Pipestone County Star
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INFORMATION SPEECH Thursday, March 21 Big South Conference At Worthington Team Winners Large School Division: Marshall; Small School Division: Windom Individual Categories Champions Creative Expression: Zoey Tasseff, Fairmont Discussion: Isaac Kinser, Worthington Dramatic Interpretation: Lydia Weverka, Marshall Duo Interpretation: Grace Simpson and Oliver Thedens, Fairmont Extemporaneous Reading: Sophia Gaul, Marshall Extemporaneous Speaking: Dominick Lund-May; PAS student Noah Gearhart was second in this category Great Speeches: Abi Peyman, Fairmont Humorous Interpretation: Leon Yang, Fairmont Informative Speaking: Jessika Tunnissen, Luverne; PAS student Olyvia Weber was third Original Oratory: Alayna Haefner, Fairmont Poetry Reading: Maya Winsell, St. Peter; PAS student Chloe Olivier was... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-speech-list-of-big-south-pas-invitational-winners/
Pipestone Area School senior speech participant Chloe Olivier discussed a poem called “Things I Didn’t Know I Loved” by Nazim Hikmet, a Turkish author and playwright. Teammate Madison Purdin gave a dramatic interpretation of “The Witness” by Shannon Cartwright. Other Arrows discussed controversial topics, like Noah Gearhart’s extemporaneous speech on reproductive rights. Edgerton Public freshman Jael Lopez Garcia wowed everyone with her speeches on several subjects — ranging from foster care to drug addiction and methods of learning — en route to a gold medal. “I was really surprised,” Lopez Garcia said. “I was very excited. It’s a huge accomplishment... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-speech-pas-edgerton-fare-well-at-local-tournament/
TYLER — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton boys basketball team played on the final day of the entire season for the third consecutive year. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the teamwork, sacrifice and dedication of seven senior Knights: Colby Frahm, Blake Christianson, Andrew Meyers, Benjamin Guida, Carson Gylling, Isaac Norgaard and Drew Werkman. Meyers transferred into Russell-Tyler-Ruthton from Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD) during his junior year. Six of them have been responsible for a historic run that hasn’t been seen since the late 1980s and 1990. This run of Knights’ success will be remembered for the 2023 Class A state... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-seniors-were-heart-and-soul-for-r-t-r-boys/
The Al Opland Singers are preparing for their spring show titled “Ways of Peace,” which is set to run one weekend only on April 4-7 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. Show times for April 4-6 are 7:30 p.m., and April 7 at 2 p.m. All seating is reserved and tickets are for adults and for students, and may be purchased at the PPAC box office Tuesday - Friday from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., on the center’s website or by calling the center at 507-825-2020. The show, which is being produced by Stephanie (Korver) Ford, of Hadley,... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/al-opland-singers-to-present-ways-of-peace-april-4-7/
A desire to keep a pipeline away from the pipestone and the area near the cemeteries northwest of Pipestone were two recurring themes during public information meetings held Tuesday, March 19 to take comments on a comparative environmental analysis (CEA) for the proposed Magellan pipeline reroute project. Around 50 people attended the afternoon meeting, which lasted about two hours, and about 25 people attended the evening meeting, which lasted about an hour. About 25 people commented or asked questions during the meetings, which were held by the Minnesota Department of Commerce at the Hiawatha Lodge in Pipestone. Among them was... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/concerns-expressed-about-pipeline-reroute-projecta-desire-to-keep-a-pipeline-away-from-the-pipestone-and-the-area-near-the-cemeteries-northwest-of-pipestone-were-two-recurring-themes-during-public-inf/
Even if you are not a sports fan, by now hopefully you have still heard the name Caitlin Clark. If you have not heard of her name, you should know one thing. She is a senior for the University of Iowa women’s basketball team. In the last two years, she has undoubtedly changed the game of basketball and the state of women’s athletics. I would start naming awards and accolades for Clark, but I would likely miss something as there are so many. What has been the most evident to me is the rising attention she has drawn to women’s... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/clark-madness/
TO THE EDITOR: In my lifetime I have seen a huge shift in people’s opinion of God in most church denominations. In chapel in high school we had a different pastor from the area do the Thursday chapels. One old pastor took two turns because he had a heart for the youth. He told us that all our lives we had been taught that God is a God of wrath against sin and we are to approach him with fear and trembling. All denominations had fire and brimstone preachers. Then the old pastor told us a new concept. He said... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/letters-from-our-readers-who-is-god-and-how-do-we-approach-him/
