The Kingsland Public Schools regular school board meeting was called to order on Thursday, February 19 at 6 p.m. by Chairwoman Jackie Horsman. Board members present included Gwen Howard, Pamela Freet, Maranda Emig, and Kyle Rader. Board member Natasha Howard was absent. Staff present included James Hecimovich, superintendent/7-12 principal; Scott Klavetter, PK-6 principal; and … [Read more...]
Loren Schmidt
February 14, 2021, we lost a great husband, dad, grandpa, brother, and dear friend. He passed away unexpectedly doing what he loved – his morning chores of feeding heifers on the farm. Loren William Schmidt, born January 13, 1942, to Louis and Iona (Affeldt) Schmidt in Wykoff, Minn. He grew up on the Schmidt family farm northwest of Fillmore. He went to country school through … [Read more...]
Eugene Francis Simon
Eugene Francis Simon was relieved of his earthly post on February 12, 2021. Born on May 20, 1928, to Hugh and Ellen (Rafoth) Simon and known by “Bull” to his family and friends, he was raised with nine siblings in a loving and spirited family. He was a teen when his elder brother Anton, was killed in action in WWII, which heavily impacted his life. He joined the Navy in 1948 … [Read more...]
Daily bus to and from Rochester, via Spring Valley, to resume
The Spring Valley City Council held a public hearing and regular council meeting on February 8. Members present included Luan Ruesink, Chris Danielson, Greg Brooks, and Mayor Tony Archer. John Dols was absent. Also attending was City Clerk/Administrator Deb Zimmer. Immediately prior to the regular council meeting, a public hearing was held regarding the proposed Tax … [Read more...]
Kingsland reviews 2021/2022 academic calendar draft
Kingsland School Board held a “work session” on February 1. All members were present. The board reviewed, but did not yet act upon, a draft of Kingsland’s academic calendar for the next school year. Superintendent Hecimovich pointed out that, by slightly shortening the spring break and winter break, the calendar draft has a first student day of September 7, and a final … [Read more...]
Orville Carlton Otterness
Orville Carlton Otterness, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died peacefully Wednesday, January 27, 2021. To a fortunate few he was called Dad, to most he was Orv, grandchildren called him Grandpa. As greats came along he became great-grandpa, Gip, or Doc (a boyhood nickname). Orv was born November 11, 1932, in Spring Valley and was raised in … [Read more...]
Orlan E. Shaw
Orlan E. Shaw, 80, of rural Spring Valley, Minn., passed away Saturday, January 30, 2021, at his home. He was born in Franklin County, Iowa, to Joseph and Sadie (Hefte) Shaw on May 11, 1940. Orlan married his bride of 62 years, Carol (Augustus) Shaw on February 21, 1958, in Belmond, Iowa. The couple lived on various farms in Iowa and Minnesota, before settling in rural Spring … [Read more...]
Gareld Stockdale
Gareld G. Stockdale, age 77, of Spring Valley, Minn., died at his home on Thursday, January 28, 2021. Gareld Gene Stockdale was born on December 27, 1943, to Clarence and Grace (Lubbers) Stockdale. He was united in marriage to Verna Casey in Fillmore County on June 1, 1963. They lived their entire marriage within 30 miles of Spring Valley. They moved to Spring Valley in … [Read more...]
Judith Elizabeth Kuehn
Judy Elizabeth (Kraft) Kuehn, of Rochester, Minn., who courageously battled cancer for two years, died Monday, January 25, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Campus in Rochester. Judy was born in Oakland, Calif., on September 17, 1944, to Lawrence (deceased) and Verna (Nelson) Kraft. Judy graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1962, and married her high school sweetheart … [Read more...]
2020 Business Person of the Year Jones receives award of excellence from Journal readers
The year 2020 became one that tested everyone in ways never imagined. For business leaders, they contended with circumstances they had never encountered before. There were issues with supply chain, facility capacity limitations, shutdowns, social distancing, mask mandates, COVID exposure protocol, staffing, sanitization, health, and safety – to name a few. Over the past few … [Read more...]