EXTRA

Construction facts . . .

Willmar’s new wastewater treatment and conveyance project has been described by Mayor Les Heitke as the largest municipal project in the city’s history.

By David Little , September 05, 2009

Wastewater treatment project on schedule

City officials, citizens tour progress of $86M project

By David Little , September 05, 2009

Area talent on display at this year’s state fair

As always, residents from all over west central Minnesota will descend on the state fairgounds this year, showcasing all sorts of crafts, talents and prized animals. More than 80 Kandiyohi County 4-Hers will make their way to the fair, bringing in livestock, poultry and handmade projects.

By Eric Ludy , August 29, 2009

Patrolling the fair from on high

Former Willmar teacher one of 20 mounted security personnel at the Minnesota State Fair

By Eric Ludy , August 29, 2009

The Art of Memory

Most people take snapshots of grinning family members in front of major landmarks to remember their trips to faraway places. Eva Carlson Miller creates intricate life-sized sculptures out of clay, packed with stories of people and their relationships with their environment. Sounds like a lot of work, but representing memories of travel through art is Miller’s job. Since heading off to college in Oklahoma in 2004, the Willmar High School and Ridgewater College graduate has been creating a series of artwork that will be exhibited at the Ridgewater College Gallery in Willmar beginning next week. She calls it: “The Art of Memory.”

By Eric Ludy , August 22, 2009

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