Grads Girls’ Golf Team Softball Team Share Qualifies for Goes Deep Into Section Meet Playoffs Page 23 Their Page 23 Plans Pages 11-14 ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH YEAR BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JUNE 1, 2011 75¢ SINGLE COPY NUMBER 22 BPHS Commencement Sunday by Dan Ruud order was not yet fi nalized by Aweigh.” Norm Coleman and Skip Hum- Tuesday’s press time but Paige The ushers for the class of phrey were Minnesota’s guber- Joosten is the scheduled class 2011 are Lizzy Eischens, Matt natorial front-runners when speaker. The school choir will Ruehling, Payton Gilreath and Belle Plaine High School’s sing “We’re On Our Way” and Pat Fahey. The class offi cers class of 2011 took their seats the band will perform “Divi- are President Clair Brazil, Vice for the fi rst day of kindergarten num Mysterium.” Casey Sch- President Matt Kahle, Secretary in 1998. Class members were neider will provide a solo. Jackie Garcia and Treasurer too young to be shocked at The announcement of honors Andy Olson. what transpired in the general and awards will be by Principal The class song is “Good Rid- election two months later when Lowell Hoffman and Annette dance (Time of Your Life)” by a third-party candidate named Moylan of Dollars for Scholars. Green Day. The class motto is: Jesse emerged the winner. Superintendent Dr. Kelly Smith Dream what your dare to In sports, Mark McGwire and will present the class with their dream, Go Where you want Sammy Sosa each chased the diplomas and the ceremony to go, Be what you want to be home run record set previously will close with the playing LIVE. by Roger Maris in 1961. Both of the school song “Anchors men ended up breaking the re- cord – McGwire with 70 and Sosa with 66. Both are now BPHS Grads Pursuing retired and neither is expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame anytime soon. Diverse Career Fields Locally in 1998, Dan Hanlon by Dan Ruud “I hope to go in the U.S. Army and Jennie Hanlon removed Cheyenne Yates is one of four to defend this great country. If the sheet during the unveiling members of the Belle Plaine that doesn’t work, I plan on go- of the fi rst production model of Johnny Miller of Belle Plaine placed a fl ower on the cross in the memory of his mother Doro- High School class of 2011 ing into construction,” Watts the Excelsior-Henderson Super thy during the Reading of Deceased Members at Monday’s Belle Plaine Memorial Day Service graduating with high honors. said. X motorcycle during the com- Recently, she helped organize The military is in the plans of at Chatfi eld Elementary School. Dorothy died May 12 at the age of 93. pany’s massive shareholders an “Earth Day Everyday” event about a half-dozen other BPHS meeting in Belle Plaine. in association with the school’s grads this year. The top grossing movies at the environmental group TREES Meanwhile, Kanishia Walker Memorial Day Speaker: box offi ce in 1998 were “Arma- (Totally Rad Extraordinary En- will go to the University of geddon” and “Saving Private vironmental Students). Minnesota to become a nurse; Ryan.” The top kiddy movie Soon, Yates will be heading Kelsey Bossen plans to head was “A Bug’s Life.” God Bless the USA east to pursue her dream of to sunny Fort Myers to attend This Sunday, members of the by Dan Ruud helping make the world more Florida Gulf Coast University Belle Plaine High School class environmentally sound. She and pursue a PhD in psychol- A downpour one hour before of 2011 will commence post- plans to attend Warren Wilson ogy; and Kattie Bettelyoun is Monday’s 11 a.m. Belle Plaine high school life at the conclu- College in North Carolina for going to the West Coast (Irvine, Memorial Day Program forced sion of the 2 p.m. commence- a double major in biology and Calif.) to study fashion. Wil- this year’s service to be moved ment ceremony in the school’s environmental science. liam LaJeunesse plans to avoid from Veterans Park to Chatfi eld south gymnasium. coasts altogether to study busi- Elementary School, where ap- “Eventually, I would like to Four students will graduate ness at the University of Ne- proximately 150 people re- get my PhD in either zoology or with high honors: Cody Gerres, braska-Lincoln. served an hour of their weekend conservation biology. I aspire Zachary Maguire, Molly Wick- to work with big cats and con- Once again, the majority of to honor those who have served enhauser and Cheyenne Yates. or are serving the country. servation efforts for them,” said the BPHS class of 2011 is Eighteen students will gradu- Yates in her post-high school staying close to home. About Rosemary Niesen, 70, of Co- ate with honors: Karla Chabot, plans she shared with