S.E. Minnesota

Turnout less than expected at vaccination clinics

An H1N1 vaccination clinic in Rochester for children drew fewer people than expected.

Fewer than 100 children were vaccinated in the first hour, though 500 had been vaccinated by the time the clinic concluded at noon, well below the 1,000 children that were expected.

The Olmsted County Public Health clinic last Saturday was for uninsured and underinsured children and children with chronic health conditions.

At an H1N1 vaccination clinic in Austin, also last Saturday, the people who were waiting in line when the doors opened were helped within 40 minutes.

Many voters were in a negative mood

Voters in Austin and Byron shot down proposals to increase the operating levy for school districts Tuesday, as voters appeared to be in no mood for tax increases.

However, levy proposals were approved in Zumbrota-Mazeppa and Rushford-Peterson, and one of two proposed levies passed in Blooming Prairie.

Unsatisfied voters ousted two of three incumbents in the Austin school board race, and all three incumbents in the Rushford mayor and city council races.

Weather puts harvest back on track

The weather improved this week for farmers, whose harvest efforts were stymied for much of October by rain and snow.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly progress report, 56 percent of soybeans had been harvested as of last Sunday. Only 12 percent of corn has been harvested. Last year, half of the crop was in by now.

Lisa Behnken, a crop specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension, said farmers are trying to combine the rest of their soybeans before starting in on corn.

"A few guys are switching back and forth between their corn and bean heads," Behnken said. "They take what they can, when they can."

The late harvest has, however, given Farm Country Co-op in Pine Island a chance to fix its grain elevator, which was damaged by a fire on Oct. 14.

"In some ways, the late season has helped," said Bob Durst, who works in the co-op's grain handling department. "It's given us a chance to get going again." The co-op go the elevator up and running again last Sunday.

Has H1N1 flu peaked?

H1N1 flu hospitalizations and outbreaks at schools dropped in the previous week, leading state health officials to say the worst of the epidemic might be over.

"I am optimistic that we have peaked," said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, Minnesota's state epidemiologist, who has been tracking the outbreak since April. "But we need several weeks of data to know for sure."

At the same time, officials reported three more deaths from H1N1, including two from southeastern Minnesota.

In this region, school outbreaks were concentrated in Winona and Houston counties, which had six and five, respectively. Wabasha, Olmsted and Fillmore counties each had one, and Goodhue had two.

State health department officials say the three confirmed deaths all had underlying health conditions. The victims were identified only a Hennepin County resident in their 50s, a Fillmore County resident in their 20s and a Winona County resident in their 70s.

Elgin

Grants will help new farmers get started

Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced $17 million in grants Tuesday aimed at helping young farmers.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grants will help new farmers and ranchers, Merrigan said. She spoke to at least 60 people at Hidden Stream Farm in the Elgin area, where Eric and Lisa Klein raise hogs, cattle and chickens.

Merrigan said beginning farmers face many barriers at the start, including high land and equipment costs.

"The training and education provided through these grants will help ensure the success of the next generation of farmers and ranchers as they work to feed people in their local communities and throughout the world," Merrigan said.

The average age of U.S. farmers is 59, she said, and the beginning-farmer grants will help grow the next crop of farmers.

"We're losing too many farms in America as you all know," Merrigan said.

Rochester

Orchestra launches emergency fundraising campaign

Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, which opens its concert season next weekend, is launching a fundraising drive to head off a financial disaster.

"Financially, we're in trouble," said Laurie Mona, interim executive director of the orchestra. "We have to do whatever we can. We're launching this right now."

The orchestra, in its 90th season, is presenting only five concerts this year instead of the normal seven to save money, but it continues to experience a shortfall in grants and corporate donations.

"We were only able to finish last season by tapping out all of our reserves," Mona said.

Ticket sales and individual donations this season have exceeded expectations. But ticket sales make up only one-third of the cost of producing a concert.

The goal for the new fundraising campaign is about $180,000.

"It's a season of survival," said Jere Lantz, the orchestra's music director. "Many arts organizations have bitten the dust in the current economic downturn, and we don't want to be one of them."

Keillor schedules Rochester show

Tickets went on sale Tuesday for "A Prairie Home Companion" show at the Mayo Civic Center on Jan. 23.

Host Garrison Keillor last brought the radio show to Rochester in 2006. Musical guests for the Rochester show haven't been finalized.

Keillor himself was in Rochester as recently as September. After suffering a mild stroke, he sought treatment at Mayo Clinic. He performed a benefit concert in Zumbrota in October.

Donna Drews, the civic center's executive director, is glad to have "A Prairie Home Companion" back. "We did extremely well with the last show -- we sold out," she said.

Next large-fossil exhibit will feature Ice Age beasts

Quarry Hill Nature Center in Rochester announced this week that its major fossil show for 2010 will be "Ice Age," featuring some of the most notorious beasts that roamed this region during the Ice Age.

This is the third large-scale fossil exhibit to be staged at the nature center. They are always popular. Stan, a Tyrannosaurus rex, drew 20,000 visitors in 2006. In 2008, nearly 15,000 people came to see "Creatures of the Deep," which featured fossils of ancient marine beasts.

