The United Way of the Brown County Area opened their annual Community Investment Grants for proposals on March 1 with a deadline of April 30 at 4:30 p.m. Each year the United Way uses the funds donated to our giving campaign to offer grant dollars to Brown County nonprofits in the health and human service sectors.
State Representative Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) will seek re-election in the new House District 15B, which contains all or parts of Brown, Redwood, and Blue Earth counties, and the Lower Sioux Community. Torkelson has represented much of this area for the past seven terms, but a new redistricting map – required after every census to meet state population patterns – changed the boundaries.
The Brown County Historical Society invites the public to attend 'DO TELL - Notable Women of Brown County' on Tuesday evening, March 22 at the New Ulm Country Club. Dinner at 6 p.m., Program at 7 p.m. Dress up like the photo “Gossip Girls” and qualify for a door prize drawing.
Welcome to my little but ever changing world. After graduating from seminary I went to Japan to serve, doing the same things as any Japanese pastor would do. At first I had a great deal of language and cultural training—and after they let me loose, I knew just enough Japanese to be, “dangerous.” However, little by little I was able to preach, teach, council, and do my pastor stuff just fine, I just didn’t look Japanese. Because I wasn’t Japanese, we all knew that I would only be welcomed into the Japanese circle to a certain point, I would always be known as ‘that’ foreigner. I worked hard on learning the language and respecting the culture and therefore I was respected and accepted.
A new session of Spring Forest Qigong classes will be held in March. A request for a late afternoon class was received and the instructor is willing to offer classes in the Media Center at Sleepy Eye High School for five sessions. Time will be 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Participants should enter Door #1 and go up the stairs to second floor and the Media Center is at the top of the stairs. In case someone would need an elevator, enter door #2 to access it. The first session on March 15 will focus on the liver. Other classes will be on March 17 with a focus on the heart; March 22 focus on the stomach; March 24 focus on the lungs and the final session on March 19 focusing on the kidneys. Registration is open but walk-ins are accepted.
In his column this week (see page 2) Mayor Wayne Pelzel is full of news about plans for this year's celebration of the City of Sleepy Eye's 150th Anniversary. On Sept. 18, 1872, the early streets of Sleepy Eye were platted by Walter Brackenridge and Thomas Allison and early the next morning the two men went to the Brown County Courthouse in New Ulm to register the plat and our little town was officially created.
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.
It was about time — the snow was almost melted away but thankfully Mother Nature brought us a snow day on Tuesday. Looks like it was a good day to not drive out into the country.
The announcement last week of 1st District Congressman Jim Hagedorn’s death was a surprise despite his battle with kidney cancer. Hagedorn’s office had just recently sent out a press release announcing his plan to run for re-election. Government figures from both sides of the aisle expressed their sympathy to Hagedorn’s wife, Jennifer Carnahan, and loved ones on hearing the news.
Sleepy Eye Community Theatre is excited to return this July, producing Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “West Side Story.” A large cast of singing, dancing, and non-singing roles is needed, with roles for high school-aged students through adults. Those interested in auditioning for a singing role should prepare to perform 30 to 60 seconds of a musical song.