News from the week of July 4, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Weather radios suggested for homes & businesses
Tammy VanOverbeke, Lyon County Emergency Services director, recommends that weather radios be installed in all local homes and business.
“I feel that weather radios are as important as smoke detectors in people's homes. Everyone should have one,” said VanOverbeke. “This is another tool to warn people about the possibility of severe weather.”
Weather radios are designed to emit an alarm when severe weather conditions exist.
“Weather radios are important for everyone to have in their homes, but also they are important for farmers, campers, boaters, fishermen, and travelers,” VanOverbeke said. “It is good for those that are snowbirds to have one so they can use it in all areas that they travel between and to.”
In Lyon County, an alarm is sent to weather radios when winds exceed 58 miles-an-hour and a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning has been issued for the area.
Weather radios can be battery or AC powered. Most units have battery backup and can be programmed to sound an alert when conditions warrant.
“An emergency alert tone on a weather radio can awaken someone from sleep and is loud enough to heard through out the house,” said Greg Harmon of the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls.
The National Weather Service of Sioux Falls recently issued 140 warnings or watches over weather radio service area in one weekend this summer, VanOverbeke noted.
Farewell to USA
It's time to say good-bye for two German AFS exchange students who have spent the past year in Tracy. a farewell picnic was held Tuesday night for Miray Demir and Michael Kehrer. Jeannine Vandencriessche, area AFS coordinator, said the pair had been "wonderful students" and would be greatly missed. Vandencriessche noted that Miray and Michael were Tracy's first exchange students fro mGermany in 15 years. Miray have stayed with the Lynn and Rose Goltz family, while Michael has been hosted by the Jim and Mary Malmberg family.
The students are scheduled to depart from Tracy on Saturday.
For the coming school year, the Brian and Sue Johnson family plan to host an AFS student from Argentina. The AFS program is looking for one additional host family.
Library open house, garden tour planned
Tracy Public Library announces plans for its Thursday, July 12, summer garden tour and open house
Gardens scheduled for the tour are: Lois Johnson, Bob and Dorothy Anderson, Vern and Harriett Hemmingsen, Frank and Margie Nielsen, Ray and Helen Peterson, Marge Robinson.
Library board members are selling tickets for the 4 to 8 p.m. tour.
The garden tour coincides with a 1:30 to 8 p.m. open house at the library. Coffee and cake will be served.
Fun Fest in Balaton
Activities center around Lake Yankton
Three days of summer fun splashes into Balaton this weekend for Fun Fest.
Balaton Fun Fest activities are planned Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 6-8. Many events take place in the Balaton City Park on Lake Yankton. A medallion hunt began Monday.
A talent show, fireworks, boat parade, volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball tourney, water tug-of-was, canoe races, firemen's dance and many other activities are on the calendar to keep you busy during Fun Fest.
Adult trip to France deemed `marvelous'
As a French teacher at Tracy Area High School, Shorty Engel took many students on trips to France. This summer, for the first time, the retired French teacher took an adult group to Europe.
About 33 people went on the trip. Area people included Engel and his wife, LouAnn, Jane and Chauncey Muedeking, Enriquita Pasac, Eileen Schimming, Dr. Wilfredo and Alice Apostol, and former Tracy residents Steve and Carol Vopatek. Another trip participaant David Hansen, a Tracy grad who is now a teacher in Maple Lake, had previously traveled to France with Engel as a high school French student.
"It was a fantastic trip," commented Jane Muedeking, who made the trip with husband, Chauncey.
Travel arrangements were made through the Language & Friendship organization, the same group that Engel used for his student trips.
Engel is planning a similar trip next June.
“The Growing Season,” a guide and video that gives parents of teens thoughtful answers to everyday dilemmas, is now available for check-out at all public libraries in Lyon County.
The guide features practical parenting ideas, tips, and advice brought to life in the one-hour companion video. This educational package is part of the “Positive Parenting” curriculum series developed by the University of Minnesota Extension Service and the University of Wisconsin Extension Service.
Topics covered include positive discipline; communication; physical and emotional changes; dealing with conflict; friends and peers; responsible decision making; parenting styles; dating, sex and sexuality; drugs and alcohol; depression and suicide; jobs and money; and school.
The videos are sponsored for Lyon County libraries through the Parent Engagement Project, a collaborative program of the Lyon County Extension Service and the Marshall Family Collaborative.