McCoy’s Togo ordeal is top 2022 news story
There were plenty of compelling stories pertaining to former and current Minneota area residents, or events that happened in and around this area in 2022. We compiled all the stories and made a list of those we felt made our list of Top Ten News Stories of the Year.
(1) Trapped in Togo
No story was bigger than when Minneota native Casey McCoy was held against his will in Togo after being falsely accused of allegedly misleading authorities about whether or not he passed a COVID test before boarding his flight back home. McCoy, a 2007 Minneota graduate who lives in Dell Rapids, SD, was quarantined in an unsanitary former hotel in Togo, West Africa from Dec. 23 until Jan. 19. He and his girlfriend, Lacie Packard, had flown to Togo to attend the wedding of a friend. After the wedding, his life took a 360-degree turn. He had allegedly tested positive for COVID and was relegated to a small unsanitary room with mold and bugs as he awaited his release. Officials kept making one excuse/lie after another on why they continue to keep him quarantined. The U.S. Embassy eventually intervened, and after being arrested as Togo officials claimed he had falsified his COVID test, and having to pay a large fine, McCoy was finally released. During his time being held in Togo, McCoy missed his daughter’s birthday, he and Lacie’s anniversary (she flew back home alone at McCoy’s request), Christmas and New Year’s.
(2) New era at school
Minneota Public School faced several changes after superintendent Dan Deitte and high school principal Jeremy Frie both accepted jobs at another school, Cari Pohlen resigned as Activities Director, and Chad Johnston resigned as girls' basketball coach. Following an interview process, Scott Monson accepted the school's offer to become the next superintendent. He had previously been a superintendent of school in Marshall for six years, and was principal in Benson for four years and Fulda for one year. Heather Anderson, a native of a Minneota and a teacher here for several years before becoming elementary principal in Ivanhoe, returned to her roots to become the new high school principal. Patty Myrvik, a longtime athletic trainer at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, was hired as Activities Director.
(3) Bin there, done that
Rick Bot was loading out beans at his brother's farm 10 miles northeast of Minneota on the afternoon of Feb. 15 and had climbed down inside a 24-foot grain bin to break apart frozen clumps of beans so they could go through the auger. Using a long-handled spade to break apart the beans. After a large clump was broken apart, the auger drew in the beans faster than Bot had anticipated and he was quickly drawn to the bottom of the bin and was soon waist deep in beans and unable to free himself to climb back up the ladder. He was able to call his brother, Ben, who was outside the bin. Ben shut off the auger and called 911. Fire department and EMT personnel from Cottonwood arrived and lowered bin-rescue panels designed for these types of accidents in which they surround the trapped person so the outside beans can't converge on them. A pail was then lowered down for Bo, who filled the bucket several times with beans and handed it up to an assembly line of people on the ladder to empty outside the bin. Eventually, Bot was able to climb up the ladder, cold but unhurt.
(4) Ludwikowski soars
Kaitlyn Ludwikowski officially became the first female from southwest Minnesota to ever achieve the rank of Eagle Scout during her Court of Honor on Nov. 19 at St. Edward's School gymnasium. Ludwikowski also is just the third female to become an Eagle Scout in the Sioux Council that covers parts of South Dakota and Iowa, as well as southwestern Minnesota. She was presented her Eagle Scout badge by her Scoutmaster, Kori Guza, and her kerchief by Assistant Scoutmaster Myk Greenfield. Ludwikowski is the daughter of Michael and Colleen Ludwikowski. Her older brother, Nathaniel, became an Eagle Scout in 2019. Her uncles, David and Dan Finnegan, are also Eagle Scouts.
(5) Four voted to board
A total of nine candidates were vying for four positions on the Minneota School Board when voters took to the polls on Nov. 8. Incumbents Abby Thostenson and Tom Skorczewski retained their seats, while Martin Hennen and Jon Buysse were also voted in. The four elected to the school board join current school board members Terri Myhre, Carmen Panka and Ryan Runia. Thostenson, the current school board president, was the top voter-getter. In other local elections, incumbent mayor John Rolbiecki, running unopposed, was re-elected, as were city council members Nancy Reisdorfer and Tim Koppien, also running unopposed. Chris Swedzinski of Ghent was re-elected to another term to the House of Representatives in District 15A over Keith VanOverbeke. Gary Dahms was re-elected in the general election in the District 15 Senate race over Anita Gaul.
(6) Hope turns 150
The congregation of Hope Lutheran Church of Minneota celebrated its 150th anniversary on June 11. Former pastors Gerald Staehling, Jack Thorstensen, Timothy Larson and Thomas Kolden joined current pastor Allen Campbell in the celebration on Saturday. Dennis Orden, who was ordained at Hope Lutheran and went on to become a longtime pastor in several states, was also in attendance. Over 200 people attended the two-day anniversary celebration that included carnival-type games and a tractor pull for the kids. There was also a cemetery walk-thru, a picnic lunch, root beer floats, ice cream treats, Praise Band, children's choir, memorial lanterns, a Fire Pit Fellowship, and a church service and dinner.
(7) Moorse excels at fair
Brooke Moorse of Minneota had an outstanding day at the Minnesota State Fair in late August. Showing Flirtini, a three-year-old LaMancha dairy goat, Moorse earned a rare "Triple Crown" win at the State Fair by winning Advanced Showmanship Champion, Grand Champion Senior LaMancha, and Best in Show - Senior Doe. Moorse, the daughter of Greg and Becky Moorse, had been showing dairy cows and heifers previously at the state fair. After a disappointing finish a year ago, she tried her hand at showing dairy goats with the help of her brother, Garrett, whom she credited with making this a state fair she will long remember.
(8) Storms hit area hard
Heavy rain and high winds wreaked havoc in the area on May 11-12. Straightline winds reached 70-80 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains caused flooding in streets and many other places. Power was knocked out in most parts of Minneota, leaving some residents without power for two days. School was called off one day due to the power outage. With the power outage, sump pumps were rendered useless which led to many basements flooded. Several large trees were felled, machine sheds and small buildings were blown apart on several farms, homes had roof damages were ripped off. The weather turned warm and sunny on the weekend, allowing residents to clean up in the aftermath.
(9) Viking statue toppled
High winds, which were frequent over the summer of 2022, caused the iconic 12-foot wooden Viking statue at K.P. Kompelien Field to topple, strewing pieces in all directions on Aug. 2. The statue, which was a chainsaw carving made from a previous large 100-yer-old cottonwood tree that once stood at the field, toppled off its wood base. Both horns from the Viking man's helmet were broken. The axe and shield held by the Vikings were broken into several pieces.
(10) Intern injured
Twin refugees Hsa Law Eh, and Hsa Khee of Burma were interns for Police Chief Bill Bolt this past summer. Friendly and helpful, the twins had became well known in Minneota. On Hsa's last day of work, he was riding his motorcycle from his home in Marshall to fill out his final timecard when his 2003 Honda was struck by a pickup truck on Highway 19. Hsa, who was wearing a helmet, flew over the truck after being struck. He credited the helmet with saving his life. After being brought to Avera Marshall Hospital, he was airlifted to Avera Sioux Falls. He suffered a compound fracture to his left forearm that broke both bones, and his left femur was broken in three places. Following surgery, he was hospitalized for over two weeks.