Sorted by date Results 826 - 846 of 846
The South Lake Johanna Lutheran Church in rural Brooten held its annual turkey dinner on Sunday, March 13 while serving a little over 200 people. While turnout was down from last year's all-time record of just over 270, there was no shortage of good company, good conversation and terrific food....
Perhaps nothing illustrates the kind heart and selfless personality of the late Rick Thonvold more than part of the eulogy given by his niece, Amber Thonvold, at his funeral on Monday. "You would be goofy just to put a smile on our faces," she said, with her sister Nicole by her side at the pulpit at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg. To read the full story, grab a copy of the March 10 issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice. Not a subscriber? Click here: http://www.bonanzavalleyvoic...
I doubt anyone who sees this picture will recognize it without looking at the words etched at the bottom. Shown is the Brooten school building (1st grade through 12th grade) taken between 1912 and 1933. What can be seen is the west-facing wing, with the "high school" wing in the background. The high school wing was a wooden structure built in 1898 and torn down in 1934. The brick "elementary" wing was built in 1912 and stood until 1994. In 1934, when the wooden high school structure was torn dow...
The world belongs to those who show up, and that is no more true in politics. For citizens of Minnesota, precinct caucuses is a true grassroots-level event where someone can show up and make a difference. Locally the Republican and Democratic-Farmer-Labor parties will hold caucuses at these locations on Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. Stearns County area: Republican Party Brooten-Belgrade-Elrosa High School, Belgrade Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Sauk Centre High School, 903 State Rd, Sauk Centre. Pope County area: The DFL will caucus at the...
Funeral services for Rick L. Thonvold, age 47 of Brooten, will be on Monday, March 7 at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg at 11 a.m. He was owner and co-owner of Brooten Auto with Scott Vogel since 1998, when the purchased the business from Charlie Baker. Rick has been an integral part of the Brooten business community while being a friend to everyone he knew throughout the Brooten and Sunburg communities and the surrounding area. Rick Thonvold, 47 of Sunburg, died on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at...
The Brooten City Council met on Monday (Feb. 8) night this week and started off with an informational session on a new ventilation system for the Brooten Pavilion. Loren Grothe of PALS delivered the presentation. The recommendation was for a minimum of three 36-inch belt-driven slant wall exhaust fans. Grothe noted that six would be more efficient. “These fans are similar to ones that can be seen on barns and warehouses,” said Grothe. Concerns of Mayor Larry Putz and the council included what they will look like, how they work and how noi...
Andy Tensen is a United States Army veteran, a retired farmer and a current Commander of the Brooten American Legion. More than all of those lofty titles, Tensen is first and foremost a grandpa. In Tensen's home in Brooten, two long rows of large, framed photos adorn the top of a piano. Framed in the photos are his grandchildren, Tensen's pride and joy. "Most don't live that far away. Many are in either the Brooten area or Willmar," he said while explaining there are 15 altogether not counting...
At approximately 08:45 on the morning of Wednesday, January 13, a snow plow collided with an eastbound train at the railroad crossing west of Brooten on 493rd Avenue. That intersection meets with Railway Avenue and also State Highway 55. The snow plow was southbound on 493rd Avenue when it struck the train at the railroad crossing. Eyewitnesses said that the train "tore the snow plow apart" with parts flying into the snow-covered stubble of a nearby soybean field. The driver was injured in the...
After the busy holiday season, there is something to look forward to in January. In response to requests from community members, Glacial Ridge Homecare is hosting a free health fair for adults of all ages. The place to be for residents of the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa area and surrounding communities on Thursday, January 14 is the Belgrade City Hall Event Center from 7:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m. Meet General Surgeon, Dr. Felix Blanco, and other health professionals to learn about varicose veins, balance, advance directives, Medicare/Medicaid benefits,...
Winter reared its powerful head on Monday this week dumping four to six inches of wet, heavy snow across the Bonanza Valley area. (In the photo) Main Street Brooten is shown at 8:30 p.m. on Monday night. The Minnesota State Patrol reported that by the end of Monday night, over 400 automobile accidents had been reported across the state. By noon on Tuesday, most roadways had cleared up....
