Book Fair, Page 3 • Unity Day, Page 8 • State Cross Country, Page 9 Nashville Bound - Page 2 Halloween - Page 4 Wednesday, November 5, 2014 www.evwvoice.com Volume 3, No. 44 QUICK HITS VETERANS DAY ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL CORRECTION Fire salute being re-run Steve Thielen will give keynote speech at Vets Day program Former school demolished in Watkins… Last week’s edition of the Voice incorrectly ran a picture of the Watkins Ambulance as the Watkins Fire Department, under its Fire Prevention Month salute. This week, the page is being re-run on Page 11 with the correct photos of the Eden Valley Fire Department and the Watkins Fire Department. Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4 By Laurie Schultz A general election will be held nationwide on Tuesday, Nov. 4, with polling from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the City of Eden Valley, residents can vote at city hall, and in the City of Watkins, they can vote at the Watkins Village Hall. Veterans Day next week The EV-W Music Departmemt will hold their 19th annual Veterans Day program on Monday, Nov. 10, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the auxiliary gym at EV-W Secondary School. EV-W graduate Steve Thielen, now a lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard, will serve as the guest speaker. Both the EV-W band and choir will perform at the program. Community members are being asked to sing in the program. The second rehearsal will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in the EV-W choir room. Please enter thru the south door for practice. 75¢ Eden Valley Watkins VOICE 103 Stearns Ave. E., P.O. Box 7, Eden Valley, MN 55329 Phone: 320-453-8642 Fax: 320-243-4492 www.evwvoice.com • Copyright 2014 • Index Blotter Greg Huberty Highway 55 Manannah News Book Fair Public Notices Sups Corner Happy Halloween Pieces of the Past Bulletin Board Family Fun Night Classifieds Entertainment Unity Day State Cross Country Football Contest Firefighter Salute EV-W grad to speak at annual program 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 “In order to honor the sacrifices our veterans have graciously given for us, it is important that we live our lives to its fullest potential and as citizens to always serve for the greater good of our community.” Lieutenant colonel Steve Thielen plans to base his message around those very words when he serves as the guest speaker at the 19th annual Veterans Day program at Eden Valley-Watkins Secondary School on Monday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Thielen, proud to be an Eden Valley-Watkins graduate, feels privileged to be the guest speaker at the annual program. “There are many outstanding teachers and mentors from EV-W who had a great impact on me,” said Thielen, a 1989 grad. “Notably Jay Johnson, Ray Tri, Mike Novak and Don Kjar.” His most cherished school memories are the summer trip to Germany with Kjar’s class and playing football for the EV-W Eagles. “I am glad to see the exchange program is still strong at EV-W and that the EV-W football program has a state championship in our legacy,” said Thielen. He started his military career as an enlisted soldier in Company C of the U.S. Army Reserve, located in Paynesville. Then he became an ROTC cadet while attending St. John’s University. After graduating from St. John’s, he was commissioned as an officer in the Army’s armored branch. While serving as a lieutenant, Thielen completed armor, airborne, and Ranger schools. He also has served as a tank platoon leader, scout platoon leader, company executive officer, and battalion adjutant. Currently, Thielen is a lieutenant colonel for the Army National Guard and continues to serve on full-time active duty. He resides in the Twin Cities with his family and is the son of Tess and the late Lloyd Thielen of Paynesville. Also at the Veterans Day program, the EV-W choirs and bands will perform, and the EV-W Legion Post #381 and Auxiliary Unit, the Watkins Legion Post #453, the Wat-Kim-Valley VFW Post #5460, and Auxiliary Unit, and the POW-MIA Honor Guard will represent the community. At the program, Thielen plans to thank everyone for supporting our veterans, both past and present. “Being a veteran is the highest mark of American citizenship. I am proud to be among the American veterans of the past and present, especially those from the greater EV-W community, and my father Lloyd Thielen,” he said. Photo by Laurie Schultz The former St. Anthony School in Watkins, built in 1928, was demolished on Monday, Nov. 3, to make way for a new social center for St. Anthony Catholic Church. A special memorial mass was held at the church on Sunday, Oct. 26, prior to demolition. EDEN VALLEY WPA Trees being removed from wetland area Non-native species removal restores natural habitat By Brian Haines Along Highway 55 between Eden Valley and Paynesville, a change in scenery has occurred at the Eden Valley Waterfowl Production Area. A popular hunting spot, the 394-acre management area is undergoing a tree removal program. In order to lessen the impact of airborne predators on waterfowl, as well as restore native environmental conditions, non-native tree species are being removed on Waterfowl Production Areas Photo by Brian Haines Non-native trees, such as box elder and buckthorn, have been removed from the Eden Valley Waterfowl Production Area, located on Highway 55 west of Eden Valley. (WPAs) across the tri-county area. Scott Glup, project leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, expressed his desire to undertake more projects like this. “WPA grassland restoration projects are great programs that will improve hunting conditions across Central Minnesota,” he said. “Less than two percent of our native grassland remains, and they’ve become the most endangered ecosystems in Minnesota.” Glup says tree removal projects have shown positive results in the past. The project goals are to remove non-native trees that are large seed producers such as box elder and buckthorn. “We take out any tree that poses a threat to habitat conditions and leave trees that are native to the area,” said Glup, who is adamant that these projects are key to creating better hunting for future generations. Not only does the program restore prairie habitat, but EV WPA – see page 3 STATE CHAMPION Donnay triumphs at Class A cross country… Photo by Michael Jacobson Senior Emily Donnay (451) won the Class A state cross country meet at St. Olaf College on Saturday, Nov. 1, becoming the firstever state champion for the EV-W/Kimball cross country team. Her sophomore sister Anna finished third, also earning All State honors. Turn to Page 9 this week for a recap of the state cross country meet.
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