THE 2ND ANNUAL Pow Wow Tractorcade left Mountain Lake via 10th Street at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, June 18, led by event organizer, Myron Fast.
THE ANTIQUE TRACTORS and their drivers involved in this event included, in addition to Myron Fast, Jerry Haberman on his 1948 Ford 8N The group’s first stop was at Shalom Hill Farm for snack and a beverage. They then headed for Storden’s Shady Drive-In for noon lunch. Their return trip included a stop at Red Rock Falls, a Cottonwood County County Park for cookies and a beverage before returning to Mountain Lake to take their tractors on a route around the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Lodge and The Village. All told, the round trip was 64 miles in length. Tractors in the procession included Ken Fast, with a 1963 Farmall 560; Myron Fast, with a 1969 John Deere 3020; Rodney Goertzen, with a 1967 John Deere 2510; Ronald Voshage, with a WD45 Diesel; Arlyn Baerg, with a 1959 John Deere 830; Bill Baerg, with a 1960 Oliver 880; Allen J. Baerg, with a 1960 John Deere 435; Phil Benn, with a 1941 9N Ford; Steve Glidden, with a 1953 Ford Jubilee; Ed Hocke, with a 1954 NAH Ford; Melvin Wojahn, with a 1942 Allis Chalmers; Jerry Haberman, with a 1948 Ford 8N; Arlen Klassen, with a 1958 International Harvester 450; Matthew Adrian, with a 1948 International Harvester Farmall Super C; Mike Adrian, with a 1981 International Harvester 284 and Orville Wojahn, with a 1970 Allis Chalmers 175.
+ Annual Mayor’s Bike Ride with Mayor Mike Nelson around Mountain Lake on the lake trail –
MOUNTAIN LAKE MAYOR Mike Nelson, at right, was in the lead for the Mayor’s Bike Ride around Mountain Lake on the lake trail.
THE BIKE RIDERS could be spotted from across the lake as they made their trek, riding over hill and vale.
+ Alumni Softball Game – Cancelled due to Friday night’s heavy rains.
+ Alumni Baseball Game –
THE ALUMNI BASEBALL game kicked off at high noon on Saturday, June 18. It was alumni-vs-alumni, brother-against-brother, cousin-against-cousin, father-against-son, the teams captained by Mike Johnson and Stan Schroeder. MLA baseball players on hand were “drafted” by the two teams. Above, base runner Dusty Pfeiffer, center, is caught between first and second, as Jeff Belben, left, races to cover second, and pitcher Beau Herrig, right, moves to first. Ballplayers kept well-hydrated on a very hot and steamy day following a Friday night storm of strong winds and heavy rains.
BATTER JESSE HIEBERT takes a big cut at the pitch.
TEAMMATES BOB BLOM, left, and Blake Spinks (of the Johnson team), both rush in to grab Joey Morey’s bunt. At back right, first baseman Chad Kunkel awaits the toss in order to throw out the base runner.
DAN MELHEIM, LEFT, slides safely into third-base – face-first – as third baseman Ben Grev, right, waits for the throw.
SOUTHPAW AUSTIN WATKINS winds up for the pitch.
UMPIRE WILLIE KRAHN, left, and Mike Johnson, captain of his team, discuss the proper rules of the game of baseball.
STAN SCHROEDER, RIGHT, captain of his own team, receives some good-natured razzing from Mike Johnson’s opposing team when he substitutes as base runner for a team member following a base hit. Giving Stan some banter are, from left, Mike Johnson, Dan Melheim, Jesse Hiebert and Beau Herrig. Johnson’s team tripped Schroeder’s 4-1.
+ Disc Golf Tourney –
BAILEY LEAMAN LETS fly on Basket #3 – a 234-foot par 3. The Disc Golf Tourney’s first toss was at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, June 18, on the course at Lawcon Park.
CALEB REMPEL HITS par as he chips in this shot.
ON #4, THIS young disc golfer sends his disc out on an underhanded toss.
“PAUL” FROM OKOBOJI, left, “tees off” on Basket #6.
ADAM MYERS SENDS his disc into the basket on #6.
TRAVIS PALMER ENJOYED some of the mini-disc golf games set up by Juli Dick, event coordinator.
