended up working in construction with his father, Darrel. In 1985, former PAS Athletic Director Bob Nangle asked if he would coach ninth grade basketball....
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CLARA CITY — Pipestone Area Schools senior Lucas Zupp earned a win at No. 1 singles as the Arrows earned a 3-all tie at MACCRAY last Thursday. Zupp defeated Matt Wadsworth, 6-4, 6-1. Junior Makhi Winter also was victorious for the Arrows, downing Andy Osario, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 2 singles. Freshman Avery Gutierrez and seventh-grader Joel Cardenas won for PAS at No. 2 doubles. This past weekend, PAS traveled to Benson for a triangular against Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg and Lac qui Parle Valley. Benson/KMS blanked the Arrows, 7-0, while Lac qui Parle Valley handled the hometown squad, 6-1, What’s Ahead? PAS...
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When playing the very best competition, an athlete or team is bound to improve. That was the lesson learned for the Pipestone Area Schools softball program last week, in which the Arrows split four games. Class 2A state-ranked Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial swept PAS on Tuesday by scores of 6-1 in the first game and 8-0 in the second. “We lost two games, but we got better,” PAS head coach Robert Petersen said. “We hit the ball right at them. But, I think we were able to stick with them. They are an experienced ballclub.” On Thursday, PAS rebounded to sweep...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ sophomore Vivian Brockberg earned medalist honors during a triangular on Thursday. Brockberg carded 41 — her best-ever effort for a nine-hole meet — as players took advantage of the prevailing weather. Temperatures were in the 60s, and winds were less than 15 mph. “Both girls played well, I thought,” PAS head coach Grant Everson said. “We finally had a nice day with limited wind.” Paraphrasing Everson, Brockberg is striking the ball well off the tee — it’s a matter of reducing her number of strokes on the green. “We just need to clean up a few things...
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Oxford’s english dictionary defines philanthropy as “the desire to promote the welfare of others.” No one lived that more than the late Joe Douty, who died unexpectedly on Sept. 3, 2023, aged 47 years young. Douty’s zest for life was celebrated during a Big South Conference softball game between rivals Pipestone and Luverne on Monday, April 29, at Paulsen Field. The scoreboard was dedicated in Douty’s honor, with his son, Greyden, throwing out the first pitch and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” was played over the public address system. For video from the event, consult the Pipestone County Star’s...
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The Edgerton/SW Minnesota Christian softball team employed a different strategy to beat Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in Tyler on Tuesday, May 7. After the Knights’ Laken Baartman slugged a first-inning home run, E-SWC head coach Andrew Fleischman intentionally walked her in two successive plate appearances. Then the Dutch rallied to beat R-T-R, sparked by a pair of Alyda Vande Griend doubles and a screaming home run from Reagan Walhof in the fourth inning. R-T-R head coach Darren Baartman elected to intentionally load the bases in the seventh. Edgerton/SWC’s Myah Vander Maten made Baartman pay dearly for the move, with a bases-clearing double —...
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Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton squared off on back-to-back days in baseball and softball, respectively, last week. Dutch hitter Josh Groen doubled on a line drive to in front of R-T-R’s Eli Determan to score Nathan Hoekman, who was hit by a pitch to open up the sixth inning. That Hoekman run induced the state-mandated mercy rule, propelling the Dutch to their 10th win of the season, 14-4, over the Knights in Edgerton on Monday, May 6. Edgerton/SWC simply had too much firepower for R-T-R, scoring multiple runs in the first, third, fourth and fifth frames. Groen had a spectacular...
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ST. LOUIS PARK — The Guillotine amateur wrestling website has named Pipestone Area Schools’ seniors Brayden Burmeister and Jackson Melcher as academic all-state selections. Thirty student-athletes were named to the first team and 62 were honorably mentioned, including Melcher. The list features 156 wrestlers in all representing 73 high school squads across the state of Minnesota. “Brayden is the first Arrow wrestler named to the first team academic all-state by the Guillotine,” PAS head wrestling coach Brian Bos said in a post on the Pipestone County Star Facebook page. All first-team honorees placed fourth or better at the Minnesota State...
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INFORMATION Schedule Thursday, May 16 Baseball 4:30 p.m., Murray County Central at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Ruthton 4:30 p.m., Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda at Edgerton/SW Minnesota Christian, Edgerton 5:30 p.m., Pipestone Area at Marshall, American Legion Field, Marshall Boys and Girls Golf 4:15 p.m., Windom Area and Russell-Tyler Ruthton (boys only) at Pipestone Area, Pipestone Country Club 4:15 p.m., SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Murray County Central, Slayton (boys only) Boys and Girls Track and Field Noon, Elkton/Lake Benton at Dakota Valley Conference meet, Estelline, S.D. 4:15 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton at Red Rock Conference Relays, Mountain Lake Area High School Softball 4 p.m.,...
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MARSHALL — Paris Van Dyke, a native of Luverne who played softball for Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian, just wrapped up her freshman season at Southwest Minnesota State University. Van Dyke was named to the 2024 All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference defensive team, as reported in a SMSU press release from Tuesday, April 30. For the Mustangs, Van Dyke recorded a quite precise .997 fielding percentage while starting 43 games at first base. That was the top fielding percentage this year for SMSU. She finished with 305 putouts, six assists and just one error overall. She helped turn 13 double plays and had...
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Pipestone A’s head coach Avery Ploeger said the way the team won its season-opener versus Minneota was a boost of confidence. Three A’s pitchers combined to allow one run, and they scored five runs in the ninth inning to beat the Mudhens, 6-1, on Saturday, May 4. The A’s will have their Gopher League opener at 2 p.m. Sunday in Heron Lake. “It’s good to open up at Heron Lake,” Ploeger said. “We’ve gone there in years past.” Ploeger hopes the A’s can earn a win — especially noting the schedule gets much tougher quickly, including the home opener versus...
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The first filing period for candidates in the Nov. 5, 2024 election opens Tuesday, May 21 and ends on Tuesday, June 4 at 5 p.m. This filing period is for federal, state, county and city of Pipestone offices. There is a second candidate filing period for all other cities, townships that hold elections in November and school districts in the county, which will open Tuesday, July 30 and end Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 5 p.m. All candidates must be eligible to vote in Minnesota, must have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election, must be...
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At the Pipestone County Star, we regularly discuss potential news stories and how to report on them. Based on some recent newsroom discussions, I would like to take the time to explain a little bit about what we do and how we do it. One recent topic of discussion was the public hearings that have been held regarding the proposed Magellan pipeline reroute project. Four public hearings have been held about the proposed project over the course of two months. The hearings lasted around seven hours altogether and included comments from around 50 people. The vast majority of those who...
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By Klint W. Willert, PAS Superintendent of Schools Now that we are into the heart of May, it brings with it the scents of freshly tilled fields, cut grass, and blooming lilac bushes. May also brings the excitement of high school graduation. On May 26, Pipestone Area Schools will celebrate the class of 2024. For many of these soon-to-be graduates, this marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another filled with endless possibilities and opportunities. As we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, it’s essential to provide them with guidance and support as they navigate their future...
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Minnesota’s new state flag and seal took effect on Saturday, May 11, which is Statehood Day, commemorating the day Minnesota was admitted to the Union on May 11, 1858. On Tuesday, May 7, Anita Gaul, vice chair of the State Emblems Redesign Commission (SERC) and a history professor at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, spoke about the process used to adopt the new flag and seal at the Pipestone County Museum. About a dozen people attended the presentation. The reasons Gaul said the Minnesota Legislature established the SERC in 2023 to adopt a new design for the state flag...
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Just weeks before receiving their diplomas and stepping out into adulthood, Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) seniors received a dose of reality on Thursday morning, May 2. The Reality Check event was first held at PAS last year. Like a large-scale version of “The Game of Life,” the event gives students a taste of what it’s like to have a family, earn a living and pay bills. To start out, students played games to determine their marital status and whether they had children. They were then assigned a job and visited 13 tables around the library where they simulated life decisions...
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The Cargill grain elevator south of Pipestone on state Highway 23 is among several that will be sold to CHS. According to a statement from CHS, the company has signed an intent to purchase agreement for eight grain assets in five states from Cargill. In addition to the facility south of Pipestone, the others included in the sale are in Maynard, Minn.; Morris and Seneca, Ill.; Holdrege, Neb.; Cheyenne Wells and Byers, Colo.; and Parker, S.D. The purchase is tentatively planned to close in early June. “Purchasing these assets allows us to increase the speed and space of our grain...
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The farm of Bill and Jody Brockberg is one of 97 farms across the state that has been recognized as a Century Farm by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau in 2024. At a total of 160 acres, the operation is located around two miles east of Trosky, although it has a Jasper address. In 1924, Bill’s grandfather, Frank Brockberg, and his wife Louise, bought the farm. According to Brockberg’s application for Century Farm recognition, the young newlywed couple produced products and crops that were typical of the day including cream, beef, pigs, chickens, eggs and ducks....
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INFORMATION TRACK AND FIELD HONOR ROLL Tuesday, April 30 At Robert “Bob” Nangle Relays Paulsen Field Pipestone Area Boys 100-meter dash: 4, Americ Suvandy, 12.11 3,200-meter dash: 6, Kaden Mastbergen, 13:11.40 300-meter hurdles: 6, Jackson Post, 51.09 4x100-meter relay: 4, Arrows (Suvandy, Trevin DeWilde, Bentley Pater and Cayden Zephier), 47.21 4x200-meter relay: 4, Arrows (Suvandy, DeWilde, Pater and Zephier), 1:38.73 4x800-meter relay: 7, Arrows (Connor Wagner, Mastbergen, Kristofer Eischens and Carter Westendorf), 10:44.86 Discus: 4, Logan Cordell, 127-6 Pole vault: 3, Kristofer Eischens, 8-6 Girls 100-meter dash: 1, Aurora Winsel, 13.71 200-meter dash: 1, Winsel, 27.89 400-meter run: 1, Taylor...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ Todd Tinklenberg was honored during last week’s Robert “Bob” Nangle Relays. Public address announcer Mark Zinnel read off a list of Tinklenberg’s impressive accomplishments. And longtime assistant coach Todd Texley presented Tinklenberg with a wooden plaque to commemorate the occasion. The pair then exchanged a hug, and he received a standing ovation from hearty track and field fans who braved wet conditions at Paulsen Field. “It was a nice honor to be recognized for all the hard work over the years,” Tinklenberg said. Tinklenberg said “staying loyal to a program” means so much to him, and that’s...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ girls track and field team had its strongest performance of the season during the Robert “Bob” Nangle Relays. The Arrows recorded a third-place finish with 72 points as Aurora Winsel and Taylor Post had gold-medal efforts in the sprints. What’s more, PAS scored points in three out of four relays and Cassidy Carson and Davina Darveaux came through in the field events. Twice last week, Darveaux established new school record benchmarks in the pole vault. She sprang to 7-feet, 9-inches at the Nangle Relays, and bested that by three inches (8-0) two days later at the...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) students will present the play “Faith County” on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12. The play is centered on the Faith County Fair. Director Sylvia Newell said there will be a live chicken and rabbit on the stage to help create the fair atmosphere. She described the play as a comedy and said it includes a wedding, a death and southern accents. Neither Newell nor Activities Director Rick Zollner knew when the school last had a spring play, but they indicated that it had been several years. Newell, a community theater veteran, including with the...
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WORTHINGTON — The Pipestone Area Schools boys golf program handled brutal conditions well enough for a second-place finish at the Worthington Invitational Saturday. The Arrows accumulated 362 strokes as a team, which was 15 strokes more than host Worthington. Lac qui Parle Valley rounded out the top-three schools with a 365, and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton scored 405 for eighth position. “Obviously, the weather had a significant influence on our scores,” PAS head coach Craig Boeddeker noted. Boeddeker was inclined to say the cold temperatures — which barely topped the low 40s — and gusty winds added several strokes to every players’ scores....
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The Pipestone Area Schools baseball program finally put some demons to bed during an 11-6 victory over Luverne in Big South Conference action Monday, April 15. Nohel Vivanco pitched well enough for the win and the triumvirate of Landon Quist, Weston Reinhard and Xavier Banjoko all scattered two hits as the Arrows generated 12 of them in an 11-6 conquest over the Cardinals at Westview Park. “Since 2017, it was PAS 0-16, being outscored 130-40 and eliminated three times from the playoffs by Luverne,” PAS head coach Ryan Koopman noted. “We beat a great team, easily the best win in...
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The Pipestone Area Schools boys tennis team competed in three matches last week, including a Big South Conference contest on Thursday versus Worthington. The Trojans downed the Arrows, 6-1. Keep in mind per the Minnesota State High School League format for tennis, teams are not allowed to repeat players so those with more depth typically fare better. On Saturday, Yellow Medicine East downed PAS 6-1, then Montevideo blanked the Arrows, 7-0. Courtside The Arrows have three matches this week, including two at home versus Fairmont on Tuesday and Blue Earth Area Friday, with a trip to Redwood Valley sandwiched in...
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Pipestone Area Schools student Evan Gawerecki and his brother, Seth Gawerecki, a PAS graduate, shared time together at the Dakota State University spring football game at Trojan Field in Madison, S.D., on Saturday, April 13. Former Arrows Cole Paulson (a linebacker, not photographed) and Seth Gawerecki, an offensive lineman, both saw playing time in the game as the Trojans continued preparations for the 2024 season. Dakota State opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 29, versus Dakota Wesleyan in a traveling trophy game. College spotlights will return in The Star in the Thursday, May 2, edition.
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Lush music and bicycling can have a strange yet symbiotic relationship. While watching the 1979 cycling movie, “Breaking Away,” there’s a breathtaking soundtrack featuring Felix Mendelssohn and Giachino Rossini. Dave Stohler (played by Dennis Christopher), the lead character in “Breaking Away,” is obsessed with cycling — mainly the Italian team because he won a Masi-brand bicycle. Stohler serenades his girlfriend, Katherine, by singing the Friedrich von Flotow area “M’Appari Tutt’Amor,” with his friend Cyril (played by Daniel Stern) accompanying on guitar. That piece also has been covered by operatic masters such as Luciano Pavrotti and Placido Domingo. Life imitates art...
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The graduation rate at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) dropped from 84 percent in 2022 to 80.8 percent in 2023. That’s according to information released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) at the end of March. According to MDE, 63 PAS students graduated in 2023, nine dropped out, five were continuing to work toward their diplomas and the status of one was unknown, which means they were either incorrectly reported or were not reported as enrolled elsewhere, according to MDE. At Russell Tyler Ruthton (RTR) Public Schools, the graduation rate improved from 90 percent in 2022 and 90.5 percent in...
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Fifty-seven senior citizens representing 42 households visited the Pipestone County Food Shelf Friday, April 12 during its inaugural senior day. Food Shelf President Roger Raschke said the number of seniors exceeded his expectations. Of those served on senior day, over half of the households had never been registered at the food shelf before and 34 had not been there yet this year. It was also more seniors than typically utilize the food shelf in a given week. For example, 104 seniors had utilized the food shelf during the entire first quarter of this year. Food Shelf Communications and Marketing Chair...
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Four Pipestone Area Schools sports will be in competition Saturday, with three events scheduled at home. All of these events will be conducted, weather permitting. The PAS boys and girls track teams will serve as host for the 49th Annual Pipestone Relays at Paulsen Field. The Arrows will welcome Adrian-Ellsworth, Hills-Beaver Creek, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda, Morris Area, Murray County Central, Pillager, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton for a meet scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. The PAS baseball team is scheduled to play Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, with the varsity game set for noon at Westview Park. The Arrows boys tennis squad will...
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EDGERTON — The City of Edgerton is seeking lifeguards and water safety instructors for the upcoming summer pool season. Applications are available at Edgerton City Hall; the physical address is 801 First Avenue West. They must be returned by Friday, May 10. Interested applicants must be at least 15 years old to be a lifeguard, and 16 to teach American Red Cross-certified swim lessons. Classes are offered this spring for American Red Cross training in both Luverne and Sioux Falls, S.D. Training expenses will be reimbursed. For information, call the city office at 1-507-442-7891.
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Voters in the Edgerton Public School District approved .3 million in building projects on April 9. About 69 percent of voters voted yes to the first question, with an unofficial vote total of 424 voting for it and 187 voting against it. That authorizes the school district “to issue general obligation school building bonds in an amount not to exceed ,500,000 for acquisition and betterment of school sites and facilities including, but not limited to, replacement, upgrades and improvements to restrooms, early childhood classrooms, gymnasium, locker rooms, bathrooms and weight room area, relocation of the maintenance/vehicle storage building, demolition of...
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INFORMATION SPEECH Saturday, April 13 Team Scores At Redwood Falls Redwood Valley High School Team Sweepstakes 1, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 55; 2, River Valley, 38; 3, Murray County Central, 37; 4, Jackson County Central, 22; 5, Minneota, 20 Individual Results Local (Listed By Event) Creative Expression: 1, Joe Dagel, RTR; 6, Zoey Williams, RTR Discussion: 4, Xander Glynn, RTR Dramatic Interpretation: 1, Addison Bedow, RTR Duo Interpretation: 2, Brianna Pattison/Natalie Nielsen, RTR; 3, Aiden McChesney and Joe Devries, RTR Extemporaneous Reading: 4, Jael Lopez Garcia, Edgerton; 5, Gwendolyn Serreyn, RTR Extemporaneous Speaking: 1, Noah Gearhart, PAS; 2, Isaiah Sandy, PAS Great Speeches:...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ freshman athlete Kaysa Douty is used to the spotlight. Douty smacked what proved to be a game-winning double, scoring Sienna Rieck, as the Arrows salvaged a Big South Conference split against a rapidly-improving squad from Marshall. “She kept her composure,” said PAS head coach Robert Petersen. “She’s been in high-pressure situations before at state tournaments in softball and gymnastics.” The Tigers exploded for seven first-inning runs in Game One en route to a 9-1 victory while PAS took Game Two, 3-2. This marked the second split of the season for PAS, who also did the same against...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ boys golfers held their own on Tuesday, April 9, winning a quadrangular over Canby by two precious strokes. “We had an 8 to 10-stroke lead, and it came down to the end,” PAS head coach Craig Boeddeker noted. The Arrows finished with a composite score of 169, while Canby fired a 171. Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton combined to shoot 183 and Murray County Central finished far behind (200). Among individuals, Canby junior Jack Abrahamson was the overall medalist with a 37 — while PAS senior Will DeBates carded a 40 for second in a tie with senior Jared...
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REDWOOD FALLS — Speech students gathered in the rotunda at Redwood Valley High School around 1 p.m. Saturday. These students were anxiously awaiting to see who would make the Section 3A finals, and tournament officials then dramatically unfurled long white sheets of paper indicating those who attained such a standard. Cheers for the finalists were loud and boisterous. But, then came the difficult part. See, to qualify for the Minnesota State High School League speech tournament, contestants must place among the top three in those finals. There are eight different section events. In the end, 10 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, two Pipestone Area Schools...
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In a world where opportunities come and go, puppies scamper off to places unknown, and loved ones pass away, loss can mean so many things. And with each loss, comes a differing degree of grief. We all deal with grief differently—most of us without any help or training. One of the ways we can deal with grief is through social interaction. The library aims to provide the community with a variety of ways to socialize with like-minded peers. We host a vast array of groups and clubs that meet at regular intervals, including: three story times, Explorers Club for grades...
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TO THE EDITOR: Governor Walz has officially proclaimed April 2024 as volunteer month recognizing all the amazing volunteers across Minnesot. You can find the proclamation at his website at: https://mn.gov/governor/news/proclamations.jsp I personally would like to thank all the volunteers that serve in so very many ways throughout Pipestone County! Your contributions to the many areas within our county do not go unnoticed! You touch the lives of others in all your endeavors! And for that....Thank You! Sincerely, Jill Toering, ACE of SWMN Pipestone County program manager
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Simple words can brighten a day. My kids recently reminded me of this on two separate occasions. One occurred when I was dropping my daughter off at Girl Scouts. As we pulled up to the location, I asked her if she just wanted to go in or if she would like me to walk in with her. She said she wanted me to walk in with her because she liked my company. I told her I liked her company too and we strolled into Girl Scouts together. A few days after that, my son stopped at the house to pick...
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TO THE EDITOR: I agree with John Draper’s April 11 editorial on women in sports because my mother played varsity basketball for Rock Valley, Iowa high school in the late 1940’s. The experience of taking the bull by the horns to accomplish something is a good trait for learning to stand up for what is right in the world. Any trait can be used for good or bad, but it is our own responsibility to do good and what is right. A few years after she graduated from high school my Mom as a bank teller in Scottsdale, Ariz., stood...
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On a blustery and chilly Thursday, April 11, the Pipestone Area Schools’ boys tennis team opened the 2024 season with Milbank, S.D. And the Bulldogs proved they had too much firepower for the Arrows in a 6-1 victory. The lone PAS victory was at No. 1 doubles as senior Chase Wilson and junior Makhi Winter joined forces to beat Milbank senior Joe Schulte and junior Gregory Grabow by scores of 6-2, 6-4. “Chase and Makhi played well, picking up from last year’s individual sections,” PAS head coach James Skyberg said. Both Wilson and Winter were mainly singles players last year....
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LUVERNE — The Pipestone Area Schools boys’ and girls’ track and field teams posted plenty of silver-medal finishes at Luverne Invitational No. 2 on Tuesday, April 9. This marked the season-opening meet for the Arrow contingent. “The first meet is always a meet you look forward to,” PAS head coach Todd Tinklenberg said. “As coaches, we are excited to see the development of the athletes. The nice weather allowed them to perform at a higher level.” Gray skies broke up just before the meet began, and temperatures warmed to near 60 degrees as the girls placed fifth with 49.5 points...
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Tuesday, April 9 At Luverne Invitational No. 2 Cardinal Field SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton Results Boys 400-meter run: 5 Gabe Vis, 57.91 800-meter run: 3, Silas Van Essen, 2:13:01; 6, Jordan Uilk, 2:22.77 110-meter high hurdles: 6, Grant Busker, 18.92 300-meter intermediate hurdles: 2, Busker, 43.76 4x400-meter relay: 6, (Ryan Pap, Van Essen, Eli Van Iperen and Aidan Schaap), 4:06.86 4x800-meter relay: 8, (Pap, Van Essen, Van Iperen and Uilk), 9:11.72 High jump: 1, Busker, 6-foot-2 Long jump: 1, Schaap, 19-5 Triple jump: 1, Schaap, 42-9 1/2 Girls 100-meter dash: 5, Avery Fey, 14.07 800-meter run: 4, Lydia Talsma, 2:43.92 100-meter...
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This past Saturday morning, a 25-yard pistol range sat desolate as the breeze kicked up on Highway 6 northeast of Pipestone. That facility will soon be the hub of activity. The Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club range (Highway 6/1480 131st Street) will be opening on Saturday, May 4. But, first the organization will conduct its second annual fundraiser banquet this Saturday at the Pipestone National Guard Armory (421 Second Avenue SW). “When we started, we were eight guys in a room,” Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club president Troy Budden said. “We asked ourselves ‘What can we do to leave a legacy?’ “It’s been a...
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The Pipestone Area Schools baseball team spent plenty of time last week sharpening their fielding skills. All that work helped during last Friday’s non-league game versus Adrian-Ellsworth as the Arrows didn’t commit a single error in a 5-0 victory over the Dragons at Westview Park. “Zero errors is what you strive for every single game,” PAS head coach Ryan Koopman said. “To say we spent a lot of time on fielding would be a massive understatement.” Playing sound defense is “conducive to winning,” Koopman added. It was a far cry from the Arrows’ opening-day performance against Russell-Tyler-Ruthton when the group...
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ST. CLOUD — Multi-time state wrestling champion Hudson Burnett made it official on Wednesday, April 10, signing with St. Cloud State University. Pipestone Area Schools coaches, family and fellow wrestlers were present in activities director Rick Zollner’s classroom as Burnett put pen to paper joining the NCAA Division II school based in central Minnesota. “The selection process was exciting, but difficult,” Burnett said. “A lot of college coaches thought I would automatically go to Augustana, where my brother Hunter went.” Burnett said his recruitment was mainly “word of mouth” plus his participation in several other tournaments geared toward the college-placement...
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SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Sioux City Relays are one of the most storied events in the region, a celebration of track and field with athletes from seventh grade through college competing. The meet is conducted annually at Olsen Stadium, with Morningside University serving as the host. Dordt University’s Micah Schaap, a former Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton standout, took the gold medal in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 45-feet, 6 1/4-inches (or 13.87 meters). The mark was the 26th-best in all of NAIA during the spring 2024 season. Schaap’s best leap overall has been 46-10 3/4 (14.29m). Morningside’s...
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Ruston and Lucy Aaker recently opened Pipestone Massage & Wellness at 111 W. Main Street, unit 3. The couple and their three children, two boys and one girl ranging in age from 1 to 7, moved to Pipestone from the Twin Cities in September because Ruston is from Luverne and still has family there. They said they wanted their kids to be near their grandparents and they wanted a slower pace of life. They looked for housing in the area and ended up finding a home in Pipestone. “We went where we found housing that suited our family and had...
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The Pipestone City Council during their April 1 meeting voted to send a letter to the Minnesota Department of Commerce expressing opposition to two pipeline routes proposed by Magellan Pipeline Company. The route Magellan proposed in its route permit application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on April 10, 2023 would put the pipeline right between New Woodlawn Cemetery and Old Woodlawn Cemetery, which Mayor Dan Delaney said during a special April 1 meeting “is unacceptable.” “If there ever was a failure in that pipeline we could have contamination in our cemetery, and plus we would be bottlenecked where we...
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Pipestone Area Schools sophomore Matt DeBates is set to lead the Arrows boys golf contingent for the 2023-24 season. The season began officially on Tuesday with a home quadrangular also featuring Southwest Minnesota Christian/Edgerton, Canby and Murray County Central at Pipestone Country Club. PAS head coach Craig Boeddeker has penned in DeBates as the No. 1 golfer. The following golfers also are expected to form the Arrows’ top-five list: Max Taubert, Jackson Morgan, Will DeBates and Brayden Burmeister, with the last three all seniors. Boeddeker reported two more players could crack the list as promising newcomers, Toryn Schroyer and Gavyn...
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INFORMATION BOWLING At Bole-Mor Lanes, Pipestone Lynnette’s Ladies Team Standings Team W-L Stay In Your Lane 33-19 Sister Chicks 30-22 Helping Farmers 29-23 High Kickers 29-23 Farmer Trucking LLC 28-24 American Legion 26-26 Wendy’s Flowers 24-28 Farm Wives 23-29 The Bowling Stones 19-33 JBS 19-33 High game: Heather Jessen (Wendy’s Flowers) 257, Ashley VanderLinden (Wendy’s Flowers) 200, Shelly Hennager (Stay In Your Lane) 190. High series: Heather...
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Future University of Northwestern jumper Naomi Wallace and distance runner Taylor Post are among the returning letterwinners who will impact the Pipestone Area Schools girls track and field team in 2024. Wallace and Post will be joined by state qualifier Aurora Winsel and Davina Darveaux, fresh from gymnastics, as the Arrows top-flight sprinters. Darveaux also will jump for PAS. Gianna Basche, Elizabeth Sanchez, Alyvia Caskey and Amelia Bucher will form the group of middle to long distance runners. Cassi Carson, Ella Austin, Kaitlyn Goelz and Hayden Gorter will attempt to provide points in the throwing events. “We can fill pieces...
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Thirteen letterwinners are back, giving the Pipestone Area School boys track and field team experience. “We have good leaders in our upperclassmen,” PAS head boys track and field coach Todd Tinklenberg said. “We have some good athletes returning that performed well in sections last year, and just missed going to state. They are determined to improve and reach that goal of making it to state.” Tinklenberg said the Arrows will field competitive sprint relay groups, and that hurdles and jumps also will be strengths. But, PAS will have a vastly different look without two graduated stars from the 2023 group...
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The sound of hammering and saws filled a shop at Minnesota West Community and Technical College on a recent Thursday morning. The sounds didn’t come from college students, but a group of Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) students. The students were building a shed and, as they did so, they were applying math skills they’d learned as part of a new class at PAS called Geometry in Construction (GIC). Several high school teachers from PAS, the surrounding area and even other states participated in a GIC workshop at Minnesota West in June of 2022 to learn how to combine geometry and...
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LAMBERTON — The Red Rock Conference and success went hand in hand for both boys and girls basketball teams during the 2023-24 campaign. The conference recently recognized athletes in both boys and girls basketball, and also released its academic all-league list as well. To be placed on the academic all-conference squad, league secretary Bryce Pack reported a student-athlete needed a grade-point average of at least 3.6 at the time the honor was announced. In boys basketball, both Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey reached the Minnesota State High School League Class A state tournament. R-T-R defeated MLA-C for the second time...
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RUTHTON — The playing of the national anthem was a muffled experience for listeners, and dirt kicked up at the slighest provocation. You guessed it, the weather was windy this past Saturday as Pipestone Area Schools met Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in non-league baseball — with gusts reported as high as 53 mph. In the end, the Knights handled the blustery conditions far better than the Arrows in a 9-6 victory. While PAS committed seven errors overall, R-T-R had just one. The Knights also turned five double plays, including a couple of base running snafus. “We had way too many errors,” PAS head...
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BOSTON — The Boston Bruins’ National Hockey League team announced on Tuesday morning they signed Magnolia native Jaxon Nelson to a contract. This is a one-year, entry-level contract with an 0,000 cap hit. Nelson, 24, will report to the Providence (R.I.) Bruins, Boston’s American Hockey League affiliate, on what’s called an ATO. An ATO is an amateur tryout contract, which is for players leaving college in an attempt to turn professional, are done with university-level play and/or graduating from the junior leagues. “Jaxon is a big, right shot, two-way center with leadership qualities as captain of a very successful collegiate...
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EDGERTON — The Minnesota State High School League has honored Edgerton Public School student Blake Schultz as an ExCEL Award winner. According to MSHSL guidelines, each league member may nominate one girl and one boy for the honor per school year, and the criteria to receive it is rather demanding. Students, such as Schultz, must be a junior in high school, making satisfactory progress toward graduation, participate in either arts or athletics, hold a leadership position and volunteer in the community. ExCEL recipients were selected by an independent panel of judges, and Schultz discovered he made the list on Feb....
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The Pipestone A’s summer amateur baseball team has announced the field and schedule for the forthcoming Fourth Annual Pepsi Invitational. The event will run from June 7-9 at A’s Field in Westview Park. Teams have been placed into two pools. Pool A features Pipestone, the Brookings Cubs of South Dakota and Wabasso Jaxx. Pool B will be composed of the Blue Earth Pirates, Fox Lake Foxes and Larchwood Diamonds from Iowa. Pipestone will play Brookings at 7 p.m. Friday, June 9 and Wabasso at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 10. The championship game is set for 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 11....
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ROCHESTER — Little Arrows wrestlers Liam Schroyer and Oliver Sterud both earned state championships at the Northlands Youth Wrestling Association state meet last weekend. The event was conducted at the Mayo Civic Center from Thursday-Sunday, April 4-7. “The Little Arrows sent 16 kids to the state tournament, and we had 30 wins and 24 losses,” coach Scott Sterud commented. “We had four place winners, and a few that just missed out. “All the boys showed tremendous effort, and it was so fun to watch all of them,” Sterud added. “If you work hard, good things happen.” Schroyer won his championship...
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I’ve been blessed with four daughters. All four of them have had opportunities to compete in women’s athletics at Pipestone Area Schools. One of them is now trying her hand at the college level. Their experiences have been wonderful. Whether win or lose, they gained much from the experience. Their experiences taught them lessons in how to lose and how to win. Their coaches taught them lessons that go beyond the court, the gym, the track or the field. In competition, my daughters have had some success and of course many failures. Competition is a good thing. I think it...
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The city of Pipestone is losing less water that it was a few years ago. According to information provided by Water/Wastewater Supervisor Joel Adelman, the city lost 63,347,750 gallons of water in 2018, meaning it was pumped out, but did not pass through commercial or residential meters. That’s 35 percent of the water that was pumped and an amount of water equivalent to 3,836.75 based on water rates at the time. That was the worst year, in terms of water loss for the city, since at least 2011. Adelman said broken water mains or other issues could have played a...
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In my last message, I shared the importance for school attendance. However, beyond school attendance, for our Pipestone Area School students to be as successful as they can be, we must also work together to establish and maintain high expectations for students in and out of school. We know that the school experiences play a pivotal role in shaping students’ futures. By working together and challenging students to excel academically, encouraging them to pursue extracurricular activities, and finding ways to support the social and emotional development of our youth, we can lay the foundation for lifelong achievement and success for...
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The Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board has decided to use bond proceeds to replace the roof on the middle and high school and overlay the track at Paulsen Field. Earlier plans included using the bond proceeds to install a turf field at Paulsen Field, build a new greenhouse, upgrade the family and consumer science area, and relocate the industrial technology classroom. Those plans were first thrown off when soil borings on the track made it look like it was at the end of its useful life. The roof then moved to the top of the priority list due to water...
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Pipestone Area School senior speech participant Chloe Olivier discussed a poem called “Things I Didn’t Know I Loved” by Nazim Hikmet, a Turkish author and playwright. Teammate Madison Purdin gave a dramatic interpretation of “The Witness” by Shannon Cartwright. Other Arrows discussed controversial topics, like Noah Gearhart’s extemporaneous speech on reproductive rights. Edgerton Public freshman Jael Lopez Garcia wowed everyone with her speeches on several subjects — ranging from foster care to drug addiction and methods of learning — en route to a gold medal. “I was really surprised,” Lopez Garcia said. “I was very excited. It’s a huge accomplishment...
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INFORMATION SPEECH Thursday, March 21 Big South Conference At Worthington Team Winners Large School Division: Marshall; Small School Division: Windom Individual Categories Champions Creative Expression: Zoey Tasseff, Fairmont Discussion: Isaac Kinser, Worthington Dramatic Interpretation: Lydia Weverka, Marshall Duo Interpretation: Grace Simpson and Oliver Thedens, Fairmont Extemporaneous Reading: Sophia Gaul, Marshall Extemporaneous Speaking: Dominick Lund-May; PAS student Noah Gearhart was second in this category Great Speeches: Abi Peyman, Fairmont Humorous Interpretation: Leon Yang, Fairmont Informative Speaking: Jessika Tunnissen, Luverne; PAS student Olyvia Weber was third Original Oratory: Alayna Haefner, Fairmont Poetry Reading: Maya Winsell, St. Peter; PAS student Chloe Olivier was...
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TYLER — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton boys basketball team played on the final day of the entire season for the third consecutive year. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the teamwork, sacrifice and dedication of seven senior Knights: Colby Frahm, Blake Christianson, Andrew Meyers, Benjamin Guida, Carson Gylling, Isaac Norgaard and Drew Werkman. Meyers transferred into Russell-Tyler-Ruthton from Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD) during his junior year. Six of them have been responsible for a historic run that hasn’t been seen since the late 1980s and 1990. This run of Knights’ success will be remembered for the 2023 Class A state...
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The Al Opland Singers are preparing for their spring show titled “Ways of Peace,” which is set to run one weekend only on April 4-7 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. Show times for April 4-6 are 7:30 p.m., and April 7 at 2 p.m. All seating is reserved and tickets are for adults and for students, and may be purchased at the PPAC box office Tuesday - Friday from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., on the center’s website or by calling the center at 507-825-2020. The show, which is being produced by Stephanie (Korver) Ford, of Hadley,...
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TO THE EDITOR: In my lifetime I have seen a huge shift in people’s opinion of God in most church denominations. In chapel in high school we had a different pastor from the area do the Thursday chapels. One old pastor took two turns because he had a heart for the youth. He told us that all our lives we had been taught that God is a God of wrath against sin and we are to approach him with fear and trembling. All denominations had fire and brimstone preachers. Then the old pastor told us a new concept. He said...
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Even if you are not a sports fan, by now hopefully you have still heard the name Caitlin Clark. If you have not heard of her name, you should know one thing. She is a senior for the University of Iowa women’s basketball team. In the last two years, she has undoubtedly changed the game of basketball and the state of women’s athletics. I would start naming awards and accolades for Clark, but I would likely miss something as there are so many. What has been the most evident to me is the rising attention she has drawn to women’s...
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A desire to keep a pipeline away from the pipestone and the area near the cemeteries northwest of Pipestone were two recurring themes during public information meetings held Tuesday, March 19 to take comments on a comparative environmental analysis (CEA) for the proposed Magellan pipeline reroute project. Around 50 people attended the afternoon meeting, which lasted about two hours, and about 25 people attended the evening meeting, which lasted about an hour. About 25 people commented or asked questions during the meetings, which were held by the Minnesota Department of Commerce at the Hiawatha Lodge in Pipestone. Among them was...
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Property valuation notices are expected to arrive in the mail this week in Pipestone County. The annual notices inform property owners of the estimated market value and taxable market value of their property. The estimated market value of a property represents what a property would sell for on the open market. This year’s estimates are based on sales from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023. The estimated market values should be within 90 to 105 percent of actual sale prices, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Pipestone County Assessor Christine McChesney said assessors do a mass appraisal for...
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In mid-February, Leah (Blom) Friese, a Pipestone County native now living in Sioux Falls, was added to the second annual SiouxFalls.Business online only news website’s “30 Under 30” list. According to the website, recipients of the honor are chosen from a pool of nominees who have showed “clear and early achievements and promise for future leadership, strong engagement in the community beyond their workplace and innovative passion projects.” Friese, who was nominated by a former classmate at Augustana University, said being added to the list was an unexpected honor. “It just feels like I don’t really even deserve to be...
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A controlled burn southwest of Ihlen on Monday, March 11 reignited on Tuesday, March 12 and spread beyond the intended area, illustrating the risks of burning in dry, windy conditions. Jasper Fire Chief Jeff Leslie said the Jasper Fire Department was conducting the controlled burn on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land owned by Ed Dock on Monday. The Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office had issued a burn ban before the fire was started, but the fire department chose to proceed with the burn at that time. Leslie said firefighters were on the scene for three or four hours on Monday and...
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Congratulations Vikings fans. Your team has landed one of the best running backs in the NFL. Aaron Jones has been my favorite player for years. When he gets on a roll, it seems like he can eat up big chunks of yards on every down. In his seven years in the league, he’s racked up 5,940 rushing yards, tallying over 1,000 yards three times, and averaging five yards per carry. He’s also been a great pass catcher out of the backfield and even lined up at wide receiver on occasion. Jones has been a leader on the field and in...
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MARSHALL — The tradition-rich Russell-Tyler-Ruthton boys’ basketball team achieved another benchmark during last Thursday’s Section 3A championship. For the second time in program history, the Knights have qualified for the Class A state tournament in three consecutive seasons. “It’s only happened one other time, 1988, 1989 and 1990,” R-T-R head coach Daren Gravley noted. “It is something special that rarely happens. We graduated eight seniors last year, four starters and two players that had prominent roles. “I’m very proud of our guys for buying into the changes we made (during the season), overcoming the challenges we faced, coming together as...
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TWIN CITIES — The Southwest Minnesota Christian girls’ basketball team achieved something that had only been done on seven previous occasions in school history. However, the Eagles dropped both games at the state Class A tournament, falling to eventual fourth-place team Underwood 64-52 at Maturi Pavilion on Thursday in the quarterfinals and then 61-45 to Mayer Lutheran in the consolation semifinals Friday at the Gangelhoff Center on the Concordia University campus. Mayer Lutheran eventually blasted Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, 70-38, in the consolation championship Saturday morning. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart knocked off Underwood, 66-49, for third. Goodhue, the No. 1 seeded team in the tournament,...
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INFORMATION SCOREBOARD Thursday, March 14 Girls Basketball State Tournament Class A Quarterfinal Maturi Pavilion University of Minnesota At Minneapolis Underwood 64, Southwest Minnesota Christian 52 Boys Basketball Section 3A Championship R/A Facility Southwest Minnesota State University At Marshall Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 67, Central Minnesota Christian 47 Friday, March 15 State Tournament Class A Consolation Gangelhoff Center Concordia University At St. Paul Mayer Lutheran 61, Southwest Minnesota Christian 45
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ softball and track and field teams began practices on Monday, March 11, which was the first allowable date for training per Minnesota State High School League guidelines. The softball team also participated in a scrimmage at the Packer Dome, part of the Wescott Athletic Complex, in Austin on Saturday, March 16. “It went well,” PAS softball coach Robert Petersen said in a text to the Pipestone County Star. “There’s always stuff to improve on, and it will be a process.” The Arrows squared off versus Winona and Owatonna during the event. They will open the season...
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The Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team has released its season schedule for 2024. The A’s will open the season on Saturday, May 4, at the Minneota Mudhens, with the first home game slated for Wednesday, May 22, versus the Milroy Irish at Westview Park. The club also has announced the 4th Annual Pepsi Invitational will take place the weekend of Friday-Sunday, June 7-9. A member of the Gopher League, the A’s final game will be on July 14 versus the Fox Lake Foxes at home. Avery Ploeger has been named the A’s manager, replacing Jordan Karels. Read the Thursday, March...
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The Pipestone Area Schools wrestling program reflected on yet another successful season during a closing awards presentation on Monday, March 11, in The Commons. The event featured a potluck dinner, to wit PAS head coach Brian Bos quipped about the spread like Clark Griswold in those National Lampoon’s movies. “If this tastes half as good as it looks,” Bos said, “then we’re in for a special treat.” And it was. The PAS coaching staff, Paul Young, Gary Haupert, Scott Sterud and Bos, presented awards to wrestlers from seventh through 12th grade. This year’s squad featured 36 members, and there was...
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INFORMATION SCHEDULE Wednesday, March 20 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities All Day, Classes A-4A, various locations Thursday, March 21 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities 11 a.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton vs. Cherry, Target Center, Minneapolis Speech All Day, Pipestone at Big South Showcase at Worthington High School Friday, March 22 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities All Day, Classes A-4A, various locations Saturday, March 23 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities All Day, Classes A-4A, various locations Speech 8 a.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Melrose Invitational 9:30 a.m., Pipestone Area Schools tournament Monday, March 25 Boys Tennis 3:30...
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Southwest Minnesota Christian Schools’ head girls basketball coach Luke Drooger picked up some hardware at the Section 3A South Tournament final. After the Eagles defeated hometown rival Edgerton, 82-56, in the Section 3A subsection championship game at Pipestone Area Schools, Drooger was honored as coach of the year. Loren Carlson presented Drooger with the award during the post-game awards ceremony. “Like I told the girls, it should be a team award,” Drooger said in an email to the Pipestone County Star, “because a head coach needs to have good players and a good coaching staff to win 28 gamers.” Drooger...
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Pipestone Area Schools’ head girls basketball coach Grant Everson handed out four major awards at the season-ending awards program on Tuesday at Dar’s Pizza. Headlining the honors, junior 5-foot-10 combination guard Jadyn Kor was named team’s most valuable player. Kor has enjoyed vast success in girls basketball, surpassing 1,000 points in a career during the Arrows’ season finale on Saturday, Feb. 24, an 81-61 loss to Windom in the Section 3A playoffs. “I like where she’s going as a player, and how our team is going,” Everson said during the awards presentation. PAS finished the season with a 5-20 record,...
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BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE ICE HOCKEY BOYS All-Conference Team Tyler Arends, Luverne; Elliot Domagala, Luverne; Patrick Kroski, Luverne; Owen Sundenga, Luverne; Drew Simonette, Minnesota River; Talan Plante, Marshall; Owen Renslow, Marshall; Bryer Lang, New Ulm; Kaden Larson, New Ulm; Austin Uecker, New Ulm; Brayden Hesch-Priem, Waseca; Griffin Storey, Waseca; and Sonny Heil, Windom Honorable Mention Blaik Bork, Luverne; Landyn Lais, Luverne; Riley Kamm, Minnesota River; Travis Kotek, Minnesota River; Bryer Hoffman, New Ulm; Hunter Anderson, Waseca; and Caden VanBriesen, Worthington Conference Standings 1, Luverne, 16-0 2, New Ulm, 14-2 3, Minnesota River, 11-5 4, Waseca, 10-6 5, Marshall, 9-7 6, Windom,...
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PARK CITY, Kan. — Former Pipestone Area Schools’ wrestler Hunter Burnett wrapped up his collegiate career at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Saturday at Hartman Arena. Augustana University (Sioux Falls, S.D.) competitor Burnett finished 2-3 at the event in the 141-pound weight group, which was good enough for an eighth-place finish. Khyvon Grace from West Liberty defeated Burnett on account of a medical forfeit in the bout for seventh. Burnett earned a sudden victory over Grace in the opening round of the event, so these contestants were evenly matched. Hunter also recorded an 11-6 decision over Corey Garnet...
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ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Former Southwest Minnesota Christian School girls basketball players Maren Nerem and Kenzie Snyder are currently part of the women’s program at Northwestern College. Nerem, a 5-foot-11 junior from Edgerton, wrapped up her junior season for the Red Raiders. She started 11 of Northwestern’s 31 games during the 2023-24 campaign. This past season, Nerem compiled 1,230 minutes played — posting averages of 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Maren dished off 30 assists, had 16 steals and blocked 10 shots. What’s more, she made 60-of-82 free throws (73.2 percent) and eight 3-pointers. Overall at Northwestern, Nerem...
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The most common concern brought up by those who attended the Pipestone County Highway Department’s annual road and bridge hearing on March 5 was a desire for dust control, specifically on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 17 south of state Highway 30. Pipestone County Highway Engineer Nick Bergman brought up the road first while giving an overview of projects planned for this year. He said the county was planning to add up to eight inches of gravel and install tile under the center of the road starting at Hwy. 30 and going 5.8 miles south toward Edgerton. Bergman said he’d...
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Gather up your detective gear gumshoes because the Calumet Players Children’s Theater will be presenting two mystery-themed productions Friday, March 22 - Sunday, March 24 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7 pm. and Sunday will feature a 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are for adults and for students and can be purchased at the arts center ticket office and at the door the night of the performance. Each production is set to last around an hour and a short intermission between the two will provide time for the first cast to...
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About 21 percent of the 5,118 registered voters in Pipestone County voted in the presidential nomination primary on March 5. That’s higher than the approximately 15 percent of registered voters who voted statewide, but down slightly from the 23 percent of Pipestone County registered voters who voted in the 2020 presidential primary. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, there were 5,092 registered voters in Pipestone County before the polls opened on March 5 and 26 people registered that day. An estimated 1,050 people voted in the primary. Of those, 731 voted by mail or with absentee ballots, and...
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MARSHALL — Rebounds and more rebounds. Southwest Minnesota Christian Schools’ junior 5-foot-11 post Jocelyn Barron had plenty of them. How does the number 21 sound to you, Eagles fans? Barron kept countless offensive possession alive — and also kept Minneota off the glass on the defensive end — as SWC handily defeated nemesis Minneota 58-38 in the Section 3A championship game Friday night at the R/A Facility on the Southwest Minnesota State University campus. “I had to try and finish no matter what,” Barron said exuberantly. “This means a lot. All my work in the gym has paid off.” Barron...
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Southwest Minnesota Christian nearly doubled up Edgerton Public on points in the opening half, rolling to a 50-26 intermission lead en route to a 26-point victory in the Section 3A South championship game at Pipestone Area Schools Gymnasium on Tuesday, March 5. Jocelyn Barron paced all scorers with 23 points, including nine field goals. Ana Veldkamp, Makenzie Pap and Madyson Fey contributed 16, 15, and 14 points, respectively. The Flying Dutch managed just 7-of-18 free throws (38.8 percent) while SWC totaled 26 free-throw attempts. Elliott Fleischman was Edgerton’s top scorer with 15 points, which included three 3-pointers. Alyda Vande Griend...
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Pipestone resident Brad Smidt shows off the grand prize he won from Lake Benton Sportsman’s Club raffle back on Saturday, Jan. 27. The grand prize was this 2023 model year Ice Castle Ice Rover. The ice house is 6.5-by-16 feet, and has amenities including a single axle frame, cedar interior, LED package, microwave, 20,000 BTU furnace and USB and 110-volt plug-ins.
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MARSHALL — The Russell-Tyler Ruthton boys basketball team is one step away from returning to defend its Class A state championship. The Knights overcame a sluggish start to defeat Hills-Beaver Creek 64-54 for the Section 3A South title on Saturday evening at the R/A Facility on the Southwest Minnesota State University campus. Elite basketball coaches make adjustments, and that’s exactly what R-T-R skipper Daren Gravley did with the team down 28-21 at intermission. “We defended their dribble hand-off and their ball screen (better),” Gravley noted in an email to the Pipestone County Star, “Specifically making sure our communication identified what...
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The Big South Conference has released the names of wrestlers who achieved all-league honors, and Pipestone Area Schools is well-represented on the list. Six Arrows achieved Big South honors by virtue of their performances at the conference meet, which was conducted on Friday, Feb. 2, at Jackson County Central High School. To earn all-league status, a wrestler had to place among the top-3 at the meet or be one of 14 at-large selections as voted on by the coaches. Four PAS athletes were conference champions, Miklo Hernandez (114), Brayden Burmeister (127), Hudson Burnett (139) and Jackson Melcher (189). Haden Mulvihill,...
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BISMARCK, N.D. — Former Pipestone Area Schools’ athlete Zoe Velde recently wrapped up her college basketball career for the University of Mary. Minnesota State defeated Mary, 89-74, in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship game on Tuesday, March 5, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Velde received two minutes of playing time. The Marauders earlier in the tournament defeated St. Cloud State, 75-61, and Minnesota-Duluth, 83-75. The 5-foot-10 guard played a season-high 23 minutes versus Wayne State (Neb.) on Jan. 13. Velde’s season-high point total occurred on Dec. 14, 2023, at Bemidji State, scoring six points. She finished...
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BROOKINGS, S.D. — The world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters basketball team will bring its unique gamesmanship to the region. The Globetrotters will face the Washington Generals at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, from the Dacotah Bank Center. There is a wide variety of ticketing options ranging from to 9 per ticket, the latter which includes a VIP experience, meet-and-greet session and merchandise. The game will be filled with fan engagement, skillful players, athleticism and slam dunks — lots of slam dunks — and 4-point shots. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and on the Dacotah Bank Center website. For information, log onto...
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The Pipestone Area Schools’ gymnastics team recalled a season of growth during an awards presentation on Tuesday, March 5, at Faith Community Church. PAS gymnastics head coach Stacie Wallace served as the master of ceremonies, and she presented letters to the athletes. “We have more potential to tap,” Wallace said of freshman Kaysa Douty, who earned a top-10 finish in the balance beam (9.1) at the Minnesota State High School League state meet at Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul on Saturday, Feb. 24. Wallace also gave plaudits to other gymnasts. “Vivian (Brockberg) has come around well, and scored double the...
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WINDOM — Pipestone Area Schools’ boys basketball player Tagon Woelber knocked down a 3-pointer along the right wing to give the Arrows a 19-12 lead with 11:35 remaining in the opening half. That’s when fortunes changed suddenly. Jackson County Central went on a 17-0 run during the next three-plus minutes — taking command of the proceedings — en route to a 94-80 victory over PAS. The Arrows finished the season with a 15-11 record, which marked a small improvement from the 2022-23 campaign. Still, PAS showed it still struggles against elite teams in the region, especially a JCC squad brimming...
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With such an uncharacteristically warm weather pattern as of late, it is easy to think spring is fully here and summer is just around the corner. As one who isn’t a cold weather enthusiast, I welcome this speedy move through winter and am hopeful that my snowblower stays put until next winter. It’s hard to find fault with the seemingly fast progression of seasons. However, as time already seems to go by faster than I can handle, this early dose of spring seems to enhance that sense of time, i.e. life, speeding by. It seems like we just recently started...
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The 18th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will take place on March 16, with the festivities beginning with a burger feed hosted by the Woodstock First Responders from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fire Hall. The parade starts at 1 p.m. on Main Street and anyone interested in entering a float should contact Staci’s Bar and Grill at 507-777-4136. Staci O’Hearn-Burmeister, the organizer of the parade and other events and the owner the bar, said following the parade there will be Mulligan Stew available for a free will donation at the bar and all proceeds will be donated...
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During the last legislative session, the State placed a great deal of emphasis on student success in reading and literacy. In an economy where so much of what we do requires the ability to read and think critically, the legislature passed and the Governor signed into law the Minnesota READ Act. The READ Act has created a mandate upon school districts related to curriculum, instruction and staff training on the Science of Reading. Over the last several months, many teachers in the Pipestone Area Schools have been trained in a program related to the science of reading called Language Essentials...
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Woodstock Communications has been awarded a [post_excerpt],612,932 broadband grant for a project that would provide fiber optic internet in the Hatfield area. The grant was among million in grants to expand broadband access to an estimated 8,900 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota that were announced on March 5. “We are excited for the grant area,” said Woodstock Communications General Manager Terry Nelson. He said the company planned to start the designing, engineering, and permitting processes this summer, and that construction could start in the spring of 2025. He plans to update the Pipestone County Commissioners on the project at...
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As long as there have been Pipestone County Extension Master Gardeners, Mary Stoel has been one of them. The University of Minnesota (U of M) Extension Master Gardener volunteer program started in 1977, according to the U of M. The Pipestone County Master Gardener program started 11 years later in 1988. “I was in that class,” Stoel said. Stoel said she was first a master gardener in Oklahoma. She was interested in the program because she’d gardened her entire life and, at the time, she worked in a locally owned feed store that sold plants, trees, shrubs, garden seeds and...
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Public information meetings are scheduled for March 19 and 20 regarding a permit request for a pipeline reroute project planned by Magellan. On Tuesday, March 19, there will be a meeting from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and another from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hiawatha Lodge in Pipestone. On Wednesday, March 20, there will be an online meeting from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. via Webex which people can also access by phone at 1-855-282-6330 with access code 2488 398 0430. According to the notice of the meetings, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, on behalf of the...
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Pipestone County Home Health and Hospice invited visitors to stop in and meet the staff, learn about the services and see the facility, including the results of a recent remodeling project, during an open house on Thursday, Feb. 29. The most significant updates during the remodel were to the kitchen, living room and nurse’s station. A wall was removed to expand the kitchen area, and new tile, cabinets and commercial appliances were installed. The living room updates include a new fireplace, coffee bar and furniture. Other updates in the facility included a new whirlpool tub, fresh paint, new lighting and...
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The Pipestone County Historical Society held its annual meeting on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Pipestone County Museum, where they discussed the organization 2023 highlights and future plans for 2024. Membership, programming and collections In 2023, PCHS served 7,674 in person patrons, 4,102 participants attended museum programming and their website received 3,776 visitors. According to the museum’s annual report. Last year, PCHS put on 134 educational programs. Almost half of their visitors, the report detailed, visited the museum during its planned programming. The largest number of educational services were provided to elementary students through museum tours, classroom visits by staff...
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The road to the Twin Cities begins tonight. The Minnesota State High School League boys basketball playoffs roll out a pair of games this evening in the Class 3A South bracket as No. 8 Edgerton Public plays host to ninth-seeded Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda while No. 7 Westbrook/Walnut Grove entertains Adrian-Ellsworth. Edgerton comes into the game with a 6-19 record while the Coyotes are 3-22. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Edgerton. This past Monday in Okabena, Edgerton defeated HLOF 48-43 as Michael Gunnink swished the go-ahead free throw in the closing seconds of a taut game. The Flying Dutchmen also...