Property valuation notices are expected to arrive in the mail this week in Pipestone County. The annual notices inform property owners of the estimated market value and taxable market value of their property. The estimated market value of a property represents what a property would sell for on the open market. This year’s estimates are based on sales from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023. The estimated market values should be within 90 to 105 percent of actual sale prices, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Pipestone County Assessor Christine McChesney said assessors do a mass appraisal for... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/property-valuation-notices-should-be-arriving-soon/
In mid-February, Leah (Blom) Friese, a Pipestone County native now living in Sioux Falls, was added to the second annual SiouxFalls.Business online only news website’s “30 Under 30” list. According to the website, recipients of the honor are chosen from a pool of nominees who have showed “clear and early achievements and promise for future leadership, strong engagement in the community beyond their workplace and innovative passion projects.” Friese, who was nominated by a former classmate at Augustana University, said being added to the list was an unexpected honor. “It just feels like I don’t really even deserve to be... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/pipestone-county-native-on-siouxfalls-business-30-under-30-list/
A controlled burn southwest of Ihlen on Monday, March 11 reignited on Tuesday, March 12 and spread beyond the intended area, illustrating the risks of burning in dry, windy conditions. Jasper Fire Chief Jeff Leslie said the Jasper Fire Department was conducting the controlled burn on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land owned by Ed Dock on Monday. The Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office had issued a burn ban before the fire was started, but the fire department chose to proceed with the burn at that time. Leslie said firefighters were on the scene for three or four hours on Monday and... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/fire-spreads-in-dry-breezy-conditions/
Congratulations Vikings fans. Your team has landed one of the best running backs in the NFL. Aaron Jones has been my favorite player for years. When he gets on a roll, it seems like he can eat up big chunks of yards on every down. In his seven years in the league, he’s racked up 5,940 rushing yards, tallying over 1,000 yards three times, and averaging five yards per carry. He’s also been a great pass catcher out of the backfield and even lined up at wide receiver on occasion. Jones has been a leader on the field and in... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/welcome-to-minnesota-youll-be-missed/
INFORMATION SCOREBOARD Thursday, March 14 Girls Basketball State Tournament Class A Quarterfinal Maturi Pavilion University of Minnesota At Minneapolis Underwood 64, Southwest Minnesota Christian 52 Boys Basketball Section 3A Championship R/A Facility Southwest Minnesota State University At Marshall Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 67, Central Minnesota Christian 47 Friday, March 15 State Tournament Class A Consolation Gangelhoff Center Concordia University At St. Paul Mayer Lutheran 61, Southwest Minnesota Christian 45 Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/scoreboard-recent-high-school-basketball-results/
TWIN CITIES — The Southwest Minnesota Christian girls’ basketball team achieved something that had only been done on seven previous occasions in school history. However, the Eagles dropped both games at the state Class A tournament, falling to eventual fourth-place team Underwood 64-52 at Maturi Pavilion on Thursday in the quarterfinals and then 61-45 to Mayer Lutheran in the consolation semifinals Friday at the Gangelhoff Center on the Concordia University campus. Mayer Lutheran eventually blasted Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, 70-38, in the consolation championship Saturday morning. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart knocked off Underwood, 66-49, for third. Goodhue, the No. 1 seeded team in the tournament,... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-for-eagle-girls-state-trip-doesnt-go-as-planned/
MARSHALL — The tradition-rich Russell-Tyler-Ruthton boys’ basketball team achieved another benchmark during last Thursday’s Section 3A championship. For the second time in program history, the Knights have qualified for the Class A state tournament in three consecutive seasons. “It’s only happened one other time, 1988, 1989 and 1990,” R-T-R head coach Daren Gravley noted. “It is something special that rarely happens. We graduated eight seniors last year, four starters and two players that had prominent roles. “I’m very proud of our guys for buying into the changes we made (during the season), overcoming the challenges we faced, coming together as... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-knights-take-spot-at-boys-state-round-table/
The Pipestone Area Schools’ softball and track and field teams began practices on Monday, March 11, which was the first allowable date for training per Minnesota State High School League guidelines. The softball team also participated in a scrimmage at the Packer Dome, part of the Wescott Athletic Complex, in Austin on Saturday, March 16. “It went well,” PAS softball coach Robert Petersen said in a text to the Pipestone County Star. “There’s always stuff to improve on, and it will be a process.” The Arrows squared off versus Winona and Owatonna during the event. They will open the season... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/local-hope-springs-eternal-for-pas-teams/