MOUNTAIN LAKE NATIVE Jerry Adamsson, left, now of St. Paul, brought his two youngest sons, Andreas, left, and August, right. along with wife, Kathy, on a nostalgic tour of his old local paper route for the Mankato F ree Press. Jerry delivered the paper to city residents who subscribed to the newspaper back in the 1970s. On Sunday, June 19, the family – especially the two boys – completed the service by delivering a Free Press publication to all of the homes to which Jerry delivered – including our 6th Avenue abode. Look for a future story about Jerry and how he maintains his hometown connection by sharing it with each of his sons when they turn 13-years-old with a very specific tradition. (He already has completed the “walk” with his two older sons, and is looking forward to doing the same with August and Andreas.
+ Center Point Church Pancake Breakfast –
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! Three generations of Morin men man the griddle at the Sunday morning, June 19, Center Point Church Pancake Feed. From left, Matthew Morin, Roallen Morin and Paxton Morin. (David Savage photo)
MISS MOUNTAIN LAKE 2016 royalty like their pancakes. At right, Miss Mountain Lake 2016 Second Runner-Up receives her heaping helping of pancakes and sausage from Paxton Morin, left and Michala Morin, second from left. (David Savage photo)
ALSO IN LINE for their share of hot cakes and sausages were, at right, Miss Mountain Lake 2016 First Runner-Up Emily Jahnke, far right and Miss Mountain Lake 2016 Candidate Rebekah Klassen, second from right. Servers at left are Kendra Grev, left and Michala Morin, second from left. (David Savage photo)
+ Steve Pfeiffer Memorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tourney –
BRENNAN HOLMEN PUSHES up underneath the basket for a bucket. At back is defender, Brody Hayes.
BROOKE FAST LOOKS to lead the offense by dishing off to a teammate.
DEFENDERS FLETCHER HANSON, left and Kade Kremmin, right, team up to close the space through which Adam Karschnik was driving.
ABRAHAM STOESZ BREAKS free for an easy lay-up.
CARLY MENKEN, RIGHT, looks to dribble around her defenders, including Jon Faber, left.
SAWYER CARRISON, BACK, has his game face on full display as he guards ball-handler Tyler Dick, front.
KODY WASSMAN, LEFT, displays a hands-high defensive stance against Brooke Naas, right, as she gets ready to run the offense.
TYLER DICK, LEFT, breaks free but Annika Brinkman, right, has plans to stop his drive to the hoop. At back, Brooke Naas moves in to cut off Tyler before he reaches his goal.
2016 POW WOW 3-on-3 champs for their age group. From left, Beau Herrig, Carter Kirk, Josiah Stoesz and Levi Stoesz. (Photo courtesy of Beau Herrig)
POW WOW 3-on-3 Basketball Champs for their age group. From left, Jaden Boldt, Ethan Nickel and Jose Garnica. (Alisa Nickel photo)
THE 43RD ANNUAL Mountain Lake Road Race kicked off with the One-Mile and Two-Mile Fitness Walk.
JOHN BOELKE OF St. James, left, had the lead halfway through the Kids Half Mile (Ages 9 and Under), but Zach Klassen of Mountain Lake – helping himself to a glass of refreshing water at right – came back to claim first-place. Zach won with a time of 2:55.724. John finished in second at 2:59.346.
KELBY JANZEN OF Mountain Lake was the first female into the chute in the Kids Half Mile (Ages 9 and Under) at sixth-place overall, with a time of 3:27.062.
IN THE KIDS Half Mile (Ages 10 to 12), Blair, Nebraska’s Cayli Penner, left, topped all runners with a race time of 2:48.510, Another female was in second, Tiegan Meyer, of Mountain Lake, with 3:03.024. There were plenty of homeowners along the various race routes armed with water hoses and glasses of water for needed relief on an extremely hot and humid run day. One saving grace were the blustery breezes.
RYAN PIERSON OF Butterfield, left, was the first male to finish in the Kids Half Mile (Ages 10 to 12). His overall place was third, and his time was 3:03.164. At right is Luke Moller, of Trimont, who finished fourth with 3:05.250.
AT THIS POINT, Jared Willaby of Mountain Lake, left, held onto the lead in the Mountain Lake Mile. However, Adam Blomgren of Butterfield, right, passed Jared to take first-place in the event. Adam’s time was 5:01.019. Jared finished in second with 5:07.245.
ADAM BLOMGREN’S LITTLE sister, Liana Blomgren, of Butterfield, a Miss Mountain Lake Candidate, was the first female into the chute in the Mountain Lake Mile – making it a Blomgren title sweep in the race. Liana was 19th overall with a time of 6:16.448.
