Happenings 2000 to the Present
(Okabena's history was provided courtesy of the Okabena Centennial Edition of
The Okabena Press, Jackson County History Books, Jackson County Historical Museum and Tri-County News.)

Business Census 2000's

        2000

• The year of 2000 started out with many worries over computer breakdowns due to the change-over of the year. The majority of businesses and organizations had little if any, problems due to the Y2K bug.

• The Heron Lake Young Men’s Club made a donation to the SSC School Patrol members for the purchase of new vests, flags and poles.

• Governor Ventura visits Southwest Minnesota on Tuesday, January 11^th. The Governor made stops in Willmar, Cottonwood, Marshall, Slayton, Fulda, Windom and Fairmont. The main items Ventura discussed during the days activities were telecommunications, transportation and unicameral legislature.

• Blake Freking, Heron Lake, qualified for the 2000 Iditarod with outstanding performances in two tough races. Placing 7^th in the Knik 2000 and 5^th in the Klondike. Blake competed in the Iditarod sled dog race finishing 46^th among 81 competitors.

• Long time SSC teacher, Carol Baumbach, retires effective at the end of the school year.

• Cargill Elevator donated $5,000 for the purchase of the Jaws of Life which Heron Lake and Okabena Fire Departments are jointly purchasing.

• Nathan Pohlman and Kim Freking are named King and Queen at the 2000 SSC High School Winterfest coronation ceremony.

• Larry Liepold is elected vice president of Minnesota Pork Producers Association.

• Minnesota soybean processors sign letter of intent with South Dakota soybean processors. This agreement allows both companies to jointly explore and address the feasibility of constructing and operating a soybean processing plant to be located in Southern Minnesota.

• SSC Senior Brett Hussong is among those to compete at the state level in wrestling.

• Cindy Scheevel, Dean of Students at SSC High School, has been selected as a recipient of the "Excellence in Teaching Writing Award".

• Between the Community Club and the members of the Fire Department, some volunteer work is being done in the City of Okabena. Sidewalks are being replaced throughout the town.

• SSC seniors tour New York.

• There is a pair of osprey that has returned to Heron Lake. The two are beginning to create a nest on top of one of the lights at the football field.

• The American Legion Posts of Jackson County will be conducting a Disposal of Unserviceable Flags Ceremony on May 30^th in Okabena.

• The SSC Education Association named Barb Pohlman as "Teacher of Year" and Collette Diemer as SSC's "Friend of Education" for the 1999-2000 school year.

• Blake Freking made a visit to the SSC Elementary School to show his gear that was used during the Iditarod. Blake also brought one of his dogs, Chero, for the visit.

• SSC has been a recipient of a grant for $235,000 from the Minnesota Children, Families and Learning, the former Department of Education. Heron Lake and Okabena are among the nine communities represented in the project. The Heron Lake Library also received funds.

• 49 seniors received their diplomas during the graduation ceremony at the SSC High School.

• Memorial Day activities were celebrated in the area on May 29, honoring those who have served our country.

• St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rost Township, will dedicate their new addition and church elevator on Sunday, June 11.

• Four trumpeter swans obtained from the Minnesota Zoo were released at Duck Lake on Wednesday, June 21.

• "One of each" awards decorated the athletes of SSC-SVRLB’s teams as they carried home first, second and third places after the State Track and Field meet held in Blaine, Minnesota.

• A cornfield near the east side of Duck Lake off of Highway 60 has produced more than just crops. Archeologists Christopher Shoen and Dave Ernest, exploring a surface area and soil up to a meter deep, have found Indian artifacts there from several hundred years ago.

• The MN/DOT, due to the two lane addition of Highway 60 set to cover they aforementioned area to scope out the spot known since 1971 to contain relics.

• Traffic on State Highway 60 between Brewster and Heron Lake will be detoured beginning July 10, for approximately one month. The detour is necessary to place new culverts across the in place roadway.

• The Prairie Expo was opened to the public. The Expo, designed to promote tourism in southwest Minnesota, held a premiere for the commissioners and city councils of the nine surrounding counties.

• Minnesota Soybean Processor, (MnSP), and South Dakota Soybean Processors, (SDSP), have agreed to begin an estimated 100,000 bushel per day soybean processing plant to be located in Brewster, Minnesota.

• Rebecca Cselovszki has been chosen to replace former Supt. Steve McCormick as the new superintendent of the SSC Schools.

• Okabena 4^th of July was another successful celebration.

• Warren Sontag, Heron Lake, was chosen as Jackson County Outstanding Male Senior Citizen at the Jackson County Fair.

• St. John’s Lutheran School of Okabena, welcomes their new principal/teacher, Philip Strike and family.

• Megan Leopold and Dan Benson were chosen as Homecoming Queen and King at SSC High School coronation ceremonies.

• Lieutenant Governor Mae Schunk will be visiting SSC High School and SVRLB High School on October 25^th. The Lieutenant Governor will be having a 25-minute forum discussion with students, teachers, administrators, school board members, parents and community members.

• SSC FFA teams finished in first, second and third places in competition at the National FFA Convention. Adam Becker, Lance Daberkow and Ryan Pohlman received 1^st place in Agricultural Mechanics.

• For the third time in the past four years, SSC’s remarkable girls’ cross country runner Jessica Zellar has earned advancement to the state meet by placing fifth in the Section 3-A meet. Jessica placed 55^th among a huge field of 146 runners at the State Cross Country Meet.

• Jim Schnieder, Don Rogers, Ray Baumgard, Jolene Rients and Harold Hotzler are currently members of the Alba Township Board. Combined, the members have served the township for 138 years.

• Okabena Mayor Connie DeWall and Heron Lake Mayor John Hay signed the proclamation announcing American Education Week.

• Dale and Sue Aden of Okabena have been named Outstanding Conservationists by the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District.

• The 7^th annual food drive at the SSC School came to a close with a record number of items collected. The head shaving event was changed to a class challenge, which was won by the junior class. They will be going on a trip sponsored by the Student Council. The 7 year total for SSC Food Drive is 51,397 items.
  
