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Syttende Mai This Weekend

susan — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:24:02 +0000

The City of Hanska celebrates Norwegian independence this weekend with their annual Syttende Mai celebration. The weekend kicks off with an all-new variety show Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 3:30 and 7 at the Hanska Communty Center. For advance tickets call (507)439-6321. Other Syttende Mai activities take place on Sunday, including a morning church service and pancake breakfast, a craft show in the city park, the Syttende Mai Parade at 12:30, and entertainment throughout the afternoon in the park, including from the Schell’s Hobo Band, the 1950′s band Starfire, and appearances by “The Goose Man.”

NU Service To Mankind Award

susan — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:35:29 +0000

The New Ulm Sertoma Club has announced the 2013 recipient of the Service to Mankind Award. Carl “Red” Wyczawski will be presented the award during a banquet in his honor on Thursday, May 16th at the New Ulm Country Club. Tickets to the banquet can be purchased at the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce office. Wyczawski moved to New Ulm in the 1950s, and was elected mayor in 1970, serving 6 terms covering 24 years. He was involved in the dedication of Schonlau Park and the building of the Glockenspiel, and also oversaw the development of many of New Ulm’s recreational facilities. Red has also served on numerous other organizations over the years, and was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame last year.

Hometown Hero For May

susan — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:58:38 +0000

KNUJ’s Hometown Hero for the Month of May is Sharon Gieseke of New Ulm. Sharon has been providing knowledge and support for brain injury survivors and their families for more than a decade. She started the Minnesota Brain Injury Force in 2010, and continues to facilitate the group without pay. Gieseke provides resources to support groups in New Ulm and Mankato as well. The Hometown Hero recognition is sponsored by KNUJ AM and FM and select Thrivent Financial For Lutherans agents. You can nominate http://www.knuj.net/announcements/hometown-heros/submit-your-hometown-hero/.

GFW Superintendent Finalist Interviews

susan — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:06:51 +0000

The 2 finalists for the position of superintendent of the GFW School District have been named, and interviews with those finalists will be taking place this (TUE) evening prior to a decision being made. Current GFW Superintendent Jeff Bertrang is leaving the district at the end of June to take over as New Ulm District 88 superintendent. A total of 17 applications were received to replace Bertrang, and the 2 finalists for the position are Litchfield High School Principal Adam Holm and Cross Lake Community Charter School Director Tami Martin. The interview with Martin is scheduled to begin at 6pm today at the district’s Gibbon Campus, and Holm’s interview starts at 7:30. The GFW School Board is expected to then make an offer on the superintendent position following the interviews.

Minnesota Teacher Of The Year

susan — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:28:53 +0000

A St. Paul science teacher has been named Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year for 2013. Megan Olivia Hall teaches grades 7-12 at the Open World Learning Community in St. Paul. She was presented with the award Sunday. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year is selected by a panel of 25 community leaders. The program is organized by Education Minnesota, the statewide teacher’s union. Sibley East Elementary Art Teacher Amanda Feterl was among the 10 finalists for the Teacher of the Year award this year.

Local Prom Season Continues

susan — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:28:39 +0000

The High School Prom season continues around the local area this weekend, with a total of 11 area school districts holding their formal Spring dances. Schools with Prom on Saturday include: Belle Plaine, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart, Central, Comfrey, New Ulm, Nicollet, Le Sueur-Henderson, Sibley East, Sleepy Eye, St. James, and Tracy. Next weekend the Butterfield School District wraps up the prom season locally, and then graduations are right around the corner!

Local State Troopers Honored

susan — Wed, 01 May 2013 14:55:51 +0000

Two local area state troopers were presented Life Saving Awards during the State Patrol’s annual awards ceremony on Monday. The awards recognize troopers who distinguished themselves by performing acts that prevented the death of another person. Trooper Dan Anderson was honored for his actions while responding to a domestic assault in rural Nicollet County where a man was stabbing a woman. Along with Nicollet County deputy Jared Thelemann, the two detained the suspect and stabilized the victim, saving her life. Trooper Chris Fredrickson received the award for locating a driver with a medical condition who was reported missing in New Ulm. It was later discovered the man had severe bleeding in his brain and likely would have died if not for Fredrickson finding him. The local state troopers were among 11 receiving the Life Saving Awards.

State FFA Hall of Fame Induction

susan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:10:15 +0000

The Minnesota State FFA Convention is underway in Minneapolis, and the annual FFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is taking place this (MON) evening. The Minnesota FFA Foundation’s Honors Reception and Annual Awards Night is taking place at the Mariucci Arena on the U-of-M Campus, and a total of 11 individuals are being inducted into the FFA Hall of Fame, including several from the local area. Our local residents being honored tonight for their contributions to supporting and furthering the goals of agricultural education and the FFA in Minnesota include: Jim Bartels of New Ulm, the late Bob Christensen of Sleepy Eye, Al Brudlie of Lewisville, and Kent Janssen of Sherburn. They will also be recognized during the Minnesota State Fair this summer. KNUJ again brings you comprehensive coverage of the state FFA Convention, including interviews with students from FFA chapters around the local area beginning at 1:15 this afternoon. Check out our State FFA Convention Page on www.knuj.net for more information and archived interviews.

New Ulm Big Tree Contest Winner

susan — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:47:47 +0000

The New Ulm Park and Rec Department announced the winner of the 5th annual Big Tree Contest on Friday as part of the city’s Arbor Day celebration. The contest asks residents to find the biggest tree of a certain species within the New Ulm city limits. This year it was an elm tree, and the winner was Joshua Grau. The winning elm tree is at 701 North Franklin, and has a circumference of more than 10-feet. Grau wins $200 to be put towards planting a tree anywhere in New Ulm.

District 88 Recognition Banquet

susan — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:14:54 +0000

The District 88 Employee Recognition Banquet was held Wednesday evening in New Ulm. The annual event recognizes a District 88 employee from each school campus. Jefferson Elementary School’s employee of the year was Guidance Counselor Katie Martens. For Washington Elementary School it was 4th-grade teacher Heidi Rewitzer, and the New Ulm High School Teacher of the Year is family and consumer science teacher Jill Curry. Others District 88 recognitions included: Outstanding Lay Educator of the Year Devin Nelson, Bus Driver of the Year to the late Ken Howk, Support Person of the Year was given to Gail Boe, and presented the New Eagle Award was 3rd-grade teacher Travis Raske. Several Jefferson Media Center volunteers were honored as well, along with all upcoming District 88 retirees, including Superintendent Harold Remme.