WINNING THE MOUNTAIN LAKE Four-Mile was Samuel Friesen of Deephaven, center, winning with a time of 22:42.549. Finishing second was Mountain Lake’s Slade Harder, left, with a time of 23:05.543. Third runner in was Lukas Pierson of Butterfield, right, at 23:21.860.
FIRST FEMALE FOUR-Miler was Sarah Klassen of Champlin. She finished in 10th-place overall with a time of 26:51.452.
+ Antique Car and Vehicle Parade –
THIS 1955 BUICK Special, owned by Charles Carlson, was driven by his father, Art Carlson. Riding shotgun is Charles’ mom, and Art’s wife, Bev Carlson. Parade organizers were Lucas and Candice Bartel.
JERRY HABERMAN, LEFT, and grandson Kyle Haberman, right, on a 1951 Oliver Row Crop 88.
JOHN MACLAREN OF Mountain Lake drove his 1970 Chevrolet pick-up down 3rd Avenue Sunday night in the Antique Vehicle Parade.
KEN WIESE in his 1958 Chevrolet Impala.
HERE IS WAYNE Schneekloth in his 1947 Chevrolet convertible.
TERRY KARSCHNIK DROVE his 1950 Ford F-1. He bought it when he was 14-years-old.
BRUCE KOENIG RIDING on his 1955 Cushman Eagle.
ANDREAS HERNANDEZ TOOK his 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix T-Top through the Antique Vehicle Parade.
STEVE AND SANDY Schroeder “represent” in their 2003 Corvette C-5.
+ Mountain Lake Ministerial Association Sunday Night Program featuring the group “Heart Song” –
HEART SONG PERFORMED at the Mountain Lake Ministerial Association’s Sunday night program at at the Mountain Lake City Park Bandstand. Mountain Lake native Tyler Emmert, at back left, on electric guitar; his wife, Sarah Emmert, front left, on keyboard and vocals; Sarah’s parents – and Tyler’s parent-in-law, Doug and Judy Peterson, front center and front right, along with Josiah Croom on drum set, back right. represented the group at the concert.
Monday, Monday – So Good To Me
(Because it was the first day of summer – the longest day of the year!)
+ Mountain Lake City Park is Pow Wow Central –
ANDREA BRINKMAN, LEFT and Craig Faber, right, yukking it up in the Mountain Lake Public School Boosters’ Food Stand.
JIM DICK DISTRIBUTES a milkshake at the Milkshake Trailer of the Minnesota Dairy Association. The purchase of milkshakes helps fund the restoration of the caboose at Heritage Village.
LEFTY JILL LANGLAND tosses a softball at the arm that – when hit – sent Ben Grev down into the Mountain Lake Wolverine Booster Club Dunk Tank. (Dave Grev photo)
AND, EVEN THOUGH he went down into the drink, Ben Grev remained all smiles. (Dave Grev photo)
TEENA S., left, and Joanne Karschnik, right, dish up egg rolls at the Trinity Lutheran Church Cross-Cultural Food Booth.
HARD AT WORK cooking up burgers to serve at the Mountain Lake Christian Food Stand is Grillmaster Andy Nickel.
DEBBIE RODNEY serves up a slab of barbecued ribs at the Rodney’s Barbecued Ribs/Jamaican Jerk Chicken Food Stand.
FLIPPING HIGH INTO the sky on the Rush Adventures Bungee trampoline.
SHARON HEIDE RETURNED to Mountain Lake – her home for many years – and found a perfect way to spend some Pow Wow time, playing Bingo at the Mountain Lake Lions Club Bingo Stand.
HILLBIlLY BOB, RIGHT, whose appearance at Pow Wow was sponsored by Town’s Edge Auto, entertained young-and-old alike with his crazy, packed John Deere tractor (it’s under there somewhere) and making balloon shapes and animals. Little Miss Mountain Lake 2016 Khloe Saelee, left, was presented a pretty-in-pink Hillbilly Bob handmade twisted balloon dachshund.
JON HARDER IS hard at work at the fryer in the Mountain Lake Area Scholarship’s Pow Wow Pup Stand.
CARICATURE ARTIST BEGINS his quartet sketch of the 2016 Mountain Lake royalty. Seated, from left, Miss Mountain Lake 2016 Danica Dick, Little Miss Mountain Lake 2016 Khloe Saelee and Miss Mountain Lake 2016 Second Runner-Up Lexia Peters. Standing back is Miss Mountain Lake 2016 First Runner-Up Emily Jahnke.
