STORIES that shaped us
• THE TRACY AND MILROY SCHOOL DISTRICTS sign off on the consolidation of the two schools, effective this year.
The future of the school building in Milroy has yet to be determined, but starting this fall, more than two dozen Milroy School students will be matriculating in the Tracy Area Public School District.
Leaving the station
• THE OWNERS OF THE CABOOSE — Diane Fiegen, and John and Doug Edwards, announced in late 2025 that they have put the business up for sale, marking an end to a very successful era for the trio. The owners won’t step away immediately, instead choosing to continue working until a suitor is found.
Smith's super season
• TRACY-MILROY-BALATON SENIOR GUARD TREVOR SMITH had quite the senior season, scoring his 2,000th point (Dec. 31, 2024) and then breaking his big brother, Spencer’s scoring record in early January 2025. Trevor finished his high school hoops career with 2,463 points — second all-time for any Panther/Scrapper behind Mary Jo Miller’s 2,655 points.
Cedar Lane quandry
• THE CEDAR LANE MOBILE HOME PARK was in the news often in the second half of 2025, and the man known to have owned the park was eventually cited and was the recipient of a license revocation. The future of the park will likely be determined later in 2026.
Missing Melvin
• THE AREA LOST EVERYONE’S FRIEND, MELVIN WELU, when the Milroy icon perished in a grain bin accident on July 16, 2025.
Welu, a hard-working farmer, and devoted husband, father and grandfather, owned Welu Construction and was part of the third generation on the Welu family farm.
Grappling girls
• FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY, girls took part in MSHSL-sanctioned wrestling. The team includes 10 TMB/ WWG female competitors, who will be eligible to wrestle in this year’s section tournament for the right to go to the 202526 Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament.
Community progress in tracy
• BIG, LONG-AWAITED NEWS WAS MADE IN TRACY IN 2025 AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS: A new, very expansive Central Park playground was opened to the public, and Park Board members were honored at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in August. Also, the City announced it purchased the former ADO building to culminate five long years of discussion over the future of a new community center.
well-deserved Dale
• TRACY FIRE CHIEF DALE JOHNSON III was named the 2025 Fire Officer of the Year for cities under 10,000 population. His colleague to the north, Quentin Brunsvold of Marshall, earned the distinction for cities over 10,000.
Poultry prowess
• UNDER ADVISOR ELIZABETH RUPP AND COACH JOHN LANOUE, the Tracy Area High School FFA Poultry Team (above) earned A Silver placing at the 2025 FFA National Convention & Expo on Oct.
29-Nov. 1, after finishing first in state competition. Team members are Nolan Carlson, Taylor Squires, Connor Lanoue and Eli Lightfoot.
Mandy moves in
• A NEW PRINCIPAL BEGAN DUTIES at Tracy Area High School in 2025.
Her name is Mandy Dibble (below), and she hails from Westbrook.
Dibble took over the reins after the resignation of Tony Miller.
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