From the archives of the dodge county independent
DCI History
September 1, 2022
10 years ago
September 5, 2012
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Ron Hanson, a 1967 K-M graduate and former rural Byron resident, does not care for all the attention he has received the last few weeks. Then again, a good friend who helped with his project said, “What do you expect when you build a 56’, 60,000 pound boat from scratch. People are going to be curious.” Some 10 years ago Ronnie Hanson decided to build a boat. Not just any boat, but one that he and his wife Terry could live on during retirement. “I like to build things and I like to fish,” said Ronnie. “My goal when this project is finished is to be homeless,” he said. As of last weekend the Hanson’s were homeless. The boat was trailered to a marina near Red Wing (Hager City) where he will continue to add some finishing touches. It’s estimated that 99% of the boat has been built from scratch. Ronnie and friends made tools by hand and molded some 25 tons of steel from McNeilus Steel of Dodge Center into a dream boat. The hull is one-fourth inch steel below the water line and three-sixteenths above it. He machined all of the parts for both the 3406 Catepillar and John Deere 276 turbo that powers the boat. “When I needed something I made it,” said Hanson. “Made my own bolts and gears, you name it.” A naval architect, John Simpson from British Columbia, came up with the design. “We followed plans to the letter and by golly it floats,” grinned Hanson. Wiring, welding, piping and hydraulics were all machined at the work site. A skylight over the dining/living room area was even machined. The draft on the boat is 4.5 feet, it’s 56’ long and 15’8” wide. I holds 2,000 gallons of fuel, has a full galley, living quarters, two bedrooms, head (bathroom) and washer and dryer. The boat is named after the Hanson’s only child, Nickie Layne. Ronnie is a retired machinist and when his wife retires as a nurse at Olmsted Medical Center they plan to hit the water. Kirby Bakken, one of the volunteers who helped with the boat construction, purchased the Hanson’s home so the couple can now say the boat is their “house”. Ronnie intends to go south on the Mississippi as far as the water takes him. In other words, they have no sure fire plans. “I’m a bull-headed Swede. No telling what we are going to do”, added Ron.
After a 10 year absence at K-M, boys and girls cross country is back. Last Tuesday K-M participated in their first meet, the Austin Invitational. Senior Derek Wiebke was in top form, placing second overall with a time of 17:19.38. Owatonna won the meet with 30 points and were followed by Albert Lea at 74, Austin 92, John Marshall 94, Lourdes 121 and K-M 123. The Eagles Ian Torchia was the medalist with a time of 16:59.30. The other K-M times were Mark Ostroot 10:10.95, Brennan Gustafson 20:46.00, Riley Krebs 20:51.23 and Corbin Slaymaker 21:03.12. On the girls’ side Albert Lea won the meet with a score of 54, John Marshall was second at 57, followed by Lourdes with 79, Owatonna 84, Austin 95 and K-M 136. Aubrey Postier was the top K-M finisher in a time of 17:25.30. Others were Samantha Mathias 17:41.83, Nicole Theobald 17:43.58, Maddison Damon 17:51.47 and Savannah Kundert 18:04.03. It should be noted the girls run a 4K and the boys a 5K. Place finishes beyond the top 10 were given.
20 years ago
September 4, 2002
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
Laura Haskin of Mantorville is one who enjoys going about doing her volunteer duties quietly. Maybe an occasional “thank you” is nice but she never expects a whole lot of hoopla for what she has done over the years to promote Mantorville. For the 37th Annual Marigold Days this weekend, Laura will be getting a little more publicity for her volunteer work and continuing efforts to promote historic Mantorville. Laura has been selected by the Mantorville Restoration Association as the grand marshal for this year’s parade. Laura Haskin has raised eight children on her own and now has 16 grandchildren to help keep her busy. She has born south of Oslo in Mower County and attended Austin schools. After receiving A.A. and B.A degrees from Winona State in Elementary Education, she taught in rural schools 10 years. She then taught elementary ed in Hayfield 25 years before retiring 11 years ago. Laura has lived in Mantorville 39 years. When the kids were at home she was active in their activities, including 4-H and Cub Scouts. When the kids grew up and moved out she had more time to do volunteer work, which included getting involved in the Mantorville Restoration Association and helping to promote Mantorville. Kathryn Wilcox was able to get her involved and she has been active ever since. She has been most visible as the hostess at the Restoration House where she has done a great deal of promoting for Mantorville. “People would come by looking for information and others just wanted to talk. They might have had a loved one who was sick and at the Mayo Clinic and they were taking a break. “They just needed someone to talk to,” said Laura. Touring the Restoration House was not a criteria for conversation as far as Laura was concerned. “I liked history, enjoyed talking to people and loved promoting Mantorville,” said Laura. “I believe in Mantorville,” she smiled. Laura has also been active in St. John’s Lutheran Church, is on the board for the county women’s extension group and is on the MRA board. She recently became a member of the Friends of the Library in Kasson. Retirement has allowed Laura Haskin to do more, more for the community, that is. Mantorville has been a great place for her to raise a family so promoting the historic community is very easy for her. Laura said she is a lot like her mother. She likes going about doing things in a quiet way. This weekend will be a little different, though, because Laura Haskin is the one in the spotlight.
