CLARA CITY

UPDATE: 2 killed, 1 injured in crash in Kandiyohi County

Dale Morin — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:47:33 GMT

WILLMAR — Two people died in a crash Wednesday in Whitefield Township east of Raymond in Kandiyohi County.

According to the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, Ronald Lundquist, 83, and Betty Lundquist 76, both of Blomkest, suffered fatal injuries in the accident. They were in a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.

The other driver, in a 2022 Ford Edge, 75-year-old Beverly Retzlaff of Clara City, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the news release. Retzlaff was transported to CentraCare — Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar for treatment.

According to Cpl. Riley Kampsen, law enforcement was notified of a crash at the intersection of County Road 5 Southwest and County Road 3 around 11:38 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Deputies at the scene found both vehicles in the west ditch of County Road 5, north of County Road 3. They determined the Ford Edge was westbound on County Road 3 and the Chrysler Pacifica was northbound on County Road 5.

The crash remains under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

]]>

Clara City pilot dies of injuries from crop-dusting crash

Staff reports — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 16:00:28 GMT

CLARA CITY, Minn. — A Clara City man has died as a result of injuries he suffered in a crash while piloting a crop-dusting plane in Chippewa County.

The family of Derek John DuHoux reported that he died Wednesday, Aug. 2, while in medical care for the injuries he suffered the morning of July 25.

“Derek went doing what he loves — flying! Godspeed son, fly high with the angels,” the family posted on a CaringBridge site created to share medical updates about him.

The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office reported that the plane DuHoux was flying caught a power line and crashed into a cornfield in Crate Township around 9:35 a.m. July 25. He was transported by LifeLink Aircare with life-threatening injuries after emergency responders reached the site, according to the news release from the sheriff at the time. The medical facility was not named.

The Clara City native and MACCRAY High �� graduate was a military veteran and a 2011 graduate of the aircraft and pilot bachelor’s program at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, according to West Central Tribune archives and a LinkedIn page.

His service in the military included service as Alpha Company commander with the 1-10 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion in the U.S. Army.

A West Central Tribune photo from 2007 shows he missed his senior prom while attending military training in Georgia.

]]>

Hinterland Wines evolves on the western Minnesota prairie

Tom Cherveny / Forum News Service — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 20:16:47 GMT

CLARA CITY, Minn. — Developing a vineyard and winery in the midst of a working farm in Chippewa County has made Aric and Aftan Koenen of Hinterland Wines very much like their farmer neighbors.

After all, this is farming. It requires a lot of hard work, ingenuity and blind faith.

It was snowing on the April day that the first acre of the vineyard was planted. “You don’t forget that,” said Aric Koenen.

That was in 2005, when his parents, Karin and Ron Koenen, decided to develop a two-acre vineyard on their farm to raise cold-hardy grapes developed by the University of Minnesota. Their intent was to sell the grapes to new, emerging wineries in the state.

Today, the Hinterland Vineyard covers 10 acres of former corn and soybean land just outside of Clara City. University-developed hybrids including Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent and Marquette, along with commercial varieties Petite Amie and Brianna, fill the trellis.

Some of the harvest still finds its way to other Minnesota wineries, but most stays at home. For 10 years now, the Hinterland Winery has been producing its own award-winning wines under seven of its own labels.

Aric and Aftan said they had no way to know when they opened the winery whether they would find a customer base for their wines in farm country. They’ve been pleasantly surprised. Customers come from Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Minneapolis and all points between and represent a broad spectrum of people, said the Koenens.

At first, customers came strictly for the opportunity to enjoy their Minnesota-made wines. The “honeymoon phase” soon wore off, said Aric.

In response, the couple developed the location into a hospitality destination. They purchased a food truck and now offer a varied menu that features locally raised meats and bison. They offer craft beers along with their wines.

They expanded the wine tasting room to accommodate diners. They developed a large, outdoor courtyard with tables and chairs where guests can enjoy the scenery of the vineyard and live entertainment.

The result: Today’s customers know the Hinterland brand. “It is 90 percent a destination,” said Aric Koenen. They rarely see the random visitors who once slammed on their brakes when they saw a sign for a winery in corn and soybean country, according to Aric.

Their rural customers still largely favor sweet wines, they said. Yet overall, Aftan and Aric said that they have noticed a gradual maturation in people’s tastes and appreciation for wines.

They have proven that the University’s cold-hardy grapes can be cultivated on the open, western Minnesota prairie. “You can,” said Aric, “but there are tricks that are different from the rest of the world.”

The two have also demonstrated that grapes from the prairie can produce quality wines of complexity and character. But again, it’s not easy. “You have to be willing to wreck a lot of wine,” said Aric, who is the winemaker. He said it requires being willing to experiment to develop wines worthy of the Hinterland label.