  2001

• The new millennium begins!!! Stamp prices will be raised to 34 cents. Last year’s price was 33 cents. Social Security benefits increase 3.5% and the Jackson County addressing system will switch to the 911 system. The population of the United States in the year 2000 was 281,421,906, which is an increase of 13.2% since 1990 when the population was at 248,709,873.

• SSC Students are learning to make furniture out of metal. The artist in residence that is teaching the course is Marcia McEachron.

• Governor Ventura spoke at Prairie Expo. The 2002-03 budget contains "tax reform and relief, carefully targeted spending in initiatives designed to better address the demands of a changing economy.

• Winterfest King and Queen for SSC are Cassandra Leopold and Ryan Pavelko.

• SSC Quasar girls basketball team finished their Cinderella post-season. They finished as the Section 3A Sub-Section runners-up with the loss to Southwest Christian, 43-50.

• Four to six inches of new snow covered the ground. Schools were released early.

• Governor Ventura has made a proposal for budget cuts in the school systems. Many area schools will loose much needed money due to these cuts. Encouragement to write the legislature is being addressed.

• Co-op Ag Center of Lakefield and Okabena discuss the possibility merging with New Vision. The public was asked to bring forth their comments and concerns of doing this.

• SSC seniors took class trip to New York City. The trip took place from March 18-24.

• Hail hit area homes causing structural damage to buildings and vehicles.

• Donna Cook from SSC was named "Teacher of the Year."

• New signs were completed and now welcome those entering Okabena. Click here to view sign.

• Methamphetamine has become a great concern to Minnesota and the surrounding areas.

• SSC-SVRLB girls take home the fourth state True Team Track championship in a row.

• Annual Memorial Day services were held in the surrounding areas to honor those who lost their lives and for all those that fought to protect our country.

• Sue Orcutt retires from teaching at the SSC Elementary School.

• Jane Vangsness, student at SSC High School in Okabena, wins a trip to state for her excellent golfing skills.

• Straight-line winds and small tornadoes hit area. Various building sites were damaged in the storm.

• Grace and Vernon Kay honored as the oldest square dancers in the state. They have danced for 50 years.

• Highway 60 road construction is well underway and will be worked on throughout the summer. The 4-lane will go from Heron Lake to Brewster and next year will go from Heron Lake to Wilder.

• SSC students traveled to Costa Rica this summer.

• The Okabena 4^th of July parade and other usual events and activities were a success once again this year. The amazing fireworks display was a very satisfying finale to the patriotic celebration.

• Strong winds and very heavy rains cause problems to area crops. The winds and rain knocked over many fields and caused damage throughout the area.

• Another SSC school year will begin on September 4.

• Okabena class of 1961 held 40 year reunion.

• SSC district holds their back to school picnic for the 2001-02 school year.

• High winds cause part of the roof on the new addition of SSC High School to be taken off. The new gym floor received serious damage. Volleyball home games will take place in Windom. The whole floor of the SSC High School gym will be pulled up due to the heavy winds that tore off the roof and caused water damage to the gym floor.

• On Tuesday morning, September 11, the United States was attacked by terrorists, killing many people. The World Trade Center was hit by two hijacked American planes. They were deliberately flown into the buildings, which eventually collapsed. Thousands of innocent people were killed. More people died than in the attack on Pearl Harbor years ago. A third plane ran into the Pentagon, also killing many people. The U.S. will now fight a new war against terrorists. Area people along with the travel agencies, airports and financial industries will feel the effects of the attacks. The economy will face changes. Stocks have hit drastic lows and it will take time for society to get back to normal. The U.S. is numb and normal may not be as it was before.

• SSC School Board met and discussed finances, open enrollment, wages and new staff.

• Kyle Galle and Alisha Hussong were crowned as SSC Homecoming Royalty.

• "Minnesota Bound" was filmed near Okabena. Ron Schara is the star of the show. Last week, he was at the Dale Aden farm near Okabena doing some pheasant hunting with his dog Raven. "Minnesota Bound" will be aired on KARE 11 television.

• The National FFA Convention was a real success for SSC. SSC FFA had two first place teams and two first place individuals. The Farm Business Management Team and Ag Sales Team took the number one spots in the nation.

• The four lane highway between Brewster and Heron Lake opened this week.

• Veteran’s Day observances were scheduled at the area schools.

• School districts voted in new board members this week. Brewster, Round Lake and SSC passed referendums.

• The Okabena Council met to discuss the town’s burning restrictions.

• SDSP began building an oil storage facility at the MnSP site near Brewster. MnSP later meets equity drive goals.

• MnSP breaks escrow, plant to process 100,000 bushels a day. Lightowler Johnson Associates of Fargo have been awarded the engineering contract for the project. The original goal of 80,000 bushels a day has been surpassed and additional equity allows the increase to 100,000 bushels a day.

• The Okabena City Council holds their December meeting with a raise in sewer rates, new garbage containers to be used and a new fire hydrant to be installed.

• The SSC food drive is a success with 6,039 food items donated to local food shelves.
  
  2002

• Wayne Heisinger, head girls Track and Field coach at SSC-SVRLB, has been named the 2001 Minnesota Class A Girls Track and Field State Coach of the year.

• MnSP held a progress meeting to update the public on a wide variety of topics which affect the Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) proposed soybean crush plant near Brewster.

• Tom Diemer and Crystal Kruger were selected as SSC’s Winterfest King and Queen during the coronation ceremony.

• Okabena residents will receive new garbage carts on February 28 during normal garbage pick-up.

• The Okabena City Council met February 11 with several items on the agenda. Harvey Kruger, liquor store manager, says the liquor store will remain open on Sunday as long as the business volume justifies this.

• SSC Senior Alisha Hussong competed in the state gymnastics meet and finished 23^rd in the uneven bars.

• Residents of Okabena received their garbage carts and are reminded to begin using them with the next garbage pickup day.