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ST. PAUL — The Minnesota State High School League tournament committee has already announced first-round opponents for all wrestlers, and the first session is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Friday (Session No. 3). Hernandez has drawn Ryder Antony from Lake Crystal-Wellcome in what will be Bout No. 16. Burmeister will open with Carson Petry of Waterville/Elysian/Morristown/Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (Bout No. 28). Burnett will wrestle Blue Earth Area’s Cooper Peterson (Bout No. 44), and Melcher will square off versus Charlie Witzel of St. Agnes (Bout No. 82) — wrapping up championship round events. Section 3A champion Jackson County Central (20-3) will compete...
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INFORMATION SCHEDULE Thursday, Feb. 29 Boys Basketball Section 3A South 7 p.m., Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda at Edgerton 7 p.m., Adrian-Ellsworth at Westbrook/Walnut Grove, Westbrook Girls Basketball Section 3AA South At Worthington High School 6 p.m., Fairmont vs. Luverne 7:30 p.m., Windom Area vs. Jackson County Central Friday, March 1 Girls Basketball Section 3A South At Worthington 6 p.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian vs. Hills-Beaver Creek 7:30 p.m., Edgerton vs. Westbrook/Walnut Grove Friday, March 1 Wrestling At Xcel Energy Center St. Paul 9 a.m., Pipestone wrestles at individual tournament Saturday, March 2 Boys Basketball Section 3A South At Worthington High School 11 a.m.,...
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Lynnette’s Ladies: American Legion 17-11, Stay In Your Lane (Ludolph Bus) 16-12, Farmer Trucking LLC 15-13, Wendy’s Flowers 15-13, Pipestone Helping Farmers 15-13, JBS 13-15, Farm Wives of Pipestone County 13-15, The Bowling Stones (Stout & Evink) 12-16, High Kickers (Lee’s Tae Kwon Do) 12-16, Sister Chicks (Bee Hive Crafts) 12-16. High game: Julie Bauer (American Legion) 202, Sarah Johnson (Pipestone Helping Farmers) 189, Tami Miller (sub) 188. High series: Julie Bauer (American Legion) 498, Sarah Johnson (Pipestone Helping Farmers) 483, Ashley VanderLinden (Wendy’s Flowers) 482. High team game: American Legion 480, Wendy’s Flowers 451, Farmer Trucking LLC 441. High...
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TO THE EDITOR: We need to pray for America’s Freedom light to keep burning bright. Let us remember our servicemen and women, fire fighters, police officers, etc. that secure our liberty, and protect our values. They are true heroes to help keep America free, and at peace. Rick and I found Independence Day as a day of enjoying nostalgia. Adults and children were flying kites. This was enjoyable, and I forgot how much fun this was. We ate cold stone ice cream. The park was selling popcorn, hot dogs, cotton candy, etc. We walked over the trails where boys were...
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Did you know that pigs are highly intelligent animals? They learn quickly and are very social—much like your favorite pooch. In fact, pigs have been known to out-perform dogs on many tests and can even be house-broken. This Friday, Meinders Community Library will celebrate the reopening of our children’s space with the help of a pig. Join us for a special story time at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 1. Emily will read a story and visitors can pet a baby pig in honor of National Pig Day. Between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., we will also have pig crafts...
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As I sit down to write this week, a big ‘ole blank page stares back at me. In true Minnesota small talk fashion, the weather is the only thing that flashes like a neon sign in my brain. It is Tuesday afternoon and I usually try to write my column on Sunday when it is my week to share. My gracious and considerate co-workers even send me friendly reminders that it is my turn ahead of time in order to make sure that I close some tabs that are open in my brain and focus in on that due date....
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Just seven months after filling the position, Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) is once again in need of a middle and high school principal. The school board met for a special meeting on Friday, Feb. 23 and voted to approve the resignation of Todd Huisman, who was hired as the middle and high school principal in August. The school board did not discuss the matter during the special meeting and immediately adjourned the meeting after approving the resignation. The meeting lasted approximately one minute. Superintendent Klint Willert said after the meeting that school administration would be discussing a plan to fill...
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The number four is popular this week, especially for the Pipestone Area School wrestling team. This will mark the fourth time in PAS history the Arrows have qualified four competitors for the upcoming Minnesota State High School League meet, which is set for Friday and Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. “Four is a great number,” PAS head coach Brian Bos said. Back in 2017, the Arrows sent seven wrestlers to state, but this year’s qualifiers have outstanding resumes as well. “They are all capable of placing.” Miklo Hernandez, just an eighth-grader, headlines this year’s list. Hernandez...
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Conceive. Believe. Achieve. That mantra has been rooted in the success of the Pipestone Area School wrestling program since Brian Bos took over as head coach starting in 1996. “I’ve had it on the wall here (inside the PAS wrestling training room) for 28 years,” said Bos, noting some wrestlers have that message as a body tattoo. Bos was honored during the Section 3A meet with a brief ceremony before the championship round at PAS on Saturday afternoon. Public address announcer Tim Darveaux grabbed the spectators’ attention, with the recognition program put together by PAS activities director Rick Zollner. “It...
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Monday, Feb. 19 Boys Basketball Border Bash At Dell Rapids, S.D. St. Mary’s 74, Pipestone Area 68 Girls Basketball Westbrook/Walnut Grove 45, Edgerton 44 Hills-Beaver Creek 63, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 46 Southwest Minnesota Christian 69, Heron Lake-Okabena-Fulda 13 Tuesday, Feb. 20 Boys Basketball Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 84, Murray County Central 53 Hills-Beaver Creek 66, Southwest Minnesota Christian 38 Westbrook/Walnut Grove 65, Edgerton 51 Girls Basketball Southwest Minnesota Christian 74, Pipestone Area 54 Friday, Feb. 23 Boys Basketball Southwest Minnesota Christian 85, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 73 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 84, Edgerton 54 Saturday, Feb. 24 Boys Basketball Big South Crossover At Redwood Falls Pipestone Area 52, Marshall...
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ST. PAUL — Pipestone Area School freshman Kaysa Douty earned a top-10 finish in the balance beam during the Class A individual state gymnastics meet Saturday. Against the backdrop of Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Douty recorded a score of 9.10. One of the judges gave Douty a 9.20 while her lowest score was 9.05. PAS head coach Stacie Wallace was understandably pleased with Douty’s outcome. “Kaysa had a solid beam routine,” the coach commented. “She received credit for all of her connections. She nailed her tumbling series, her jump combinations and her dismount.” The balance beam is a gravity-defying event, with...
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WINDOM — Pipestone Area School sophomore Jadyn Kor surpassed 1,000 points for her career during an 81-61 loss in the opening round of the Section 3A playoffs at Windom Area School Saturday. Kor a 5-foot-10 combination guard, knifed through the lane using a nifty drop step, laid the ball off the glass, and the shot went in. The game was stopped for a brief moment with 9:31 remaining in the second half. “Scoring 1,000 points is a great milestone for anyone, but doing it as a sophomore is a really great accomplishment,” PAS head coach Grant Everson said. “It is...
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EDGERTON — The Southwest Minnesota Christian boys basketball team saw its lead trimmed to 79-73 at the 2:04 mark of the second half in Friday’s Red Rock Conference clash. That’s when the Eagle defense stiffened as senior combo guard Aidan Schaap swiped two of his team-best four steals. SWC also forced two jump balls, which of course gave it an additional possession Trevin Prins and Joshua Van Dam then put victory in the Eagles’ pocket by making six free throws as SWC defeated visiting Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey, who came into the game ranked eighth in Class A by a margin...
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DELL RAPIDS, S.D. — For the second straight game, the Pipestone Area School boys basketball team was in striking distance of a possible upset victory. However, the Arrows fell short of the mark again — this time falling to St. Mary’s in the “Border Bash” on Monday, Feb. 19, by a score of 74-68. Still, playing a team as talented as St. Mary’s should help make PAS battled tested for the playoffs ahead. “It is always great to play good competition,” PAS head coach Michael Slaba said regarding St. Mary’s. “They’re a very physical and talented team. It was great...
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WINDOM — Depth, rebounding and shooting are three essential components of basketball. And those three factors guided Windom Area past Pipestone Area, 81-61, in a Section 3A first-round game on Saturday evening. The Arrows were without forward/center Kenzley Pater, and sophomore forward Taryn Tuinstra eventually fouled out — depleting PAS roster and options. “I don’t think people realize how important Kenzley is to this team,” PAS head coach Grant Everson said of Pater, who was unavailable for the game due to an unspecified injury. Pater typically provides rebounding and defense — the grunt work. “We knew we needed a team...
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MANKATO — Former Pipestone Area School student Aubrea Kor is a freshman guard on the Bethany Lutheran College women’s basketball team. Standing 5-foot-8, Kor has produced a strong season for the Vikings. Kor had her best game of the 2023-24 season on Dec. 5, 2023, when she scored a career-best 26 points to go with nine rebounds versus Wartburg (Iowa). She’s currently averaging 27.1 minutes per game. What’s more, Aubrea posting averages of 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest for the Vikings as of Wednesday, Feb. 21. She has dished off 51 assists, made 24 3-pointers and shot 73.3...
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The Minnesota State High School League has drawn brackets for upcoming Section 3A North and South and Section 3AA North and South girls basketball tournaments. There are four first-round games this evening, including one with ramifications for Southwest Minnesota Christian. The Eagles will play the winner of tonight’s Section 3A South play-in game, either Tracy-Milroy-Balaton or Red Rock Central, at 11 a.m. Saturday at Worthington High School in the second round. SWC has drawn the No. 1 seed in the 3A South bracket, and Minneota is top seed in 3A North. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (13-13) will face Edgerton (16-9) at the same...
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INFORMATION SCHEDULE Friday, Feb. 23 Boys Basketball 7:30 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Edgerton 7:30 p.m., Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey at Southwest Minnesota Christian, Edgerton Saturday, Feb. 24 Boys Basketball Big South Crossover 9 a.m., Pipestone Area vs. Marshall, at Redwood Valley Girls Basketball Playoffs Section 3AA At Windom 7:30 p.m., Pipestone Area at Windom Area Section 3A South At Worthington 11 a.m., Southwest Minnesota Christian vs. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Red Rock Central victor 4 p.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton vs. Edgerton Wrestling 10 a.m., Individual sectional tournament, at Pipestone Area School gymnasium Speech All day, Pipestone Area at Redwood Valley Monday, Feb. 26 Boys Basketball 7:30 p.m., Edgerton...
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Pipestone Area School will serve as the site for the Section 3A individual wrestling tournament set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24. PAS athletic director Rick Zollner understands Pipestone is not an ideal, central location for these major events, so he appreciates it when the community can be an event host. “It’s a big deal,” Zollner said, boasting about PAS gymnasium as a top-flight facility for wrestling. According to meet information, all wrestlers will be preseeded using the trackwrestling.com website. Preseeding criteria will include — but not be limited to — head-to-head match-ups, common opponents and last year’s overall...
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SLAYTON — The Fulda/Murray County Central wrestling squad topped PAS in the team sectional tournament on Thursday by nearly the same exact score as the regular-season match. The Warriors downed the Arrows, 40-26, three points off what happened in December. Fulda/Murray Central won by virtue of four falls and the fact that the Arrows simply cannot field a heavyweight. “We were one or two wrestlers away from (possibly) winning it, which would have made it more interesting,” Bos said. Mason Fruechte posted the most dramatic win, earning a 3-2 triple-overtime decision over Kaston Clarke at 107 pounds. Fruechte secured a...
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Two Jackson County Central players had too much muscle inside for Pipestone Area School in Friday’s Big South Conference clash. Sophomore Weston Rowe scored 21 points, most of them inside the lane, and junior Aiven Farmer contributed a team-best 13 rebounds (six of them in the offensive court) for the Huskies in their 76-65 victory. “They are always physical every year,” PAS head coach Michael Slaba noted regarding Jackson County Central. “They are a very well-coached team. They do a great job rebounding, and getting inside the paint.” Pipestone Area finished the game with a slight 40-38 edge in rebounds...
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For an eighth-grader, Pipestone Area School eighth-grader Amyra Mahik has court vision beyond her earth years. Mahik spotted teammate Emersyn Smidt cutting toward the basket during an Arrow possession with less than one minute remaining in the second half of Friday’s non-league game. Smidt scored, and PAS was ahead 61-58 — that meant Edgerton would need to hoist a hopeful game-tying 3-pointer. But, the Flying Dutch were off on a pair of attempts and Jadyn Kor grabbed the game-sealing rebound. Kor knocked down two free throws to help the Arrows pull ahead by five with 7.1 ticks remaining in the...
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WORTHINGTON — The Southwest Minnesota Christian girls’ basketball team was clinging to a two-point lead with 12:45 remaining in a Tuesday, Feb. 13, road game versus Worthington. That’s when the Eagles went on a prolific scoring run, netting 31 of the game’s final 40 points en route to a 74-48 victory at Worthington High School gymnasium. “We struggled to stop their dribble penetration in the first half,” SWC head coach Luke Drooger admitted, “and our shots weren’t falling. We switched to a 1-3-1 (zone) defense, which we executed really well.” Madyson Fey turned up the heat with five second-half 3-pointers...
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WINDOM — Pipestone Area School’s Kaysa Douty can now call herself a three-time state qualifier in the sport of gymnastics. What’s more, Douty also came through with the gold-medal standard performance on the balance beam with a mark of 8.975 at the Minnesota State High School League Section 3A meet Saturday at Windom High School. “I knew that everyone didn’t have the best day on beam, and I didn’t have my best routine,” Douty admitted in a type-written email to the Pipestone County Star, “so I was really surprised when I heard my name for first.” Douty explained she was...
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WINDOM — There was shock and delight in the Windom Area school gymnasium on Saturday afternoon when Jennings Wallace was named Section 3A assistant coach of the year. “Yeah, it was a pleasant surprise,” Wallace said on Monday in a short telephone interview with the Pipestone County Star. “It was great to be honored at the end of the meet. Surprised is the word for it.” For more than a decade, Jennings Wallace has served as a program assistant. He married into the sport thanks to his wife, Stacie. “Being one of our section representatives, I actually knew Jennings had...
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Citing program continuity, Robert Petersen has been named head softball coach for Pipestone Area Schools — known as a statewide juggernaut in the sport. “I think it worked out well for the program,” PAS athletic director Rick Zollner said. “He understands the game, and I think they will have a successful season.” Petersen, in a face-to-face interview last Thursday, reported former Arrow and Southwest Minnesota State University player Shelby Bloemendaal will be part of the coaching panel. Additional staff is pending school board approval, Petersen said. He replaces longtime head coach Troy Bouman, who now serves as assistant coach for...
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WINDOM — The Pipestone Area School gymnastics squad will compete in the Minnesota State High School League Section 3A meet set for Saturday at Windom Area School. Spectator doors for the event will open at 11 a.m., with competition set to begin at high noon. "Everybody knows going into the meet that it's the one and only state qualifier," PAS head coach Stacie Wallace said. "There's a lot of pressure in that way." The following schools will compete at the sectional meet: PAS, Luverne, Worthington, Windom, Redwood Valley, Jackson County Central and Marshall. Freshman Kaysa Douty headlines the Arrows contingent,...
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History was made in many ways Tuesday during a Big South Conference boys basketball game between Pipestone Area and Windom Area. PAS senior guard/forward combination Rysley Borman surpassed 1,000 points in his scholastic career during this 114-79 rout. “It was awesome to see Rysley get his 1,000th point,” PAS head coach Michael Slaba said in an email to the Pipestone County Star on Friday afternoon. “It is a testament to all of the hours he has spent in the gym and his great work ethic.” Borman scored 49 points in all, establishing a new school single-game scoring record to boot....
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This was another Saturday victory for the Pipestone Area School girls basketball team. Taking advantage of a sluggish Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, who earned a thrilling two-point overtime win over Adrian-Ellsworth last Friday, the Arrows defeated the Knights 67-49. This marked the Arrows third win of the season; meanwhile, R-T-R dropped to 11-11 overall. Sophomore forward Jadyn Kor proved tough to stop as well, generating 28 points off 10 field goals, with six of them 3-pointers. “Jadyn has been a great scorer for us all year, and Saturday was no different,” PAS head coach Grant Everson said. R-T-R head coach Steve Hesse also...
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BLUE EARTH — Burgeoned with three of the top-five finishes in the all-around competition, Pipestone Area School produced a record performance. “The meet was the highlight of the season for us,” PAS head gymnastics coach Stacie Wallace said. “To have both the varsity and JV earn season-high scores and bring home wins was so exciting and gratifying.” Kaysa Douty, Vivian Brockberg and Davina Darveaux were second, third and fifth, respectively, in the all-around competition — lifting PAS to a 132.275-131.925 conquest over Blue Earth Area. “Watching their faces as team standings were announced at the end of the meet is...
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Pipestone Area and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton boys basketball teams squared off in a game that featured a definitive playoff atmosphere. The Arrows established a 40-27 halftime cushion — only to see the Knights whittle away at it in the second half en route to a 74-72 non-league conquest Saturday. “Kids from both teams played hard and played at a high level,” R-T-R head coach Daren Gravley said, whose team had a monster week which included an 82-78 victory over Class A state-ranked Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey last Thursday. The Knights bettered their record to 14-7 while the Arrows stand at 12-8. “It was...
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SLAYTON — The Minnesota State High School League announced seedings for the upcoming Section 3A Wrestling Tournament set for locations across our southwestern region. Pipestone Area School will square off against Murray County Central/Fulda in a match featuring the fourth and fifth seeds in the sectional. Even though Pipestone Area finished the regular season with a better dual match record, MCC earned the right to host with a 40-29 victory over the Arrows back on Dec. 14, 2023. Since that match was two months ago, PAS head coach Brian Bos is hoping for a different outcome. “Murray County Central beat...
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When you greet the new sports editor, you’ll see that his eyeglasses have this special purple tint called a “prism.” This “prism” helps eliminate what’s called diplopia, or double vision, according to information gleaned from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. So you — the reader — will have to indulge me as I try to look at Minnesota State High School League basketball through this outsider’s eyeglasses. Even if they resemble glasses fit for musician Prince. Timing The first thing right away is how games in the Land of Lakes are timed. As all of you are accustomed to,...
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EDGERTON — There was plenty to celebrate last Thursday for the Southwest Minnesota Christian boys basketball team. Before the game, three senior players and two senior managers, Jaden Van Hill and Lucas Fennema, were recognized before the Eagles’ Red Rock Conference game versus Red Rock Central. Seniors Grant Busker, Aidan Schaap and Joshua Van Dam have spearheaded SWC’s successful season — which included this 78-43 conquest over the visiting Falcons. “My three seniors have been great leaders for us this year,” SWC head coach Jamie Pap said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “They are very well-respected by...
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WRESTLING TEAM SECTIONALS Schedule of Matches Thursday, Feb. 15 First-Round Matches At Slayton 7 p.m., No. 5 Pipestone Area at No. 4 Murray County Central/Fulda At Jackson 6 p.m., No. 8 Redwood Valley vs. No. 9 Red Rock Central 7 p.m. No. 1 Jackson County Central vs. Redwood/RRC victor At Adrian 7 p.m., No. 6 St. James vs. No. 3 Adrian-Ellsworth At Tracy 6 p.m., No. 7 Wabasso vs. No. 10 Springfield 7 p.m., No. 2 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton/Westbrook/Walnut Grove vs. Wabasso/Springfield victor Saturday, Feb. 17 At Tracy 12:30 p.m., Semifinals 2:30 p.m., Championship match RESULTS Friday, Feb. 9 Adrian-Ellsworth 42, Pipestone...
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JACKSON — Pipestone Area School eighth-grader Miklo Hernandez was placed in a tournament field filled of potholes. Hernandez eventually navigated through two tough matches — versus Kayden Eller of Jackson County Central and Windom-Mountain Lake’s Preston Xayachak — to claim the 114-pound championship at the Big South Conference tournament Friday. Hernandez recorded a hard-fought 8-5 decision over Eller in the semifinals before ultimately dispatching Xayachak in the championship bout. Miklo scored a pair of takedowns for a 4-2 decision. “Miklo wrestled his game, his style,” PAS coach Brian Bos said. Bos commented that Hernandez has the adaptability to succeed versus...
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Pipestone Area School gymnastics wrapped up the home slate last Thursday with a meet versus Martin County Area. The Magic defeated the Arrows 133.925-127.875; however, Pipestone still had plenty of accomplishments to celebrate — with two girls finishing among the top-five in the all-around competition. Arrows’ freshman Kaysa Douty recorded a second-place finish, with a composite score of 34.225 while sophomore Vivian Brockberg placed fifth (31.850). “Kaysa has been working hard, maintaining her high level of difficulty on the floor throughout the season,” Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace said. Earlier in the week during a meet at Clear Lake,...
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There was plenty to smile about Saturday afternoon at Pipestone Area School gymnasium. That’s because the Pipestone girls basketball team earned its second win of the season, by a convincing score of 71-44 over Lac qui Parle Valley. “Obviously, getting a win is huge for us,” PAS head coach Grant Everson said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “Just to have some confidence going into the next couple weeks is a great thing.” Everson said even though the Arrows didn’t play at their best, the team is beginning to show signs of peaking. The coach was quite pleased...
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EDGERTON — The Pipestone Area School boys’ basketball team played fast. That fast start pushed the Arrows to a 45-36 halftime edge en route to a comfortable 85-67 victory over county rival Southwest Minnesota Christian in non-league action Tuesday. “In the first half, we played with great pace and shared the basketball well,” PAS head coach Michael Slaba said. “The boys also did a great job defensively being in the gaps and blocking out (for rebounds).” SW Minnesota Christian’s gymnasium was packed thread to the gills, and fans witnessed a fast-paced, competitive game — until 7:20 was left in the...
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Several area high school basketball players reached milestones during recently-played games. Southwest Minnesota Christian’s Ana Veldkamp tossed in 34 points in a 60-41 Red Rock Conference victory over Hills-Beaver Creek. In the process, Veldkamp crossed the 1,000-point plateau in her career. She also was two points shy of the school record for points in a single game, SWMC head coach Luke Drooger noted. Understandably, Drooger is proud of the player Veldkamp has become. “Ana’s sophomore year, her first on varsity, was my first season as head coach, and she has been a huge reason we have had as much success...
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TYLER — As far as clashes go, this Red Rock Conference boys basketball game certainly lived up to the billing. Behind a double-double from Trevin Prins consisting of 25 points and 13 rebounds, Southwest Minnesota Christian topped Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 66-57. After scoring just 25 points in the opening half, the Eagles pushed the tempo in the second — and playing at a higher rate was the elixir for victory. “We wanted to get up and down the floor quicker,” SWMC boys basketball coach Jamie Pap said, “to see if we could get points in transition. In the second half, we did...
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LAMBERTON — For Pipestone Area High School wrestler Brayden Burmeister, the quest for perfection continues. Burmeister, currently sitting sixth in Guillotine rankings for the 127-pound weight division, won his weight class at the HighWater Ethanol Invitational at Red Rock Central High School. There really wasn’t much drama to be had. Burmeister (28-0) pinned all three of his opponents en route to winning the title. He pinned Ben Gunlogson of Dawson-Boyd/Lac Qui Parle/Montevideo in 3:40. Miklo Hernandez also earned a gold medal for the Arrows in the 114-pound group, and the championship bout featured plenty of tense moments. Hernandez recorded a...
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A new form of therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been added to the therapy department at the Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC). Rock Steady Boxing (RSB), a program designed to engage and address the many symptoms of the disease, started earlier this month with classes running on Mondays and Wednesdays. The classes are divided into levels and participants experiencing early onset of Parkinson’s attend the level 1-2 class from 8:30 -10 a.m., and those with more advanced symptoms attend the class from 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. Debbie Reinert, the physical therapy department manager at PCMC, said that...
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The Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) one act play team is preparing to take the play “Tracks,” by Peter Tarsi, to the subsection tournament on Saturday, Jan. 27. According to a synopsis from Dramatic Publishing, the play is about a group of strangers who meet in a subway station and discover that they’re all dead. They determine that the train leaving from one platform must be bound for heaven and the train leaving from another platform must be bound for hell, but they don’t know which platform they are on. As they wait to find out, they look back on their...
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The Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) one act play team is preparing to take the play “Tracks,” by Peter Tarsi, to the subsection tournament on Saturday, Jan. 27. According to a synopsis from Dramatic Publishing, the play is about a group of strangers who meet in a subway station and discover that they’re all dead. They determine that the train leaving from one platform must be bound for heaven and the train leaving from another platform must be bound for hell, but they don’t know which platform they are on. As they wait to find out, they look back on their...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) is applying to be part of the Rural Child Care Innovation Program through First Children’s Finance. The program is designed to develop solutions to daycare challenges in participating communities. “First Children’s Finance will come down and they’ll spend about 18 to 24 months in Pipestone talking to businesses and government entities and employers and daycare providers, and find out where we’re short and what we need to improve on and how we can get that done,” said EDA Director Justin Schroyer during the EDA’s Jan. 16 meeting. As part of that process, a core...
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Danielle Thompson became the newest member of the Pipestone City Council during the council’s Jan. 16 meeting. She fills the council seat left vacant by the resignation of Justin Schroyer, who left the council at the end of December to take on the role of Pipestone Economic Development Authority director. Thompson was one of four people who completed an affidavit of candidacy expressing interest in filling the vacant council seat. The others were Travis Lund, Michael Wussow and Jennifer Cronin. Council members voted by ballot on their choice to fill the open seat. Thompson received three votes and Lund received...
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By Klint Willert PAS Superintendent As we navigate the ongoing changes and challenges we face in our schools, I believe it is important to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the dedicated individuals who play an essential role in the success of our schools – our paraprofessionals. These unsung heroes work tirelessly behind the scenes, providing invaluable support to both teachers and students alike. The week of January 22 is noted as Paraprofessional Appreciation Week and we are truly appreciative of all our dedicated team of paraprofessionals do to contribute to the success of the Pipestone Area...
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TO THE EDITOR: A ,000 water fountain, what a buy! The city council should buy several of them and put a couple around the square and one at Casey Jones Trail. These fountains must have gold inlay, ivory handles and brass legs! Or they could get some water hydrants which don’t freeze and cost around 0 and save ,000. Just a thought. Rodney Altena Pipestone
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Sometimes things just don’t go the way we want them to, and sometimes multiple things don’t go the way we want them to and it seems like we experience trouble upon trouble. I’ve recently had one of those times. Earlier this month, I ruined my 42-year streak of not having surgery. It wasn’t a major surgery, but there’s a lengthy recovery period that comes with some cumbersome restrictions. Less than a week after the surgery, there was an unfortunate incident involving some ice and my car, which I just acquired last year and is the nicest vehicle I’ve ever owned....
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The Jasper City Council during its Jan. 16 meeting approved an amendment to its liquor licensing ordinance, clearing the way for Kyley Mills to move the Stonewall Bar & Grill to the property at 106 Wall St. W., which is right next door to the Jasper Baptist Church. Previously, city code did not allow liquor licenses to be granted for any building within 100 feet of a church. The amended ordinance reads as follows: “No license shall be granted for any building within 300 feet of any public elementary or secondary school structure or within 100 feet of any church...
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The Pipestone City Council has expressed opposition to Magellan Pipeline Company’s proposed rerouting of a pipeline that previously ran through Pipestone National Monument and land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) north of Pipestone. Magellan decommissioned the .74-mile segment of pipe that ran through the federal lands late last year. It then filed a route permit application in April for a new section of pipeline that would be located on private properties west and north of the federal lands. Gabriel Yellowhawk and Bud Johnston expressed opposition to the pipeline reroute plan during the Pipestone City Council’s Sept....
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Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board members during their Aug. 28 meeting ratified the sale of ,315,000 in general obligation school building bonds and 0,000 in capital facilities bonds that took place on Aug. 23. According to information presented by Steve Pumper, senior vice president with PMA Securities, the school district received five bids for the bonds. The low bidder was Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. with a true interest cost of 3.3105 percent. The bid included a premium of 4,645, bringing the total amount received from the sale to ,959,645. The funds will be available Sept. 20. The funds...
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Two unique homes are being built at the corner of 10th Ave. SE and Second Street SE in Pipestone. They’re unique because they’re less that 600 square feet. Pete Gorter originally planned to build tiny houses, defined by Minnesota building code as 400 square feet or less. Those plans changed, however, and he and Gina Rauk, both of Pipestone, opted instead to build small homes, which Gorter said is a home between 400 and 600 square feet. The two homes now under construction are 528 square feet. Gorter and Rauk started construction of the homes in July and the first...
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It might not feel like it due to the scorching heat lately, but summer is winding to an end and a new school year has begun. My kids have been telling me for weeks that they’re ready to go back to school and see their friends every day again. I hope they remain eager to go to school at least until they graduate high school. Like many families, we went to meet the kids’ new teachers the last week of August. I very much appreciate that the school district provides that opportunity each year, so the kids are more comfortable...
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TO THE EDITOR: There are 4,000 AM radio stations across the country – and over 300 of those stations are right here in Minnesota. Listeners turn to AM radio for everything from high school scores to crop reports to news and weather. In fact, during a weather emergency like a wildfire or a tornado, AM radio can serve as a lifeline, sharing critical and sometimes life saving information. Despite this, AM radio is on the chopping block. Auto executives have threatened to pull AM radio out of newer models of some of their vehicles. Maybe from their headquarters it doesn’t...
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After increasing in all three subject areas in 2022, the percentage of Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) students meeting state standards in math, reading and science declined in 2023. According to data released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on Aug. 24, 35.1 percent of PAS students met state math standards, 42.9 percent met reading standards and 33.3 percent met science standards. The scores in each subject area were lower than the statewide averages of 45.5 percent for math, 49.9 percent for reading and 39.2 percent in science. MDE also releases data for specific subgroups within school districts if there...
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The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team swept past the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Panthers Tuesday night in Tyler, winning the match by scores of 25-7, 25-21, 25-19 and improving to 3-1 in the process. Ally Nelson had 12 kills to go with three blocks, while Abby Carr finished with nine kills and two blocks. Gabi Borresen set the Knights' hitters up with 27 assists and added a pair of blocks and a team-leading 11 digs. Avery Schreurs had 10 digs and an ace serve, while Tatum Hess had three aces on the night. Camry Swanson had two blocks in the match and Sara Thooft added...
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Funds provided for gun range The Pipestone Sportsman’s Club, during the regular Pipestone County Commissioners meeting of Aug. 22 requested gravel pit restoration funds to be used at their shooting range that is under development at the site of a gravel pit previously owned by the county. The funds would be used to restore portions of the pit and make it more functional for the Sportsman’s Club. The county routinely collects an aggregate tax from gravel pits which can be used for various purposes, including reclamation of pits The club requested that money from this aggregate tax be used for...
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Megan Keller has always had a drive to forge new paths and create new versions of herself. The daughter of Galen and Kathie Keller, she was raised in rural Pipestone and graduated from Pipestone Area Schools in 2004. Following graduation, Keller attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, majoring in veterinary technology, and minoring in animal and range management. Graduating in 2009, Keller went to work as a veterinary nurse, but after three weeks on the job she realized it wasn’t the path she wanted to take, and she was already on track to attend veterinarian school. She applied to...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) voted during its Aug. 21 meeting to ask the city council (which is comprised as the same members as the EDA) to pursue the creation of an EDA director position. “An EDA needs to be available 24/7,” said EDA member and Pipestone Mayor Dan Delaney. “We’re meeting a couple of times a month and you don’t develop a community at a couple of times a month. To be fair and to put forth the best effort I think we need to look into an EDA director and have a person available.” City Administrator Deb...
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Next week a new school season begins. With it comes the homework, the activities, the times with friends, and of course a solid dose of reading, writing, and arithmetic. For many, especially the younger students, each day will begin and end with a commute on foot or pedal bike to the nearest bus stop or the school. This commute will have them crossing busy intersections and navigating residential sidewalks or streets. Recently I had the opportunity to speak with a gentleman who has been serving as a crossing guard for many years. He spoke with great enthusiasm about the relationships...
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TO THE EDITOR: The Pipestone High School Class of 1965 has found a formula for a successful class “party” and keeping it local. After canceling our class reunion twice because of Covid, we opted for an annual mid-week party—Tuesday afternoon through lunch Thursday. Mid-week lessens competition for hotel rooms and dining facilities and with weekend family activities. The first annual party was last year; the second, August 15-17, 2023. The main event both years was Wednesday night dinner at Split Rock Burgers & Brews. We were provided with a customized, delicious, affordable meal; great beverages; and wonderful service. Everyone was...
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The Arrows didn’t win a state tournament Saturday in Fairmont; they didn’t lose one either. Pipestone Area’s initial fray of the 2023-24 volleyball campaign wasn’t without its head-scratching moments and heavy sighs, but it also came with ah-ha moments and set the barometer for rising to new highs as the season progresses. “They pretty much got beaten by speed today,” said Pipestone Area head coach Dave Dulas of his Arrows’ 25-7, 25-6, 25-12 loss to the St. Peter Saints at the weekend’s Big South Conference showcase. “I thought we had better hitting than we showed today, and it didn’t help...
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On Tuesday, Sept. 5, approximately 1,172 preschool through 12th grade students are expected to begin the 2023-24 school year at Pipestone Area Schools (see the breakdown by grade in the accompanying chart). That’s seven more students than were expected leading up to the start of the 2022-23 school year. There are always some changes as each new school year begins and the change that will likely be the most noticeable to families this year will be that the state of Minnesota will provide one breakfast and one lunch at no charge to students each school day. According to information sent...
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The Arrows have started… their march up a steep learning curve. Playing its second match of the young season and its first at home, the Pipestone Area volleyball team (0-2) drew several positives from a 12-25, 7-25, 11-25 non-conference loss to the Canby Lancers (2-0) Tuesday night in Pipestone. “I think we’re starting to get defense a little better,” PAS head coach Dave Dulas said. “Mylee (Weber, 10 digs) was rough last week, but we worked on staying our lines more and she did a really good job on defense tonight. That’s a positive step. “We were a little quicker...
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On Aug. 23, a group of horse lovers embarked on a trail ride that has been their tradition ever since America celebrated its 200th birthday in 1976. Called simply the Pipestone Wagon Train, this three-day procession is “not about the miles, it’s about the memories,” said organizer Laura Campbell prior to the ride. “Every year, you just think about the new relationships you build with the different people,” Campbell said. “I don’t know, I just find the people so amazing.” The wagon train celebrated 40 years in 2016. It should have completed its 45th ride a couple years ago now,...
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Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) Wound Care recently received RestorixHealth’s Wound Center of Excellence Award for demonstrating exceptional success by meeting or exceeding clinical and operational benchmarks in several categories, including healing benchmarks, adherence to clinical practice pathways and a 96 percent or higher patient satisfaction rate. “I honestly didn’t know they had the award,” said Melissa Scotting, certified nurse practitioner and wound care medical director at PCMC. “We just always try to do what we can do to get people healed up the quickest.” PCMC started its wound care specialty services in October based on a perceived need. Scotting...
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The Pipestone Area Arrow Marching Band will kick off the 2023 season Friday, Aug. 25 with its annual Community Night performance at Paulsen Field at 7 p.m. The band will perform this year’s field and parade shows during the event. The field show is titled “Luminous” and is about light and energy, according to Band Director Zachary Ploeger. Ploeger said he wrote the music and the drill for this year’s field show to best utilize the strengths of the more experienced band members and with the goal of improving the band’s general effect scores, or “wow factor.” That included using...
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Although this year’s Pipestone Area volleyball team is extremely unlikely to repeat as Section 3AA champions, the Arrows are likely to pull a few tricks from their sleeves and surprise many by the time the tournament rolls around in late October. Having graduated 11 players and a manager off the first Arrow squad to qualify for the Class AA state tournament in 15 years, 2022-23 Section 3AA Coach of the Year Dave Dulas has his work cut out for himself and a veteran staff that includes Jen Evans and former players, Morgan Taubert, Morgyn Carson and Shelby Bloemendaal – along...
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“When I talk about this sport being about mind, body and spirit and you’re toeing up to the line, its just that… you and the time; there’s no play clock, no officials, it’s just you and yourself.” And those young Pipestone Area student/athletes, grades 7-12, who rise to that challenge during the dog days of the summer months – prior to entering the classroom for the fall semester – are fortunate to have head coach Mark Moeller and longtime Arrow servant Todd Texley to help guide their arduous journeys across southwest Minnesota’s cross country circuit. “It’s been a toe in...
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Around 13 kids from Pipestone and Murray county participated as individuals and teams in the Western Heritage competition held on Aug. 7 at the RNJ Stables in Sartell, Minn. Allan Jones, who is the original organizer of the event and a judge, and a coach for area kids said that the purpose of the Western Heritage program is to get area youth involved while keeping traditional ranching activities alive. The grade levels of participants range from sixth to twelfth grade, with many senior students participating for one year after they graduate, Jones said. The competition boasts a variety of competitive...
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The city of Pipestone will pay Oleson + Hobbie Architects ,500 for design services for a concession stand and bathroom facility at the JBS Sportsplex. Pipestone City Council members approved the company’s proposal during a special Aug. 14 meeting. Representatives of Oleson + Hobbie Architects presented a concept design to the council that showed a 1,505 square-foot wood framed building with concrete block masonry on the lower portion of the exterior and siding above that. The building would have a mono-slope roof with an overhang over the areas outside the concession window and restrooms. The plans include a men’s restroom,...
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Over the weekend while I was at drill, I received the news of two friends passing in an accident, one was a close childhood friend and a honorary member of my family. Like others who loved these two poor souls that are gone now too soon, I felt a rush of love, grief and memories flood me when I heard the news. One particular memory I have of my dear friend, was that he shared a birthday with my mother. She was a fun, kind-hearted and goofy woman (I guess I know where I got it from). When she found...
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Tax abatement approved Pipestone City Council members during their Aug. 7 meeting approved an amendment to a property tax abatement that will enable it to recoup up to 3,000 over 15 years for the cost of infrastructure work that will be done at the former Hill Elementary School property, which is owned by the Pipestone Development Company (PDC). The PDC plans to build 14 owner-occupied twin homes on the property and requested that the city pay for water and sewer lines. The city accepted a bid of 5,217.15 from Double D Gravel for the work in July and plans to...
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Three Pipestone residents brought concerns about a property in their neighborhood to the Pipestone City Council during its Aug. 7 meeting. Troy Pankonen said it appeared that the occupants were running a business out of the residential property, located at 418 Sixth Ave. SE, and that there were vehicles and tires being brought to and hauled from the property. “There are at all hours of the night cars coming, honking, leaving; people coming and going; stuff strewn about throughout the property,” Pankonen said. “I’ve been there going on 11 years and this has just been an ongoing thing.” Pankonen’s mother...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Aug. 8 meeting heard about a proposed wind project that could be partially located in Pipestone County. Monica Monterrosa, a director on the development team for Chicago-based Invenergy, presented information about the project, which would be called the Purple Skies Wind Energy Center. She said the company is interested in building a wind project in the area due to the windy conditions and the Buffalo Ridge, and hadn’t developed projects here before due to a lack of transmission lines and subsequent curtailment of wind energy production. Monterrosa said Xcel Energy plans to address that issue...
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Pipestone City Council members will consider adopting a new fee structure for storm sewer rates at their Aug. 21 meeting that will increase the amounts charged to property owners. An amended ordinance to that effect was introduced during the Aug. 7 council meeting. “The goal of this is having a path to get the utility so it is cash flowing, not only today, but also going to be a positive cash flow moving forward into the future as you look at new projects and the continued expenses for not only operating the utility, but also for completing capital improvements that...
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Todd Huisman (rhymes with Houston) is the new middle and high school principal at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS). He replaces Cory Strasser, who left the district for a job in Rapid City. Huisman will be referred to as a coordinator rather than principal for now while he completes the licensure process through the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, but will have all the duties of a principal. He said he expected to have a provisional license within a month and has two years to earn nine college credits to obtain an administrative license. He plans to do that...
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Why cramp your thumbs, scorch your eyes viewing at a backlit screen or get a crick in your neck to be ‘social?’ Instead, pick up a wooden, carbon graphite or fiberglass paddle, slightly larger than a ping pong paddle, and socially engage with people ages 5-95 on a badminton-sized court playing pickleball – America’s fastest growing sport. Invented in the summer of 1965 by a trio of Bainbridge Island, Wash. dads, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum combined aspects of tennis, badminton and ping pong to come up with the unique athletic activity – eventually gaining its current moniker...
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It appeared as though the short game reigned supreme at the Pipestone Country Club over the weekend, as those managing the greens best came out on top more often than not during the annual PCC Championships in Pipestone. Multiple Men’s Championship winner Duane Hess, playing in his final event before moving on to the Senior’s Championship flight next summer, looked on in in admiration as McCaden Biever drained a 23-footer on No. 9 to cap his repeat performance of a year ago with a two-day, 36-hole total of 147. “20 feet… it’s in, 25 feet… in, 30 feet… in, all...
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For 50 years, a group of local women have been meeting once a month to have lunch, learn about a wide variety of topics and hear what God has done in the lives of others. The group has gone by a variety of names over the years, including the Pipestone Christian Women’s Club, Lunch, Etc., and, now, the Pipestone Women’s Connection. It is affiliated with Stonecroft, a Kansas City-based non-denominational nonprofit organization that “exists to help women reconcile to God through His Son, Jesus Christ,” according to its website at www.stonecroft.org. Its mission, according to Pipestone Women’s Connection Chair Cathy...
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Braelyn Kracht won the Champion Premier Showmanship award and Nate Bobendrier won the Reserve Champion Premier Showmanship award Saturday, Aug. 5, at the 2023 Pipestone County Fair. Kracht, who competed last year but did not win, said she took what she learned from last year’s competition and applied it to her tactics this year, and that her growth over the year between shows helped her. “I remembered the stuff I needed to do from last year,” she remarked, “and I re-did everything again, and paid more attention when they were explaining what to do and I made sure I asked...
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The Julie Manzey family received the 2023 Pipestone County 4-H Hall of Fame award on Saturday, Aug. 5, during the Pipestone County Fair. “It’s an honor to be selected and just to know that we made a difference,” Manzey said. Although she was never in 4-H as a child, Manzey grew up with older brothers who were involved in the organization, and spent a lot of time helping out around the family dairy and crop farm near Holland, she said. “My dad still lives on the home place by Holland,” she said. “I started milking cows at an early age....
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Recently, the Toronto Zoo asked visitors to stop letting the gorillas look at their cell phones and watch videos because it can negatively impact the animals’ relationships and behavior. One gorilla named Nassir was apparently so obsessed with phones and videos that he was no longer interacting with the other gorillas. According to the zoo’s website, “Nassir is truly the epitome of a teenager, fascinated by videos and screen time would dominate his life if he had his way.” This story caught my attention a few weeks ago because I’m frequently telling my kids to stop staring at a screen....
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The new skipper of the Pipestone Area tennis program needs no introduction, as James Skyberg has lent a coaching hand to a variety of sports, at a variety of levels, for many years in the Jasper and Pipestone communities. A youth head coach, freshman and B-squad head coach, and varsity assistant in several disciplines, Skyberg was recently given the nod to take charge of the tennis programs, beginning this fall – this summer, actually – with Arrow girls. “I told (Activities Director) Rick (Zollner) I’d be interested, and the more I thought about it, the more excited I became,” said...
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In a word, FUN. That’s how 11-year-old Oliver Sterud described his recent trip to Cooperstown, N.Y., July 27-Aug. 2, to compete with the Southwest Minnesota Blaze youth baseball team in an elite, week-long tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park. “It was so much fun hanging out with my friends and kids from other teams,” said Sterud, who was one of the youngest players competing at the tournament – played on 22 lighted, real grass, enclosed baseball stadiums. And how could these baseball ‘dreamers’ not have fun, as no parents were permitted to join in the festivities outside of the games themselves....
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Included in the state’s bonding bill earlier this year was .5 million for Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water (LPRW) to take on a variety of projects, including million for a biological filtration system at its Holland water treatment plant. LPRW tested the filtration system that in 2013 was found to be effective at reducing nitrate levels in the water. “It was successful,” said General Manager Jason Overby. “We just weren’t probably ready for the cost, the burden of it. Looking back, it probably would have been a better deal. I think we were also waiting on the state to make...
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Pipestone County Commissioners heard new options to provide fiber optic internet access to rural residents of the county from Woodstock Communications General Manager Terry Nelson during their July 25 meeting. Woodstock Communications, which is based in Ruthton, already provides fiber internet access to the northeast part of the county and the cities of Edgerton, Ruthton, Holland and Woodstock. It also provides wireless internet access to other parts of the county. Nelson said it would cost the company an estimated ,065,480 to provide fiber internet access to the rural parts of the county that don’t have access to fiber internet access...
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The American Indian Movement (AIM) held its annual Sundance at Pipestone National Monument the week of July 23. Participants fasted, danced and prayed for four days, including during an excessive heat warning on Thursday, July 27. AIM Director Lisa Bellanger described the Sundance as a spiritual gathering and one of the ceremonies that was given to the people 19 generations ago by the Buffalo Calf Woman, who also gave them the sacred pipe. She said Sundances are held all over the Lakota and Dakota territories and that one is held at Pipestone National Monument because that’s where the sacred stone...
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Like most years is seems this summer is simply flying by. August is already here and brings the county fair just a few short weeks before the closing of the aquatic center and the beginning of school activities. These are annual signs that our short Minnesota summer will soon pass and we begin anew the fall season. The first two months of summer were certainly full for my family and in the office and gave me some opportunities to think about change and progress. June started with state softball and track meets, then moved to into summer softball for two...
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar made a brief stop in Pipestone to chat with city officials Monday morning, July 31 as part of a three-day tour of rural southwest Minnesota to meet with local officials, farmers and business leaders to discuss agriculture and the rural economy. She met with Mayor Dan Delaney, City Administrator Deb Nelson and City Engineer Travis Winter. The roughly 30-minute discussion centered on the economic needs of the community. One of the biggest issues the city has, Delaney told the senator, is a lack of workforce housing. “We have upper level housing available, we have lower income housing...
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Just days before the 2022 Pipestone County Fair began, First Lutheran Church’s food stand, a long-time staple of the fair, was rendered unusable by a fire that began in the electrical panel. Earlier this year, the First Lutheran congregation voted to build a new food stand. Church Council President and Chairman of the Property Management Committee Craig Thies said the serving window of the new structure faces the midway and the grill will be outside the building on the west side to free up space and make it easier to comply with regulations. Picnic tables will be set up for...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) plans to make the purchase price refundable for lots in Southwest Acres in an effort to spur sales. That follows a decision earlier this year to reduce the price of the lots in Southwest Acres First Addition from ,000 and ,000 to ,000. “We’ve got to generate some type of incentive here because what’s been tried in the past is not working,” said EDA Board member and Pipestone Mayor Dan Delaney during the EDA’s July 17 meeting. Board members discussed various options to refund the purchase price and ultimately settled on refunding 100 percent...
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The animals, the food, the rides, the fun of the Pipestone County Fair will begin Wednesday, Aug. 2 and run through Saturday, Aug. 5. This year’s fair will, of course, include the annual mainstays such as the 4-H and FFA animals shows, open class exhibits, carnival rides and games in the midway, and grandstand entertainment. As usual, it will also include some new features. Among those new features is the Acenzo Norteno Latino Mariachi Band, which will perform in the grandstand on Thursday, Aug. 3 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. President of the Pipestone County Fair Board Skip Moeller...
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Pipestone City Council members during their July 17 meeting approved the sale of ,810,000 in general obligation bonds for street and utility improvements planned for this year. Rebecca Kurtz, senior municipal advisor for Ehlers, the city’s financial consultant, said five bids were received for the bond sale and TD Securities was the low bidder with an interest rate 3.4 percent over a term of 15 years. The city received a premium bid of 2,303 for the bonds, which Kurtz said could be used for cost overruns, other street or storm water projects or to reduce the levy for the first...
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Former Pipestone resident Jesse Hinricher remembers sitting in Mr. David Dulas’ advanced placement chemistry class and feeling fascinated by the world around him. “He showed us how interesting the world could be when examined with a critical and analytical lens,” he said. “It intrigued me to realize that the entire universe is made up of the same building blocks that behave in different ways depending on their environment. Atoms and molecules and mathematics inspired me to pursue a technical degree and apply these skills to improve people’s lives and experiences.” Hinricher, who grew up on the family farm eight miles...
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The A’s twice managed to get to the Bulls in the first inning. Unfortunately for Pipestone’s amateur baseball club, neither its 1-0 lead in Jackson nor its one-run response to the Bulls’ three-run outburst in Pipestone was enough to garner a victory – resulting in the A’s concluding their summer campaign following respective 4-1 and 3-1 losses in their best-of-three Region 13C playoff series Wednesday and Friday nights. “We were dead last in the standings and Jackson was at the top, most of the year, so we knew it was going to be an uphill battle,” said A’s player/manager Jordan...
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St. Paul Lutheran Church has a new Director of Christian Education (DCE), Susie Danner. She formerly served as the DCE at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fargo and started her position in Pipestone on May 1, 2023. Danner, a Yankton native, began her career in Christian Education when she earned her bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry and a minor in Lutheran Theology on May 10, 2019 from Concordia University in Saint Paul. In her role here, she plans, organizes, and leads the youth and children’s programs like Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and the St. Paul youth program. She also works...
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This year’s Relay For Life of Pipestone County event is Thursday, July 27 at the Hiawatha Lodge at Hiawatha Pageant Park in Pipestone. Events will begin with cancer survivor registration from 4:45 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. From 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. there will be a silent auction, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. there will be a community meal, and at 5:30 p.m. there will be a kids color run. The opening ceremony will be at 6 p.m. The ceremony will include a welcome by Vicki Gergen, an opening prayer by Velda Maine, the presentation of flags by members...
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On Thursday, July 6, a woman was participating in an aquanastics class at the Ewert Recreation Center when she had a seizure. Recreation center employees and others were quick to respond and provide the care that was needed. According to those involved, the woman, who asked not to be named, wasn’t feeling well and was going to get out of the pool. The seizure occurred before she got out, however, and she went under the water. Her husband and Mark Lunn, the class instructor, went to help her and Lunn turned her over onto her back and made sure she...
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Pipestone City Council members are taking steps toward prohibiting the sale of THC products and cannabis businesses, at least for now. The council scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 7 to take comments on a proposed interim ordinance prohibiting the operation of cannabis businesses in the city until Jan. 1, 2025, as allowed by the cannabis legislation signed into law earlier this year. The proposed ordinance was introduced during the council’s June 20 meeting. Mayor Dan Delaney said then that he thought it made sense to prohibit the sales until the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) adopts administrative rules and...
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Perhaps the greatest tool for improvement in youth and high school athletics is consistency; consistency in coaching personnel, technique and mindset are essential in developing an athlete’s body and mind, within the team structure, to compete and the highest level possible at a given moment. To that end, Pipestone Area head wrestling coach Brian Bos made a point of bringing South Dakota State University’s Cade DeVos back as a guest clinician for the annual Arrow Wrestling Camp, Monday-Wednesday, at PAS in Pipestone. “We had him here for just one day last summer; he did such an excellent job I was...
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Despite plating the first run of Wednesday night’s Gopher League baseball game between Pipestone and the Milroy Irish at the Irish Yard in Milroy, the visiting A’s struggled. Pipestone’s amateur club not only struggled with hitting the ball, which has been a season-long battle, but it’s defense also proved spotty in amplifying several disputed officiating decisions. “It’s tough for umpires too; one was a bang-bang play, but it’s frustrating and gets you out of sync mentally,” explained Pipestone player/manager Jordan Karels, whose A’s dropped to 6-14 following the 5-1 loss. “You try to rally the troops and keep them positive....
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TO THE EDITOR: I begin with this question, if you drove past my house and saw me trying to mow my lawn with my snowblower, would you be concerned about my capacity to think clearly? At best you would assume I was not fulfilling the intended purpose for my snowblower? And yet I believe that scenario represents the mindset of Governor Walz and every Democratic Representative and Senator in Minnesota. I’m guessing most of you have heard the story from a few weeks ago of Governor Walz signing a bill that requires school districts and charter schools in Minnesota to...
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As I looked up the details for my children on the Missoula Children’s Theater happening this week at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center, I was struck by a reality. Our community is so fortunate. SO lucky. All summer long we have been running to all the sporting activities and events that fill a family schedule these days. Softball, volleyball, basketball, acceleration programs, summer reading programs, community education programs, STEM camps, Lost Timber Bible camp, little white schoolhouse days with Ms. Hansen, 4-H activities, and the list goes on. Every family is busy, and every summer seems to be busier than...
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For many kids in southwest Minnesota, summertime is fair time. Many hours are spent preparing the animals, the projects and the presentations that they’ll enter in the county fair, and maybe in the Minnesota State Fair. They are helped along the way by staff at county Extension offices, including summer interns. This year, Lauryn Smidt has returned as 4-H intern in Pipestone County and Macy Posthuma is completing her first internship as Ag and Natural Resources (ANR) intern for both Murray and Pipestone counties. Posthuma, 21, lives in Murray County, between Lake Wilson and Hadley. She will graduate in May...
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Marion ‘Mike’ Menning was born to John and Artie (Blom) Menning on July 27, 1945 northwest of Edgerton on the family farm. He describes his family as being relatively poor, but having everything they needed in their little house that sat on the acreage. “It was a tiny little farmhouse,” he chuckled. “My dad even had a hard time standing up without hitting his head and he couldn’t go through the doorways unless he was ducking because he was six foot one.” Fast forward and Menning will be turning 78 in a couple of weeks, and is now anticipating the...
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The state bonding bill signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz this spring included [post_excerpt].32 million for the multi-purpose Casey Jones Trail for the acquisition, design, engineering and construction of new trail miles. “It’s huge,” said Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail President Deb Nelson. “We’re very ecstatic. We’re very excited.” Nelson said the funds will be used for design and construction of about two miles of trail from Woodstock east to the Murray County line on land owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and engineering and design of 2.5 miles of trail on DNR-owned land...
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The annual Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) summer program is underway at Pipestone National Monument. The opportunity that currently employs five local high school students, began on June 5 and will run through July 28. Through the program, area students who apply and are selected gain hands-on paid experience working at the monument, monitoring the prairie at the park for invasive plant species, conducting studies on those plants and removing them. They do general upkeep of the prairie, including some landscaping where they plant native prairie plants and grasses. On some Fridays, the group will go on educational field trips to...
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Whether or not the A’s would have traded Wednesday night’s 5-0 victory over the Ruthton Royals for a pair of wins in their ensuing games versus Worthington and Luverne, Thursday and Sunday, respectively, one can only speculate. But evening up the home/away series against the rival Royals in front of a swollen crowd at A’s Field in Pipestone, the A’s amateur baseball team enjoyed just about every pitch. And to add intrigue to the occasion, all of the host’s pitches came off the fingertips of stalwart hurler Austin Evans who was coaxed out of retirement to toss the shut out....
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Producing more runs than a freshly painted barn on a humid day, the Pipestone Jr. American Legion baseball team gave Windom and Edgerton good battles in defeat at Saturday’s sub-state tournament at Redbird Field in Luverne. Though Pipestone ultimately bowed out of the tournament, concluding its season with losses of 15-12 and 8-6, respectively, there were many exciting turns of play in both contests. Following a lengthy 10-inning opening-round contest between Russell-Tyler-Ruthton and Edgerton, Pipestone finally took the field against Windom for its opener, some 90 minutes behind schedule, and proceeded to impact the following game in kind. Each inning,...
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In early 2022, we adopted a new kitten, who we named Rocky, from the Sioux Falls Humane Society. He had a bit of a respiratory infection when we got him, so they sent some medicine home with us and we isolated him from the other pets for a while. He recovered and became a wonderful friend, known for loud purring, being absolutely crazy at about 5 a.m., and sneaking up on our other pets to give them a quick and unexpected smack to the behind. He’s a character. The day we were leaving for a vacation in early June, Rocky...
