Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy,
Minnesota, since 1880
News from the week of November 17, 1999
'Music Man' hits high note
Drama critic 'simply agog' after sparkling show
By Barbara Hopper
(Theater critic Barbara Hopper was in Tracy this weekend to see “The Music Man.” (The Headlight-Herald's regular critic was otherwise engaged.) Her sister Hedda was also invited but declined the invitation. Word has it that she feared her famous hats would be upstaged by those in the show. Tsk! Tsk!)
Last weekend's community theater production of “The Music Man” positively sparkled. This dame was simply agog! The show hit a responsive chord with the audience too. Standing ovations capped both performances.
Enthusiastic cast members, clearly in their element, sang their hearts out and brought the show's characters to life. Pompous, self-righteous, contentious, prim, smooth-talking, flamboyant, slap-stick, charming, delightful and endearing characters strolled, marched, strutted, danced, tripped and flitted across the stage, thrilling and delighting an appreciative audience.
Hats off to everyone!
If you missed the first two performances, you'll want to get in line for the remaining shows on Friday and Saturday evenings, Nov. 20 and 21 at 8:00 p.m. at the high school auditorium. It's a must see!
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I can't say enough about the show's talented and lovely leading lady. Strutting on stage in her high heels, a prim and proper Marian immediately sent sparks flying between herself and Professor Harold Hill just by the tilt of her chin! Meredith Willson surely had someone like Amy Engesser in mind when he wrote the musical. Her speaking voice has a rich quality and she sings like an angel.
To Jim Miller fell the daunting task of portraying smooth-talking, hoodwinking, spellbinding con man Harold Hill. What a superb performance! Every inflection in his voice, every facial expression, every wave of his hand was well executed. As the show's leading man, he played his role with finesse, subtlety, attention to detail, charm and good humor and brought out the best in everyone. And what a pleasant singing voice!
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If you ask me, the traveling salesmen in the show's opening scene had the most challenging acting assignment in the entire show. Theirs was the task of collectively setting the stage, defining the plot and engaging the audience.
Two benches and a simple backdrop were the only props assisting the gentlemen, but within seconds the dapperly dressed salesmen had the audience hooked. Bodies swayed and lurched to the rhythm of the rails; voices kept time to the chug of the wheels. By the time the train reached River City, the audience was on board.
Kudos to George Hebig, Randy Lessman, Steve Jones, Ric Schons, Seth Schmidt, Errol Steffen, Keith Rayman, and Dave Mix! Great opening scene!
• • •
Pick! Pick! Pick! The show's Pickalittle Ladies were marvelous! I've never seen better. I suspect it has something to do with the rural background of most of the cast -- they've no doubt witnessed the preening and the strutting and the clucking of the feathered fowl and perhaps even been pecked by one as they attempted to remove an egg from the nest.
The hats and costumes worn by the ladies were appropriately flamboyant and outlandish, right down to the clumps of grapes in the Grecian Urn scene. Lovely!
Providing a perfect foil for the self-proclaimed society women were the more modestly attired townswomen who graced the stage and added dimension to the performance. Yes, dear ladies, less is sometimes more! And I'm certain the pies you carried across the foot bridge to the town “sociable” were delectable!
Mary Zwach, Sandi Rettmer, Debbie Miller, Valerie Hayes, Bonnie Hook, Jean Hicks, Carol Flesner, Ethanie Schmidt, Kara Nelson, Heidi Miller, Kris Edwards, Muriel Coulter, Betsy Schmidt and Cookie Knott were the show's Pickalittle Ladies.
Towns women included Jan MacFarlane, Carla VanDeWiele, Colleen Schiller, Mev Jackson, Deb Janssen and Robin McIntire. (Of all the wonderful dresses in the show, my personal favorite was the green number worn by McIntire.)
A fine sound system, enhanced by cordless microphones purchased from proceeds from the spring production of Annie, insured that audience members could hear the action on stage.
Superb costuming and enhancing sets contributed to the show's success as did the accompaniment provided by Jim Smith at the piano and Andy Fraser on drums.