• Ethanol plant to be built, Heron Lake is likely sight of plan, contingent on water supply.

• Plans for soydiesel production by Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) at Brewster, MN moves into high gear following the passage of a biodiesel bill by Minnesota’s legislators.

• With the release of new census data, the state of Minnesota has realigned the legislative districts. The plan is necessary due to population changes.

• For Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) Tuesday, April 2, was a day of celebration and a day of membership action as they held their First Annual Membership meeting in Windom, MN.

• Larry Long, Director of Community Celebration of Place, visited Heron Lake on Friday, April 19. A Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings Artist, Long travels the world and celebrates the lives of working people. Long composed several songs to celebrate the town and the area with the help of third through sixth grade students at SSC Elementary.

• The members of the SSC National Honor Society volunteer their services throughout the year. The NHS group has been involved in delivering meals to residents of Okabena.

• Muriel Leckband celebrated her 100^th birthday on April 27^th. Members of the SSC kindergarten class serenaded her and presented her with birthday cards.

• Chuck Bartosh from the Jackson Soil & Water Conservation presented SSC first grade students with a green ash tree in celebration of Arbor Day.

• In honor of National Community Action Month, a tree has been planted at Our Redeemer Church, Okabena.

• Using funds received from the Southwest Minnesota Emergency Medical Service Corporation and Federated Rural Electric Association’s Operation Round-up, the Okabena Fire Department has purchased the defibrillator from the Heron Lake Ambulance. This will allow the OFD to respond to possible heart attack calls until the Heron Lake Ambulance arrives.

• Commencement exercises were held for SSC seniors in Okabena.

• Brand-new summer youth program hits area. SSC graduate Jeff Frodermann will be leading a youth program that will be doing some very exciting things both inside and outside the local communities of Heron Lake, Okabena and Lakefield this summer. He is being backed by seven area churches.

• After 25 years of preaching, Pastor Ronald Yungmann retires. He has been serving as pastor of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Okabena for the past 13 years.

• Liquor store finished new sand volleyball court for Okabena.

• Okabena 4^th of July celebration another success.

• A benefit supper was held for Weston Hotzler, son of Rodger and Ardis of rural Okabena, who has been battling cancer for a little over two years.

• For 32 years, Pat Henkels has been a familiar face at the elementary school in Heron Lake. The children even know her by her first name. "It never bothered me a bit," she said. Now, however, she is wrapping up her bookkeeping duties at the school as she plans to retire on August 30, 2002.

• Bruce and Jenni Leonhardt have been teaching at SSC High School in Okabena for the past several years. They will be moving on to new positions in the Twin Cities.

• Shelley and Jeff Galle are preparing to leave Heron Lake, their home for the past 24 years, to move to Warroad, Minnesota, where Jeff has accepted a teaching position.

• Lesley Christoffer, Okabena, was named American Legion Auxiliary member of the year for the Department of Minnesota. This award is given to a member in recognition for the many projects they "do" for the Veterans and their families through the programs in the American Legion Auxiliary. Lesley was nominated for her active involvement in the Okabena Legion Auxiliary Unit 608 programs.

• Despite several inches of recent rainfall, area farms are still hurting. Several producers agree that the damage is already done. According to Ted Winter’s office, Nobles and Rock Counties can expect a decreased yield of 30% or more this year, due to the prolonged drought this summer. Winter feels the conditions merit federal emergency disaster assistance, and officials from the counties agree. They have been pushing for a federal disaster declaration. Winter said that both crop and livestock farmers need to be "brought into this disaster declaration."

• The 2002 Century Farm recipients were honored at the Jackson County Fair on Sunday, August 4. The families include: Steven and Debra Freking, Heron Lake; Truman Andrew Hartberg, Heron Lake; Hussong Family Farm, Okabena; and Norman and Marilyn Atz, Lakefield.

• Two area youth have been working at the Centennial Plaza in Heron Lake. Nate Glaser of Okabena, and Ryan Pohlman of Heron Lake, have been busy hauling in rock and placing it in its location in the landscaping plans for the Plaza. Heron Lake residents are anxiously awaiting the finished project.

• On Sunday, August 11, the Cottonwood County Drug Task Force concluded a three-month long undercover operation dealing with the sale of Methamphetamine. The Windom Police Dept., Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Dept. and the Heron Lake Police Dept. worked together and made numerous buys of Methamphetamine from a number of dealers in the Windom area. Six suspects were arrested.

• The City of Okabena started a comprehensive water system project on September 4, 2002. The project involves constructing a new eight-inch water main and replacing nearly all existing mainline valves in the city, according to Project Engineer Don Stenzel.

• Three new teachers will be starting at SSC High School. Doyle Zellar, Adam McFarlane and Eric Peterson were all welcomed by the staff, students and community at the SSC High School.

• Work has begun in Okabena for the replacement of water lines. Svboda Excavating is doing the work. Several citywide shut downs will be needed before the work is completed.

• Several activities have been planned for September 11, 2002, in remembrance of the events of one year ago. The one year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks was commemorated throughout the area.

• SSC held their homecoming coronation ceremonies. Tyler Leopold and Brianna Liepold will reign as Homecoming Royalty.

• The SSC FFA Chapter had another successful year at the FFA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. All teams placed in the top ten of the nation. The Floriculture team of Sarah Mathias, Angela Becker and Julie Pohlman earned third in the nation.  Third place was also earned by the Nursery/Landscape team of Jessica Leopold, Laura Kalfs and Katie Graef.  The Ag Sales Team consisting of Kelsey Kruse, Emily Bartosh, Jenna Pomerenke and Lexey Horkey placed ninth in the nation.  Amber Rasche earned a silver award in Creed Speaking.

• Veterans were honored with several programs throughout the area on Monday, November 11. Programs were held at all of the area schools.

• "It’s been four years since we’ve started sharing the dream," stated Robert Kirchner, President of the Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) Board of Directors, as board members and others prepared for the groundbreaking ceremony held Monday morning near Brewster.