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A statewide beef tour that has been held each summer in Minnesota for more than 40 years will, for the first time, be co-hosted by Pipestone County. Murray County hosted the tour once in the 1980s and will co-host with Pipestone this summer. The tour is expected to draw upwards of 700 people from all over Minnesota, and some from South Dakota and Iowa. The annual Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) Summer Beef Tour and Trade Show will be Tuesday, July 18. Tour buses will leave from the Pipestone County Fairgrounds that morning, and will make stops at Baustian Feedlots,...
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After about eight months of discussion and research, the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board during its June 26 meeting identified projects it intends to take on with unused bond authority from 2019 and voted to proceed with the selling of bonds to finance the projects. School board members plan to install a turf field at Paulsen Field for an estimated [post_excerpt],800,000, build a new greenhouse for an estimated 5,339, upgrade the family and consumer science area to commercial kitchens for an estimated 4,381, upgrade the track at Paulsen Field for an estimated 0,000, and relocate the industrial technology classroom for...
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Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) is projecting a net profit of 5,500 in fiscal year 2024, which began July 1 and ends June 30, 2024. The PCMC Governing Board approved the budget during its June 29 meeting. The budget includes operating revenue of ,953,032. About 97 percent of that is expected to come from patient services revenue. Operating expenses are projected at ,492,464. Salaries and benefits account for about 55 percent of total expenses at ,856,379. Purchased services account for about 11 percent of expenses at ,506,565, supplies account for about 10 percent at ,105,524, and depreciation and amortization account...
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Since Caring Hands Dental Clinic opened in Pipestone just over a year ago on June 6, 2022, it has provided over 5,117 appointments to over 1,940 patients of all ages from 10 counties in southwest Minnesota, according to Caring Hands CEO Al Olsen. He said about 90 percent of those appointments were provided to patients who had state insurance programs for those with low incomes. The remaining 10 percent were for patients who paid cash or had private insurance. Unlike many dental clinics, Caring Hands, an Alexandria-based 501c3 non-profit organization, provides dental care to people with the state insurance programs,...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their June 26 meeting approved a general fund budget with a projected deficit of 6,648.32 for fiscal year 2024, which began July 1. General fund expenditures are projected to be ,453,076.16. The majority of that — ,836,710.46, or about 66 percent — is expected to be spent on salaries and benefits. Transportation is the next largest line item, accounting for another [post_excerpt],322,688, or 8 percent of the general fund budget. The rest is expected to be spent on fees, purchased services, utilities, insurance, maintenance, supplies and other expenses. General fund revenue is projected...
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I trust you all had an enjoyable and relaxing Fourth of July. I hope you took some time to reflect on this national holiday and considered again what a tremendous life we are afforded because of the thought, hard work, and sacrifice of our country’s revolutionists. The freedoms we enjoy; freedom to practice religion, freedom to own property, freedom to assemble, freedom to pursue happiness, and so many more, are not to be taken for granted. They were fought for in the late 1770’s and early 1780’s then preserved through two world wars and by perseverance through a host of...
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It looked like the Pipestone Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) efforts to spur sales of lots at Southwest Acres by reducing the prices from ,000 and ,000 to ,000 earlier this year had worked. At one point, it appeared that three lots would be sold. Then two of the interested buyers withdrew their offers and the EDA voted during its June 20 meeting not to sell the third lot. The potential buyer of that lot, Phillip Altman, planned to combine the lot with an adjacent lot he already owns, and on which he has a home, to provide extra yard space...
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Ruthton’s Buffalo Ridge Civic Organization (BRCO) is holding the annual 4th of July celebration with church in the park at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 2 and a full day of activities on July 4. The July 4 activities begin with a car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the parade at 11 a.m. The parade will begin on Smith Avenue and turn onto Aetna Street past the Ruthton City Park. Brenda Dagel, with the BRCO, said anyone who wants to participate in the parade should be at Peace Lutheran Church at 10 a.m. to line up. She...
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Higher than anticipated bids delayed a decision by the Pipestone City Council on an amendment to a property tax abatement that was approved last year for the Pipestone Development Company (PDC). The original abatement would have offset the cost for the PDC to install water and sewer infrastructure at the former Hill Elementary School property, which it owns. The amended resolution would make the city the beneficiary of the abatement rather than the PDC, so the city would pay for the infrastructure work and use tax revenue generated by the property to reimburse itself for the cost of the work...
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On Sunday, June 25, the Prairie Riders Saddle Club gathered for their first show of the year at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. Club members and outside participants competed in multiple races throughout the event, sharing with one another, their love of everything horses. Also shared, were their fond memories of Tanya Fey. The day prior to the event, the club received a special item they had purchased in memory of Fey who passed on November 11, 2021 as a result of a horse accident on her farm near Woodstock: a custom made bench commemorating her life. The bench was purchased...
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The Pipestone Planning Commission met Wednesday, June 14 for a regular meeting and to conduct three public hearings regarding conditional use permits (CUP). A fourth public meeting that was to involve the rezoning of the old Brown Elementary School property from residential zoning to highway business district and multi-family residential was struck from the agenda. In the first of the hearings, Clifton Tandeski and Krystal Gunderson were requesting a CUP to allow for a privacy fence to be constructed within a current utility easement at their home located at 801 Seventh Ave. SE. The proposed fence is in the backyard...
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The Pipestone County Commissioners held their annual Board of Appeals and Equalization meeting on Monday, June 12. The annual meeting allows for county citizens who question their property valuation to request a review by staff and the commissioners. Pipestone County Assessor Chris McChesney provided information to the commissioners relating to increases in various types of properties throughout the county. Residential properties in the city of Pipestone saw a typical increase in value of 6 to 35 percent. Edgerton residential property value increases were typically 12 to 40 percent. The increases were typically 12 to 30 percent in the city of...
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It’s June and, inside a Pipestone bank, two teen girls with crowns and sashes are standing beside a portable freezer, passing out dilly bars and chatting happily with anyone who comes their way. The next day they’ll be at an Edgerton grocery store and rest home; other days at schools, libraries, parades and more. Any given summer, their counterparts can be found around the state, doing the same types of things as the “goodwill ambassadors” of Minnesota’s dairy industry. But what is a dairy princess, and why have these girls found it to be a worthwhile use of their time?...
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Thanks to the efforts and gifts of the Meinders family, Pipestone’s community library will be gaining some ground and doing some remodeling work to improve its offerings. “Pipestone is still home. That’s where we grew up. I’ve lived pretty close to 50 years in Oklahoma, but still consider Pipestone my hometown,” said family representative Bob Meinders while speaking about the family’s motivation to improve the community library. “When it came to the library and having to move out [of the previous location in the school] nothing remained of our contribution to the library, so I just decided that I wanted...
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Split doubleheaders are always a difficult task. Factor in being on the road, nearly two hours away, and playing talented First Nite amateur baseball foes Fox Lake and Fairmont, and it’s no wonder the Pipestone A’s (2-9) must have felt snakebitten following its respective 3-2 (8 inn.) and 3-1 loss Sunday in Truman and Fairmont. Of course, it didn’t help matters that the A’s were late arriving for the first of their scheduled pair of seven-inning tilts against the Foxes, and despite scratching out a marker in the top of the first frame, quickly found themselves playing catch-up after one...
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TO THE EDITOR: We are writing to you today to express our sincere appreciation for the good work of Senator Bill Weber and Representative Joe Schomacker as they fought for affordable access to clean drinking water during this legislative session. Their intense focus on the unique issues facing our part of the state, and their ability to work in a bipartisan manner proved invaluable during the lengthy and often intense discussions related to critical infrastructure funding up at the Capitol. As Commissioners of Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System (LPRW), we are keenly aware of the water related challenges facing many...
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Father’s Day is a great time to pay tribute to those special father figures in our lives. Every year I struggle to know what gift would adequately show my appreciation to my own father. This year? No different. Struggle. I opted for old man shoes. You know, the slip-on shoes that don’t require you to bend over to tie them? I thought that was appropriate with the big 65th birthday this year. However, as I sat down to prepare for my column this week only childhood memories would fill my pages. My Dad is a strong, tall and hard working...
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On May 30, Earl DeWilde, 75, of rural Holland, headed to the Sioux Falls Convention Center (Denny Sanford Premier Center) to attend a banquet held by the Midwest Honor Flight. The banquet kicked off what would be a trip to Washington D.C. that took DeWilde and other Midwestern veterans to see war memorials and more in our nation’s capital city. Following the banquet, DeWilde and his daughter Renee Krosschell, who served as his guardian for the trip, checked into the hotel to rest before meeting in the lobby at 3:30 a.m. the next morning. The tour, he said, included all...
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Tyler Fruechte is the newest member of the Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board. The school board approved a resolution appointing him to the position during a special June 5 meeting. He will fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Randy Erdman, who moved out of the school district. Fruechte was selected from among three people who expressed interest in the position. During the meeting, school board member Mark Hiniker nominated Fruechte and school board member Daphne Likness nominated Kyle Evans for the position, but in the end all board members voted to appoint Fruechte. Fruechte’s appointment becomes effective...
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The Pipestone City Council plans to prohibit businesses that sell cannabis products from opening until Jan. 1, 2025, as allowed by state law. After that, businesses that are licensed by the state of Minnesota’s new office of cannabis management (OCM) will be allowed. City Attorney Jason Hill said during a special June 5 city council meeting that the OCM first has to be established and staffed, and will then make administrative rules and develop model ordinances and policies for cities. It’s expected to be late summer or early fall 2024 before any rules are developed or licenses are issued. Cities...
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Sunday, June 18 will kick off the start of the 34th Annual Water Tower Festival, with the Medallion Hunt beginning, and the release of clues starting at 5 p.m. on the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook and web page. Those who find the medallion and call the Chamber are eligible to win 0 in Chamber Checks. This year, the rest of the festival will run from Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25. Erica Volkir, the Executive Director of the Pipestone Chamber of Commerce, said that although the festival has moved from a four day weekend to a three...
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The Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board during a special June 5 meeting discussed the possibility of asking voters for funds to improve school facilities. The school board has been discussing six potential projects that it could take on using ,315,000 in available bonding authority that was approved by voters in 2019, but never used due to state law at the time. After hearing from school district staff about each potential project and touring the areas where those projects would take place, school board members expressed interest in taking on all six projects. Projects The first stop on the tour during...
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“You have to enjoy it and make memories; you don’t have to remember all the games, but try to remember the fun times, the hotel stays, the trips and all the bus rides.” Pipestone Area senior second baseman Tegan Tuinstra’s sentiment was backed up by each of the team’s eight senior players following the Arrows’ 5-3 Class AA state softball tournament consolation championship loss to the Proctor Rails Friday afternoon at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Although it wasn’t the way the senior-laden Arrows hoped to cap their season, those graduates have known nothing other than ‘state’ in their varsity...
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Hopeful of bringing back a lot of hardware from the 2023 Class A state track & field meet, Thursday and Friday at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael, the Pipestone Area Arrows managed to get their hands on a few medals. Seniors Aiden Voss and Caden Strasser earned three medals between them, while freshman Caiya Strasser and relay teammates Meredith Draper, Avarie Brecher and Aurora Winsel came up just short in their bid to make the finals of the 100-meter hurdles and 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays, respectively. Voss, who was head-and-shoulder above the competition in southwest Minnesota and Section...
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U.S. Army Veteran Merlin Menning, 82, of Pipestone, recently made the journey to Washington D.C. as part of the Midwest Honor Flight program. Menning was accompanied on the trip by his daughter and guardian Melanie Menning. On May 30, the father and daughter headed to Sioux Falls to stay in a hotel before being woken up at 1 a.m., in true Army style, to head to the airport, Menning said. “We got up at 1 a.m. to head to the airport to board a plane to Florida and then to Washington,” Menning said. “We ran around all day and saw...
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Pipestone Area senior Braxton Thompson and junior teammate Will DeBates wrapped up the 2023 boys’ golf campaign with an appearance at the second round of the Section 3AA tournament Wednesday at the Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake. Although neither player had great expectations of advancing to the Class AA state tournament, June 13-14 at the Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan, both learned valuable lessons that will serve them well in the future – no matter what stands before them. “I knew I didn’t have a very good shot after scoring 84 in the first round,” said Thompson, who...
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Two proved a tough number to endure Saturday afternoon at Yankee Field in Milroy, especially if you happen to be a Russell-Tyler-Ruthton baseball fan. Two errors, two runs and facing an exit from the double-elimination Section 3A baseball tournament following its 2-0 loss to The Sting of Yellow Medicine East, the Knights are likely trying to push the 2s out of their collective head prior to Tuesday’s (June 5) play-back bracket game versus the Murray County Central Rebels. “Against a team like YME, who I feel is, top-to-bottom, the best hitting team we’ll have seen this year, I thought Cody...
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Phase 3 is in full swing for the Pipestone Area track & field teams, as the Arrows pushed six athletes in seven events through to the Class A state meet, June 8-9 at St. Michael-Albertville in St. Michael, following their performances at Thursday’s Section 3A meet in Montevideo. The Arrows were strong throughout the day in Montevideo, moving into their ‘competition phase’ as they looked to qualify as many young athletes as possible for the season-ending event. Aiden Voss was the first Arrow on the day to punch his ticket to the state meet, as the Pipestone Area senior and...
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Despite making positive strides in all aspects of the game and becoming a more defensively consistent team as the ‘compact’ 2023 season progressed, the Pipestone Area baseball team (seeded 7th) simply didn’t have enough weapons to stave off No. 2 Luverne in the opening round of the Section 3AA playoffs Saturday morning at Redbird Field in Luverne – concluding its campaign at 8-12 with a 13-3 loss to the Cardinals. “We started five sophomores all year long, six at times, so that’s typically not a recipe for success at this level,” first-year Pipestone Area varsity head coach head Ryan Koopman...
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The Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team capped an arduous year of growth with an appearance at the Section 3A individual tournament Thursday afternoon in Redwood Falls. Having taken their lumps as a team throughout the 2023 campaign, primarily due to forfeiting the doubles tilts at nearly every dual meet, PAS threw its six players into the mix and had some fun Thursday. “We competed really well,” Pipestone Area head coach Colin Hoppe said. “The matches we won, Lucas Zupp winning his first match and Makhi (Winter) and Chase (Wilson) winning their first match, kept their focus and composure and continued...
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Thursday’s opening round of the boys’ Section 3AA golf tournament at Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake wasn’t without its surprises for Pipestone Area. The round started off well enough for most of the Arrows, and nearly simultaneous birdies sunk on Nos. 1 and 3 by Matt DeBates and Will DeBates offered great hope the side could qualify for the Wednesday’s (May 31) second round as a team. Unfortunately for the Arrows, the DeBates duo went in opposite directions thereafter. Will DeBates, who birdied Nos. 3, 6 and 16 on the day, ended up pacing the six-player team and qualifying...
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Home sweet home. The Pipestone Area track & field teams took full advantage of hosting the sub-Section 3A South meet at Paulsen Field in Pipestone Thursday evening in Pipestone, as the Arrows qualified a bounty of athletes for the Section 3A meet Thursday in Montevideo. Despite the weather woes that have accompanied this spring sports season, the Arrows stuck with their three-phase training plan and came out poised to make waves in the sub-Section pool – doing so quite well in the relays in particular. “It was a fantastic meet for us,” Pipestone Area head coach Todd Tinklenberg said. “We...
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After winning two straight by sweeping the Blue Earth Buccaneers in a Big South Conference twinbill last Tuesday at A’s Field in Pipestone, the Pipestone Area Arrows (6-9) must have been keen regarding the prospect of making it three consecutive home victories – carrying a 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh inning of its non-conference tilt against visiting Lac qui Parle Valley Saturday afternoon. However, a lapse in concentration with two out in the frame resulted in the visiting Eagles knotting the tally at 3-all and the Arrows’ bid for a third consecutive win called into question. LQPV...
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The Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team (No. 7) wrapped up its ‘team’ season with a 7-0 loss to No. 2 Redwood Valley in the opening round of the Section 3A team tournament Monday evening in Redwood Falls. Underdogs throughout the season simply in forfeiting the three doubles tilts before the match ever started, the Arrows never let the slim possibility of earning a team victory prevent them from not only putting its best foot forward, but also looking for consistent improvement up and down the lineup. “For a varsity team of four players to have the season that they did,...
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The Big South Conference big school softball champion jumped on the back of its highly-touted and highly-recruited pitcher Saturday afternoon at Paulsen Fields in Pipestone, as the Fairmont Cardinals gave Tegan Livesay an early two-run lead before watching the senior fan 17 batters – en route to a 4-1 Big South Conference championship game victory over small schools champion Pipestone Area (16-5). Certainly, 15 hits against PAS pitchers Mariah Moeller (3 inn., 1ER, 6H, 3K, 0BB) and Kyla Hubbling (4 inn., 0ER, 9H, 2K, 0BB) was enough to put pressure on the Arrow defense. Throw in the pressure of having...
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The Pipestone Area boys’ golf team came up short in its final home dual meet of the season Thursday afternoon at the Pipestone Country Club in Pipestone, bowing out to the visiting Redwood Valley Cardinals 161-162. Matt DeBates was in the hunt for medalist honors, carding a solid round of 37, but RWV’s Lincoln Orada was two strokes better in leading his side to victory. PAS junior Jackson Morgan stepped up as the Arrows’ No. 2 on the day, finishing with a round of 40, while the Arrows’ top golfer Braxton Thompson fired in a 41 – to place...
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Drivers in Ihlen will now experience a smoother ride thanks to a recent overlay project. The project started May 8 and was expected to be completed within a short period of time. City Clerk Melissa Wait said the project was expected to cost the city between ,000 and ,000. The work was done by Central Specialties Inc. out of Alexandria in conjunction with work the company was doing for Pipestone County, which made the project more affordable for the city. Pipestone County Highway Engineer Nick Bergman said the city reached out to the county a few years ago about potentially...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their May 9 meeting tapped the breaks on a proposal to bring fiber internet service to under served parts of the county after the estimated cost of the project increased by ,251,351, or about 52 percent, from earlier estimates to ,030,784. “The numbers have changed,” said Marlena Pfeiffer, a broadband consultant with Hometown Fiber. “We expected that. Not this much, but we expected it. However, the project is still financially feasible.” Hometown Fiber President Kyle Moorhead said the increase in the estimated cost of the project was based on bids for other projects that have come...
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Pipestone National Monument and the Minnesota Land Trust have proposed restoring land owned by the city of Pipestone east of North Hiawatha Avenue to natural wetlands and tallgrass prairie. According to the proposal, which was presented to the Pipestone Planning Commission on May 10, the goal is to improve water quality, mitigate flooding, enhance tourism value and support quality of life. The proposal indicates that the Pipestone Creek through the Monument land is polluted with E. coli, nitrates and pharmaceuticals, which pose a public health risk, and restoration of the land upstream could provide better filtration and potentially reverse those...
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Despite employing a Bullpen approach against the Redwood Valley Cardinals Monday evening in Redwood Falls, the Pipestone Area baseball team couldn’t find the timely hitting it needed to back up any of the five hurlers the Arrows sent to the bump – dropping a 7-1 Big South Conference decision to fall to 5-9 on the season. “We had our opportunities, had only two strikeouts, but lacked the timely hitting we needed – leaving seven runners on base,” Pipestone skipper Ryan Koopman said. The Arrows found themselves behind in a hurry, as a 3-run home run in the bottom of the...
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The Pipestone Area track & field teams had a solid day at the Big South Conference small schools championship Monday evening in Blue Earth, capturing several all-conference as well as winning several races on the night. “It was a great evening to run and the kids performed well,” Pipestone Area head coach Todd Tinklenberg said. “We had a lot of PRs (personal records), and those expected to compete for conference honors did just that.” As teams, the Arrows finished fourth in both the boys’ and girls’ meets in the seven-team competition, finishing with 81 points apiece. Luverne triumphed on both...
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The Arrows roared back from their initial losses of the season with a Big South Conference 7-0, 12-0 sweep of the visiting St. James Saints Thursday evening at Paulsen Fields in Pipestone. Pipestone Area (14-2) didn’t hang their collective head following last week’s losses to Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, but rather learned from the defeats as it makes a final push toward the Section 3AA tournament with stiffer competition over the next two weeks. “I definitely think we had to get used to better throwers,” Pipestone Area senior first baseman Kayla Hubbling said. “We can pretty much hit anybody; it’s a...
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When it’s good, it’s good, but when it’s not … Monday morning and afternoon it was the latter for the Pipestone Area golf teams, as inconsistencies from tee box to cup remained unchecked throughout the Big South Conference championships at Dakota Ridge Golf Club in Morton. A hopeful Arrow boys’ side fell well out of contention midway through Monday’s 18-hole event that was to decide the all-conference team crown as well as the individual accolades – going to the top 18 golfers over the four conference events (championships counting double). “Playing from the white tees, playing pick-and-clean-and-place out of your...
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The Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team dropped a pair of dual meets Monday evening in Montevideo, bowing out to the hosting Thunder Hawks 7-0 and coming up a match short in a 4-3 loss to Yellow Medicine East. The Thunder Hawks defended their home courts well Monday, as Pipestone Area managed a few games on foreign courts. Makhi Winter dropped a 4-6, 0-6 No. 1 singles decision to Tyson Quigey, while Lucas Zupp bowed out to Simon Fitzkappes 3-6, 2-6 at No. 2 singles. Cody Norberg came back to pick up a couple games in his 0-6, 2-6 No. 3...
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Angela Kennecke spoke to high school students at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Friday, May 12 about the fentanyl overdose that took the life of her daughter, Emily, in 2018 at the age of 21, and her efforts since then to increase awareness, promote prevention and end the stigma of addiction. “I’m here today to hopefully save some lives and to help you all make good choices,” she told the students. Her message was particularly relevant following the drug related deaths of two former PAS students since the beginning of the school year. She showed photos of those students — Justin...
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TRACK & FIELD A skeleton crew of Pipestone Area athletes competed at Tuesday’s Trojan Relays in Worthington. The PAS girls placed third behind Fairmont (166.5) and Marshall (146.5) in the seven-team AA class with 106 points, while an injury-plagued boys’ side placed seventh with 48 markers. PAS senior Arinn McGee and freshman teammate Caiya Strasser earned doubles on the day, as the former won both the shot put (37’-6.5,” PR) and discus (115’-9”) while the latter triumphed in both hurdle events – winning the 100 and 300-meter races in respective times of 16.77 and 50.48 seconds. Senior Meredith Draper captured...
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The Pipestone chapter of the Future Farmers of America hosted its annual awards banquet Wednesday, May 10 at the blue building at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. Attendees enjoyed a dinner while celebrating awards earned by chapter members, and other milestone achievements. Recipients of awards this year included Lane Fruechte, outstanding Middle School Member; Alivia Fruechte, Outstanding 9th Grade Member; Rylee Folkerts, Outstanding 10th Grade Member; Outstanding 11th Grade Member, Chloe Olivier and Cameron Paulsen, Outstanding 12th Grade Member. Chapter members were also recognized for earning different degrees and achievements. In the Discovery Degree category, recognized members were Kenley DeWilde, Kristian...
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TO THE EDITOR: Friday, May 26, has been designated as National Poppy Day, a tradition found in many countries around the world. Poppies have a long history of being used to honor the dead, beginning in Greek and Roman mythology. Since 1921, following World War I, the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary have distributed millions of red crepe paper poppies to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and support the current veterans and service members and their families. These poppies are hand made by veterans and offered in exchange for donations. All donated funds are given directly to...
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Recently, I spent nearly an entire weekend sitting in the sun, planting a garden and doing yard work under the guise of a garage sale. It was the first time in quite a while that I had a garage sale and perhaps the first time ever that I’ve done so during the citywide rummage weekend. Our sale mostly involved clothes, toys and books that the kids have outgrown. To convince the kids to part with more items, I told them they could have the money from whatever they sold. In addition to the kids’ stuff, I added some clothing and...
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Pipestone City Council members during a special May 1 meeting revisited the idea of limiting the use of commercial dumpsters. “My vision here is to have an ordinance in place that simply does not allow commercial dumpsters for household garbage,” said Mayor Dan Delaney. He suggested that commercial dumpsters should be limited to uses such as remodeling projects or when cleaning out a home. He said he was aware of dumpsters that are left on properties full of household garbage for months at a time, which is offensive to neighbors and poses a potential health risk. “It’s a health hazard...
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Farmers in southwest Minnesota have spent a lot of time in their fields during the last week or two, as soil temperatures are finally staying above that 50-degree mark that allows corn to germinate. “Soil temps are just starting to be fit for corn germination,” said Melissa Runck, Extension educator in ag production systems for Pipestone and Murray counties. “The last couple weeks, our air temperatures have not been over 50 degrees for a while and staying over 50 overnight. But, the extended forecast looks like we shouldn’t have to worry about that anymore.” For many it has felt like...
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The Pipestone City Council will hold a public hearing during its regular May 15 meeting to take comments on a proposed amendment to a property tax abatement it approved last year to offset the cost to install water and sewer infrastructure at the former Hill School property. The Pipestone Development Company (PDC) owns the property and plans to build 14 owner-occupied twin homes at the site. Under the original abatement, the PDC would have paid for the infrastructure work and the city would have used tax revenue generated by the property to reimburse the PDC for the cost of the...
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On May 14, Todd Morgan will be inducted posthumously into the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Instrumental Music Hall of Fame during the Spring Pops Concert at the PAS auditorium. Morgan was nominated by his family, which includes his wife, Sally, and children, Paige, Brock, Kirk and Laurel. Trava Olivier, one of three members of the Pipestone Area Band Parents Association who comprised the Hall of Fame Committee that selected Morgan for the honor, said the committee felt Morgan was the most deserving of the six people nominated this year. “All of the nominees were outstanding musicians in their careers at...
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The Pipestone Area boys’ golf team might just have turned a corner. After struggling with their collective mindset through the early portion of the campaign, the Arrows carded a third-best 329 at the last of three Big South Conference (west division) events of the season Monday evening at the Marshall Country Club in Marshall. The Luverne Cardinals topped the field of six teams with a team low of 303, while the hosting Tigers scored 311 to finish as the runners-up. Worthington (334), Windom (335) and Redwood Valley (349) rounded out the team standings in Marshall. Pipestone Area senior Braxton Thompson...
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Although the Pipestone Area baseball team suffered another setback in its push for higher seeding for the upcoming Section 3AA tournament, bowing out to St. James 6-0 and 4-3 (suspended) in a Big South Conference doubleheader Friday in St. James, the Arrows (4-8), positive strides were made versus the Saints. “We had opportunities against their ace in the opener, Merrick (Heidebrink) had three hits, Trevor (Chauslett) two and… we had hits,” Pipestone Area head coach Ryan Koopman said. “We made adjustments in facing the lefty the second time through the lineup and continued to hit the ball; unfortunately for us,...
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The Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team suffered a pair of Big South Conference losses during the week, bowing out to Worthington and St. James Friday and Thursday, respectively. Chase Wilson pulled off the lone Arrow victory in the two tilts, besting Worthington’s Bennett Oberloh 6-4, 6-1 at No. 4 singles Friday afternoon in Worthington. Makhi Winter struggled for games against the Trojans’ No. 1 player Ian Barber, snatching just one game in a 0-6, 1-6 loss. Lucas Zupp claimed a few more in his No. 2 singles match versus Ezra Bonnett, bowing out 1-6, 2-6, while Cody Norberg picked up...
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The Pipestone Area track & field team competed in the Section 3A True Team meet Monday evening in Slayton. The PAS boys placed third in the team standings behind Luverne and Southwest Christian/Edgerton, while the Arrow girls finished fifth. Results were not made available at press time and will likely be made available on athletic.net Wednesday. “We had a really nice day; I thought all the kids performed really well,” Pipestone Area head coach Todd Tinklenberg said. Our sprinters and our hurdlers performed extremely well; their times are really starting to come down. “We had a couple kids gone because...
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The Arrows’ all too comfortable Big South Conference sweeps of the Redwood Valley Cardinals and Blue Earth Buccaneers, Thursday and Monday, respectively, likely won’t be remembered for much more than a week. The scores were lopsided, while the innings few, but for perhaps the first time all season, the Arrows were… themselves. “I think we hit the ball a little better than we have, but I think the biggest thing is we have some really tough games coming up here against Lake Crystal, tomorrow, and St. James on Thursday… LeSueur next week and Edgerton on the following Friday. It’s a...
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Looking to get off the schnide in a big way, the Pipestone Area baseball team (5-8) ended its recent six-game skid with an extremely well-played 8-2 Big South Conference victory over the visiting Windom Eagles Tuesday night at A’s Field in Pipestone. Just one defensive miscue was made between sides, and both the Arrows and Eagles put the baseball in play – posting six and 10 hits, respectively, in keeping the game moving at a quick pace throughout. “That’s the team I know we have,” exclaimed Pipestone Area head coach Ryan Koopman. “No one played outside themselves… just played within...
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Further testing is being done in the area around the former Toggery Cleaners property at 109 Second Street NE in Pipestone to see if vapors from hazardous chemicals related to the former dry cleaning business at the site are seeping into neighboring buildings. Workers with environmental consulting and testing firm Braun Intertec were on site the last week of April and the first week of May installing sub-slab soil vapor sampling points to test the air under neighboring buildings, including the Pipestone Publishing office, the Ewert Recreation Center and a nearby daycare. Contaminated soil vapors can move through the ground...
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As long as the Ewert Recreation Center has been a part of the Pipestone Park and Recreation Department, so has Karen Boehm. She started working for the city on Nov. 10, 1981, which was five days before the center opened. She plans to retire on May 12. About the same time she was offered the job with the city, Boehm said she was also offered a job at the therapy department at the hospital. She chose the recreation department because it worked better with her young family’s schedule and she was “totally into sports.” Boehm grew up in Verdi, playing...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) senior Brooklyn Goelz finished her final speech season at the top of her field April 29, taking first place in the extemporaneous reading category at the state speech tournament in Apple Valley. “I’m proud,” Goelz said. “It was unexpected.” Goelz previously earned a trip to the state tournament in 2021, but did not make it to the final round. The tournament was online that year due to the pandemic and Goelz said it “didn’t really feel like state.” PAS typically sends at least one student to the state speech tournament, but the last PAS student to...
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With warmer weather finally here, and bodies of water across the state finally melting, many lakes and ponds in the area are seeing fish that didn’t survive wash up on their shores. This year, the pond at Hiawatha Pageant Park felt the effects of a harsh winter, with a plethora of washed up fish littering the shoreline until recently. Greg Carrow, a board member and the treasurer of the Hiawatha Pageant Park Commission, said that it isn’t easy to determine exactly how many fish perished over the winter with some potentially sinking to the bottom and others being consumed by...
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After months of remodeling, the Pipestone County Museum is reopening its first floor and holding an open house reception for people to come see the updated space on Friday, May 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The first thing museum patrons will notice is a larger programming area. A storage room was removed to open up the room and a partial wall with a painting creates a barrier between the programming area and exhibit area. Meinders Community Library donated padded chairs for the programming area, replacing the metal folding chairs that were used in the past. The museum held...
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Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board members voted 5 to 1 during a special meeting on April 25 to suspend the search for the school district’s next superintendent. They plan to hire an interim superintendent for the 2023-24 school year and resume the search for a permanent superintendent next year in hopes of having a larger candidate pool to choose from. “It is a small pool,” said Lee Warne with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA), which the school board hired to assist with the superintendent search. Neither he nor the school board would say exactly how small, but Warne said...
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The Arrows’ challenging boys’ tennis campaign didn’t take any abrupt turns during the week, but it did see Pipestone Area continue to make the most of its opportunities to improve – collectively and individually. The Arrows suffered a pair of losses, in and out of conference play Thursday and Monday, respectively. Thursday’s Big South Conference tilt against visiting Redwood Valley saw the Arrows take a 6-1 loss. Makhi Winter claimed the lone PAS point on the afternoon, as the sophomore second-year player edged Cole Johnson in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, at No. 2 singles. Although he forced several deuce...
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Facing several teams that will be competing against the Arrows at the Section 3A track & field meet later this spring, the Pipestone Area boys’ and girls’ squad performed well in head-to-head battles at Thursday evening’s Worthington Invitational in Worthington. The Arrow girls were third behind Worthington (2AA, 151 points) and section opponent Luverne (119) in the team standings, with 72 points, beating out Windom (70) and section foes Southwest Christian/Edgerton (53) and Canby/Minneota (48) along the way. The PAS boys also tallied 72 points on the day, placing them fourth behind section opponents Luverne (181), Canby/Minneota (99) and...
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A single blow-up inning, here or there, has not only been the Arrows’ modus operandi this spring, it’s been their downfall throughout a campaign full of top-notch competition within the Big South Conference. Such was the case in the Arrows’ three BSC losses during the week, an 11-0/9-5 BSC road sweep at the hands of the Jackson County Central Huskies Monday evening in Jackson, and an 11-3 loss to the visiting Redwood Valley Cardinals Thursday evening in Pipestone. “The first inning was the blow up in Game 1; Merrick (Heidebrink) had to get seven outs in the first inning, and...
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The Pipestone Area golf teams failed to make incursions on the top teams in the conference during Monday evening’s Big South Conference (west) events in Luverne (boys) and Windom (girls). Paced by Matt DeBates’ eighth-place round of 43 in a field of 35, the Arrows carded a fourth-best total of 180 in Luverne. The Windom Eagles, a team the Arrows have beaten, posted a team low of 168 – gaining ground via a medalist round (tie) of 39 from Carter Rossow. The hosting Cardinals (169) proved second, while Marshall tallied 172 strokes in capturing third place. Breylon Kuiper (10th overall)...
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The Knights roared back from Friday’s difficult and disappointing Camden Conference loss to the Minneota Vikings with a 16-hit barrage against the conference foe Dawson-Boyd Saturday morning in Dawson. Spearheaded by seven doubles off the bats of Drew Chandler (3), Isaac Dagel (2), Cody Wichmann and Gabe Elton, the Knights claimed an 18-1 victory in five frames. Hayden Gravley tossed all five innings for the visiting Knights (3-1), giving up no earned runs on three this while striking out seven and walking no one. Chandler finished with three RBI on his trio of two-baggers, while Dagel also went 3-for-4 in...
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Still in search of consistent play under consistent scheduling and consistent weather, the Pipestone Area softball team continued to muddle through unscathed to open the 2023 campaign. The defending Section 3AA champion Arrows, picked up a trio of Big South Conference victories during the week to remain undefeated on the season at 7-0, but have yet to play their best softball. Although Monday evening’s 6-4 victory over the Luverne Cardinals, in Luverne, came on the heels of prom for both schools, Pipestone Area head coach Troy Bouman knows his squad has to be better. “It’s the Monday after prom, and...
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Like everyone else, I am very much looking forward to the warm summer months, despite the fact that I spent much of the last year in the hot Middle Eastern deserts. Even though I was not here to endure the harsh winter our area experienced, I did catch the tail end of it when I came home and I must say I was not impressed. Over the past few weeks, I have felt the cold bitter winds of Buffalo Ridge passing through my old Victorian home, which has led me to either spend much of my time sun bathing in...
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Like everyone else, I am very much looking forward to the warm summer months, despite the fact that I spent much of the last year in the hot Middle Eastern deserts. Even though I was not here to endure the harsh winter our area experienced, I did catch the tail end of it when I came home and I must say I was not impressed. Over the past few weeks, I have felt the cold bitter winds of Buffalo Ridge passing through my old Victorian home, which has led me to either spend much of my time sun bathing in...
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May is the time to plant our gardens. Hopefully the seeds and plants are bought and some basic plans are started. When I was young my dad would take the tractor and plow into the lawn and plow the garden. Some would do major tillage with a spade. Now with farmers and gardeners greatly reducing the amount of tillage to start a garden the major work of the hardest part of gardening is reduced. This helps the seniors to keep gardening a bit longer. We still do need to bury old stems and leaves. As far as leaves go, I...
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May is the time to plant our gardens. Hopefully the seeds and plants are bought and some basic plans are started. When I was young my dad would take the tractor and plow into the lawn and plow the garden. Some would do major tillage with a spade. Now with farmers and gardeners greatly reducing the amount of tillage to start a garden the major work of the hardest part of gardening is reduced. This helps the seniors to keep gardening a bit longer. We still do need to bury old stems and leaves. As far as leaves go, I...
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The Pipestone Area track & field teams finished in the top half of the team standings at the annual Bob Nangle Relays Tuesday evening at Paulsen Field in Pipestone. The Arrow girls claimed third place at the nine-team meet, posting a team tally of 100 points behind Luverne (191.5) and Southwest Christian/Edgerton (109). The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights were fifth in the girls’ meet with 57 markers. On the boys’ side, the Arrows placed fourth with 93 points. Luverne (194) emerged as the team victor, while SWC/E (116) and Murray County Central (98) placed second and third, respectively. R-T-R (44) was sixth...
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The Pipestone Area track & field teams finished in the top half of the team standings at the annual Bob Nangle Relays Tuesday evening at Paulsen Field in Pipestone. The Arrow girls claimed third place at the nine-team meet, posting a team tally of 100 points behind Luverne (191.5) and Southwest Christian/Edgerton (109). The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights were fifth in the girls’ meet with 57 markers. On the boys’ side, the Arrows placed fourth with 93 points. Luverne (194) emerged as the team victor, while SWC/E (116) and Murray County Central (98) placed second and third, respectively. R-T-R (44) was sixth...
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A ground breaking ceremony was held Tuesday, May 2 for the Schroeder Center at the corner of Second Street NW and Second Ave. NW in Pipestone. Representatives of the Pipestone County Area Food Shelf and Pipestone Senior Center, as well as those who helped raise funds for the building, which will house the senior center, food shelf and Lutheran Social Services Meals on Wheels program, thanked the community for its support for the project. “This is just a perfect example of what we can do when we work together,” said Pipestone Mayor Dan Delaney. Pipestone Senior Center Treasurer Steve Weets...
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A ground breaking ceremony was held Tuesday, May 2 for the Schroeder Center at the corner of Second Street NW and Second Ave. NW in Pipestone. Representatives of the Pipestone County Area Food Shelf and Pipestone Senior Center, as well as those who helped raise funds for the building, which will house the senior center, food shelf and Lutheran Social Services Meals on Wheels program, thanked the community for its support for the project. “This is just a perfect example of what we can do when we work together,” said Pipestone Mayor Dan Delaney. Pipestone Senior Center Treasurer Steve Weets...
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The city of Holland is developing plans for an estimated ,964,000 worth of improvements to its water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure. About a half-dozen residents of the city attended a public hearing the Holland City Council held on April 20 to present information and take questions about the plans. The problems and the proposed solutions According to information presented at the hearing, Holland’s sanitary sewer system was built in 1950 and is a completely gravity flow system consisting of about 9,300 feet of clay pipe. Deterioration of the clay pipe has caused significant inflow and infiltration into the city’s...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) plans to look into the cost to acquire the property and demolish the condemned house at 214 Second Ave. SE, potentially clearing the way for a new home to be built at the site. The idea was first brought to the EDA back in December. At that time, Pipestone Development Company (PDC) President Jeremy Whipple said the PDC was acquiring the vacant lot to the south of 214 Second Ave. SE, which it has since done, and would potentially sell or donate that lot to the EDA. If the EDA acquired 214, the two...
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On Wednesday, April 19, the Marshall based Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) hosted its first ‘Arty Party’ in Pipestone County at the Hiawatha Lodge in Pipestone. According to it’s mission statement, SMAC is a nonprofit organization with a mission of encouraging the growth and development of the arts in Southwest Minnesota by serving as a source of funds and technical services which enable local organizations, educational institutions and individuals to sponsor and/or create and promote the arts in their communities. The organization serves 18 counties in the southwest part of the state, including Pipestone County. The Pipestone party featured two...
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Earlier this month, Madalynn (Madi) Garcia, an 11-year-old fifth grader at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS), spoke to her classmates about autism in recognition of autism awareness month. It is a topic she knows well because her twin brother, Maxx, has autism. In the letter that she wrote and read to her classmates (which is printed on our Viewpoints page) she said she sees autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Her mother, Trinidad Garcia, said Madi came up with the letter all on her own, and also shared books the family has about autism with her classmates. Garcia...
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The Pipestone Area baseball team improved to 3-2 on the season with an 8-2 Big South Conference victory over the Worthington Trojans Monday evening in Worthington. Senior hurler Kellen Johnson earned the pitching victory, giving up one earned run on five hits over five innings on the bump. He struck out nine and walked three before yielding to Landon Quist in the sixth. The sophomore gave up no runs on no hits, neither striking out nor walking a batter. PAS junior Riley closed out the tilt, giving up one earned run on one hit, walking one and fanning one. Bosma...
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Competing on its home course at the Pipestone Country Club in Pipestone Monday evening, the Pipestone Area boys’ golf team might be fortunate to have placed fourth at the six-team Big South Conference (west division) event. The Arrows totaled 173 strokes for the nine-hole round, as Nos. 1 and 6 shined and Nos. 2-4 struggled – to Pipestone Area head coach Craig Boeddeker’s dismay. “It was not what I expected based on the day before and how the kids have been hitting the ball on the range,” he said. “It was disappointing to see scores from Nos. 2-4 that were...
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Both former Pipestone Area hurlers tasted the bittersweetness of Senior Day on their respective home diamonds Sunday. Though the end of their playing careers with the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs and University of Minnesota, Morris, Cougars will conclude this spring, neither Shelby Bloemendaal nor Adrianna Johnson is expected to wander far from a softball field following their swan song appearances. A dynamic duo from the circle for the Arrows throughout their high school careers, graduating in 2018 and 2019 after helping Pipestone Area secure the Minnesota State High School League Class AA third-place trophy as seniors during those campaigns,...
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Looking to push its record to 4-2 on the season Tuesday night at Island Park in Windom, the Pipestone Area baseball team shot itself in the foot several times – resulting in a deceptively lopsided 11-4 loss to the hosting Eagles. Seven of the Eagles’ 11 markers were earned on the night, leaving senior starter Merrick Heidebrink (6.2 inn., 7ER, 8H, 5K, 3W) scratching his head throughout the Big South Conference tilt. “It was that blow-up inning, that second inning where we had nobody in (runs), two outs, we throw one away, and they score six runs after that,” Pipestone...
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TO THE EDITOR: This month is autism awareness month. Some of you guess are probably thinking what is autism awareness month? Well autism awareness month basically spreads awareness for people with autism. It also explains how to support autistic people, what it means to be autistic, and what challenges people with autism face. Autism is seen as a disability but I see it as a different ability. There are many different types of autism so I may explain autism in a certain way but other people may not have the same experience. Autism has an effect on the brain. It...
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TO THE EDITOR: I would like to thank whoever took the wreath off my parents grave at the Catholic cemetery in Pipestone. Kathy Baker
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After our long and snowy winter, everyone is excited for spring. Gardeners are anxious to get their fingers in the dirt. The spring season is an exercise in patience as the weather is warm one day and snowy and windy the next. As we are looking around the yard, most of us are finding a lot of winter damage. Due to our deep snow cover, deer and rabbits had a difficult time finding food. So, they invited themselves to our yards and gardens and had a feast. If you had protected your trees and shrubs with wire cages or tree...
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One of my favorite weekends of the year is here! Pipestone Area Schools prom is this Saturday with grand march at 6 p.m. Now I don’t always get to attend in person, but social media allows me to see all the high school students dressed to their best with the fancy dresses, hair, shoes and cars. Every year I am amazed at all the pictures and preparation that these young adults go through for the big day. The evolution of prom has certainly been interesting over the years. Not to make this mom of four sound any older than she...
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This year’s Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) prom on Saturday, April 29 will have a masquerade theme. It will feature burgundy, gold and black decorations including masks, feathers, lighted trees, a large staircase, windows and plenty of gossamer. The theme, colors and decor were selected by the Junior Class Committee, which includes Taylor Post, Alyssa Enger, Gabby Petersen, Keera Pottratz, Ryleigh Nissen, Davina Darveaux, Naomi Wallace and Sam Spaethe, with oversight from prom coordinators Jaime Danks, who teaches Spanish, and Alison Olberding, who teachers social studies. Committee members have been developing plans and raising funds for prom since the start of...
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Recently, Reclaim Community was awarded a grant of ,000 through the Minnesota Historical Society, to contract with an architectural firm to prepare construction documents for their preservation of the 1939 Jasper School addition roof. The school, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is in need of a roof replacement over the 1939 wing, as the patch job done five years ago is starting to fail. Elicia Madetzke, Founder and President of Reclaim Community, said that the rest of the roof over the school is not a concern at this time. Madetzke said that she applied for...
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Pipestone County is now two-thirds complete with its transition from a county-based water management plan to participating in the state’s One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) initiative. The Pipestone Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has adopted the Des Moines River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, and both the SWCD and the Pipestone County Board of Commissioners agreed the county should help create a plan for the Redwood River watershed. The SWCD has already adopted the Missouri River Basin comprehensive watershed management plan. The Des Moines River plan, which was approved by the SWCD board during its meeting on Thursday, April 13,...
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Soon-to-be graduates at Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) recently got a taste of what it’s like to earn a living, pay bills and make all the challenging decisions that go along with being an adult during an event called “Reality Check.” To get started, students were assigned a career with a salary, used a plinko board to determine their marital status and picked rubber ducks to see how many children they would have. They then went on to open a bank account, get a home, buy a car, pay for utilities, buy groceries, pay for daycare, adopt pets and make a...
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Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board members will hold a special meeting Tuesday, April 25 to select finalists who will be interviewed for the superintendent position. We will release the names of the finalists online as soon as possible following the board’s decision and in the May 4 issue of the Pipestone County Star. The school board plans to hold the first round of interviews during special meetings May 3 and, if necessary, May 4. A second round of interviews will be held and a new superintendent will be selected during a special meeting on May 10. All of those meetings...
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Although having to play in adverse weather and venues opposite of those scheduled, the Pipestone Area softball team appears to be moving in the right direction in its early-season tilts. After tripping up the Windom Eagles Tuesday (April 11) in Windom, the Arrows (4-0) claimed a second straight sweep Thursday at home – knocking off the visiting Marshall Tigers 11-0 and 9-5 in Big South Conference action at Paulsen Fields. “At Windom we didn’t hit the ball extremely well, but we did what we needed to do; and against Marshall, a decent squad, we hit the ball a lot better...
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Despite taking on the MACCRAY Wolverines with just four players Thursday evening in Pipestone, the Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team nearly pulled off an unexpected victory. Forfeiting all three doubles matches, and needing four victories in singles play, the Arrows (0-1) earned three in bowing out 3-4 in their season opener. PAS junior Lucas Zupp claimed a 6-2, 6-3 straight-set victory over the Wolverines’ top player Josiah Seehusen at No. 1 singles, and teammates/classmates Chase Wilson and Cody Norberg followed suit. The former defeated MACCRAY’s Andre Gates, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 3 singles, while the latter knocked off Juan Del...
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Tinkering with lineups as the weather tinkers with the athletes in the early portion of the spring sports season, the Pipestone Area track & field teams had their second competition of the campaign Monday evening in Luverne. The meet, actually put on by Marshall, saw just four squads take to the oval and throwing and jumping pits – offering the Arrows, Marshall Tigers, Hills-Beaver Creek Patriots and Luverne Cardinals a relaxed atmosphere throughout. “It’s always good to get that first one or two (meets) out of the way to figure out what we can work on and put together,” Pipestone Area...
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Still feeling out the early-season opposition while shuffling players in and out of the lineup in search of the solid nine that will start as the campaign moves into the postseason, the Pipestone Area baseball team split a pair of non-conference tilts against Murray County Central and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Tuesday (April 11) and Friday at Slayton and Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., respectively. After comfortably handling the Panthers 13-2 on Tuesday, to move to 2-0 on the season, the Arrows (2-1) came up against a talented, sharp-swinging Rebel squad Friday evening. Battling not only the Rebels’ gifted lineup, but also...
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The National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Minnesota Chapter) will induct 10 new members, April 22, 2023 at the Austin Holiday Inn Conference Center in Austin. The inductions and program will be from 3-6 p.m. with a silent auction held from noon-6 p.m. Pipestone’s Richard ‘Dick’ Saxlund will be inducted and receive the Lifetime Service Award at the ceremony Saxlund has given back 42 years to the sport of wrestling. A Lisbon, N.D. native, Saxlund graduated from Mayville State University (North Dakota), where he was a standout wrestler and football player for four years in both sports. He is a member...
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Even though the turkey vultures were circling the diamond in the fourth inning of Tuesday evening’s Big South Conference contest, the Arrows kept battling. Ultimately, the Pipestone Area baseball team wasn’t able to overcome a 5-0 deficit and dropped to 2-2 on the young season following its 5-1 loss to the hosting Luverne Cardinals at Redbird Field in Luverne; but the Arrows’ effort never waned. “Merrick Heidebrink (5 inn., 1ER, 9H, 3K, 2W) pitched well enough to win this ballgame today,” Pipestone Area head coach Ryan Koopman said. “Only one of their five runs was earned. The effort was there,...
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A couple months ago my dad and I stopped at a fast food restaurant while we were out running an errand. We went inside, decided what we wanted and waited for someone to take our order. There were workers there, but no one at the counter. People walked by, but no one spoke to us or even acknowledged that we were there. Finally, I’d had enough and told my dad we should go somewhere else. He then noticed a screen behind us where customers could place their orders and suggested that we try that. Instead of telling another human what...
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JBS Pipestone announced on Monday, April 17 that it was donating 5,000 to the city of Pipestone to fund two new community-enriching projects through its Hometown Strong program. A 5,000 donation will be used to make upgrades to the newly-named JBS Sportsplex, which encompasses the new soccer fields east of the softball fields near Westview Park and Paulsen Field. The upgrades will include a new concession stand, restrooms, a food truck area and more picnic tables. JBS previously contributed 0,000 to build the soccer fields in 2020. In addition, a ,000 donation will be used to create 10 pickleball courts...
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The Pipestone City Council during its April 3 meeting voted to demolish the former Chinese restaurant building at 211 Second St. NW. No one has been hired yet to do the work. The council also declared as surplus property items that had been left inside the restaurant when it closed several years ago. Those items will be sold by online auction. Pipestone City Council members approved the purchase of the property in December for ,000 from Guo Ying Zheng. The council did not discuss any plans for the property when it approved the purchase, but Myron Koets, who was mayor...
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The Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club is kicking off its fundraising effort for a gun range with its first annual banquet Saturday, April 22 at the Pipestone American Legion. The club plans to develop the gun range on property northeast of Pipestone at 1491 131st Street (Pipestone County Road 6) in Section 31 of Rock Township. It bought the property from Pipestone County last summer and has since received approval from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to develop the range on the site. That approval was needed because the MPCA has monitoring wells on the property due to its location next...
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Gene Raak, of rural Edgerton, recently returned from Wisconsin with about 2,500 one-year-old tree plugs. He’ll plant the trees in one-gallon plastic pots on a cement pad where he used to feed cattle at his farm and raise them for two years until they get to be about 1 or 2 feet tall. His brother, Steve Raak, who lives in Wisconsin, will then market the trees on social media. Raak said they target the sales in about 20 cities, primarily within a 150 to 200-mile radius of Raak’s farm. They then take loads of trees to the cities and fulfill...
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Leon H. Moore Park in Pipestone is the latest site at which a group of community members have expressed interest in building a veterans memorial. Members of the veterans memorial committee presented their plans and a model of the proposed memorial to the Pipestone City Council during its April 3 meeting. The memorial would be 68 feet by 28 feet. An archway in the front would be nine feet high and the opening between the columns of the arch would be six feet wide. The words “Pipestone Veterans Memorial” would be printed across the top of the arch. There would...
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Hoping to build off of last year’s success on both the boys’ and girls’ sides of the ‘fairway,’ the Pipestone Area golf teams are hoping to shake off an early-season indoor practice interruption and get out on various southwest Minnesota courses this week. Still rather low in numbers compared to most of the surrounding programs, the Arrows are looking froward rather than back as they look to advance more than 3-4 players to the second round of the section tournament and beyond this spring. The PAS girls have just two players again, with freshmen Vivian Brockberg and Olivia Weber returning...
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It wasn’t flawless, but it was about as good a start to the season as the Pipestone Area baseball team could have hoped for as the visiting Arrows (1-0) doubled up the Adrian Dragons 4-2 in non-conference action Monday evening in Adrian. And outside of more looking strikeouts than he’d prefer, Pipestone Area skipper Ryan Koopman was quite pleased with the Arrows’ performance under clear, calm skies. “Seven backwards Ks and we can’t have that,” he said. “I’d rather have you swing in the dirt or at your eyes than looking. So, we have to control our fate at the...
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In this week’s edition we have a story about the latest proposal from a group passionate about bringing a veteran’s memorial to the community. I applaud all involved for their efforts, and think this latest site and design proposal has great merit. Like most people, I’ve always been in favor of building a memorial in Pipestone and think now is the time. I’m asking the Pipestone City Council to give strong consideration and approval to the group’s request for some space at Moore Park to construct this memorial to the bravest amongst us. In covering the efforts to bring this...
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Pipestone Area School (PAS) Board members during their March 27 meeting took their first look at two potential calendars for the 2023-24 school year. They’ll revisit the topic and likely approve one of the options at their April 24 meeting. In the meantime, Superintendent Kevin Enerson said, people are welcome to provide input on the proposed options. Calendar committee members and school board members, Chrissy DeBates and Daphne Likness, met with staff members to develop the calendar options. Both options would begin school on Sept. 5, 2023 and end the year on May 30, 2024, and have 173 student days....
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Those who drive on U.S. Highway 75 past Pipestone’s industrial park might have noticed that the sign that used to say Hocking International Laboratories now says Synsus. Synsus Plant Manager Kyle Ricks said the name change took effect Nov. 1 and the sign was changed about three months ago. Synsus Chief Commercial Officer Mark Auchampach said the change reflects a change in ownership of the company and more accurately reflects what the company does. Hocking International Laboratories was founded by the Hocking family in San Diego County, Calif. about 48 years ago. Auchampach said the family sold the majority of...
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No need to catch a flight to New York (or anywhere else) for this Broadway show. Rather, join the Al Opland Singers at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center April 13 through 16 for a night of Broadway and showbiz tunes that have been handpicked to entertain local audiences of all ages. “It is basically a blast of Broadway tunes,” said Jessica Potts, producer and choreographer for the show. “There’s a lot of people that aren’t going to get to New York to see a Broadway production, or even a traveling Broadway show,” added Bronwyn Jones, producer and costumer. “So, we...
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Woodstock Communications General Manager Terry Nelson expressed several concerns to the Pipestone County Commissioners during their May 28 meeting about a fiber optic internet project the county is considering with Hometown Fiber. The county has been discussing the possibility of bringing fiber internet service to under served parts of the county with Hometown Fiber since last fall. In October the commissioners approved paying the company ,900 to see what it would take to build a network and in February they approved paying the company ,890 to provide technical representation, and funding and grant application services for the development of a...
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It’s likely to be a case of the tortoise and the hare for the Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team this spring. After graduating a sizable class of talented players last June, just four players with any experience return to the courts for the Arrows. And with the possibility of three additional players, just one having actually committed, PAS will likely be playing catch-up throughout the 2023 campaign. Though the Arrows will be giving up a lot just to compete this season, having limited numbers could actually have benefits. “Not having a full lineup has its disadvantages, because we’re giving up...
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“I had a coach in college who always asked us if we were a why-me or try-me type of player? When you make an error, do you feel sorry for yourself or is your mentality, ‘give me another one right now?’” And Pipestone Area first-year head baseball coach Ryan Koopman is likely to be asking his players similar questions throughout the 2023 campaign as he and assistants Mitchel Carson and Cody Heidebrink prepare the Arrows for an arduous schedule, in and out of Section 3AA, that includes the 2022 Class AA state champion, two teams that beat the Fairmont Cardinals...
