EXTRA

Even after divorce, parents are ‘Parents Forever’

The “best thing” Bob Pomerleau said he ever did for his children was to attend a mandatory five-week Parents Forever class after he and his wife divorced last winter. Even though his 17½-year marriage ended and he was no longer a husband, his role as a father to his 15-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter did not stop. “You don’t have to be married to be a parent,” said Pomerleau of Willmar.

By Carolyn Lange , August 15, 2009

RCW ... Halls of change

When children in grades K-12 arrive at the Renville County West school in September, they’ll find a school that looks quite a bit different. In the small gym, there’s an ornate gold and blue arch over the stage. It’s always been there but was unnoticed when it was painted stark white. In the upper hallways, peaceful designs in cream, aqua, green and deep red have covered years of old paint. In the cafeteria, a prairie river scene will greet the breakfast and lunchtime crowds. And in the area where small children will go to school, monarch butterflies in all stages of development fly by on the walls. There’s a frog hanging out by the boys’ bathroom and a huge dragon fly whose eyes are also emergency spotlights. Every hallway and stairwell will have a fresh coat of paint, courtesy of art teacher Tammy Isfeld and her crew of student workers.

By Linda Vanderwerf , August 01, 2009

Nine Willmar gardens open for viewing

City gardens are featured in the 2009 Garden Tour presented by the Kandiyohi County Horticulture Society. The free tour is set for 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, all in Willmar. It was organized by Sandra Pierce with mentoring from veteran tour planner Donna Middleton.

By Donna Middleton , July 25, 2009

Garden Goddess Enterprises a growing success

Milan couple pens a book on gardening and in demand for speaking engagements and more

By Tom Cherveny , July 04, 2009

Tree house magic: 'It's really about raising boys'

In Mark Muldrow’s backyard, there’s a perfectly good tree house. It has a “secret doorway” that swings on broken hinges, wide gaps in the mismatched wall boards and a sturdy roof that works great for two young boys to perch on. But this lonely structure sits unused in the shadow of its upgrade — a 10- by 12-foot, fully insulated structure with a uniquely engineered double roof, triangular windows to capture passive heat, carpet flooring, finished interior, vinyl siding, electricity, cable TV, a loft and a “floating” deck for entertaining.

By Carolyn Lange , June 27, 2009

Volunteer divers clean up the depths of Green Lake

Green Lake gave up its secrets by the boat load last Saturday, and is a lot cleaner for it. Volunteer scuba divers collected debris from the lake’s bottom off the shores of Saulsbury Beach in Spicer, a popular destination and access point for Kandiyohi County’s best known lake. “We got a coffee cup too,’’ laughed scuba diver Julie Kalkbrenner of Spicer, as she and members of Team 3 showed off the collection of debris they hauled to shore.

By Tom Cherveny , June 20, 2009

One of Lincoln’s early students laments its closing

When Joan Van Buren was a little girl, growing up in Willmar, her grandfather led her by the hand across the family’s land and pointed to Lincoln Elementary School. “That’s where you’ll be going,” he said, showing her the nearly new building.

By Linda Vanderwerf , June 06, 2009

Former Lincoln and Jefferson students reminisce

Jefferson Elementary students used to eat Dilly Bars on the last day of school. The kids at Lincoln Elementary enjoyed the closeness of their neighborhood school. Former students’ memories will take on a bittersweet flavor after this past week. The last classes of students left both schools on Thursday, and both buildings are now closed as full-fledged elementary schools. They are victims of declining enrollment and tight school budgets.

By Linda Vanderwerf , June 06, 2009

Trans-Kandi Voyage

By Carolyn Lange , May 30, 2009

Four men, a canoe and a county

Friends will paddle, portage across entire northern part of Kandiyohi County in a single day

By Carolyn Lange , May 30, 2009

Willmar, area cities schedule Memorial Day events

Willmar veterans will raise the Flags of Honor at 7 a.m. today on the east side of Willmar Lake long North Business Highway 71.

By Tribune News , May 23, 2009

Most Kandiyohi County parks will not have lifeguards this summer

The new motto for swimming beaches at most of Kandiyohi County’s parks this summer will be “swim at your own risk.”

By Carolyn Lange , May 16, 2009

Heading to a healthier lifestyle, 1 step at a time

Brian Bishop was eating and stressing himself to death until a heart attack at age 28 got his attention. Now, after losing more than 100 pounds, he is a poster child — literally — for a national program to walk to a healthier lifestyle. Bishop, 33, of Pelham, woke up in the cardiac care unit five years ago, with patients two or three times his age. “That vision recurs to me on a daily basis because I don’t want to go back there,” said Bishop, who weighed 280 pounds at the time. “Everybody looked so unhealthy. I said ‘I don’t want to be here. I don’t belong here. I need to fix my life.”‘

By By David Tirrell-Wysocki , May 16, 2009

Milan adds new ‘flavors’ to Syttende Mai

One of the area’s best-known Syttende Mai celebrations is taking on new flavors, but don’t worry, all the original ones are back too. Milan’s Syttende Mai celebration next Saturday, May 16 will continue its popular “Smorgaas Tea.’’ Traditional Norwegian foods and delicacies like lefse and Rommegrot, Kransekaka, Riskem with Rod Saus, Smultringer and Goro will be there for the enjoying.

By Tom Cherveny , May 09, 2009

Regional Syttende Mai celebrations . . .

Steeped for years in Norwegian culture and language, the northern Kandiyohi County community of Sunburg will be celebrating Syttende Mai in full fashion next weekend.

By Carolyn Lange , May 09, 2009