• The Southwestern United Wildcats prepare for 2003-04 football season. Eighth through eleventh grade students interested in playing football next year are invited and strongly encouraged to attend the first meeting of the South- western United Wildcats on Friday, December 20. The Wildcats have been formed due to declining numbers in both the Southwest Star Concept and the Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster programs.

• Members of the SSC Community Project class, Emily Baumgard, Kirsten DeWall, Jenna Pomerenke and Laura Kalfs are planning an Inaugural Ball for the new mayor and city council members of Okabena. The ball will be held at the Okabena Legion Hall on January 11, at 7:00 p.m.  Mr. Jim Schneider is the new mayor of Okabena.  He is replacing Eric Hartman, who moved to Luverne. 

• The food drive at SSC High School has come to a close for this year with a total of 3,643 items collected for the Heron Lake-Okabena and Lakefield Food Shelves.  A contest between the grade levels showed the junior class collecting the highest amount, 1,820 items.  The class wins a trip to be decided upon and held later in the school year.
  
  2003

• Powers of Persuasive Speech students Brianna Liepold, Amber Rasche, Lucas Knutson, Meghon VanNorman, Megan Schumate and Jessica Ferguson have planned an assembly for January 3, 2003. The program is in regard to the funding difficulties encountered by many small schools, including SSC.  State Senator Jim Vickerman will be in attendance.

• Sarah Hartberg, a SSC and SDSU graduate, will be among those performing as part of the Dakota Blue Color Guard in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. The SDSU marching band, Pride of the Dakotas, will be the only university band in the Parade, except for the two university bands from the schools playing the Rose Bowl game.

• The SSC Community Project class, under the direction of their teacher, Louise Worm, is building an 18-hole miniature golf course. It will be movable. The holes will pull apart for the tear down process. It can then be stacked on a trailer and hauled to different locations.

• Clara Hussong and Bob Hotzler, residents at Lakeview Home in Heron Lake, were recently interviewed by students from SSC High School. Breann Wheeler and Tyler Henning spent several days interviewing the residents and then wrote family history folders.

• Winterfest king and queen were chosen at the coronation ceremony. SSC King and Queen are Andy Daberkow and Sarah Mathias.

• Chris Elzenga has been named as one of the 39 Minnesota Teachers of Excellence at SSC High School in Okabena.  Elzenga was chosen locally as SSC's "Teacher of the Year.".

• The Heron Lake-Okabena Community Foundation held it’s first annual charitable dinner and silent auction. The event was held on Saturday, March 29, 2003.  The location for the event was the Heron Lake Community Center.  There was a social hour and viewing of silent auction items followed by dinner and entertainment. All proceeds (up to $25,000) will be matched dollar for dollar by Southwest Minnesota Foundation. "It was a huge success," stated Becky Cselovszki, one of the board members for the Heron Lake-Okabena Community Foundation. Nearly 200 people attended the fundraiser.

• SSC School Board accepts the resignation of Wayne Heisinger.

• In preparation for the 125^th Anniversary for the community of Okabena and the related events being planned for the communities, members of the National Honor Society are seeking addresses of graduates. The group is trying to locate addresses of alumni for the 125^th Anniversary events as well as Community Foundation events.

• Kirsten DeWall selected All Conference, Brianna Liepold Honorable Mention in girls basketball.

• The City of Okabena has been awarded one of 35 small cities grants totaling more than $21 million dollars. Okabena received $471,500 to be used to rehabilitate 25 homes owned and occupied by income-qualified families.

• SSC seniors traveled down to Miami and the Florida Keys for their senior class trip.

• Barb Eigenberg was named as SSC’s "Friend of Education" for the 2002-03 year.

• The City of Okabena receives their check for a Small Cities Development grant of $471,500 from the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development. The grant funds will be used to rehabilitate 25 homes owned and occupied by income-qualified families.

• A new addition has been added to the Okabena Fire Department, allowing more room for trucks to enter and leave the building as well as more room for equipment.

• SSC FFA celebrated community and history of the FFA organization at the sixth annual Southwest Star Concept FFA banquet.  A slide show was presented of the history of the organization, which started in 1928 with 33 members.  Changes in the organization, such as the addition of African-Americans and women, were highlighted.  SSC Advisor Louise Worm was among the first three women in the stae to join and the first to exhibit at the state fair.  Now, there are over 457,000 members.  The local Okabena FFA Chapter began in 1940 and Heron Lake joined when the schools combined.

• SSC senior class traveled down to Miami and the Florida Keys for their senior class trip. 

• Heron Lake and Okabena celebrated a Community Celebration of Place, featuring Larry Long and the youth of the communities. SSC Elementary students interviewed area residents and then wrote songs that were shared.

• Graduation ceremonies were held on May 30, for the seniors at SSC High School. Thirty-five students received their diplomas.

• The SSC Landscape Management class recently added trees to the Plaza in Heron Lake. The landscaping will compliment the mural which was restored this summer.

• Janet Kruger is the new Commander of Sievert-Peterson Post #608 in Okabena. Janet is the first female Commander for the Post. She will be serving a two-year term, replacing David Brunk.

• Karla Harcey retired after 26 years as a secretary in the school system. Karla started working at the Okabena School in 1977, when her youngest child started school.

• Something new was added to the annual July 4^th celebration in Okabena. This was the first year for a car show for many years. It featured original and modified vehicles, stock pickups and motorcycles.

• A send off for the members of the 125^th Field Artillery unit was held on Sunday, August 10. A battalion of about 500, 80 of which are from the Jackson County National Guard unit, are readying for deployment overseas. Guard members from Jackson and Fairmont marched, while family members and community supporters followed.

• The Southwestern United Wildcats are preparing to start their inaugural season. The opening game will be on August 28, against Grand Meadow at Brewster.

• SSC School Kick Off Picnic for students, parents and community members was held at the Okabena City Park.

• SSC School begins on September 4. Elizabeth Heikkila will be the new band instructor.

