Balaton’s big night

Mattson receives Lifetime Achievement Award; others honored at ‘Balaton Bash’

If you live in the Balaton area and are wondering what that building used to be, or when this business started, there’s one person to ask.

That would be Mary Ellen Mattson, who was honored at Saturday’s “Balaton Bash” with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I love history!” Mattson said upon receiving the award. “I have a good memory; I can remember everything that happened a long, long time ago. It’s just so much fun to do.”

Pamela Johnson of the Balaton Area Historical Society said Mattson has had a huge impact on the Balaton Area Historical Society from its inception in 2009.

“For years, she has been gathering stories, sharing stories, collecting artifacts, buying artifacts and sharing them with the community,” Anderson said.

Johnson said part of what makes Mattson such a special person is her desire to share the history of Balaton with anyone who asks.

The sister of Balaton’s unofficial historian, Connie Skaug, said that Mary Ellen’s passion for the town’s history was developed at a very young age.

“Our dog would dig a hole under our fence, and she and the dog would crawl out and go down to downtown Balaton and visit the businesses and explore everything in downtown Balaton,” Skaug said. “Her mother would have to go downtown and retrieve her and the dog!”

After graduation from Balaton High School, Mattson attended teaching training in Grand Forks, ND, and was accepted at Ellsborough Township in District 45 Murray County, teaching there for a year.

“The school had no electricity and no indoor plumbing,” Balaton Area Historical Society member Nancy Iversen said. “She would have to get to the school early in order to get the classroom warmed up in the wintertime so it would be ready for the students.”

As more and more country schools closed, she taught at Ruthton High School. She resumed her studies at then-Mankato State University, where she received her Master’s Degree. Her teaching career also included schools in Balaton, Lynd and Lake Wilson; she served as principal at Lake Wilson Elementary School for 18 years.

Mattson retired after 39 years of teaching.

• Dylan Fricke, a Balaton City Council member, was named Balaton’s Citizen of the Year; and Dar Sherman was given the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Fricke’s Balaton roots run deep, presenter Julie Erickson said. After graduating from Tracy Area High School, he and his wife, Brita, began building a life based on serving the community. He serves others, Erickson said, not for recognition but because it is the right thing to do.

“Over the years, his heart for service has shown up again and again,” Erickson said. “You will find him as a city councilman, as a deacon, you’ll find him sitting on the EDA board.”

Erickson said Fricke’s work ethic, born when he was a teenager working at a service station, has grown stronger through the years.

“When he sees a need, he steps in,” Erickson said. “When snow removal became a gap in the community … he stepped in to keep the service going, and over 120 customers continued to rely on him.”

“Thank you all, I love this community,” Fricke said after accepting his award. “That’s why we’re all here.”

Sherman, an integral part of the annual Vet Run, is bestknown locally for opening her home as a day care provider.

“She has spent her entire life proving that a community is not just where you live, it is something you build one act of kindness, one batch of bars and one crochet afghan at a time,” said Balaton Chamber President Brita Fricke.

Fricke said Sherman is a faithful member of her church, volunteered with J.A.M. when her kids were young and has been “one of those dependable funeral dessert workers so many have been grateful for over the years.

“For the last 36 years, she has opened her home to countless kids as a daycare provider,” Fricke said. “In 2005, she joined the American Legion Auxiliary, and since then, she has proudly carried the flag at Memorial Day programs, worked more bingo nights than most of us have attended and served beverages at Fun Fest.”

Despite experiencing much personal loss, Sherman has continued to serve those around her, while remaining steady through it all.

“She makes Balaton better, simply because she is part of this community,” concluded Fricke.

• Balaton EDA member Kasey Holm gave an update on what’s going on with the EDA.

“Over the last year, the EDA has made some really exciting progress,” Holm said. “Some of it you can see, some of it you can’t, but it’s all moving Balaton forward.”

Last year, Holm said, the EDA completed the complex sale of Lakeview Senior Housing, which he called a “monumental project.” Holm credited those in the community who laid out their vision that brought the facility to life.

“While it is now in someone else’s hands, we will still benefit from the services it provides right here in Balaton,” said Holm.

Holm added that the EDA is focusing on the future, in particular housing. The EDA has been working with UCAP and the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, pursuing grant funding and other opportunities for new construction. A grant application in the works, Holm said, could bring as many as three new homes to town.

“It is a competitive process, but we’re hopeful and excited about what it could mean for our community,” Holm said.

Further cleaning up the city is another aspect the EDA is focusing on. The demolition of a residential house was one big step in the blight-removal process. That lot is currently available for purchase. Finally, Holm touched on the EDA’s support to help keep the liquor store open, noting its $30,000 loan to the City.

“The big picture is this — Balaton is moving forward,” said Holm. “Like any small town, we have challenges, but we also have something really special — a community that believes in progress, partnership and taking care of one another.”

Holm, who is also Balaton’s fire chief, noted that the fire department has two new cocaptains in Reid Lange and Jason Kaare. Over the last year, Holm said the department has responded to 38 calls; its active roster currently stands at 20. Balaton Ambulance responded to 165 calls last year, Holm said.

• Marcia Wee from the Balaton Area Community Foundation also spoke Saturday. Wee said the foundation has given out grants over the last year in support of the fire department, community center and the golf course. Since its founding, BACF has given out 102 grants to the City.

“None of this, of course, is done just by yourself,” she said. “We work alongside incredible partners like the Balaton American Legion, the Chet Johnson Fund, the City and, most importantly, our donors. You continued belief in what we do keeps out mission going.”

• Victory Church Pastor Matthew Cherry shared an update on the church’s Hope Market, a bi-weekly food distribution project that offers dozens of pounds of food to residents at no charge.

“I just want to take a moment to thank the community — so many people have contributed to get this launched over the last few months,” Cherry said. “We’ve raised, so far, about $25,000 of seed money to set us up for the future.”

Cherry said some 500 families have come through the church’s doors to receive food.