By all measures, this year has been the most challenging for the couple. On their ninth wedding anniversary, June 5, lightning struck their home during a thunderstorm. It was after midnight. Aric was awake, watching the weather, worried about hail damaging the vineyard. He smelled smoke.

“I woke up to doors slamming,” said Aftan. She handed her husband a fire extinguisher but it was already too late. “Grab the cat and run,” he said. They lost all of their belongings.

Aftan works full time as a dental technician in Willmar along with helping in the vineyard and winery. She said the couple had no choice but to rely more on their employees as they dealt with all of the issues resulting from the fire. The winery employees, all part-time workers, handled things very well, she said.

They are hoping to build a new home next summer. Until then, they’ve made Aftan’s parents’ lake cabin their temporary home.

Last winter was the most severe since they planted the vineyard, and it took a toll. They didn’t lose any vines, but the crop is about 60 percent of former years, they said.

Despite the challenges, the Koenens said they believe it remains “doable” for other entrepreneurs to start their own vineyard or winery in western Minnesota.

They offer this advice: Be ready to work long hours and make the most of everything.

Is it better to grow corn and soybeans or make a go of it in this emerging industry? “Depends,” said Aric. “There are nights when it is a lot easier to shut the tractor off and go home.”

But then, he added quickly, there are those summer evenings when they join their customers in the courtyard and take in the scenery and enjoy the fruit of this land, and appreciate all that they’ve done.

Their goal is to continue Hinterland’s growth, but carefully so. They want to work on the wholesale side to expand the number of locations where Hinterland wines are available. They also hope to replace the food truck with a full-sized kitchen.

And when things settle down a little bit, they plan to host a benefit for the Clara City and Prinsburg volunteer fire departments. They want to thank them for how hard they fought their house fire.

Hinterland Wines evolves on the western Minnesota prairie

Hinterland Winery and Vineyard is located amidst a working farm outside of Clara City in Chippewa County. The vineyard now covers 10 acres of former corn and soybean cropland, and the winery is also a destination where patrons can enjoy Hinterland's wines, a varied menu featuring local foods, entertainment and a beautiful farm setting. Submitted

Hinterland Wines has evolved from its start to focus on hospitality. The original wine tasting room has been expanded to accommodate diners, and an outdoor courtyard with seating for up to 70 welcomes guests and features live entertainment during the warm-weather season. Submitted

Hinterland Wines has expanded its vineyard to 10 acres. Netting is being placed to protect the grapes prior to harvest. The vineyard and winery purchased a mechanical harvester a couple of years ago to make certain the perishable crop can be harvested properly in the short time frame available. Submitted

There are difficult days when Hinterland Wines co-owner Aric Koenen admits he would prefer to raise traditional crops. It would be easier to shut off the tractor and go home for the day. But then, there are those evenings in the courtyard when he and his wife, Aftan, can relax with patrons and take in the beauty of what they've helped create on the Chippewa County prairie. Submitted

After the "honeymoon phase" wore off, the owners of Hinterland Wines said they realized they needed to do more than offer wine tasting to attract customers to the winery and vineyard. Their first step was to offer a varied menu, which includes bison and local foods. Submitted

Hinterland Wines evolves on the western Minnesota prairie

]]>

Not yet old enough to buy his own handgun, 18-year-old is one of Minnesota's newest police officers

Tom Cherveny / Forum News Service — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:29:36 GMT

CLARA CITY, Minn. – A ride-along that Ethan Schwinghammer took as an eighth-grade student in the Brooten-Belgrade-Elrosa ��s set him on a career path that few of his peers are considering today.

Just a few months before his 19th birthday, Schwinghammer is a licensed police officer in Minnesota and working as a patrol officer in west-central Minnesota. He began duties as a part-time officer with the Clara City Police Department on Jan. 16. Since shortly after his 18th birthday in April, he has been and remains a community service officer with the nearby Willmar Police Department as well.

“I know I chose the right job because I like coming to work,” Schwinghammer said.

Fewer young people are pursuing law enforcement careers these days, making it difficult for departments across the state and nation to recruit new officers. The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association called attention to the issue last year.

At age 18, Schwinghammer is one of the younger officers on active duty in the state. He’s not old enough to buy his own handgun from a licensed federal firearms dealer under Minnesota law, although he’s licensed and trained and can legally own and carry one.

Clara City Police Chief Kimberly Wood said his youth did not concern her when Schwinghammer applied for a position on her force. She said he came highly recommended, and she liked the fact that he had experience as a community service officer.

Working alongside him showed her something equally important: “He’s a natural. No other way to put it,” Wood said.

