Set up for the 2020 Sleepy Eye Holiday Lights in Motion season is in full swing. The group started working Oct. 15 to take advantage of students being off school due to MEA break. Despite the unusually cold and snowy weather, a lot of progress has been made. Volunteers and donations are still needed, however, to continue to the final goal.
Each summer, the Rolling Prairie ABATE Chapter cycle club delivers “Buddy Bears” to Public Service agencies in the communities of St. James, La Salle, New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Odin, Trimont, Sherburn, Ceyon, Granada and Truman. The stuffed bears are a security blanket to the young kids if they experience a traumatic or serious event.
The Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club presented Sleepy Eye Fire Chief Ron Zinniel with $1000 (above) and Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service representatives Heather Kaduce and Katy LaCourse (below from left) with $750. Sportsman’s Club representatives are Sam Domeier (Twins shirt) and Dale Evers.
Sleepy Eye Food Shelf is open Mondays 4-6 p.m. – located east side of Sleepy Eye Community Center
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Brittany Dittbenner, daughter of Joleen and Craig and, Blake Steffensmeier, son of Beth and Jamey, were named the Sleepy Eye Lion’s Club March Students of the Month. Blake is a senior at St. Mary’s High School while Brittany will graduate in this spring from Sleepy Eye High School.
The Sleepy Eye Girls Scouts annual cookies sales didn’t go quite as planned due to the COVID-19 outbreak this spring so the the local troop decided to donate their unsold stock to essential workers. Taylor and Julia Berkner, representing the girls scouts, delivered a total of 173 boxes to the Sleepy Eye Ambulance, Fire and Police Departments, the Sleepy Eye Medical Center and the Sleepy Eye Schools teachers.
Sleepy Eye Schools superintendent John Cselovszki accept the gift on behalf of the teacher. (Taylor left, Julia right)
Carrie Solma collects the cookies for the hospital staff.
City of Sleepy Eye Ambulance Coordinator and Emergency Manager Shari Hittesdorf accepts the donations for the Firemen and EMS Staff.
Investigator Shawn Bohnen (left) and Chief Matt Andres pick up the police department’s boxes.
With the pending retirement of current police chief John Schueller, the Sleepy Eye City Council has made a decision on his replacement. Current officer Matt Andres will begin duties as interim chief beginning April 1st. Schueller will be hanging up his badge on April 30th after 36 years of service (the past 6 1/2 as chief.)
The city has also hired Sleepy Eye native Shawn Bohnen (son of Missy and Pat “Heavy” Bohnen) to become the new officer, replacing Andres.
Former Sleepy Eye Police Chief David Seivert was found dead in his home Saturday Nov. 5. Cause of death was not available.
Seivert worked for the SE Police Department from February 2000 until September 2007. He served as Chief of Police from 2005 until 2007 at which time he was dismissed from his position after personal issues interefered with his ability to do his job. Legal action were later brought against the City of Sleepy Eye by Seivert. The case was resolved with an undisclosed cash settlement in 2009.