The Pipestone A’s amateur baseball team has released its season schedule for 2024. The A’s will open the season on Saturday, May 4, at the Minneota Mudhens, with the first home game slated for Wednesday, May 22, versus the Milroy Irish at Westview Park. The club also has announced the 4th Annual Pepsi Invitational will take place the weekend of Friday-Sunday, June 7-9. A member of the Gopher League, the A’s final game will be on July 14 versus the Fox Lake Foxes at home. Avery Ploeger has been named the A’s manager, replacing Jordan Karels. Read the Thursday, March... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/baseball-pipestone-as-release-2024-summer-schedule/
The Pipestone Area Schools wrestling program reflected on yet another successful season during a closing awards presentation on Monday, March 11, in The Commons. The event featured a potluck dinner, to wit PAS head coach Brian Bos quipped about the spread like Clark Griswold in those National Lampoon’s movies. “If this tastes half as good as it looks,” Bos said, “then we’re in for a special treat.” And it was. The PAS coaching staff, Paul Young, Gary Haupert, Scott Sterud and Bos, presented awards to wrestlers from seventh through 12th grade. This year’s squad featured 36 members, and there was... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-wrestling-bos-presents-team-awards/
PARK CITY, Kan. — Former Pipestone Area Schools’ wrestler Hunter Burnett wrapped up his collegiate career at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Saturday at Hartman Arena. Augustana University (Sioux Falls, S.D.) competitor Burnett finished 2-3 at the event in the 141-pound weight group, which was good enough for an eighth-place finish. Khyvon Grace from West Liberty defeated Burnett on account of a medical forfeit in the bout for seventh. Burnett earned a sudden victory over Grace in the opening round of the event, so these contestants were evenly matched. Hunter also recorded an 11-6 decision over Corey Garnet... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/college-wrestling-burnett-wraps-up-career-at-augustana/
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE ICE HOCKEY BOYS All-Conference Team Tyler Arends, Luverne; Elliot Domagala, Luverne; Patrick Kroski, Luverne; Owen Sundenga, Luverne; Drew Simonette, Minnesota River; Talan Plante, Marshall; Owen Renslow, Marshall; Bryer Lang, New Ulm; Kaden Larson, New Ulm; Austin Uecker, New Ulm; Brayden Hesch-Priem, Waseca; Griffin Storey, Waseca; and Sonny Heil, Windom Honorable Mention Blaik Bork, Luverne; Landyn Lais, Luverne; Riley Kamm, Minnesota River; Travis Kotek, Minnesota River; Bryer Hoffman, New Ulm; Hunter Anderson, Waseca; and Caden VanBriesen, Worthington Conference Standings 1, Luverne, 16-0 2, New Ulm, 14-2 3, Minnesota River, 11-5 4, Waseca, 10-6 5, Marshall, 9-7 6, Windom,... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/information-big-south-conference-releases-all-league-boys-hockey-team/
INFORMATION SCHEDULE Wednesday, March 20 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities All Day, Classes A-4A, various locations Thursday, March 21 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities 11 a.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton vs. Cherry, Target Center, Minneapolis Speech All Day, Pipestone at Big South Showcase at Worthington High School Friday, March 22 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities All Day, Classes A-4A, various locations Saturday, March 23 Boys Basketball State Tournament At Twin Cities All Day, Classes A-4A, various locations Speech 8 a.m., Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at Melrose Invitational 9:30 a.m., Pipestone Area Schools tournament Monday, March 25 Boys Tennis 3:30... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-schedule-for-the-period-through-thursday-march-28/
Pipestone Area Schools’ head girls basketball coach Grant Everson handed out four major awards at the season-ending awards program on Tuesday at Dar’s Pizza. Headlining the honors, junior 5-foot-10 combination guard Jadyn Kor was named team’s most valuable player. Kor has enjoyed vast success in girls basketball, surpassing 1,000 points in a career during the Arrows’ season finale on Saturday, Feb. 24, an 81-61 loss to Windom in the Section 3A playoffs. “I like where she’s going as a player, and how our team is going,” Everson said during the awards presentation. PAS finished the season with a 5-20 record,... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-during-2023-24-season-arrow-girls-showed-betterment/
ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Former Southwest Minnesota Christian School girls basketball players Maren Nerem and Kenzie Snyder are currently part of the women’s program at Northwestern College. Nerem, a 5-foot-11 junior from Edgerton, wrapped up her junior season for the Red Raiders. She started 11 of Northwestern’s 31 games during the 2023-24 campaign. This past season, Nerem compiled 1,230 minutes played — posting averages of 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Maren dished off 30 assists, had 16 steals and blocked 10 shots. What’s more, she made 60-of-82 free throws (73.2 percent) and eight 3-pointers. Overall at Northwestern, Nerem... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/college-spotlight-nerem-snyder-help-nwc-women-to-solid-season/