He comes to the job with all of the schooling and training as would any other new officer.

Schwinghammer said he took advantage of Minnesota’s post-secondary enrollment option and began full-time studies at Ridgewater College in Willmar at the start of his junior year in high school. He continued with full-time studies through Ridgewater in both his junior and senior high years.

He graduated from BBE High �� in 2018. He had continued to play sports and hang out with friends during his last two years in high school, while also keeping a part-time job and managing his full-time college courses.

Schwinghammer said he’s confident and ready for what comes his way on duty. “I’ve done the same schooling as anyone else,” he said.

His experience with community policing in Willmar has also been invaluable, he said. He has had lots of opportunities to learn from and work with experienced officers on the force.

He has two goals going forward. He hopes he can join the Willmar Police Department as a full-time officer in the future. He also plans to continue his schooling and earn a four-year degree, which opens up more career opportunities for him within the profession.

Schwinghammer said his career choice surprised some of his friends and classmates.

Yet for him, it was an easy choice. He wanted a profession where he could help others, get outside and have no two days alike.

That very first ride-along convinced him that law enforcement offered what he wanted, he said. It was taken as part of his eighth-grade civics class. He liked it enough that he did ride-alongs with other officers in the years that followed as well, he said.

Chief Wood said the new officer is working alongside a partner at this point, but she is confident he can handle any challenge on his own. She described him as very intelligent and as having a “good eye” for spotting problems.

His enthusiasm for community service policing fits well with the work he will be doing, she added. “He’s very approachable and community-oriented, and that is the cornerstone of our department, community policing.”

]]>

A champion among tutors: Clara City native a male role model for preschoolers

Bailey Hovland — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 18:54:21 GMT

ATWATER, Minn. - In the organized chaos of an elementary school classroom, bold shapes and bright colors adorn the walls, adding elements of learning to the very scenery of the room. On one wall hangs a diagram to teach about the different seasons and the weather, felt to match the warm yet vibrant energy of the room.

Just under this wall hanging sits Isaac Boike, reading "Home on the Range" to a few preschoolers, complete with talking animals and homesteader characters. They sit, fidgeting as preschoolers often do, yet Boike manages to engage each child before their attention is captured elsewhere - by the soft tones of a movie being played in the background or the texture of the rug or even their own feet.

Isaac Boike is a 25-year-old Clara City, Minn., native who spends the majority of his time with kids. He works as a reading tutor for Minnesota Reading Corps, an organization that strives to help children build a strong reading foundation so they can be successful in their future academic career.

According to the Minnesota Reading Corps website, "Reading is the foundation of all learning - but in Minnesota, one in three third-graders struggles to read. If a child isn't reading well by the end of third grade, it's almost impossible to catch up; 74 percent of children who read poorly in third grade continue to read poorly in high school. Why? From age 3 through third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade, they have to read well in order to learn."

Boike is just one of the thousands of reading tutors nationwide, but at ACGC he stands out among the elementary school teachers because unlike most of his colleagues, he's a man.

"Well, I think that it's a real rarity for a young man to work in the preschool environment. And Isaac expressed direct interest in doing that. We like to have a diversity of individuals who can work with kids, and so having a male role model in the classroom to teach these kids provides some different exposure than they usually might have," said Gary Young, a passionate member of Minnesota Reading Corps and Math Corps.

"Out of the whole staff, I think there's only three or four males who work in the school," Boike said.

"Before I started working here, I was managing a group home. That position was all night shifts, so I was looking for a few day shifts. And then one of my friends, she used to be a reading tutor, recommended that I should apply for the Minnesota Reading Corps position at ACGC and I got the job," Boike said.

Since he took the literacy advocate position at ACGC, Boike feels he might have found his passion.

"Working with the kids and watching their progress, on how much they've learned from day one to the last day of school, that's my favorite part. And I really enjoy working with the kids, so one extra thing I've gotten out of this is the thought that maybe I should go into childhood education and get my degree to be a real teacher," he said.

Along with his work in the ACGC school district, Boike also dedicates some of his time to driving over to Litchfield and helping out there.

"Grandma Deb, she's not my grandma but everyone calls her Grandma Deb, works over in Litchfield and she asked me to come and help her out as a male role model in her preschool classroom," Boike said.

And although he's paid for his work at ACGC, his hours in Grandma Deb's Litchfield classroom are entirely voluntary.

"We just think he's a champion among tutors, and the kids love him as well as do the administrators," Young said. "He's so engaged and warm hearted and we are so glad to have him as a part of our literacy program."

Tutors in the Minnesota Reading Corps can serve four years, so Boike will be returning to ACGC Elementary �� in the fall to continue promoting preschool literacy.