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A nonprofit organization called Rebuilding Together Minnesota is looking to help low-income homeowners in Pipestone County repair and make safety improvements to their homes. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Rebuilding together is a nationwide organization with about 130 affiliates around the country. In 2018, a local group, including former Pipestone Building and Zoning Official Doug Fortune, planned to form an affiliate called Rebuilding Together Pipestone. Galen Kauffman, Rebuilding Together’s southwest Minnesota program manager, said that coincided with the process of Rebuilding Together Twin Cities going statewide. He said the local group decided it would be simplest...
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Prior to the Knights’ semifinal contest against the Cherry Tigers Friday afternoon at Target Center in Minneapolis, Garrett Kern – a key player on Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s 2018 MSHSL Class A boys’ state basketball championship side – believed the matchup would be ‘the game’ of the tournament. And through 19 minutes of Russell-Tyler-Ruthton’s championship tilt against New Life Academy Saturday morning at Target Center, his words appeared to be spot on, until the Eagles (26-6) made a fierce run at the Knights (31-1) – twice pulling to within three points, as late as four minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the game. However,...
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Akin to two years ago, the March/April weather greeting the area’s spring sports athletes is not nearly as favorable as it was last spring when teams had a quick start to their various campaigns. Either way, Pipestone Area head track & field coach Todd Tinklenberg and his staff aren’t fazed. “It’s no different than any other year,” he said Monday morning. “And we’re all in the same boat around here; we still have two months before sections and state. And it’s always a great life lesson for the kids… things don’t start out like you want, but life throws that...
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Inside the cacophony of sound emitting from the capacity crowd surrounding the hardwood at Southwest Minnesota State University’s RA Facility, the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton boys’ basketball team appeared to be serene – almost Zen – from tipoff to final horn of the Section 3A championship game Wednesday night in Marshall. Whether building off their six-point (30-24) halftime lead in the early stages of the second stanza or answering the Blackjacks’ late incursions with offensive strikes of their own, the Knights (28-1) appeared to be in control of the outcome – a 63-55 victory over Dawson-Boyd that propelled R-T-R to its second straight...
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“Why change it if it’s not broken?” The logic of this statement, recently uttered by Pipestone Area head softball coach Troy Bouman regarding the approach he and longtime assistant Robert Petersen will bring into the 2023 campaign, is again pointed at his Arrows with one goal in mind – a MSHSL Class AA state championship. “It’s the same ole, same ole; always be ready, be a great teammate and the team always comes first,” said Bouman, who brings his senior-laden squad back to the diamond this spring with unfinished business. Pipestone Area (16-11 in 2002) made a spectacular post-season run,...
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A 7-0 Montevideo scoring run to open the contest was certainly cause for alarm. Pipestone Area not only threw the basketball away twice on its early possessions, but also was slow to extend its defense to the perimeter where Thunder Hawk guard Cooper Dack had positioned himself in attack. Arrow senior post Kellen Johnson managed to get the Arrows off the schnide with back-to-back interior hoops off assists from Tagon Woelber and Landon Quist, and a third consecutive tally by junior wing Rylsey Borman pulled second-seeded PAS to within a marker (7-6) of No. 6 Montevideo in the early stages...
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The Knights and Eagles scored points at such a rapid pace Saturday morning that the scorekeepers struggled to keep an accurate tally, eventually giving the latter another bucket well after the final horn. Did it make a difference? Absolutely not, as top-seeded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton upended second-seeded Southwest Christian 98-57 at Southwest Minnesota State University’s RA facility in Marshall to win its second straight sub-Section 3A South crown and advance to the section championship game at 8 p.m. Wednesday back at SMSU. “It was good to see us be able to play with a high energy level for, essentially, for 36 minutes,”...
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In a fantastic position to knock off the five-time defending Section 3A champion Minneota Vikings, leading 48-42 with six minutes, eight seconds to play, the Southwest Christian Eagles appeared to ground themselves. Soaring to a 32-28 lead at the interval and regrouping after a slow start to the second stanza, the Eagles tallied a mere three points over the final six minutes of the Section 3A girls’ basketball championship game Friday night at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall – ultimately bowing out 60-51. “I just felt like we panicked a little bit,” second-year Southwest Christian skipper Luke Drooger said....
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Despite being outrebounded, 34-26, the top-seeded Southwest Christian Eagles (24-5) comfortably dispatched No. 4 Edgerton 66-50 in the finals of the sub-Section 3A South girls’ basketball tournament Friday night at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall – advancing to the Section 3A championship game versus Minneota (No. 2 North) at 8 p.m. Friday back at SMSU. SWC posts Makenna Moss and Jocelyn Barron wreaked havoc on the Dutchmen interior, tallying 14 points, two assists and a block and 13 points, four rebounds and a block, respectively. Madyson Fey and Ana Veldkamp had strong all-around games for the Eagles. The former...
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If wrestling the first, second and third-ranked 106-pounders in the state, as rated by The Guillotine, Feb. 23, wasn’t enough, Pipestone Area seventh grader Miklo Hernandez was quizzed by his coaches following his unprecedented runner-up finish at the Minnesota State High School League Class A state wrestling championships Saturday evening at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. And Hernandez, as he was throughout the two-day tournament, was up for the challenge – quickly pointing out Jon Gorter and Michael Suda as the two Arrows to come back after a state runner-up finish to win a state title the following...
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No double-doubles were posted, nobody tallied 35 points or pulled down 25 rebounds. Second-seeded Pipestone Area simply played solid team basketball in opening the sub-Section 3AA South boys’ basketball tournament with a 68-53 victory over No. 7 Fairmont Saturday night in Pipestone. With the victory, the Arrows (13-11) advance to the sub-Section semifinals at 7:30 Wednesday night in Windom versus the sixth-seeded Montevideo Thunder Hawks – a well-coached team that edged PAS 60-58 in Holiday tournament play, Dec. 30, 2022 at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. The Arrows will look to avenge that early-season loss, and must if they’re...
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Pipestone Area juniors Brayden Burmeister and Hudson Burnett, and seventh grader Miklo Hernandez will represent the Arrows at the 2022-23 Minnesota State High School League Class A state wrestling championships Friday and Saturday (March 3 & 4) at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul following their performance at Saturday’s Section 3A individual tournament in Jackson. The top-seeded Burmeister, a 2021-22 state qualifier, performed as expected, opening with a quick fall, scoring a major-decision win (14-2) in the semifinals before leaving nothing to chance against Tracy-Milroy-Balaton freshman David Schuh in the 120-pound finals – scoring a second straight major decision...
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“All-around, I hope.” Kaysa Douty’s final words on the 2022-23 gymnastics season were meekly stated, yet pointed with purpose following Saturday’s Minnesota State High School League Class A state gymnastics championships at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, where the Pipestone Area eighth grader competed on the balance beam and floor exercise. After qualifying for her first state tournament in the floor exercise last winter, Douty not only earned a second straight state qualification in the event, but added the balance beam to her ever-growing list of accomplishments. “It felt good overall; it was fun,” said Douty, following her...
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Sports and injuries go hand-in-hand. Whether it’s a bruised, strained or pulled muscle, a sprain, a contusion or something more serious like a fracture or a concussion, an athlete in any sport can expect to be sidelined for as little as 15 minutes up to months or more – depending on the severity of the damage. Because their bodies are usually in better shape and more muscularly toned than the average person, athletes regularly bounce back from injuries with rest, rehabilitation and/or surgery with haste; and those competing at a high level often try to heal as they continue to...
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Pipestone Area head coach Grant Everson received exactly what he hoped for from his Arrows Saturday night in Pipestone, a business-like performance to open the girls’ sub-Section 3AA South basketball tournament. Forcing seventh-seeded Redwood Valley into committing several early turnovers and outrebounding the Cardinals 50-29, the second-seeded Arrows claimed a 29-14 lead at the interval en route to a comfortable 58-35 victory. With the win, the Arrows (17-7) advance to the sub-Section 3AA semifinals Tuesday night (Feb. 28) in Windom versus No. 3 Fairmont (14-10), which edged No. 6 Jackson County Central 67-66 on a buzzer beater Saturday night in...
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The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights came up one game short of capping an undefeated regular-season boys’ basketball campaign Monday night in Tyler, dropping a heartbreaking 72-70 Camden Conference Championship decision to the Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks. What was tipped as being a tight tilt prior to tip-off didn’t fail to meet expectations, and perhaps the accompanying cacophony emanating from the large bipartisan crowd played into several early ball-handling miscues by the hosts. “It was a real playoff-type atmosphere; it was a good crowd, a lot of energy in the gym and a playoff-type game from start to finish,” R-T-R head coach Daren Gravley said....
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For all its struggles with poor shooting and defending Fairmont starters Grace Pendergast and Brylee Miller, Pipestone Area (No. 2) still had two opportunities to make up a one-point deficit in the closing stages of the sub-Section South 3AA girls’ semifinal basketball game Tuesday night in Windom. Sloppy ball-handling in the offensive zone, with 10.3 seconds to play, wiped out the Arrows’ first opportunity. The second, with four ticks remaining on the game clock, saw senior Aubrea Kor’s jumper from the right flank fall short of the target – ending the Arrows’ 2022-23 campaign on a 65-64 loss to the...
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The Pipestone Area wrestling team made an unexpectedly hasty exit from the Section 3A team tournament Thursday night as the fifth-seeded Fulda/Murray County Central Warriors upset the fourth-seeded Arrows 42-31. Although the loss of a key grappler and the coin flip impacted the Arrows’ ability to repeat their 49-30 season-opening triumph over the Warriors, F/MCC took it to PAS at every opportunity. “We just got out wrestled,” Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos said. “They bounced guys up, put their tough kids on our tough kids and we came out the six (points) somewhere else and didn’t quite get...
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What was expected to be a tight rivalry contest turned into a rather lopsided victory for the hosts Saturday in Tyler as the undefeated Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights (23-0) knocked off the Pipestone Area Arrows 73-48 in boys’ non-conference basketball action. “Yeah, we came out and hit the floor running,” said R-T-R head coach Daren Gravley, whose Knights claimed a 36-23 lead at the interval. “We just played with a high-level of energy, on the defensive end of the floor especially. On the offensive side, we did a really good job valuing possession and taking care of the basketball, while executing at...
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Demonstrating they’re well-deserving of earning the No. 2 seed for the upcoming sub-Section 3AA South tournament, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team exacted revenge on New Ulm Saturday afternoon at the Big South Conference showcase in Windom. The Eagles (17-8) drained three-pointer after three-pointer in dismantling the Arrows 73-49 in an early-season (2022-21) tilt, Dec. 4, 2021, and seemingly had Pipestone Area’s number again Saturday – claiming a 41-31 halftime advantage. However, adjusting their press break and focusing effort on ‘washing the window’, the Arrows limited a youthful New Ulm side to 27 points in the final stanza – en...
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At this rate, Pipestone Area gymnast Kaysa Douty will be competing all-around at state by the time she’s a senior. Having qualified for the MSHSL Class A state gymnastics tournament in the floor exercise last winter, the soft-spoken eighth-grader doubled the number of events she’ll be competing in at the 2023 tournament, as Douty qualified in both the floor exercise and balance beam following Saturday’s performance at the seven-team Section 3A meet in Pipestone. “It feels good, I’m excited,” said Douty, who is set to compete in the two events at the state tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday at the...
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Not only was Thursday night’s Big South Conference and Section 3AA boys’ basketball game in Pipestone huge for tournament seedings, but it also proved another opportunity for the Pipestone Area Arrows to ‘finish’ a game. The previous two tilts didn’t end well, as the Arrows squandered slim leads late in each in bowing out by two points and one point at home versus the Redwood Valley Cardinals and Worthington Trojans. However, valuing possession, playing smart and making the most of its opportunities against a foe with sizable interior assets, the Arrows (11-8) seemed at ease in dispatching the Fairmont Cardinals...
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Although the meet wasn’t in the main gym, where the Arrows will host the Section 3A gymnastics tournament on Saturday, Pipestone Area’s regular-season finale versus the St. James Saints Friday night in Pipestone proved a stellar tune-up for that event. The Arrows were crisp and clean throughout Friday night’s Big South Conference dual, opening well on the uneven parallel bars and never looking back in claiming a 129.975-93.925 victory. The Arrows easily could have played it safe, gone through the motions and likely still emerged victorious against the Saints, but that wasn’t the case as the hosts looked to use...
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The Pipestone Area wrestling team wrapped up its regular-season schedule with a solid performance at the Morris Area Tournament Saturday in Morris. The Arrows had two individual champions on the day, while finishing fourth in the eight-team tournament with 127.5 points. West Central Area topped the team standings with 229 points. Host Morris Area claimed a runner-up finish at 178.5 points, and Pelican Rapids earned third place ahead of the Arrows with 131.5 points. The Arrows, who finish the regular-season with a head-to-head mark of 9-9, were not only looking to gear up for the upcoming Section 3A team tournament,...
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The Arrows have emerged. After battling through winter doldrums that saw it lose four straight and 5-of-6 in a two-week stretch from Jan. 24 to Feb. 4, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team (13-7) has rediscovered its path. Picking up a Big South Conference road victory over Worthington last Tuesday (Feb. 7) assuredly lifted the Arrows’ spirits heading into two potentially difficult BSC games versus Fairmont and Windom. “It’s at the point in the season where you can’t play well one night and have a dud the other night,” Pipestone Area head coach Grant Everson said. “You have to string...
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Riding high following its third consecutive victory, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team knew it would have to ‘play big’ to get past non-conference foe Minneota Tuesday night in Pipestone. To a player, the Arrows (14-7) did just that, especially senior post Arin McGee who tallied a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double to go with two blocks, three assists and a pair of steals in helping secure an important 81-62 victory. “Yeah, we don’t want to force anything; we know teams are going to double-team Arinn,” Pipestone Area head coach Grant Everson said. “It’s a lot about positioning, whether she gets the...
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Looking to wrap up a home/away Big South Conference series sweep of the visiting Redwood Valley Cardinals Friday night in Pipestone, the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team was on task through 30 minutes of the 36-minute tilt. However, leading by nine points (58-49) with 5:31 to play, the Arrows (10-7) became complement and lost sight of the Cardinals’ perimeter threats – allowing the visitors to pilfer a 62-60 victory. “We executed poorly defensively, let those ‘identified’ shooters get shots off,” Pipestone Area head coach Michael Slaba said. “We knew they were going to come back on us at some point...
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The scrappy nature of a Pipestone Area vs. Redwood Valley girls’ basketball game was not disrupted Friday night in Pipestone. The outcome of this second fixture of the home/away series and opener of a Big South Conference girl/boy doubleheader in Pipestone wasn’t truly decided until the final horn, with the Arrows securing a 49-39 victory – due in large part to tallying the final seven markers of the night in the closing minute and nine seconds. “It was not pretty, again; it wasn’t pretty last time we played them, but again, if you hold teams to 40 points, you’re going...
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The Arrows (7-8) made the most of their final home stand 2022-23 season Thursday night in Pipestone, dispatching the Wabasso Rabbits 44-30 in Section 3A wrestling action. Not only did the Pipestone Area enjoy emerging victorious on the night, but also it had the opportunity to acknowledge one of its own, 2022 graduate J.J. (John) Martens, as the newest member of the Pipestone Area Wrestling Hall of Fame. “It’s one of the proudest moments I have as a coach, to see a kid do something like that and get into that company,” said Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos, who...
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Although the Pipestone Area faithful might be feeling the pinch of the Arrows’ trio of one-possession big South Conference losses over the last two weeks, Tuesday night’s 63-62 boys’ basketball defeat at the hands of the AAA Worthington Trojans (14-3) Tuesday night in Pipestone didn’t erase the smile from coach Michael Slaba’s face. He’s still as excited, hopefully and dedicated to getting the Arrows (10-8) back to the Section 3AA South championship tilt. “I’m proud of them, I really am; I thought we played a very good basketball game against a very tough team,” Coach Michael Slaba said. “They (Worthington)...
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The Arrows (7-8) made the most of their final home stand 2022-23 season Thursday night in Pipestone, dispatching the Wabasso Rabbits 44-30 in Section 3A wrestling action. Not only did the Pipestone Area enjoy emerging victorious on the night, but also it had the opportunity to acknowledge one of its own, 2022 graduate J.J. (John) Martens, as the newest member of the Pipestone Area Wrestling Hall of Fame. “It’s one of the proudest moments I have as a coach, to see a kid do something like that and get into that company,” said Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos, who...
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The return fixture of the Arrows’ Big South Conference home/away series against the visiting St. James Saints (4-11) proved a battle from start to finish. Having claimed a 77-63 victory in St. James, Dec. 8 the Arrows were certainly favored to earn a sweep Friday night in Pipestone, but they knew the Saints would be coming for them – requiring the hosts to remain attentive throughout. And the Arrows (10-6) did just that, playing a strong inside/outside offense game while thwarting the Saints’ similar attacking approach to earn a 75-69 victory. “You could tell they watched some film on us...
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Although limited in numbers due to several of its youngsters slated to compete at Saturday’s MSHSL Ninth-Grade State Qualifier in Redwood Falls (see below), the Pipestone Area wrestling team had a strong showing at Friday night’s HighWater Ethanol Invitational tournament in Lamberton. The Arrows (119.5), who placed fourth behind Kerkohoven-Murdock-Sunburg (163), Adrian (158.5) and New Ulm (137) at the nine-team event, claimed an individual title, a trio of runner-up finishes and a bronze medal on the day. “We came out, wrestled to expectations and put four guys in the finals,” Bos said. “We had a couple guys come back after...
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The Arrows suffered a pair of Big South Conference girls’ basketball losses during the week. Distinctly different, however, Monday night’s 71-51 loss to the visiting Marshall Tigers was vast improvement from Thursday’s 80-67 defeat at the hands of the St. James Saints. Although Pipestone Area (9-5) wasn’t able to capitalize on its solid start to Monday’s tilt, getting into foul trouble and checking out for several minutes, it played with great zeal over the final 18 minutes – giving the Tigers a good tussle. “And against a team like Marshall, you can’t check out – ever; they’re big, physical and...
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Not having competed in Pipestone since its Big South Conference dual meet against the Marshall Tigers, Dec. 1 in Pipestone, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team was pleased to be at home versus perennial powerhouse Jackson County Central Thursday night. Equally pleasing was taking the competition to the ‘big’ gym, where the Arrows were able to have somewhat of a run through for the upcoming Section 3A meet, Feb. 18. “It went really well; kudos to our custodial staff and so many students who came out and helped us move everything into the gym,” Pipestone Area head coach Wallace said. “It...
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No pressure and no problems for the Arrows. Tuesday night’s non-conference gymnastics meet in Pipestone saw an at-ease Pipestone Area squad move almost seamlessly through the four-event competition, dispatching visiting Deuel 127.525-126.45. Without a doubt, the biggest factor in the Arrows’ win was their performance on the balance beam where the hosts had four clean routines and just one fall on the other. “We stuck four out of five on beam, which is a great accomplishment,” Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace said. “To put that many routines up there, with that many skills, and come out of it with...
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The Pipestone Area Arrows (9-3) dropped a 51-49 non-conference heartbreaker to the Castlewood Blue Devils Saturday night in Deubrook. Aubrea Kor tallied 15 points and five rebounds to pace the Arrows, while Madelyn Wiese (four assists) and Arinn McGee (eight rebounds, six assists) finished with 14 points apiece. Jadyn Kor (six rebounds, five assists) and Kyla Hubbling (five rebounds) added three points apiece. PAS 28 21 – 49 Castlewood 29 22 – 51 SWC 52, Western Christian 47 The Eagles made it 11 victories on the bounce Monday night in Hull, Iowa, besting the Wolfpack in non-conference action. Ana Veldkamp...
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The Pipestone Area wrestling team is smoothly moving toward the postseason, posting strong team tournament finishes while subsequently picking up individual titles along the way. The Arrows claimed two individual crowns, a runner-up finish and a pair of third-place medals in addition to placing fourth as a team at Friday night’s 10-team New London-Spicer tournament in Spicer. “We were fourth as a team, which is pretty good, and I thought the kids came out and wrestled hard,” Bos said. “We saw kids pick up some wins they probably wouldn’t have earned early in the season, so that’s a positive sign...
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The Arrows knew they’d be in for a slugfest Friday night in Pipestone. Hosting the Section 3AA leading Jackson County Central Huskies (8-4, 5-2), Pipestone Area (9-5, 6-1) was aware it not only needed to limit freshman sensation Roman Voss’ scoring touches, but also it needed to do enough against JCC’s supporting cast to swing the balance in its favor. Pipestone Area point guard Merrick Heidebrink (32 points, four rebounds, three assists) took care of the first half of the equation, matching Voss point-for point, while Rysley Borman, (18 points, five assists), Kellen Johnson (15 points, eight rebounds), Tagon Woelber...
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It appears that love for longtime Jasper and Pipestone teacher/coach Lyle Gillen continues unabated. The 31-season (31 baseball, 20 wrestling, 17 volleyball and two football) coaching veteran was recently recognized for his tireless efforts by the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association as the recipient of the 2023 Jim Dimick Retired Coaches Award at the organization’s annual banquet, Jan. 21 in Minneapolis. “I think it’s called the old timers award,” joked Gillen. “Rick (Zollner, longtime baseball skipper in Pipestone) nominated me and it’s quite an honor; I’m thankful to be recognized.” While Gillen is quick to deflect praise and...
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Although the Pipestone Area gymnastics team came up shy of overtaking the hosting Luverne Cardinals Monday night in Luverne, bowing out 133.55-129.05 the Arrows showed much better than they did in their previous meet in Redwood Falls. The Arrows’ focus was keen throughout the evening and only minor hiccups on the balance beam prevented the visitors from making the final outcome closer. “It just felt a lot better; their heads were in the game and they were supporting each other – more focused and in the moment,” Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace said. “We’re never going to have a...
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In its second go at section and conference-leading (south) Luverne, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team came as close as any team, outside the Montevideo Thunder Hawks, to tripping up the Cardinals. A poor spell of play to open the second half allowed the Cardinals (12-1) not only to gain momentum, but promptly erase the Arrows’ 23-18 halftime advantage. And behind a string of three consecutive three-point shots from Christina Wagner (12 points) and Averill Sehr the Cardinals took the lead (29-28) for good in claiming a 45-42 Big South Conference victory. The Arrows (9-3) didn’t let the early second-half...
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Having spent much of the 2022-23 season on the road, the Arrows were extremely pleased to be hosting the Big South Conference wrestling championship Saturday in Pipestone. And on Pipestone Area mats for the first time since Dec. 8, the Arrows didn’t fail to excite the home crowd, earning six All-Conference honors in crowning one individual champion, three runners-up and two third-place finishers. “It kind of went as expected,” Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos said. “Those expectations changed a bit after the seeding meeting, and I could see we were in a situation where we could do really well....
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True to form, through most of the 2022-23 campaign, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team was slow to warm to the task in the opening tilt of Friday night’s girl/boys Big South Conference doubleheader in Redwood Falls. Forced to take an early timeout after falling behind 10-3 in the opening minutes of the first half, the Arrows (9-2) roared back with a 10-2 run and claimed a 29-23 halftime lead, en route to a 58-42 victory. “A win is a win, no matter what; it wasn’t a pretty win by any means, but we picked it up on the road...
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Always a good opportunity to focus on team identity, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team had a solid showing at Thursday night’s 141.55-128.025 Big South Conference road loss to perennial powerhouse Worthington. While the final team tally indicates the strength of the host’s program, the Arrows not only held their own this time around, but also found ways to build within. “I think we had somebody place in every event and Kaysa (Douty) was in the top-5 all-around,” Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace said. “And that’s saying something; there were years where that was not the case and to know...
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Taking advantage of a program currently in flux and struggling to find its identity, the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team made quick work of the Redwood Valley Cardinals – claiming a 73-48 Big South Conference victory Friday night in Redwood Falls. Completely stifling the RWV attack over the initial five minutes of the tilt, the Arrows (8-4) promptly turned each stop into a bucket at the other end in taking a commanding 13-0 lead. PAS senior point guard Merrick Heidebrink (11 assists, four rebounds, three steals) tallied 10 of his 13 points in the early stages of the contest, while...
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‘Barn burner’ the sequel played to a large crowd at Pipestone Area gymnasium Tuesday night and though the final scene proved different, the plot was quite similar to the last meeting when the Pipestone Area Arrows edged the Southwest Christian Eagles. It was said SWC (9-2) lacked intensity at the Dec. 17 tilt in Edgerton. The Eagles turned their ‘effort’ around 180 degrees Tuesday night in exacting revenge on the Arrows (8-5), tallying the first nine points of the second half en route to a 76-72 non-conference boys’ basketball victory. “Definitely intensity; we came back with energy in the second...
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Looking to build off last week’s performance at the Benson tournament, the Pipestone Area wrestling team claimed a pair of individual crowns, a runner-up finish and a third-place medal at Saturday’s Norwood-Young America tournament in Norwood-Young America. As a team, the Arrows again placed in the middle of the pack, taking fourth place behind Paynesville (202.5 points), Maple River (175) and host N-YA (149) with 128 points. Coming out on top of their individual brackets for the Arrows were senior Davis Budden and junior Brayden Burmeister, grappling at 138 and 120 pounds, respectively. “It was a first career tournament win...
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Never an easy place to play, Jackson didn’t prove quite the impediment for the Arrows as it has in previous seasons, as the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team completed its home-away Big South Conference sweep of Jackson County Central Thursday night on the road. Jumping out to a 12-0 lead was key to the Arrows (6-2) settling into a positive groove from the onset and, despite seeing senior post Arinn McGee relegated to the bench in foul trouble, the visitors continued to build on their harmonious tune throughout. “We tell them that every game, and this happened to be the...
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Getting back to competition for the first time in 18 days, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team showed extremely well at Saturday’s Wintertfest Tournament in Marshall, placing third in the seven-team event with 130.675 points. Willmar topped the field with 136.45 points, while Luverne edged in with a runner-up tally of 132.95 points. Redwood Valley (128.875), New Ulm (128.5), Windom (122.95) and Marshall (115.35) completed the field. “This was a great meet on a lot of levels; with the weather and all the cancelations, and it’s not just meets, it’s cancelations of practice too,” Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace said....
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Home sweet home. The Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team made the most of its first home stand in a month, as the Arrows improved to 7-3 with a 97-84 Big South Conference victory over visiting Windom Tuesday night in Pipestone. It was evident from the onset that the Arrows enjoyed being on their home floor, tallying 50 points in the opening stanza – en route a comfortable win. “It wasn’t too bad; there were some things we’re definitely going to learn from this one,” Pipestone Area head coach Michael Slaba said. “We were up by 20 with about five minutes...
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Having lost its first game of the 2022-23 campaign Friday night in Marshall and subsequently dropping a second straight Saturday evening at the same Holiday Classic tournament at SMSU, the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team needed a solid response in its non-conference road tilt against the Murray County Central Rebels (4-2) Monday afternoon in Slayton. “After dropping these two this weekend, it’s going to be very important for us – with no practice – to turn around, go out and execute,” said Pipestone Area head coach Michael Slaba following the Arrows’ 63-47 loss to the Marshall Tigers on Saturday. “We...
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The Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team got back to winning ways Thursday night in Slayton, dispatching non-conference foe Murray County Central with relative ease 76-53. Behind leading scorer Jadyn Kor (25 points, three rebounds, three steals), senior post Arinn McGee had a stellar night under the basket – finishing with an 18-point, 17-rebound double-double to go with three assists and three blocks. Madelyn Wiese was 4-of-6 from beyond the arc in scoring 16 points, and Aubrea Kor added 10 points, four rebounds and four assists to the Arrows totals. Mariah Moeller, Emersyn Smidt and Paula Valdivieso-Zamora had two points apiece,...
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In certain sports, players can be sent off the playing field/surface for a serious infraction of the rules. This might mean sitting out for minutes or, in some instances, the remainder of a contest – usually resulting in the opposition gaining a clear advantage. Injuries too can affect a team’s ability to perform at its best, similarly offering adversaries inroads toward gaining an edge and a positive result. A team simply functions better as a whole, functioning best when it has the entirety of its roster fit and healthy. To this end, Pipestone County Medical Center & Family Clinic recently...
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Despite the ability to compete and practice being impacted by both holiday festivities and inclement weather, the Pipestone Area wrestling team performed extremely well at Saturday’s Benson Tournament in Benson – claiming fifth place in the team standings while earning one individual title, two runner-up finishes and four third-place honors. “We had three really good days of practice last week, longer days of practice, where we went back to the basics a bit,” Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos said. “You could see that pay off. It was also a JV tournament and those kids wrestled phenomenally. So, going back...
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Coming off a sparse week of preparation that saw few and rather disjointed practices, the Arrows and hosting Eagles surprised everyone attending Monday night’s Southwest Conference gymnastics meet. Not only were both sides extremely clean in their respective routines, but Pipestone Area and Windom concluded the meet with new season-high marks. “I thought they did a fantastic job coming off of a strange week,” Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace said of her Arrows. “It was awesome to even hear them talking before the meet about certain goals and aspirations for the year. So, I knew their heads were in...
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The recent chill and precipitation did nothing to waylay Saturday night’s barn burner in Edgerton, as Pipestone Area outlasted the hosting Southwest Christian Eagles (3-1), 67-64, in earning a non-conference boys’ basketball victory that kept the Arrows (4-0) perfect on the season. After claiming leads as big as 24 points with 14 minutes remaining in the rivalry tilt, Arrows had to refocus their efforts to battle the inevitable. “At halftime, coach (Tim) Stotz said, ‘they will go on a run; so, we have to be able to match their energy and be able to score buckets’” said Pipestone Area senior...
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The Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team picked up a non-conference road victory Monday night, easily handling the Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks 58-23 to improve to 4-1 on the season. Arinn McGee paced the victors with a 14-point, 12-point double-double to go with four assists, two blocks and three steals, while Aubrea Kor added 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Jadyn Kor finished with eight points, four rebounds and four steals, and Taryn Tuinstra (three rebounds, assist) and Emersyn Smidt (three rebounds, four steals) had six points apiece. Mariah Moeller pitched in with three points, Madelyn Wiese (two assists) and...
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Throughout the early weeks of the 2022-23 girls’ basketball campaign, the Pipestone Area Arrows have been slow to catch fire. Against teams like Jackson County Central and St. James, their sluggish start didn’t prove detrimental to the outcome. However, a slow and languid effort in the opening stanza of Tuesday night’s tilt against the defending Section 3AA champion Montevideo Thunder Hawks (5-0) put the Arrows in a difficult position – just moments into the non-conference match-up. “No, there really wasn’t much energy from us from the start,” said Pipestone Area head coach Grant Everson, whose Arrows came out on the...
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A high ankle sprain sustained by guard Kyla Hubbling in the early stages of their 75-58 victory over St. James Thursday night in St. James impeded the Arrows’ bid to remain undefeated on the season, as Pipestone Area (3-1) succumbed to the Luverne Cardinals (3-0) 59-42 in Big South Conference girls’ basketball action Friday night in Luverne. Not only did Hubbling’s injury limit the Arrows’ ability to swiftly advance the basketball in transition, but it also impacted the visitors on the boards – offensively and defensively. “The score made it seem worse than it was; we were within 7-12 points...
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Feeding off a victory over the Marshall Tigers to open its 2022-23 gymnastics campaign the Pipestone Area Arrows totaled a season high of 125.55 points to place third in the five-team St. James Area Snowflake Invitational tournament Saturday in St. James. The Arrows’ balance beam efforts were enough to top the field in the event, while runner-up finishes on the vault and floor exercise helped place the talented tumblers right behind titlist Luverne (127.275) and runner-up Redwood Valley (127.025) in the team standings. Windom/Mountain Lake was a distant fourth at 118.75, while host St. James totaled 95.575 markers on the...
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The fact the Arrows were still in Thursday night’s dual meet with the visiting Worthington Trojans with one match to be wrestled is a testament to the hard work and learning of several of the team’s second-year and younger grapplers. And despite junior Valentin Barrios bowing out to the Trojans senior Kasey Gerhard by fall in the heavyweight match, lifting the visitors to a 39-37 victory, Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos and his Arrows (2-4) were pleased with their effort. “I took the kids in the wrestling room afterwards and said, ‘hey, we’re just a couple bodies short of...
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Photos By Brennan Schachtner Photography Not only did Pipestone Area senior Kellen Johnson earn the opportunity to conclude his high school football career at U.S. Bank Stadium, he captained (player vote, 1-of-4 named) the South to its record sixth consecutive (MCFA) Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game victory over the North (Metro) squad Saturday in Minneapolis. Johnson, who quarterbacked the South every two possessions – splitting time with Norwood-Young America’s Noah Strickfaden – helped his side find the end zone through Fillmore Central slot receiver Bryce Corson with superbly-executed 48-yard fade down the left sideline for a 10-0 lead...
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Heading into its second successive tilt without senior center Kellen Johnson, due to his upcoming participation in the 2022 (MFCA) Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game, the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team was surprisingly confident in tipping off against the Luverne Cardinals Friday night in Pipestone. And why not, the Arrows (3-0) dispatched the St. James Saints with relative ease Thursday evening in St. James to kick off their Big South Conference schedule, doing so with a squad full of talent – seasoned and raw. And though the same pair of veteran guards, senior Merrick Heidebrink and junior Rysley Borman,...
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The Arrows had issues Thursday night in Pipestone. A judge was ill, a top gymnast suffered an injury and several parents/spectators had to come down from the bleachers to adjust the expansive tumbling for the floor exercise. And that was before the Pipestone Area’s season-opening dual meet with visiting Marshall even commenced. “After coaching for this many years, it’s always a crazy night at your home/season opener,” noted Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace. “It’s busy, you’re hosting, so there’s a lot to keep track of and man, oh man, if you’d told me that was going to happen with...
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Despite a plethora of frenetic action on the hardwood as well as in the stands, the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team kept its focus and composure throughout the entire 36 minutes of Monday night’s non-conference clash with the Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks in Dawson. And sticking with a plan that included playing with a short memory, the Arrows turned a slim 24-23 halftime lead into a 59-49 victory. “Coach encourages us to have a ‘next play’ mentality; even if we make a mistake, it’s always on to the next play – look to make something happen,” said senior forward Caden Strasser, who...
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After battling its way to victory in an emotionally charged rivalry tilt against Southwest Christian last Tuesday, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team expected a challenge of a different nature in its Big South Conference opener against the visiting Jackson County Central Huskies Thursday night in Pipestone. Another slow start, combined with a more physical tussle than they encountered versus the Eagles, the Arrows once again trailed through much of the first half. However, out of the break the hosts buckled down defensively, especially on the glass, too turn a two-point halftime deficit (30-28) into a 72-53 victory – upping...
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The Pipestone Area wrestling team emptied the quiver to open the 2022-23 campaign last week, participating in five duals in less than 24 hours. The Arrows (2-3) picked up an important pair of Section 3A victories Thursday night in Pipestone before thrice bowing out at the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City duals Friday night in Grove City. And battling through the five tilts a few experienced wrestlers shy of what PAS head coach Brian Bos hopes will be his middle-to-late-season lineup, the Arrows offered surprise and hope. “I think they did a great job; again they stepped up to the plate and...
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Although the Arrows and visiting Eagles weren’t able to avoid the typical giveaways, errant passes and undisciplined fouls that often accompany season openers, Pipestone Area and Southwest Christian eventually managed to shake off those issues Tuesday night in Pipestone. Tied at 22-all at the interval, the Arrows’ (1-0) precision pops from the perimeter, which saw the hosts drain 8-of-16 from beyond the arc, turned out to be the difference in their 60-52 non-conference rivalry victory. “I don’t know if we made a ‘3’ in the first half, but you saw Madelyn (Wiese) step up in the second half,” Pipestone Area...
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Excitement is again in the air in the Pipestone Area gymnastics room, as a talented squad that features a trio of seniors and a bounty of experienced high school and jr. high athletes is poised to return to the floor exercise, balance beam, uneven parallel bars and vault. On top of those athletes retuning with solid experience, head coach Stacie Wallace and her assistants, Cristin Winter and Jennings Wallace, will welcome a plethora of newcomers to the gym. “We do have a new pack of young kids new to gymnastics as a sport, more than we typically have on a...
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Those following the Pipestone Area volleyball team on its run to the Class AA state tournament this fall will enjoy seeing a good chunk of that squad on the court this winter – taking larger strides in covering the breadth of the hardwood surface with the girls’ basketball team. The departure of longtime servant Ed Gustafson has paved the way for his young assistant Grant Everson to take the reins of the program, while volunteer ‘C’ squad coach James Skyberg will step up as his assistant and guide the ‘B’ squad’s efforts this winter. Volunteer coach Lisa Van Dyke is...
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“He was a grinder out there for us; a tough kid and team player, who did whatever he had to do to help the team,” head coach Richard Schroyer said. And Elk Point-Jefferson High School head football coach Jake Terry still is... all those things – except he’s no longer a kid. The 2004 Pipestone Area High School graduate, who played fullback and in the trenches for Schroyer’s Arrows at the turn of the century, recently tasted the sweetest fruit of his labors – leading the Huskies to an undefeated campaign (12-0) that ended in a South Dakota Class 11B...
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The day after Election Day, Sandy Moose, of Jasper, took her concerns about mail-in voting to the Jasper City Council during its Nov. 9 meeting. “I hope that you people as a council will look seriously at what is being done right now, what has been done in the past and what we should do in the future,” Moose said. Moose said voting by mail was inconvenient. She said she knew people who had accidentally thrown their ballots away because they thought it was junk mail. She said people have no proof that their ballots have been received by the...
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Four Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) graduates will perform with the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 24. They include Matthew Dulas, a drum major; Rose Baerenwald, who plays clarinet; Bradley Willey, who plays trombone; and Owen Minet, who plays bass drum. The students said they were excited and blessed to have such an opportunity. “It’s a nice feeling knowing that I’m part of a program that is so loved in the area and supported, and that we hold ourselves to such a standard that we were...
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Theresa Stangle has opened a new physical therapy business called Reactive Wellness in a suite at The 109 at 109 West Main Street in Pipestone. “It’s a cash-based physical therapy clinic right here in Pipestone,” Stangle said. “Cash based meaning that I do not accept insurances, but people can submit their claims [to their insurance provider] after paying me in person.” She said being cash-based allows her to provide services at a lower cost. In addition to physical therapy, Stangle offers wellness services, which she said are similar to personal training for people who might not have an injury, but...
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The demand is great. In 2022, the Pipestone County Ambulance is on track for around 1,040 to 1,050 calls. This number includes local emergency calls, standby calls and non-transports. This is an average of 87 calls per month or 2.86 calls per day, according to Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Management (EM) Casey Sievert. The volume of calls by the Pipestone County Ambulance has steadily increased over the last 20 years. In 2002, the ambulance had 540 calls. Fast forward 20 years in 2022, and that number has nearly doubled. With the changes in call volume and...
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The Minnesota Football Coaches Association (MFCA) and the Minnesota Vikings have announced the 12 coaches and 88 players who will participate in the 2022 Minnesota High School Football All-Star Game (49th Annual MFCA All-Star Football Game). The 49th Annual All-Star Game will showcase outstanding senior players from the 2022 Minnesota high school football season. Pipestone Area senior Kellen Johnson, who led the Arrows to the Class AA state tournament quarterfinals in 2021 and holds the school’s career passing records for TD passes (51), yards (4,827), completions (344) and attempts (671) was recently named to the South squad – representing the...
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The multitude of roles today’s high school athletic coaches must play just to get through a season, let alone compete for sub-Section, Section and State tournament titles would astound the most gifted multi-taskers. Recently, Pipestone Area head coach Dave Dulas and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton skipper Daynica Brown were honored for those efforts and their team’s performances with the Section 3AA and 3A Coach of the Year awards, respectively. The Arrows, which concluded their season at the Class AA state tournament, finished in sixth place in St. Paul and posted an overall record of 27-7, while Brown’s Knights (29-4) not only beat Class...
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Pipestone Area certainly enjoyed its ‘cake’ at the 2022 Class AA state volleyball tournament Thursday-Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Although the Arrows (27-7) weren’t able to completely apply icing to their entry prize, earned by winning the Section 3AA crown the previous week, they won 1-of-3 matches and finished as consolation runner’s-up (sixth place) – giving the senior-laden side plenty to be proud of after attaining the goal they’d set for themselves directly following their final match of the 2021 campaign. “When these girls were in the gym this summer, putting a lot of time in,...
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Pipestone City Administrator Jeff Jones submitted and the city council approved his letter of resignation, effective Dec. 20, during the council’s Nov. 7 meeting. Jones said he recently completed his 20th year as city administrator and thought that was a good time to retire. He described his time as city administrator as interesting, exciting and challenging. “I have been honored to work with many dedicated mayors and council members during my tenure as city administrator,” Jones wrote in his resignation letter. “Together we were able to make Pipestone a better place to live. I have been very lucky to have...
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Pipestone County Medical Center’s (PCMC) new MRI machine arrived Monday, Oct. 31. It will take about a month of preparation before the machine can be used by patients. Diagnostic Imaging Manager Marci Mahik said the new machine will provide faster scans than the old one that had been in use since 2006. It also has a wider bore at 70 cm instead of 60 cm that will make it more user friendly for larger patients or those who are claustrophobic. Mahik said PCMC also has AIR coil technology with the new machine, which makes the equipment that goes around the...
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In April of 2019, Eric DeSplinter went missing while hiking in the mountains in California, where he lives. His mother, former Pipestone resident Karen Ziebarth, wrote a book titled “Two Trails: A Hiker’s Story of Survival and His Mother’s Story of Hope” about the experience from her perspective and her son’s. “We knew it was a story that needed to be told actually hours after the rescue,” Ziebarth said by phone from her home in Adel, Iowa. “Eric was rescued and instead of going home to sleep, which is probably what he needed to do, he came to the hotel...
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What would it be like to pack up two suitcases and fly around the world to live with a family that you don’t know, in a foreign country, speaking a foreign language for ten months? Most of us cannot imagine doing this ourselves, let alone putting our child on a plane to do this. However, that is exactly what the parents of Paula Valdivieso did back in August. Silvia and Carlos Valdivieso of Parla, Spain had saved money for years to give their daughter exactly this kind of experience in a foreign country. Paula said that she had a relative...
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It cost 13 percent more to buy groceries in September 2022 than it did in September 2021, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items increased 8.2 percent during that same time. As prices are increasing, more people are turning to the Pipestone County Area Food Shelf for help. A report from the food shelf’s Oct. 4 meeting shows that the number of households and individuals served during the first nine months of 2022 were almost twice what they were during the first nine months of 2021 at 1,520 and 4,915...
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He came, he saw and he…enjoyed. Pipestone Area senior Caden Strasser concluded his high school cross country career Saturday afternoon in Northfield as a three-time state-meet participant, going toe-to-toe with the state’s best harriers over a grueling 5K course at St. Olaf College. And it seemed as though Hermes might be looking down on Strasser from the onset, as he not only received a great lane assignment to start his final race, but also used it to his advantage in getting out to a smooth and comfortable start. “I knew from the past that the start could get pretty crowded...
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The top-seeded (South) Knights were in the squarely driver’s seat, for a moment, Saturday evening at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Claiming the first set 25-21 and up by nine points (13-4) in the second set of their Section 3A championship volleyball match against the North’s top-seed and defending champion Minneota Vikings (31-3), Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (29-4) nearly had its hands on the section trophy. Unfortunately for R-T-R, which lost half of its matches to the Vikings and their ‘tradition’ this season, it couldn’t sustain the early momentum – ultimately bowing out in five sets 25-21, 21-25, 21-25, 26-24, 6-15 to...
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The Arrows thought they’d played the Huskies fairly well the first time they met, Oct. 14 in Jackson, nearly coming back at the end of the 12-7 regular-season loss. And trailing 14-7 at halftime of Friday night’s Section 3AA championship game, a confident Pipestone Area football team had every belief it could get the job done this time in defense of its section crown. Undefeated Jackson County Central (11-0) had belief as well and opening the second half with a 70-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Roman Voss (11-of-19 for 247 yards, 2TD, INT) to senior running back Gabriel Wolff...
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I love everything about the fall season. The weather, the leaves, the sunsets, and all the sports seasons. If we are not in the stands cheering on the Arrows, you can find us at home with a game on the TV. I grew up watching my older sisters from the bleachers before it was ever my turn to step on the court myself. I vividly remember watching my role models win a big game and some great memories with friends cheering with the cheerleaders in the bleachers. There is so much for young kids to learn just from watching their...
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When Kaylee Bents became a deputy with the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office in September, the 21-year-old Worthington native became the first woman to serve in that capacity in the long history of the sheriff’s office. Many women have worked for the sheriff’s office in other capacities over the years, but none as a deputy. “It’s interesting to be the first female, but everybody treats me here just like another deputy,” Bents said. She said her coworkers have been very helpful and kind. “I learn a lot from each of them,” Bents said. “They’re all very different, but they all teach...
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The Taylor and Danielle Thompson family, of Pipestone, has been displaced from their home by a fire that occurred Thursday evening, Nov. 3. No one was injured, but there was fire damage to a bedroom and smoke damage throughout the house, according to Pipestone Fire Chief Mike Bloemendaal. Danielle Thompson said Friday that their insurance company estimated they will be displaced from their home for three to six months and they had not yet figured out a solution to that. Bloemendaal said he wasn’t sure of the exact cause of the fire, but said there was a fan with an...
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Pipestone County added [post_excerpt],671,022 to its fund balance during 2021. That was part of the information in the audit report prepared by Eide Bailly and presented by Pipestone County Auditor-Treasurer Amanda Sandy during the Oct. 25 Pipestone County Commissioner meeting. According to the report, the county had total revenue of ,866,145 during 2021. The largest share of that, ,435,272 or about 42.5 percent, was from intergovernmental sources. Another ,257,801, about 41.6 percent of total revenue, came from taxes. The rest was from public charges for services ([post_excerpt],833,684), miscellaneous sources ([post_excerpt],006,073), and other sources including special assessments, fines, forfeitures and penalties,...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Community Education is currently seeking volunteers for its first advisory council. The idea for this came to light after the community education director position was placed in the hands of Melany Wellnitz this fall. Wellnitz said that she accepted the position “understanding that I had a lot to learn about what community education all encompasses.” However, she is excited to assume the role of director as she considers herself “a life-long learner.” According to Wellnitz, Minnesota requires public schools to have community education and that the program has been around for a long time as it...
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Pipestone County is considering a moratorium on the sale of certain products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Pipestone County Commissioners during their Oct. 25 meeting referred the matter to the law enforcement liaison committee, which includes representatives of the county and the city of Pipestone and community members, and the Pipestone County Attorney. They also discussed including representatives of other communities in the county in the discussion. The discussion was prompted by legislative action making certain edible and beverage products containing THC legal for sale in Minnesota. Ann Orren, community public health supervisor at Southwest Health and Human Services (SWHHS), said Rock...
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Two semi trucks owned by Pipestone Veterinary Services (PVS) that were reportedly stolen the weekend of Oct. 15 and 16 are thought to have been taken by Florida residents suspected of being part of a multi-state, multi-million dollar meat theft operation. According to an incident report from the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, the semis were stolen from a PVS overstock warehouse on Sioux Drive in Pipestone. They were located by the Worthington Police Department and returned to the owner undamaged, according to the report. PVS President Hannah Walkes said she did not want to get into the details of the...
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In 2019, Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) sold a total of ,415,000 in general obligation school building bonds for the new elementary school. The bond amount was ,315,000 less than the ,730,000 voters approved in April of 2019. Due to a change in state law, the school district can now sell bonds to obtain that ,315,000. Kelly Smith with municipal advisor firm Baker Tilly said in 2019 that the school district could borrow less than what voters approved because the bond buyer was willing to pay a bond premium of ,944,938.75 to secure a higher interest rate. That premium was included...
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As expected, the top-seeded Pipestone Area volleyball team was quick to dispatch No. 8 St. James to open the sub-Section 3AA South tournament Friday night in Pipestone – eliminating the Saints with a 25-14, 25-3, 25-15 sweep. With their lopsided victory, the Arrows advanced to the sub-Section semifinals against fifth-seeded Redwood Valley Tuesday night (Nov. 1) in Pipestone. While Pipestone Area did what it needed to do to advance in the tournament, that’s not to say the Arrows were firing on all cylinders in the opening set. “I knew that we were going to start a little slow, we haven’t...
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Pipestone Area’s Toryn Woelber went out with a bang at the girls’ Class A state tennis tournament Thursday at the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis. A literal bang, as the Section 3A singles champion’s heavy forehand shots kept her in both the matches she played at the season’s culminating event. Despite getting down early in her state-tournament opener against Litchfield’s Isla Dille, Woelber continued to battle with her potent forehand and improved backhand. Unfortunately for the senior, who qualified with Emma Stahl for the doubles tournament last year, Woelber’s first serves weren’t as precise as they needed to be to...
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The pace was to his liking, and Pipestone Area’s Caden Strasser made the most of it at Thursday’s Section 3A cross country meet in Luverne. Looking to qualify for his third consecutive Class A state cross country meet, Strasser knew running up front was his best bet at reaching that goal of advancing to the season-ending event Nov. 5 in Northfield. “That is exactly where I wanted to be; once Camden (Janiszeski of Luverne) went out it looked like he was bringing his ‘A’ game, so I thought I’d better bring mine too,” said Strasser, who clocked in with a...
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Top-seeded Pipestone Area swiftly advanced to the sub-Section 3AA South volleyball tournament finals with a 25-12, 25-20, 25-23 sweep of No. 4 Redwood Valley Tuesday night in Pipestone, taking a mere 57 minutes to eliminate the Cardinals from contention. With the victory, the Arrows move on to face the third-seeded Windom Eagles in the sub-Section finals at 7 p.m. Thursday in Worthington Often slow to catch fire, the Arrows (24-5) didn’t offer the visiting Cardinals (18-12) an iota of belief in the opening set – jumping out to a 10-3 lead and never looking back. “We got really...
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Halloween is coming Monday, Oct. 31. There are a variety of activities planned in Pipestone for Halloween and the time leading up to the annual event. Chamber Trunk or Treat The Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding their 8th annual Trunk or Treat & Downtown Candy Walk on Monday, Oct. 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. down Pipestone’s Main Street. Three blocks of Main Street from First Farmers & Merchants Bank to Liberty Pawn, Coins & Antiques will be closed for a safe, family-friendly fun event. The event is free. Businesses or non-profit organizations that would...
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Pipestone National Monument held a public meeting Wednesday, Oct. 19 to present information about and take input on a proposed pedestrian trail that would run from North Hiawatha Avenue to the quarry trail at the Monument. Pipestone National Monument Superintendent Lauren Blacik said the Monument has been interested in such a trail for a long time. She said the idea took on more urgency recently with the development of other trails in the area. “We now have trail on three sides and we’re seeing that that’s increasing the interest in being able to walk safely into the park,” Blacik said....
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Spooky celebrations are all around us this time of year, but nothing quite like the display at Bob Klinsing’s home. Klinsing said that it is just this time of year and that there is, “just something about Halloween that I just really love.” At first glance from the road, the display seems to be quite impressive. However, the view from the road is just the beginning. Walking up the driveway and into the backyard, creepy things are in full effect. From a full-size witch that stands at the end of the driveway making a brew, to a dog that jumps...
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Voters will select one candidate to fill the open seat Verdeen Colbeck Pipestone County Star: Please tell us about yourself; background, experience, family, qualifications, etc. Verdeen Colbeck: I have been a resident of Pipestone since 1990. I am married for 41 years to my wife Verlinda, we raised four children who are all part of the Pipestone community. We have 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. My work experience is varied from U.S. Navy service, appliance store work, city of Elkton, to two construction companies. I worked for 38 years at Fey Industries and presently do part-time work for Pipestone...
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With the top finishers earning All Big South-Conference honors in both the big and small school varsity events, the Pipestone Area cross country teams gave a good account of themselves Tuesday evening in Fairmont. The penultimate event prior to the Section 3A meet Tuesday (Oct. 27), the BSC meet gave the Arrows a feel for the temps and other conditions they might have to compete under in Luverne. “Overall, we ran really good,” Pipestone Area head coach Mark Moeller said. “I was impressed with their attitude; when it gets really cold like that, after being such a warm fall, you...
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Fun, exciting, entertaining. A description of the Arrows’ annual district football clash with the Windom Eagles almost always includes these words, and Wednesday night’s South Central regular-season finale was no exception. Second-seeded Pipestone Area ran away with the contest, claiming a 62-28 victory that has it entering Tuesday night’s Section 3AA playoffs with a 6-2 record, but the visiting Eagles (No. 8, 0-8) also demonstrated their breakout ability as they hope to open the postseason with momentum against top-seeded Jackson County Central. And the initial exchanges of the tilt saw each side break loose for quick tallies. Following a 70-yard...
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City residents along Second Street SE, on the blocks from Fourth Avenue SE to 10th Avenue SE, will be assessed for improvements made in 2021 to storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water main and the street surface. The Pipestone City Council approved the special assessments following a public hearing on the topic conducted Thursday, Oct. 20. The total cost for the project was ,871,394.18. Of this total, 5,407.49 will be funded through assessments to those properties which are considered to be direct benefactors of the project. The remaining ,255,986.69 will be funded by the city through a mix of general obligation...
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Voters will select from the candidates to fill three open seats. Jeff Baatz Pipestone County Star: Please tell us about yourself; background, experience, qualifications, etc. Jeff Baatz: My name is Jeff Baatz , I have lived in Pipestone County most of my life. My wife and I have had four kids graduate from Pipestone and currently have a sixth grader attending Pipestone as well as four grandkids. PCS: Why are you running for office? JB: I currently am a school board member and would like to continue to serve the district. I feel I look at the big picture...
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Second-seeded Pipestone Area advanced to the semifinals of Section 3AA football tournament following a 30-0 victory over No. 8 St. James Tuesday night at Paulsen Field in Pipestone. With the victory, the Arrows (7-2) set up a contest with the Minnesota Valley Lutheran Chargers (6-3) Saturday at 3 p.m. back at Paulsen Field. Whether sandbagging for future tilts or simply putting in enough effort to see them through to the next round, the Arrows showed little razzle dazzle in eliminating the Saints from the postseason. Defensively, the Arrows yielded a scant few yards on the ground as well as through...
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An increase in the amount of cardboard being dropped off at the roll off dumpsters at the Pipestone County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 718 Fourth St. NW in Pipestone has led to more work for Van Dyke Sanitation, which collects and hauls recyclable materials for the county, and confusion about who can use the dumpsters. “We’re getting calls from both the general public and businesses saying they’re being told by Van Dyke’s that they cannot put cardboard in the roll offs and we are telling them that they can under the contract, so it’s frustrating from that perspective,” said...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) and representatives of Minnesota West Community and Technical College and Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) discussed possible changes to the blight remediation program the three entities partner on during the EDA’s Oct. 10 meeting. Currently, the EDA acquires blighted properties and students with PAS and Minnesota West renovate them through Minnesota West’s carpentry program. Four homes have been renovated and sold through the program and students are working on a fifth property at 622 Third Ave. SW. The EDA had previously discussed having a fundraising campaign for the program and EDA President Kevin Paulsen said...
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Voters will elect candidates to fill two open seats The Woodstock City Council candidate information was gathered by the Woodstock Community Club and made available to the Pipestone County Star for publication. Amanda Burke Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you lived in Woodstock, do you have family here, where do you work, what are your interests, hobbies, etc. AB: Hi Woodstock, my name is Amanda Burke. I married Chanon, my husband, and moved to Woodstock in 2017. We have two daughters and three sons between us. I currently work for the City of Pipestone as...