Herald. a dozen plan to attend Minne- logne, who served for over 20 Jenny Fatz, Miah Fogarty, sota State University, Mankato, years with the Minnesota Air Other members of the class Alexandra Hartman, Lindy while a half-dozen will enroll at National Guard and is a mem- of 2011 have different types of Jackson, Sam Johnson, Paige South Central College in North ber of the Waconia American plans after high school. Joosten, Beth Kiewatt, Casey Mankato. Close to 10 grads will Legion and VFW posts, was “After graduation, I’m go- Liebhard, Carolyn Malecha, go to Normandale Community the guest speaker. She is pres- ing on a mission through the Casey Mueller, Joshua Phillips, College in Bloomington. Hen- ently Department Chaplain for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Casey Schneider, Cody Sieben, nepin Technical College is in the State of Minnesota and was Day Saints,” said senior Marty Kelly Soller, Tyler Stolee, Sar- the plans of at least eight stu- recently elected Third District Walsh. “I’m not sure where the ah Wagner and Tommy Wind- dents, followed by North Da- Commander. priesthood leaders of the church ers. kota State University and St. From the Revolutionary War will send me, but I am ready to The ceremony will open with serve the people and do what Cloud State University with to the Navy Seal’s fi nding and the traditional “Pomp and fi ve and six, respectively. South killing of Osama Bin Laden a I can to bring others closer to Circumstance” processional. God.” Dakota State University is the month ago, Niesen’s speech School Board Chair Dr. Judy only other school that is in the Fellow graduate Chris Watts focused on the dedication of Nagel will provide the wel- plans of at least three BPHS has different plans. America’s military throughout come. students this year. its history. The complete program and its “For more than 200 years, America’s Armed Forces have Rosemary Niesen was the guest speaker at Monday’s Belle been the surest guarantee that Memorial Day Service. freedom will continue to ring across this land from sea to We’re going to fi nd those evil- them accountable; the people shining sea,” Niesen said. doers, those barbaric people who think they can provide Later in her speech, Niesen who attacked our country and quoted the words of then Presi- we’re going to hold them re- Memorial Day dent George W. Bush following sponsible, and we’re going (continued on page 24) the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, to hold the people who house 2001. Pool Project Nearly Complete Colorado Principal Infrastructure improvements Will Replace Tierney to the Belle Plaine Municipal Swimming Pool are nearly com- plete and the pool is expected at Oak Crest to open within the next week or by John Mueller so, depending on the weather. The main pool was being fi lled A Colorado school administra- with water on Tuesday. tor will lead Oak Crest Elemen- tary School when the 2011-12 Workers from the Belle Plaine academic year begins. Public Works Department be- gan the job of replacing the Last week, the Belle Plaine piping underneath the deck School Board unanimously last fall and resumed work this approved the hiring of Liann spring. The last of the cement Hanson as JoAnne Tierney’s Superintendent Kelly Smith (left) presented Bill Kruschke the Belle Plaine School District’s is scheduled to be poured today replacement next year. She’ll Friend of Education Award Wednesday evening. (Wednesday) to replace the ce- earn a salary of $90,854. ment that was removed to com- Hanson comes to Belle Plaine plete the project. from Turnberry Elementary ‘The Kids Are Fun To Be Around’ The pool normally opens in School in Thornton, Colo., a early June and the same is ex- suburb of Denver. Bill Kruschke Receives Friend of Education Award pected this year. “I am very honored to be se- lected as the next principal of by John Mueller dents, Bill Kruschke will likely day night in the gym where Oak Crest,” she said. “I believe Liann Hanson He didn’t grow up in Belle be there cheering on the locals. he has seen so many activities Kruschke was presented the that with my experience in in- Plaine, didn’t send his kids to Friend of Education struction, formative assessment, Principal school here. But if there’s an Belle Plaine Schools Friend of and data-driven dialogue, I am (continued on page 8) event involving BPHS stu- Education Award last Wednes- (continued on page 14) PAGE TWO BELLE PLAINE HERALD, BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2011 Members of the Green Isle American Legion paid their respects to deceased veterans Memorial Day at Assump- tion Cemetery, the site of the former Assumption Church on the Sibley-Carver county border.