February 8, 2012 Edition
Serving Belle Plaine and Surrounding Communities for Over 131 Years
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Allen and Lillian Peltz Have Shared
Over 70 Valentine’s Days Together
by Dan Ruud
Allen Peltz isn’t one to forget his wedding anniversary. In fact, he still knows the date he and Lillian met more than three years before they tied the knot. That day was Feb. 23, 1940, just a little over a week removed from Valentine’s Day.
“I’ve always kept that day in mind,” said Allen, adding that was when one of Lillian’s girlfriends invited her to a party at his sister Ethel’s house. Lillian and Allen got to talking and the rest is history.
Allen and Lillian, who are both 90 years old, were married Oct. 3, 1943 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Young America. This year will mark their 69th anniversary. They have lived at 301 South Walnut Street (next to the Belle Plaine Motel) since 1956. Allen was raised on a farm in rural Belle Plaine and Lillian grew up in Hamburg.
“He came home on furlough (from the Army) and we decided to get married,” Lillian said. “We only had about a week so I didn’t have time to get a wedding dress. It all happened so fast.”
Two or three days after their wedding, Lillian and Allen were on a 2 1/2-day train ride to his duty station in Oregon, which basically amounted to their honeymoon.
“That was it,” Allen said. “The honeymoon was out West.”
There would be more travel for the couple as Allen’s three-year, four-month enlistment in the Army also included duty stations in Washington state, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. After becoming pregnant with their first child (Gary), Lillian eventually returned to Hamburg and waited there until her husband’s discharge.
For the complete story see this weeks issue of the Belle Plaine Herald
Allen and Lillian Peltz will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary this fall.
The BPHS one-act play group had a photo taken with their section championship trophy Saturday in Le Sueur. Pictured in the back row, from left, are director Tony Hartmann, Ben Preusser, director Peter Jacobson, Jake Hartmann, Laura Schaefer and Andrew Winterfeldt. In the middle row are Dylan O’Brien, Aiden Winterfeldt, Cassidy Pumper, Matthew Ludvik, Kyle O’Brien, Tyler Fatz and Nick Johnson. In the front are Alec Lorenz, Kali Gorman, Rylee Pumper, Mikhayla Clausen, Kelly Morrison, Kyeanna Pickar, Erin Winters, Mitchell Farmer-Lies and Patrick Selly.
Update: Another 'Star' For Belle Plaine
BPHS's entry in the state one-act play festival earned a star rating -- the highest rating it could earn -- from judges Thursday (Feb. 9) at St. Catherine's University in St. Paul.
BPHS One-Act Play Wins Section Title; Next Stop St. Paul
by Dan Ruud
The Belle Plaine High School one-act play group will again represent Section 2A at this Thursday’s Class 1A Minnesota State High School One-Act Play Festival at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium on the campus of St. Catherine University in St. Paul.
Belle Plaine’s production of “Invasion of Earth as It Began in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey” beat out five other school plays at Saturday’s section festival in Le Sueur (only the top play advances to state).
Belle Plaine had won its spot in the section festival by being the top-rated act at the previous week’s nine-team subsection competition.
Belle Plaine got first-place votes from all three judges at the six-team section meet, which was also held in Le Sueur. Maple River took second place with its production of “The Monkey Paw.” The other schools competing were Le Sueur-Henderson, Waseca, Norwood Young America and Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted.
Two of the three judges at section gave Belle Plaine “exemplary” ratings in all five categories, the highest mark possible. The other judge had one “excellent” and four “very good” marks.
“Very well done. You certainly compliment each other as a total ensemble,” wrote one judge. “There is great reaction/interaction within each scene, and it (the play) moves from scene to scene very well.”
Belle Plaine will perform “Invasion of Earth as It Began in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey” one last time at Thursday’s state festival. Belle Plaine is scheduled to go on stage at 11 a.m. The play is 35 minutes long.
Also vying for the coveted star rating Thursday will be the champions of the state’s seven other Class 1A sections. They and their respective performance times are Wadena-Deer Creek (9:15 a.m.), Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (10 a.m.), Belle Plaine (11 a.m.), St. Charles (11:45 a.m.), Sauk Centre (1:30 p.m.), Roseau (2:15 p.m.), St. Croix Lutheran (3:15 p.m.) and East Central (4 p.m.).
Tickets for the Class 1A Minnesota State High School One-Act Play Festival will be sold at the O’Shaughnessy ticket office (no advance sales). There will be an admission charge of $10 for adults and students for each of the two sessions (morning and afternoon). Each session is good for four plays. A day pass (good for all eight plays) costs $15. O’Shaughnessy Auditorium has a seating capacity of 1,815.