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Voters will elect candidates to fill three open seats Christopher Alan Hoogland Pipestone County Star: Please tell us about yourself, background, experience, family, qualifications, etc. Christopher Alan Hoogland: I grew up on a small farm south of town. I have five younger sisters. Don’t ask me when all their birthdays are because I wouldn’t be able to tell you. I went to Luverne school and graduated from there in 2014. I was vice president of my FFA group for two years during my time in Luverne High School. I went to college in Sioux City, Iowa at Western Iowa...
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Dan Wildermuth Pipestone County Star: Please tell us about yourself; background, experience, qualifications, etc. Dan Wildermuth: The people of Pipestone County know me well. My family and I moved to Pipestone in 1985. My wife, Barb, and I have two children who are now both married and have blessed us with two grandchildren. We enjoy spending time with them as often as we can. Over the last 37 years, I have volunteered with many different organizations in our community, such as Pipestone Kiwanis Club, Pipestone County Pheasants Forever, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, Friends of the Casey Jones...
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The Pipestone Area volleyball team wrapped up its regular-season schedule with a 25-13, 25-18, 25-19 non-conference sweep of the Westbrook Walnut-Grove Chargers Thursday night in Westbrook. Outside of capping its season with a stellar 22-5 record, the Arrows celebrated libero Melody Remund eclipsing the 1,000-dig milestone for her career. The senior had a team-high 18 against the Chargers, while Callie Lingen and Kyla Hubbling finished with seven and six digs, respectively. Kayla Hubbling, Megan Lingen and Madelyn Wiese added three digs apiece to the Arrows’ defensive stats. Megan Lingen dished out 35 set assists for Kayla Hubbling (15 kills), Kyla...
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The Arrows dropped their second straight game of the season Friday night on the road, bowing out to their hosts the Jackson County Central 12-7 in a tight South Central (silver) District game at Swearingen Field in Jackson. While a second straight loss certainly wasn’t the plan, Pipestone Area head coach Scott Boomgaarden wasn’t panicked by outcome nor was he upset with his Arrows’ (5-2) efforts with one game remaining on their regular-season schedule. “I told them I’m not big on moral victories, I’m just not; we played good, good enough to beat them, we just didn’t execute well enough...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Oct. 11 meeting approved paying Hometown Fiber up to ,900 to see what it would take to build a fiber optic internet network that would provide access to quality internet throughout the county. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Office of Broadband Development, the state’s goal by this year is for all Minnesota businesses and homes to have access to high-speed broadband internet that provides minimum download speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) and minimum upload speeds of at least three Mbps; and no later than 2026...
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Kim Drew Pipestone County Star: Please tell us about yourself, background, experience, qualifications, etc. Kim Drew: My name is Kim Drew. I have grown up in Pipestone County and lived here my entire life. Wayne and I have been married for 41 years and have lived in Jasper during this time. We are busy building our new home on the Drew Family farm! It has been exciting for us to be on the farm. We have raised club lambs not only for our children but for many others. Our children, Ryan (Wynette) and Karie (Jerry) along with our grandchildren James...
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The Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board and Meinders Community Library Board discussed the division of property during a special school board meeting held in the library conference room on Oct. 11. The discussion was held in preparation for the end of the agreement between the library board and the school district at the end of the year and the library’s upcoming move to a temporary location at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses property at 220 Third Ave. SE in Pipestone. Justin Schroyer, library board member and a Pipestone City Council member, said anything purchased with school district funds...
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The daycare that is operated by Lisa Houg and her daughter Lauren Houg at the Quartziter Community Center (QCC) in Jasper now has a 50-foot by 50-foot fenced in area for children to play. The Hougs and the city, which owns the QCC property, had discussed adding a fence there in the past and the Jasper Lions Club recently stepped up to make it happen. “That was amazing,” said Lisa Houg. “It was so helpful. We’re so grateful.” Lions Club Gambling Manager Don Plahn told the Jasper City Council in August that the Lions would pay for the fence and...
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At the beginning of September, Jessica Burke opened Inspire Counseling at 111 W. Main Street in Pipestone. Burke said she specializes in personality disorders, depression and anxiety, substance use, relationship issues, grief counseling and more, and works with children, adults and couples. She is a licensed professional clinical counselor, practices dialectical behavioral therapy, ecotherapy, art-based therapy, and is trained in brainspotting and working on certification to be a personality disorder treatment provider. “I very much like neuropsych,” Burke said. “I like to physically know what’s going on in the brain, chemical interactions and stuff. The brain is really just a...
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The Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) recently began its 29th season on Sept. 10 with a performance by Monroe Crossing. Managing Director Mark Thode said the bluegrass band brought in one of the largest audiences in some time with 130 people attending. “They’re a very fun group to work with,” Thode said. Looking back on the season that recently ended, Thode said the PPAC returned to normal operations during the 2021-22 season for the first time since the pandemic began in 2020. He said the scheduling and holding of events went smoothly with no postponements or rescheduling necessary. He said...
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The sunrise and the sunset of Minnesota is unlike anything he has ever seen before. The beauty of the rolling plains in the Midwest is something that many in this area take for granted. That sense of appreciation for the little things has been rekindled in the Fruechte family of rural Pipestone with the arrival of Claudio Aaron Wegener, 17, a foreign exchange student living with them until January 2023. Wegener is currently living with the Justin and Crissa Fruechte family and attending Pipestone Area Schools (PAS). There is a vast contrast of where Wegener comes from compared to the...
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The Pipestone Area Marching Arrows took sixth out of nine Class 2A bands Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Dutchmen Field Championship in Orange City, Iowa. “The band did really, really well,” said Director Dr. Zach Ploeger. “They were really proud of how they did.” Ploeger said the band sounded the best it had all year, the marching drill went well with the band scoring second out of nine Class 2A bands in visual, and the color guard had its best score of the season. The band outscored all four Class 1A bands, three Class 3A bands and one Class 4A...
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Hoping to take a huge step in program history, the Pipestone Area girls’ tennis team came up just short of qualifying for the Class A state tournament Thursday at Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, S.D. as the Arrows fell to the Luverne Cardinals 3-4 in the championship match of the Section 3A team tournament. In a rematch of the Battle Racket tilt the week before that saw the Arrows edge the Cardinals 4-3, Pipestone Area hoped for a similar outcome – one that would have them playing at state as a team for the first time in program...
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It’s a name that will likely haunt Pipestone Area football players for a long time … Gannon Ahrendt. The Luverne wide receiver/defensive back’s name won’t go down in infamy with the likes of Shakespearian villains such as Iago (Othello) or Claudius (King Lear), but Ahrendt’s impact on Friday night’s annual Battle Axe football game in Pipestone will undoubtedly have Arrow players seeing the lean and agile athlete’s face in their nightmares for weeks. The Arrows did well to avoid the 6-4, 160-pound senior throughout the first half and carried a 14-0 lead into the third quarter of the game. Although...
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Anyone who had fingernails left after watching the first set of Tuesday night’s Camden Conference volleyball clash between the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights (24-3) and Minneota Vikings (20-2) in Tyler likely had none by the fifth set. A nailbiter from the opening serve, the Knights took the Vikings to task throughout the match before ultimately bowing out 27-29, 25-15, 23-25, 34-32, 14-16 in a dustup for the ages. “It was quite a battle and as I told the girls, they have nothing to hang their heads about,” said R-T-R head coach Daynica Brown, whose Knights dropped only their third match of the...
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Adina Place Jasper, the former Jasper Sunrise Village, has reopened as a 23-bed senior housing facility and the first resident was scheduled to move in Oct. 1. Jasper Sunrise Village closed in 2020 and Dr. Joseph Yoon bought the property from the Jasper Economic Development Authority in 2021. Yoon’s original plan was to reopen Sunrise Village as an assisted living facility. Yoon said that’s still the plan, but for now the facility will be for senior housing. Yoon is an internal medicine doctor who lives in the Twin Cities and owns Moden Medical Group. The company provides physicians to staff...
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During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when stores were closed and people were advised to stay at home, Pipestone native Lonnette Kelley and a friend started taking drives in the country. “It was a way of just kind of freeing myself from isolation,” Kelley said. What they thought would be just an afternoon drive in the country became six months of adventures that ultimately took them to 51 communities within a 50-mile radius of Sioux Falls, where Kelley lives. During their journeys they drove 4,000 miles and Kelley took 1,600 photos. Kelley said she eventually felt like she...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Sept. 27 meeting approved a preliminary 2023 property tax levy of ,622,410, which is an increase of 9,754, or 8.42 percent. The preliminary levy would pay for about 41.69 percent of the preliminary 2023 budget of ,681,562, which is a decrease of 9,054, or about 3.41 percent from 2022. State and federal revenue sources are projected to provide about ,893,854, which is projected to pay for about 38.17 percent of budgeted expenditures. The rest of the revenue is expected to come from special assessments, other taxes, fees for services, investment earnings, insurance dividends, building rent,...
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By Theresa Stangle The Pipestone Area Marching Arrows Band took to the field Friday night, Sept. 30 during the homecoming football game to perform their 2022 field performance to the cheers of the hometown fans. The next morning, the Arrows made their way in the light of dawn to compete at the Festival of Bands in Sioux Falls on Saturday, Oct. 1. The parade portion of the competition was first near Veterans Park and Covell Lake in Sioux Falls, just west of where the field competition took place on Howard Wood Field later that morning. The Marching Arrows placed fifth...
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Preparations have begun to move Meinders Community Library to a temporary location at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses property at 220 Third Ave. SE in Pipestone. The last full day the library will be open during regular hours to the public in its current location at Pipestone Area Schools will be Oct. 31, according to a transition plan developed by the library board. “We have already started packing, so as we pack things our collection will shrink,” said Library Director Jody Wacker. “What’s available to the public will get smaller and smaller as we put things into boxes...
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Home rehabilitation projects funded by a Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) grant in Jasper have yet to begin. The city of Jasper has been working with Development Services Inc. (DSI), out of Ivanhoe, on the project since the summer of 2019, first to gauge interest in the rehabilitation program for low to moderate income homeowners and then apply for the funds. Jasper and the city of Magnolia applied for the grant together and were awarded 9,991 in 2020. The project goal is to rehabilitate 21 houses, including 16 in Jasper and five in Magnolia. Hunter Robinson, director of community development...
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Pipestone City Council members during their Sept. 19 meeting approved with a 4-1 vote a preliminary 2023 property tax levy of ,702,003, which is a 13.5 percent increase over this year’s levy. Councilor Dan Delaney cast the lone vote against the levy. The approved amount was based on a proposed budget of ,945,678, which is an 8.35 percent increase over this year’s budget. The preliminary levy is ,000 less than the figure the council discussed on Sept. 6. The reduction was made by cutting the blight fund by ,000 and transferring ,000 from the liquor store fund to the park...
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The Pipestone Area Marching Arrows had a busy Saturday, Sept. 24, competing at the Tri-State Band Festival in Luverne and then the Big Sioux Review in Brandon. The Arrows finished fourth out of five Class AA bands in the parade competition on Luverne’s Main Street in the morning, last out of four Class A bands in the field competition at the Luverne High School in the afternoon and last out of six Class A bands at the Brandon Valley Athletic Complex in the evening. Director Dr. Zachary Ploeger said Monday morning that he thought the band performed well visually and...
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The Pipestone Planning Commission during its Sept. 21 meeting voted to recommend that the Pipestone City Council approve a conditional use permit for a new Hartquist Funeral Home at 400 Second Ave. SW, which is the north lot of the former Central School property. Jeff Hartquist bought the property for ,000 during a tax-forfeiture auction held Aug. 24. The lot is 190 feet by 316.5 feet, according to documents presented to the planning commission by Pipestone Building and Zoning Official Doug Fortune. The property is zoned R-2, urban residential district, and a funeral home is allowed with a conditional use...
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The Pipestone Area girls’ tennis team got off the schneid Thursday evening in Pipestone, knocking off the visiting Worthington Trojans 5-2 in Big South Conference action. Although the victory halted a four-match losing streak, the Arrows weren’t assured of anything until late in the evening as three tilts went to a third set. “It’s nice to win, nice to finally break our losing streak,” Pipestone Area head coach Colin Hoppe said. “The girls just went into it with all the confidence in the world. These are the best matches we’ve played in more than a week. It’s nice to see...
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Although a familiar course to many of the Pipestone Area harriers, the Madison Country Club tweaked its 5,000 and 2,400-meter routes just enough to keep Tuesday’s (Sept. 20) 10-team Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd Invitational fresh. Despite coming off injuries up and down the lineup, the Arrows looked to be gaining mid-season form and should be poised for PR runs in the near future. “I think from a health standpoint we’re at 100 percent; we had a little scare with Caden (Strasser), who didn’t necessarily perform to his standard, but considering it was his first race in more than a week,...
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Although it took time to adjust to Redwood Valley’s stunts and misdirection, when undefeated Pipestone Area (4-0) figured things out, Friday night’s South Central District football game in Redwood Falls played out in similar fashion to the Arrows’ previous three contests – a well-deserved (35-7) victory. The undersized Cardinals (0-4) didn’t present PAS much of a challenge in the trenches, but using their speed, quickness and interchange of personnel kept the visitors on their toes through a first half that saw the hosts claim a 7-6 lead. “We knew coming in that we’d seen #55 (Tyson Irlbeck) at quarterback a...
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After having gone to five sets against the Cardinals twice last season, the second time proving the Arrows’ last match of the campaign, Pipestone Area wasn’t about to take Luverne lightly Thursday night in Pipestone. Riding the left-side punishment delivered through the Hubbling twins, Kayla (12 kills) and Kyla (eight kills, six digs), the Arrows quickly earned a Big South Conference volleyball sweep of the Cardinals, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17, to improve to 14-2 on the season. “We were ready; it’s Luverne, so it’s always a good battle,” Kayla Hubbling said. “We wanted to come out with high energy and be...
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Pipestone Planning Commission members and about 10 residents of Pipestone and other communities had a lengthy and sometimes heated discussion about the city of Pipestone’s animal ordinance during the commission’s Sept. 21 meeting. Commission members had previously discussed the matter on Aug. 10 due to complaints from community members. The commission tabled the discussion at that time so that Pipestone Building and Zoning Official Doug Fortune could gather more information about animal control officer positions and enforcement of the city’s code pertaining to animals. Fortune said he obtained policies and ordinances from other cities including Windom, Chaska and Rochester. He...
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Grasshoppers are abundant this year and the reason, according to those who know such things, is the warm, dry weather. Bruce Potter, University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension integrated pest management (IPM) specialist, said many parts of southern Minnesota have seen increased numbers of grasshoppers due to those conditions. “Warm, dry late May and early June are particularly favorable for grasshopper survival and population increases,” Potter said. “Newly hatched grasshopper nymphs suffer from cold weather shortly after nymphs hatch. Being cold blooded animals, cold temperatures limit their movement. The nymphs can starve if they cannot feed soon after hatch.” In addition,...
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Sam and Chrissy Harris, of Jasper, have two ducks, Alfred and Abbey, that they keep as pets. The problem is ducks are not allowed in the part of the city where they live. According to city code, ducks are considered farm animals and farm animals are only allowed to be kept in portions of the city zoned Residential 2 or Agricultural. Anyone housing an animal in violation of city code shall be charged annually for the first violation, for the second violation and 0 for the third violation, according to city code. The Harrises received a notice from...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) 2022 homecoming is almost here. Festivities began with the selection of the homecoming court by the senior class during the first and second week of school. This year’s queen candidates are Kayla Hubbling, Callie Lingen, Brynn Manzey, Arinn McGee and Toryn Woelber. Candidates for king are Merrick Heidebrink, Kellen Johnson, Colton Pottratz, Caden Strasser and Aiden Voss. Students in grades nine through 12 then voted for a king and queen who will be crowned at the coronation ceremony on Monday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the middle and high school auditorium. The doors will open...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) proficiency scores in math, reading and science improved in 2022, according to state assessments taken this spring, but continued to lag behind statewide averages. That’s according to assessment data released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) at the end of August. PAS Superintendent Kevin Enerson and Director of Teaching & Learning Melany Wellnitz reviewed the data from the 2022 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) by subject, grade level and subgroups of students during a meeting between the school board, school administrators and representatives of the teachers bargaining unit on Sept. 12. There will also be a...
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The Pipestone Area volleyball team finished as runners-up at the Wabasso Tournament Saturday in Wabasso, going 4-1 on the day. The Arrows (13-2 overall) opened up and ended against the BOLD Warriors, winning by points in a split decision in their first meeting before dropping a 21-25, 25-18, 8-15 match in the championship match. “Going 4-1 is a pretty good day; we’re 13-2 right now and that’s a pretty good start to the year,” Pipestone Area head coach Dave Dulas said. “This is the first time we’ve ever been in the championship game at this tournament, so that was great...
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Despite getting off to a quick start in most of the seven varsity matches Monday afternoon, the Pipestone Area girls’ tennis team dropped a 2-5 Big South Conference decision to the Fairmont Cardinals in Pipestone – the Arrows third dual-meet loss on the bounce. “We competed really well today and I’m happy with the way they competed,” Pipestone Area head coach Colin Hoppe said after the meet. “The last few meets might not have gone our way, but we’re still competing really well. “We had a couple matches where we started off really strong or the other girl hit her...
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Rolling hills and comfortable temperatures greeted the Pipestone Ara cross country teams Thursday afternoon at the Prairie View course in Worthington. While the hills presented a new challenge for those who’ve never competed on the course, the Arrows ran extremely well in each of the four races on tap. “Coming off Tuesday, I know everybody was a little banged up; we trained through it and everyone ran hard today,” Pipestone Area head coach Mark Moeller said. “They just kind of blocked it out today and competed.” The Pipestone Area girls’ varsity and JV squads (73 points) raced together over 5K...
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Knowing his grappler was in the driver’s seat and would have the choice of positions if the match went to a sudden death tiebreak period, not only did Pipestone Area head wrestling coach Brian Bos take for granted his senior would win a 2011 Class A state wrestling title, but he prepared himself for the inevitability. “I knew he won it right there,” Bos said. “He’d scored first, so he’d have the choice. Watching them go at it, I knew we had the trump card and I was ready. I looked back, saw the chair and moved to my right...
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About 50 members of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, most of them elders ranging in age from 50s to 80s, stopped at the Pipestone National Monument Tuesday, Sept. 13 as part of an eight-day journey to places their ancestors called home. According to information about the visit from Pipestone National Monument, the Iowa were early keepers of the pipestone quarries. “Pipestone was what we were known for, making pipes and quarrying it,” said Perri Ahhaitty, chairman of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. “We always protected and took care of it, and when other tribes would come, even if they had...
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The house most recently completed by carpentry students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College at 411 West Main Street in Pipestone was recently sold for 8,000 and work has begun at the next project house at 622 Third Ave. SW. According to information presented at the Sept. 12 Pipestone County Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting, the renovation of the house at the property is estimated to cost 2,427.23. The work will include adding a new attached garage on the north side. The existing garage on the west side will remain, but the existing garage door, which faces south, will...
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Mike and Kathy Hachmann and their son and daughter-in-law Allan and Peyton Hachmann received this year’s Outstanding Conservationist Award. The Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board of Directors chose them to receive this year’s award during its Aug. 11 meeting. Laura DeBeer, regional water specialist with the SWCD, said the board chose the Hachmanns because they are conservation minded, have worked with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and SWCD to accomplish their conservation goals and have done a wide variety of conservation projects. The Hachmanns said they found out they’d received the award last month. “I was...
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A Steinway baby grand piano is now located in the lobby just inside the front doors of Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC). It is available for playing by those who possess the skill. The piano was donated by Leslie Everett and was placed in the lobby at the end of August. “We love having this beautiful piano on display at our main entrance, and we welcome those with experience to sit down and play a few songs,” said Dan Smilloff, communications/marketing specialist at PCMC. Smilloff said PCMC is working with volunteers in the region who are skilled pianists who are...
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The Pipestone City Council during a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6 took its first look at the projected 2023 budget of ,970,678, which would be an increase of 8.57 percent, and levy of ,777,003, which would be a 17 percent increase. Council members discussed several options to reduce the levy before they must approve a preliminary levy, which must be done by Sept. 30. According to budget and levy documents presented during the meeting, some of the most significant factors that increased the levy include 5,303 more levied for parks and recreation, ,103 more levied for debt service, ,055...
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The Pipestone Area volleyball team received a welcomed gift Saturday in Sauk Rapids, as the Arrows finally played stiff competition. A regular at the Sauk Rapids/Rice tournament now, for just that reason, the Arrows not only suffered their first loss of the season, but also had to come back on occasion in finishing with a 3-1 record. The Arrows opened against a strong Annandale team that pushed them to a third set, but instead of hanging their heads after splitting the first two sets, 25-23, 17-25, PAS bounced back to edge the Cardinals 16-14 to claim the victory. “The big...
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“It was a sloppy game, starting with the weather and the penalties … not lining up correctly, and that’s on us as coaches; we have to be better and we’ll take care of it this week.” Pipestone Area head football coach Scott Boomgaarden’s assessment of his Arrows’ 34-10 South Central District crossover victory over the Worthington Trojans Friday night in Worthington was painfully succinct, yet the positive result spoke volumes as to what type of team Pipestone Area is becoming. Chock full of swift and talented skills players, the hosts put the visitors to the test on more than one...
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The city of Trosky took another step forward in its years-long effort to address wastewater issues that stem from the fact that the city does not have a centralized sewer system. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Pipestone County Commissioners granted the city a conditional use permit allowing it to build wastewater treatment ponds on agriculturally zoned land about a mile east of the city in the southwest quarter of Section 15 of Elmer Township. The permit was approved with the condition that the city extend a proposed 15-inch tile from 31st Street to a point of outlet in an unnamed tributary...
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The saga that is the story of our community and high school/middle school library has been well documented over the past year and, even more so, well-discussed in the public and private arenas of Pipestone. Since the happenings of last week, when the city council voted to cease negotiations with the school district and in essence made a decision to pursue a new direction for our community library, I’ve thought that perhaps now is the time to opine for myself in the public arena. If I try to put on my objectivity hat and try to see what I can...
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After emerging from Saturday’s Sauk Rapids/Rice tournament with a 3-1 record against teams that actually tested the Arrows, the Pipestone Area volleyball team passed another test, within the Big South Conference, Tuesday night in Pipestone. Hosting a Windom side that was sure to play with power and pace, the Arrows (9-1, overall) matched the Eagles throughout – claiming a somewhat surprising, 28-26, 25-18, 27-25, sweep. Trailing for much of the opening set, The Arrows turned the tide late – through the outside hitting of the Hubbling twins Kyla (9 kills, 2 block assists, 10 digs) and Kayla (8 kills, three...
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The Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) recently announced a program called the Age Safely at Home Program. The program provides funding for older adults and individuals who are disabled to receive grants up to ,000 to be used to make living improvements in their homes. The program is designed to provide improvements that allow these individuals to stay in their homes longer, rather than moving to care facilities. Staying at home provides for a more comfortable lifestyle and is also far less costly than a care facility. “Most important is to allow people to stay in home safely,” comments SMOC...
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It’s been two weeks since Justin Olsen and Jodie Olsen were notified that the headstone marking their daughter Jordyn’s gravesite had been severely vandalized. “It’s disheartening and sad, not just for us, but for anyone who knew Jordyn,” said Jodie. While there is certainly nothing good about the incident that occurred on Aug. 22, Justin and Jodie have worked to put some things into a positive perspective. “The other day, as I stood in front of the bare slab of concrete where her headstone so beautifully sat, I teared up thinking about the notes, flowers, and little mementos that her...
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It would have been extremely easy for Stephanie (Plahn) Kruger to rest on the laurels of her older sisters Laurie, and Julie, whose athletic exploits have been well documented and include Pipestone-Jasper Athletic Hall of fame induction. And older brother Brian was also a three-sport athlete, competing in football, basketball and baseball. Kruger could simply have joined this or that team, put in minimum effort and likely still have started on varsity teams that, in southwest Minnesota, needed as many bodies as they could find to lace up cleats and sneakers. Kruger, however, traveled the same route as the aforementioned...
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Building off its Big South Conference showcase victory and Tuesday night’s non-conference win versus the Canby Lancers, the Pipestone Area volleyball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a comfortable sweep of the Worthington Trojans Thursday night in Worthington. Pipestone Area had expected a tougher go of it in the BSC clash, but smoothly transitioned from stout defense to quick, deceptive offense in claiming a 25-14, 25-11, 25-13 sweep. “Defense won this match; we dug a lot of balls and tips,” noted PAS head coach Dave Dulas. “Running our play set kept them (Trojans) slightly off balance and opened...
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As season openers go, Pipestone Area’s 48-7 South Central (silver) District football victory over LeSueur-Henderson couldn’t have gone much better for the defending Section 3AA Arrows. The visitors racked up 375 (net) yards of offense to the Giants’ 142 and nearly tripled the number of first downs (15-6) in the lopsided contest in LeSueur. Not only did the Arrows move the ball well, they were clean in doing so – giving up just five yards on one penalty in the tilt. “I told the guys before the game, ‘good teams take care of the ball, don’t have penalties and outwork...
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An even smaller contingent of Pipestone Area harriers took to the flat, yet meandering Yankton Trail Park course for the 11th annual Augustana Twilight meet Friday night in Sioux Falls, S.D. Pleasant temperatures and a 12-mile-an hour wind greeted JV, varsity and college XC teams from South Dakota and several surrounding states, making for some tight turns in the early stages of each of the six events. The Arrows had five varsity runners in an elite field in the boys’ high school varsity 5K event and most ran better than last year, when PAS competed at the meet for the...
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On Thursday, Sept. 1, Dr. Megan Wilkinson joined the staff of Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) and Family Clinic as the latest addition to the health care facility’s team of doctors. Dr. Wilkinson will be practicing family medicine and obstetrics (OB). Wilkinson was born and raised in northern Colorado, about an hour’s drive north of Denver. “I grew up in a farming community on an acreage that my dad now farms,” said Wilkinson. She got the bug to pursue medicine in about her middle school years as the science curriculum peaked her interests. Then, as she continued through high school,...
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The Pipestone City Council voted 3-2 during its Tuesday, Sept. 6 meeting to end negotiations between the city and the school district to develop a new library agreement, with council members Dan Delaney and Rodger Smidt voting against the motion. The city council also unanimously approved a lease agreement between the city and Steve and Wendy Hennager, of Lake Crystal, to lease the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses property at 220 Third Ave. SE in Pipestone for a temporary community library. The city will pay [post_excerpt],500 a month rent and a [post_excerpt],000 damage deposit. City Administrator Jeff Jones said...
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Despite noting it was not his team’s best defensive effort on the young season, Pipestone Area head coach Dave Dulas’ Arrows made short work of the visiting Southwest Christian Eagles, claiming a 25-21, 25-11, 25-18 non-conference volleyball sweep Tuesday night in Pipestone. “That was our worst defensive match of the season so far; we let a lot of balls drop that we normally don’t let hit the floor,” he said. “I’m going to attribute that to being our first home game, first day of school and lots of little things. Now that we have this first home game out...
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The Jasper City Council during a special meeting on Aug. 23 approved a preliminary 2023 property tax levy of 1,385, which is an increase of ,212, or about 26 percent, over the 2022 levy. The levy increase was based on a preliminary general fund budget that is 6,355, which is an increase of ,183, or 6.5 percent, over the 2022 budget. The city has not increased the property tax levy since 2018 when it increased it by 2.5 percent to 0,173. Since then it has used its general fund balance, or reserves, to keep the tax levy at that amount....
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As of late August, 1,165 preschool through 12th grade students were expected to fill the halls of Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) when the 2022-23 school year begins on Tuesday, Sept. 6. That’s 20 more students than were expected leading up to the start of last school year. There aren’t as many changes and new sights as there were last year when the new elementary school opened, but there are some changes and new features that people will notice. The majority of those are at the elementary school. New at the elementary school are Principal Jennifer Moravetz, new ball fields that...
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Jeff Hartquist was the winning bidder on the north lot of the former Central School property during a tax-forfeiture auction held Wednesday morning, Aug. 24 in the Commissioner Room at the Pipestone County Courthouse. Hartquist was the lone bidder on the property, located at 400 Second Ave. SW in Pipestone, and obtained it for the basic sale price of ,000 that was set by the Pipestone County Commissioners, plus fees. Hartquist said after the auction that he’s considering building a new structure for Hartquist Funeral Home & Cremation Services at the site. He said the existing facility “needs some work”...
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Despite placing two rookies and an eighth-grader with limited varsity experience into the starting lineup, the Pipestone Area girls’ tennis team is playing with the savvy of seasoned veterans at the moment. Playing their sixth and seventh dual meets in a week, the Arrows emerged from Thursday’s tilts against Montevideo and Lac qui Parle Valley with a 6-1 record. Add to that a second-place finish at Saturday’s Worthington Doubles Tournament and head coach Colin Hoppe has plenty to be smiling about. “It was very iffy; I’m just a box of nerves,” said Hoppe following the Arrows’ 4-3 victory over Montevideo....
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Other than not having the services of senior middle Arinn McGee, Saturday’s season opener couldn’t have gone much better for the Pipestone Area volleyball team. Despite falling behind 4-0 to New Ulm in the opening set of the Big South Conference Showcase match in Marshall, the Arrows (1-0) appeared poised in every aspect of the game – sweeping the Eagles, 25-17, 25-21, 25-16. “The girls played extremely well; they filled in at the roles we’ve set up for them and I’m very happy with the way it turned out,” Pipestone Area head coach Dave Dulas said. “We got ourselves in a...
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Power, speed, deception, creativity and leadership. Last year’s record-setting Pipestone Area football team had these qualities in spades, carrying an 11-0 record into the Class AA state tournament quarterfinals before being eliminated by the Maple River Eagles 39-20, Nov. 12 in Hastings. Although Pipestone Area graduated several of those ultra-talented skills players in receivers Kaden Musch, Ty Hansen and Ryan Woodbury and all-purpose threat Maddox Biever, the architect Arrows’ winning structure, senior quarterback Kellen Johnson, is back at the drafting table – eager to draw up plans for another Section 3AA title triumph. Featured in the 2022 Pigskin Preview, Johnson...
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“The object was to win the game, and he was really good at that; you look at the success he and his teammates had, from football to basketball to baseball … he played on a lot of winning teams.” Pipestone Area Activities Director and Head Baseball Coach Rick Zollner’s words, in this instance, are pointed at Class of 2021 Pipestone-Jasper Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Nick Schneider. However, as Schneider will tell you, the highly successful varsity teams he played on from 2001 to 2005 were chock full of talented athletes who wanted nothing more than to … play. “We...
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The Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board during its Aug. 22 meeting voted unanimously to reject a library agreement proposed by the city of Pipestone. Superintendent Kevin Enerson sent a letter to the city dated Aug. 24 notifying the Pipestone City Council and City Administrator Jeff Jones of the board’s decision and the reasons for that decision. “The proposal does not reference in-kind credit for our facility, it proposes two separate employers of the staff, it does not address liability for torts or property damage, and it stipulates the delegation of responsibility for employment policies to another entity,” according to the...
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The Arrows received a good taste of adversity Tuesday night in Canby and rose to the occasion. After quickly dispatching the Lancers, 25-12, in the first set of its non-conference volleyball match with Canby, Pipestone Area fell behind in the second and suffered an injury to starting libero Melody Remund. While the Arrows dropped the second set, 22-25, they demonstrated solid team resolve in claiming two sets, 25-22, 25-22, to improve to 2-0 on the season. “I was pleased with the way the girls refocused after that game and Melody going down,” said Pipestone Area head coach Dave Dulas, whose...
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Kor’s Korner Pub in Holland has been named the Southwest Regional Development Commission’s (SRDC) 2022 Regional Project of the Year. Darbi Kor opened the business last summer and received the award about a year later on July 14. “I felt very honored, especially starting at such a young age and starting with such an old building, and obviously starting from scratch in here and just seeing how far I’ve come with everything,” said the 25-year-old. “It was a huge honor.” Kor received financial and technical support services from the SRDC Revolving Loan Fund, First Bank and Trust in Pipestone and...
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Kyley Mills, owner of the Stonewall Bar and Grill in Jasper, told the Jasper City Council during the council’s Aug. 10 meeting that she’s still planning to build a new structure for her business, but not any time soon. Mills told the city council she didn’t believe anything had moved structurally on her current building since last year when part of the north exterior stone wall fell. “I’m hoping it will last a little longer,” Mills said. A report from Engineering & Technical Services done last year indicated that her current building probably had “a maximum safe life of one...
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On Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 17 and 18, people in Pipestone might have observed a rather unusual vehicle in town. It looked to some like something between a tank and a garbage truck. It was in fact, a German-made MAN expedition truck modified to serve as a recreational vehicle. The vehicle was built for off-road travels with a high ground clearance, large tires and four-wheel drive, which was just what the Bayer family, of Stuttgart, Germany, needed for their travels through less developed areas in Central America. The Bayers bought the vehicle from a Belgian man, shipped it from Germany...
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The Pipestone City Council during its Aug. 15 meeting voted to have the city engineer begin the platting process for undeveloped land east of North Hiawatha Avenue and the recently extended portion of 11th Street NE. City Engineer Travis Winter said it would cost around ,000 to ,000 to survey the land and plat it. He said Bolton & Menk could put together a few concepts for the city council to consider. Mayor Myron Koets suggested the idea, first during a special meeting and later during the regular council meeting. He said that the Friends of Scouting and Youth recently...
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The Pipestone Area Marching Arrows will begin their 2022 season with a new director who has a familiar face — Dr. Zachary Ploeger, a 2013 Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) graduate and former member of the band. “It has been a pretty smooth transition so far because I went through the program as a student and I know most of the kids from teaching here last year, and I knew Mr. Kisecker and I’ve called him probably 10 times already. So I think I knew the program as well as anybody could coming into it, which has helped a little bit,...
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In the summer of 1975, a young Polly (Falk) Hoogeveen was preparing to try out for the freshman cheerleading squad at Jasper High School. Although Title IX, which prohibited discrimination in all educational programs and activities on the basis of sex, passed in 1972, Jasper had not yet introduced women’s interscholastic athletics in school. However, as Grand Funk’s Some Kind of Wonderful blared out of AM/FM radios across the state and inched closer to the top of the music charts, Hoogeveen was about to experience a life-changing ‘kind of wonderful.’ “We only had cheerleading prior to 1975-76, and I aspired...
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The close of Minnesota’s second candidate filing period on Aug. 16 revealed that there are some local elected positions for which multiple people filed and some for which no one filed. Deputy Communications Director/Press Secretary Cassondra Knudson at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office said it was possible that filing entries were lagging and had not shown up yet. If there are seats for which no one filed, she said there will be write-in spots on the ballot for the number of open seats for each office. After the election the votes will be tallied and whoever has the most...
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On a roll to open the 2022 girls’ tennis campaign, the Pipestone Area Arrows upped their record to 4-1 Tuesday evening with road victories over the MACCRAY Wolverines and The Sting of Yellow Medicine East. The Arrows dispatched the Wolverines 6-1 in Clara City before posting the same score against The Sting in Granite Falls. PAS senior Toryn Woelber emerged with a pair of hard-fought No. 1 singles victories on the day, beating MACCRAY junior Tayte Nokelby in a super tiebreaker 2-6, 6-4, 10-1 and YME freshman Hope Stark in straight sets – 6-4, 6-3. At No. 2 singles, Brielle...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Aug. 9 meeting approved a resolution in support of and potentially sponsoring a grant to study the feasibility of building a multi-purpose trail from Luverne to Pipestone. The Pipestone City Council approved the same resolution at its Aug. 15 meeting. The Regional Legacy Connecting People to the Outdoors Small Grant would come from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), according to the resolution. Myron Koets, a member of the Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail and mayor of Pipestone, presented the resolution and the request...
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The first new Community Collection exhibit at the Pipestone County Museum since the pandemic began opened earlier this summer and is on display through the end of September. The exhibit includes about 20 model tractors owned by Keith Pritchett. Pritchett, an 86-year-old retired farmer and Army veteran, started collecting the model tractors over 20 years ago. He bought most of them at auctions. The tractors in the Community Collection case at the museum are just a small sample of Pritchett’s collection. The rural Pipestone home of he and his wife of 64 years, Pearl, has shelves and shelves of them...
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The Pipestone Planning Commission is looking into the creation of an animal control officer position, limiting noise during nighttime hours and limiting the use of commercial dumpsters. Pipestone Building and Zoning Official Doug Fortune said the topics were based on complaints that he had heard from Pipestone residents. Animals Fortune said the complaints he’d heard about animals primarily involved feral cats and included several parts of the city. In his neighborhood, the complaints involved domestic cats that were kept indoors during the winter and let out during the warmer months. “I had an issue with that myself building my new...
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The city of Jasper has been advised by the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) to separate its operations from those of the Jasper Development Corporation (JDC). “Mike [Baustian, mayor of Jasper] and I were told to either resign from our positions with the city or resign from our positions with the JDC,” said Jasper City Clerk/Treasurer Cortney Kounkel during the Aug. 10 Jasper City Council meeting. “We have resigned from our positions with the JDC just so we can keep our city positions here. However, this opened up another can of worms for every single organization that we have...
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Excitement and energy are high this fall as the Pipestone Area girls’ tennis team look to make a push toward state tournament qualification as a team. The Arrows being blanked by the Montevideo Thunder Hawks in the opening round of the Section 3A team tournament last fall wasn’t indicative of their overall campaign. Pipestone Area gave as good they received and saw senior Emma Stahl and junior Toryn Woelber qualify as a doubles tandem for the state tournament. Just two main cogs are to be replaced in the PAS machine this fall with Woelber likely to be anchoring the side...
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After months of taking steps toward selling the former Carnegie Library, the Pipestone City Council did not act on a resolution at its Aug. 1 meeting that would have ordered advertising for bids for the property. City Administrator Jeff Jones presented a resolution approving bid documents and ordering advertisement for bids and gave an update from the city’s legal council. He said that the Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) office would have to review any documents approved by the council and that if bids received for the property were deemed too low MMB might not sign off on the sale....
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The DJ and Amy Folkerts family was recognized as the 2022 Pipestone County Farm Family of the Year during the final day of the Pipestone County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 6. The Farm Family Recognition Program has existed for over 30 years and honors farm families from throughout the state for their contributions to the agriculture industry and their local communities, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. Families can be nominated by anyone and are selected by the Pipestone County Extension Committee. The Folkerts family found out this spring that they had been selected for the honor. “We were...
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This week 20 area children in first through 11th grade are spending much of each day rehearsing the play “Johnny Appleseed” under the leadership of directors with Missoula Children’s Theatre. They will then present two showings of the play on Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC). Nick Winkler and Emmalina Horn with Missoula Children’s Theater conducted auditions for the play Monday morning and then cast the roles and began rehearsal that afternoon. Winkler said the show is adaptable and they can cast up to 64 kids. Here, with 20 kids, everyone who auditioned was cast. The...
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Hindsight is, as they say, 20-20 and because of that Wild Goose Chafe is already more at ease with taking on the 2022 Minnesota Ragnar road/trail running relay race, Aug. 12-13, from St. Paul to the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth. The brainchild of Steve Hill, who organized the first race of its kind with his son Dan and Dan’s college roommate Tanner Bell, Ragnar came to fruition in 2004, when the group put on the Wasatch Back Relay – spanning 188 miles from Logan to Park City, Utah. The Ragnar Relay series grew out of that triumph into...
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I must confess that I haven’t always been a big county fair guy, but in recent years, as my kids have gotten older and come to appreciate it more, so have I. I had to be at the fair throughout all four days taking photos, getting results of events and interviewing people, and I brought at least one of the kids with me at least part of each day. My daughter was at summer camp the first few days of the fair, so my son and I got to spend some one-on-one time together enjoying all that the fair had...
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The city of Pipestone will have a new mayor next year. With two of two precincts reporting in the city of Pipestone as of about 9:30 p.m, Tuesday night, Dan Delaney and Verdeen Colbeck received the most votes for the seat, advancing them to the November general election. In the other local primary contest, voters in Pipestone County Commissioner District 2 sent Doug Nagel and Kim Drew on to the November election. In state elections, Bill Weber maintained the support of local Republicans for the area's state senate seat. In the governor’s race, Scott Jensen garnered more votes than the...
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Jennifer Moravetz was introduced as the new Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) elementary principal during the Monday, July 25 school board meeting when her contract was approved by the school board. She began her work at the school a few weeks ago and has been getting acquainted with the building, getting to know staff, working on the schedule for the upcoming school year, reviewing handbooks and preparing for the back to school open house. Moravetz said the back to school open house for elementary students will be a little bit different this year. It is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7...
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Tuesday, Aug. 9 is primary election day in Minnesota during which voters will choose which candidates will be on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pipestone residents can vote at St. Leo Catholic Church at 415 Hiawatha Ave. S. Edgerton voters can vote at the Edgerton Emergency Services Building at 230 Mill St. E. All other precincts in the county receive mail-in ballots and can also vote at the Community Room at the Pipestone County Courthouse at 416 Hiawatha Ave. S. in Pipestone. Absentee ballots are available...
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A single leg, double leg, head position … high hand, toe-pick. Do you want to gain knowledge of these skills, use these skills better and be more competitive with them? Arrow Wrestling Camp might just be the ticket for you. The 2022 edition of the Arrow Wrestling Camp, which continued its focus on reinforcing basic wrestling skills while offering advanced techniques, July 25-28 at Pipestone Area Schools, again proved a big hit within the area wrestling community. And for the campers who received instruction of these skills, as demonstrated by Pipestone Area head wrestling coach Brian Bos, his assistants Paul...
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Flying high after eliminating Fox Lake from the postseason with a wild and historic, 15-14, Game 3 victory in Truman last week, the Ruthton Royals amateur baseball team was hoping its underdog momentum would carry over in its first-ever best-of-three Region 13C series against the top-seeded Milroy Irish. Bowing out 5-0 in Game 1 Wednesday night at the Irish Yard in Milroy, the eighth-seeded Royals needed everything to go right, and have a little luck, in Game 2 Friday night in Ruthton. Neither circumstance nor fortune was to be found in the Royals’ dugout, however, as Ruthton concluded its 2022...
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The two properties on which Central School once sat and two other tax-forfeited properties — one in Hatfield and one in Woodstock — will be for sale at a public auction that is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Room at the Pipestone County Courthouse. A fifth tax-forfeited property located at 622 Third Ave. SW in Pipestone was sold to the city of Pipestone for [post_excerpt] because it was a small strip of land along the north side of another tax-forfeited property that the city bought for [post_excerpt] last year. The house on the property...
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A long time staple of the Pipestone County Fair will not be active during this year’s fair, which began Wednesday, Aug. 3. First Lutheran Church’s food stand was rendered unusable by a fire Sunday afternoon. Mark Zinnel, the custodian at First Lutheran, said Monday morning that people had been at the food stand Sunday afternoon cleaning and preparing for the fair and left about 4 p.m. The fire was reported at 5:35 p.m., according to the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office. Zinnel said carnival workers noticed smoke and then fire coming from the building and called 911. Pipestone Fire Chief Mike...
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Grab your sunscreen and gather your friends and family because the Pipestone County Fair is just around the corner. The fair, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 3 through Saturday, Aug. 6 at the Pipestone County Fairgrounds. Midwest Rides of the Midway will be at the fair, with one advanced ticket equaling one ride, and early ticket purchases will result in savings, with six rides available for purchase at . Advanced tickets are available at Hank’s Foods, Coborn’s and the Pipestone Chamber Office. Wayne Drew, a fair board member and the Pipestone County building and grounds supervisor, said that an...
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A second candidate filing period for local government candidates in the 2022 election opens Tuesday, Aug. 2 and closes two weeks later on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The second filing period applies to all cities in Pipestone County except Pipestone, all school districts, and townships that hold their elections in November. Running for office requires the candidate to file an affidavit of candidacy and pay a filing fee, which is unless otherwise indicated. All seats up for election are for four-year terms unless otherwise noted. Below are the local governmental entities for which the second filing period applies, the seats...
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The Royals’ best-of-three crossover playoff series (Gopher & First Nite Leagues) against the fourth-seeded Fox Lake Foxes went down to the wire Sunday afternoon in Truman. Taking a 15-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, fifth-seeded Ruthton looked to wrap the tilt up in the minimum seven frames – advancing to its first-ever Region 13C playoffs series in the process. However, following an explosive eight-run outburst by the hosts in the bottom of the seventh, and a 14th marker in the bottom of the eighth, Ruthton hung on for its collective life to pull out a 15-14 victory...
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Well, friends, as some of you may have heard by now, I am leaving on an Uncle Sam sponsored trip once again. I know, it feels like I just got back yesterday from the last one (technically I got back a year ago this month). Normally, the turn around isn’t this quick between deployments. However, times are changing and personnel are stretched in the public affairs world (and throughout the entire force) so Uncle Sam called and I had to answer. I love the old man, but sometimes I wish he knew not to call after hours. The good new...
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This week we run the final question and answer coverage of the local candi- dates who will be on the Aug. 9 primary ballot. They include the candidates for mayor of Pipestone: Myron Koets, Verdeen Colbeck and Dan Delaney. Myron Koets CS: Please tell us about yourself, background, experience, family, qualifications, etc. MK: I was born and raised on a farm north of Pipestone. Graduated from Pipestone High School and from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with majors in business administration and economics. I am a U.S. Army veteran serving in Viet Nam, Thailand, and Turkey in the...
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This week and next we will run question and answer coverage of the local candidates who will be on the Aug. 9 primary ballot. We begin with the candidates for Pipestone County Commissioner District 2; Kim Drew, Thomas Haag and Doug Nagel. Next week we will feature the candidates for mayor of Pipestone. Kim Drew CS: Please tell us about yourself; background, experience, family, qualifications, etc. KD: I would like to say hello to the residents of District 2 in Pipestone County. The District includes, Eden, Sweet, Gray and Troy townships. I would find it rewarding to represent these...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their July 12 meeting approved an updated five-year road and bridge plan presented by Pipestone County Highway Engineer Nick Bergman. The bulk of the projects planned for the next five years are overlays and replacement of bridges and box culverts. Work that has been done, is being done or is planned to be done this year includes seal coating on 30 miles of various roads, overlays of five sections of road totaling 32.66 miles and 10 bridges or box culverts. Projects planned for 2023 include overlays on seven sections of road totaling 20.87 and nine bridges...
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This year’s Relay For Life of Pipestone County is Thursday, July 28 at the Hiawatha Lodge at Hiawatha Pageant Park in Pipestone. The event will begin with cancer survivor registration from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., a silent auction from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., registration for a kids color run from 4:45 p.m. to 5:20 p.m., a community meal sponsored by the Pipestone County Pork Producers from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., face painting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., a bake sale from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the color run at 5:30 p.m. and the opening ceremony...
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Jasper Quartziter Days is Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Quartziter Club President Lisa Petersen said many of the standard Quartziter Days activities will return, an event from the past will be brought back and there will be some new features. New is an open house at Adina Place at the former Jasper Sunrise Village on Saturday. Also new is an open house and tours of the Emergency Services Building during fire truck rides on Saturday. Petersen said the rides will begin at the park and make a stop at the Emergency Services Building before returning to the park....
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The Arts and Mentoring Project (AMP) will perform its show titled “Arts Under the Stars,” at Hiawatha Pageant Park on July 22-24. Gates open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate by check or cash, and are for one night or for all three nights for adults, and for one night and for all three nights for students. Show director and co-founder of AMP, Reggie Gorter, said that the show is a concert that consists of performances put on by area youth who participated in different...
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Top-seeded (West) Pipestone Post 6 wasn’t quite able to mimic its performance at last weekend’s Jr. American Legion Sub-sub State baseball tournament at the Sub-State level Sunday and Monday at A’s Field in Pipestone, concluding its campaign Monday evening with a 5-2 playback-bracket loss to second-seeded Madelia (East). Although Pipestone was squaring off against a second straight varsity-level pitcher in Madelia’s Dylan Grev, the tell-tale sign that Post 6 might not be up to the task was an energy level that appeared to wither in the extreme heat of the day. “Yes, we were very flat today,” Pipestone Jr. American...
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The Jasper City Council recently sent out information to residents about a potential funding opportunity for community improvement projects. Former Jasper City Council member Trinidad Garcia asked the council during its June meeting to reconsider participating in the Max Your Community program through the Luverne Area Community Foundation (LACF) to revitalize the park by the city’s ballfields. Jasper is eligible for the program because part of the city is in Rock County. LACF Executive Director Emily Crabtree presented information about the program to the council in September when Garcia was still a member of the council. Crabtree said then that...
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Pipestone Outdoor Power opened Wednesday, June 29 at the former South Side Motors property at 424 Eighth Ave. SE in Pipestone. The small engine sales and service business is owned by Wayne Erbes, owner of Wayne’s Tractor Repair in Marshall, and managed by Chris Wussow. The business will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays for now. Wussow said the business sells Hustler, Bad Boy and Mahindra machinery, and Bush Hog and skid steer attachments. He said it will also sell Cub Cadet snowblowers and can get after market agricultural...
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The new Family Dollar/Dollar Tree store at 317 Second Street NW in Pipestone is scheduled to open on Thursday, July 14. The store will carry a wide range of items including food, health and beauty products, housewares, clothing, school supplies, party supplies, crafts, pet items, seasonal items and more. The store will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Store Manager Jodi Wolfe, of Pipestone, said the store will have around 15 to 20 part-time and full-time employees. She said they are still looking for some employees, but have enough to open. Wolfe previously worked as a paraprofessional at...
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Through five frames of the Jr. American Legion Baseball Sub-sub State finals, Monday evening in Adrian, it appeared as though the second-seeded Pipestone Post 6 squad would retain its position out of the West for the upcoming Sub-state tournament Sunday-Wednesday in Pipestone. However, having extended their at-bats throughout those innings against Windom starting pitcher Drew Rothenberger and forcing the fourth seed to relieve him on the mound with Jackson Anderson in the sixth, Pipestone was in prime position to chip into a three-run deficit. A lead-off double off the bat of third baseman Landon Quist in the bottom of the...
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Pipestone A’s stalwart Danny Moffitt pointed to the Fairmont Martins not ‘traveling well’ in his post-game comments Friday night; he was spot on. The local amateur baseball club broke an eight-game skid that stretched back to June 12 by knocking off the Martins 10-6 Sunday afternoon at A’s Field in Pipestone. “Yeah, they brought their high school guys today, didn’t have a lot of players and we picked up the win; it’s our first since June 12, so it’s good to get that out of the way and, hopefully, focus on the positives heading into playoffs,” A’s player/manager Jordan Karels...
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The Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board plans to obtain cell phone policies from other area school districts and have the policy committee, which includes school board members Katie Wiese, Chrissy DeBates and Amy Nelson, review them and report back to the full school board. School board member Brad Carson first brought up the topic of cell phones in classrooms during the board’s April meeting when he asked that it be added to the next meeting’s agenda. The board discussed the topic at its May meeting and decided to continue the discussion during a work session after its regular June meeting....
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their June 27 meeting approved a general fund budget of ,679,211, with a projected deficit of [post_excerpt],021,942 for fiscal year 2023, which began on July 1. “Each and every year we do remind you that we budget conservatively, so the revenues are probably worst case scenario and the expenditures are on the higher end,” said Superintendent Kevin Enerson. That conservative budgeting has led to school boards regularly adopting budgets with deficits and ending up with actual year-end audited figures that are better than projected. For fiscal year 2021, for example, the school board...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their June 27 meeting approved adding a poured in place rubber surface to the existing playground at the elementary school and decided to look into the cost to add an outfield fence to one of the new ball fields that is being built north of the school. The school board approved paying Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground 4,579 to replace the wood chips with a poured in place rubber surface in the existing playground at the elementary school. During its May meeting the school board discussed putting in the rubber surface based on the results of...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their June 28 meeting approved selling the former landfill at 1491 County Road 6 in Section 31 of Rock Township to the Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club for 0 plus closing and other costs, and authorized the county attorney to prepare sale documents. The club plans to develop a gun range on the site. As part of the sale, the club agreed to allow the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office to use the grounds for life at no charge and to allow the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) or other state or county officials to access wells on the...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their June 27 meeting decided to seek clarity from the city of Pipestone about why the city council rejected a proposed library agreement during its June 20 meeting. A letter from the city to the school district dated June 21 indicated only that the council had voted to reject the proposed agreement and would consider any new proposals that were presented. “My question is how can we present a new proposal if we do not know what they found unacceptable with this agreement,” said School Board Chair Jeff Baatz. “Nothing was stated in...
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Signs of life were evident Wednesday night at A’s Field in Pipestone, as the Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team (5-13) hung tough against visiting Hadley through seven frames – before giving up two late runs and succumbing to the Buttermakers 4-2 in Gopher League action. The stat Pipestone hoped to hand its hat on for heading into a pair of road tilts to close out the week was a ‘7’ in hits column. Although the A’s managed to post six against Luverne the previous week, having more than 2-3 hits a game has been an anomaly through the 2022 campaign....
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Looking to buckle down for the upcoming playoffs, while gaining valuable experience for next spring’s high school campaign, the Pipestone Post 6 Jr. American Legion baseball team squared off against the senior-laden (AL) side from Slayton Thursday evening at A’s Field in Pipestone. Through four frames of what would end as a five-inning tilt, the young Post 6 team was in the thick of it. However, the visitors plated eight runs in the top of the fifth and gave back just one in the bottom half – leaving Pipestone on the wrong end of the final 13-2 scoreline. A scoreline...
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Pipestone City Council members during their June 20 meeting approved with a 4-1 vote proceeding with the paving of 11th Street NE, which was extended last year to provide access to the new Caring Hands Dental Clinic, and paying for it out of the liquor store fund. City Administrator Jeff Jones said the pipe was available for the storm sewer along the extended portion of the street and construction was expected to begin later in the week. “Obviously, once that storm sewer work is done a street surface will be needed for 11th Street Northeast,” Jones said. He said Bolton...
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Landon Quist was focused, on the mound as well as at the plate, Thursday evening against Adrian, earning an 8-3 decision from the bump while cranking a pair of triples and scoring twice out of the batter’s box – helping Pipestone secure a Jr. American Legion baseball victory. Although Pipestone managed to take an early 1-0 through Quist’s first triple of the game in the top of the first inning, Adrian managed to even the score with a marker in the bottom of the frame. However, as Quist warmed to his task on the hill, the Post 6 bats did...
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As the dog days of summer often wreak havoc on natural flora and fauna, so too they often aid in withering the passion and commitment of amateur baseball players. Such was the case Wednesday evening in Luverne, where a skeleton crew of Pipestone A’s players were simply no match for the hosting Redbirds. Scoring early and often, and using the long ball to their advantage, the Redbirds dispatched the A’s in seven frames, 16-0, to move to within two games of the Milroy Irish in the Gopher League standings. Despite singles of the bats of Austin Evans and Danny Moffitt...
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The effort has begun to raise funds for a new building that will house the Pipestone Senior Center, Pipestone County Area Food Shelf and Meals on Wheels/Lutheran Social Services. A kickoff event was held in May and so far about ,000 has been raised toward the 0,000 goal, according to Dawn Heidebrink, president of the Pipestone Area Community Foundation (PACF). The PACF is a non-profit organization helping with the fundraising campaign. Of the total amount raised so far, ,000 was donated by First Bank and Trust, Compeer Financial donated ,000 and an anonymous donor gave another ,000. Heidebrink, who owns...