Directors Ade Miller and Jeff James have done it once again! I applaud you!
Dianne Kamrud, John Swanson purchase Enderson Clothing
Two long-time employees have purchased Enderson Clothing.
The new owners are John Swanson, who has worked at the store since 1980; and Dianne Kamrud, a store employee since 1989. The purchase of the well-known Downtown Tracy business from Steve Jones was finalized Monday. Jones, who purchased the business from founder Howard Enderson in the mid-1990s, has switched careers, becoming a full-time instructor at Tracy Area High School.
The new owners are upbeat about the business, which will continue to be called Enderson Clothing.
"We feel like the business is there," Swanson said. "This is a good opportunity for us."
Kamrud said she has been encouraged by an outpouring of public support.
"People have been really good. People need and want a good men's clothing store in town."
The focus of Enderson Clothing will continue to be on quality and service, the new owners say. Besides good lines of men's and boys' clothing, the store will continue to offer tailoring, alterations, special orders and tuxedo rentals. Swanson and Kamrud, who note that a number of area men's stores have closed in recent years, feel they have an opportunity to cater to a men's clothing market in a wide area.
"There's really not that many places that people can go to buy the nicer stuff," Swanson said.
• • •
In coming weeks, Kamrud and Swanson expect many new shipments of winter clothing. They ask for customers' patience until new stock arrives. Until the sale was finalized, they note, they were unable to buy new fall and winter merchandise on their own.
Besides getting in new stock, the pair also plan to refurbish the store, both inside and out. Most of the changes, which will include new carpeting, won't take place until after Christmas. A grand opening is planned this winter, possibly in January.
The new stock will include some new clothing lines.
"To get the kids to look, you have to have some of what is the latest and newest," Swanson said. "We will also be keeping some of the lines that have been really popular for us too."
Kamrud, a Tracy native, is married to Chris Kamrud, a counselor at Tracy Area High School. They have three children: Heather, a 1992 TAHS grad, Sonja, a senior at Dakota State University; and Mike, a student at TAHS.
Swanson, originally from Balaton, is married to Becky Swanson, who is employed in Marshall. They have four children: Ryan, a 1998 TAHS graduate; Jennifer and Leanne, students at TAHS; and Krista, a Tracy Elementary School student.
Old-Fashioned Tracy Christmas promises music, food & prizes
• Many stores open Sunday afternoon, Pavilion events set
Cash drawings, holiday music, special displays and delicious food are all part of "Old Fashioned Tracy Christmas" festivities planned for Sunday, Nov. 21.
Many events will take place from noon to 4 p.m. in the Tracy Prairie Pavilion. Many Tracy stores will also be open during that time.
A total of $375 in Tracy Cash will be given away, with drawings held at 4:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. There's no purchase necessary to win, and people can register at any participating Tracy business. But people must be present at the Pavilion to win.
Pavilion entertainment begins at 1 p.m. and continues until 4 p.m. Local piano students start performing at 1 p.m., followed by Music In Motion Dancers at 3 p.m. The Tracy Community Band performs their annual Christmas concert at 4:15 p.m.
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Other highlights of the Old-Fashioned Tracy Christmas are:
• Santa arrives at 12:30 p.m. in the Tracy library. Children can have their pictures taken with Santa from 1 to 3 p.m.
• 4-H clubs and Tracy Girl Scouts will sing Christmas carols.
• A Food Court will be set up in the Tracy Prairie Pavilion, with food sold by Tracy Bakery, Subway, Pizza Barn and Food Pride.
• Tracy Boy Scouts will serve their annual chili supper from 3 to 6 p.m. The supper is set up on the second floor of the Prairie Pavilion.
• St. Mary's Catholic Church serves their annual soup dinner at the church from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the church.
