News

Council approves SE fire department rescue truck purchase

The Sleepy Eye City Council approved the purchase of a new fire department rescue truck at the Aug. 9 meeting. Fire Chief Ron Zinniel told the council that the current rescue truck was purchased in 1992. Zinniel said the department had a committee that developed the specs for a truck that would best fit their needs. He recommended approving the bid from Heiman Inc. for $398,328. The council approved the purchase, noting the expenditure is budgeted. Fire truck purchases are planned years in advance with money budgeted annually to add to the fund for future purchases. Zinniel said it will take 15 to 18 months for the new rescue truck to be built.

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Summerfest only a week away

Sleepy Eye’s new celebration, Summerfest, is just a week away, with activities planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 19, 20 and 21. Summerfest is organized by the Sleepy Eye Chamber of Commerce, with the support and involvement of many sponsors and organizations.

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Koozie Group combines food, fun and community service

Manufacturing Area Supervisor Jeff Heiling patiently awaits another throw while sitting in a dunk tank during the recent summer barbecue at Koozie Group’s Sleepy Eye site. In addition to providing employees with some delicious food, the event also raised $1,091 to be donated to Santa’s Closet to support local families in need during the holiday season. Employees also packed 500 backpacks for the United Way of the Brown County Area during the barbecue. The backpacks, which contained markers, pencils, water bottles, and more, will be distributed to local families for their back-toschool needs.

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St. Mary’s Class of 1972

Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s Class of 1972 held their 50 year reunion on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at the Sleepy Eye Golf Club. Pictured front from left: Rick Mages, Sleepy Eye; Claire Rausch, Honolulu, Hawaii; Bryan Hillesheim, New Ulm; Kathleen Braun, Sleepy Eye; Rosemary (Sellner) Zeig, Sleepy Eye; Bill Eckstein, Sleepy Eye and Sharon Braulick, New Ulm. Second row: Carol (Berdan) Prokosch, New Ulm; Carol Schroepfer, Saint Paul; Jacque (Cook) Novotny, Sleepy Eye; Deborah (Seidl) Breault, Springfield; Debra (Schroepfer) Kuderer, Mankato; Bev (Schroepfer) Ibberson, Sleepy Eye; Jeanne (Haala) Helget, New Ulm; Audrey (Helget) Jacobsen, Paynesville and Carla (Simon) Gruendemann, Morgan. Third row: Eileen (Kotten) Hirsch, Sleepy Eye; JoAnn (Fischer) Eischen, Comfrey; Harold Portner, New Ulm; Tom Sobocinski, Switzerland; Martin Haala, Springfield; Jerry Haala, Sleepy Eye; David Gangelhoff, South Saint Paul; Alan Dietz, Spicer; Gerald Gehrke, Glenwood; Duane Suess, Sleepy Eye; Paul Hillesheim, Sleepy Eye; Colleen (Krebs) Zeig, New Ulm; Diane (Sellner) Krzmarzick, Sleepy Eye and Karen (Sellner) Jensen, Shakopee. Fourth row: Chuck Spaeth, Sleepy Eye; Dean Ibberson, Sleepy Eye; Mike Sluss, Pillager; Robert Peichel, Cambridge; Joe Schwartz, Sleepy Eye; Bill Geschwind, Minneapolis; Jan (Steffl) Smith, Alexandria; Lonnie Wendinger, Sleepy Eye; Laurie (Conrad) Hunter, Alexandria; Mary (Neudecker) Bartley, Minneapolis; Starla (Schnurrer) Pioske, LeSueur; Lori Hansen, Corbett, Oregon; Brian Cook, Sleepy Eye and Greg Fuchs, Sleepy Eye. Submitted

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Mayor’s Message

Although the 150t.h Anniversary Celebration of Sleepy Eye is an all year event, the biggest part of that, celebration will take place the weekend of August 19, 20 and 21. That weekend is moving closer. More on the 150t,h later in the column.

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