About 30 conservation enthusiasts and conservation organization officials gathered Friday afternoon three miles south of Hutchinson for the dedication of McLeod County’s newest wildlife management area.

The Mark and Ursel Smith Wildlife Management Area is an 80-acre tract of restored prairie and wetlands now owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It was farm land until purchased more than five years ago by the McLeod County Chapter of Pheasants Forever and the Wildlife Habitat Conservation Society.

A pair of public hearings are on the agenda of the Hutchinson City Council’s meeting Wednesday night, Sept. 10. Both will deal with liquor licenses sought by owners of two restaurants planning to open here soon.

Jeffrey Ehlert of Fairmont is seeking a license for Jake’s Pizza, which will open in the Hutchinson Mall in space once occupied by Godfather’s Pizza and most recently by Luce Line Railroad Club Inc.

By Nathan Winter, University of Minnesota Extension

Many homeowners start forgetting about their lawn this time of year. This is the ideal time for using post-emergence chemical applications for weed control.

Cheers to the person who brought vegetables to The Pines Assisted Living. It was much appreciated and God bless you.

Mary Christensen
Hutchinson

Cheers and thank you to the “glad man” who donated all the beautiful gladiolus to Burns Manor. Everyone enjoyed your generous gift.

Burns Manor residents and staff
Hutchinson

From Mathew Tully
Washington, D.C.

I read with great interest the Leader’s editorial on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (codified at 38 USC 4301 et seq) in today’s newspaper. I am the leading attorney in the country for members of the military who need to enforce their rights under this law. I have won or successfully settled more USERRA cases then all other attorneys combined. I have appeared before Congress twice and had the pleasure of helping Sen. Barrack Obama draft a bill (S 3242) that would improve USERRA.

From Mayor Steve Cook
Hutchinson

I would like to respond to a recent letter writer’s questions and comments (“Hutchinson needs mosquito spraying,” Aug. 28 Leader) about the city’s mosquito control program and a possible project that has been discussed. During any budget preparation, choices need to be made. As a city council, with the help of staff, our first priority needs to be what is deemed to be essential and critical services (our “core” services). In addition, choices have to be weighed against expenses and available revenues.

From Andrew Hankins
Hutchinson

I noticed the most recent poll from the Hutchinson Leader that asked people to give their opinions on the 21-year-old alcohol drinking age. I wonder why we are debating about a substance that is already legal when we need marijuana prohibition policy now before any more innocent people are sent to jail or prison.

It looks like Hutchinson could lose its mosquito spraying. The city says it might not have money to spray next year, and since there’s been no citizen outcry over the issue, spraying could be scrapped altogether.
That’s difficult to believe after the way residents demanded mosquito control a few years ago during a couple of summers when no one could stand to be outside at dusk. Fortunately, the pesky, biting insects have been less of a nuisance during the past three summers, thanks to spraying, and possibly because of the drier weather.

The United Way of McLeod County is positioned to make donors’ contribution go farther this year. Recent developments at the regional nonprofit are making donating easier than ever, and every donation more meaningful as the United Way’s fall campaign begins.

The developments include:

Some walked, while others rolled up on bicycles, in-line skates and mobility scooters. All the major user groups of Hutchinson’s new $1.6-million underpass beneath State Highway 7 gathered Tuesday at its south portal to Oddfellows Park for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

They learned the underpass didn’t just happen because the Minnesota Department of Transportation rebuilt Highway 7. No, the idea had its gestation 15 years earlier when the city studied its future “light traffic” needs, Parks and Recreation Director Dolf Moon told the approximately 50 people at the event.

By Bob Mugaas, University of Minnesota Extension

While this year has seen fewer 90-degree and hotter days, below-average rainfall in many areas has resulted in brown lawns. Lawn grasses adapt to hot, dry conditions by slowing growth or even turning brown and going dormant. Normally, once rainfall or irrigation increases and days get shorter and cooler, grasses green up and resume growth.

By Gary Hachfeld, University of Minnesota Extension

Your grandparents may have made a good living by farming 80 to 160 acres. However, the agricultural industry has changed drastically in the past several years, including the farms where raw agricultural products are produced.

A television production company known as Official Best Of will feature Hutchinson during a broadcast 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, on KARE 11 television.

Someone in the public nominated Hutchinson on Official Best Of’s Web site. It was then selected by the organization’s research group as Minnesota’s Best Small Town for 2008. As a result, the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce coordinated a visit to the city in late July by a Best Of’s film crew.

