Outside Looking In
This will be a much different looking year at Minneota with numerous big changes within the administration and athletic department.
We noted these changes in recent issues as they occurred, but it's worth noting just how changes there will be after several years with the same people implanted.
First, former Marshall and Morris superintendent Scott Monson takes over that position here for Dan Deitte, who accepted a superintendent position with the Hutchinson school district. Heather Anderson, a popular teacher here before being named the Lincoln Elementary Principal in Ivanhoe a few years ago, returns as the high school principal.
Patty Myrvik, who I was fortunate enough to watch blossom into an stellar fastpitch softball pitcher for Willmar High School as Patty Erickson, has taken over for Cari Pohlen as the activities director.
Chad Johnston, one of the state's winningest girls' basketball coaches, will coach the Minneota boys' basketball team this winter. Al Panka, who was the Minneota 'B' squad coach, moves up to assume the head coaching position.
That's a lot of changes in one year for a small school. But they all seem like positive changes that will keep the school moving forward.
Statue update
The 12-foot Viking statue that was knocked down by the third in a Trilogy of Severe Summer Storms, is on the road to recovery.
Jordan Dahl, a chainsaw artist from Dawson who made the statue, has seen numerous photos of the busted-up Viking and feels confident he can restore it to its original shape.
Dahl lives in Deadwood, SD now but will return to Dawson to work on the statue.
Jeff Buysse, who was instrumental in getting the iconic statue put up at K.P. Kompelien Field, hauled the broken statue to Dawson recently where Dahl will work on it at his family's residence.
"I can get it fixed," Dahl said. "There are some ways to add some new pieces to it."
When Dahl was told that the statue means a lot to the community and current and former players, he admitted that made him feel good.
The statue won't be ready for the football opener, but Dahl is hoping to get it repaired as soon as he has time.
Ask the Chief
Minneota Police Chief Bill Bolt is very good at answering any questions community members may have about the law and he is more than willing to explain them in his Ask the Chief column each week.
Anyone with a question about the law on a certain subject, please submit the question to me via email at scott@thomabooks.com or drop it off at the Mascot office or our box outside the door. You can ask the question anonymously.
We will begin to question and answer period in the Mascot soon. Some of the questions I have collected so far are: "What is the law about noise at night in Minneota?", "Can people walk their dog on the trails without a leash?", "What is the law about shooting a BB gun in town?".
We all have a lot of questions about right and wrong. Let me hear from some of you.
One more
Although it becomes a lot of footwork, I've always enjoyed covering the annual community events in the area.
But the events are winding down now, meaning summer is also winding down and in a blink of an eye, it's time for the kids to go back to school and fall sports to begin.
Minneota started school on Monday, Aug. 22 and the first sporting event of the fall is the Canby/Minneota boys cross country team participating in the Lakeview Invitational on Monday, Aug. 29 in Cottonwood. The Minneota football opener is Thursday, Sept. 1 in Adrian, and the volleyball opener is Tuesday, Sept. 6 in Minneota against Wabasso.
Boxelder Bug Days is the only local town event left in this area after Belgian-American Days in Ghent, Polska Kielbasa Days in Ivanhoe, the Lyon County Fair in Marshall, and now the Porter Harvest Festival are tucked away for 2022.
Bug Days will be held Sept. 9-11 this year in Minneota.