Chris Hahn

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, January 26, 2023.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club has chosen Reilly Lawson as a January recipient of the Kiwanis Academic Excellence Award. She is the daughter of Heather and Thomas Lawson.

The Kingsland senior is active in several extracurricular activities, including theatre, volleyball, Key Club, National Honor Society (NHS) and drumline. “I enjoy theatre the most,” she stated. “I used to participate in student council and Builders Club when I was younger. My favorite subject in school is science, and my least favorite is math.”

Outside of school, Reilly keeps busy at work and in theatre. “I work at Kreofsky Building Supplies and Four Daughters. At both jobs, I enjoy my coworkers and the environment surrounding me. I also participate in Brave Community Theatre (BCT) for both tech and acting. In my spare time, I enjoy being with family and friends, and I also enjoy watching new movies. My favorite movie is ‘Mamma Mia,’ as I have seen it 1,000 times and it never gets old. My favorite book is ‘Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children.’”

She continued, “I listen to a lot of different music genres, but I most enjoy pop. My biggest pet peeve is when people budge in long lines. One thing people should know about me is that I hate bugs, so if you’re around me and a fly comes, you will have to kill it for me. I could always live on Chinese food, but I cannot stand Twizzlers. If I could travel to any state, I’d love to go to New York to see a Broadway show. If I could go to any country, I would love to go to Greece because the scenery is beautiful.”

Reilly most admires her parents and her drama director. “I admire my theatre director, Sarah Kohn, and both my parents who inspire me to work hard. If I could do one thing to change the world, I’d help properly dispose of the trash in the ocean to help [stop] pollution.”

The 17-year-old has plans for after her graduation this coming spring. “When I was little, I wanted to be a pediatrician to help care for kids, but after I graduate, I plan to become a forensic scientist.”

The Kiwanis will honor Reilly and her parents during the club’s Feb. 1 regular meeting. The Kiwanis Club meets at the Spring Valley Community Center each Wednesday at noon and welcomes visitors–students its membership is honoring or prospective new members.

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, January 26, 2023.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club has selected Garrison Hubka as one of its Kiwanis Academic Excellence Award recipients.

The Kingsland senior has a busy schedule. He related, “For sports, I run cross country and track. I also play basketball. For clubs, I am active in the National Honor Society (NHS) and Key Club. My favorites are cross country and track. I used to participate in Knowledge Bowl, HOSA, Math Wizards and football. My favorite subject from school is probably History, or Physical Education in the past.”

Garrison is employed at Home Federal. “I work at Home Federal in Spring Valley. I like the work environment and how everyone is friendly to one another. Outside of school, I am active in my church community, and in my spare time, you can find me running, watching or playing sports, hanging out with my friends, or playing video games. My favorite hobby is going for a run. My favorite movies are either the ‘Maze Runner’ series or ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series. I enjoy the action and the made-up worlds. My favorite book series is the ‘Maze Runners’ series because of how unique and intriguing it is. I listen to whatever is on the radio stations 106.9 or 93.3, and I could live on pizza for the rest of my life, but olives are just nasty.”

He added, “My biggest pet peeve is probably when people chew with their mouth open when they eat. If I could travel to any country, I’d probably go to Switzerland because of all of the mountains. Florida is probably my favorite state to visit because of the beaches and Disney World.”

The 18-year-old most admires three people who have shown him best qualities and characteristics through their actions. “I admire my father, Steve Prefontaine, and George Washington the most because of their views on life and the world and how they treat(ed) others.”

If he could do one thing to change the world, he’d try to make a difference by tackling one of two very important issues. “I would either take away weapons of mass destruction or fix pollution.” He’s currently uncertain of what he’d like to become after he graduates, but that’s left him plenty of options for his future. “I am not sure what job I want to do after I graduate, but as a kid, I wanted to be a scientist.”

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club will recognize Garrison and his parents during the club’s Feb. 1 noon meeting at the Spring Valley Community Center. The club welcomes prospective members to join them for more information on club activities.

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Being drawn by the flourishing audiobook market, Tom and Ben Kelley bring their exciting vision of The Audio Bakery to Spring Valley. The transformation of the old Spring Valley Bakery is underway with the introduction of this new audio-bakery business.  “Our audiobook production facility offers a real ‘baker’s dozen’ on Broadway Avenue with a lovely glass store-front and all of the original confectionary cases inside, creating a warm, sweet inspiration for those making and reading history in the audio booth and recording studio,” states co-owner Tom Kelley.  This family team of Tom, Carin and Ben offers readers the ability to record or publish many subjects or interests ranging from “grandfather’s photos and recollections of exploits; a rock band’s stories, with their music; tales of home or family history; wartime service, or that yet unpublished great American novel.”

Tom elaborates, “Our ability to take a dream and turn it into a reality is at the core of our business. The Audio Bakery can make these dreams come true in either a printed word – traditional – book form (words and pictures) or the recently popular audiobook (spoken words, sounds and audio effects) using audio booth software developed by Ben which is also available for businesses to purchase.”

Read the full story by Mary Whalen from the January 9th edition of Fillmore County Journal here!

Nick Kappers started archery under the humblest of circumstances. In November of this year, he won two gold medals while representing his country – one for individual and another for the men’s compound team at the Pan American Championship Games in Chile.