"Who knows, maybe after a few years with Reading Corps, I'll go to school for elementary education. The program has really helped me, by giving me a job and showing me what I like to do, so in a few years you might see me working full-time in a classroom that's mine," Boike said.

A champion among tutors: Clara City native a male role model for preschoolers

Isaac Boike holds a book that he uses to read to students at Atwater Elementary �� in Atwater June 19. Erica Dischino / Forum News Service

Isaac Boike reads to students William Hennen, left, 4, Josiah Paul, 5, Kinly Thonvold, 5, and Josiah Paul, 5, at Atwater Elementary �� in Atwater June 19. Erica Dischino / Forum News Service

]]>

Rains of up to 9.45 inches, tornadoes hit southern Minnesota

Tom Cherveny — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 22:24:19 GMT

WILLMAR, Minn. - Residents in southern Minnesota are mopping up wet basements after a low pressure system dumped rains of up to 9.45 inches Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning. The heaviest rains fell during the night hours.

Tornadoes were also reported in south-central Minnesota as part of the system.

Redwood Falls officially recorded 9.45 inches in the rain event. Willmar posted 4.11 inches, according to information from the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen.

Official totals from the Weather Service also showed 6.07 inches of rain in Maynard, 5.26 inches in Granite Falls and 6.82 inches in Morton.

Unofficial rainfall totals from private individuals included higher totals, some topping 8 and 9 inches in the Bird Island area and an area south of Granite Falls.

"This amount of rainfall is very unusual to occur in such a short period of time,'' said Michelle Markgraf, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office.

She said three factors were at play. A relatively strong low pressure system - more typical of autumn or winter - moved into the area. It was a slow moving system, and the air to the south was saturated with moisture. That allowed the system to wring out copious amounts of water as it dragged its way through the region.

The system's leading edge is believed to have triggered three and possibly as many as six tornado touchdowns in south-central Minnesota, according to the Weather Service.

In less than two hours late Wednesday afternoon, the area was slammed with tornadic activity.

The National Weather Service received seven reports of tornado sightings at different locations.

Some of those sightings might have been of the same tornado, according to meteorologist Eric Ahasic. The first tornado reports started just before 5 p.m. near Nicollet. There were sightings one mile east, three miles south and one mile south of the town, Ahasic said.

By about 5:30 p.m. the northbound storm had reached the New Sweden area in the north-central part of Nicollet County. There were tornado sightings one mile north of town and another three miles to the north.

By 6:15 p.m. the storm had reached the Gaylord area in Sibley County. A tornado was reported one mile northwest of Gaylord and another sighting reported two

Just north of New Sweden, a tornado toppled the barn leaving live exposed electric wires and trapping the homeowners in the nearby house until it was ruled safe, according to the Nicollet County Sheriff's Department.

The system did not carry strong winds in west-central Minnesota, but the heavy rains caused problems of their own. Crop fields are saturated and the heavy waters filled waterways to the brim.

Crews with the Minnesota Department of Transportation responded to reports of water over the road in Morgan, a tree down on state Highway 19 near Franklin, and water issues on portions of U.S. Highway 212 and state Highway 67, reported Mandi Lighthizer, public affairs coordinator with the Willmar MnDOT office for southwest Minnesota.

The rains in the Upper Minnesota River Valley led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to increase the outflow from its Lac Qui Parle Dam from 550 cubic feet per second to 2,500 cfs, on Thursday.

The rains are raising levels in Lac qui Parle Lake. It is currently at 933.6 feet and is expected to crest at approximately 938.3 feet on August 27, the Corps reported. The normal pool elevation for this time of the year is 933 feet.

The Minnesota River at Montevideo had been flowing a 916 cubic feet per second on Sunday. The flow jumped to 2,560 cubic feet per second on Thursday, and was rising.

Motorists are advised to be watchful for water on roads. The good news is that the forecast for Friday calls for only a chance of scattered storms, with drying weather and summer like temperatures in the low 80s for Saturday into Sunday.

Unfortunately, a chance of storms and rain returns Sunday night into Monday.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press contributed to this report

]]>

Clara City woman killed in collision

Forum News Service — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:47:31 GMT

PENNOCK, Minn. - A Clara City woman has been identified as the person killed in two-vehicle crash near Pennock on Monday.

Julie Bedel, 41, was pronounced dead at Rice Memorial Hospital after the collision north of Pennock, according to a release from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office.

The driver of the other vehicle, Kaitlin Olson, 20, of New London was also transported to Rice Memorial Hospital.

Two passengers in the Bedel vehicle and one passenger in the Olson vehicle also were injured, but their names were not released.

The crash is under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol.

]]>