Southwest Minnesota Christian Schools’ head girls basketball coach Luke Drooger picked up some hardware at the Section 3A South Tournament final. After the Eagles defeated hometown rival Edgerton, 82-56, in the Section 3A subsection championship game at Pipestone Area Schools, Drooger was honored as coach of the year. Loren Carlson presented Drooger with the award during the post-game awards ceremony. “Like I told the girls, it should be a team award,” Drooger said in an email to the Pipestone County Star, “because a head coach needs to have good players and a good coaching staff to win 28 gamers.” Drooger... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-swcs-drooger-honored-as-section-3a-coach-of-year/
The most common concern brought up by those who attended the Pipestone County Highway Department’s annual road and bridge hearing on March 5 was a desire for dust control, specifically on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 17 south of state Highway 30. Pipestone County Highway Engineer Nick Bergman brought up the road first while giving an overview of projects planned for this year. He said the county was planning to add up to eight inches of gravel and install tile under the center of the road starting at Hwy. 30 and going 5.8 miles south toward Edgerton. Bergman said he’d... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/dust-control-tops-concerns-at-road-and-bridge-hearing/
Gather up your detective gear gumshoes because the Calumet Players Children’s Theater will be presenting two mystery-themed productions Friday, March 22 - Sunday, March 24 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7 pm. and Sunday will feature a 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are for adults and for students and can be purchased at the arts center ticket office and at the door the night of the performance. Each production is set to last around an hour and a short intermission between the two will provide time for the first cast to... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/they-are-on-the-case-the-childrens-theater-has-a-mystery-to-solve/
About 21 percent of the 5,118 registered voters in Pipestone County voted in the presidential nomination primary on March 5. That’s higher than the approximately 15 percent of registered voters who voted statewide, but down slightly from the 23 percent of Pipestone County registered voters who voted in the 2020 presidential primary. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, there were 5,092 registered voters in Pipestone County before the polls opened on March 5 and 26 people registered that day. An estimated 1,050 people voted in the primary. Of those, 731 voted by mail or with absentee ballots, and... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/a-fifth-of-registered-voters-cast-primary-ballots/
Southwest Minnesota Christian nearly doubled up Edgerton Public on points in the opening half, rolling to a 50-26 intermission lead en route to a 26-point victory in the Section 3A South championship game at Pipestone Area Schools Gymnasium on Tuesday, March 5. Jocelyn Barron paced all scorers with 23 points, including nine field goals. Ana Veldkamp, Makenzie Pap and Madyson Fey contributed 16, 15, and 14 points, respectively. The Flying Dutch managed just 7-of-18 free throws (38.8 percent) while SWC totaled 26 free-throw attempts. Elliott Fleischman was Edgerton’s top scorer with 15 points, which included three 3-pointers. Alyda Vande Griend... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-swc-girls-earn-subsection-title-with-win-over-edgerton/
MARSHALL — The Russell-Tyler Ruthton boys basketball team is one step away from returning to defend its Class A state championship. The Knights overcame a sluggish start to defeat Hills-Beaver Creek 64-54 for the Section 3A South title on Saturday evening at the R/A Facility on the Southwest Minnesota State University campus. Elite basketball coaches make adjustments, and that’s exactly what R-T-R skipper Daren Gravley did with the team down 28-21 at intermission. “We defended their dribble hand-off and their ball screen (better),” Gravley noted in an email to the Pipestone County Star, “Specifically making sure our communication identified what... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-r-t-r-boys-one-step-closer-with-win-over-hills-beaver-creek/
MARSHALL — Rebounds and more rebounds. Southwest Minnesota Christian Schools’ junior 5-foot-11 post Jocelyn Barron had plenty of them. How does the number 21 sound to you, Eagles fans? Barron kept countless offensive possession alive — and also kept Minneota off the glass on the defensive end — as SWC handily defeated nemesis Minneota 58-38 in the Section 3A championship game Friday night at the R/A Facility on the Southwest Minnesota State University campus. “I had to try and finish no matter what,” Barron said exuberantly. “This means a lot. All my work in the gym has paid off.” Barron... Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/high-school-basketball-an-eagle-state-of-mind-for-swc-girls/
Pipestone resident Brad Smidt shows off the grand prize he won from Lake Benton Sportsman’s Club raffle back on Saturday, Jan. 27. The grand prize was this 2023 model year Ice Castle Ice Rover. The ice house is 6.5-by-16 feet, and has amenities including a single axle frame, cedar interior, LED package, microwave, 20,000 BTU furnace and USB and 110-volt plug-ins. Article Link https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/the-great-outdoors-showing-off-the-grand-prize/