• The first wind tower has been erected in Jackson County, and will soon be producing electricity. The wind tower, one of six in progress, is owned by the LLC (Limited Life Corporation) of Dave, Steven and Byron Christoffer.

• Reverend Stephen Weiss was installed as the new pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Okabena and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Rost Township.

• Valerie Bernthal began her duties as the new school teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School, Okabena. She teaches kindergarten through third grade in the mornings and first through fourth grade in the afternoon.

• Fifty-five years ago, the congregation of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Rost Township gathered to dedicate a plaque which still stands today. The plaque, located on the east side of section 20, honors the location of the first Lutheran services, conducted in 1870. Bertha Meister owns the property on which the marker stands, and Dale Hesemann recently did some landscaping at the site.

• Bryce Freking and Raquel Post were chosen as SSC Homecoming King and Queen.

• The Okabena Legion Hall was broken into but three were arrested and all stolen properties recovered.

• The newest member of the family of Okabena American Legion groups is the Sons of the American Legion. Joining the Legion and the Auxiliary, the SAL also works towards promoting a wide variety of programs. Josh Kruger has been elected as commander.

• The SSC High School was the scene of a "code red" drill. The drill, similar to a tornado or fire drill, simulated an emergency situation. This drill involved a school-shooting attempt. While not a real incident, the drill did impress not only the dangers of a school shooting situation, but also the importance and need for students to speak to someone in authority if they hear of the possibility of such an occurrence.

• Highway 60 is open! On October 23, State Highway 60 from Worthington to Windom opened as a four-lane.

• Susan Volk, Jenna Pomerenke and Whitney Place earned National Championship honors at the National FFA Convention. The three won the Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event.

• The SWU Wildcats are in the state playoffs! There will be an all area community pep fest and send off for the Wildcat football team. The SWU Wildcats reached the state football tournament during their first year of playing. The combined team of SSC and SVRLB fell in the quarterfinal round of the state tourney, losing to Spring Grove 12-42.

• After thirteen months of construction, the MnSP soybean crush facility near Brewster is about to go into full production. An open house was held on November 15 to celebrate the event and approximately 2,000 people attended the festivities.

• For her efforts in the local and regional competitions of the Punt, Pass and Kick program, SSC eighth grader Breanna Rients has earned a trip to the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The state competition will be held prior to December 20’s Vikings game.

• Pat Olson will retire at the end of the year as the Okabena City Clerk. Pat began her job in December of 1990.

• Servicemen spending time overseas during the holidays were featured. David Brunk of Okabena was one of those featured.

• 2,288 items were collected by SSC students for the Heron Lake-Okabena and Lakefield food shelves during their annual food drive.

• Southwest Star Concept School board members David Henkels, Joyce Henning and Greg Kruse retire from the board.
  
  2004

• Plans for Okabena's 125th Celebration underway.

• SSC Flag Squad performed during the Quasar basketball game at the Target Center on January 3.

• Sue Aden, who taught in the district for 33 years, retired effective December 31.  Melissa Untiedt is taking over the position vacated by the resignation.

• Janet Kruger takes over as the new Okabena City Clerk.  Janet started her duties at the beginning of January, after working with former Clerk Pat Olson during the month of December.

• Southwest Star Concept Winterfest royalty Queen Kara Stenzel and King Ray Anderson ruled over Winterfest activities.

• Most area schools did not have school on Monday, February 2, due to over a foot of snow that fell blanketing everything in the area.

• SSC students created snow sculptures as part of their Winterfest activities competition.

• SSC FFA Fish and Wildlife Team consisting of Jake Mischke, Lloyd Kalfs and Jeremy Appel qualified for state competition.

• Southwest Christian ends the SSC Quasar girls basketball season in quarterfinals with a score of 43-40.

• Liz Laraby was chosen as Southwest Star Concept "Teacher of the Year".    Liz has been teaching at the SSC Elementary School for 34 years.  Over the years she has taught sixth grade, fifth grade and fourth grade.  Technology and computers are the largest changes Laraby's seen in her years of teaching.  Liz has worked with eight different superintendents during her 34 years.  Bill Stearns was the first and Vee Johnson was the principal at the time.

• Quasar boys basketball team defeated SVRLB in Section 3A play.  The Quasars lost to Ellsworth in 3A quarterfinals.

• The Okabena Legion Auxiliary selected Laura Kalfs and Jenna Pomerenke to represent them at Girls State.

• SSS High School held their prom on May 1st.

• Vernon and Grace Kay were named as this year's Friends of Education for Southwest Star Concept Schools.

• Louise Worm, Ag Instructor at SSC Schools, named as one of the inaugural members of the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame.

• SSC teacher, Jim Schneider, named as the Teacher of the Year for the Worthington Wal-Mart store.  Through the program, Wal-Mart donates $1,000 to the school and the teacher, to be used at the school.

• Southwest Star Concept Schools held their graduation ceremony on May 28th at the high school in Okabena.

• 20 gardens selected to be part of the Heron Lake-Okabena Garden Tour, sponsored by the Heron Lake Public Library.

• Okabena celebrated their 125th Anniversary over the 3rd and July 4th 2004.  Despite some rain the celebration was a huge success.  2004 Fireworks Video

• The Larry and Jill Liepold family of Okabena were selected as the Jackson County Farm Family of the year.

• There will be several new faces at SSC Schools when the new school year begins.  Stacy Grothe, Joni Garrison, Doreen DeWall, Anne DeJong and Dane Nielsen will work with the SSC district.

• The Heron Lake-Okabena Community Foundation Golf Tournament was held at Emerald Valley.  Several teams took part in the event.

• Sami Anderson and Dylan Mathias crowned 2004 Homecoming King and Queen at SSC.

• Okabena Fire Department awarded a $76,365 grant.

• In sports: Cross Country earn 4th in Conference meet; Quasars claim conference runner-up; Quasars fall to Worthington in season finale; Pelzel, Hesemann place 25-26 in Conference varsity race; Edgerton takes advantage of big plays, defeat SWU 20-12.