HERE IS THE finished work by the caricature artist of these Schroeder-connected cousins. Molly Bakker is at left, with Miley Johnson at right. Their grandparents are Steve and Sandy Schroeder of Mountain Lake.
KHYA BOLDT IS supporting the Red-White-And-Blue – right down to her white-and-blue balloon bandana.
ROSS FLEMING RETURNED from his Minnesota metro home to his “humble” roots – Mountain Lake in order to enjoy another Pow Wow.
THERE OFTEN ARE A lot of homecomings and reliving of “fuzzy” memories of the past over Pow Wow days. The “Lyseng” clan, whose father, Arley Lyseng was Mountain Lake Public Elementary School Principal and music teacher until 1970, and whose mom, Naomi, was a piano teacher, returned to Mountain Lake to meet-and-greet with friends and wax nostalgic of their years in the city. In this selfie, at front are Vicki (Lyseng) Spofford), Deb (Lyseng) Mahoney, Sande (Lyseng) Mathison and Tom Lyseng. At back, some of their hometown friends, from left, Kris Langland, Marica Fast and Ross Fleming. Not pictured – but should have been because she was there too – is Sandy Schroeder. (Tom Lyseng photo)
+ Monday Night Grande Parade –
JANESSA PETERS HELPS to kick off the Monday Night Pow Wow Grande Parade, holding high the American flag while riding tall in the saddle.
GRAND MARSHAL FOR the parade was longtime Mountain Lake Public High School teacher and coach, Paul Metcalf, right. Riding with him in Gene Friesen’s Ford Mustang convertible were his wife, Jody Metcalf, pictured left, and two of their five grandchildren, Sophie Carrison and Sawyer Carrison. Leading the Grande Parade Committee were Tawana Elg, Emily Bentson and Michelle Quintero, with assistance from Brad Bargen, Al Hirsch and Bargen Incorporated with the placing of the parade placement cones.
THE ROYAL FAMILY. The Miss Mountain Lake 2016 Court and Little Miss Mountain Lake 2016, along with this year’s Miss Mountain Lake and Little Miss Mountain Lake candidates.
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE Public High School Marching Band, under the lead of the school’s instrumental music director, Kurt Jahnke.
POUNDING OUT THE beat was the Mountain Lake Christian’s Garbage Can Band.
THIS YOUNG PARADE-walker got a head start on the Good Sam Color Jam, slated for Saturday, August 27. The event will feature a two-mile color walk and a 5K Color Run. The activity is a fundraiser for the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake in order to purchase a specially-designed rickshaw bicycle for The Village residents and The Lodge tenants. Sponsors, aside from the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake include the Mountain Lake Area Foundation, Mountain Lake Family Fitness, Mountain Lake Fire & Rescue and United Prairie Bank.
MORE PERCUSSIVE SOUND was provided by the “criminals” of Groove, Inc. of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
THE EL RIAD Motorcycle Team, also from Sioux Falls, provided plenty of entertainment for all of those watching the mile-long parade along 3rd Avenue – stretching from Cottonwood County Road #1 west to 7th Street.
ANOTHER PERCUSSION PERFORMANCE was provided by long-time Pow Wow Grande Parade participant, Su Fu Du, of Sioux Falls. The group also presented a concert following the parade at the Mountain Lake City Park Bandstand.
HERITAGE VILLAGE OF Mountain Lake is fundraising in order to renovate the Great Northern Railway Caboose, located on the tracks near the Mountain Lake Depot at the historical museum. Mountain Lake carpenter extraordinaire Curt Fast constructed this accurate replica of the caboose.
MORE MUSIC WAS shared by members of Mountain Lake’s Lao community as a part of the Trinity Lutheran Church Cross-Cultural Committee’s parade entry.
THE POLKA PARTY began during the parade with The Wendinger Band, and continued after the parade on the Mountain Lake City Park Bandstand.
THE FAIRMONT CARDINAL High School Marching Band was led by a drum major in traditional uniform.
THE FULDA HIGH School Marching Band, however, went off-script to channel its inner Star Wars, with Darth Vader as their marching leader.
Bittersweet Tuesday Signals The End
+ Kids Pedal Tractor Pull –
THE “POWER OF the pedal” was on display in Pow Wow Kid’s Pedal Tractor Pull along 10th Street on Tuesday afternoon, June 21. All of the competitors – ages 4-11 were hauling a heavy load in each age division. Each participant received a cold can of Dr. Pepper – and the top three finishers in each age group received a trophy. In addition, the top three finishers in each age group qualified to take part in the Minnesota State Pedal Tractor Pull, which will be held in early September at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. Sponsors for the Pow Wow Pedal Tractor Pull – D & S Pulls – are Town’s Edge Auto, United Prairie Bank, Miller-Sellner Equipment, Third Avenue Auto, Myron Fast/Mycogen Seeds, Mike Spinks/Pioneer Hybrids, Fast Seed and Trucking and Midway Farm Equipment. Above, Landon Brugman topped all pullers in the 4-year-old Division.