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•City Council rejects negotiated agreement without stating why The School District has been advised that the Pipestone City Council rejected the agreement that the School District and the City have been negotiating for the last few months. In the City’s letter to the District, the City cited no reason for its rejection of the agreement. •Negotiations had been amicable and constructive for months, despite statement of mayor The negotiations with the City had been amicable. The City representative pressed for a proposal to be brought forward to the City for consideration. A copy of the proposed agreement was sent on...
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TO THE EDITOR: Some people believe Donald Trump, some do not. Some people say they believe him because they fact check him. I do not fact check him very much, but I do remember what he said last time. And when that changes, I know he was wrong at least one of those times. The current change he made was based on his opinion of Mike Pence during the Jan. 6, rebellion against the government. Back then he said that Pence had no courage and needed to change the electoral votes. Now he says that Pence was on an assembly...
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Ruthton’s Buffalo Ridge Civic Organization (BRCO) is gearing up for the annual July 4th celebration on Sunday, July 3 through Monday, July 4. Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m with church in the park, with coffee and rolls available. Monday will feature the parade starting at 11 a.m., followed by a free will donation lunch in the park. The meal will include hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by the Pipestone County Cattlemen Association. Chips, cookies, condiments, water and all plates and utensils are being donated by the BRCO. Attendees are welcome to bring their own meals and picnic in...
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TO THE EDITOR: You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 Today is a good day. I have been alive nearly 19,000 days (thank you mom), but less than a 1,000 of those days have not been under the umbrella of Roe v. Wade! Praise the Lord for the courage of our Supreme Court to uphold the sanctity of human life! Praise the Lord for today! Jennings Wallace Pipestone
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Every day we are faced with new challenges or goals we want to accomplish; some simple, some difficult. To face these challenges we draw from experience and knowledge, other resources, and for some our faith. Depending on the depth of our challenge, the ramifications, or the urgency, we tackle each in different ways. Yet, life experience will teach us that a certain level of consistency in our approach can guarantee success. If a tactic has worked in the past, we will first try it again to face the topic of the day. This past week I participated in some training/refresher...
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Early voting for the Aug. 9 primary election begins Friday, June 24 and is available through Aug. 8. Voters can apply for an absentee ballot online at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote, or by stopping in at the Pipestone County Auditor’s office at the Pipestone County Courthouse at 416 S. Hiawatha Ave. in Pipestone. The applications can be turned in to the auditor’s office in person or by mailing them to Pipestone County Auditor’s Office, 416 S. Hiawatha Ave., Pipestone, MN 56164. Voters can return their completed ballot to the auditor’s office by mail or drop them...
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Several high school teachers from Pipestone Area Schools (PAS), the surrounding area and even other states participated in a Geometry in Construction (GIC) workshop at the Pipestone campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College June 13 through 16. The workshop taught teachers how to combine geometry and construction instruction. Tom Moore is one of three teachers, two from Colorado and one from Missouri, who created the GIC curriculum in 2005. “We made a decision in the early 2000s that high school mathematics needed to have relevance and so we wrote a full strength geometry course in which students build...
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The Pipestone Farmers Market kicked off the season with the first market on June 11, in its usual space in the True Value parking lot downtown. The market will run through October, every Saturday from 8 a.m. until sold out, and starting on July 6, every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. until sold out. Market attendees should note that the location will be changed to the courthouse lawn this weekend for Water Tower Festival. Lisa Smith a vendor and coordinator of the farmers market, said that visitors can look forward to a variety of goods being featured at the market. Some...
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Pipestone City Council members during their June 20 meeting voted unanimously to reject a proposed library agreement developed by negotiators representing Pipestone Area Schools, the city of Pipestone, the Meinders Community Library Board and the Plum Creek Library Board. About 10 community members attended the meeting to listen to the discussion. Meinders Community Library Director Jody Wacker expressed objections to the agreement and indicated that she didn’t think some terms met the requirements for a community library. Similarly, City Administrator Jeff Jones said he believed that some terms of the proposed agreement were not in compliance with city code and...
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The District #3 one-room schoolhouse, which is located at Moore Park in Pipestone, held its opening session for the season on June 9. School will be in session every Thursday until Sept. 1, from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. There is no cost to attend the event and it is open to anyone who wishes to stop by. At around 12:30 p.m., children in attendance participate in outdoor activities, organized by Trava Olivier from the Pipestone County Museum (PCM). Activities range from playing games to crafting and flying kites in the school yard. At 1 p.m., the children are ushered...
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Summer is here and with it have come heat, humidity and many things that creep and crawl. Our family has been collecting some of these creepy crawly critters thanks to two youngsters who have an interest in nature and animals. It’s mostly my daughter, who would be quite happy if we started our own zoo. The collecting started with an injured wasp. The kids aren’t very fond of them generally, and neither am I, but they found one in the backyard that appeared unable to fly. My daughter asked me to fetch one of the Mason jars with holes poked...
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Looking to bounce back from its marathon, 11-inning loss to the Ruthton Royals Wednesday (June 15) evening, the Pipestone A’s amateur baseball (5-8) simply couldn’t figure out Adrian A’s starter Tucker Sorenson. Sorenson was spot on through seven frames Sunday afternoon at A’s Field in Pipestone, giving up just one hit while fanning 15 and walking no one in helping the visitors trip up their hosts 2-0 in Gopher League play. “He’s known for his slider and he puts his fastball where he wants to … tough to get a hit off of him,” Pipestone A’s third baseman Brady Weinkauf...
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Pipestone Post 6 suffered a pair of Jr. American Legion baseball road losses during the week, bowing out to Tracy and Worthington, Thursday and Monday evenings, respectively. Although Post 6 hurlers Landon Quist and Trevor Chauslett did well to keep Tracy from scratching out crooked numbers Thursday in Milroy, the Post 6 had difficulty squaring up against their counterpart Ashton Squires – finishing with no runs on four hits over six frames of the 3-1 loss. However, trailing 3-0 entering the seventh, Post 6 manufactured a run against reliever Jaret Ankrum to avoid the shutout. Pipestone’s Weston Reinhard was...
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In a word … frustrating. To say Braxton Thompson’s participation in the 2022 MSHSL Class AA state golf tournament, June 14-15 at the ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan, was anything but would be difficult, as the Pipestone Area junior was, himself, ‘subpar.’ “I felt like I prepared myself well, but once I got to the course, I just could not play golf,” said Thompson, who concluded the two-day, 36-hole tournament 80th out of 85 – shooting a total of 180. “I struggled at the beginning of my practice round Monday, but after a little while I hit the ball...
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A traffic study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) at the intersection of state Highway 30 and Eighth Avenue SW, which is also County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15, in Pipestone yielded no recommended change to traffic controls. Pipestone City Council members requested last year that MnDOT conduct the traffic study due to the new elementary school constructed by Pipestone Area Schools. City Administrator Jeff Jones said then that concerns had been expressed about traffic volumes and traffic control at the intersection. “After looking at the traffic study, traffic flows, the number of accidents and all the other...
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The Pipestone City Council encountered a snag in the process to potentially sell the former Carnegie Library property. During its May 16 meeting the council approved bid documents and scheduled a bid opening for the sale of the property for June 20. According to the bid documents, the buyer would have five years to repair and restore certain elements of the building or the property would revert back to the city. City Administrator Jeff Jones said during the council’s June 6 meeting that the city’s attorney had since informed him that the Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) office, which would...
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Newalta Dairy is inviting people to come have Dinner on the Dairy on Thursday, June 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will be held at Newalta’s main site at 1125 71st Street, Pipestone. It will include a free meal, ice cream served by the Pipestone County Dairy Princesses Katelyn Welgraven and Josie Sutherland, tours and more. The Pipestone County American Dairy Association holds a Dinner on the Dairy every two years to invite the public to visit a local dairy and see what it looks like. The last Dinner on the Dairy was scheduled for 2020, but was...
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Looking to return to the boys’ Class A state tennis tournament in doubles action, the Pipestone Area partnership of Isaac Stiles and Cole Paulson came up short Tuesday afternoon in Redwood Falls. Entering the second day of the individual tournament as the underdog, the fourth-seeded PAS duo squared off against top-seeded Blake Frahm and Griffen Jarchow from Luverne. Despite playing solid tennis throughout and taking a 3-0 lead in the second set, the Arrow duo bowed out in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. “We tried to poach a little more on our serve in the second set, which worked a while,...
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Perhaps this time around the would have, could have, and should haves will stick in their minds more than they have in years past. But make no mistake, Pipestone Area belonged at the 2022 Class AA state softball tournament June 9-10 at Caswell Park in North Mankato. The returning Section 3AA champion Arrows, which concluded their season at 16-11 following a 6-5 loss to defending state champion LeSueur-Henderson in the consolation semifinals Friday morning in North Mankato, were in the thick of it from the get-go. A one-run loss (7-6) to top-seeded Proctor in the championship quarterfinals Thursday morning dropped...
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Perhaps appropriate considering this spring’s unusually cool weather, the snowball effect was in full swing Thursday evening at the Marshall Softball Complex in Marshall, as the defending Section 3AA champion Pipestone Area Arrows tallied 13 runs on 13 hits in the bottom of the first inning – en route to a 15-0 (4 inn.) victory over the Luverne Cardinals and another section crown. “We’ve really been hitting the ball well lately and today every ball we hit was squared up,” said Pipestone Area head coach Troy Bouman whose unseeded Arrows will take on No. 1 Proctor in the Class AA...
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The Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team wrapped up its second annual Pepsi Invitational tournament with a 7-2 victory over the Hadley Buttermakers in the third-place tilt Sunday at A’s Field in Pipestone. Falling behind 2-0 after a frame and a half, the A’s scored all they would need to secure the win over the ensuing two-and-a-half innings – plating seven runs on nine hits, including a 3-for-3 stint by Cole Lueck and a 2-for-4, three-RBI performance from Collin Moeller. The A’s also took advantage of four miscues by the visiting Buttermakers, while playing flawless defense behind starting pitcher Dawson Schelhaas...
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Aiden Voss stoked the fire once more Friday evening in St. Michael, as the Pipestone Area junior claimed a pair of third-place finishes at the MSHSL Class A state track & field meet at St. Michael -Albertville High School. A surprise medalist at last year’s season-ending event, Voss upped the ante by qualifying in two events this spring and taking the podium in both the boys’ 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles. Setting a personal record of 15.07 seconds during Thursday’s preliminary race, Voss entered Friday’s finals in second place – just .05 behind Triton’s Owen Petershon. The finals proved a slow...
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The Arrows’ participation in Day 2 of the Section 3AA golf tournaments at Oakdale Golf Club began and ended with a bang Wednesday in Buffalo Lake. A mere 15 minutes prior to the second day of the 36-hole boys’ tournament the bang of a virtual gavel sounded the inclusion of previously disqualified freshman Max Taubert in the 46-player field, while at tournament’s end junior teammate Braxton Thompson had banged his way into the Class AA state tournament with a fifth-place (overall) total of 152. “It feels great finally getting to state,” said Thompson, following his 3-over 75 on Wednesday. “After...
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Making the most of competing at or close to home at Paulsen Field, the Pipestone Area and Southwest Christian track & field teams qualified seven athletes in nine events for the MSHSL Class A state track & field meet, June 9-10 in St. Michael, through their performances at Thursday’s Section 3A meet in Pipestone. After battling uncooperative weather throughout the season, a beautiful, sunny day was just what the area’s athletes needed to perform their best – with state-meet qualification on the line. “So much of that first part of the season was canceled or the kids were competing in...
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Pipestone’s 33rd Annual Water Tower Festival is just around the corner, running from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26. The 2022 festival theme is “Hometown Heroes.” Erica Volkir, the executive director of the Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce, said the theme was selected to honor the heroes of Pipestone, both past and present. “It allows for a wide range of options as there are countless individuals, couples, families, nonprofit organizations, groups and professions that have been important to the success and growth of our community throughout the years and continuing to the present,” she said. “The theme is a...
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Recently I had a conversation with one of my very best friends, who is a collector of antiques of sorts, and an artist who can recycle and reuse just about anything. I was telling her about my recent desire to purge things in my home, and start to get rid of items that I’ve been holding onto for years and yet have not used. I suppose the desire to do so stemmed from the past few months of going through my father’s things to get his house ready to be rented, and all of the time and tears that have...
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For those involved in the historic structure rehabilitation scene, a potentially significant change may be on the horizon. The extension of the Minnesota State Historic Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit, failed to pass before the state legislature adjourned on May 23, and is set to sunset after June 30 if a special session does not take place. The tax credit is a part of the Omnibus Tax Bill. According to the Minnesota Department of Administration State Historic Preservation Office’s website, the tax credit, which mirrors the federal version which passed in 1966, offers a 20% state tax credit for qualified historic...
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Matthew Aaron Kellen, 38, of Pipestone, was arrested Wednesday, June 1 after allegedly threatening law enforcement and their families over a series of months. According to the Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force (BRDTF), Kellen made “multiple threats of violence specifically directed towards law enforcement officers and their families. These threats of violence included specific details of shootings, sexual assaults, and arsons.” According to the BRDTF, the task force executed a search warrant at Kellen’s Pipestone residence on June 1 with the assistance of the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and H.E.A.T. (High...
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The Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force (BRDTF) has lost one member county and gained another. BRDTF Assistant Commander and Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Edison Dengler said Nobles County, which had been part of the task force since it began in 2006, opted out of it a couple months ago. He said the Nobles County Sheriff’s Office decided to focus its resources and funding more locally and work more closely with the Worthington Police Department instead. The task force is funded in part by a Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs grant and Dengler...
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Several contested races have emerged following Minnesota’s first candidate filing period, which ended May 31. For local nonpartisan races, if more than two people have filed for one seat there will be a primary election on Aug. 9 to narrow the field down to two candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot. For partisan state and federal races, if more than one person from the same party filed for the same office there will be a primary election. Local contested races include: Pipestone County Commissioners Kim Drew, Thomas Haag and Doug Nagel filed for Pipestone County Commissioner District 2. The District...
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The Calumet Players will be performing a musical called “Nunsense” on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 16-19, and then June 23-26 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices are for adults and for students, and are available by calling the box office at 507-825-2020 or at the show. The show is PG, but is appropriate for young adults. The production, which is based off of the book, music and lyrics of Dan Goggin, is about a community of nuns, the Little...
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By Kevin Enerson, PAS Superintendent Pipestone Area Schools concluded the 2021-22 school year last week. Congratulations to the Class of 2022 on a great senior year and best wishes as all of you enter the next phase of life. The 2021-22 school year signaled a return to normal or the perception of what seemed to be normal. Attendance rates due to COVID still caused a great deal of inconsistency throughout the year. A big thank you to the staff for helping students and to parents for their patience as we worked to navigate through these challenges. As we prepare for...
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As I’ve stated before, I believe that life is a precious gift that is worth protecting. As such, I was pleased to see the leaked information from the U.S. Supreme Court that suggests the court might overturn Roe vs. Wade. Abortion generally seems repugnant to me. In order to save the established life of the mother or in other extreme circumstances such as rape it seems that it could be reasonable, but it seems like a horrible form of birth control. There are many other options available for that. Similarly, my view on the value of human life made it...
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After years of effort, and even a ground breaking at a different location, the Caring Hands Dental Clinic at 301 11th St. NE in Pipestone has begun taking appointments and will begin seeing patients on June 6. “It will be good,” said Caring Hands CEO Al Olsen. “We got a good crew hired. We were very fortunate to find the people we have and are very pleased with them. Now it’s just to get the ball rolling.” Olsen said the dental office will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will provide full general dentistry...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their May 23 meeting discussed the use of cell phones by students in the school and reviewed the existing guidance pertaining to cell phones in the middle and high school handbooks. According to the high school handbook, no electronic devices with photo or camera capabilities are allowed in locker rooms; electronic devices can be used before school, during lunch and after school, and each teacher can determine what is acceptable use of electronic devices in their classroom. If a teacher determines that a student is using a device in a way that is...
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The pool at the Pipestone Family Aquatic Center has been filled and the final preparations are underway to prepare for the start of the center’s 25th year on Wednesday, June 8. Pipestone Recreation Director Robert “Pete” Petersen said 17 lifeguards have been hired, which is more than in recent years. Nonetheless, he said the aquatic center can always use more lifeguards. The days and hours of operation will also be increased this year. The pool will be open seven days a week. Open swim will be from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; from 1...
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In 1960, the Edgerton High School boys basketball team became the smallest school ever to win the state tournament. On June 10, a play about the team, titled “The Flying Dutchmen,” will premiere at Edgerton Public School. The play was written by Barbara Roy, a 1966 graduate of and former teacher at Edgerton High School. Roy was in sixth grade when the team won the championship and attended many of the team’s games with her father. Roy has written several original plays for her classes during her career as a high school theater, English and speech teacher, and director of...
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Work started March 7 to replace the bridge on 150th Avenue south of Ihlen and north of Split Rock Creek State Park with the goal of having it completed by Memorial Day when the park’s busy season begins. That did not happen. Pipestone County Highway Engineer Nick Bergman told Pipestone County Commissioners during their May 24 meeting that the work was progressing more slowly than expected because of “extremely hard rock” workers encountered. He said the bridge pilings had to be embedded at least 10 feet into the bedrock and the workers had a difficult time drilling into it. Bergman...
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The area’s three track & field programs held nothing back at Thursday’s Southwest sub-Section meet in Luverne, as the Southwest Christian/Edgerton Eagles, Pipestone Area Arrows and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights qualified a plethora of athletes for Thursday’s Section 3A meet in Pipestone. No side, nor single athlete, shone brighter than SWC/E and Micah Schaap on the day, as the senior spearheaded the Eagle boys’ (148.5 points) team triumph with two meet records, three individual victories and 4x400-meter win with teammates Aiden Schaap, Jaden Barron and Levi Van Dyken. “Yeah; that feels really good,” said Micah Schaap, who hopes to again qualify for...
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Although the Pipestone Area boys’ golf team came up short of their overall team goal of qualifying for the second day of the Section 3AA tournament Thursday at the Oakdale Golf Club in Buffalo Lake, placing in the same position (8th) in which it was seeded, the Arrows saw juniors Braxton Thompson and Breylon Kuiper push through to the second day individually. Thompson shot a fifth-best round of 77, behind leaders Charlie Hanson (75) of Morris Area and Peyton Coahran of New London-Spicer (75), and NL-S’ Noah Dietz (76) and Luverne’s Owen Sudenga (76), while Kuiper sits 37th overall with...
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The Arrows’ high hopes of qualifying more players for the MSHSL Class A boys’ state tennis tournament didn’t quite go as planned Thursday afternoon in Redwood Falls, as all but last year’s state-qualifying doubles team of Isaac Stiles and Cole Paulson bowed out on the first day of competition. Even that squad had its share of difficulties in pushing through to the semifinals, as after sitting around for more than an hour after dispatching 13th-seeded Connor Hagen and Talan Brock of Montevideo in their first-round match, the PAS senior duo (seeded No. 4) gifted Yellow Medicine East’s Jackson Torgerson and...
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The area’s three track & field programs held nothing back at Thursday’s Southwest sub-Section meet in Luverne, as the Southwest Christian/Edgerton Eagles, Pipestone Area Arrows and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights qualified a plethora of athletes for Thursday’s Section 3A meet in Pipestone. No side, nor single athlete, shone brighter than SWC/E and Micah Schaap on the day, as the senior spearheaded the Eagle boys’ (148.5 points) team triumph with two meet records, three individual victories and 4x400-meter win with teammates Aiden Schaap, Jaden Barron and Levi Van Dyken. “Yeah; that feels really good,” said Micah Schaap, who hopes to again qualify for...
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Sixth-seeded (south) Pipestone Area was always going to be fighting an uphill battle against No. 3 Redwood Valley in the opening round of the Section 3AA baseball tournament Saturday at Island Park in Windom. And Cardinal starter Isaac Louwagie made sure Arrow batters were never allowed to dig in, as the senior ace struck out 17 would-be hitters in helping RWV shut out the Arrows 8-0 to eliminate the lower seed and advance in the tournament. “He really pounded the strike zone today, kept us off balance with his fastball and a slider, and we couldn’t figure it out,” Pipestone...
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Even before play commenced at Saturday’s Section 3AA tournament at the Marshall Softball Complex in Marshall, the defending champion Pipestone Area Arrows had to wonder why the softball fates continued to curse them. In pre-game batting warm ups, the injury-plagued Arrows suffered another setback, as lead-off hitter and starting centerfielder Jadyn Kor took a line drive to the face, knocking her out of the day’s events – save a courtesy running stint late in the team’s championship bracket game against the Luverne Cardinals. However, following Romeo’s lead in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, the Arrows offered retort similar to ‘Then I...
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TO THE EDITOR: The recently concluded legislative session left a number of important issues unresolved, many of which are important to cities and our residents here in Southwestern Minnesota. Specifically, the agreed-upon final versions of the Tax bill and the Jobs and Energy bill are much-needed items that will offer opportunities to our residents and our communities. We ask the Senate and House legislative leadership of both parties to agree soon on a short agenda for a one or two-day special session to act on bills which their conference committees have already agreed on as well as a Capital Investment...
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This week we paid honor to service men and women who sacrificed their lives to defend freedom. I attended the Memorial Day service held by the Pipestone American Legion and was once again reminded of how much our veterans and active military personnel do so the rest of us can enjoy the lives we live. In listening to Minnesota National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Brian Douty, I was especially struck as he recalled by name men and women he knows of who lost their lives while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. To hear these names seems to make it more real....
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Elementary Principal Toni Baartman has resigned from her position. Baartman said she took a new position as the middle school principal in Worthington, which is her hometown. “I grew up there and went to school in the school I will be principal at,” Baartman said. “My family and many friends are still there and I have been welcomed with open arms by staff and community members as I also was the elementary assistant principal there at Prairie Elementary before coming here. I am super excited for this opportunity!” Baartman replaced Don Plahn as elementary principal after...
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Mayor Myron Koets, Councilman Rodger Smidt, Commander of American Legion Post 6, Brad Carson, it is a pleasure to see so many of you turn out to honor and pay your respects to those who gave their lives while serving our country. I am Lieutenant Colonel Brian Douty, I am currently serving in the MN National Guard and graduate of Pipestone/Jasper High School, Class of 1998. First, I need to say THANK YOU to the Gold Star Families in the crowd and around the globe. A Gold Star family is the immediate family member or members of a fallen service...
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Day in and day out, those who have graduated from Pipestone Area Schools make a difference in the lives of those around them. Some- times, they venture out past the county line and experience the unusual and interesting world we live in. Some never really leave, or perhaps come back to build a life and a family, and others just visit from time to time to catch up with those they love. Whatever the case, these people have roots or connections tying them to the area. The Pipestone County Star is developing a series that will run periodically to bring...
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After 36 years of teaching and all of those years at Pipestone Area Schools, Monica Kennedy, a grades 7-12 art teacher at PAS, will be retiring. Originally from Dawson, Kennedy moved to Pipestone in 1986, shortly after graduating from Saint Cloud State University with an undergrad degree in Visual Arts K-12. To fulfill her student teaching requirements, Kennedy traveled to Augsburg, Germany to student teach at an Air Force base. While there, she resided in a little village around seven to nine miles nearby, from which she would walk to the base every day, just to take the opportunity to...
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Emaleigh Vreeman will begin her new job as Pipestone County Recorder on Tuesday, May 31. She replaces Mary Ann De Groot, who held the position for 28 years and retired at the end of March. Vreeman is an Edgerton native and graduate of Southwest Christian. She earned an accounting degree at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington in 2015. She previously worked for Fulda Area Credit Union, the Jackson County Assessor’s Office and First State Bank Southwest as a customer service representative and, most recently, a mortgage loan officer. Her last day at the bank was Friday, May...
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Pipestone City Council members during their May 16 meeting approved proceeding with the sale of ,925,000 in general obligation bonds to finance street and utility improvement projects planned for this year. The bond will provide financing for reconstruction of part of 10th Street SW and Fourth Street SE. The debt service for that work would be paid for with special assessments and property taxes. The bond will also be used to finance the storm water portion of a street and utility improvement project in the Nichols Addition. Debt service for that work would be paid for with utility revenue and...
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The members of the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) graduating class of 2022 will receive their diplomas on Sunday, May 29 in a ceremony at the middle and high school gymnasium. Each year, the senior class committee helps plan certain elements of the graduation ceremony. This year’s senior class committee includes Kendra Folkerts, Marli Taubert, Aubrey Kerkaert, Kennedy Manderscheid, Emma Stahl, Jamie Drey and Hope Wallace. The committee selects a few options for the class colors, class flower and class motto, and then the entire senior class votes to make the final selection. This year the class colors are burgundy, gold...
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Several Memorial Day programs are planned in Pipestone County on May 30. Below is an overview of when and where the programs will be held and what they will include. Pipestone There will be a Memorial Day program in Pipestone on Monday, May 30 at 10 a.m. at New Woodlawn Cemetery. Lt. Col. Brian Douty will be the keynote speaker. Douty graduated from Pipestone-Jasper High School in 1998 and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2002. He lives in Rosemount and works for the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs. He is the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion 151st...
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After suffering rather uncooperative spring weather, the Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team managed a fast and furious four-game stretch to open its summer campaign last week – celebrating two wins and bemoaning a pair of losses. The A’s opener saw the Pipestone club double up the Heron Lake Lakers 6-3 on the road Sunday afternoon (May 15) in Heron Lake. Mike Friese hurled the first 3.1 innings of the seven-frame tilt, giving up one earned run on three hits while fanning four and walking two. Austin Evans closed out the tilt, giving up no runs on four hits, striking out...
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Defending section champions squared off against one another Friday evening in Pipestone, as 2021 3AA titlist Pipestone Area and 3A winners Edgerton/Southwest Christian converged for their annual cross-county battle. And the non-conference doubleheader proved just that, a good battle, with the hosting Arrows (9-9) coming back from a 4-2 loss to the Flying Dutchmen (13-5) in the opener to earn a split – via a 5-3 victory in the nightcap. “They were good games, overall, and we got back to playing Arrow softball,” Pipestone Area head coach Troy Bouman said. “In Game 2 we did things well, came up with...
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Had they been able to defend an early 1-0 lead Wednesday evening at A’s Field in Pipestone, the Arrows might just have avoided a difficult opening-round match-up for the upcoming Section 3AA tournament. Pipestone Area’s reprieve was not forthcoming, however, as the visiting Windom Eagles tallied six unanswered runs to claim a 6-1 Big South Conference victory and complete a sweep of the Arrows in the home/away season series. The loss dampens the Arrows’ hopes of avoiding their nemesis, the Luverne Cardinals, to open the postseason that could signal the end of several talented athlete’s high school sports careers. But...
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Cranking out several personal and season best times and distances, the Pipestone Area track teams tuned up for Thursday’s Southwest sub-Section meet in Luverne at the Marshall Invitational track & field meet Monday evening at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. “It’s very unusual for us to have a meet the week of sub-Sections, but with the funny weather we’ve had and the lack of meets, it’s actually a really good thing,” Pipestone Area head coach Todd Tinklenberg said. “I thought a meet was better than having a practice, it allowed us to be more competitive. We had a lot...
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TO THE EDITOR: Google is a wonderful thing. And I love my Walmart straight talk phone. For .88 I can look up anything. A great invention. Google defines due process as a noun. “Fair treatment through the normal judicial system especially as a citizen’s entitlement.” Investopedia defines it as “due process is a requirement that legal matters be resolved according to established rules and principles, and that individuals be treated fairly.” FindLaw further states that “the 5th Amendment is the requirement that government cannot deprive a person of their freedom or property without going through the court system.” Due process...
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Like many others in Lake Benton, on Thursday, May 12, I found myself cleaning up after a thunderstorm that brought extremely high winds and what many are calling, tornado-like conditions. Initially, I was supposed to go for a three-day weekend of military duty, but the storm changed those plans. Like any real Midwesterner, I watched out the window as the sky turned black and the wind picked up, and I stayed upstairs a little longer than advisable because you know, you want to watch, am I right? When I saw one of my neighbor’s giant pines snap in half like...
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The first filing period for candidates in the November 2022 election opened Tuesday, May 17 and ends Tuesday, May 31 at 5 p.m. Here is a list of what seats are up for election and who had filed as of Monday, May 23: Pipestone County Commissioners A contested race has emerged for Pipestone County Commissioner District 2, with Kim Drew, Thomas Haag and Doug Nagel filing for the seat. The District 2 incumbent is Les Nath. Commissioner District 4 is also up for election and Daniel Wildermuth has filed for that seat, for which he is the incumbent. District 2...
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Perhaps the biggest question for the Arrows heading into their Section 3AA tournament opener was which Pipestone Area softball team would show up. After a tumultuous, injury-riddled regular-season campaign that saw the Arrows (11-9) lose more games than they have in the last two seasons combined, it was anyone’s guess if the team that took the diamond Tuesday afternoon in Pipestone would be focused enough to begin a defense of its section crown. Pipestone Area not only issued notice it was more than prepared to make a strong run at another section title, but also it did so playing Arrow...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) astronomy students recently spent part of their morning visiting with Christal Jolly, element operations manager for the launch control center at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Jolly spoke to the class of 17 10th through 12th graders by video chat about her career with NASA and her background, and answered questions from the students. She said she grew up in St. Cloud, Florida, which is near Orlando and double majored in mechanical engineering and biology at the University of Central Florida. She said she started working for NASA at 16 through an internship. “I’ve always known...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their May 10 meeting approved spending 2,686 to improve the former Southwestern Mental Health (SWMH) building in Pipestone, which is owned by the county. Building and Ground Supervisor Wayne Drew reviewed bids for various elements of the project and the commissioners approved the low bids or lone bid for each portion. The approved bids include ,884 from Engbarth Directional Boring for a fiber optic line connection; ,361 from Mark Griebel Custom Homes for general construction; ,313 from Stout & Evink Plumbing & Heating for heating, ventilation and air conditioning; ,640 from Woelber Excavating for perimeter tile...
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Plans for a new Head Start building in Pipestone are moving forward. Pipestone County Commissioners during their May 10 meeting approved a bid of ,000 from the Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) for a roughly one-acre piece of land on North Hiawatha Avenue on which SMOC plans to build a new Head Start building. SMOC was the only bidder for the property. The agency expressed interest in the property in September. The commissioners were interested in selling the property to SMOC for a Head Start building, but had to first have the land subdivided and then advertise if for sale...
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Another house renovated by Minnesota West Community and Technical College carpentry students is almost ready for sale. Pipestone Building and Zoning Official Doug Fortune told the Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA), which funds the renovations, during its May 9 meeting that the students were expected to finish installing vinyl siding on the house at 411 West Main Street last week, prior to Minnesota West’s graduation ceremony. He said instructor Shawn Berning indicated that he would finish up any work that might remain after the school year, which he expected would be minimal. One piece of work that did still remain...
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It has been very busy at the legislature as we have gotten closer to the final week of session. Here is a quick legislative update. Tax Relief After passing the largest tax cut in state history last month, my colleagues and I approved a tax relief for working families, retirees, and small businesses. Our top two tax priorities for the year are the marquee items in the second tax bill: •Reducing the first-tier tax rate: The bill reduces the first-tier tax rate for all filers from 5.35% to 2.80%. Minnesota’s lowest tax bracket is higher than the highest tax bracket...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their May 10 meeting approved of seeking bids to sell the former landfill at 1491 County Road 6 in Section 31 of Rock Township. The Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club has expressed interest in using the property for a shooting range and the commissioners have expressed support for the idea. The sportsmen’s club first discussed a desire to develop a gun range with the commissioners in March of 2021. When the group revisited the topic with the commissioners in April of this year, the commissioners supported leasing the former landfill land to the club. Commissioner Dan Wildermuth said...
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TO THE EDITOR: In response to the comments made in last week’s paper regarding the Calumet Inn, the City of Pipestone provides the following facts: •On November 13, 2019, the State Fire Marshal conducted an inspection of the Calumet Inn, which revealed violations of the Minnesota State Fire Code. The Fire Marshal required the owner to correct the violations by February 13, 2020. They were not corrected. •On March 9, 2020, the State Fire Marshal conducted a follow-up inspection. That inspection revealed eight additional violations of the Fire and Building Codes. After the inspection, the State Fire Marshal described the...
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It is finally warm, which means it’s time to get outside. In an effort to do just that, last Friday I suggested to my kids that we have a fire, roast marshmallows and use our projector to watch a movie on the garage door. My daughter suggested we also camp in the yard, so we did. It’s outside after all and I would go along with just about any outdoor activity this time of year. The next day we spent a couple hours watching and learning about birds at Pipestone National Monument’s Migratory Bird Day event. It was fun and...
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Dawn Petersen, an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Pipestone Area Schools, will be retiring this year after 28 years of teaching, 25 of which were with PAS and the first three at Hills-Beaver Creek. Language Arts, Petersen said, is all about reading and writing. “We read wonderful books and short stories,” Petersen said. “I add a little history to that because I have a history background as well.” With a well-rounded view, Petersen graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls with multiple bachelors degrees in elementary education, social studies, literature and special education. “I made myself very marketable,” she said....
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Looking to give themselves an edge in garnering a top-half finish in the section standings, the Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team (6-5) came up just short of their goal to win two tilts over the weekend. Despite a slow start to their opener against Lac qui Parle Valley, and forfeiting at No. 4 singles, the Arrows managed to dispatch the Eagles 5-2 Saturday morning in Madison. Unfortunately for the Arrows, the ensuing trip to Benson proved less fruitful in suffering a 6-1 loss to the Braves under tired legs. “We knew we needed to win both of these matches or,...
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Three innings into Game 2 of the Arrows’ Big South Conference softball doubleheader against the visiting Marshall Tigers, few would have given Pipestone Area a chance of earning a split Monday evening in Pipestone. Coming off what Pipestone Area head coach Troy Bouman noted as one of their best performances of the season Thursday against defending state champion (AA) LeSueur-Henderson, Bouman thought his team would be ready. Instead, it was Marshall that proved ready to play, claiming the opener 9-2 before tallying three runs in the first three frames of the nightcap. Fortunately for the Arrows, they managed to turn...
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The young Pipestone Area boys’ golf team continues to make strides as evidenced by its showing at Monday’s Big South Conference tournament at Dakotah Ridge Golf Club in Morton. While the Arrows carded a seventh-best 364 on the day, they shot an amazing 40 strokes better than they did at the same tournament in 2021. “It makes you smile, yes, but hopefully we’re stepping up to peak at the end of the season as we did last year,” Pipestone Area head coach Craig Boeddeker said. “We still have the goal of advancing to the second day of the section (3AA)...
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Needing to win both games of its Big South Conference doubleheader against visiting St. James to avoid a possible opening-round matchup with Luverne in the upcoming Section 3AA tournament, the Pipestone Area baseball team came up just short – claiming the first game 10-4 before dropping the nightcap 9-8 in 10 innings Saturday in Pipestone. Hitting the ball extremely well in the opener, scoring 10 runs on 10 hits, and carrying 5-1 lead into the fourth inning of Game 2, the Arrows looked well on their way to picking up the much-needed pair. Instead, the visiting side in the nightcap...
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Although not quite as successful as groups as they were individually, the Pipestone Area track & field teams earned a good share of accolades at the Big South Conference small schools championships Saturday in Windom. With the top three finishers in individual events earning All-Conference honors and the top two relay teams garnering that distinction, the Arrows had several athletes recognized as such in moving into what Pipestone Area head coach Todd Tinklenberg notes as the ‘competition phase’ of the season. “I thought we had a pretty good day overall,” Tinklenberg said. “We actually earned all-conference honors in 13 events,...
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Prescribed burns were conducted last week at the Pipestone Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Pipestone National Monument. The burn at the Pipestone Creek National Wildlife Refuge took place Tuesday, May 3. Fire Management Specialist Eric Earhart, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Windom office, said the burn included about 80 acres out of the 117 at the refuge. He said northeast winds allowed the burn crew to burn most of the land, but that they didn’t burn the entire area because they didn’t want the smoke to impact residents in the area. The 11-person burn crew included USFWS...
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Contending with high winds and less than ideal course conditions throughout the week, the Pipestone Area golf teams proved a mixed bag in their three events. Wrapping up the week’s schedule at the 18-hole Big South Conference event at the Worthington Country Club in Worthington, the Arrows (358) snatched the third-place points in tying for third with the Windom Eagles (358) via a tiebreaker. “Today we had a good showing as a team; I was pleased with our play” Pipestone Area head coach Craig Boeddeker said. “We can beat Luverne (2nd, 337) because we’ve done it; today we didn’t, but...
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The county’s track & field programs had a full week of competition, entering various invitational and elite meets as well as competing at Monday’s True Team section meets. The Southwest Christian/Edgerton and Pipestone Area track & field teams competed at the Section 3A True Team meet Monday in Redwood Falls, hoping to qualify for the True Team state meet as the top in the section. The Eagle boys (541.5 points) claimed a runner-up finish behind the Luverne Cardinals (573) and will be entered in the at-large meet for a chance to go to state. The SWC/E girls (491) were also...
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It might almost have felt better had the Arrows turned in a poor performance Monday evening in Pipestone. Instead, the Pipestone Area baseball team played fairly well, had good pop with its bats and proved stout in defense. The only disparity was the Arrows (4-9) simply couldn’t stop Blue Earth’s Logan O’Hara from hitting home runs in bowing out to the visiting Buccaneers 16-14 (8 inn.) and 5-3 (5 inn.) in a Big South Conference small schools twinbill. “The only difference is, you can’t catch the ones over the fence and that was the difference in both games,” Pipestone Area...
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Heading into the latter part of the season against some of the tough competition it will face this spring, the Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team appears to be peaking at just the right time to make a strong push toward state meet qualification. The Arrows (5-3) capped a strong week of play with a 6-0 road victory over the MACCRAY Wolverines Monday evening in Clara City, opting to double forfeit the final single tilt. The win comes on heels of a stellar performance against perennial powerhouse St. James, where the Arrows’ lack of numbers – due to illness and injury...
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Although the Pipestone Area softball team continues to nurse niggling injuries that have affected its ability to put its best team on the diamond, the adversity the Arrows endured during Thursday evenings 6-7, 7-3 Big South Conference split against the visiting Jackson County Central Huskies was mostly of their own making. The defending Section 3AA champion Arrows (8-4), certainly the target of every other club in the Big South Conference and the area at large, appeared to be resting on its laurels to open play Thursday evening at Paulsen Field in Pipestone. And a hungry and improved JCC side pounced,...
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This Spring, we continue to see record-high inflation, soaring gas prices, an embattled Ukraine, and an outbreak of HPAI in Minnesota. So, I’ve been hard at work. I introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act, which aims to protect Americans from this Administration’s anti-energy agenda, which has directly resulted in higher prices at the pump and has been since well before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It would do this by stopping these types of targeted policies until Americans start seeing gas cost .60 per gallon, like it cost across the country just a year and a half ago. Backlogs at...
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The first filing period for candidates in the November 2022 election opens Tuesday, May 17 at 8 a.m. and ends Tuesday, May 31 at 5 p.m. This filing period is for federal, state, county, city of Pipestone and judicial offices. There is a second candidate filing period for all other cities, townships that hold elections in November and school districts in the county, which will open Tuesday, Aug. 2 and close Tuesday, Aug. 16. Candidates for federal office can file with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, candidates for state and judicial offices can file with the secretary of state...
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A new health insurance option that will be available in southwest Minnesota is expected to bring more people to Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) for healthcare. Avera, which manages PCMC, is working with HealthPartners, an insurance provider based in Bloomington, to provide a new health plan option called Cornerstone for large employers in Pipestone, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Rock and Yellow Medicine counties. The plan is available to employers with 51 or more employees beginning in July. “With Cornerstone, we’ve designed a plan option that’s ideal for employers with 51 or more employees in southwest Minnesota who need...
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Pipestone Senior Center President Joann Weets, accompanied by other senior center representatives, requested funding from the Avera Foundation and Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) during the April 26 PCMC Governing Board Meeting. Weets presented some background on the plans for the building, which is estimated to cost around 0,000. The building would be located at the corner of Second Street NW and Second Avenue NW in Pipestone, where the Pepsi building used to be, on land owned by the senior center. It would house the senior center, food shelf, Meals on Wheels and senior dining. Weets said she applied for...
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For the week ending April 29, 2022 This past week was a very productive week in the Senate as we have been hearing and passing the omnibus bills. Here is a quick legislative update. Public Safety Bill Last Monday the Minnesota Senate passed a comprehensive public safety bill that provides critical funding to hold criminals accountable and keep Minnesota’s communities safe. It focuses on all aspects of the criminal justice system and courts, including youth intervention, criminal laws, sentencing guidelines, police, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, prisons, and probation. Protecting our communities and guaranteeing the public’s safety is one of our...
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Removing the image of the pipe from the Pipestone Municipal Liquor Store’s sign is the moral and just action the city council can take [“Thanks expressed for willingness to remove pipe from sign,” www.pipestonestar.com, April 18, 2022]. Gabriel Yellowhawk was more than gracious in thanking the council for its willingness to do so. From its beginnings, Pipestone has liberally appropriated Indigenous sacred objects and symbolism for marketing and other purposes. Residents may remember, for instance, when in 1989 the Pipestone High School was called to account for its nickname The Arrows, an action that had followed the Minnesota State Board...
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Michael and Mariah Swanson are the new co-managers of the Pipestone Country Club (PCC). The young newlyweds, both Pipestone natives and Pipestone Area Schools graduates, bring food and beverage experience and some new ideas to the PCC. Mariah worked at the PCC last summer serving and bartending. Before that she worked in the food and beverage industry and nannied in Chicago, where the couple lived for about four years until last summer. While in Chicago, Mariah said she helped manage an Italian bistro called Caffe Rom and Molly’s Cupcakes, which won Cupcake Wars on the Food Network in 2009. When...
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https://youtu.be/_MAj6OtCeWw Watch the video above for highlights, read the story below for the full version. A pipeline owned and operated by Oklahoma-based Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P that runs through part of Pipestone County is scheduled to be decommissioned sometime before the end of 2022. Following years of conversation with Magellan, the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have made a joint announcement that they are working with the company to develop a plan to decommission and abandon a pipeline that includes a half-mile section that runs underneath federal property, including the northwest section of Pipestone...
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Despite having perhaps 5-6 meets in by this time in a given spring, the weather has limited outdoor participation and, of course, competition for the area’s high school track & field athletes. While Thursday was no exception to the early-season’s uncomfortable temperatures, the Pipestone Area Arrows and Southwest Christian/Edgerton Eagles turned in some fine performances at the Worthington Invitational in Worthington. Behind a Micah Schaap triple and a Levi Van Dyken triumph and a 4x400-meter relay victory by Micah Schaap, Aiden Schaap, Van Dyken and Jaden Barron, the Eagle boys (96.5 points) claimed third place in the team standings behind...
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Always a difficult place for the Arrows to play, the Pipestone Area baseball team compounded its initial reluctance to take the field at Island Park in Windom by committing a pair of costly errors Thursday evening – resulting in a 7-3 Big South Conference loss to the hosting Eagles. Not only were the park and blustery weather conditions not to their liking, but the Arrows saw a different type of team under new skipper Alex Fink. “Playing Windom, they just play a little different style of baseball these days; they have a new coach and are playing small ball …...
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Third by a stroke. That’s where the Pipestone Area boys’ golf team finished at the Big South Conference event Monday evening at the Windom Country Club in Windom. And though third is seldom celebrated with the zeal Pipestone Area head coach Craig Boeddeker carried into the clubhouse following the 9-hole round, it was smiles all around for the Arrows after the scorecards were totaled. “I’m excited; finishing third, a point back from second, is huge for us in the conference,” Boeddeker said. “This is us wanting to be competitive and making a push for those conference honors. We play at...
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The Arrows don’t normally have too much success in South Dakota when it comes to tennis. Playing 10-game pro sets and pitting players against one another in both singles and doubles hasn’t panned out for Pipestone Area team too often. Though it went to the wire Monday night in Madison, S.D., with Tony Wacker and Owen Minet coming back from 2-7 down in their doubles tilt, the Pipestone Area boys’ tennis team claimed a rare 5-4 triumph over the Madison Bulldogs to improve to 4-2 on the season. It was, surprisingly a good day; it was cold, but there weren’t...
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Thursday evening’s Big South Conference softball doubleheader in Pipestone was more about response than anything; response to injury, difficult weather conditions and dropping three consecutive games for the first time in … Respond the Arrows did, sweeping the visiting Windom Eagles 11-1 (6 inn.) and 15-5 to improve to 7-3 on the season. “We faced some adversity, of course; Luverne played really well and St. James has a really good thrower, but we’ve really kicked the ball around early this season,” Pipestone Area head coach Troy Bouman said following the Arrows’ victories over the Eagles. “The biggest thing for us...
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Over the past few months I have had a few experiences that have caused me to reflect on myself and the way that I view other people, and how I perceive them to view me. I’ve always considered myself to be a kind and giving person. Sure, I have my selfish moments, as we all do. But in general, I come from a family that has a helpful spirit, especially to those who have fallen on hard times or have come out of a life lesson, trying to learn to do better for themselves and others. When your kindness is...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) plans to seek input on how to use the 6,000 in proceeds from the sale of the Brown and Hill school properties. Minnesota statute requires proceeds from the sale of school district properties to be used to pay off any outstanding debt on the properties that were sold. If there is no debt, which there wasn’t for Brown and Hill, the funds can be used for capital expenditures for the betterment of district-owned buildings or to pay off other outstanding debt. Superintendent Kevin Enerson asked school board members what they wanted to do with the funds...
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The Southwest Christian/Edgerton, Pipestone Area and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton track & field programs greeted favorable weather conditions for Tuesday’s annual Bob Nangle Relays and … well, ran with them – snatching top positions in both the team and individual standings throughout the evening. In a tight team race on the boys’ side, the Eagles (304 points) beat out the Luverne Cardinals (284) for bragging rights while the Arrows (246) and Knights (132) finished third and sixth, respectively. Aided by six individual/relay triumphs, including four from senior Micah Schaap in the open 400 meters, long and triple jumps and 4x400 meter relay, the...
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As of May 1, Dr. Thomas Chapa and physician assistants Tanya Letham and Jordana Neeman will comprise the core of Pipestone County Medical Center’s (PCMC) emergency room. Chapa said there will still be some weekend coverage from locum providers, there is a fourth provider who is independent who will continue to provide care, and that PCMC’s clinic providers will work in the emergency room as they choose on days and weekends, but he, Letham and Neeman will provide what he called a “significant portion” of the care. “The idea is to bring this in and by doing that we could...
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Corey Popma has resigned from the position of Pipestone Fire Chief and Mike Bloemendaal has been appointed the new chief. The change will take effect at the fire department’s Tuesday, May 3 meeting. Popma submitted his resignation to the Pipestone City Council during its April 18 meeting and told council members that it was a very difficult decision to make. “I’m here tonight humbled, honored, blessed and privileged to be your fire chief for the last 12 years,” Popma said. “I’m so thankful for the memories that I’ve created, thankful for the people I’ve gotten to meet and the people...
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This year’s Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) prom on Saturday, April 30 will have an “Under the stars” theme. Decorations will include glittery stars, clouds, a lit up walkway, balloon arches and possibly a moon. The prominent colors will be navy blue, silver and white. The theme and colors were selected by the junior class committee members, who plan the prom each year. “We kind of just all looked up some themes and that was the one that spoke to us all the most,” said Arinn McGee, one of eight committee members. Kayla Hubbling, also a committee member, said it was...
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During Easter weekend while we were visiting family at my mom’s house, my daughter found a plastic shovel and asked me if I’d go outside with her while she dug in the dirt. I went with her and while she dug into one of grandma’s garden areas I picked out rocks. My daughter’s interest in digging made me wonder if there might be some natural in-born desire to dig in the dirt when spring arrives, even if it doesn’t actually feel like spring outside. Personally, I started thinking about digging in the garden and what I would plant as soon...
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Pipestone City Council members during their April 18 meeting approved a bid of ,027,642 from Hulstein Excavating, Inc. of Edgerton for street and utility improvement projects planned for this year. The company’s bid was the lowest of three received for the work. The bids, which were opened at the council’s April 4 meeting, included a portion for everything but the surfacing, asphalt surfacing and concrete surfacing. Hulstein Excavating’s bids were the lowest for both surfacing options, with the asphalt option totaling ,695,726. The engineer’s estimate was ,880,824 for the concrete option and ,346,214 for the asphalt option. City Engineer Travis...
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Coach Collin Hoppe, in his first head coaching season at Pipestone, has endured a tough, yet successful, start to his tennis coaching tenure. “The weather has really made things tough,” said Hoppe. “Practicing in the gym is just no replacement for time on the courts, but I am really happy with how the boys are performing.” The Arrows started the past week’s matches with a 7-0 win over Fairmont in Pipestone on April 19. In the singles events Tony Wacker won 6-4, 6-3; Ryan Woodbury cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win; Lucas Zupp posted a 6-0, 7-5 win; and Makhi...
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Pipestone’s Paulsen Field played host to 10 teams Saturday, April 23 for the annual Pipestone Invitational Track & Field meet. Although the sun was out for much of the day’s events, the winds were unfavorable with average wind speeds coming in at 25-35 and gusts much higher. This caused for the pole vault and high jump competitions to be eliminated and made for some tough runs and throwing conditions. Regardless, the event went on and the Arrows enjoyed an opportunity to compete. In the final team standings Luverne topped the girl’s standings and Southwest Christian/Edgerton (SWMCH-EHS) won the boy’s meet....
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Coming off a disappointing performance in Luverne, the Arrows traveled to St. James on Thursday, April 21 to take on the Saints. Pipestone dropped the first game 5-3 then rebounded to take the second tilt 5-4. Game one: Pipestone 3 - St. James 5 As coach Bouman cited, Addie Bowers is a good thrower for the Saints. “In the St. James series we faced one of the best pitchers in the area. Addie Bowers did extremely well,” Bouman commented. “In that first game it looked like we played not to lose...didn’t play to win. We came back in game two...
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Thursday, April 21 the PAS boys golf team earned a nice team win in Worthington outpacing the Trojans 167-182. For once this spring the weather was accommodating and allowed the boys team to post some nice scores en route to their fourth dual meet win in four contests. Junior, Braxton Thompson, was the low man on the card for the Arrows submitting a respectable 39. Thompson had a nice chance to go even lower with an eagle opportunity on the 461 yard, par five, sixth hole. He placed his drive on the left side of the fairway just 182 yards...
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The Pipestone City Council convened as the Board of Appeal and Equalization on Tuesday evening, April 12 during the annual meeting during which residents can question whether their taxable property has been properly valued and classified by the assessor. Two residents presented questions about the valuations of their property. The assessors also presented information related to seven other properties in the city. Jeremy Whipple was the first resident to speak during the meeting and presented information about property owned by the Pipestone Development Company. He said the land is supposed to be 40 acres, but appears to be about five...
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Pipestone Building and Zoning Official Doug Fortune has been granted a conditional use permit to convert his Victorian home at 304 Third Ave. SE into a bed and breakfast. The Pipestone City Council approved the permit during its April 18 meeting following the recommendation the Pipestone Planning Commission made during its April 13 meeting. Fortune said during the public hearing held during the planning commission meeting that he plans to have one unit in the attic, two on the second floor and one in the basement. His room will also be in the basement. Fortune said there is not currently...
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The Pipestone Development Company (PDC) plans to divide the former Hill Elementary School property into 16 lots that will be known as Hill Addition. The Pipestone City Council approved a preliminary plat for the property during its April 18 meeting following the recommendation the Pipestone Planning Commission made during its April 13 meeting. During a public hearing held during the planning commission meeting, PDC President Jeremy Whipple said the PDC plans to build twin homes on the lots. He said the PDC also plans to donate one of the lots to the city of Pipestone, so that a playground can...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their April 12 meeting voted to pursue and long-term lease for a piece of county-owned land that the Pipestone Sportsmen’s Club would like to use for a shooting range. Several members of the club attended the meeting and Dave Sommers, Brad Bolluyt and Joe Schelhaas presented a proposal to the commissioners to buy or lease the property at 1491 131st Street in Section 31 of Rock Township for [post_excerpt]. The group first presented preliminary plans for a gun range to the commissioners in March of 2021 and were told to explore options and report back. Pipestone...
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As an owner of a small business it’s not uncommon to have to do a little bit of everything. This is natural to the position and a requirement that I think is necessary. I don’t think the operation runs optimally if the owner doesn’t have a good understanding of the various duties performed within the company. Given the ups and downs of the business world and the fact that we simply cannot afford to be over-staffed, successful operations require that business owners, and other employees, are able to perform various duties and fill-in where necessary to get the job done....
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TO THE EDITOR: Last week the newspaper reported the following: “Baatz said the city and school district agreed that there was a need for security upgrades to the main library entrance that would require people to be buzzed in as is required at all other entrances into the school.” This raises a series of questions: namely, who determines who is safe enough to get buzzed into the public library and how do they make that call? This is not something to be figured out after a new agreement is in place. This is something that must be addressed during the...
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TO THE EDITOR: As the mayors of a city in southwest Minnesota, we hear from employers all the time about the shortage of employees. We see signs in the front windows of businesses and billboards all around that are advertising for employees. Sign on bonuses is growing rapidly as with starting wages for these jobs. For jobs that require a 2-year accreditation or a more advanced 4-year degree, many businesses are getting very creative in paying all or part of the education in exchange for a commitment to work. New or struggling businesses sometimes do not readily have the financial...
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The Pipestone American Legion Post 6 welcomed a distinguished visitor on Thursday, April 14. Paul E. Dillard, the National Commander for the American Legion, made a stop here on his national tour of posts that is scheduled to wrap up in September after about 330 days on the road, he said. The tour has been focused on sharing what the American Legion as a national organization has been doing, including community work and a legislative agenda. Dillard, a Texas native, addressed around 60 Legionnaires, visitors from neighboring posts and Sons of the American Legion members and their families, citing their...
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The city of Pipestone has been sending letters to property owners who have clay sewer service lines on their property notifying them that the clay lines are not compliant with city code and making them aware of a loan program to help replace leaking and failing sanitary sewer lines. City code that was adopted in 2019 prohibits discharging of storm water, ground water and other water sources considered clear water into the sanitary sewer system by way of defective sewer service lines or any other means. Aging clay lines are considered defective because they can allow inflow and infiltration of...
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Gabriel Yellowhawk, of Pipestone, thanked the Pipestone City Council during its April 4 meeting for its willingness to remove the pipe from the Pipestone Municipal Liquor store sign. Yellowhawk, who is chair of the Pipestone Human Rights Commission, said that when he came to Pipestone about three years ago to work at Pipestone National Monument, he noticed the sign right away and found it to be “culturally offensive” to his people and belief system. “In our culture the pipe is very special to us and sacred,” Yellowhawk said. He explained that in his belief system, the White Buffalo Calf Woman...
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Despite some unseasonably cold weather and snow in the area recently, it is spring and with spring comes growth, new life and flowers. Luetta Nikkel and her daughter-in-law Amber Nikkel have gotten a head start on nature at their business, Backyard Blooms in rural Jasper. They started the business last year and grow a wide variety of flowers and other greenery for bouquets. They also use wild flowers and grasses. “Sometimes we scavenge through the ditches and the fields,” Amber said. They start their plants inside under grow lights in February and then move them out to their solar powered...
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The Al Opland Singers are set to perform their show titled “Traveling the World Through Music,” April 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. and April 24 at 2 p.m. at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC). There are 26 performers in the show this year, including an accompanist and percussionist. This year’s producer, Danielle Evers, and the assistant producer, Rodger Olivier, both from Pipestone, said that the performance will take viewers on a musical trip around the globe. “The first half of the show will focus on songs about places in America,” Evers said, “and in the second half the songs will...