On the heels of Black Friday's madness Small Business Saturday, a day when we can celebrate the perks of keeping money close to home. Did you know that for every $100 spent in locally-owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other spending. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home. The Bonanza Valley, while lacking in big-box stores, has a rich variety of locally-owned shops and places where a...
Plans are being made for a full afternoon of activities at the annual Christmas in Brooten and Santa Day celebration on Saturday, December 12. A revamped schedule has been worked out through cooperation and planning between the Brooten Commercial Club and the B-B-E Cub Scouts. The result is a somewhat tighter schedule than in previous years but the same, if not more, level of activities and fun for the whole family. The basic schedule is as follows: 2 - 3:30 p.m. Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides; 2 - 3:30 p.m. Santa visits 3:30 p.m. - Movie 4:30 p.m....
Students at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, as young as the preschoolers on up through seniors, took in Veterans Day programs on Wednesday at the elementary and high school buildings. The B-B-E senior high band and choir performed at both events. At the elementary school, sixth grade students recited information about Veterans Day while the Pope County Men's Chorus sang a number of songs. Members of the Brooten American Legion Post #288 and the Brooten Legion Auxiliary were seated up front during the...
The Korean War had been underway for close to three years when DeWayne Lien of Brooten was drafted into the Army in April 1953. At the time, when the war would end was in doubt. "To this day it seems like an odd war to have fought in. Fighting communism, I suppose," said Lien, about what the war's purpose was. He remembers the dividing line, though: the 38th parallel. Following World War II, Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union north of the 38th parallel, while the U.S. occupied Korea south...
The Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa elementary school will be holding a Veteran's Day Program on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. Following that, the B-B-E high school will be holding a Veteran's Day Program on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. These Veteran's Day programs will feature the Voice of Democracy winners. The public is invited to attend both events. In Brooten at the Brooten American Legion hall following the Veterans Day program at the elementary school, the Brooten senior...
If I had endless time and many free hours each day, I'd write about every veteran I could find in our area. Instead, with limited free time in the past two weeks, I decided to focus on the oldest veterans I could talk to and go from there. This brings me to veterans who served in World War II or the Korean War. This week I have the honor of sharing stories from Donnie Beyl and John O. Bohmer, both certainly no strangers to the Bonanza Valley area. Other veterans will be featured next week and also hopefully in future issues in future months. Wh...
Since the middle of September the town of Brooten has been buzzing about the activity taking place at Classic Co. Bar and Grill on the corner of Highway 55 and main street. Bob Paek, who started overseeing renovations on Sept. 14, remains as chef and manager of the bar and grill. While a firm opening date has not been set, the hope is to open on Tuesday, Nov. 3 (tentatively). If you're coming from out of town, please call ahead to check on the opening date or visit the Bonanza Valley Voice...
Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooten held their annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 24. In the photo, Claire Eckstein and her grandmother, Arlene Eckstein, check out items for sale at the Granny's Attic....
The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking a level III predatory offender who is no longer complying with the conditions of his release from prison. Rico Ronondo Rodriguez was released from prison on Aug. 8, 2015, to Intensive Supervised Release in Hennepin County. He has been on fugitive status since Oct. 26, 2015 when he cut off his GPS device and absconded from a halfway house in Minneapolis. Rodriguez is 34 years old. He is African American, has black hair and brown eyes, and...
A number of items were discussed at Monday night’s Brooten city council meeting (Oct. 12) ranging from the police report, the airport as well as buildint activity and a dilapitated building. Present were Mayor Larry Putz, city clerk Jeanne Kinne and maintenance employee Boyce Fischer. Guests included Julie Reade and Chad Otteson. Council members Scott Vogel and Jon Marchand were absent. The meeting was opened by Mayor Putz with a review of the September police report. Police Chief Paul Wegner also included information on a few calls during t...
Members of the B-B-E fifth grade class drew posters portraying the theme "Hear the beep where you sleep" for Fire Prevention week. The top seven posters were selected by the Brooten Fire Department and are on display at the Bonanza Valley State Bank this week. (Front, from left) Alixandra Bohmer, Annika Heieie, Bella Buckentine, Wyatt Engen. (Back) Brooten Fire Chief Matt Ogdahl, Abby Berge, Drew Thompson, Ethan Spanier....