Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s High School Class of 2003 held their 20-year class reunion on August 20, 2023, at the Sleepy Eye Golf Club. Pictured in the front row (left): Tina Tyler, Twin Cities; Erica Hoffmann, Sleepy Eye; Amanda (Spaeth) Murphy, Sleepy Eye; Casie (Schumacher) Wilm, Minneapolis; Nola (Helget) Seidl, Sleepy Eye; Katie (Schumacher) Townsend, Ely; and Ashley (Meyer) Nelson, Morgan. Back row: Brad Hillesheim, Burnsville; Paul Fuchs, Sleepy Eye; Jared Miller, Sleepy Eye; Brandon Hillesheim, New Ulm; Brandon Krzmarzick, Sleepy Eye; Annie Suker, Minneapolis; Rob Brandl, Sleepy Eye; Ariel (Krenz) Brandl, Sleepy Eye and Karen Lux, Waunakee, W
Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s High School Class of 2018 held their 5-year class reunion on August 19, 2023 at the Sleepy Eye Golf Club. Pictured in the front row (left): Dani Weiss, Abby Johnson, Mallory Helget, Jody Hansen, Sarah Reinarts, Kelsie Kosak. Back row: Nic Goblirsch, Zach Schumacher, Nick Ludewig, Brandon Wait, Max Heiderscheidt, Logan Lux, Andrick Sanchez, Carter Ibberson.
Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s High School Class of 1983 held their 40-year class reunion on August 19, 2023. Pictured in the front row (left): Todd Treml, Minneapolis; Janet Schotzko Treml, Minneapolis, Chris (Meyer) Braun, Sleepy Eye; DeeDee (Sellner) Fried, Las Vegas, NV; Glen Broich, Mound; Linda (Scherer) Bassett, Hinckley; Sandy (Schumacher) Hoffmann, Janesville; and Mark Rausch, Minneapolis. Second Row: JoAnn (Sellner) Schumacher, Sleepy Eye; Roger Schroepfer, Palatine, IL; Todd Forster, Grand Forks, ND; Steve Steffl, St. Paul; Mary Stadick Smith, Pierre, SD; Loran Sellner, Sleepy Eye; Lori (Mertz) Gilliland, Sleepy Eye; Mark Heymans, Minneapolis; Steve Fischer, Sleepy Eye; Mark Seidl, Sleepy Eye; Gary Nelson, Sleepy Eye; Jeff Zinniel, Sleepy Eye; Charles Soukup, Sleepy Eye; Todd Heiderscheidt, Sleepy Eye; and Jim Riederer, Sleepy Eye.
Brown County Sheriff’s Office News Release
Type of Incident: Industrial Accident Fatality
Date of Incident: August 29, 2023
Time of Incident: 0843 hours
Location of Incident: 22024 State HWY 4, Home Township, Sleepy Eye, Brown County MN
Victim: Austin Brett Trebesch (27-year-old male) of Sleepy Eye MN.
At approximately 0843 hours on Tuesday August 29, 2023, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office
Dispatch received multiple 911 calls from 22024 State HWY 4 of a 27-year-old male who was
involved in a work-related farm implement accident.
First Responder treated at the scene and transported the individual to the Sleepy Eye Medical
Center, where he later was pronounced deceased. This accident remains under investigation
with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Sleepy Eye Police Department, Sleepy Eye
Ambulance Service, and North Memorial Air Care.
Jeremy Reed, Chief Deputy
Brown County Sheriff’s Office
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Sheriff Jason Seidl of Brown County announced today the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2023. Sheriff Seidl proudly announced that the MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding $2,000.00 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota.
The Members of MSA gives special recognition to the financial needs of students attending the peace officer skills course, or one of the two or four year law enforcement degree colleges. “The Board of Directors feel peace officers in our democratic society have complex duties to perform” said Sheriff Seidl. MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice. MSA recognizes some students need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically.
The Scholarship Committee, in making its selection of awards, intends on achieving representation from all geographical areas of the state. Scholarship awards will be announced by December 29th of the same year. Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories:
- Mandated POST Skills Program
- In their second year of a two-year law enforcement program.
- In their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program.
In order to qualify, students must have completed at least one year of the two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting these criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from their local sheriff’s office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org .
By Robin Handy, Community Engagement Director
It’s not too late to test your key on the Sleepy Eye Senior Living Key to Our Heart Treasure Hunt! “We’ve got some really cool prizes left,” said Robin Handy. “I know that Rocker Camp Chair is really comfortable, a Fire Stick w/ Alexa voice remote would help ease the cost of cable, and a Stainless-Steel Grill Set.”