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The Pipestone County Museum will open a new telephone exhibit Friday, April 22. Admission will be free during a reception that day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The museum previously had a small telephone exhibit that included a switchboard and part of a telephone pole. Pipestone County Museum Executive Director Susan Hoskins said the museum chose to expand the exhibit because it barely touched on the history of telephones. She said museum staff members have talked to children about the telephone exhibit for years during school tours and a growing number of them have their own cell phones and...
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Arbor Day is a special day in April that celebrates trees. Julius Norton was a journalist who moved to Nebraska in 1854. He and his wife purchased 160 acres in Nebraska City and began planting trees. He recognized the value of trees and shared his knowledge through his newspaper, the Nebraska City News. In 1872 he suggested a day be set aside to encourage tree planting. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872. About one million trees were planted. It spread across the country and schools began to participate. In 1885 it became an official state holiday...
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With the weather shifting in the general direction of summer (no thanks to more recent weather we have experienced) I have found myself dusting off old dreams, ideas and projects. There is something about the freshness of spring and the earth renewing itself that can really fuel motivation and progress. I’ve been listening to some of my favorite podcasts while driving, I’ve really needed them to keep me going the past two weeks as I have had to take two trips to the Twin Cities for military obligations in that time frame. If you are a creative person, I highly...
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TO THE EDITOR: In March I received my yearly letter from the city offices stating it was once again gardening season. As in other years I have had the same plot since the gardens opened. The letter reads - Returning gardener yes. Same plot - yes. Registration deadline April 20, 2022. Have I thought of gardening - of course - is the season ready - no. On April 6 I went to secure my spot and was told it was given away. “1st come, 1st serve basis.” Was I at fault for waiting - maybe - but still comes the...
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Negotiators met twice in March to work on developing a new public library agreement and those involved in the negotiations have shared optimistic assessments about how the process is going so far. School Board Chair Jeff Baatz, who is also a negotiator, said during the March 28 school board meeting that he thought the first meeting “was a very good conversation.” Brad Carson, school board member and negotiator, agreed. “I think it went very well,” Carson said. “They want us to put together basically a working document/agreement of how we would like the language, how we would like to see...
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Lewis Family Drug opened in its temporary location at 114 Eighth Ave. SE in Pipestone on Monday, April 4. Pharmacy Manager Laura Martin said Monday morning that it felt fantastic to have the store up and running. “It was so exciting to get the first customer phone call today,” she said. Martin said the change over to the new store had gone smoothly. “With technology now days we’re pretty fortunate that you literally flip a switch,” she said. “People will use the same prescription numbers, we have the same phone number, the same fax number.” Martin said the store has...
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https://youtu.be/Jl-0UOnO6a4 Watch the above video to meet the PAS ArrowBots. The Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) robotics team, ArrowBots, Team 3298, attended two competitions this year, the Northern Lights Regional in Duluth, March 2-5, and the Great Northern Regional in Grand Forks, March 24-26. The team, consisting of five members ranging from freshmen to sophomores, were first-time in-person attendees at this year’s events. Although the team placed 26th out of 54 teams in Duluth and 45th out of 49 teams in Grand Forks, Travis Dethlefs, the technology education/engineering Instructor at PAS and the mentor/coach for the Arrowbots, said that this...
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Pipestone National Monument student trainee park guide, Jessica Arkeketa, has been selected as a Udall Native American Congressional Intern. She will begin her internship in Washington D.C. on May 25, and will return July 30 to the Pipestone area. According to the Udall Foundation website, the program ‘provides American Indian and Alaska Native students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with the federal legislative process in order to understand first-hand the government-to-government relationship between tribes and the federal government.’ Currently a senior at South Dakota State University, Arkeketa, an enrolled member of the Otoe-Missouria (Jiwere Nut’achi) Tribe in Oklahoma,...
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Nick Baatz is the newest member of the Jasper Fire Department. The 29-year-old joined the department in early March. “I live in Jasper and I plan on staying in Jasper for a while, and they’ve been looking for some more volunteers — some younger volunteers — so I thought I’d give it a shot,” Baatz said. Jasper Fire Chief Jeff Leslie said the Jasper Fire Department still has room for four more firefighters, which would bring them to full capacity at 25, and that he appreciated that Baatz joined the department. “We need young guys and he’s willing to do...
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Lisa Sneller, of Pipestone, has opened a new business called More than Lip Service at the Plaza Salon at 717 Sixth Street SE in Pipestone. The business offers a variety of cosmetic and skin care services, including injections using Botox and Juvederm. Sneller said Juvederm is a filler made of hyaluronic acid, which is something the body produces and that it produces less of after the mid-20s. She said the injections last around 12 to 24 months and dissolves in the body. She said there is also an enzyme that can be injected to dissolve it sooner if desired. Sneller...
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Pipestone Area Schools(PAS) junior Brooklyn Goelz, backed by a contingent of other music students and her parents, expressed to the school board concern about a perceived lack of support from school administration for the music department. Goelz indicated that the resignation of Band Director Alex Kisecker, which the school board accepted during the meeting, was a byproduct of the lack of support. She said Kisceker summed up the reasons for his resignation as there being too few music teachers, scheduling issues and a lack of opportunity to provide lessons. Goelz said Kisecker is one year away from getting his master’s...
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TO THE EDITOR: Responding to the guest column in the March 24 Pipestone County Star. Spending tax dollars in Southwest Minnesota is great. But wouldn’t those dollars be more wisely spent on the roads and bridges that all of the residents use rather than a trail that very few use? Rodney Altena Pipestone
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Local property owners might have noticed a larger than usual increase in the estimated market value of their homes in the valuation notices that were mailed out in March. Estimated market values for residential property in Pipestone County increased by between 12 and 30 percent (see chart). The estimated market value of tillable agricultural land increased by 8 to 35 percent depending on location. Those increases are well above those of the previous two years, which ranged from 0 to 20 percent for residential property. Changes in tillable land values over the previous two years ranged from a decrease of...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their March 28 meeting approved 4,080 in administrative budget recommendations that will be included in the 2022-23 budget. The school board typically approves the budget in June and the new fiscal year begins July 1. Some of the largest budget items that were approved include new ball fields north of the elementary school, which are budgeted to cost 0,000; shop air handlers, budgeted at 5,000; new curriculum, budgeted at 0,000; additional playground equipment for the elementary school, budgeted at ,800; fencing for Paulsen Field, budgeted at ,000; and sanding, sealing and finishing of...
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Pipestone Area School is entering the home stretch for the school year. Spring sports have begun, we are gearing up for spring assessments, and seniors are preparing for graduation. While we have been in school all year, normalcy is something that is just returning. COVID related issues have reduced to almost nothing this past month for the first time in two years! While this is great news, the lasting impacts of COVID are just becoming realized. PAS is seeing issues like other schools across the state like absenteeism, frustration, behaviors, learning interruption, and social-emotional needs that are needing to be...
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There was a day when I would eat a pound of bacon for breakfast or an entire block of sharp cheddar, sliced on crackers, for a snack. My body told me years ago that was not acceptable anymore. However, my meals continued to consist primarily of meat, usually with some fruit and vegetables, and often some sort of quick frozen processed food for lunch. When it came to exercise, I was all about it if it involved walking the dogs, hiking, kayaking, biking, playing ball, swimming, working on the house or in the yard, doing anything with my kids and...
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Despite pushing only one athlete through to the MSHSL Class A state meet last spring, the Pipestone Area track & field teams have plenty to be excited about this spring. Not only did the young Arrow teams have several runners, jumpers and throwers finish just outside qualification parameters, in the third and fourth positions at the section meet, they bring most of those athletes back to the oval for another shot at qualifying for the season-ending meet – which will be contended at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael – June 9-11. Pipestone Area hopefuls include 21 upperclassmen, seven...
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The Pipestone Area baseball team opened the 2021-22 campaign with an 11-3 non-conference victory over the Edgerton/SWC Flying Dutchmen Monday evening at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., scoring all the runs it would need to carry the Arrows through in the top of the third inning. Plating six runs on four hits and a defensive miscue by the Dutchmen, the Arrows were quick to issue a strong statement in response to the run they’d spotted Edgerton in the bottom of the second frame. “For the first time stepping on the field all year, its helps to have some seniors...
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Sewer charge forgiven for Monument Pipestone City Council members during their March 21 meeting approved with a 4-1 vote forgiving 3.20 sewer charge for Pipestone National Monument. Councilor Dan Delaney cast the opposing vote. Monument Superintendent Lauren Blacik submitted a letter to the council requesting a reduction of Pipestone National Monument’s December 2021 utility bill to account for a water leak. A contractor working in garage bays discovered a badly corroded water line and bad water shut off valve and replaced them, which resolved the problem, according to the letter. Blacik asked forgiveness of the sewer charge because the water...
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On Tuesday, April 5, the Pipestone Area Elementary Boosters will host a literacy night at the Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Middle School/High School Commons from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The event will include reading of stories with a craft that goes along with each book that is read. It will be the boosters’ fourth family fun night of the year. Pipestone Area Elementary Booster President Jessica Winter said the family fun nights are intended to get elementary students and their families out together to enrich the children’s education outside of school. So far the events have included playing bingo...
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The City of Jasper now has a Blessing Pantry ready for use outside of the Quartziter Community Center, the former Catholic Church, at 415 Second St. East in Jasper. Cortney Kounkel, the city clerk and treasurer of Jasper, said that conversations surrounding the implementation of the pantry began in November of 2020, when a community member brought the idea to city council. “The idea was presented to us by a member of the community who had witnessed the success of such pantries in other communities,” she said. “The Jasper City Public Works Department was responsible for the repairs on the...
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Debra Briggs, of Pipestone, introduced to the Pipestone City Council during its March 21 meeting a new local organization she founded called Smile Warriors 2022. “Our goal is to help members of our community who struggle with their mental health,” Briggs said. “We want to remind people that they are not alone and we’re all in this together.” Briggs came up with the idea that spawned the organization about two years ago when the pandemic began and things were shut down, causing people to be distanced from their family and friends. To add a little positivity to the community and...
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By State Rep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) Minnesota’s employers should begin preparing for tax increases of 15% or more, as a bill that would have prevented these tax hikes has yet to pass the state House. A debt of more than [post_excerpt] billion in Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is what brought the issue forward. The default method to eliminate the UI debt is tax increases on statewide employers. However, Minnesota has two pots of money available that, if used, would prevent the tax increase on employers: a .3 billion budget surplus and more than [post_excerpt] billion in unallocated COVID relief...
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By State Sen. Bill Weber (R-Luverne) We closed off last week with the end of the first deadline of session (March 25) at the legislature. Here is a quick legislative update of last week. Legislation to improve Highway 13 in Murray County Last week, Monday I presented legislation appropriating money for flood mitigation and road widening on County State-Aid Highway 13 in Murray County. CSAH NO. 13 runs over 3 dikes as it travels to Keely Island in Lake Shetek. Due to its narrow construction, little shoulder, and heavy traffic due to the lake visitors it has been designated as...
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The Pipestone County 4-H teams recently competed at the Regional Project Bowl in Redwood Falls on Saturday, March 19, one of three project bowls that took place across the state, earning some of the teams a trip to the state competition on April 9 in Saint Cloud. The Project Bowl, also referred to as a Quiz Bowl by many, is an event in which youth participants compete against one another in the area of general knowledge about a variety of topics such as livestock breeds, nutrition, diseases, reproduction, current events and more. A total of 23 Pipestone County kids participated...
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Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) plans to shift to all in-house emergency room coverage beginning May 1. PCMC CEO Brad Burris said PCMC providers currently cover the majority of emergency room services during week days on a rotating basis and PCMC contracts with Acute Care, Inc. to provide locum, or visiting, doctors for emergency room services on nights, weekends and holidays. That has been the arrangement for over 10 years. To make it possible to have all in-house emergency room coverage, PCMC has hired Dr. Thomas Chapa, who will work full-time in the emergency room in an administrative capacity and...
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The Knights didn’t claim a title and they didn’t finish the 2022 boys’ basketball season with a victory, but Russell-Tyler-Ruthton represented the area and Section 3A extremely well at the MSHSL Class A state tournament March 23-27 in the Cities – playing the maximum three games and earning sixth place. “It’s been a fantastic season and definitely one, as long as I live, I’ll never forget,” said Russell-Tyler-Ruthton head coach Daren Gravley, whose Knights concluded their campaign with a 24-9 following a 63-54 loss to Sacred Heart in the consolation finals Saturday morning at Concordia University of St. Paul in...
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Certainly, with the doubles team of Isaac Stiles and Cole Paulson qualifying for the MSHSL Class A boys’ state tennis tournament last spring as the first pair from Pipestone Area since 2008, a repeat performance would make for a banner campaign in 2022. However, this spring’s senior laden squad, which includes the aforementioned pair, has its sights set on … more. “We talked about expectations at last Monday’s team meeting and this group has some big goals,” said fledgling head coach Colin Hoppe, who was given the nod to take over from longtime servant Ed Gustafson (retired) at the helm...
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Having qualified for the MSHSL Class AA state football tournament and played for the sub-Section South AA basketball crown across the 2021-22 fall and winter sports seasons, the Pipestone Area Arrows hope to keep the athletic successes coming this spring on the baseball diamond. With six senior members returning to the dugout, all of which played on one or more of those fall and winter squads, Pipestone Area head baseball coach Rick Zollner is hoping they’ll bring that blue chip mentality with them into the final sports season of their high school athletic careers. “These seniors demonstrated what it takes...
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As winter moisture begins to dissipate from area courses, the Pipestone Area boys’ and girls’ golf squads will soon be making their initial drives, approaches and putts of the spring sports season. Although still quite young, the Arrow boys, who finished in the middle of the pack at last year’s Section 3AA tournament, the side comprised of one senior, two juniors, a sophomore, a freshman and an eighth-grader is extremely hopeful of qualifying for the second round of the state-qualifying event in 2022. “I have the varsity boys emphatically expressing their excitement for the upcoming season,” Pipestone Area head boys’...
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The Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) during its March 14 meeting approved a request from Pipestone Mayor Myron Koets, who is also an EDA member, for [post_excerpt],559.55 to help pay for a lobbyist to try to get legislation passed for a pilot program proposed by the Southwest Minnesota Council of Mayors. Koets abstained from the vote. The Southwest Minnesota Council of Mayors includes mayors from Pipestone, Canby, Granite Falls, Jackson, Luverne, Marshall and Worthington. The pilot program is intended to retain and attract workers by supporting technical education and training for targeted occupations including carpentry, mechatronics, automotive, plumbing, auto technology,...
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Terry Wolters, of rural Pipestone, was named president of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) for 2022 to 2023 on March 11 at the organization’s annual business meeting — the National Pork Industry Forum — in Louisville, Ky. Wolters said it felt good to be selected as president and it was humbling to be considered among the previous leaders of the organization. “We’ve had some great leaders over time,” he said. As president, Wolters said he will run the NPPC Board meetings, be a spokesperson and representative for the industry, and work with the CEO on the business side of...
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The Minnesota State Arts Board recently awarded a ,999 grant to the Arts and Mentoring Project (AMP) and a ,800 grant to the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC). The creative support for organizations grants were “designed to help arts organizations and non-arts organizations that regularly offer arts programming as an integral part of their mission adapt to the changing environment caused by the global pandemic,” according to the State Arts Board. “Grantees will be able to use funds to support people and activities that will be needed to stay relevant and connected to audiences, participants, students, or communities now and...
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On March 31, Mary Ann De Groot will leave the Pipestone County Recorder’s office and lock up the vault for the last time. She is retiring after 28 years as recorder and 38 years working for the county. De Groot started working for Pipestone County on April 1, 1984 as a deputy court administrator. She worked for 10 years in the court system before being elected county recorder. She was elected to the position seven times. Before she worked for the county, De Groot worked for the Lindquist Funeral Chapel in Pipestone for eight years. Part of her job at...
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Never in the storied history of Pipestone athletics has something so good come out of something so … uh … bad. What began in December of 2021 as a 1-on-1 rivalry between Pipestone Area students Nathaniel Jones and Ty Hansen, a pair unlikely to be found anywhere near a basketball court when the indoor winter sports season kicks off each mid-November, the school’s Bad Basketball Association games have blossomed into a huge high school ‘athletic’ event – and beyond. “It started as a beef between me and Ty, and it went from there,” said Jones (1.67 points per game), who...
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A fairly youthful squad in 2021, comprised of four seniors, a junior and a plethora of talented sophomores, the Pipestone Area softball team comes into the 2022 season with a vastly experienced group poised for an even better finish. That might be hard to imagine, as the Arrows not only posted a season mark of 26-5 but also claimed another Section 3AA crown, beat second-seeded Maple Lake in their Class AA state tournament opener and placed fourth at the season-ending showcase in North Mankato. Certainly, the Arrows will have an excellent opportunity to match or better those achievements this spring...
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TO THE EDITOR: It was right and proper to have a public meeting last week on the situation at the library. The courts already made a decision on the reliability of the past agreement between the city public library and the school board. The courts said that it is too late to go back and blame someone for writing a bad contract you do not like because the statute of limitations says that if you do not like the contract, you have to notice it and change it within six years. Actually, if there are problems it could be improved...
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By Mick Myers, chairman & Deb Nelson, secretary & government relations committee chair From visits with the House and Senate Capitol Investment Committees to securing funding to repair and expand several miles of trail, the Friends of the Casey Jones State Trail has been making significant headway over the last year. While we’re building momentum, we’re looking for community support and volunteers to help accelerate progress on the Casey Jones State Trail. As a volunteer group, the Friends is leading an effort in partnership with DNR to turn a 100 mile vision into reality so that we can create a...
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The number of households receiving food from the Pipestone County Area Food Shelf each week is returning to pre-pandemic levels. Before the pandemic began in 2020, the food shelf provided food to an average of around 35 households each week. During the pandemic, use declined to around 20 households each week, according to figures provided by Food Shelf President Roger Raschke. Raschke suspects use was down during the pandemic because the federal government sent out stimulus checks and temporarily increased food stamp benefits, which decreased the need for food from the food shelf. Raschke said the average number of households...
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With the official first day of spring and daylight savings behind us, I, like many of you, am adjusting to the nicer weather and planning some outdoor fun. For the first time this year, I was really able to open up a couple of windows in my house. When you live alone, you don’t have anyone to tell you not to do that with the furnace running, although you are the one who has to pay the bill. Despite that fact, I thoroughly enjoyed the smell of spring wafting through my bedroom window as I worked on various projects. I...
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Perhaps it was appropriate that Thursday evening’s Section 3A boys’ basketball championship game went to overtime. The South’s second-seeded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights and North’s top-seeded Central Minnesota Christian Bluejays had gone to overtime in their regular-season tilt, Jan. 31 in Prinsburg, with the latter coming out on top, 81-70. And though an unfortunate bounce of the basketball, which allowed CMC’s Caleb Vander Beek to score at the horn and force an extra period, the Knights exacted revenge at Southwest Minnesota State University’s R.A. facility in Marshall – claiming a 62-59 victory to advance to the MSHSL Class A state tournament for...
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Pipestone City Council members during their second planning session of the year on March 7 discussed a wide variety of topics and scheduled a third planning session for April 4. Below are some of the topics that elicited the most discussion during the second planning session. Future of the library Council members expressed a strong desire to continue to have a public library at the Pipestone Area Schools Middle and High School. That consensus followed Councilor Dan Delaney asking what was most important to his fellow council members as he, Councilor Justin Schroyer and Evan Schiller, Plum Creek Library System...
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A proposal to make no changes to the current county commissioner districts was posed in a public hearing Monday, March 14. Pipestone County Administrator Steve Ewing and County Treasurer/Auditor Amanda Baarson-Sandy shared a report and the plan with the Pipestone County Commissioners. The report showed comparison census population data for each of the county’s five commissioner districts. Based on 2022 census data, population numbers for the five districts were as follows: District 1 - 1,714; District 2 - 1,608; District 3 - 1,887, District 4 - 2,120, and District 5 - 2,095. District 4 and 5 are solely comprised of...
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Brian Sievert took the oath of office to become the newest Jasper City Council member at the beginning of the council’s March 8 meeting. Council members appointed Sievert in February to fill the vacancy on the council left by the resignation of Trinidad Garcia after her husband, Angel, was hired by the city as a public works employee. Sievert was one of two people interested in the position and was selected by secret ballot. Sievert will serve until the end of this year and voters will decide in the November election who will fill the position after that. Sievert said...
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The state of Minnesota experienced a record high number of issued permits to carry in 2021 since the enacting of the state’s Personal Protection Act (PPA) in 2003. In 2021 Minnesota sheriffs issued 106,488 permits, 9,934 more than were given out in 2020. Overall, 110,078 applications were received this past year, with 176 permits being suspended, 40 revoked, 1,165 voided and 1,627 denied in 2021, according to a press release dated March 1 from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The annual report, which is required by Minnesota law, contains data submitted by Minnesota law...
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About 100 people attended the moderated community forum at Meinders Community Library Monday evening, March 14 regarding the public library agreement and efforts to negotiate a new agreement. The forum included a five-member panel consisting of Pipestone Area Schools Superintendent Kevin Enerson; Evan Schiller, member of the Plum Creek Library Board and Meinders Community Library Board; Pipestone Mayor Myron Koets; Meinders Community Library Director Jody Wacker; and Justin Schroyer, member of the Meinders Community Library Board and Pipestone City Council. Moderator Jason Walker, with the Southwest Regional Development Commission, asked the panelists questions that had been submitted ahead of time...
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TO THE EDITOR: I attended last evening’s community forum regarding the library agreement. I attended to understand what the issues are that has led to the school terminating the current agreement at the end of 2022 and to understand the school’s position. The school stated that it needed to have supervision over all staff on their property for liability reasons. That rings false to me given that we contract food services from Taher and all employees who work in food service are employees of Taher, not Pipestone Area Schools. It is my understanding that if a new agreement can not...
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On Monday, March 14, representatives of the city of Pipestone, Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) and the Meinders Community Library Board held a community forum to answer questions about the termination of the public library agreement as of the end of this year. Having reported on this topic from multiple angles for quite some time, I would like to present a brief overview and some potential solutions. As is the case with many in our community, I am hopeful that the matter can be resolved in a way that is beneficial for the community and the students and staff at the...
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Tied at 27-all after 18 minutes of the sub-Section South 3AA boys’ basketball finals Saturday afternoon at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, the top-seeded Pipestone Area Arrows should have been feeling they had the second-seeded Redwood Valley Cardinals right where they wanted them. However, having needed to adjust their style of play while struggling to balance their inside efforts with successful perimeter shooting proved a runner-up recipe as the Arrows bowed out of the postseason following a 68-56 loss to the Cardinals. “It’s definitely the hardest way to go out; losing with your family, the ones you love and...
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The second-seeded Knights didn’t offer the fifth-seeded Chargers a modicum of hope Saturday evening at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, promptly dismissing any notions of an upset in the opening five minutes of the South sub-Section 3A boys; basketball finals. Russell-Tyler-Ruthton junior Aiden Wichmann knocked down four consecutive buckets to open the game and finished with a game-high 25 points, two assists and three steals in leading the Knights to a 64-41 victory over Westbrook-Walnut Grove. And with the victory, the Knights (22-7) advance to Thursday night’s Section 3A championship game against North sub-Section champion Central Minnesota Christian (25-3)...
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The March 18 closing date for the sale of Brown and Hill elementary school properties is nearing and Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members have begun discussing what to do with the proceeds. The properties sold for a combined 5,000, but there will be fees paid from that to Chuck Sutton Auctioneer and Land Broker and The Winter Group for their services in the sale. Superintendent Kevin Enerson said the exact amount remaining after the fees are paid should be known after the closing date. During the Feb. 28 school board meeting Enerson and the school board discussed putting the...
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Growing up on a farm outside of Jasper that technically had a South Dakota address, Amanda Monger is accustomed to a life of duality. She attended school in Jasper and Pipestone and had a South Dakota driver’s license with a Jasper address. Although she will call both states home, she cuts down on confusion by claiming Jasper to be her home town. “I claim both of them equally because my hometown is Jasper but I did live in South Dakota,” Monger said. Monger graduated from Pipestone Area Schools in 2008, then headed to the University of South Dakota for three...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their Feb. 28 meeting approved the purchase of additional playground equipment, and fencing and electrical work for two new ball fields at the new elementary school. The playground equipment will cost ,698.06, chain link fencing for the ball field will cost ,872 and electrical work for the ball field will cost ,320. Superintendent Kevin Enerson said the district will incur additional costs for site work. The school district will use funds remaining for the elementary school building project for the improvements. The ball fields will take the place of the one that had...
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The Spronk family of rural Edgerton was recently named the 2022 Family of the Year by the Minnesota Pork Board (MPB). The family was recognized at an awards reception on Feb. 14 prior to the Minnesota Pork Congress. Randy Spronk said Minnesota has some very good pork producers, so to be selected for the recognition was “quite an honor.” “I myself am humbled to have been selected; I’m also quite proud,” said Randy’s son, Seth. “There’s such a deep field of exemplary pig farmers in Minnesota (let alone Minnesota’s wider pool of family farms involved in all other types of...
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In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is using federal grant dollars from the U.S. Department of Justice to respond to overdoses and help people get on a path to recovery through the creation of overdose response coordinators (ORC) all over the state. In this area, Clarence McGee, at New Life Treatment Center in Woodstock, has filled that position. He serves 20 counties in southwest Minnesota, from the Iowa border in the south to Big Stone County in the north, and from the South Dakota border in the west to McLeod County in the...
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A Dollar Tree/Family Dollar store is planned for the former Livermont Auction Company property at 317 Second St. NW in Pipestone. Ryan Livermont, owner of Livermont Auction Company, sold the property to Millco Investments, of Illinois, on Feb. 28. Livermont said he’s discontinuing the consignment auction portion of his business that was conducted in the building, but he plans to continue doing auctions, including his coin and currency auctions, at other sites. Millco Investments President Bobby Miller said the company will renovate the entire interior and exterior of the property, including the exterior facade, to prepare it for use by...
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Sometimes the toughest test is the first one, and Saturday afternoon’s sub-Section 3AA boys’ basketball playoff opener certainly proved tighter than the Pipestone Area faithful imagined. The top-ranked (South) Arrows had their hands full with a Windom Eagles squad (No. 8) poised to scratch the hosts up with raggedly-sharpened talons. Some suggested the Arrows (21-5), who handily defeated the Eagles (10-17) twice during the regular season, didn’t have a lot of energy to open the contest, but overall, Pipestone Area did exactly what it needed to do to advance to the sub-Section semifinals via a 66-54 victory. “I wouldn’t say...
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Unless you win it all, the postseason often becomes a season of bittersweetness. In the case of Pipestone Area grapplers Nate Bobendrier and Brayden Burmeister, the season-ending MSHSL Class A state wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul proved just that. Competing in his final high school campaign and starting near the bottom of the 138-pound bracket, Bobendrier defied the odds in earning four matches at the ‘X’ and making it to Championship Saturday before ultimately ending his career with a 7-0 consolation quarterfinal loss to Jackson County Central’s Thomas Freking. “That was not...
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The 16th annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration is scheduled for Saturday, March 12. The celebration will return to its normal time frame this year after being postponed to September — for a half-way to St. Pat’s celebration — last year due to the pandemic. Staci O’Hearn-Burmeister, owner of Staci’s Bar and Grill and the organizer of the parade and other events, said it will be nice to return to the tradition of holding the festivities on the closest Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. “It’s so fun,” she said. “We get so many people in town.” Events include a pork sandwich...
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Anyone who has taken the “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland, or who has heard the song, is familiar with the concept that our world is very interrelated. The opening stanza: It’s a world of laughter A world of tears It’s a world of hopes And a world of fears There’s so much that we share That it’s time we’re aware It’s a small world after all Having taken this ride a number of times, I can say that the tune sticks in your head for a good part of the day that follows. Quite honestly it’s annoying. However,...
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Dear People of the Great State of Minnesota, Hello! I am a third-grade student in Northern Virginia. Our class is learning about the United States, and I will be teaching our school about the state of Minnesota. In the month of May, I will create a display for our State Fair that I hope will make you proud. Although I have gathered facts about your state from books and websites, I think that I can receive the best information from the people who live there. This is why I am writing to you. I am hoping that you would be...
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Amy Nelson is the new clinic director at Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC). She fills the position that was left vacant by the resignation of Jerry Svennes late last year. Svennes had held the position, first in an interim capacity and later in a permanent capacity, since 2018. He also held the position before that from 2001 to 2003. PCMC CEO Brad Burris said 14 people applied for the clinic director position. Because the clinic is a joint venture between PCMC and Avera McKennan, Burris and a representative from Avera reviewed the applicants and whittled the candidates down to three...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Feb. 22 meeting approved a resolution making the county recorder an appointed position rather than elected. The unanimous decision followed a public hearing held to take comments on the change. One community member attended and spoke at the hearing and two submitted comments to commissioners prior to the hearing. Roger Elgersma said during the public hearing that he liked the idea of being able to vote for county officials, but that making the position appointed would allow the county to have more control over the management structure and potentially make changes to improve efficiency. He...
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An effort is underway to start an annual tradition to recognize Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) graduates. The idea stems from the banners that were hung on the light posts in downtown Pipestone with pictures of the members of the PAS class of 2020 and their names on them. The graduates had missed out on many of the traditional senior year experiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a group of parents of seniors came up with the idea to make and display the banners to honor them. Joe and Alison Douty’s daughter, Mataya, was one of those 2020 PAS graduates....
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The Meinders Community Library is in the process of planning a new feature, a Career Corner. A grant received by the library on March 1 from Minnesota State Library Services in the amount of ,000 will be used to create a career services station at the library. State Library Services received the funding from the Minnesota Department of Education as a part of the American Rescue Plan rolled out by the Biden Administration in 2021. Library Director Jody Wacker said that State Library Services created a position for outreach for career development because they saw a need. “It’s a huge...
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The Jasper Development Corporation (JDC) is ending its lease with the Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) for the building located at 121 Sherman Ave. North in Jasper. The original agreement was for the medical facility to provide medical services for the community while paying for all costs associated with utilities and maintenance, with no monetary exchange between the JDC and PCMC. Now, the JDC has decided to sell the building, rather than lease it, to Moden Medical Group, the same organization that now owns and runs Sunrise Village in Jasper. While PCMC will have until sometime in May to vacate...
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Pipestone City Council members during their Feb. 22 meeting approved the final plat for subdivision of county-owned land, as recommended by the Pipestone Planning Commission. The council previously approved a preliminary plat with the recommendation that underground utilities be added to the plat, which has been done. Pipestone National Monument Superintendent Lauren Blacik submitted a letter to the council and spoke to council members via Zoom to express concerns about the potential future use of the land, which is located across North Hiawatha Avenue from the monument. Blacik said the monument is an ecologically unique area with the tallgrass prairie...
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Minnesota’s District 7 Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach made her first visit to Pipestone County Thursday, Feb. 24 to visit with local officials in the Commissioners’ Room at the Pipestone County Courthouse. About a dozen people, mostly representatives of Pipestone County and the city of Pipestone, attended the gathering. Fischbach said she came to have a discussion and hear what was on the minds of those in attendance. Several topics were discussed in a wide-ranging discussion that lasted over an hour. The first topic brought up was the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Pipestone County Administrator Steve Ewing asked if Fischbach could comment...
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Although the two contests the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team (20-5) played during the week were neither within the conference nor particular difficult, they were extremely important. Facing the eighth-seeded (South) Windom Eagles in the opening round of the Section 3AA tournament Saturday in Pipestone, the Arrows needed to have good performances against both the Canby Lancers and Minnewaska Area Lakers Thursday and Saturday, respectively, to carry focus and momentum into that all-important tilt. “They were; they were contests where the other teams were outmanned, size-wise, and we had to teach ourselves that we need to exploit and take advantage...
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With the Section 3A individual wrestling dominated by the same team that triumphed in the team tournament last week, the Jackson County Central Huskies, there were few state-qualification spots up for grabs. And most of those came via divisional runner-up finishes. Hoping to earn four of those Saturday in Wabasso, Pipestone Area grapplers Nate Bobendrier and Brayden Burmeister snatched one apiece, punching their tickets to the MSHSL Class A state tournament Friday-Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul with respective runner-up finishes at 138 and 113 pounds. “Sections were dominated by one team, so there were only a...
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One can’t help but consider the what-ifs surrounding the Pipestone Area’s girls’ 2021-22 basketball campaign, which concluded with a 71-58 loss to the second-seeded Fairmont Cardinals in the opening round of the Section 3AA tournament Saturday night in Fairmont. Seventh-seeded Pipestone Area, which finishes the season with a record of 7-18, actually had all it players in the lineup Saturday night – certainly a rarity this winter – but simply didn’t have enough cohesion within the side to claim an upset of a talented Fairmont side. “We were right there at halftime, but we had a hard time staying with...
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Pipestone Area Schools is bringing the elementary school building project to a close with a few finishing touches. Elementary school students worked with Principal Baartman this winter to select additional playground equipment. Another set of swings and a climbing apparatus will be installed this summer. The school will also build two ball fields to the north in the open grass area. Backstops, dugouts, and concession stand will be put in place. To keep the space multi-purpose, no permanent outfield fences will be installed. Open areas for physical education, recess, and other activities are needed. The agriculture department orchard and garden...
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With everything that is happening in this world today, and the anniversary of my father’s passing on the 16th of this month, I have had so many memories surfacing not only of him, but also of the deployment I returned from last spring. Remembering the times I spoke with my dad- on video, and the two of us sharing a laugh. I took a few screen shots of his face when we were laughing at something said between us. Yes, this stoic and stern man had a sense of humor, and we shared it. My phone is overwhelmed with photos...
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A group of southwest Minnesota mayors from Pipestone, Canby, Granite Falls, Jackson, Luverne, Marshall and Worthington has proposed a pilot program intended to retain and attract workers by supporting technical education and training for targeted occupations. “A couple of us mayors were sitting around after meetings and we started talking about various things that we have in common as cities and one of the things we really are fighting in southwest Minnesota is a loss of working age population, and there’s a whole raft of issues that go along with that, be it housing, employment, what have you,” Pipestone Mayor...
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The Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC), a non-profit Community Action Agency based out of Worthington, is reaching out to area communities to share information about their programs and how they hope to help improve the quality of life of residents in the region. Jase Pater, The Community Development Director for SMOC, said that although the organization specifically serves low-income people in Nobles, Rock, Murray and Pipestone counties, programs are tailored to the county and the needs of its residents. “There are programs offered by SMOC that aren’t necessarily in every county,” Pater said. “But SMOC also has programs in other...
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The Pipestone Planning Commission during its Feb. 16 meeting recommended the approval of Andrew Royer’s request for a conditional use permit to install solar panels on the roof of his home. The Pipestone City Council was expected to consider the planning commission’s recommendation at its Feb. 22 meeting. City code requires conditional use permits for all solar projects. No one attended the planning commission’s public hearing to take comments on the permit request, but one person submitted anonymous comments prior to the hearing. Pipestone Building and Zoning Official Doug Fortune said the writer expressed concerns about the panels being a...
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People in the Pipestone area will soon have a new option for counseling services. Pipestone Counseling Center is opening for business at 201 Second Ave. SW in Pipestone on Monday, Feb. 28. The business will be open Mondays and Tuesdays to start out and will offer in-person sessions and telehealth visits. “We’ll add days as it gets busier,” said Amy Fry, who started the new business. Fry is one of four counselors who will see clients at Pipestone Counseling Center. She worked at Southwestern Mental Health (SWMH) for 13 years until 2019 and worked in private practice in Marshall and...
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On March 1, the well known version of Tuesday Story Time at Meinders Community Library will resume. At 10:30 a.m., preschool children are invited along with their caregivers to a 30-minute story time session with Children’s Librarian Emily Blaeser. After receiving a ,000 grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation and [post_excerpt],500 from the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library, Meinders staff have moved forward to kick off an eight week program on March 29 in which Story Time will evolve into something that Library Director Jody Wacker says has been in the works for four years: Bilingual Story Time. The...
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TO THE EDITOR: Although I would like to see Pipestone grow, I do not think it is appropriate for the city to spend tax dollars to be involved in a real estate development. The two groups who purchased the school properties apparently have the necessary “fortitude” our mayor thinks is needed. Fortitude is easier with someone else’s money. The EDA’s projects, the apartment and lots in Ninth Avenue S.W. have been disappointing at best. As for the JBS soccer fields, I hope that JBS will be willing to help pay for maintenance and improvements in the future. Maybe JBS should...
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On Tuesday, Feb. 15 a judicially appointed redistricting panel released new congressional and legislative districts for Minnesota based on the 2020 census data. The districts were changed to ensure that the residents of each district are equally represented. Pipestone County is now in Minnesota Senate District 21 and Minnesota House District 21A instead of District 22 and District 22A. The new districts have different boundaries than districts 22 and 22A did, but still encompass most of the same areas, including Luverne where both State Rep. Joe Schomacker and State Sen. Bill Weber reside. All Minnesota Senate and House seats will...
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The Minnesota School Boards Association has set February 21-25 as Minnesota School Board Recognition Week to build awareness and understanding of the vital function elected school board members play in our society. Pipestone Area Schools is joining other public school districts from across the state to celebrate School Board Recognition Week to honor local board members for their commitment to Pipestone Area and its students. Strong schools help build strong communities and the Pipestone Area School Board devotes countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child learn at a higher level. School board members make the difficult...
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TO THE EDITOR: We, the teachers of the Pipestone Area Education Association, are writing this letter to the editor in response to the disheartening comments voiced by some members of our local school board as reported in the Feb. 3 Pipestone County Star article entitled “School Board Frustrated Over Assessment Results.” We do our educated, compassionate, professional best every day to teach our students. We are proud to educate the children of this community, and we desire success for every single student. We are dedicated to broadening our skills through professional development to meet the ever-changing needs of our student...
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Presidents’ Day, which was on Monday, Feb. 21, is a holiday held to honor all those who have served as president of the United States. It certainly seems like a position worthy of honoring. The weight and stress of the job is often quite evident in the photos of presidents when they take and leave office. The added gray hairs on their head or lines in their face show the toll the job took on them. While local elected officials do not experience the same pressures as the president, their positions still require difficult decisions and responsibilities. To name a...
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The Jasper and Pipestone Lions Clubs sponsored a soup lunch fundraiser for the Midwest Honor Flight organization on Jan. 23. The Honor Flight program was created to thank veterans for their service and sacrifice by arranging for them to be flown to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honor veterans of various conflicts and wars. Deborah Plahn, the secretary and treasurer for the Jasper Lions Club said that the lunch fundraiser included four kinds of soup: chili, vegetable beef, chicken noodle and bean and ham. Plahn chaired the fundraiser, along with the help of other club members, like...
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Valentines Day this year saw the front porch of Jim Townsend buzzing with activity. Townsend, the owner of the new Sweet Treats Bakery, greeted smiling customers at the door with pies, cakes, cookies and more. Around two years ago, Townsend decided to obtain a Cottage Industries License, which allows him to continue sharing his passion for baking from the comfort of his home, with community members who are familiar with his sweet work. “It really is a blessing,” Townsend said. For over 50 years, he has been satisfying many a sweet tooth with his personal recipes at restaurants and bakeries...
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Overlays, bridge replacements and seal coating are among the projects the Pipestone County Highway Department has planned for this year. Those projects and much more will be among the topics discussed during the highway department’s annual road and bridge hearing scheduled for Monday, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. at the Pipestone County Emergency Services building at 811 Fifth St. SE in Pipestone. Pipestone County Highway Engineer Nick Bergman said the county did quite a few overlays 15 or 20 years ago and many of them are due to be done again. He said that work will include about 33 miles...
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For decades the Pipestone Friends of Scouting and Youth has raised funds for local youth activities through the recycling of paper that people dropped off at a semi trailer on Fourth Street NE in Pipestone. It now appears that the group’s run might have come to an end. Friends of Scouting and Youth President Steve Schulze said that at this point the paper collection is over, but that the group was exploring a couple long shot options to keep it going. He said there are multiple problems the group is facing. One is that it no longer has a road-worthy...
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Negotiations between Pipestone Area Schools and the city of Pipestone about a new community library agreement have not yet begun. The school board sent a letter to the city, library board and Meinders Community Library Director Jody Wacker on Dec. 20 notifying them of the board’s decision to terminate the library agreement and public library service, and indicating that the school board “is interested in entering into a new agreement with the city that addresses the interests of both parties.” Pipestone Mayor Myron Koets said during a Feb. 7 city council meeting that the city responded to that letter with...
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The Pipestone Area girls nearly pulled off the unthinkable Friday night in Pipestone. After watching the boys’ basketball team knock off Marshall for the first time in more than a decade Thursday night in Marshall, the Arrows forced the Tigers to overtime before succumbing 45-36. Fatigue might have been a factor in the end Friday night and as the Arrows are beginning to find their legs and get more of them in games, due to a return to action of a couple injured players, conditioning is going to play a big part in winning the close contests. The previous week...
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Hiccups and hurrahs might be an accurate assessment of the Arrows’ week. A boys’ basketball conference-crossover hiccup against Fairmont Tuesday night on the road (Feb. 8) certainly impacted Pipestone Area’s ability to, perhaps, secure a berth to Big South Conference championship game with a victory over Marshall the ensuing Thursday in Marshall. “We had played Worthington the night before and thought we played really well; we executed on offense, took care of business defensively and we go to Fairmont and let down a little bit. “The shots weren’t falling because we weren’t extremely sharp on offense; weren’t making good cuts,...
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An epic tournament, following an epic week of emotionally polarizing activity in the gymnasium, finished favorably Saturday afternoon in Marshall, as Pipestone Area gymnast Kaysa Douty qualified for her first MSHSL Class A state tournament. The PAS seventh-grader who was tasked with an additional leadership role when the Arrows headed into battle on the heels of her sister Kindra Douty dislocating her right elbow and suffering a slight fracture of the radial (radius) head Tuesday in practice, was as focused as any member of the squad Saturday. Turning in a season-high all-around score of 33.5 points and placing in ties...
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The final push is on for the Pipestone Area wrestling team. With the Section 3A team and individual tournaments on the horizon (Feb. 17 and 26), the Arrows (12-9) wrapped up their regular-season schedule by earning a split at their home triangular Thursday night in Pipestone and placing fourth as a team at the Morris Area tournament Saturday in Morris. The Arrows opened Thursday’s event against a sparse lineup from Quad County and promptly took care of business. Although they would eventually give up several points at the end, being open in the final two weight classes, the Arrows were...
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Community amenities and infrastructure projects were the primary topics of discussion during the Pipestone City Council’s annual planning session Monday evening, Feb. 7. The council has typically held one planning session at the start of each year to discuss future projects. This year the council opted to have multiple planning sessions prior to regularly scheduled board meetings. The next one will likely take place in March. Several projects on the city’s one-year and five-year plan were reviewed during the first planning session. Below are the topics that garnered the most discussion. Development of land off of 11th Street NE Mayor...
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TO THE EDITOR: It was my pleasure to attend the Sunday matinee of, “The Last Five Years.” The precept of the plot could put some people off but the great acting and singing by Connor Klimek and Samantha Davis pulled it off so well that one forgot about the reversed story telling. Their acting, as well the quality of their voices, made it easy to understand the reverse telling of the story. One could easily see by their body language, where they were located in the plot. It is too bad that some people stayed home to watch the football...
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It feels like a lifetime since Children’s Librarian Emily Blaeser has entertained tiny tots inside the library for story time. Sure, she’s hosted outside story times, but there’s something magical about watching littles gather together to sing, read, and learn as they are surrounded by thousands of books. At Meinders Community Library, we are ready to bring that magic back! Beginning March 1, Tuesday morning story times will resume. At 10:30 a.m., caregivers can bring their pre-K children for a 30-minute story time. If things go well and COVID continues to recede in our community, we will begin an eight-week...
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“This is what I want you to feel; this stinks, the way you’re feeling right now, so let’s avoid that next time.” Pipestone Area head boys’ basketball coach Todd Tinklenberg’s postgame talk with his Arrows following their 53-39 Big South Conference loss to the Luverne Cardinals Tuesday night in Luverne put it plainly and simply. And with the postseason looming, a similar performance would undoubtedly have the players turning in their jerseys over the following days. “I want you to know what it feels like when the game is on the line and it’s getting to that time when it’s...
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Woodstock Communications plans to install fiber optic lines to every home and business in Edgerton. The estimated [post_excerpt].8 million project will begin in the spring. General Manager of Woodstock Communications Terry Nelson said main line construction will start once the ground thaws and will take two to three months. Work will begin after that to connect the main line to homes and businesses, which is expected to take the rest of the year and into next year. Nelson said the company will connect homes and businesses that subscribe to fiber internet service through Woodstock Communications first and then move on...
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Work is underway to give new life to the former Swanny’s Bar and Grill property. Brad Karels, of rural Pipestone, bought the property in the fall of 2020 and said then that his exact plans were not yet clear. Those plans have since come into focus and he and his son Ben Karels, of Pipestone, have been working on bringing them to fruition. “We’re both just excited for the opportunity,” Brad said. Ben already uses the west side of the building, where a garage door was installed, for his business, Ben’s Auto Glass. Additional plans include adding a commercial kitchen...
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The Pipestone Area Schools gymnastics team has made 12 tie blankets that are set to be donated to Pipestone County Medical Center this week. The making of these blankets is a yearly project started by the team around five years ago, said Stacie Wallace, the head coach for the team. “About five years ago, we were looking for a way to give back to our community and to say thank you for the support we feel,” Wallace said. “We appreciate the people that cheer on Arrow gymnastics, whether that’s at a meet or through encouraging messages on social media. We...
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First off, Pipestone Area Schools appreciates the newspaper’s coverage of the school and some people have taken offense with some of the things that were said or the context of what was reported of last week’s work session. Quotes not taken in full context will create interest, but should not create hard feelings because that was not purpose nor intent of the meeting. The School District feels the need for clarification to last week’s article. The purpose of the mid-year goals check is to review the District’s Strategic Plan and monitor progress. During the work session, administrators reported on...
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With the omicron variant of COVID-19 making its way across the United States, the Biden administration has planned to give out 400 million free N95 face masks through pharmacies and community health centers, in an attempt to create greater access to higher quality masks for the general public. National Public Radio reported on Jan. 19, that the government would start shipping masks later that week. Earlier, the White House told reporters that some masks had been available already and more were expected to be available in early February. The White House’s move, according to NPR, followed updated guidance from the...
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Although the Arrows only claimed 1-of-3 Big South Conference games this week they should be feeling pretty good about their efforts. Pipestone Area demonstrated it has come a long way since i the early-season woes that saw the Arrows (6-13) bow out to the same Windom Eagles, Jackson County Central Huskies and Worthington Trojans by 56 collective points – dropping their tilts to Worthington and Windom by a combined nine points while beating JCC 86-84 Friday night in Pipestone. “We’ve had a great effort tonight, played a great game against Jackson the other night and played a good game...
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The Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team has had to endure the lengthy road trips and all that comes with them in playing in the Big South Conference. This week was no exception, as the Arrows (15-3) showed grit in claiming a pair of hard-fought BSC victories over scrappy Jackson County Central (57-53) and Worthington (69-53) Friday and Monday nights, respectively. “The first time we played Jackson they had two players out with concussions, so that wasn’t a good indication of what type of team they are,” Pipestone Area head coach Todd Tinklenberg said. “We go down there, a long trip...
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The Pipestone Area wrestling team dropped to 10-8 on the season following a pair of non-conference losses to Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and the Adrian Dragons Friday night in Adrian. Getting most of their points down low, the Arrows struggled to find wins, let alone points in the upper weight class tilts against either opponent. PAS sophomore Brayden Burmeister managed to pull back three of the six points the Arrows offered the Panthers in giving up a forfeit at 106 by edging T-M-B’s Linkoln Carlson 10-8 at 113 pounds. John Martens followed with an 18-2 technical fall of David Schuh at 120 pounds,...
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Coaches often speak of wanting to finish on a high; whether it’s earning a win, small improvements in technique or nailing a specific skill, ending a season by doing something better than how it began is all any coach can hope for. The Arrows exceeded those expectations Thursday night in Pipestone, as the Pipestone Area gymnastics team not only eclipsed their season-high points total, but also posted an 11-year team-high total for points under the tutelage of head coach Stacie Wallace in beating the visiting Redwood Valley Cardinals 128.05-124.425. “We don’t typically do our best at home, don’t know why...
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The Calumet Players will present a musical entitled “The Last Five Years,” over two weekends, Feb. 11, 12, 13 and 18, 19 and 20 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC). Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The show is rated PG 13, tickets are for adults and for students, and can be purchased at the Pipestone County Museum, through reservations at the Box Office at 507-825-2020 on Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m - 4 p.m. or online at www.pipestoneperformingartscenter.com Mark Thode, the director of the show, said that the musical by...
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Healthcare employees at Medicare and Medicaid-certified facilities in Minnesota and 24 other states and the District of Columbia had to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 27 and must receive their second dose by Feb. 28. The vaccination requirement applies to Medicare and Medicaid-certified ambulatory surgery centers, community mental health centers, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, critical access hospitals, end-stage renal disease facilities, home health agencies, home infusion therapy suppliers, hospices, hospitals, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, clinics, rehabilitation agencies, public health agencies as providers of outpatient physical therapy and speech-language pathology services, psychiatric...
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Local Republicans and Democrats gathered during the party caucuses Tuesday evening, Feb. 1 to adopt resolutions that could be added to their party platforms, choose party officials and delegates, and, for Republicans, vote in a straw poll for candidates for governor. The majority of local Republicans, who gathered at the Pipestone Area Schools Elementary School gymnasium in Pipestone and the Edgerton Senior Citizens Center, supported Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen. Jensen was also the favorite among Republicans statewide, capturing 38 percent of the vote on the preference ballots, according to the Republican Party of Minnesota. In Pipestone County, Jensen garnered...
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Brandon Willey, of Pipestone, recently became an Eagle Scout. “I definitely feel accomplished with it,” said the 17-year-old junior at Pipestone Area Schools. “It’s been such a long time.” Willey started Cub Scouts in first grade and said he stuck with Scouts all these years due to friends and siblings who were also involved. He said he always intended to continue on all the way to becoming an Eagle Scout. Over the years he did just that, advancing through the Scout ranks and earning the required 21 merit badges. There are 13 badges that are required, according to www.scouting.org, including...
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The family of Marlin Berg, 85, of rural Pipestone, will be honored on Feb. 19 at the South Dakota State University (SDSU) men’s basketball game, as the SDSU Family of the Year by the SDSU Alumni Association. The Berg family will also be the guests of honor at a luncheon that day with the SDSU Alumni Center and the President of the university, Barry Dunn. The family was nominated by Vikram Mistry, an interim associate deans of academic programs in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Berg, now retired but still helping on the family farm raising around...
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The Pipestone Planning Commission during its Jan. 26 meeting recommended that the Pipestone City Council approve a preliminary plat for a subdivision of a lot owned by Pipestone County on North Hiawatha Avenue. Pipestone County plans to create one lot with the Pipestone County Public Services building on it that would be 4.99 acres and divide the western portion of the property into two lots, with one being 1.01 acres and one being 1.03 acres. Planning commission members held a public hearing to take comments on the preliminary plat. No one attended the meeting and the only comments were submitted...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) plans to add additional playground equipment, ball fields and trees to the area around the new elementary school. School board members during their Jan. 24 meeting approved seeking bids for the playground equipment and ball fields, and purchasing trees from the Pipestone County Soil and Water Conservation District for ,200. The playground equipment is estimated to cost around ,000 and the ball fields are expected to cost around 1,500. The school board’s facility steering committee, which includes school board members Jeff Baatz, Randy Erdman and Lance Oye, recommended the improvements to the school board. The school...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members expressed much concern over the school district’s results on the 2021 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) during a Jan. 24 work session held to review the school district’s goals. Improving those scores is one of the goals, which the board adopted in 2020. When the Minnesota Department of Education released the assessment results last year, the data showed that students’ proficiency in math, reading and science declined at local school districts as well as statewide between 2019 and 2021. Students did not take the assessments in 2020 after schools shifted to distance learning due to...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Jan. 25 meeting scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. in the Commissioners Room at the courthouse to take comments about making the county recorder position appointed rather than elected. They also approved publishing notice of their intent to make the change. The commissioners first discussed the plan to change the position during their Jan. 11 meeting after long-time Recorder Mary Ann DeGroot provided notice that she will not be filing for another term as Pipestone County Recorder and that she will be retiring on March 31. In order to make...
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Looking to shake things up without going so far as to get a complete makeover, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team returned to action Friday evening in Jackson with several new elements to their routines. The Arrows made good use of their two-week competition hiatus to add new skills with added difficulty, with hope of critiquing those skills/performances in Jackson for a final preparatory push toward the upcoming Section 3A meet, Feb. 12 in Marshall. The Arrows weren’t necessarily flawless in their initial attempts at the untested, but they did end the meet with an encouraging payoff – in the form...
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Posting a 10-1 record since the New Year and leading the Red Rock Conference at 12-2 (14-4 overall), the Southwest Christian girls’ basketball team is in a groove – playing a tune that has Eagle fans dancing in the stands. Friday night’s conference tilt in Edgerton was no exception, as the Eagles jumped out to a 13-3 lead against visiting Westbrook-Walnut Grove (7-10) over the initial three-and-a-half minutes, en route to a 73-42 victory. “We created a new defense, coach taught us a new press, and that helped us create a lot of offense with our defense,” said SWC senior...
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Gearing up for a strong late-season push, in preparation for the upcoming Section 3A team and individual wrestling tournaments, the Pipestone Area Arrows raised their intensity during the week – winning the Wabasso Invitational tournament Saturday evening in Wabasso. Coming on the heels of a Big South Conference split against Jackson County Central and Worthington (AA) Thursday night at home, the Arrows looked forward to tangling with good Class A opposition at the 12-team invitational. “We can hang with most of them; for the most part, we held our own and wrestled pretty well this weekend,” Pipestone Area head coach...
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The former Brown and Hill school properties were sold at auction Friday, Jan. 28. The high bidder for the Brown property was GJW Holdings, LLC and Prairieland Properties LLC with a bid of 0,000. The high bidder for the Hill property was the Pipestone Development Company, LLC (PDC) with a bid of 5,000. GJW Holdings and Prairieland Properties are owned by Gavin Winter and Tom Winter. Gavin said they began seriously considering purchasing the 11.57-acre property just a couple of weeks ago. “Our immediate plans are to subdivide and plat the property for mixed use, residential and commercial,” he said....
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The city of Jasper issued 13 building permits in 2021 with a total value of ,050. That’s more than the 12 permits issued and total value of ,018 in 2020, but lower than the five-year average of 12.4 projects and total value of 2,279.60. The five-year average had been driven up by a few larger projects in 2017 and 2018. In 2018 the Jasper Development Corporation (JDC) built a new home, the city demolished the shelter at the City Park and built a new one, and Nick Baatz moved a home into the city. Those projects had expected values of...
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The Pipestone City Council during its Jan. 18 meeting approved with a 4-0 vote (Jim Stout was absent) an application from the Pipestone American Legion Michael Boock Post 6 to utilize the city’s Historic Property Improvement Program for several improvements to the property located at 117 Hiawatha Ave. S. According to the application, the emergency door will be replaced, soffit above the west door will be repaired, window trim will be replaced with metal, basement windows will be removed and closed up, logos will be replaced on both sides of the existing exterior sign on the west side of the...
