Ruschmeier qualifies for state meet Remembering a foiled bank robbery Panther freshman places second in 2AA in Brownton — Sports Page 1B — Page 5 The McLeod County hronicle $1.25 Glencoe, Minnesota Vol. 122, No. 9C www.glencoenews.com February 27, 2019 City council tables decision on new utilities metering voted 3-2 to table consideration of Budget cuts to the new metering system from make up Eaton. Councilors Allen Robeck, Cory Neid and Milan Alexander for unplanned voted as a group to stop the approval pending a list of proposed cuts in the expense water enterprise fund and a decision By John Mueller from the light and power board. Editor Councilors discussed the proposal A week after the Glencoe City at its Feb. 25 workshop. After the Council directed staff to place a pro- city’s light and power board voted posal on a new utility metering sys- unanimously to approve its share of tem on the agenda for approval, the the new metering system the previ- issue was tabled for additional dis- ous week, pending city council ap- Chronicle photo by John Mueller cussion and budget cuts while await- proval, the issue might be back on ing a decision on the system from the council’s agenda at its March 4 A snowy ride the board overseeing the city’s elec- After Glencoe and the area received 8 inches of fluffy snow Wednesday, Feb. 20, Ethan Grimm tric utility. City council pulled Connor Rosenlund across the old Helen Baker Elementary School property on East 16th Tuesday, Feb 19, the city council Street Saturday afternoon. The snow and mild temperatures made for a nice afternoon outdoors. Turn to page 2 Gepson returns to state concert stage Glencoe, By John Mueller townships Editor She’s been playing the trumpet welcome new since she was in fifth grade. Four years later, the Glencoe-Silver Lake fire truck freshman has earned another trip to perform with the state’s top high to service school musicians. Emma Gepson, a member of GSL’s concert band, will participate Department April 6-7, in the 2019 Minnesota Band Director’s Association will form fire (MBDA) State Level Honor Band at commission Shakopee High School. Gepson The newest tool the Glencoe Fire earned a spot in the honor band as a Department uses to serve the city and seventh- and eighth-grader. Gepson’s townships it serves is in service. award marks the seventh consecutive The new rescue truck arrived last year Glencoe-Silver Lake will have a month. At last Thursday’s annual fire musician among the state’s top per- department meeting with city and formers in the honor band. township representatives, officers The daughter of Nicole and Peter from the eight townships – Hassan Gepson, Emma and the other mem- Valley, Rich Valley, Glencoe, bers of the honor band were selected Bergen, Sumter, Green Isle, New through a competitive recorded audi- Auburn, and Helen – and the city tion of pre-selected music that in- took a good look at the new equip- cluded the scale played in a slow and ment at the fire hall. upbeat tempo and song submitted in The new truck cost about $422,000 December. She was one of 310 musi- and will be jointly paid for over the cians from 77 schools who audi- next five years by the city and town- tioned for the ensemble. She finished ships in the GFD’s fire district. The the audition feeling confident her city will pay for 77 percent of the performance went well. truck, the eight townships the re- “Some people have different ways Chronicle photo by John Mueller Gepson GSL ninth-grader Emma Gepson was named to the Minnesota Band Directors’ ninth- and 10th grade Fire department Turn to page 3 state honor band. She made the seventh- and eighth-grade all-state band as an eighth-grader. Turn to page 3 Longtime bus drivers say the students keep the job rolling By John Mueller After school, he’s loading students Editor around 2:40 p.m. and is done by Every morning, long before most about 4:15. Mary’s afternoon route people roll out of bed and begin the runs from 3:10 to 4:05 p.m. day, Mary and Derald Bielke are up The husband-wife duo makes up ready to make sure hundreds of stu- two of 4.0 Transportation’s 25 driv- dents reach school in Glencoe and ers. They are two of the company’s Silver Lake. most experienced drivers. The com- They will, by the end of the day, pany transports most of Glencoe-Sil- drive over 220 miles between them ver Lake School District students to and make dozens of stops carrying school each day. Thousands of the community’s most precious school bus drivers like the Bielkes cargo, Mary driving Bus No. 1 and transport more than 760,000 students Derald driving Bus D. He hits the to and from school each day across road around 6:25 and is done by just after 8 a.m. Her morning route starts Bus drivers Chronicle photo by John Mueller at 6:20 and is done by 7:30 a.m. Turn to page 3 Mary and Derald Bielke have been driving students to and from school each day for many years. Looking back: We set a record Feb. 21 18.......1........0.30” Weather for snow in February. Not good Feb. 22 25.......1........0.00” Chronicle News and enough for ya’? Enjoy this week- Feb. 23 30......23........3.00” end’s zub-zero chill. Feb. 24 23......