Outside Looking In
The Minneota Fire Relief Association is conducting a raffle in continuing effort to raise funds to support the Minneota Fire Department.
Proceeds from the sale of the raffle tickets will be used to replace vital rescue equipment.
The raffle prizes are outstanding and the total value is over $10,000, including the first prize of a 2022 Polaris 450 ATV.
Tickets are available to purchase for $20 each from any member of the Minneota Fire Department or several local businesses, or can also be purchased by mail. Those purchasing a ticket must be 18 years of age or older.
Second prize is a Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill, third prize is a Weber Spirit E-210 Propane Grill, and fourth and fifth prizes are a Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit.
Sixth thru 10th prizes are cash ranging from $250 to $1,500. You need not be present to win.
Minneota Fire Department members are: Jeff Sussner (chief), Brad Minnehan (assistant chief), Matt Boettger, Ben Bossuyt, Joseph Buysse, Clark Corbin, Matt Coequyt, Mike Coequyt, Doug DeSmet, Garrett Dubbeldee, Keith Downing, Trent Hennen, Brad Laleman, Bruce Laleman, Isaac Laleman, Grant Moorse, Jason Myhre, Justin Pesch, Justin Popowski, Shane Rieder, Logan Sussner, Josh Swedzinski, Joe Thostensen, Ben Vlaminck, Keith Vlaminck and John Winters.
To purchase tickets by mail, make checks payable to: Minneota Fire Relief Association. Include $20 cash or check for each ticket you wish to purchase and mail to: Minneota Fire Relief Association, P.O. Box 356, Minneota, MN 56264.
This fundraiser is necessary for keeping life-saving and equipment up to date.
Fair time!
The 118th annual Lyon County Fair in Marshall begins Wednesday, Aug. 10 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 14. There is free parking and free admission to this fair.
Area 4-H kids always do well in the barns in at the fair.
The White Sidewalls are the fair's kickoff concert this year beginning at 7 p.m. on the free stage. They will be followed by IV Play on Thursday night, The Red Dirt Band on Friday Night, and Hicktown Mafia on Saturday night.
The midway features Merriam Carnival rides. There will also be a PCRA Rodeo and a demolition derby.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday is Disability Awareness Day, Saturday is also Senior Citizen's Day and a Salute to the Veterans.
For more information and to see a schedule of events, visit the website at www.lyoncountyfairmn.com.
Another storm
We're only halfway through summer and the Minneota area has already endured three storms with wind speeds over 70 miles per hour, including last Tueaday's that took out a few more trees and toppled the iconic Viking statue at K.P. Kompelien Field in Minneota.
Ghent was also hit hard in this last storm, with large trees toppled and branches of all sizes strewn throughout town. One tree landed on a vehicle. A portion of a roof at one of the Cenex buildings on the south side of Highway 68 was torn off and blown into Mike's Diesel, breaking windows, according to one source.
Many longtime area residents have said they've never seen as much wind as we've had the past couple of years.
Statue down
I drove over to K.P. Kompelien Field on Saturday to see the fallen 12-foot statue of the Viking warrior on the east end of the field.
Many graduates, both male and female had their photo taken next to the statue during the two years of outdoor commencement exercises due to the pandemic, so I knew it was a part of history that they wanted a photo as a keepsake.
I've never lived in Minneota, but seeing that statue lying on the ground after standing guard for the past six years was a somber moment.
Jordan Dahl, a chainsaw artist who made the statue (see story on Page 1) is going to try and repair the statue and the base it stood on.