A 31-year-old Stewart woman was arrested Wednesday, May 7, following the execution of a search warrant at her home in the 300 block of Mowbray Street in Stewart.

Rhonda Marie Bombeck has been charged by McLeod County Attorney Mike Junge’s office with second-degree controlled substance crime, possession of substances to manufacture methamphetamine and storing meth paraphernalia in the presence of a child.

May is Beef Month in Minnesota. From juicy hamburgers to sizzling steaks, Americans love beef.

In 2006, Americans spent $71.1 billion on beef, leading to a per capita onsumption of 62.9 pounds. Favorite cut of meat? Ground beef.

- A 3-ounce serving of beef (about the size of a playing card) contributes less than 10 percent of calories to a 2,000 calorie diet, but provides 51 percent of the Daily Value for protein. It also provides 38 percent of the zinc most people need in a day.

Experience the Luce Line Trail in a new way at 10:30 a.m. Fridays, beginning May 30 through June 27.

Karen Schierman, director of Enso Spa’s Institute for Wholistic Living, will lead with walkers listening to a reading about nature, walk for 60 minutes (according to desire and ability) and then regroup for a discussion about the walking experience. T

The sessions are free and the public is welcome, but donations will be accepted with the collected money going to the Luce Line Trail Association. For more information, call Genesis Salon at (320) 587-7117.

Experience the Luce Line Trail in a new way at 10:30 a.m. Fridays, beginning May 30 through June 27.

Karen Schierman, director of Enso Spa’s Institute for Wholistic Living, will lead with walkers listening to a reading about nature, walk for 60 minutes (according to desire and ability) and then regroup for a discussion about the walking experience. T

The sessions are free and the public is welcome, but donations will be accepted with the collected money going to the Luce Line Trail Association. For more information, call Genesis Salon at (320) 587-7117.

Hey there faithful readers:

I am going to be away from the office these next two weeks, so my film blog will fall eerily silent. Never fear — if you get bored, you can just watch this video of kittens at play over and over again.

See, the one kitten loves sitting in the tissue box so much, he refuses to let his siblings have a go at it. Who's more easily amused? The kittens with their tissue box? Or us humans who actually just sit and watch them? Hmmm ...

All week long I've been counting down the five most exciting moments from last season's Hutchinson Huskies season. Finally, today, we get to No. 1 on the heels of the season opener with Cold Spring.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. Come out and support the squad all season long.

Moment No. 1:
Mankato 5, Hutchinson 4 (12 inn)
It is always said that in an extra inning game, it’s too bad one team has to lose. With elimination on the line in the opening round of the Class B Amateur State Baseball Tournament Thursday, it was truly unfortunate that one team’s season had to end.

Anglers
• 2.1 million: Number of people who fish in Minnesota each year
• 1.4 million: Number of fishing licenses sold
• 25 percent: Anglers who target specifically walleye when they fish
• 88: Number of fishing licenses sold per minute during peak of sales 24 hours before the fishing opener

Walleye
• 16 million: Estimated statewide walleye population of harvestable fish
• 3-4 million: Average annual statewide walleye harvest
• 85: Percent of walleye harvest that is naturally produced fish
• 1,200: Number of lakes in Minnesota with fishable populations of walleye

Several fishing regulations have been added or altered for 2008 and anglers need to be aware of the changes before heading out to fish Saturday, May 10, for the statewide walleye opener, said Ron Payer, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fisheries section chief.

ADDITIONS OR CHANGES FOR 2008:
• 2008 fishing licenses, stamps and tags are valid through April 30, 2009.
• New non-resident license fees offering a wider choice of time periods and costs.
• New military licenses are available.

Ervin Bedner, 86, of Hutchinson, formerly of Eagle Bend, died Friday, May 9, at Hutchinson Community Hospital.

Arrangements are pending with Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online condolences may be directed to www.hantge.com.

Linda Anderson, 63, of Litchfield, wife of David Anderson, died Thursday, May 8, at her home.

Arrangements are pending with Hantge Funeral Chapel in Darwin. Online condolences may be directed to www.hantge.com.

Congressman Collin Peterson today announced an agreement on the conference report for the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. This farm bill will make historic investments in our food and farm economy.

