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MAIDEN ROCK--Barbering, bartending and bags of mail are all in Mike Julian's work experience. Julian retired this spring from the third of those jobs, being a Maiden Rock mail carrier, but he's not quite ready yet for the easy chair.
SPRING VALLEY--Richard Johnson had done a lot of building by the time he was approached about becoming a police officer. The results of his former work in this area's construction industry are still evident, such as the Spring Valley dam, a project on which he operated heavy equipment. That was with an outfit called Groves, but he was also once employed doing excavating for Helgeson Trucking and putting up log houses with Gene Sotona. Last week, Johnson didn't hesitate when asked whether he preferred being a builder or in law enforcement, however.
A shopping center in Ellsworth's midway district is being given a facelift and a new name. The 40,000 square foot center which presently houses Family Dollar, JoJo's Jewelry, Midway Motors and Village Pharmacy will be known as The Village Center, according to owner George Jensen. Jeff Esterby Construction is the contractor for the project. The former location of Hinck's supermarket in the east end of the center is being divided into five new spaces, Jensen said Thursday. New walls have been built inside and new windows installed.
Couples considering divorce, neighbors feuding over properties, employers and employees in job disputes. Conflict's an everyday part of living, says Geri L. Carlson, whose Ellsworth-based Access to Justice business is dedicated to helping these and other opposing parties overcome obstacles in their relationships. Not a lawyer, Carlson said Wednesday she's a facilitator interested in changing people's ideas about conflict.
A proposed two-year settlement between teachers and the Ellsworth School Board was approved by the board Monday. The proposal features total salary package increases of $453,617 in the 2005-06 school year and $495,199 in the 2006-07 year. These amounts represent a 4.8 percent increase in the first year and a five percent increase in the second year. The agreement also includes changes in the health benefit program.
Ellsworth High School Instructor Mark Stoesz expects the local school district to receive a $1,000 check this summer from his Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship award. Stoesz was among 100 teachers statewide honored this spring by the foundation for demonstrating superior ability to inspire love of learning in their students, motivating others and providing meritorious service both inside and outside the classroom.
Retiring staffers and those with many years of service were honored at the 19th annual Ellsworth School District Recognition Dinner Thursday. Each retiree had others speak on their behalf before offering departing comments.
Blair Bengs has started getting out of the city and into the country. When the Herald's summer news intern was introduced to the Pierce County Fair last year, she liked what she saw. "It was the first time I ever sat on a tractor," the Red Wing native said Tuesday. The fair will account for a major share of her duties at the newspaper. She'll contribute articles and photos to the Herald's special Pierce County Fair section, to be published shortly before the Aug. 10-13 event.
Accelerated Reader program participants at Hillcrewst Elementary School were rewarded for their reading achievements with the chance to "cream" school personnel during a Tuesday assembly in the school gym. Top readers sprayed canned whipped cream into tins then planted the "pies" directly on the faces of chosen teachers, the librarian and even the school principal. Readiing goals were set throughout the term.
Twin Cities TV stations converged on Ellsworth Thursday after the Department of Defense officially announced the death of Navy Petty Officer Second Class Jaime S. Jaenke, 29, of Bay City in Iraq. The Humvee in which Jaenke was riding was hit by a roadside bomb in the Al Anbar province early last week. The 1995 Ellsworth High School graduate was an intermediate EMT for the Ellsworth Ambulance Service until she went on a leave of absence to enlist in the Navy Reserve. She had also worked in security at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant near Red Wing.