banner.gif (15051 bytes)

News from the week of August 29, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

All aboard! It's Tracy Box Car Days!

The 74th annual Tracy Box Car Days weekend begins Friday evening in Tracy.

Events get underway Friday with Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce sponsoring "build-your-own" burger night at 5 p.m. in the municipal parking lot. The beer garden also opens at 5 p.m.

The Monday Box Car Days parade had well over 100 units registered by Tuesday morning. Bands registered include the Tracy Area High School marching band, Tracy Community Band, Floyd Larson's One-Man Band, the Jim Lawrence Orchestra, the Minnesota Over-60 Band, and the Southwest State University Star of Minnesota marching band.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. The event resumes its usual route this year, beginning at Emory and Second Street, west on Emory to Sixth, south on Sixth to Morgan, and then east to Second Street. The parade disbands at Central Park. The parade started on Hollett Street last year, due to road construction.

A complete calendar of events is available on the back of this week's paper or may be seen online at: www.tracymn.com/calendar/.


Restricted hours likely for city lawn & garden dump

Restricted hours are likely to be established soon at the City of Tracy's lawn and garden disposal site.

Tracy City Council members learned that more flagrant violations had occurred at the city cump this past week. Council members appeared resigned that there is no alternative, except to restrict hours and hire a monitor to prevent future illegal dumping.

Mayor Claire Hannasch asked Tracy City Council members to think about the hours they would like to set at the dump, so a decision can be made at the council's next meeting.

The dump is now open seven days a week, from sun up to sun down, without any monitor.

Until about two years ago, the dump was open only on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, with a monitor present. Hannasch said he'd like to see the dump on more than two afternoons a week.


Council looks at 37% property tax levy hike

Pool, park improvements are major factors

The City of Tracy's overall property tax levy would increase about 37.5% next year if a 2002 budget considered by Tracy City Council members Monday night is approved.

City Administrator Audrey Koopman presented a budget that called for a 35% increase in the city tax levy. Council members instructed Koopman to put back into the budget $9,000 in spending requests that Koopman had recommended not be funded.

As the budget now stands, the city's 2002 general fund levy would increase 18.6%, while the city's debt sevice levy would increase 30%, for a combined overall levy increase of about 37.5%.

The proposed budget and levy will be considered again by council members on Sept. 10. At that time, the council is expected to certify the preliminary levy to the county auditor's office, for use on truth-in-taxation statements mailed this fall. The council must finalize its levy by the end of this year. Once set by the council, the preliminary levy can be reduced, but not increased.


Vocal director is Augustana music major

Rachael Klimes says she is excited about her new duties as vocal music instructor at Tracy Area High School.

The Augustana College graduate will direct the junior and senior high choirs, plus teach a class in general music education. At Augustana, she earned a bachelor's degree in music education, with a vocal emphasis. This is her first teaching assignment.

A native of George Iowa, a town of 1,100 located in northwest Iowa, Klimes is single and has moved to Tracy.

Her plans at school, she said, include organizing a chamber choral group.


Who will it be? Nine seek Miss Tracy title

Nine Tracy Area High School students are vying for the title of Miss Tracy Sunday.

The Miss Tracy Scholarship Program begins at 6:30 p.m. on the Tracy Area High School gymnasium stage. Tickets are available at the door.

Some $3,000 in scholarships will be awarded. Candidates are:

• Rebecca Lessman, daughter of Randy and Patty Lessman, sponsored by Tracy Fire Department.

• Brady Averill, daughter of Becky Averill, sponsored by Tracy Country Club.

• Jennifer Johnson, daughter of Steve and Pam Johnson, sponsored by Tracy Lions Club.

• Shanna Lowe, daughter of Diana Tearney-Campbell, sponsored by Tracy Kiwanis Club.

• Cassandra Carlson, daughter of Francis and Sandra Carlson, sponsored by Garvin First Responders and Garvin Fire Department.

• Shannon Vylasek, daughter of Deb and Ron Vylasek, sponsored by Mediterranean and Subway of Tracy.

• Cara Bjorklund, daughter of Richard Bjorklund and Gwen Bjorklund, sponsored by Almlie Funeral Home.

• Kimberly Lanoue, daughter of Dan and Elise Lanoue, sponsored by Tracy Eagles Club.

• Lisa Buysse, daughter of Dan and Deb Buysse, sponsored by Currie Town & Country.

Participants are judged on scholastic achievement and activities, an interview by the judges' panel, creative and performing arts, fitness, and presence and composure.

The evening of the program, the girls will answer a question on stage, which they receive Saturday following dress rehearsal.

This year the candidates' creative arts presentations are being kept secret, according to program director Sandy Fultz.

"I can tell you that we have nine very talented girls," Fultz said. "It will be very entertaining."

Fultz added that the change is intended to add to the suspense and excitement of the Miss Tracy program.

The 2002 Miss Tracy will receive a $1,300 scholarship. The first runner-up will receive a $700 scholarship, and the second runner-up will receive a $500 scholarship. Scholarships for $100 will also be given in the categories of scholastic achievement, creative arts presentation, fitness, presence and composure, and panel evaluation.


School bells ring Tuesday

By Valerie Scherbart Quist

Labor Day is here and that means the first day of school is just around the corner. School begins in Tracy on Tuesday, Sept. 4. School begins at 8:20 a.m. at all three Tracy schools. St. Mary's dismisses at 2:55 p.m., Tracy Elementary at 3 p.m. and the high school at 3:04 p.m.

Tracy Elementary

At Tracy Elementary School, a new program called Accelerated Math will be implemented throughout the year, said Principal Scott Loeslie. The program will be used for students in grades 3-6 the first year, Loeslie said, and will possibly be expanded in the future. The school began using an Accelerated Reading program last year.

St. Mary's School

One new teacher is joining the staff at St. Mary's. Juli Neuman has been hired to teach first and second grades.

Sixty-three students are expected at St. Mary's this fall, which is about the same as last year, said Principal Lisa Schaar. The incoming kindergarten class has 10 students. "This year we're starting a new service project called 'Operation Christmas Child,'" Schaar said.

Tracy Area High School

Tracy Area High School has one new teacher. Rachael Klimes is the new choir director. She succeeds Caroline Przymus, who filled in last year following the illness and death of longtime director Leigh Schimming. Principal John Rokke said that the school will also be hiring special education. paraprofessionals.

TAHS students will have the opportunity to participate in several new activities this fall. "Probably the biggest thing is the new low-band radio station that will be started by Steve Jones in his media class," Rokke said.