The gold medals

Kappers explained there are three categories that a person can medal in at a world tournament, but many different classes in which a team can compete. Each country has a team of four top archers from that country who goes to the event. Kappers was part of the men’s compound division, which included himself, fellow Minnesotan Sawyer Sullivan, Jimmy Lutz of Wisconsin, and Tate Morgan of Montana. Together, in the team gold medal match they won with a 234 to 233 out of a possible 240 against Colombia. In the individual gold medal match against Miguel Becerra of Mexico, Kappers won with a 149 to 148 out of a possible 150.

The team Kappers was part of is selected by a combined national point system shot at five different qualification events throughout the country. They take the top four ranked shooters to form the United States World Team. “Each of us that are on the team have known each other long before making the team as we all mostly shoot the same tournaments together through different organizations such as National Field Archery Association (NFAA), Archery Shooters Association (ASA) etc. so building friendships had happened long before we were on the U.S. Team together.”

Read the full article by David Stoeger in the Filmore County Journal here! 

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, December 8, 2022.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy 

Oat, oat, oat! Merry Christmas! “We always enjoy cookies and milk, and sometimes people try to give us vegetables and fruits, but I give them to the reindeer because they can’t have the sweets. Some cookies, I take home to my wife and the elves who couldn’t get out to ride in the sleigh with me…oatmeal and raisin and oatmeal and butterscotch. If I see those, I try to take them home with me and eat them after Christmas because that’s my favorite cookie…oatmeal and raisin and a big glass of milk,” said Santa Claus, making a stop at the Spring Valley Community Center last Saturday evening, Dec. 3, during the Christmas on Historic Broadway celebration’s Supper with Santa.

The Jolly One was dropping hints–but not crumbs–about what he’d like to find on plates at every few stops throughout the night on Christmas Eve as he delivers toys to local children. The crumbs all land in his long, curly white beard, which he said he’s spent growing “all year long” to be looking his best for his night out.

“There are always little mice and birds that want to stop by and perch on my shoulder so that they can have the crumbs that I missed in my beard, but we have to be careful because there’s sparkly glitter that goes with my beard, too – it’s the same glitter that helps my reindeer fly. Rudolph is coming along this year, of course. I love all my reindeer, but he’s a special reindeer who can help guide my sleigh, so he’s a good asset to me.”

Mr. Claus noted that preparations are underway for his flight through the cold sky, and he cited that there is work to do before he can imagine sitting down to pick up the reins and crack the whip to signal his team that he’s ready to go. “We’re working on finishing up the naughty and nice list and making sure that the equipment is ready, that it’s not torn or broken so that the sleigh stays together. And the night before Christmas, I make sure that my outfit fits so that people know it’s me, and Mrs. Claus and I might have some hot cocoa and go over the list one last time…sometimes closer to Christmas, kids can be more naughty than nice because it’s so hard to wait, but mostly, they’re all nice. There’s people who get coal, but they’re few and far between.”

His stop in Spring Valley to hear Christmas wishes was a very busy one, and the children– and grownups–who sat on his knee had plenty of requests for him to bring them the things on their wish lists. “It’s always fun to see that when I go to supper in Spring Valley, all the kids like to sit on my lap and tell me what they want. I think all kids like electronic things that make noise, gadgets to play with, things like games and PlayStation. Some want a whole bunch of things or just one thing. The last few years, I’ve heard a lot of kids who want their parents to come home from the military.”

He hasn’t quite figured out what to get for the town’s re-elected mayor, however, because they’re so well-acquainted with one another. Santa’s not to be stymied, though, because it seems he and Mr. Tony Archer share an affection for oatmeal cookies. He added that perhaps he’d save a few just in case there are none left at the Archer household on Christmas Eve, and if he does so, it might make it easier for him to get down chimneys and into the little crannies that he uses as portals to deliver toys to homes that do not have chimneys. “I always get into the house if there’s no chimney…I sneak into little holes, into vents, sneak the elves in, and then we make the vents bigger or smaller. There are ways of doing that, but sometimes parents leave doors unlocked just on Christmas Eve for me. But as for chimneys and houses without chimneys, there are a lot of secret ways to get into a house, but we don’t tell because if everybody knows how I’m going to get in, they’ll know I’m coming in that way.”

He maintains a “leave few traces” policy, especially in the case of dirt tracked into houses…and in the case of reindeer poo if the team has a rooftop or front yard accident while awaiting his trip into and out of houses.

“Usually, if we spill anything, the elves clean it up while I’m in the house delivering toys. We have rails on the sleigh so that things don’t fall out, and if the reindeer leave pieces of carrots while they’re munching away up there, we try to get it all. It is hard to clear our tracks, however, and the elves do their best, but we do leave some glitter behind so that people know that we flew in.”

He addressed the Spring Valley city ordinances and the courtesy of cleaning up after one’s four-leggeds, saying, “We keep a special container for that in the sleigh…for reindeer poop. We have little reindeer bags that we use, and I make the elves do that as well while I’m inside the houses.”

Of course, he appreciates all that his elves do for him to keep the work of delivering mittens and snowpants and…even underwear—but especially toys— to stockings in homes everywhere, and he looks forward to a night with a few flurries and a whole lot of magic.

Santa concluded that his own wish for Christmas is for peace, goodwill and just a few more cookies, please, and make them oatmeal.

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325