By Kim Asche, University of Minnesota Extension
Regional Office, Hutchinson

Fall is almost here. Youth start back to school and begin to sign up for their involvement in groups and clubs. One concept to look for, or have a youth group explore, is service learning. Service learning has been defined as a type of experiential education that involves young people in both community service and education.
If the youth group you are involved with is looking to define quality service, learning the six key elements include:

Elizabeth Klawitter, 90, of Hutchinson, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Birchwood Hospice House in Hutchinson.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Zion Lutheran Church, Lynn Township, McLeod County. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, and from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday, at the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel and will continue one hour prior to services Friday, at the church.

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

August Langenbau, 73, of Stewart, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Hennepin County Medical Center.

A funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart.

Interment is in the church cemetery, with military honors by the DeGree-Fleisch American Legion Post 125.

Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Hughes Funeral Home in Stewart, and will continue for one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

Arrangements are with Hughes Funeral Home.

The last of six armed robbery cases investigated by the Hutchinson Police Department during the past 18 months closed with the sentencing of James N. Dahlager in McLeod County District Court on Aug. 22.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated robbery of a $144 from a vegetable stand near Runnings on Aug. 20, 2007. Information gathered at the scene, including videotape showing Dahlager using a cash machine near the stand, led to his arrested and that of his wife.

Two Hutchinson residents, a 27-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, could face possible charges following an investigation at their home in the Country Club Terrace mobile home park.

Police went to the home about 11:25 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. They are seeking complaints through McLeod County Attorney Mike Junge’s office on possible charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.

Aaron D. Lee, 36, of Minnetrista, died Aug. 30.

Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Rd. 19, Excelsior.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, and continues for one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.

Interment is in Fort Ridgely and Dale Cemetery, Franklin.

Arrangements are by Huber Funeral Home and Cremations of Excelsior (952) 474-9595.

ST. CLOUD — Grocer Coborn’s Inc. announced Aug. 26, it has acquired SimonDelivers.com, the online grocer that shut down earlier this summer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Coborn’s said it owns and operates 34 Coborn's and Cash Wise Foods grocery stores in the upper Midwest, including a Cash Wise store in Hutchinson, and offers home delivery in seven of those locations. The 87-year-old company also owns and operates convenience, liquor and video stores and pharmacies, most in conjunction with its grocery operations. It employs about 6,000 people.

In terms of the estimated construction value of projects started, the Hutchinson Planning, Zoning and Building Department had its busiest month in July for issuing building permits this year.

The city issued 155 permits of all types in July, for projects valued at almost $5.8 million. About $240,000 of that was for mechanical (plumbing and heating) projects.

However, one project accounted for about 70 percent of the estimated construction value. That is the major remodeling project at Peace Lutheran Church that got going in July. It is valued at slightly more than $4 million.

Marie Nelson (wife of Arvid Nelson), 91, of Hutchinson, died Thursday, Aug. 28, at Burns Manor Nursing Home in Hutchinson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Hutchinson. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, and from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Online condolences may be directed to www.hantge.com.

From Bud Morrow
Hutchinson

I am perplexed as to the why the Hutchinson City Council would not budget for mosquito spraying. The fire chief has had or has West Nile virus, whether it came from the multitude of storm water ponds filled with stagnant water or not, one will never know. But to think that every time a project is proposed, another pond is included. It just adds to the potential for mosquito infestation. The money should not be an issue.

From Diane Leonard
Darwin

I am writing in support of Hutchinson police officers being organized and part of a union. I belong to Education Minnesota, one of the largest unions in our state.

From Ann Bajari
Hutchinson

A competent manager, a team player, a fiscally responsible person, these all describe Becky Felling, candidate for Third District county commissioner in McLeod County. I have had the opportunity to work closely with Becky since 1995 on public health programs that are run jointly in McLeod, Meeker and Sibley Counties.

From David and Nell Gehrke
Hutchinson

From Reve' Robischon
Hutchinson

I have worked with LaVonne Hansen for 10 years and would like to convey what an asset she would be as a member of the Hutchinson City Council. LaVonne is very intelligent, hardworking yet a practical individual. She has a wealth of experience in leading large organizations. LaVonne, with her diverse background and personal creativity, has been a catalyst of many advances in our organization.

Many of the 323 students attending New Century Charter School and New Discoveries Montessori Academy will see their new 40,000-square-foot school for the first time when they walk through the doors Tuesday morning.

Cheers and a big thank you to the young man who mowed the Great Northern depot property — a job well done.
Jonathan Crosby, president
The Luce Line Railroad Club

Cheers and thanks to all who made our annual Relay for Life a huge success. More than $130,000 was raised. Hats off to all.
Arlene Schwarz, Hutchinson