• SSC FFA Chapter attend the 77th Annual National FFA Convention.  Two national championships were earned by the SSC FFA Chapter.  The Floriculture team and Amber Rasche were part of the Career Development Event winners.

• Veteran's Day program held in Okabena.

• In sports: Quasar volleyball ends season as subsection runner-up.

• Cindy Scheevel of SSC in Okabena named as Teacher of the Year for the school district.

• Family, friends and community gathered at the Okabena Legion to show support for the area troops stationed in Iraq by baking and sending them baked goods.

• "Showtime for Oscar" presented by the SSC High School with over 150 attending the two performances.

• In sports: SSC girls win basketball opener by defeating Ellsworth, 55-40.

• SSC holds annual food drive to be distributed to food shelves in  Jackson County.

• Mary Beth Carlson, highly acclaimed pianist, gave performance at the Sacred Heat Catholic Church.  The event was sponsored by the Heron Lake-Okabena Community Foundation.

• The HL-O Women of Today hold their annual Santa Day. 
  
  2005

• The Okabena Legion Auxiliary sends packages to soldiers.  It is there way of serving those who serve.

• Kirsten DeWall leads balanced SSC varsity girls' basketball victory over Edgerton, 62-29.  Quasar boys improve to 4-1 in Red Rock with a 52-44 Red Rock Conference victory over MLBO.

• SSC NHS holds induction ceremony.  Nine new members were inducted into the SSC National Honor Society.  Inductees Shannon Hussong, Remi Bauer, Molly Baumgard, Alex Diemer, Megan Wurdemann, Whitney Place, Elliot Liepold, Nicole Timko and Jason Diemer were welcomed into the chapter.  Okabena Mayor and SSC Teacher, Jim Schneider, was the guest speaker.

• SSC Parliamentary Procedure team and FFA Creed Speaker were awarded 1st place at the regional level and will be representing the SSC FFA Chapter at the spring State FFA Convention.

• Several SSC students attend the Minnesota School Board Association's annual conference.  The SSC Floriculture team guided by Louise Worm had a "show & tell" booth in the exhibit hall.

• Ryan Scheevel & Jenna Pomerenke are Southwest Star Concept High School winners of the Triple A (Arts, Academics and Athletics) award.

• Kirsten DeWall passes 1,000 points as SSC wins at Hills with a 48-36 Red Rock Conference victory.

• SSC Winterfest Royalty were Chris Johnson and Brittany Beelner.

• Minnesota Twins caravan rolled through Okabena on January 27th.  The Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan were greeted by a full house at the Southwest Star Concept High School.  In conjunction with KDOM radio from Windom, Bert Blyleven, J.D. Durbin, Matthew LeCroy, Michael Cuddyer and Twins Mascot TC talked Twins baseball and the importance of education.

• SSC senior Ryan Scheevel scored his 1,000th point of his high school basketball career.  The Quasars won with a 57-46 victory over the Murray County Central Rebels.

• Heron Lake-Okabena Women of Today collected blankets for Project Linus, which distributes blankets to children in need and those in hospitals.

• SSC Quasar girls' basketball team claim conference championship with 15-1 record.

• What is new at SSC?  SSC High School has added a "Reading Cube" to its daily schedule for second quarter.  This reading cube is a 20-minute class period that is set aside for reading only.  Students and staff select books and come prepared to read. 

• Layling Stanbury of Christchurch, New Zealand, is an exchange student at SSC High School.  Brad and Jackie Baumgard along with their daughter, Molly, are her host family from Okabena. 

• The Quasar boys' basketball team finished 3rd in the Red Rock Conference with a thrilling double overtime win over Fulda.  The Quasars, whose victory over Fulda was the first ever for SSC, finish the regular season at 16-7, and close out the conference with an 11-5 mark.

• Okabena Legion turned 58.  Members of the American Legion in Okabena, Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, and 2nd District Officers all enjoyed an evening of recognitions, socializing, and speeches during the annual Birthday Party for Veterans on Saturday evening, March 12, 2005.  The event was held at the Okabena Legion Hall. 

• March 18, 2005 Snow Storm Photos

• Past, Present, Future - The Legacy Continues:  The 3rd Annual HLOCF dinner and silent auction was held on March 19.  See this link for more info:  HLOCF

• The Quasars boys basketball team finished third in the Red Rock Conference.  They also finished the best season in school history with a 16-8 record.

• Southwest Christian rallied to end SSC's 22-3 season with a 49-48 semifinal victory of the Section 3-A, South Sub-Section High School Girls' Basketball Tournament.

• SSC FFA Farm Management Team placed first in regional competition.  Jenna Pomerenke was first individual, Laura Kalfs placed second, and Jason Diemer was the fourth place individual in the region.  Sydney Place received first place in the region for Creed Speaking.  Meghon VanNorman also placed first in the region in Job Interview.

• SSC FFA members participated in the Region 6 Crops Career Development Event and placed routh  and will qualify for state competition.  Team members are Josh Olson, Trevor Leopold, Cody Ferguson, Alex Leopold and Tyler Stenzel. 

• SSC seniors Kirsten DeWall, Amber Rasche and Brittany Cranston (Honorable Mention) were each selected to the All-Conference Team of the Red Rock Conference.  It was the third consecutive unanimous selection for Kirsten DeWall, who finished second in the conference this year in scoring and was fourth in the league in both rebounding and steals.

• Three SSC boys basketball players were named to the Red Rock Conference All Conference Team.  Ryan Scheevel, James Granstra and Lucas Knutson (Honorable Mention) were the players selected.  Ryan Scheevel was a unanimous selection.  Scheevel finished fourth in the conference in scoring, third in made free throws and free throws attempted, tied for thrid in three point shooting percentage and was a top five finisher in field goals made, finishing fifth in the conference with 98 field goals made during the season.

• SSC Head Coach Tim Owen was informed by the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association that the 2004-05 SSC Quasars were named the Section 3A  Academic Team Champions.