WITH A PULL of 34′ 6″, Waylon Winters claimed the title for 5-year-olds.
IN A “PULL-off” between 6–year-olds, Carson Wall, pictured above, pulled 25′ 3″ for the trophy, with Keymoni Bent finishing second with 20′ 1.”
SOFIA FLOHRS PULLED to second-place in the 7-year-olds’ division, reaching 25′ 9.”
CHAMP IN THE division for 8-year-olds was Owen Klassen, pulling 35′ 4″ – with an assist in concentration by his tongue.
ALTHOUGH SHE DID not place in the top three with her pull of 21′ 5,” Ashlyn Pfeiffer had a lot of expressive fun on her turn.
NINE-YEAR-OLD Division titlist was Matayah Hall with a pull of 19′ 9.”
AS HE COMPETED in the 9-year-old group, Jacob Brandt was intently focused on his goal. Jacob was second with a pull of 19.’
GIVING HIS ALL for his 20′ 3″ pull, Chase Anacker finished third in the division for 10-year-olds.
MONTGOMERY BYAM pulled for 30′ 8″ and was second in the group for 11-year-olds.
+ City Park is Still Hoppin’ –
NOLAN GERBER IS thoroughly enjoying his time in the fast lane riding in his blue sports car. Midwest Rides provided the rides, games and food stands that were a part of the Midway.
AUNT KAITLIN FEIL, back right, joined her nephew, Bridger Feil, front and niece, BrynLee Feil, back left, on a cycle ride.
GIOVANNI PONCE, FRONT, is all smiles as he flies over the bumps on the giant slide – safe under the protective hands of his dad, Juan Ponce, back.
RIDIN’ THE DRAGON.
UPSIDE DOWN IN a “basket” – way up high in the sky – is why this Midway ride is called the “Screamer.”
ELIZABETH LINSCHEID, LEFT and Lydia Cavanaugh, right, are caught by the camera right in the middle of a fun Sizzler ride.
THE POET CORN trailer was the perfect play spot for Renick Morey, son of Joey and Sarah Morey.
MOUNTAIN LAKE PUBLIC High School social studies teacher and Mountain Lake Area Wolverine Boys Basketball Head Coach and Assistant Softball Coach Shawn Naas was last up in the Mountain Lake Wolverine Booster Club’s Dunk Tank – and Mace Herrig took advantage of the opportunity – again, and again . . . The expression on the face of Coach Naas clearly shows how happy he is to be entering the water once again.
THE MOUNTAIN LAKE Fire Department provided a Kitchen Fire Demo. What was learned – never put water on a grease fire, as the flames quickly rise. Instead, cover a flaming fire with a lid or cookie sheet.
+ 2nd Annual Bean Bag Tourney –
KEN HEIDE IS focused like a laser on his bean bag toss.
SUE ELLEN HOLMBERG, pictured above, teamed up with her son, Micah.
JACKIE JURGENS DEMONSTRATES proper bean bag toss style.
BRANDON GREEN (AND his teammate, Daniel Bargen), moved swiftly through the competition. Sponsors for the Game Plan Events competition included Bargen Inc., The Matchless Gift, Clipperton Auto, Mountain Lake Family Fitness, Shopko and Hardees of Windom and Estherville, Ia.
+Talent Showcase –
EIGHT OF THE total 50 Mountain Lake Dance team members returned to Pow Wow for an encore performance from their April recital. The dancers – from grades preschool-to-seven, are coached by Canice Bartel and Katelin Brown.
AT THE KEYBOARD to share the selection, “Für Elise” by Beethoven, was Harlan Munning.
MICHALA MORIN PRESENTED a vocal solo to Taylor Swift’s “Our Song.”
WITH AN IMPRESSIVE “big voice,” April Sanchez sang a Beyoncé number, “Listen.”
PHILIP KHEMPHOMMA RETURNED to the Mountain Lake City Park Bandstand stage with the vocal solo, “I’m Not the Only One.”
RYAN FREDERICKSEN STEPPED onstage to present the Casting Crowns’ song, “Courageous.”