• Organizations and businesses with booths at the Prairie Pavilion include: Calico Ribbon Ceramics & Gifts, Culligan Water Conditioning, John's RX, Prairie Home Hospice, Tracy Area Medical Services, St. Mary's Catholic School, Lisa Sweetman Embroidery, Tracy Floral Greenhouse & Gift Cottage, Shetek Station Custom Framing, Jolynn Norstgard Weekender Wear, Tracy Hospital Auxiliary Bake Sale, DK Family Learning, Tastefully Simple Gourmet Foods, Wheels Across the Prairie Museum.
• Raffle drawing for a $300 decorated Christmas tree, sponsored by Tracy Retail Trade.
The theme year chosen for Old Fashioned Tracy Christmas is 1912, in honor of the "Music Man" musical being staged Friday and Saturday at Tracy Area High School. The "Music Man" is set in 1912.
Runnings Fleet & Farm chain establishes Tracy warehouse
The former Coronado Stone building in Tracy is now a warehouse for Running Fleet & Farm.
The 21,000 square-foot building was purchased recently by Runnings' owners Bill Joens and Dennis Reed.
Joens said that Runnings needed more warehouse space to accommodate "expanding business." He said Runnings will have "no problem" putting all of the building's space to good use.
Had the Tracy building not been available, Runnings was considering construction of a new building in Marshall or finding some space to rent.
"This will be good for everyone. We needed more space, and we will be putting to use a building that was empty."
The South Street building, vacant for several years, was most recently occupied by Windsor Windows. The property was purchased from Heartland State Bank of Storden.
The building was originally erected in the late 1930s as a new plant for the Tracy Poultry Company. (Tracy Produce, owned by Dick Pieffer, processed Traco-brand chickens and eggs for eastern markets). After the poultry plant closed in the 1950s, subsequent users have included: Exxon Twine, Coronado Stone and Windsor Windows.
Joens said there are no plans for any employees to be located at the warehouse. How often trucks will stop by the warehouse, he said, depends upon the season. Runnings' trucks typically drive through Tracy three times a week, he said.
Runnings Fleet & Farm has 12 stores, with the closest operations located at Marshall, Redwood Falls, Springfield and Windom. Joens said he looks at the Tracy facility as a permanent satellite warehouse.
College athletes conclude seasons
Where do Panther athletes go when they hang up their high school uniforms? Some of them go on to play college athletics. Panther athletes who played fall sports this season include:
Front & back row
Amber Peterson, a freshman at the University of Sioux Falls, played both front and back row for the University of Sioux Falls volleyball program. The 1999 Tracy High School graduate played mostly at the junior varsity level during 1999.
Augie defensive specialist
Sarah Hayes concluded her volleyball career with the Augustana Vikings, who were 22-7 in Division II college play.
Hayes was sixth on her team with 150 digs. She saw action as a back row specialist, contributing 27 service aces in 83 games.
SSU kill, dig leader
Bridget Smith concluded her college volleyball career with the Southwest State Mustangs as a two-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference selection. The 1995 TAHS graduate led the Mustangs (20-13) with 415 digs and 427 kills. Smith played in 1995 and 1996 with South Dakota State, leading the Jacks in kills her freshman year.
Mustang sophomore
Holly DeSmet, a sophomore, played in nine games for the Southwest State Mustangs. She was credited with nine kills and three digs.
All-American runner
Leah Gifford will be competing in the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas. The Augustana junior qualified for nationals by placing second in the North Central Regional meet in Fargo, North Dakota. The 1997 Balaton High School graduate was clocked at 21:31 in the 6,000 meter race. Gifford earned All-American honors a year ago, by placing 25th in the 127-runner national meet.
This fall, she won the North Central Conference women's cross country race for the second year in a row. She was named NCC cross country athlete of the week for Sept. 27-Oct. 2, and is a member of the NCC All-Academic Team.
Dakota State record setter
Jared Peterreins, a junior, caught 72 passes for 997 yards and six touchdowns, setting a new school record for most receptions in a season. After three years at Dakota State, Peterreins also holds school records for most career yardage (1,783) and career catches (131).