Last year’s BPHS production of “Mill Girls” marked the fourth time in the last five years that Belle Plaine, champion of Section 2A, has received a starred rating at state. The other three most recent were in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Belle Plaine also won section championships and received starred performance ratings at state in 1993, 1997, 1999 and 2000.
Tony Hartmann, who with Peter Jacobson co-directs the BPHS one-act play group, attributes Belle Plaine’s success in one-act play through the years to interest and hard work.
“We put a lot of time and effort into it. We begin casting at the end of November and rehearse through December and January . . . We get about 50 kids for tryouts and can only cast about 20 of them. With a lot of kids trying out, there’s a lot to choose from.”
About Belle Plaine’s Play
J.R. Mimbs’ “Invasion of Earth as It Began in Grover’s Mill, New Jersey” involves four different groups of people awaiting the radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds in 1938. Things go horribly awry when a news report indicates that aliens may have invaded Grover’s Mill, N.J. As fears set in, concerns over money, conspiracies, faith and self-defense come to a head and panic builds as everyone struggles to decide what to do next. But what if things are not necessarily as they seem? In the face of a possible catastrophe, everyone must discover what is important in their lives.
The cast includes Aiden Winterfeldt (Announcer 1), Kyle O’Brien (Announcer 2/Orson Welles), Nick Johnson (Announcer 3), Mikhayla Clausen (Sound Booth Lady), Tyler Fatz (Hoyt), Cassidy Pumper (Janice), Erin Winters (Sandra), Mitchell Farmer-Lies (John), Kyeanna Pickar (Joyce), Kali Gorman (Maria), Jake Hartmann (Morris), Kelly Morrison (Sue), Matthew Ludvik (Joe), Laura Schaefer (Kerry), Dylan O’Brien (Mike), Patrick Selly (Buddy), Rylee Pumper (Terry) and Alec Lorenz (Phillip).
The sound and lights crew are Andrew Wintefeldt and Ben Preusser.
Chamber, EDA Award Recipients
The Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority held their annual dinner and awards ceremony last Tuesday night at the Borough Bowl Party Room. Pictured in the photo above were those who were present to receive awards for opening new businesses. From left, are Cory Tieva (Reclaimed Woodworks), Paul Jonas (The Jonas Center), Jim Jonas (The Jonas Center), Betsy Ollhoff (Belle Plaine Food Shelf), Pat Ollhoff (Belle Plaine Food Shelf), Shari Hunter (Prairie Oaks Institute), Renae Newport (Great Clips), Jan Hedge (Reynold’s Custom Hearing), Kathy Farmer-Lies (Prairie Oaks Institute) and Heidi VonBank (Great Clips).
Pictured above are some of those who received awards for new ownership and/or facade improvements at last Tuesday’s Chamber/EDA Dinner and Awards Ceremony. From left, are Lori Otto (facade improvement at Rainbow Discovery Center), Stephanie Fries (Sparetime Tavern), Cory Tieva (Sparetime Tavern), Andrew Richardson (Minnesota Valley ATA Black Belt Academy) and Tony Socher (facade improvement at former post office building now Empire Wholesale).
A Grand Contribution
The Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce presented a $1,000 donation to the Belle Plaine Food Shelf at last Tuesday’s Chamber/EDA Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Borough Bowl Party Room. The money came from local charitable gambling proceeds. Pictured, from left, are Mayor Tim Lies, Pat and Betsy Ollhoff of the food shelf, Jim Lange of the food shelf, Tom Meger (local charitable gambling manager), Ashton Pankonin (chamber president) and Carrie Traxler (chamber executive director).
Royalty fromYears Past Wanted
at This Year’s St. Pat’s Parade
The Belle Plaine St. Patrick’s Committee is asking that Belle Plaine St. Pat’s queens from the past 40 years make an added effort to be a part of this year’s parade and festivities on Saturday, March 17.
Call Jeanette Gloege at 952-873-6684 if you can attend.
Also, high school girls of Irish descent who are interested in becoming a 2012 Miss Shamrock candidate should contact Darlene Anderson at the school’s main office.
The grand marshals of this year’s parade will be John and Mary Murphy.
The next planning meeting for the celebration will take place at Andy’s Bar and Grill Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. All committee members and bar/restaurant owners are asked to attend.
Council Orders Final Plans for
2012 Street Improvement Work
by Dan Ruud
About two dozen people attended the Belle Plaine City Council’s public hearing on the 2012 street and utility improvement project Monday night, some of whom were there only to view copies of the preliminary assessment roll that were made available. However, the purpose of the hearing was to discuss the need for the project, not to field questions about assessments.