Pictured are our winners thus far: Aiden Krzmarzick of Sleepy Eye selected the Portable Rechargeable Blender, Blair Folken selected the JBL Clip 4 – Portable Mini Speaker with his wife, Valorie’s key, and Oliver’s key was the only winner for the Murphy family: Oliver, Ivy, Maya, Kiara, and Amanda. “His Mom may have assisted in his selection of the $50 Meat Bundle donated by Schutz Family Foods, but I’m confident that he will enjoy the results,” said Handy.
Stop in at Sleepy Eye Care Center or Countryside Retirement Community and ask for Robin to test your luck with the door of our treasure chest. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult to claim a prize and not all keys will unlock the Treasure Chest. For more information including official contest rules, please contact the Community Engagement Director, Robin Handy at 507-300-1300 or rhandy@voa.org.
Sleepy Eye Care Center and Countryside Retirement Community are owned/operated by Volunteers of America National Services. Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS), part of the Volunteers of America family of organizations, provides affordable housing, senior living and healthcare services in over 38 states in Puerto Rico. The organization employs approximately 2,800 professionals who provide high quality services and care to our clients. As one of the largest non-profit affordable housing owner/operators in the nation, the VOANS portfolio includes over 240 housing properties and 15,000 affordable housing units. VOANS also operates senior living and healthcare programs, including skilled nursing, assisted living, home health care, adult day and Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s High School Class of 1963 held their 60-year class reunion on August 19, 2023, at the Sleepy Eye Golf Club. Pictured in the front row (left): Luverne Krzmarzick, Sleepy Eye; Michael Crouch, Sleepy Eye; Myra (Schmitz) Bastian, Fairfax; Charlene (Goblirsch) Forster, Sleepy Eye; Luella (Lux) Ries, Jackson; Charles Hauser, Shakopee; and Jerry Bertrand, Sleepy Eye. Second row: Richard Schroepfer, Sleepy Eye; Louise (Soukup) Forster, Sleepy Eye; Lois (Olsen) Hillesheim, Sleepy Eye; Jeanette (Steffl) Bruckbauer, Remer; Robert Schroepfer, Sleepy Eye; Mike Hoffmann, Sleepy Eye; Mary DeBlieck, Sleepy Eye; Don “Toby” Schmid, Savage; and Doug Fromm, Minneapolis.
Back row: Ed Reynolds, Sleepy Eye; Charles Krzmarzick, Sleepy Eye; Ken Riebel, Sleepy Eye; Marlin Helget, New Ulm; and Steve Hillesheim, Sleepy Eye.
Thursday’s Brown County Fair Senior Day Program was filled with a variety of interesting information, along with a performance done by the “Ken and Ken Show.” To kick off the event, the “Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year” award was given out to Pat Stevermer of Sleepy Eye.
“I wasn’t expecting it. I feel very honored and I am thankful for those who thought of me for the award,” Stevermer said.
Pat Stevermer was recognized for many achievements. Stevermer taught grades seven through twelve for eight and a half years, taught adult classes, was a girl scout leader, was the Director of Community Education, and won the Community educator award in 2002. Stevermer is also a mother of three and a grandmother of six.
“I am proud to have been an educator and a volunteer for many organizations and am glad to use my gift of organization and being a people person to accomplish these things,” Stevermer said.
Following the “Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year” award, the farm family of the year award was given to Loran and Heidi Sellner.
The Sellner farm was formed in 1858 by great great grandfather Hubert Zander. The farm contains 300 acres of land, has roughly 200 cows, and grows corn, soybeans, and more.
Loran and Heidi Sellner’s daughter Gracie talked about what life was like on the farm.
“It’s always an adventure, we never have a set schedule,” Sellner said.
Next up was the recognition of the Douglas Schwartz family farm as a century farm. The farm was originally purchased in 1900 by Douglas Schwartz’s great grandfather August for the price of $31.25 per acre. The farm grows corn and soybeans, and has milked 40-50 cows for 50 years. Schwartz shared his favorite thing about farming.
“Fieldwork is the best, you’re out in nature getting fresh air and there’s always something going on,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz followed this by sharing advice to young farmers. “Just stick with it and be creative,” Schwartz said.
Citizens Agency and Allina Health also had a section, with their speakers sharing helpful information regarding insurance and fitness. Wrapping things up, “The Ken and Ken Show” did a performance, singing songs by Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and many more.
