February 2022

Teddy Bears will add to little Ellanor’s story

A year ago, when in person pancake breakfasts were out, the Knights of Columbus came up with a new idea for their annual project to benefit a local cause. The KCs held a Teddy Bear sale to benefit Lennon Ludewig, a little boy diagnosed with cancer. The specially designed Teddy Bears were sold in Sleepy Eye and raised funds to help the Ludewig family. • The project was so well-received that the KCs decided to do it again this year. KC member Brian Braun said their organization was touched by the story of little Ellanor Siefkes, who had a bone marrow transplant, that was in the Herald-Dispatch at the end of December and reached out to her parents to offer a special Teddy Bear sale to help them with expenses. • Braun, who met recently with Ellanor’s dad, Caleb Siefkes, said Ellanor is doing better every day as she recovers from her procedure. He said if she continues to do well, she could come home as soon as Monday, Feb. 28.

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Sleepy Eye Elementary School January Students of the Month

Jaella Schauman - kindergarten PROVIDED Waylon Schauman - kindergarten PROVIDED Brinley Peterson - 1st grade PROVIDED Antonio Sanchez - 1st grade PROVIDED Logan Hinderman - 2nd grade PROVIDED Reed Arkin - 2nd grade PROVIDED Liliana Trevino - 3rd grade PROVIDED Katelyn Ludewig - 3rd grade PROVIDED Ryder Braun - 4th grade PROVIDED Gabriel Garcia - 4th grade PROVIDED Caiden Helget - 5th grade PROVIDED Oziel Lozano - 5th grade PROVIDED Breanna Lopez - 6th grade PROVIDED Caleb Oscarson - 6th grade PROVIDED .

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COLLEGE NEWS

The following students from Sleepy Eye have been named to the dean's list for academic excellence after the fall 2021 semester at South Dakota State University in Brookings. To earn dean's list distinctions students must have earned at least a 3.5 GPA — Gabriella Helget, Madison Hoffman, Lauren Hoffmann, Jacob Lux, Samantha Richert, Sydney Windschitl.

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Lendt and Mathiowetz are February Lions Club Students of the Month

Carmen Lendt is a senior at Sleepy Eye High School. She plays volleyball and softball and was on the football cheerleading team. Carmen belongs to FFA, NHS, Knowledge Bowl team and is on the school newspaper staff. She serves as senior class vice president and secretary of FFA. Carmen also teaches Sunday School at her church and worked at summer school, last summer, with 5th and 6th graders.

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River Valley speakers compete at two tournaments

River Valley speakers had two tournaments last week. On Tuesday, Feb. 15, the junior high students competed at the Tracy junior high tournament. The junior high speakers had great results and earned the fourth-place team award out of twelve teams. The duo team of Leo Hovland and Lily Pingeon, as well as, Paige Schwarzrock, humorous and Aubree Paplow, prose, all earned first place champion honors in their categories. Lily Kallevig placed second in extemporaneous reading, while Ayvah Wendt placed third in prose and Kali Nachreiner earned fifth place in humorous.

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Marie Wunsch

SLEEPY EYE - Marie Wunsch, of rural Sleepy Eye, passed away peacefully on February 16th, 2022 at the age of 60, at St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm at the Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye and will continue on Friday from 9 until 10:15 am at the church in Mankato.

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Patricia (Pat) Schieffert

NEW ULM - Patricia (Pat) Schieffert, age 79 of New Ulm passed away peacefully at her home last week. Born and raised in Leavenworth, MN, to Rose and George Windschitl, Pat considered herself lucky to grow up in the quiet, peacefulness of a small country town.

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Erna Josephine Scherer

MANKATO - Erna Josephine Scherer, age 95, of Mankato, MN formerly of Sleepy Eye died Monday, February 14, 2022 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Mankato. Erna was born in Sleepy Eye the second of four children to Joseph & Stephanie (Schlegl-Kirsch) on June 3, 1926.

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