• In 2004, the Parks & Recreation Committee was organized to assist the City of Okabena with park issues.  The Committee's first project will be to upgrade the present playground equipment.  The park's equipment was installed in the early 1980's and is inadequate and outdated. 

• The City of Okabena received a donation from the Van Dam Trust and these funds  are to be used for handicap accessibility upgrades at City Hall.

• Twenty-three Southwest Star Concept High School seniors traveled to New York City for their senior class trip.  They were chaperoned by Robyn Gunther, Beth Heikkila and Cindy Meier.  Some of the highlights of the trip included visiting the base of the Statue of Liberty, Museum of Art, Empire State Building, Central Park and watching the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

• Vernon and Grace Kay were presented with memory books from students in Mrs. Cindy Scheevel's class.  The class interviews local residents each year as a class project. 

• Sievert Peterson Unit 608 of the American Legion Auxiliary presented membership certificates several members at the March meeting.  Membership Certificates were awarded to: Ruth Dronen, 5 years; Christine Schmitz, 10 years; Janna Frodermann, Shannon Hussong, and Breanna Rients, 15 years; Melissa Benson McClure, Gina Damm, Rebecca Hotzler and Martha Hussong, 20 years; Rosella Pohlman, 30 years; Marie Madsen, 35 years; Joyce Stahlke, 40 years; and Mary Hotzler, 50 years.  The Member of the Year was Irene Gehrls Bartosh who was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and Bibie Pearson was presented with a monetary gift for serving her 3rd year as President.  It was announced that Whitney Place and Trisha Schmitz will represent the Okabena Legion Auxiliary this year at Girl State.  Donations were given to the Southwest United Wildcats girls softball team for new softball pants and to the Jackson County Library for their summer reading program.

• HLOCF presented their first grants from the money earned over the past years.  The Narrow Path Youth Ministry and the Northern Heron Lake Game Producers were the recipients of the grants.

• SSC FFA Banquet was held with Bob "Bart" Bardwell as guest speaker.  Cindy Scheevel and Becky Cselovszki were presented with Honorary FFA Degrees.  Certificates of Appreciation were given to the SSC School Board, staff members Tracy Freking and Deb Mathias, Heron Lake Fire Department and Brad Doherty,  Village Green Florist owners Randy and Donna Hendrickson, Tri-County News reporter Carol Schreiber, Melissa (Bartosh) Newbury, Steve Hussong, and Charles Worm.   State Degree recipients, to be honored at the state convention, include Emily Bartosh, Laura Kalfs, Jenna Pomerenke and Meghon VanNorman.  Spark Plug awards went to DeTasha Bartosh and Lloyd Kalfs.  Alex Diemer was named as Star Greenhand.  Star in Agricultural Placement was Emily Bartosh and Laura Kalfs was named Star Entrepreneur.

• SSC speech:  Jenny Stenzel, Sydney Place and Jenna Pomerenke competed at the section speech contest that was held in Marshall, MN.  Jenny Stenzel won her way to the finals in Great Speeches and placed 6th overall.

• Okabena City Hall was remodeled to add a drop box and a new handicapped accessible parking space.

• Les Ruthenbeck III was appointed to fill Mike Hussong's City Council position.

• The 4th of July Celebration in Okabena was once again deemed a success.  Many attended all the festivities including the grand parade and the fabulous fireworks.

• Trisha Schmitz and Nick Carlson were crowned Homecoming Queen and King at the SSC High School.

• Mary Koob retires from her position as Postmaster in Okabena.  Mary was with the Postal Service for 35 years and 28 of those years were in Okabena.

• Steve Ruthenbeck, Okabena, published a book entitled "Dogs of War" with World War II as the setting.

• The Okabena Fire Department was awarded a grant from the Department of Homeland Security to be used for a new vehicle.

• The Southwest Star Concept FFA returned from the national convention.  The Agricultural Sales CDE team and the Farm Business Management CDE team received second place awards. 

• A new fire truck "Engine #808" was purchased by the Okabena Fire Department.  Okabena earned a grant that paid for a large portion of the cost of the fire truck.

• Larry Liepold, Okabena, participated in a trade mission to China.  Larry joined Governor Pawlenty and others on a trip that took them to Shanghai and Beijing.

• The students at SSC once again had a successful food drive.  They collected and donated over 3,000 food items and two checks for $177.25 for both the Heron Lake-Okabena and Lakefield Food Shelves.
  
  2006

• A large crowd met at the SSC High School cafeteria to discuss the concerns and the future of the band program at the school.

• Linda Dawson is named as SSC Teacher of the Year at SSC schools.  Linda currently teaches fifth grade at SSC Elementary School.  Linda will be honored at an event this spring with other Teachers of the Year and Friends of Education from around the area.

• SSC Winterfest - Nicole Timko and Keith Rogers were selected as the Winterfest Queen and King at Southwest Concept  High School during the coronation ceremony.

• SSC Speech Team takes first in limited entry class held at the SMSU Speech Tournament in Marshall, MN.

• FFA Week was celebrated at the SSC High School with various activities planned for student participation.

• SSC Quasar girls basketball team finish the season 16-6 as seven members of the 1981 State Champs watch.

• Dragon girls win high-scoring overtime thriller and put an end to the SSC Quasar girls basketball season at the "Super Saturday" Section 3A South Sub-Section games.

• SSC Speech Team takes third at Fulda.

• The 1949 KB-5 International Fire truck was sold on the E-bay Motors website for $12,100.

• Two major March winter snowstorms blasted the area in same week.  Schools and businesses were closed during both storms. 

• SSC Science department was awarded a  $2,500 prize from Toyota's Drive for Education. 

• HLOCF holds Silent Auction and awards grants on March 18, 2006.

• SSC FFA Nursery/Landscape Team consisting of Anna Kalfs, Sarah Frodermann, Alex Diemer and Michelle Olsem win Regional Contest and they will advance to state competition at the State FFA Convention in April, 2006.