Only six people addressed the council with questions regarding possible impacts to their properties, most notably sidewalks, trees, driveway entrances and landscaping, etc. Only a couple of people spoke directly against the project.
“Our housing values have gone in the toilet. The last thing I want to spend $8,000 on at this time is sewer improvements,” said one property owner.
Another said her street (North Chestnut) just had work done on it four years ago and she’s still paying for that. Now this? “I’m not really happy about it (the project),” she said.
City Engineer Joe Duncan provided a detailed report about the work proposed to be done. Included were photos of decaying infrastructure in the area of the project, which both he and Public Works Superintendent Al Fahey said are already creating problems for some people, including sewage backups.
“This project could have come before us a few years ago,” said Mayor Tim Lies.
Although he said he understood the frustration over the “double whammy” the property owner who spoke previously is experiencing, Lies sided with Duncan and Fahey about the need for the improvements.
“If we let it go, it will just create a lot more problems,” Lies said.
Following the public hearing and subsequent discussion, the council voted 6-0 to direct the city engineer to prepare the final plans and specifications for the 2012 street and utility improvement project, which will include:
– The reconstruction of North Elm Street between Church and Spring streets.
– Court Street from Meridian Street to Walnut Street.
– Chestnut Street north of Court Street.
– Ravine repair at the end of Chestnut Street.
The total estimated cost of the project is $1,567,564. The city, according to preliminary estimates, would pay $1,186,238.36. The rest ($381,325.89) would be assessed to benefitting property owners.
If all goes according to plan, the bid will be awarded in May and construction will begin in June. The final assessment public hearing is scheduled for October after most of the work has been completed.
In other business Monday night, the council agreed to establish a task force to begin research and planning for a potential community center in the future, as is being recommended by the EDA and park board as well as others in the community.
Michael Pingalore and Scott Schneider volunteered to be the council’s representatives on the task force, which will also include representatives from the EDA, park board, school board and possibly other members of the community.
*Unanimously approved the 2012 joint facilities agreement between the city and Belle Plaine School District. Only “a few small changes” were made to the agreement, a copy which is available for review at the Belle Plaine Government Center. Discussion on next year’s (2013) agreement will include the proposal to add a per participant fee for all non-community recreation programs and teams that utilize city fields.
*Unanimously adopted a resolution accepting the donation of the Zamboni ice rink machine from the Belle Plaine Lions Club. The machine, a 1970s model that is valued at approximately $1,000, has been utilized on the city’s hockey and skating rinks for some time now but the city recently received written notice of the Lions Club’s willingness to formally donate the machine to the city. It’s been calculated that initial repairs to the Zamboni will cost the city $1,500. Other costs include the trailer for transporting it to and from the rinks ($3,000), operators ($1,700), fuel ($500) and yearly maintenance ($500). The initial repairs and trailer will be one-time expenses with yearly operating costs estimated at $2,700.
In a separate agenda item Monday, the council unanimously appointed Kevin Sieben and Russ Arnst as temporary seasonal part-time employees with the public works department. They will assist with the operation of the Zamboni on an as-needed basis at step one of the public works pay scale.
*City Administrator David Murphy reported that the closing for the city’s purchase of the former Valley Business Park building took place on Feb. 1 and the sale is now complete. The city purchased the building from Paul Creighton and Erik Johnson for use as a public works facility. The price was $1,070,000.
*Murphy also reported that representatives from CapX2020 have contacted the city and anticipate entering the site directly west of the city’s wastewater ponds to conduct soil borings. The soil borings are necessary to engineer the towers for the new power line to be constructed through the area.
*Unanimously approved large assembly and road closure permits for the Belle Plaine St. Patrick’s Parade and other festivities downtown. The permits will be in effect from 11 a.m. March 17 until 2 a.m. March 18.
*Unanimously approved April 28 as the date for Belle Plaine’s 23rd annual Recycle and Cleanup Day. The Belle Plaine Lions Club has again volunteered to assist the city with coordinating the event, which will take place at the Belle Plaine Police Department parking lot.
With the help of the Community Development Agency, Scott County is in the process of acquiring Jane and Dave Mayer’s house and land in Blakeley Township for use in a future regional park. The property originally listed for $1.5 million. The CDA bought it for $550,000.
Update: Town Board Won't Yet Support Plan
After Monday's Scott County presentation on its plans for the Mayer property as part of Blakeley Bluffs Regional Park, Tuesday evening, Supervisor Robert Wagner said the Blakeley Town Board decided it won't support the county plan, at least not yet. The board's discussion on the plan was not on the town board's agenda Monday and took place after Scott County's parks and trails manager left the meeting unaware of the severity of the town board's concerns.
