From the archives of the dodge county independent

10 years ago
April 10, 2013
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Teams compete to be in national rocketry competition
This year the Kasson-Mantorville Rocket Club had two teams competing to be the K-M representative in the National Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) competition. According to rocket club advisor Jeff Kujath, software was used to design a rocket that met this year’s requirements (altitude 750 feet, one egg carried on board and flight time of 48 seconds). Rockets were then built and test flown. In the test flight phase one team’s (five seniors) rocket was obviously not designed to come close to these specifications. The team withdrew from the challenge at that point. The second team was actually one person in sophomore Thomas Klinkhammer. He continued and on March 18 had his first of two official TARC launches (a judge is present and the score counts no matter what happens). Thomas’ flight was almost perfect, but the egg cracked and that is an automatic disqualification. His second flight was March 22. Thomas made some modifications to protect the egg which disrupted the rocket flight characteristics and the flight was not as impressive. To advance a score of 16 or lower is required. A flight of 750 feet and 48 seconds would be a perfect score of zero. Thomas score was 12 and would have advanced if the egg had not cracked. “This is an impressive accomplishment in rocket design,” said advisor Jeff Kujath. “He aced what for most is the hardest part and that is the design.” He added that it could have been a fluke the egg cracked or the wind that caused a harder than desired landing.
 
20 years ago
April 9, 2003
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Fire destroys city of Kasson storage shed
A Sunday evening fire destroyed a city of Kasson storage shed at the site of the wastewater treatment plant. Several pieces of city equipment, including a new pickup truck, were destroyed in the blaze that was reported around 10:20 p.m. Sunday, April 6. The city did recently finish a complete new rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant. The metal storage shed was not a part of the rebuild and is located approximately 100 yards from the treatment plant itself. According to Superintendent of Utilities Burt Fjerstad, the shed was full of city equipment. Among the items destroyed were a pair of pickup trucks, one a 2000 model and the other a 2003 with a plow mounted on the front. The city picked up the truck a little over a week ago and it had less than 250 miles. There was a jetter destroyed, used to clean out sewer systems, a pair of push mowers, two riding lawn mowers and 100 new meters. Fjerstad said the shed was full of other equipment also destroyed by the fire and that they would have to access the losses once the state fire marshall made a determination on the cause of the blaze. Fire Marshall Steve Wulf, a former Kasson volunteer fireman, was expected to be at the scene Monday.
 
30 years ago
April 7, 1993
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
New business stems from husbands dislike of wallpaper
Where there is a will, there is a way; and short of divorcing her husband Pamela Riemer knew there was a way to add a uniqueness to their home and still keep them happy. She touched on the idea of adding a bit of color and design to her walls via stenciling — thus Pamela’s business “Hearthstone Stencils” custom stenciling evolved. Stenciling is a method of decorating by applying color through shapes cut out of an impervious material. The process itself was thought to have first been used by the Chinese before 3000 BC and had remained in use until World War II. Today, as paints and new applications are being improved stenciling is enjoying a return to popularity. In addition to stenciling homes for others Pam shares her ideas and skills with students in her Community Education stenciling classes. Holding a national teaching certificate of completion for the Adele Bishop stenciling method, Pamela said she wants to work toward a master teacher certification. “It’s not something I have to do to teach stenciling,” said Pam, “It’s just something I would like to do.” Hearthstone Stencils took part in a builder show the first part of April where Pam received the award of “Best Single Booth.” “Things went really well,” said Pam. “A lot of people never realized that stenciling could involve more than a simple border around a ceiling.”
50 years ago
April 11, 1973
Folmer Carlsen, Publisher
S. Stucky Attends Miss Minnesota Pageant Session
“Miss Kasson-Mantorville”, Sara Jayne Stucky, got her first glimpse of what it takes to become, and what it’s like to be, “Miss Minnesota” April 7 in St. Paul. Sara joined most of the other contestants who’ll compete for the crown in Austin this June at a “Girl Talk” session conducted by the “Miss Minnesota” pageant committee at the St. Paul Hotel. The “Girl Talk” was held in conjunction with a judges clinic and the second annual “Miss Minnesota Scholarship Ball”. The “Girl Talk” session gave the girls their first opportunity to meet the other contestants and to get acquainted with the pageant. Dale Kaderabek, the executive director of the “Miss Minnesota” pageant, joined Linda Hagen, the reigning “Miss Minnesota:, in greeting the contestants. Miss Hagen told the girls just what they should expect during what she called “the busiest and most exciting week of their lives”. Each girl received a schedule for pageant week, June 12-17, in addition to pageant questionnaires, publicity forms, ticket and other information. Joel Nelson, producer of the pageant, outlined the basic production, which will use the theme “Making America Beautiful, Our Way!” this year. The contestants also received lyrics for production numbers they’ll all appear in plus clothing and cosmetic hints. The gala day was capped with the “Scholarship Ball” in the grand ballroom of the St. Paul Hotel. St. Paul Mayor Larry Cohen joined “Miss Minnesota” at the head of the reception line. Others who greeted the contestants and other guests included Renee Sunderman, the current “Miss Iowa”, royalty from the St. Paul Winter Carnival and Minneapolis Aquatennial and several former wearers of the “Miss Minnesota” crown. Proceeds from the Scholarship Ball combine with other funds to make the “Miss Minnesota” pageant the largest scholarship program for Minnesota’s young women.