ZUMBROTA -- The annual Bethfest to raise awareness of the problems of drunken driving, and raise money for programs for teens, brought in about $3,000 last Saturday.
Anita Schatz, the Students Against Drunk Driving adviser at Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School, said Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone was the guest speaker, which was something of a coup. "It was really luck and persistence," she said. She sent e-mails and letters and the senator responded, she said.
About 100 people attended the dinner and listened to the senator, Schatz said.
Most of the money will go for the SADD chapter to continue its work, she said. About 10 percent will go to crossings, which is a place in Zumbrota for youths to come to be with fellow teen-agers, get dance or art classes, and have local youths to show off their entertainment talents, she said.
Bethfest is named in honor of Beth Hoyme, a Zumbrota-Mazeppa student killed by a drunken driver three years ago.
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-- John Weiss
Superintendent honored
PLAINVIEW -- Marcia Love, who will retire as superintendent of Plainview Public Schools on June 30, is going out with a major honor.
She was voted administrator of excellence for southeastern Minnesota by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. The region covers much of what is now the 1st Congressional District.
Love, who has been an administrator for 11 years and was a teacher before that, said she received the award April 18 during the association's convention in Bloomington.
"I was very pleased and honored," she said.
According to the association, Love was selected for implementing many changes in curriculum in Plainview, including adding Advanced Placement opportunities, lowering class sizes and helping get levy overrides passed. She has also been active in the community, and served on the board of directors of the Jon Hassler Theater.
-- John Weiss
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Crash course in geology
People can study the geology of the region during a one-day course at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro or a two-day class -- with a field trip -- May 15-16 at the Zumbrota VFW.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is putting on the course to explain the region's karst geology, which means there is little topsoil over the fractured rock that holds ground water. Any contaminants put on the land usually end up in the water within hours or days.
For more information about the Understanding Minnesota's Limestone Country workshops, call Amy Debruyckere at the PCA at 285-7343 or 1-800-657-3864. There is a $25 registration fee.
-- John Weiss
The Jewel construction begins
LAKE CITY -- Home construction has begun in the residential phase of The Jewel, which is part of the Mississippi Jewel development at the former Jewell Nursery on the west side of Lake City.
One of the future attractions will be a signature golf course designed by golf great Hale Irwin. But some of the people who have property at the Jewel got an early chance to play with Irwin.
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According to a Mississippi Jewel spokeswoman, they went to Phoenix last month and played with Irwin at the site of the Phoenix Open. Irwin's course in Lake City is expected to open in June 2003.
-- John Weiss
Regional Roundup appears Fridays in the Post-Bulletin. If you have comments or news items, call John Weiss, regional reporter, 285-7749.