"What's exciting about this one is these are the creatures that were in this area," said Pamela Meyer, assistant director at Quarry Hill. "With Stan, everyone loves a Tyrannosaurus rex, but they weren't really roaming our area."

Next year's show will be from March 6 to April 4.

Rochester Reads announces 2010 selection

If you read only one book next year, the Rochester Reads committee suggests "The Camel Bookmobile" by Masha Hamilton.

The book was so highly recommended that the committee didn't even need to put it to a vote, said chairwoman Katherine Stecher. Plus, a communitywide vote wasn't in the budget, she said. It's selection as the Rochester Reads book for 2010 was announced Thursday.

Related events include an author visit on Feb. 22 and possibly a book drive.

To go along with the recommended adult book, the committee recommends "Home of the Brave" by Katherine Applegate for junior readers and "Muktar and the Camels" by Janet Graber for young readers.

Kottschade wins Golden Deeds award

Bonnie Kottschade of Rochester warns her friends: "If you don't want to become more active, don't retire."

Kottschade's to-do list has grown exponentially since she retired after 37 years as a public health and school nurse. Yet it's what she's already done and her continued dedication and service to the community that earned her the Rochester Exchange Club's Book of Golden Deeds award, which was presented Wednesday at the Rochester International Event Center.

Kottschade was honored as the 54th recipient of the award, which recognizes individuals for unselfish, personal service rather than their participation in organized community affairs.

Surprised to hear her long list of accomplishments read off, Kottschade said, "It just kind of happens."

Turbine damage is worse than expected

After sending a key piece of electrical generating equipment in for repair, Rochester Public Utilities got word that the damage is worse than expected.

In mid-October, a gas-turbine engine bearing failed at the Cascade Creek substation, the city's primary power generator. The jet-like engine was sent to Pratt & Whitney, the engine's manufacturer, in Connecticut. The engine was dismantled, and it was discovered that a fire had occurred in the housing of the turbine.

The estimed cost of repairs might increase from $500,000 to $1.1 million, said Jim Walters, director of customer relations for RPU.

Pine Island

City mulls needs of biotech park

A proposed agreement with the developer of the Elk Run biotechnology project in Pine Island calls for the company to produce 182 new jobs within eight years.

Tax-increment financing would cover about 50 acres of land within the biotech park, said City Administrator Abraham Algadi. Developer Tower Investments plans to donate land to offset part of the cost for the planned interchange at Olmsted County Road 12 on U.S. 52.

The agreement, still in draft form, "entitles the developer to basically be reimbursed for the city share being paid for by the donation of the right-of-way," Algadi said.

Zumbrota

Trapshooting team wins state title

The Zumbrota-Mazeppa trapshooting team, with five seasoned veterans, brought home the state trophy again this year, its second consecutive championship.

"We waxed 'em as a team," said Chris Mack. Not only that, but for the second straight year, Mitch Kehren was the top individual scorer.

Despite the FFA team's sterling performance -- on Sept. 26 in Marshall, Minn. -- not many people were aware of it. That's part of participating in an obscure, non-school sport.

"It's not like we got a huge pep fest afterwards," said Taylor Sanborn.

Red Wing

8th-graders will move to high school

The Red Wing School Board decided Monday to shift eighth-graders to the high school and fifth-graders to Twin Bluff Middle School next school year.

The move also eliminates study halls and allocates more time to English, math and science classes in an effort to address standardized testing inadequacies. The decision is the culmination of more than a year of discussion. Many of the details have yet to be decided.

Austin

Police captain convicted

An Austin police officer's conviction this week will probably end his career in law enforcement, but it's unclear what the effect will be on his elected position on the Austin School Board.

An Olmsted County jury convicted Capt. Curt Rude, 50, of felony fifth-degree controlled substance crime and of interfering with property in official custody, a gross misdemeanor. The jury acquitted him of felony theft. The verdicts were delivered Thursday night. The trial, which was moved to Rochester on a request for a change of venue, began Monday with jury selection.

Rude removed bottles of the prescription drug OxyContin from a barrel containing discarded evidence from old cases.

Prosecutor Ross Leuning said he does not anticipate Rude will be sentenced to jail but could be fined. His career as a police officer is over as well, Leuning said. Sentencing is set for Dec. 21.

Austin schools Superintendent David Krenz said the district will likely ask the Minnesota School Board Association for direction on how to handle Rude's status as a board member.

Stewartville

Statue placed at veterans memorial

A bronze statue that depicts a soldier holding a fallen comrade was installed Wednesday at the Stewartville Veterans Memorial, which will be unveiled today.

Jeff Anderson of Stewartville designed the memorial. The statue was created by sculptor Paul Rieffer of St. Paul.

Donations and fundraisers helped pay for the $200,000 memorial, said Richard Paulson, commander of the Ivan Stringer American Legion Post No. 164. The memorial is in front of the Legion hall.

The memorial includes the names of 36 Stewartville veterans who died while serving their country.

Paving stones to honor members of the military and veterans are available for purchase. About 250 pavers have been sold. There's room for about 600.

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