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Easton Williamson of Pipestone Troop 220 recently achieved the Boy Scout’s highest rank of Eagle Scout. “It’s nice knowing that all the hard work finally paid off and I did what I wanted,” Williamson said. The 16-year-old son of Chad and Lacey Williamson is a junior at Colman-Egan High School now, but started Cub Scouts in second grade when his family lived in Pipestone. His goal was always to become an Eagle Scout. “That was what I wanted to reach because that’s what my grandpa and my uncle reached and I wanted to be like them and accomplish what they...
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The city of Pipestone issued 145 building permits in 2021 for projects that had a total value of ,118,898. That’s lower than the average of 158 building permits issued over the last five years and the average total value of the projects, which was ,106,878.40 during that time. The number of permits issued in 2021 was the lowest in the past five years, but the total value of the projects for which permits were issued in 2021 was the second highest, behind only 2017. Projects permitted that year included the city’s new water treatment plant, an addition by Pipestone Veterinary...
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On an evening when the Arrows welcomed back a handful of its very best (see accompanying article), the Pipestone Area wrestling team demonstrated they’re still a side to be contended with, knocking off visitors Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial and Springfield, 44-36 and 57-12, respectively, Thursday night in Pipestone. Previously battling injury and illness within its squad, the Arrows benefitted from managing to put more wrestlers on the mat at home versus the Knights and Tigers. “More than seven, anyway, and you feel like you have a fighting chance that way,” Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos said. “The guy came and...
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It still smells the same, musty … sour and sounds echo back quicker than a heartbeat. The newer mats have more give, but the brittle edges of those practiced on for several seasons have absorbed toil, the doubt, the heartache, the fear and the jubilance of countless hours spent laboring toward the goal of becoming part of it. Though many have shared that goal, of having their photo, record and accompanying accomplishments adorn the walls of the, now bigger, Pipestone Area wrestling room, it is only a select few who have earned the right to have young would-be champions look...
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Perhaps the length of the season is finally taking its toll; perhaps the Arrows believed they could approach recent competition with less effort and still get by. Nonetheless, the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball didn’t look like itself in splitting against non-conference Deubrook (S.D.) and Big South Conference foe Worthington Saturday and Friday night’s, respectively. After managing to ‘get by’ the Trojans Friday night at home, 56-43, the Arrows (12-3) dropped only their third tilt of the 2021-22 campaign Saturday in Elkton, S. D. – bowing out to the Dolphins 45-40. “We just didn’t put the ball in hole at...
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In todays’ edition of the Star, reporter Kyle Kuphal highlights just a few businesses that are experiencing some painful effects brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In my position I have the wonderful opportunity to speak with a wide variety of business owners. I can tell you that all of them are dealing with pandemic related issues in one way or another. It seems no industry is untouched. Manufacturers have supply shortages, auto dealers have very little inventory, and retailers have delivery and stock issues. On top of that, they are all also dealing with increased costs and workforce issues....
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Another slow start to the game yielded similar results for the hosts Tuesday night in Pipestone, as the visiting Windom Eagles were able to dictate the play to their liking for 32-of-36 minutes in claiming a Big South Conference girls’ basketball victory over the beleaguered Arrows (5-10). Building leads of as many as 15 points in the first half, the Eagles (7-9) were fairly comfortable throughout the opening stanza. And despite a late flurry of activity by the Arrows, the Eagles opened the second half with a 31-20 lead. “That’s been our MO; we come out like we’re not even...
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From Wednesday, Jan. 12 to Monday, Jan. 17, Subway in Pipestone closed its doors due to the number of employees with COVID-19 and the flu. From Friday, Jan. 14 through Tuesday, Jan. 18, Hank’s Foods had to close early because of illness and time off among employees. “That was the first time that I can ever remember that we had to shut down early because of that,” said Tom Darveaux, owner of Hank’s Foods with his brother Tim. The week those two stores had to shorten hours and close due in part to COVID-19 cases was the same week that...
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The new Caring Hands Dental Clinic building east of Falls Landing is beginning to take shape. Workers with Mark Griebel Custom Homes installed roof joists and sheathing for the building late last week, making it about 90 percent enclosed. Work at the site began in October and Caring Hands CEO Al Olsen said most of the work so far has been done by local contractors, including the excavating, concrete work for the footings and crawl space, work on the parking lot and construction of the building. Olsen said he was very appreciative of the local contractors as well as Pipestone...
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The Jasper Area Historical Society (JAHS) has been awarded a Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) & Cultural Heritage Grant in the amount of ,966.00 from the Minnesota Historical Society, to work towards having the Poorbaugh Building nominated for the National Registry. The JAHS received the notification on Sept. 10. The JAHS used the funds to hire Alexa McDowell of AKAY Consulting to write the application for nominating the building to be on the National Register said Briana Conrad, the current JAHS secretary. “Ms. McDowell is an architectural historian who we also hired to do extensive research for our previous grant,” Conrad...
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Houses are in high demand and the supply is limited, which is driving up prices, not just in this area, but all over. “There is a nationwide housing shortage,” said Deb Aanenson, real estate broker for Real Estate Retrievers. Locally, she said some of the problem is due to people from the coastal regions moving to the Sioux Falls area. The housing inventory is historically low there and Aanenson said that shortage is expanding outward as people look for homes. “First time homes are especially hard to find,” she said. Gavin Winter, of The Winter Group, said that locally the...
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The night’s pre and post-game chatter seemed centered on just how long it had been since the Arrows (10-2) had beaten the Cardinals (11-3). Some speculated it had been seven years, others as long as 12, but despite it actually being slightly fewer than three full years (Feb. 15, 2019), Pipestone Area’s 60-56 Big South Conference boys’ basketball victory over Redwood Valley Thursday in Pipestone is likely to be remembered by the throng of theorists for the host’s execution at both ends of the hardwood. A tight tilt throughout, with eight lead changes over 36 minutes, the hosts gained a...
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Possessing limited numbers of players with varsity experience and combating injury throughout the season, putting together two strong halves of basketball has proved difficult for the Pipestone Area girls’ squad. Monday night’s non-conference contest didn’t break from the norm, as the Arrows (5-8) played an outstanding first half against visiting Edgerton before hanging on to claim a 49-43 victory. “Yeah, we sure did … played great ‘D’ in the first half; the second half we got a little winded and didn’t make some shots we needed to,” Pipestone Area head coach Ed Gustafson said. “Overall, I thought it was a...
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The Arrows thrice came up short in their bid to claim an individual weight-class title at Saturday’s Big South Conference wrestling championships in St. James. Pipestone Area, which placed sixth as a team with 97.5 points, pushed three grapplers through to individual title matches, but came away with only a trio of runner-up finishes. The Arrows first opportunity to earn a crown came at 120 pounds, where John Martens (2-1) claimed victories over Blue Earth Area’s Cooper Peterson and Redwood Valley’s Gavin Brandt, via an 11-4 decision and an 18-2 technical fall (5:25), respectively. Pitted against Jackson County Central Kie...
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Focusing on their own team and individual performances in welcoming perennial section champion Worthington to Pipestone Thursday night, the Arrow gymnastics team succeeded on all accounts. Although the team tallies, as expected, favored the Trojans 142.35-124.875, the Arrows made the most of their fourth competition in six days. Junior gymnast Megan Lingen turned in a sharp all-around performance in placing third behind Trojans Hali Bullerman (35.925 points) and Mekyla Nystrom (35.2), with a four-event total of 31.875. Teammate Kaysa Douty, who claimed her first-career all-around title Tuesday night versus the MCW Magic, was a strong fourth Thursday evening with 31.375...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) has shifted to a hybrid E-learning model for the week of Monday, Jan. 17 through Friday, Jan. 21 due to a high number of COVID-19 infections and illnesses among students and staff. The school district announced the change Thursday evening, Jan. 13. School was also closed and an E-learning day was held Friday, Jan. 14 due to weather. Monday, Jan. 24 is a scheduled day off for students, so students are scheduled to return to school on Tuesday, Jan. 25. “I’m just trying to get things simmered down a little bit,” said PAS Superintendent Kevin Enerson....
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The highly-anticipated non-conference boys’ basketball rivalry rematch between the Pipestone Area Arrows (11-2) and Southwest Christian Eagles (10-4) didn’t fail to be the crowd-pleaser most expected. After taking it to the Eagles 58-39, Dec. 9 in Edgerton, the Arrows were well aware Tuesday night’s tilt in Pipestone was likely to be much closer. Although the hosts trailed for much of the first half, the Arrows’ 14-6 run four minutes, 51 seconds prior to the interval propelled them into the second half and, ultimately, a 62-55 victory. “They had us a little rattled at times; early in the game I thought...
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Jasper organization Reclaim Community has been awarded a Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) & Cultural Heritage grant of 3,026 to repair the east wall of Bauman Hall. In a letter addressed to Elicia Kortus, founder and president of Reclaim Community, the MNHS notified the organization of their award for the repair and reconstruction of the Sioux Quartzite masonry wall. Reclaim Community is expecting 30% of the funds to be released sometime this week after the signing of the grant contract. Kortus said the next step for the organization is to prepare and release the request for proposals and specs, and to...
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The Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board officers will remain unchanged for the coming year. This was one result coming from the annual organizational meeting, which was held Monday, Jan. 3. The continuity in officers means that Jeff Baatz will remain the chairman, Randy Erdman stays in as vice chair, the clerk will continue to be Katie Wiese, and Brad Carson is the treasurer. Baatz was approved by a 4-1 vote. Board members Amy Nelson and Randy Erdman were not in attendance, and Wiese cast her vote for Erdman following her nomination of him for the position. Baatz said later by...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their Dec. 20 meeting approved a 2022 property tax levy of ,507,895.92, which is a decrease of 4,946.97, or 4.75 percent, from the 2021 levy. It is the maximum amount the school district could levy based on state funding formulas that allow school districts to levy for a variety of specific purposes based on several factors, including tax capacities, market values, student counts and more. PAS has historically adopted the maximum levy amount allowed based on the formulas. The primary reason the levy decreased for 2022 is a 4,015.67 decrease in the long...
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Snyder Drug in Pipestone will be sold to Lewis Drug at the end of February. Scott Ploeger, co-owner of Snyder Drug with Chuck Mickelson, said they’ll turn over operations of the pharmacy to Lewis Drug on Friday, Feb. 25 and Lewis Drug will take over beginning Monday, Feb. 28. Scott Cross, executive vice president of Lewis Drug, said the company plans to operate out of the existing building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and state Hwys. 30 and 23 until the end of March. It will then move its operations to the former Coborn’s Video building at 114...
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Jasper City Council members during their Dec. 21 meeting approved a 2022 property tax levy of 0,173, which is the same as the 2021 levy, and a general fund budget of 9,172, which is a .26 percent increase over 2021. The levy is the same as the preliminary levy the council approved in September and the general fund budget is the same as the budget presented at that time. The original 2022 budget and levy information presented by Jasper City Clerk/Treasurer Cortney Kounkel in September showed a proposed levy of 9,901, which would have been an increase of 4.8 percent,...
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The Pipestone City Council during their Dec. 20 meeting held a public hearing concerning the 2022 proposed street and utility improvement projects. Around 10 people from the general public attended the meeting. City Administrator Jeff Jones said that the council had decided earlier in the year to proceed with the preparation of possible projects for the upcoming year earlier than normal in order to accommodate getting bids out and getting documents more quickly in the spring and getting projects started sooner. The public hearing was held to take comments from Pipestone residents concerning the proposed projects. City engineer Travis Winter...
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The Pipestone County Museum is currently remodeling multiple areas of the facility. The project which began in October, consists of a remodel of Gallery III, the largest exhibit gallery located on the second floor of the museum. Additionally, lighting updates are being made throughout the building. Susan Hoskins, the executive director of the museum, said that the organization is taking advantage of current LED lighting rebates in addition to the gallery remodel. “We are taking advantage of LED lighting rebates and we are replacing all the lighting in the museum,” she said. “In Gallery III we also purchased all new...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their first meeting of the year on Jan. 4 elected Commissioner Les Nath to serve as county board chair with a 4-1 vote. Former Board Chair Luke Johnson cast the lone vote of opposition. County Administrator Steve Ewing opened the meeting, as is customary for the annual organizational meeting, and accepted nominations for board chair. Commissioner Dan Wildermuth nominated Nath, in keeping with the board’s tradition of rotating the positions of chair and vice chair. Nath then nominated Johnson. Wildermuth asked why the board wouldn’t stick with its regular rotation. Johnson said he thought there might...
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Although it wasn’t a big surprise the visiting Marshall Tigers were able to break the Arrows eight-game winning streak Friday night in Pipestone, the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team wasn’t far off from claiming their ninth straight. The Big South Conference tilt went down to the wire, before the visitors could seal their 58-48 win inside the final minute of play. “That score is not indicative of how close the game was … until the last 30-40 seconds when they got on the free throw line and we missed a couple of shots,” Pipestone Area head coach Todd Tinklenberg said....
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After claiming the tournament title last weekend at the Webster Area Invitational, the Pipestone Area wrestling team was back in tournament form at Saturday’s eight-team Norwood Young America Invitational in Norwood Young America. Despite contending in just 8-of-14 weight classes, placing in a tie for third place with WEM-JEP at 113 points – behind winner Maple River (204.5) and runner-up Waseca (137.5) – Pipestone Area head coach Brian Bos and his Arrows felt they could have grappled better throughout the day. “I think we were all disappointed with our performance Saturday; I think we thought we wrestled uninspired a little...
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Despite heading into the holiday break nursing injuries and illness, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team kicked off the New Year with solid performances last week, at home and on the road. The Arrows were fairly solid up-and-down the lineup in knocking off the visiting Windom Eagles 124.7-122.65 Monday night in Pipestone, after placing fourth with a score of 126.275 at the six-team Marshall Invitational tournament Saturday in Marshall. The Douty sisters, junior Kindra and seventh-grader Kaysa, turned in fine all-around performances in helping the Arrows push past the Eagles Monday night. The former claimed the all-around title on the night,...
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The Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team fell to 3-6 and 1-3 in the Big South Conference following a 76-37 conference road loss to the Marshall Tigers Friday night in Marshall. Junior guard Aubrea Kor paced the Arrows’ effort with 17 points on the night. Madelyn Wiese, Kayla Hubbling and Jaydn Kor finished with six points apiece, while Kyla Hubbling added a second-half bucket. The Arrows will square off against the Redwood Valley Cardinals Thursday night in Pipestone in conference action. PAS 21 16 – 37 Marshall ...
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It’s happening. Robots are taking over my house. It started so gradually that I barely noticed. First, it was the robot-like feature on my phone that provides information when I say its name and ask a question. I thought it was silly at first, but it’s so handy. If I or the kids want to know something, all we need to do is ask and the robot looks it up and gives us an answer. Amazing! Then a few years ago my mom gave me one of those voice activated robots that you can plug in to a wall outlet...
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To the Editor: When we test if we will trust something, we check if it is good and if it is consistent. While we also look at the success and the character of the person telling us something, some put more emphasis on their personal success and some put more emphasis on their character. But since the world and the people in it are not perfect, we need to analyze when information is accurate and when it is not. The Bible asks, if one person says they will help you and then forget, and another person says they will not...
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Poinsettias are a favorite holiday blooming plant with large, scarlet flower heads that brighten our homes during the winter months. Poinsettias (proper name Euphorbia pulcherrima) are native to Mexico which means they need warmer climates to keep them happy. Red is the natural color but there are many hybrids that come in a variety of colors. When buying a poinsettia, look at the true flowers (yellow and tiny in the center of the flowerhead), they should be unopened for maximum flower life which should be 2-6 months. Place your poinsettia in an average warm place, minimum temperature of 55-60 degrees...
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The Pipestone City Council went into closed session at the end of its Jan. 3 meeting to discuss the potential transactions. City Administrator Jeff Jones said later in the week that the council directed city staff to develop a purchase and development agreement for the Carnegie Library property and pursue a Targeted Community Capital Grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to purchase the Bomgaars building. According to DEED, the Targeted Community Capital Grants are for non-profit organizations and local governments for capital expenses such as predesign/design, property acquisition, construction, renovation and more that will provide,...
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The Arrows were rightly favored to win Tuesday night’s Big South Conference boys’ basketball contest versus the visiting Luverne Cardinals in Pipestone. However, it took nearly three quarters of the rivalry tilt for Pipestone Area (9-2) to dash Luverne’s hope of an upset. The Arrows’ strong defensive stand, coupled with good offensive ball movement and 62 percent accuracy from the field, over the initial seven minutes of the second half, all but put the Cardinals on the bus home. And the hosts went on to claim a 65-45 victory. “I didn’t think we played with a lot of defensive energy...
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Jasper City Council members during their Dec. 21 meeting approved a 2022 property tax levy of 0,173, which is the same as the 2021 levy, and a general fund budget of 9,172, which is a .26 percent increase over 2021. The levy is the same as the preliminary levy the council approved in September and the general fund budget is the same as the budget presented at that time. The original 2022 budget and levy information presented by Jasper City Clerk/Treasurer Cortney Kounkel in September showed a proposed levy of 9,901, which would have been an increase of 4.8 percent,...
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The Pipestone City Council during their Dec. 20 meeting held a public hearing concerning the 2022 proposed street and utility improvement projects. Around 10 people from the general public attended the meeting. City Administrator Jeff Jones said that the council had decided earlier in the year to proceed with the preparation of possible projects for the upcoming year earlier than normal in order to accommodate getting bids out and getting documents more quickly in the spring and getting projects started sooner. The public hearing was held to take comments from Pipestone residents concerning the proposed projects. City engineer Travis Winter...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their Dec. 20 meeting approved a 2022 property tax levy of ,507,895.92, which is a decrease of 4,946.97, or 4.75 percent, from the 2021 levy. It is the maximum amount the school district could levy based on state funding formulas that allow school districts to levy for a variety of specific purposes based on several factors, including tax capacities, market values, student counts and more. PAS has historically adopted the maximum levy amount allowed based on the formulas. The primary reason the levy decreased for 2022 is a 4,015.67 decrease in the long...
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The Pipestone City Council approved its 2022 budget, and a tax levy increase of 2.4% at their Dec. 20 meeting. The approved budget amount was ,025,440, down from the preliminary budget of ,108,404. The expected revenues for 2022 amount to ,743,422, creating an anticipated excess of 7,982, according to budget documents provided at the regular meeting. According to City Administrator Jeff Jones, the use of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) money for a fulltime administrative position in the park and recreation department at the Ewert Recreation Center, helped to decrease the proposed levy from a 5% increase. Although the percentage...
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Snyder Drug in Pipestone will be sold to Lewis Drug at the end of February. Scott Ploeger, co-owner of Snyder Drug with Chuck Mickelson, said they’ll turn over operations of the pharmacy to Lewis Drug on Friday, Feb. 25 and Lewis Drug will take over beginning Monday, Feb. 28. Scott Cross, executive vice president of Lewis Drug, said the company plans to operate out of the existing building at the intersection of U.S. Highway 75 and state Hwys. 30 and 23 until the end of March. It will then move its operations to the former Coborn’s Video building at 114...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Dec. 28 meeting set salaries for elected officials and approved cost of living raises for non-union county employees for 2022. The matter of their own salaries elicited the most discussion with the commissioners ultimately approving with a 3-1 vote setting their own salaries at ,734, which is a 2.5 percent increase. Commissioner Dan Wildermuth voted against the raises and Commissioner Dallas Roskamp was absent. Commissioner Les Nath said he made the motion to give he and his fellow commissioners 2.5 percent raises to keep pace with the raises received by other county employees. Wildermuth said...
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Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) might be among the bidders for the former Hill Elementary School property when the auction for that and the Brown Elementary School property is held on Friday, Jan. 28. PCMC CEO Brad Burris said during the PCMC Governing Board’s Dec. 28 meeting that the idea of purchasing the Hill School property came up during a “brainstorming session.” “The genesis of this was trying to identify space options for an enlarged therapy department,” Burris said. He said the idea was driven by a desire to support departmental growth of the therapy department and the orthopedic services...
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Again proving themselves as an intelligent, multidimensional team, the Pipestone Area Arrows gave notice they’re a boys’ basketball team to be reckoned with this winter. Tipping off against the New Ulm Eagles and Montevideo Thunder Hawks at the Marshall Fastbreak Club tournament, Thursday and Friday afternoons, respectively, at the RA Facility on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, the Arrows dispatched a pair of sides that had a mere two losses between them. And the Arrows (8-1) respectively knocked the non-conference sides off, 54-52 and 52-41, in distinctly different ways. “They did,” agreed Pipestone Area head coach...
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Knowing they’d have to find a way to make up for the lack of a full 15-weight class roster to have any chance of capturing the team title, the Pipestone Area wrestling team entered Thursday’s Webster Area Invitational tournament, in Webster, S.D., with a pin-it-to-win-it attitude. And the Arrows did just that, winning 20 matches with 17 pins in topping the 13-team field with 140 points to claim the championship. Not only did the Arrows edge out Clark/Willow Lake (136.5) and Sisseton (124.5) for the team crown, but John (JJ) Martens and Hudson Burnett also remained undefeated on the...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Dec. 28 meeting approved a 2022 property tax levy of ,952,656, which is 8.62 percent, or 1,268, higher than the 2021 levy. The levy is slightly less than the preliminary levy the commissioners approved in September, which was an increase of 8.72 percent. Pipestone County Administrator Steve Ewing said that small decrease was the result of correcting a transposed number in the data processing budget, which reduced the levy by ,200. The 2022 levy is higher than the five-year average levy increase of about 5 percent, but Pipestone County Board Chair Luke Johnson pointed out...
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TO THE EDITOR: Re: Meinders Community Library Reading the newspaper reporting about the school boards position and their justification for taking that position, I feel there needs to be clarification as to how any future actions could affect the Community Library and its funding. Currently the Community Library staff works under the supervision of the Library Board which gets its authority to operate from State Statute. The Library Board consists of one school board member, one person appointed by the school board, one city council member, one community person appointed by the city council and one person at large from...
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TO THE EDITOR: In her article regarding climate change, A great society starts here from 10/9/19, Pipestone Star’s award-winning journalist Debra Fitzgerald recognizes climate change is becoming much more evident to casual observers “I think the term is escaping from the cave of partisan politics because we’re all experiencing climate change.” She attributes the term “climate change” to Democrats, but it was created by Republican Party pollster Frank Luntz in 2001 to be “less alarming” than the scientific term global warming. In the 8/21/19 Politico article Luntz: ‘I was wrong’ on climate change, author Anthony Adragna quotes Luntz’ statement: “I...
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Looking to shake off the rust following the holiday break, the Pipestone Area and Murray County Central girls’ basketball teams met for a non-conference clash Tuesday night in Pipestone. And clash they did. Perhaps not in the manner the coaches for either side hoped for, but rather more into one another – committing 47 turnovers between a pair of teams that came into the tilt with a combined three victories. Despite a late run that saw the visitors close to within five points (50-48) with one minute, 58 seconds to play, the hosts claimed a 58-48 win to improve to...
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The top stories of 2021, October - December OCTOBER Top photo: SWMH closes Pipestone location, switches to telemedicine On Nov. 1, Southwestern Mental Health (SWMH) would permanently close multiple physical locations, including their Pipestone office. SWMH began providing outpatient services through the electronic communication model of telemedicine, a decision that the organization said was made after a multitude of factors were considered after the start of the pandemic. Ambulance service in need of volunteers Pipestone County Ambulance was in need of volunteers after seeing a decline in ambulance crew members and about a 50 percent increase in the number...
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The top stories of 2021, July - September JULY Top photo: Contractor hired for soccer complex development Pipestone City Council members during their June 21 meeting approved paying Reker Construction and Aggregate, LLC., of Adrian, 5,000 for dirt and storm sewer work for the JBS Soccer Complex. Reker’s proposal was the less expensive of two quotes acquired by the city. Former Thoughtfulness Shop renovated The Pipestone Development Company (PDC) purchased the former Thoughtfulness Shop property at 124 West Main Street from Yavets Lachkays with the intention of renovating it for future use. PDC President Jeremy Whipple told the Pipestone City...
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The top news stories for April-June of 2021. APRIL Top photo: Civil complaint filed over library dispute Pipestone Area Schools filed a complaint against the city of Pipestone and the Meinders Community Library Board regarding a dispute over who employs library staff and how many people were on the library board. The complaint included five counts for which the school district was seeking declaratory judgments or injunctive relief. No objections heard to closing Brown and Hill Just seven people attended the two statutorily required public hearings held to take comments on the planned closure of Brown and Hill elementary schools...
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The top stories and photos for January - February 2021 JANUARY Top photo: Pipestone Senior Center finds a new home After having to leave its long-time location at the Carnegie Library building early in 2020 when stones fell off the back wall and then having to be out of its temporary location by the end of 2020, the Pipestone Senior Center secured a new home. The center rented space at 717 East Main Street in the former Star Agency building. Ole and Shani Wilson bought the property from Jerry Remund for Shani to use as office space for her business...
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Focused on working ‘their stuff’ against Jackson County Central’s skeleton crew, the Pipestone Area Arrows wasted no time building a substantial lead Tuesday night in Pipestone. With a blanket press, precision perimeter pops and strong paint presence, Pipestone Area opened the game with a 12-2 run and never looked back – claiming its fourth consecutive victory and second in the Big South Conference (West). The quickness of PAS guards Merrick Heidebrink and Connor Zephier, body and mind, served the Arrows well throughout the contest, with the former posting a 22-point, 11-assist double-double and the latter finishing with 11 points, four...
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The Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team (2-5) picked up its second victory of the season Thursday night in Pipestone, knocking off the visiting Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks 74-39 in non-conference action. Aubrea Kor backed up her 30-point performance versus Jackson earlier in the week with a 20-point, five-rebound, five-assist effort against the Blackjacks. Sister Jaydn Kor added 19 points, eight rebounds and five steals, while Kyla Hubbling finished with 11 markers to go with five rebounds and three steals. Madelyn Wiese (four rebounds, four assists) and Marli Taubert (three rebounds, two assists, three steals) posted nine points apiece. Kayla Hubbling returned to...
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Despite continuing to be hindered by illness and injury, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team gave a solid account of itself at the Deuel quadrangular meet Tuesday night (Dec. 21) in Clear Lake, S.D., capping its pre-holiday schedule with a third-place finish at 124.6 points. Although the team tallies provided to the County Star by Deuel High School were somewhat incomplete and inaccurate, the Arrows managed to best West Central behind the winning side from Estelline/Hendricks and runners-up Deuel. “The girls did a fantastic job; it was a long meet, a late night, and they really put their best foot forward...
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No. 1 – Burnett wins Class A state wrestling crown The standing backflip Pipestone Area freshman Hudson Burnett executed Saturday evening (Mar. 27) at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael was simply the finishing act of a full throttle performance that earned him a Class A state wrestling title. “It was in the moment,” explained Burnett, who promptly headed to the edge of the mat to hug his coach Brian Bos. “I went into the tournament super confident, wanted to just go out and wrestle my style – do what I do best.” Burnett did just that in the third...
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Bouncing back from illness, injury and departures with vengeance, the Pipestone Area wrestling team claimed a pair of Big South Conference victories at Tuesday night’s road triangular in Redwood Falls – besting Windom/Mountain Lake, 48-33, and edging host Redwood Valley, 40-39, to boost its record to 6-4 heading into the holiday break. “We were healthy, for the most part, so it was nice to pick up a couple wins,” said PAS head coach Brian Bos. “They were good duals and we picked up some (individual) wins at the end to win that first one. What more could you ask for?”...
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The Habitat for Humanity house on Ninth Avenue N.W. in Pipestone has new life and a new family to call it home. On Saturday, Habitat for Humanity of Redwood River, Inc. dedicated the revitalized home to Rachel and Ryan Blaue of Pipestone. Habitat board members, community members, family and friends of the Blaue’s gathered in the home for the dedication. “We can’t thank you guys enough, you’re amazing” Ryan Blaue said. “It has been an overwhelming experience of joy,” Rachel Blaue said. Habitat for Humanity partners with individuals and families in the region to build or remodel homes, providing an...
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Pipestone County Commissioners during their Dec. 14 meeting took a step toward selling the former Central School property by scheduling a public hearing for March 8 at 10 a.m. to take comments on classifying the property as either conservation or non-conservation land. The county board will ultimately declare the property non-conservation land, but that classification is a necessary part of the process to prepare tax-forfeited properties for sale. State statute requires that the county give 60 to 90 days notice of the meeting at which it will take comments and classify the property, which is why the board scheduled the...
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The Pipestone County Jail has been closed since early December due to a staffing shortage. Pipestone County Sheriff Keith Vreeman said the jail has been short staffed before, but it’s the first time in his more than 20 years with the sheriff’s office that the jail has had to close due to a lack of employees. He said it takes four full-time jailers to operate the jail and currently he has just one full-time and a few part-time jailers. The county has been advertising for jailer/dispatchers (the positions are cross-trained, but work as either jailers or dispatchers) for about a...
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People driving snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles (ATVs) recently caused damage to the Lights at the Lodge decorations at Hiawatha Pageant Park in Pipestone. Mayor Myron Koets said the damage wasn’t too significant, but that extension cords were disconnected and some items were hit and had to be set back up. He said there are security cameras at the park, but the drivers could not be identified. Signs that were in place at Hiawatha Pageant Park prior to the damage occurring indicate that motorized vehicles must remain on the roadway. Since the damage occurred, the city has installed additional signs...
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Much like several of the school’s athletic programs at the moment, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team entered Thursday night’s non-conference game against the visiting Lac qui Parle Valley Eagles banged up and ailing. And in a war of attrition, the Arrows simply couldn’t match the Eagles player-for-player on the night – bowing out 54-38 to fall to 1-4 on the young season. “We were down by only 10 (points) to start the second half and I thought we did some really good things at times – executed well,” Pipestone Area head coach Ed Gustafson said. “The last five minutes,...
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Struggling with illness and injury across the board, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team had a minor hiccup Thursday night in Pipestone. Following their tremendous season opener in Marshall, Dec. 2, the Arrows had to dig deep against the visiting Luverne Cardinals – battling not only changes in the lineup, but also the lack of more than one all-arounder and two weeks between competitions. “It was a little rough; over the past week everyone’s been getting sick and we’ve had some injuries, so for this meet we didn’t know who was going to be here and where they’d be competing,” said...
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The Dakota 38+2 riders made their way into Pipestone once again on Saturday, Dec. 18. Wilfred Keeble, the staff carrier for the ride, said that this year’s group count is up, with around 60 people making the trip that started in Lower Brule, S.D. The annual ride commemorates the hanging of 38 Dakota in Mankato on Dec. 26, 1862, and three years later, the hanging of two Dakota chiefs at Fort Snelling. The ride will end on Dec. 24 in Mankato, where the 38 were hung. Keeble said that although the Dakota 38+ 2 ride did not happen last year,...
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Pipestone Area Schools has completed the demolition of Brown and Hill Elementary Schools and the sale of the properties is set for Friday, Jan. 28, 2022 at 10 a.m. Chuck Sutton Auctioneering will be conducting the sale that day and will handle the advertising of the properties. The Winter Group is also involved by handling all the real estate matters with the properties. The process began about a year ago when the District held meetings to close Brown and Hill due to the new elementary school that was opened this past fall. There were several solicitors that inquired and made...
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Like many people, I have always loved Christmas and all that goes with it. In our house, we put up Christmas decorations right after Thanksgiving and usually add a few items to our collection each year. I bring out the kids’ Christmas books that we only read during this season, which include some classics such as “‘T’was the night before Christmas” and some more modern selections such as books about elves on shelves and their pets. We watch Christmas movies and enjoy Christmas treats including homemade, store bought and those given to us by others. This year, we will return...
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The amaryllis is starting to rival the poinsettia as a floral choice for the Holiday season. It is a beautiful bulb plant that produces large, colorful, bell-shaped flowers and thrives indoors. Most people treat their amaryllis bulbs as ‘one-and-done’ flowers. In truth, amaryllis bulbs get better with time. The bulbs get bigger, producing more flower stems. Here are some good tips for taking care of your amaryllis year-round. 1) Enjoy your amaryllis for the maximum time possible by placing it in a location with diffused light and cool indoor temperatures in the 60° F range. Keep it barely moist. If...
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Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) Board members during their Monday, Dec. 20 meeting voted 5-1 to terminate the library agreement with the Meinders Community Library Board and the public library service, and try to negotiate a new agreement that is more acceptable to all parties. School board member Chrissy DeBates cast the lone vote against the resolution. According to state statute, a public library established by a school district and a city requires one year notice from either party to discontinue. The agreement between the school district and the library board requires two years notice from either party to terminate. As...
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The Pipestone City Council during its Dec. 6 meeting approved an application for the city’s Historic Property Improvement Program from Patty Sasker and Tammy Gorter to make improvements to their Geyermans Clothing Company store downtown. According to the application, they plan to replace rotten siding, broken and rotten second story windows and the awning. The project is estimated to cost ,508.15. Under the Historic Property Improvement Program, the city will provide a grant for 35 percent of the cost and a loan for 35 percent of the cost and the owners will pay the rest. That means the city will...
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The city of Pipestone plans to improve the northeast corner of the intersection of state Highway 30 and South Hiawatha Avenue where the bench and garbage can are along the sidewalk. Because the area is in the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) right of way, the council had to approve a resolution entering into a limited use permit with MnDOT to proceed with the project, which it did during its Dec. 6 meeting. City Administrator Jeff Jones said Public Works Director Mike Bloemendaal recently proposed the project , which will create a flat concrete 35-foot quarter circle at the corner...
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As Christmas and the new year near, the number of COVID-19 cases remains high, both locally and across the state. Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) recently asked that all elementary students and staff wear face masks until after winter break due to an increase in the number of COVID cases primarily affecting the elementary school. “We’re trying to keep everybody in school,” said PAS Superintendent Kevin Enerson. Enerson said that as of Friday, Dec. 10 there were 28 students and four staff members who had COVID, and there were 72 students quarantined in the school district. Enerson said most of the...
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Pipestone City Council members plan to adopt at their Dec. 20 meeting a final 2022 budget of ,025,440, which is an increase of 2.9 percent over this year’s budget and a property tax levy of ,381,007, which is a 2.4 percent increase over this year’s levy. Those amounts are less than the preliminary budget of ,108,404 and preliminary levy of ,436,437 that the council approved in September. City Administrator Jeff Jones said during the council’s Dec. 6 meeting that the city was able to reduce the proposed budget and levy amounts using American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. In November council...
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Hoping to ride the confidence gained in having won 4-of-6 dual matches to open the 2021-22 campaign, the Pipestone Area wrestling team suffered a big blow during the week. With junior heavyweight Jayden Hoss opting to quit the team a few weeks into the season, the Arrows had little up top to help them edge out the opposition in two tight fixtures at Thursday night’s triangular in Worthington. The Arrows, as has been the norm in recent seasons, claimed more than their share of the victories in the lower weights, but with limited support up top, the Arrows proved an...
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By Kevin Kyle | Sports Editor kkyle@pipestonestar.com It’s been a while. The 2017-18 season saw the Pipestone Area Arrows beat the Southwest Christian Eagles twice; a 15-point victory in their first meeting at home and a tight 65-64 win in Edgerton. Still, the Arrows’ 58-39 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over the Eagles Thursday night in Edgerton was the most comprehensive in recent seasons. The Arrows (2-1) were simply better than the Eagles (2-1) in every aspect of the game; from shooting to rebounding, from defending to scoring, the visitors dominated. “I think we did; and to be honest, it wasn’t...
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TO THE EDITOR: I attended the December 8 Meinders Community Library Board meeting. One of the questions addressed to the Library Board was why the planned and approved security upgrade to the doors at the School/Library connection has not been done along with other school construction. The answer from the school board representative was the nebulous “supply chain issues.” I question how the library doors, initially part of the selling point for the referendum and theoretically in the building plans, came up against supply chain issues, but the new weight room door (built after the fact and never a referendum...
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Jeremy Adler opened Adler Counseling, PLLC, in Pipestone this fall and recently made services available at the Pipestone office five days a week. Adler, who lives in Woodstock, previously worked for Southwestern Mental Health and has been part of a group practice in Marshall for four years. He started his own group practice based in Slayton in June. “It’s kind of a central location, so I can reach a lot of different areas within a 45-minute radius,” Adler said. He said starting his own business has been a professional goal for several years due to the flexibility, freedom and increased...
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With Christmas 2021 quickly coming upon us, I thought I would write a short ‘wish list’ of sorts. I wish for the Pipestone County Commissioners to take real and positive action on some of the land development proposals that have recently been brought forward. First, the old Central School property should be transitioned out of the hands of the county and put to use in the private sector. The large parcel, once developed, would turn an empty, non-productive city block into something that generates tax value and allows for new or better amenities to be developed for the city of...
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Sometimes you just have to take an ugly win for what it is – a win. And the Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team, with tough games against Jackson County Central and Dawson-Boyd next week, are probably comfortable with the win it earned Tuesday night in Pipestone – eventually pulling away from the visiting Windom Eagles for a 49-37 Big South conference victory. It was the Arrows’ (3-1) third win on the bounce, after dropping the season-opener in Redwood Falls, and one that didn’t necessarily inspire, heading into their final pre-holiday tilts. “I don’t know what it is … I...
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Years ago when someone was driving while impaired, the cause was usually alcohol. Now local law enforcement officers say it’s just as often drug-related. “Over 50 percent of our stops are not alcohol related and I don’t see that changing,” Pipestone County Sheriff Keith Vreeman told the Pipestone County Commissioners in October. In response to that trend, two officers with the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office have become trained drug recognition evaluators (DREs). Sgt. Jeff Rowden received the training in 2018 and Deputy Josh Watts received the training earlier this year. Watts said the training included nine days of classroom time...
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Katie Johnson started her new job as the administrative support specialist for the Extension office on Nov. 22. She replaces Carol Scotting who held the position for 38 years and retired Nov. 30. Johnson said she was fortunate to be able to work with Scotting for a week before she retired and have her “just a phone call away” if needed. “She gave me all the ins and outs and imparted as much of her knowledge as she could in five days,” Johnson said. “Thirty-eight years worth of time in the office, that’s a lot of things to boil down...
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Often looking like a contest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus rather than the Minnesota State High School League, Monday night’s non-conference girls’ basketball game between the Southwest Christian Eagles and visiting Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights was ultimately won at the foul line. Hitting 26-of-38 to the Knights’ 13-of-21, the Eagles added a field goal to the difference in claiming an 86-71 victory in Edgerton to improve to 2-2 on the season. Without the services of junior forward Makenna Moss, SWC head coach Luke Drooger told his Eagles, prior to tipoff, that defense would win the contest. Whether or not his girls...
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Although the Arrows return several cogs to the machine that finished 11-11 and claimed a Section 3AA runner-up finish last winter, this year’s Pipestone Area boys’ basketball team is sure to have a different look. With a post-heavy approach in 2020-21, PAS often looked to work inside and feature departed leading scorer Dawson Kellen in the paint. Though junior post Connor Holt is adept at playing with his back to the basket, it’s likely he’ll spend more time setting up last season’s interior support, seniors Kaden Musch and Jaden Lorang, with lanes to slash to the basket. “You’re going to...
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The Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team fell to 0-3 with consecutive losses against Luverne and New Ulm, Thursday and Saturday, respectively, after dropping its 2021 season opener to Southwest Christian last Tuesday. Rebounding continued to be an issue for the visitors both the Luverne and New Ulm contests, and the Eagles’ press also appeared to stymie PAS in the latter tilt. “We got a little bit against Luverne and had to fight back; rebounding was a huge factor, something we have to keep working on,” said Pipestone Area head coach Ed Gustafson, whose Arrows were outrebounded 54-34 by the Cardinals....
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Claiming nearly half as many victories as it did throughout the entirety of last season, the Pipestone Area wrestling team had a banner start to the 2021-22 wrestling campaign last week on the road. The Arrows, which finished 9-24 last winter, claimed four scalps over six matches Thursday and Friday, respectively, sweeping their opening-night triangular in Fulda before going 2-2 at the Atwater-Cosmos- Grove City Duals in Grove City. And six tilts into the young season, Brayden Burmeister, John (JJ) Martens and Hudson Burnett remain undefeated. “Those guys are still undefeated and Nate (Bobendrier) has looked really tough,” Pipestone Area...
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Looking to open the season on the front foot Thursday evening in Marshall, the Pipestone Area gymnastics team landed squarely on both feet – sticking landings with flair in besting host Marshall 126.1-121.4. “It was such a fun way to kick off the season,” Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace said. “The thing we kept talking about, the week preceding the meet, was developing a foundation – a base – for the rest of the season. It’s not where we want to end, but we wanted to put forward the cleanest performances we could with the routines we have right...
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Efforts are underway to learn more about a cemetery on what is now Pipestone National Monument land that was used for students of the Pipestone Indian School. “Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that we do know,” said Pipestone National Monument Superintendent Lauren Blacik. “We believe that there’s a small cemetery located within the Monument that was in use from 1896 until about 1904. We don’t have its exact location. We have an idea of its location from a monument that was built by members of the CCC Indian Division later in the 1930s, and that marker was removed sometime between...
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It remains unclear what the fallout will be from the Nov. 30 court decision in favor of the Meinders Community Library Board and the city of Pipestone in a case brought by Pipestone Area Schools (PAS) regarding the hiring and employing of library staff, and the number of people on the library board. Judge Tricia B. Zimmer dismissed with prejudice all five counts in the complaint the school district brought against the city and library board and awarded the city of Pipestone and library board “reasonable costs and disbursements as provided by law.” School board members met with their attorney...
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The Arrow girls got off the schneid Tuesday night in Redwood Falls, doubling up the hosting Redwood Valley Cardinals at the break and capping their 53-32 Big South Conference victory by tallying nine unanswered points in the closing stages. Although the win broke Pipestone Area’s (1-3) three-game losing streak to open the 2021-22 campaign, the Arrows’ performance lacked polish. “It wasn’t pretty, but we got it done,” Pipestone Area head coach Ed Gustafson said. “It was kind of sloppy tonight; I knew it was going to be that type of game, but I didn’t think it would be that sloppy...
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Proposals were presented during the Nov. 23 Pipestone County Commissioner meeting to use a portion of the former Central School property for a new Hartquist Funeral Home & Cremation Services location and build 12 twin homes on the property occupied by the former Southwestern Mental Health (SWMH) office. Pipestone Development Company (PDC) President Jeremy Whipple presented the proposals and about 20 people attended the meeting to listen in on the discussion. Four people spoke in support of the proposals. Whipple said Jeff Hartquist approached the PDC and expressed interest in acquiring the north lot, out of two, at the former...
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About eight months into its existence, Pipestone’s human rights commission is, among other activities, researching a lost cemetery and trying to make the community a more welcoming place for newcomers. Gabriel Yellowhawk, of Pipestone, is the chair of the commission, which the Pipestone City Council created back in March. Yellowhawk is originally from Hill City in the Black Hills and moved to Pipestone about a year-and-a-half ago to work at Pipestone National Monument. He started as an intern there and is now a biological science technician, removing invasive plants and helping with scientific research. “It’s a fun job,” Yellowhawk said....
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For Patt Johnson, independence has been a way of life for many years and moving from her home of 51 years on West Highway 30 into Ridge View Estates was never in her plans. “I had no plans to sell my house and then all of a sudden, it happened,” she said. “I had no idea what Ridge View really was.” For the past 18 years after her husband, Dr. Rollie Johnson, passed away, she has been living independently in their home on the edge of town. Johnson said that her decision to move to Ridge View last month was...
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A request by the veterans memorial committee to place a memorial on the southwest corner of the Pipestone County Fairgrounds appears to be going nowhere. Cristy Appel, a member of the veterans memorial committee, asked the Pipestone County Commissioners for clarity during their Nov. 23 meeting. “The reason I’m here is because I have heard that the Pipestone County Fair Board had decided that where we proposed to have a memorial, they didn’t agree with,” Appel said. “My question was to Steve [Ewing, Pipestone County administrator], do the county commissioners agree with their decision.” Appel acknowledged that parking has long...
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Pipestone Area will hit the mats hard this week, opening the 2021-22 wrestling season with six dual meets on the road in Fulda and Grove City. The Arrows, which finished the 2020-21 campaign with a record of 9-24, will be looking to improve on that mark while also getting more grapplers to the MSHSL Class A state tournament. PAS will take on Murray County Central/Fulda and Red Rock Central Thursday in Fulda before tangling with Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City (ACGC), Paynesville, Canby and Howard Lake-Winstead-Waverley Friday evening in Grove City. “That’s six duals right away, and then it’s K-M-S (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg) and Worthington,...
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If the five juniors, who had so much success in B-squad play last winter, can reproduce half of those achievements on the varsity court in 2021-22, the Pipestone Area girls’ basketball team can perhaps make a strong postseason run a year from now. Having graduated a plethora of seniors and returning fewer than a handful of players with varsity experience, this winter’s campaign is likely to be more about building for the future. And the initial goal of this season’s squad is to be competitive, in and out of the conference and section (3AA), where last year’s team (5-13) claimed...
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November was Native American Heritage Month, and park rangers at the Pipestone National Monument took the opportunity to share their heritage by wearing their star quilts for a photo next to Winnewissa Falls in the park. Gabrielle Drapeau a member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and a Pathways Intern Park Ranger at the monument, wore the star quilt that was made for her father by her grandmother, Flossey Drapeau. The star quilt, according to Drapeau, is considered a traditional high honor giveaway in the Great Sioux Nation, one that she grew up watching her grandmother create. “For me, growing up...
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Anyone walking into the Southwest Christian gymnasium Tuesday night in Edgerton might have thought they were in the midst of a postseason tilt. Although the Eagles and visiting Pipestone Area Arrows girls’ basketball teams were squaring off in the 2021-22 season opener, for both sides, the atmosphere was electric – especially for fledgling SWC head coach Luke Drooger. And after trailing 32-30 at the interval, his girls upped their game at both ends of the court to claim a 70-60 victory – opening the Drooger era in grand fashion. “I told some of the girls there at the end, ‘if...
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Two people both with a gun went to a very tense protest, both hoping to stop the bad guys on the other side, both with no training in de-escalating a problem or dealing with problems with violent people, both with adrenaline for anticipation of stopping a bad guy and with fear for their own life. When they met and both pulled their guns and one shot the other dead, the courts decided that since the one that shot first was scared, he acted in self defense. The laws had set up an impossible situation for people to interact in a...
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Hello friends, from the great state of Texas. I was fortunate enough to come down again this year to visit my family on my father’s side (and my mother’s) for a 10-day Thanksgiving break. The weather has been beautiful, mostly in the 70’s. My time has been spent mainly visiting with my cousins and my aunt, but I have also been helping out around my father’s old neighborhood. Whenever my father was here, he would help his family and neighbors with yard work or cleaning up at the little church or cemetery in town. Now that he is gone, I...
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Judge Tricia B. Zimmer has found in favor of the Meinders Community Library Board and city of Pipestone in a civil case between those entities and Pipestone Area Schools (PAS). PAS filed a complaint against the city of Pipestone and the Meinders Community Library Board in the spring regarding a dispute over who employs library staff and how many people are on the library board. The entities filed motions for summary judgment on Sept. 2. In an order granting motions for summary judgment filed Nov. 30, Judge Zimmer granted the city of Pipestone’s motion and the library board’s motion for...
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The city of Pipestone is considering using a ,000 grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) to purchase benches to be placed around the city to make it more senior citizen friendly. The idea came out of a survey conducted by the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MNRAAA) earlier this year about the community’s needs and assets as they relate to senior citizens. The survey asked about outdoor spaces and public buildings, safe and affordable transportation, affordable and accessible housing options, basic services, community support and health services, social participation, respect and social inclusion, communication and access to information,...
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The Pipestone Development Company (PDC) plans to create two apartments in the former Stoeber Marine building at 111 Third Ave. SW in Pipestone. Pipestone City Council members during their Nov. 15 meeting approved an application from the PDC to use the city’s historic property improvement program to remodel the property. The program pays for 35 percent of improvements up to ,000 with a grant and provides a loan of 35 percent of the cost up to ,000. The project is expected to cost ,000, so the PDC will receive a grant of ,000, a loan of ,000 and will contribute...
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The Al Opland Singers will be performing their annual Christmas show titled “Sing Joy! Sing Christmas!” Dec. 2-5, with show times starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are for adults and for students, and can be purchased at the Pipestone County Museum, online, at the ticket counter or at the Performing Arts Center on any performance night. The show, which is produced by Bronwyn Jones and Jessica Potts, is around an hour and a half long and will feature around 22 songs, many of which are well known like “White...
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We all have much for which to give thanks this and every day. In honor of Thanksgiving, we asked a number of Pipestone residents to share what they are thankful for. From the staff of Pipestone County Star, we extend our thanks to all of you. "I'm thankful for family, for God and to be able to work." - Lori Bullerman, Pipestone "I am thankful and blessed to be married to my wife of 52 years who has always been very positive and there for me. I am also thankful to have four wonderful children who...
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Children tend to dream big. And as young people growing into adulthood, those dreams, for many, evolve with perspective developed through life experience. However, for a select few, those youthful, grandiose aspirations come to fruition – and then some. “It was my hope and dream to play football at a Division I level,” said Russell-Tyler-Ruthton graduate Kyle Minett, following South Dakota State University’s 2009 football game against the University of Minnesota at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. “I was recruited quite a bit by the University of Minnesota, but was never officially made an offer. Going to South Dakota State...
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Although the 2020 high school gymnastics season was a constant struggle for the Pipestone Area Arrows, battling numerous injuries while competing within a stuttering and truncated schedule, the campaign ended with quite a bang. “Having Kindra (Douty) make the state meet … absolutely, that broke the threshold of, ‘hey, we can do that, we can compete at that level,’” said Pipestone Area head coach Stacie Wallace. “We had a good chunk of kids go up and watch and support her at the state meet, any way they could, and I think it was a great shot in the arm –...
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Plans for a new building to house the Pipestone Senior Center and Pipestone County Area Food Shelf that first emerged last summer are moving ahead. About 20 seniors attended the Nov. 15 Pipestone City Council meeting to show their support for the project as members of the Pipestone Senior Center Board of Directors and others provided an update on the plans and requested support from the city. The building would be located at the corner of Second Street NW and Second Avenue NW in Pipestone, where the Pepsi building used to be, on land owned by the Senior Center. It...
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I congratulate the Star and the citizens of Pipestone on the fine article about the 40th anniversary of the Ewert Center. It was a long time ago but I was the mayor of Pipestone and remember the event around the advancement of the Ewert Center very well. I count it as one of Pipestone’s great achievements and am proud to have had a part in this long lasting project. I suppose it is natural that history no matter how much detail we put into it at times records some details in error. This is true on the Ewert Center story....
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Starting at 9 a.m. on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 27, people can pick up a Shop Pipestone Savings Passport of Deals downtown at The 109, next to Pipestone Floral. There will be complimentary coffee and donuts during the holiday vendor fair being held at two locations: The 109 and around the corner at the American Legion Hall. The Passport provides deals and sales around town. Additionally, participants can collect a stamp from each participating local business throughout the day at a variety of locations all around town for a chance to win grand prizes. Adults will be entered to win...
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As this issue of the Pipestone County Star will be dated Nov. 25, which is Thanksgiving, I thought it was worth taking the time to express a little gratitude and explore the benefits of being thankful. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” God wants us to give thanks and it seems to me that it’s always beneficial to live according to God’s will. Scientific studies show that giving thanks is linked to a variety of benefits. According to Harvard Health Publishing,...
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Minnesota West Community and Technical College carpentry students are expected to complete work on the house at 411 West Main Street in Pipestone by next spring. In the meantime, work will be done to prepare the next house for the students to renovate at 622 Third Ave. SW in Pipestone. Jim Stout, Pipestone Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Pipestone City Council member, said during the Nov. 8 EDA meeting that framing work inside the 411 West Main Street house and construction of a garage was complete, shingling was nearly done, and siding work was about to begin. He said plumbing...
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When a person finds a job they love, they stick with it. At least that’s what Carol Scotting did. Scotting is the administrative office assistant at the University of Minnesota Extension Office in Pipestone. She started the job over 38 years ago on June 27, 1983. She will retire from the position on Nov. 30. Scotting said she decided to retire because she’s 71 and she wants to be able to travel, camp and partake of other activities while she and her husband of 53 years, George, are still able. She had planned to retire last year, but delayed her...
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Jasper City Council members during their Nov. 9 meeting approved resolutions assessing a total of ,795.58 for delinquent sewer, water and garbage, mowing, and snow removal charges to the property taxes of the owners of 19 properties. The assessments range from .50 to 1.40. One property on the assessment list was in Rock County and the rest were in Pipestone County. City Clerk/Treasurer Cortney Kounkel said the list of properties to be assessed and the total amount assessed would be smaller than what was approved in the resolutions by the time the resolutions are sent to the Pipestone and Rock...
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Pipestone County Commissioners are considering revising the Pipestone County Home Initiative policy based on a request for tax abatements from the Pipestone Development Company (PDC). The PDC requested tax abatement for two currently vacant properties at 505 Ninth Ave. SW and 818 Fifth St. SW in the city of Pipestone. The PDC plans to move an existing home from the Flandreau area to the 505 Ninth Ave. SW property and a home from rural Pipestone County to the 818 Fifth St. SW property. Pipestone County Commissioners held a public hearing during their Nov. 9 meeting to take comments on the...
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With harvest in the rear-view mirror for most of Pipestone County and throughout the state, estimations on crop production have become available through sources like the USDA. Corn production throughout the state for the 2021 harvest has been forecasted at 1.45 billion bushels, according to the latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service- Crop Production reporter. These numbers were based off conditions as of Nov. 1, and yields are expected to average around 186.0 bushels per acre of corn. According to the Nov. 9 report, bushels are up 8.0 per acre from the first estimate on Oct. 1, but in total,...
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As thrilling as winning is, losing can prove equally stirring. Although Pipestone Area players’ heads were hung low in despair, immediately following their 39-20 Class AA state football quarterfinal loss to the Section 2AA champion Maple River Eagles Friday night at McNamara Stadium’s Todd Field in Hastings, they were soon lifted in the knowledge the Arrows (11-1) had competed well in concluding a fantastic season without any what-ifs. “They (Eagles) played really well, physical, and fast and they’re a great team,” said senior captain Cole Paulson of the opposition. “I’m proud of our guys! We fought until the very last...
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The last three book club books I’ve read are not ones I would normally read. And I’m not alone. We often hear from our members, “Had it not been for book club, I never would have read this.” Statements like these are almost always followed up with, “But I’m glad I did.” And that is the power of reading books that others recommend. It stretches us beyond our comfort zones and introduces us to new perspectives and new information. We don’t have to like a book or even agree with the material in a book to appreciate the experience or...
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Monday, Nov. 15 marked the 40th anniversary of the Ewert Recreation Center where it sits today. In honor of the occasion, the center will be hosted an open house on Tuesday and Wednesday, with coffee, juice and information tables, and a chance to register for prizes throughout the week. A drawing for prizes will occur on Friday. “People can register throughout the week for different prizes,” said Karen Boehm, recreation assistant, who has worked at the Ewert Center since the beginning. “We will do a drawing on Friday.” The Ewert Recreation Center as it exists today opened Sunday, Nov. 15....
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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is taking public comments about the city of Trosky’s planned wastewater treatment facility. The MPCA Commissioner has made a preliminary determination to issue a permit for the facility for a term of approximately five years. According to the MPCA, the facility is proposed to be built in the southwest quarter of Section 15 of Elmer Township. It will consist of a two-cell stabilization pond system. The primary pond is proposed to be .82 acres and the secondary pond is proposed to be .78 acres, each measured at the four-foot mean operating depth. The pond...
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