• Seventeen SSC Seniors and 2 chaperones enjoyed the Senior Class Trip to San Francisco, California.

• The SSC FFA Nursery/Landscape team won the State Competition and will now compete at the Nathonal FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October 2006.  Andrew Hesemann, Whitney Place and Jason Diemer were awarded the State Degree which is the highest award a student may earn at the state level.

• The Southwest Star Concept School held their annual Jr./Sr. Prom with "Oriental Escape" as the theme.  Chosen as king and queen were Jason Diemer & DeTasha Bartosh.

• Linda Dawson retires after 34 years of teaching at the SSC Elementary School.

• SSC & SVRLB say good-bye to long-time art teacher Spencer Howard who will retire in May.

• SWU Wildcat girls track team wins the Red Rock Conference.

• SSC High School senior class of 2006 graduated on Friday, May 26th.

• A record number (21) of Wildcat track athletes advanced to the Section 3A Championship.

• SWU girls in Section Tournament:  SWU 13 - Edgerton 8; SWU 0 - Springfield 10; SWU 2 - Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross 12.  The Wildcats ended their season far outdistancing any previous record with a 12-10 mark and their first winning season ever.

• The 2006 Southwestern United Wildcats baseball team finished the season at 20-6, claiming third place honors in Class A, Section 3A title honors and Red Rock Conference champion honors.

• The 2006 Okabena 4th of July Celebration was another successful event. 

• A1C Justin Bonnell, son of Burt & Pat Bonnell, Okabena, MN, and a 2000 graduate of HL-O HIgh School, had lunch with the President of the U.S.   President Bush spent the 4th of July with the troops at Pope Air Force Base and Ft. Bragg, in North Carolina.  Justin was one of the only three that were chosen out of 900 men and women in his squadron to have lunch in the "chow hall" with the President.

• The first National Night Out was held in Okabena and was considered at successful evening in spite of rainy weather.  Jackson County Sheriff's  Deputies sat in the dunk tank while children and adults took their shots to try to dunk them.  A pork sandwich supper was served prior to the rain and funds raised were used for the purchase of a defibrillator unit.

• The SSC Annual School Picnic was held on August 27th and the first day of classes will be September 5th.  The pot luck picnic as well attended as usual.

• Okabena Fire Department raffle winners were announced.  1st - Fred Benson, Okabena, Winchester Model 70 rifle; 2nd - Galen Kruse, Heron Lake, 50-Cal. Muzzleloader; 3rd - Marge Olmem, Brewster, Winchester 20 ga. Shotgun; 4th - Sara Henning, Lakefield, Handmade quilt; 5th - Bob Hartman, Okabena, Travel Voucher; 6th - Jim Milbrath, Okabena, Shopko gift certificate; 7th - Greg DeRuyter, Okabena, JC Penney gift certificate; 8th - Bev Hussong, Okabena, 22 Cal. rifle; 9th - Joh Ferguson, Heron Lake, MGD Neon Light; 10th - Greg Appel, Windom, Wildlife Print.

• HLOCF Charity Golf Classic was held at Emerald Valley in Lakefield, MN, on Sunday, September 10th.  Forty-seven golfers took part in the 3rd annual event.

• "Under the Big Top" was the theme for the SSC High Homecoming celebration.  During the coronation ceremony Shaun Mathias was crowned king and Whitney Pelzel was crowned queen.

• SSC Quasar girls volleyball team Red Rock Conference Champs and #1 seed for volleyball subsection.  SSC finishes 11-0 in Red Rock and matches 1998 conference mark.  For the second time in school history, SSC has finished unbeaten in the conference.  SSC had an 11 game win streak and pushed the overall mark to 20-5.  This marks the third straight season that SSC has won 20 or more games.

• SSC eighth-grader, Cassie Cselovszki, earns cross county All-Conference honors.

• The Okabena Legion Auxiliary Annual Halloween party was held on October 31st at 7:00 p.m.

• SWU Baseball Coach Tim Owen recently received the award for Section Coach of the Year for 3A baseball from the Minnesota Baseball Coaches Association.

• The SWU Wildcats football team lost to Luverne Cardinals with a score of 60-0 and ends their season with a 9-1 record and Southwest Ridge Conference championship.

• The 2006 Southwest Star Concept School Quasar volleyball team Subsection 10 champions end season as Section 3A Runner-up Champs.  SSC's Rick Haberman named Subsection-10 Coach of the Year.

• Okabena City election results:  Mayor - James Schneider, 39; Kevin Nelson, 66.  City of Okabena Council (2):  Johnny Gabriel 10; Les Ruthenbeck 74; Dale Appel 31; Lance Haberman 54; Richard Vogt 31.  Okabena Split-Liquor - Yes 82 - No 22.  Okabena Sunday Liquor - Yes 82 - No 22.
  
  2007

• The SSC School was proclaimed as a Governor's Fit School for promoting a healthy lifestyle.  A certificate and letter from Governor Tim Pawlenty was received.

• SSC Winterfest Week began on February 11th with the theme "Cruisin' Through Winterfest".  Crowned as king and queen were John Damm and Aly Hesemann.

• SSC boys basketball coach Tim Owen was informed that senior post player James Granstra was named to the 2007 Mr. Basketball of Minnesota All-State Senior Team.

• SSC FFA held their banquet on March 4th. A variety of awards were presented following the banquet meal provided by the Hi-Lo Club.

• At the end of February, a large amount of snowfall brought everything to a stand still.  Cancellations with school, church and event closures continued for a couple of days.

• Eagles clip Quasars in semi-finals.

• 2007 4th of July Parade

• 2008(more info soon!)

• SSC Girls Basketball Team Wins 4th Place at State

• 2008 4th of July Celebration - The celebration in Okabena was another great success.  Once again the weather cooperated also and the fireworks were reportedly the best ever!!

• 2009 Okabena 4th Photos

• 2010 4th of July Photos

• 2011 4th of July Photos
   

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