-6....... 0.50” Advertising Deadlines Date Hi Lo Snow Feb. 25 6........-9....... 0.00” Temperatures and precipitation All news is due by 5 p.m., Monday, and all adver- Feb. 19 19......-13........ 0.00” Wed., 2-27 Thur., 2-28 Fri., 3-1 Sat., 3-2 Sun., 3-3 compiled by Robert Thurn, tising is due by noon, Monday. News received after Feb. 20 28........6........... 8.00” Chronicle weather observer. H: 9°, L: -6° H: 17°, L: -4° H: 15, L: -6° H: 0°, L: -18° H: 1°, L: -11° that deadline will be published as space allows. The McLeod County Chronicle, www.glencoenews.com, Wednesday, February 27, 2019, page 2 Downtown action plan ready for Library News next Glencoe City Council workshop By Jackee Fountain By Jakob Kounkel The city’s calling it the owners to elected leaders to residents and business owners Staff Writer downtown revitalization proj- residents — even high school to meet and discuss a reliable, In response to years of con- ect. It’s been bolstered by ad- students. collective vision for the fu- versation with Glencoe resi- vice from business owners, The vision statement as ture of downtown. The group dents and business leaders, residents, engineers, and written in the action plan is as of 16 — compiled to repre- ‘March’ on down to the and since the completion of a other Glencoe area stakehold- follows: sent a broad set of interests 2017 council-approved hous- ers. “Downtown Glencoe is a — decided on four areas in Glencoe Public Library ing assessment, city leader- “Virtually everything in welcoming and family- which downtown Glencoe ship asked its engineering that plan comes from the friendly place filled with a could improve the most: so- The Glencoe Public Li- the first day of spring. Tues- firm — Short Elliott Hen- steering committee and the variety of attractions that ciability, uses and activities, brary is marching along in day, March 26, is a fun pro- drickson Inc. (SEH) — to workshop,” Assistant City bring locals and visitors to access and linkages, and 2019. March 1 is Read gram for children with Miss create an action plan high- Administrator Dan Ehrke the area. From daily attrac- comfort and image. Across America Day and the Gabby, entitled “Make-up lighting the city’s vision for a said. The project’s steering tions such as restaurants, Under the guiding principle Glencoe Library staff invites Your Own Holiday Day,” revitalized downtown Glen- committee incorporates com- shops, services, entertainment to reestablish downtown anyone who wants to read in from 6 to 7 p.m. Choose a coe. munity leaders from business and arts and cultural venues, Glencoe as the “heart of the the library to enjoy the com- date, do an activity and the to yearly celebrations and community,” the Glencoe fortable spaces and snacks all Glencoe Library will cele- festivals, downtown Glencoe City Center hosted a commu- day on Friday. brate your special day in provides a safe, walkable and nity workshop where around Saturday March 2 is Dr. 2019. These special March beautiful space for people to 50 community members at- Seuss’s birthday. Children are days are sponsored by the gather and make lasting con- tended. The workshop posited welcome to come to the li- Friends of the Glencoe Li- Happenings nections.” eight values in making down- brary and make a Dr. Seuss brary. The 2017 housing assess- town a vibrant economic and craft after they read a Dr. Regular monthly programs: ment showed steady employ- recreational epicenter. Seuss book. March 5 is LEGO club at 6 ment projections and a large Some of those were: “En- Tuesday, March 12 is Na- p.m., Mystery Book Club, Red Cross blood drive working population in the courage an 18-hour commu- tional Genealogy Day. The March 7, discussing “Heart The Plato Lions Club is sponsoring an American Red city, but also that many of nity where people can live, Glencoe Library will have tu- of Darkness” by Joseph Con- Cross blood drive Thursday, Feb.