Peterreins is a two-time all-conference pick for the South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Athlete of Month at Metro
Heading into the final two matches of her senior year at Metro State (Denver, Colorado), Chris Brink had posted a team leading 73 blocks. The starting middle blocker was second in kills with 286. The 1996 TAHS graduate was honored as Metro State's Athlete of the Month for October.
Four-year letter winner
Daisy Schmidt concluded her cross country career at Gustavus Adolphus College, competing in a regional meet at Waverly Iowa, Saturday. The 1996 TAHS graduate, a four-year letter winner at Gustavus, was the fifth to seventh varsity runner on the 30-member women's squad this season. The Gusties finished 7th out of 24 teams at Waverly.
Conference ace leader
Monica Peterson was a back-row specialist for the University of Sioux Falls volleyball team. In her second year as a varsity player, Peterson led her team in service aces with 49.
The team finished with a 24-11 regular season record, playing in the South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Conference.
School record for digs
Sonja Kamrud concluded her volleyball career at Dakota State University by setting a school record for digs. The 1996 TAHS grad compiled 2,086 career digs, leading the conference in digs for the past two years. Sonja, an elementary education major, specializing with the hearing impaired and special education, was a third-team all conference selection for the South Dakota-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Concordia wide receiver
Raleigh Schmidt, a sophomore, was a starting wide receiver for the Concordia Cobbers, averaging 20.8 yards a catch. Concordia lost their last two games to finish 6-4 on the season.
Third in conference blocks
Dacia Verlinde, a sophomore, was a starting middle hitter for the Dakota State volleyball team. She was a third-team all conference selection.
The team, which concluded a 14-17 season record, finished fourth in the conference tournament at Sioux Center last week, defeating Huron University, a team they had previously lost to twice. Dakota State was beaten in four games by eventual conference champion Dordt College. Verlinde was third in conference blocks and tenth in serving.
Leader for UMM volleyball
Julia Muedeking concluded her volleyball career at the University of Minnesota, Morris, where she was a three-year starter. The senior led the team with 303 kills and 1,005 attacks. The 1996 TAHS graduate played both front and back row for the Cougars, compiling 270 digs and 38 total blocks, while playing in 118 games.
One of the main pass receivers on the team, Muedeking was 88% on pass receptions. She had 25 service aces, with a 92% service percentage.
A senior co-captain, Muedeking has been named to the Northern Sun Academic All-Conference team for two years.
St. Louis, here we come!
Group attends National Catholic Youth Conference
Twenty-six young people from St. Mary's Parish in Tracy and St. Paul's Church in Walnut Grove are attending a National Catholic Youth Conference in St. Louis, Missouri this week.
The delegation left by bus late Wednesday afternoon. They are to return late Sunday.
St. Mary's students making the trip are: Joe Brockway, Kyle Byrne, Tim Byrne, Brooke Carlson, Clay Caron, Megan Chukuske, Danielle Goltz, Jeremy Goltz, Laura Goltz, Heather Hemmingsen, Lindsay Hemmingsen, John Henkel, DeAnn Johnson, Katie Lanoue, Kim Lanoue, Scott LaVoy, Suzanne LaVoy, Jessica Lenertz, Catie Macken, Jessica Maeyaert, Christa Vandendriessche, Emily Vandendriessche, Dana Verlinde.
Students from St. Paul's are: Jenna Boerboom, Ashley Hay, Andrea Knakmuhs.
Adult chaperones are: Father Brian Oestrich, Bryan Lisnak, Rose Goltz, Jan LaVoy and Rosemary Hemmingsen.
The conference is expected to draw as many as 21,000 people, including 571 from the New Ulm Diocese. The group is the largest from the diocese ever to attend a national Catholic youth gathering.
About 300 young people will gather with bishops from across the country for the Youth Congress on Scripture. The convention program includes many Catholic music artists and inspirational speakers, including Father J. Glenn Murray, Michael Pritchard and Suzie McConnell Serios. Comedian Doug Brummel and musician Steve Angrisano are among the featured workshop speakers.
Students can also attend Gateway Park, a collection of interactive activities offering games, exhibits, entertainment and educational and career information.