Members of the Brown County Corn and Soybean Growers Association board (left to right): Jim Peterson, Chris Fitzloff, Keith Lendt, Sheriff Jason Seidl, Justin Remus, Dan Steffl and Richard Trebesch.
The Brown County Corn and Soybean Growers Association recently made a donation of a set of soy-based Eagle Enforcer All Weather tires to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. The donation was made possible with the help of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotional Council’s (MSR&PC) “Driving Soy” campaign.
The MSR&PC oversees the investment of soybean checkoff dollars on behalf of the nearly 28,000 soybean farmers in Minnesota. This money is used to promote, educate, and develop market opportunities for soybeans. Each of the MSR&PC’s 44 member counties had the opportunity to donate a set of soy-based tires to their county sheriff’s office.
The soy-based Goodyear tires are designed specifically for first responder vehicles in all season climates. The tires are softer, providing better traction especially when temps drop during cold Minnesota winters.
Since 2017, Goodyear, supported by United Soybean Board checkoff investments, has released four lines of tires with soybean oil compounds: Assurance WeatherReady, Eagle Enforcer All Weather, Eagle Exhilarate and Assurance Comfort Drive. The Akron, Ohio-based company has increased its use of soybeans by 73% since 2018 and pledged to fully replace all of its petroleum-driven oils with soybean oil by 2040. The Enforcer tires will appeal to more than just law enforcement but also state fleets and municipalities, increasing demand for soybeans grown in Minnesota.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is grateful to the Brown County Corn and Soybean Growers Association for their donation and appreciate the support of the local farmers.
The Sleepy Eye Public Utilities Commission team was on hand to see Chairman Bob Weiss receive the MN Municipal Utility Association Distinguished Service Award, from left to right: Mike Hardin, electric superintendent; PUC Commissioners, Briar Braulick; Wayne Novotny, Bob Weiss, Paul Theisen, and City Manager Bob Elston.
The Sleepy Eye Public Utilities Commission was on hand to see Chairman Bob Weiss accept the Distinguished Service Award by the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) at their 2021 Annual Conference. In receiving the award, Bob joins a distinguished group of Minnesota leaders who have maintained essential public infrastructure to meet quality of life and economic development expectations for city customers.
Since 1993, Weiss has provided leadership in the provision of electricity and services in Sleepy Eye. Bob Elston, Sleepy Eye’s city manager and former public utilities superintendent reflected on Weiss’s tenure at the Commission, remarking, “Bob was instrumental in many major projects from the dismantling of the city’s steam heat district in the mid-90s to the utility’s investment as a transmission owner in the CAPX 2020 project.
“Through it all, he kept the Commission and city focused on the big picture that has produced reliable and price competitive utilities for the citizens of Sleepy Eye.”
“Over the years, Bob has helped our utilities through many transitions in staff and changing technologies, we appreciate his dedication to customer-owned utilities and his commitment to the public power business model,” said Mike Hardin, Sleepy Eye Utility Superintendent.
In Weiss’s role at the Commission, he was also involved in the MMUA and the Central Municipal Municipal Agency Services (CMPAS) organizations that support local utilities’ ability to ensure safe, reliable, and price-competitive electric power and utility services.
“Bob is a dedicated public utility chairman who contributes at all levels of the public power network to ensure that Sleepy Eye Public Utilities is powered from a position of strength,” said Christina Pierson, Director of Public Affairs. “He exemplifies leadership that separates the truly involved from those who merely go through the motions.”
After his service in the U.S. Army Signal Corp., he spent his professional career working in the telecommunications industry. He has served his community in many ways as a youth hockey coach, church member, board member of a credit union, and in many other ways. Together, he and has wife, Rita, raised three children and enjoy their time with six grandchildren.
The Sleepy Eye Ambulance, Police and Fire Departments along with Sleepy Eye Medical Center held a disaster drill August 25. The purpose of the drill was to practice and gain insights into how the local community agencies would interact and deal with a hazardous materials incident.
The scenario involved a truck hauling an anhydrous ammonia tank that crashed near Prairieview Ball Park where a family picnic was being held. The tank was compromised, causing gas leakage which contaminated those at the park. The driver of the truck was injured in the crash.
“There was a lot learned during the planning phases as well as the implementation of this drill,” said Sleepy Eye Emergency Manager Shari Hittesdorf. “We feel all departments involved gained valuable knowledge and experience which will be used to improve our response protocols.”
Hittesdorf was appreciative of all the volunteers who acted as victims. “Without their help, the drill would not have been as effective,” she said. “The drill was a big success because of them and the first responders who took the training serious.”
Mathiowetz Construction Co. (MCC) announced that effective August 5, 2021, Brian Mathiowetz has stepped down as the President of MCC and passed this role to Chad Mathiowetz. Brett Mathiowetz and Julie Anderson will fill out the executive management team as Executive Vice Presidents. Brian will retain the role of Chief Executive Office and remain Chairman of the Board of Directors for MCC. Mathiowetz Construction Co. knows how rare it is to be a successful, fourth generation company. This kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident – it happens with thoughtful and intentional, forward thinking. The team at Mathiowetz has been working with advisors and consultants since 2011 to ensure success for the entire Mathiowetz organization now and into the future.
In announcing the new positions, Brian Mathiowetz expresses gratitude to his industry peers and the MCC Management Team for their contributions to MCC over the past 25 years. He also appreciates the dedication and loyalty of all Mathiowetz team members, both present and past, that have contributed to the success of MCC. Brian is confident this transition will be positive for MCC as we look forward.
From left: Sleepy Eye Servicemen’s Club Board Members Jerry Bertrand and John Schueller, Bryan Bertrand Trapshooting team coach and Larry Helget Sleepy Eye Sportsman’s Club member.
The Sleepy Eye Servicemen’s Club Charitable Gambling made a $2,500 donation to the Sportsman’s Club local Trapshooting team.
2021 Classic Bass Fishing Contest Winners per Sleepy Eye Chamber Facebook Post:
Nate and Dane Wenner from St. Peter. First place winning $500 catching 5 fish weighing in at 21.8 lbs. They also won $300 for the biggest bass caught weighing in at 5.2 lbs
Nate and Dane Wenner🥇
Justin Sellner, Caden Evers, and Dan Evers from Sleepy Eye won 2nd place winning $300. They caught 5 bass weighing in at 17.5 lbs.
Justin Sellner and Caden Evers 🥈
Kaff Shoultz and Jess Drummer from New Ulm won 3rd place winning $200. They caught 5 bass weighing in at a total of 17.4 lbs. 🥉
Sleepy Eye Schools honored Mindy Berkner as the Sleepy Eye Education Association 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year. Mindy is a Spanish teacher.
Meet Rev. Tim Mason, the new Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. He will be joining the congregation in early September.
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