Michael Brigham, son of Arlin and Marsha Brigham, Kasson, recently received the Development Foundation Honor Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 and the Freshman Academic Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Brigham will enter North Dakota State University this fall as a freshman and is planning to major in general engineering. In high school, he was a recipient of the High Honors Academic Award Letter for the past four years, an Exchange Club Student of the Month and listed in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” for the past two years.
30 years ago
September 2, 1992
Randy Carlsen, Publisher
The city of Mantorville is promoting a “Save Our River” campaign to help make improvements on the north channel of the Zumbro River near the Covered Bridge. Total cost of the project is estimated at nearly $40,000. Approximately 12,000 cubic yards must be excavated from the river and moved elsewhere to put more water under the covered bridge again. Most of the silt will be moved to the old dry lake bed south and east of the Highway 57 bridge. Once the funds are raised the water above he river would be drained and the flow slowed to a trickle. It would take another four to six weeks for the area to dry up enough to bring in earth moving equipment. The area has been dredged before. Silt buildup has been a problem, reducing the channel area to a low level pond where fish have a difficult time surviving. This time around the area would be dredged and cleared of silt in such a way that buildup would be less dramatic. A “Save Our River” committee has been formed. Buttons with a picture of the covered bridge have been made and will be sold for $3. Mary Post of Mantorville was the designer of the button. Buttons can be purchased at most Mantorville businesses. Contributions can also be sent to Ann Wilke, City of Mantorville Treasurer, Box 188, Mantorville, MN 55955. Buttons will also be on sale at several booths during Marigold Days the weekend of September 12-13.
Dr. Angela Erickson of rural Dodge Center has joined the veterinary staff at the Carriage House Animal Hospital in Kasson. She is the daughter of Larry and Karen Erickson of Dodge Center. Dr. Erickson is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with the distinction of graduating as valedictorian of her class of 61 students. The rural Dodge Center resident completed her first year of college classes while still a senior at Dodge Center High School. For that reason, she was able to complete the veterinary program in six years. Her special interest is in small animal and equine but Angela indicated she is also anxious to work in the other areas of veterinary medicine at the Carriage House. Dr. Erickson joined the staff at the Carriage House August 1. She was not totally unfamiliar with the surroundings because she served her one month “externship” at the Kasson Veterinary Clinic. She joins Dr.’s Bruce Bordelon, Ross Bailey and Bill Herber as a member of the fulltime vet staff. Also going on staff at the Carriage House is Michelle Dahms, a certified veterinary technician. She is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota at Waseca two-year program.
50 years ago
September 6, 1972
Folmer Carlsen, Publisher
There are many good reasons why bicyclists should ride on the right side of the road and not on the left, according to the Minnesota Pedestrian Safety Committee. First of all, it is specified by law in Minnesota and 27 other states. The rest of the states, by defining bicycles as vehicles, put them legally on the right side of the road also. Thus the rule is universal. Second, the rider who uses the left side of the road frequently creates a situation where bicyclists are on both sides of the road, a confusing and dangerous situation for the motorist. Third, today’s bicyclist is tomorrow’s motorist, beginning his driver training while riding a bicycle. Following the rules is a basic element in good driving habits. Fourth, observing and obeying the traffic signs are a duty and responsibility of every driver. The signs are placed on the right side of the road. Fifth, riding on the left complicates the problem of making a right turn, necessitating the crossing of extra lanes of traffic and, at controlled crossings, putting the bicyclist in conflict with the red light. Finally, at night, the left-riding cyclist confronts the motorist with the confusion of a white headlight or, in many cases, no light at all. “The many bicyclists who ignore this and other rules of safe driving create a dangerous situation on our roads – dangerous for them, especially,” the committee pointed out. “Parents owe it to their children to make sure that they know and understand the laws, that as bicyclists they must observe these laws the same as motorists.”