The bill will expand food security programs, protect our vital natural resources, promote healthier foods and local food networks, and reform commodity and biofuel programs to reflect the priorities of the nation. Final language will be available next week. Initial details include the following:

Ensuring Food Security

Kelly Paul Peterson, 40, of Kimball, the last of three defendants convicted of distributing the highly addictive and dangerous drug methamphetamine, also known as meth, was sentenced May 5.

Peterson was sentenced in Minneapolis by United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release on one count of aiding and abetting distribution of meth.

This week, “Six Minutes Over Hutchinson” celebrates a first, as Kay and Jorge welcome a live musical guest! Local singer/songwriter Rett Young performs an off-the-cuff, acoustic rendition of the theme from "Speed Racer!" Click here to listen!

We also give you the scoop on The Wachowski Brothers' new film, based on the classic animated series, which opens next week.

As always, thanks for listening!

This week, “Six Minutes Over Hutchinson” celebrates a first, as Kay and Jorge welcome a live musical guest! Local singer/songwriter Rett Young performs an off-the-cuff, acoustic rendition of the theme from "Speed Racer!"

We also give you the scoop on The Wachowski Brothers' new film, based on the classic animated series, which opens next week.

As always, thanks for listening!

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)

Hutchinson rallied for a 19-15, eight-inning win during game two of a doubleheader with Northfield Wednesday. The Tigers had led 11-1 after three innings, but trailed 14-12 before Brad Hauer tied the score in the seventh with a two-run double.

The Tigers plated five runs in the eighth inning, and Ben Aalfs shut the door in the bottom half of the inning for the win.

The Raiders scored six runs in the fifth inning of game one to win 7-6 in eight innings. Down 6-2, Hutchinson scored two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to force extra innings.

Area Track Honor Roll (as of 5/5)
Coaches are asked to e-mail updates of fastest times to Eric Kraushar at sports@hutchinsonleader.com

Boys
100 meter dash
Kyle O’Donnell, G-SL 11.3
Jay Rogotzke, GFW 11.32
Chad Pierson, G-SL 11.4
Bill Moritz, Hutch 11.7
Robert Mathews, Litch 11.8

200 meter dash
Jay Rogotzke, GFW 22.70
Darren Thompson, G-SL 23.16
Brett Holwerda, BOLD 23.47
Robert Mathews, Litch 23.70
Chad Pierson, G-SL 23.93

400 meter run
Brett Holwerda, BOLD 50.79
Matt Muenchow, G-SL 50.99
Cory Shufelt, Hutch 51.54
Jay Rogotzke, GFW 51.6

The annual Hutchinson kids track and field day is scheduled for Saturday, May 10 at the high school track. Athletes will compete against their own grade and gender. Ribbons awarded for top three places in each division. A t-shirt will be given to each competitor. Concessions will be available.

9:30 Check-in and Day-of Registration
10:00 Field events begin
10:45 Running events begin

K-2nd Grade (Circle up to 4 events)
50 meter dash 200 meter dash
Long Jump Softball Throw

3rd-5th Grade (Circle up to 4 events)
100 meter dash 200 meter dash
600 meter run High Jump

It’s not easy juggling responsibilities, but that’s exactly what Hutchinson native Jeff Fahey is doing. He’s finishing his music education classes at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, while preparing to direct the Hutchinson Theatre Company’s summer musical comedy “Once Upon a Mattress.”

Fahey will be in town next week to conduct auditions. Tryouts are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson.

Seat belt use among teens appears to dip during the last few months of the school year and the percentage of traffic deaths involving drinking teen drivers jumps during the same period, according to Minnesota Department of Public Safety data.

Although the prom through graduation period isn’t the deadliest period for Minnesota’s 16–19 year olds — 31 were killed 2004–2006 — traffic death data during April–June reveals that potential for tragedy is ripe as a result of seat belt non-use and drinking and driving.

More than 6,300 acres already offered for enrollment in Minnesota's Back Forty
Pheasant Habitat Program

Despite the expiration of 79,677 Conservation Reserve Program acres in Minnesota since Oct. 1, 2007, interest in CRP remains as evidenced by the 6,365 acres already
offered for enrollment in the new State Acres For wildlife Enhancement conservation practice, the Minnesota Back Forty Pheasant Habitat program.