Scott County Begins Buying Land for Blakeley Bluffs Regional Park
Couple’s Loss is Regional Park’s Gain
by John Mueller
A house and land lost to foreclosure has provided Scott County the chance to acquire the first land for a regional park in the Blakeley Bluffs. This spring, the county board hopes to complete the acquisition of land and a house that will be the centerpiece of the sprawling regional park.
The Scott County Community Development Agency (CDA) recently completed on behalf of the county the purchase of 84 acres covering two parcels, a 3,995-square-foot house and two 40-by-80-pole barns off West 250th Street in Blakeley Township.
Originally listed for $1.5 million, Wells Fargo acquired the house and acreage for $746,000 at sheriff’s sale in September 2010. Originally owned by Jane and Dave Mayer, the house and land went back on the market for $534,900 last November. The bank selected the CDA’s offer of $550,000 with 20 percent down. The runner-up offer offered the same price, but with less money down, Mark Themig, the county’s parks and trails manager, told the commission at its meeting Feb. 1 at the house.
Scott County’s plan to acquire the house and land is based on the expectation of a successful parkland acquisition grant from the Metropolitan Council. The county expects to receive the grant late next month.
But first, the met council must approve the county’s regional park master plan, Themig told the county’s park advisory commission. The county submitted its master plan earlier this winter.
Meeting at the house last Wednesday (Feb. 1), the commission discussed the proposed plans for the house the county will eventually call The Lodge at Blakeley Bluffs. It will be owned by the county and operated in partnership with Three Rivers Park District. The name fits the house’s architecture and interior design. It has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a large, unfinished basement.
County staff will perform minor maintenance on the site and within the house. Three Rivers personnel will handle the larger projects requiring heavy-duty equipment.
They Valued the Land
The county and the Mayers previously discussed acquiring the property a few years before they lost it. Themig credits the couple with having an appreciation for the land and the desire to protect it from over-development.
“Unfortunately,” he told the commission, “our timelines didn’t align.”
Bill Jaffa, the CDA’s executive director, said, “Somebody else’s loss was our gain. We’ve always had a good working relationship with the county.”
Scott County and Three Rivers Park District’s plans include renting out the house for formal parties, weddings and corporate meetings and retreats. Themig noted the demand created by a lack of a similar facility in the area able to host weddings or corporate events. One of the two pole barns has a concrete floor and can be used for wedding dinners and dances.
He said the $1,000 rate for a full day is a fair price within the marketplace.
The county’s plans also include permitting live music and until 10 p.m. Commissioner David Menden of Shakopee asked the commission if 10 p.m. might be too early.
The property could also be used in partnership with Ney Nature Center, hosting programs like bird watching or star gazing.
Resident Feedback
Monday night at the Blakeley Town Board meeting, Themig told the supervisors and township residents the plans will be conservative early and may be expanded in the years to come.
The county will begin marketing the property for use on a limited basis after it takes ownership of the property.
Scott County plans to keep in touch with area residents to make sure noise and traffic from the property is not a problem for area residents.
“We want to be good neighbors,” Themig said.
Blakeley Township residents raised concerns about the impact of traffic on County Road 51, particularly during farm operations. They asked the county improve the road, noting its dilapidated condition.
Scott County plans to utilize caretakers at the property throughout the summer and possibly during the winter months. Its hopes area residents will help keep an eye out for people who don’t have business at the site. The county will continue to rent out the tilled land for farming. The income from the rental and property rentals will help cover the cost of operating and maintaining the property, Themig said.
Overall, the county’s plans for Blakeley Bluff Regional Park call for about 2,400 acres north of Highway 169. Its plans in the years to come are to acquire land from willing sellers.
First Place
Jason Johnson of Belle Plaine, pictured at this past Saturday’s Blakeley Snowmobile Show, held up the plaques he won the previous week at the 22nd annual Waconia Ride-In, which is the largest vintage snowmobile show in the United States. Johnson is seated in the snowmobile he won first place in the home-built/jalopy/rat class category as well as the Rothfork Racers Award. Johnson, who is an avid vintage snowmobile collector, rebuilt this particular one around the chassis of a 1974 Chaparral snowmobile. His father, Robert, who operates Body by Bob body shop in Chaska, painted the new body. Johnson was also helped by friends Paul Maluchnik and Andy Viszaly, both of Chaska. Among the winners at Saturday’s show in Blakeley were John Kottke of Hamburg with a Bolander Swiss made Army track machine (first place) and Maddilyn Holicky of Heidelberg with a 1971 Arctic Cat Kitty Cat (best in show).
