Track legend Chet Blascziek

There was a really nice article on retired phy-ed teacher Chet Blascziek , by Times assistant sports editor Tom Elliott, in the St. Cloud Times about his tenure at Holdingford High School, he is beginning the 39th year of involvement in the athletic program. In Blascziek’s 38 years as head coach, Holdingford won 33 conference titles. The Huskers took second the five times they didn’t win either the Great River Conference, or from 1979 to today, the Central Minnesota Conference titles. Under Blascziek, there have been six state individual champions and 60 athletes who competed in the state meet. That's a very impressive record !
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New Scepaniak Industrial Park

Here is Wm. Scepaniak, Inc. located at the Scepaniak Industrial Park on the south end of town. According to the USGS , for a number of years they have been listed as one of the largest Principal Construction Sand and Gravel Producers in Minnesota and United States. You can't see their 'parking lot' of equipment here but it is extensive.
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Outstanding Science Teacher

Jason Moyer-Schmit , son of Ernie and Lois Schmit, is a Junior High School science teacher at Twentynine Palms,California. This spring was chosen to join other teachers and college professors from across the country at the California State University Desert Research Station in Zzyzx where they'll help NASA scientists conduct research in an environment the space agency considers similar to the Moon and Mars.
Pretty cool.
Tags: Holdingford Minnesota Stearns County small cities

Caramel Roll Ride scheduled

submitted by Megan Huls
Please join us for a sweet roll along a sweet trail! The Lake Wobegon Trail Association and the Stearns County Park Department will be cosponsoring the Caramel Roll Bike Ride with caramel rolls, fruit, juice, and coffee available to boost your energy along the way. The ride will be held on Saturday, June 9, with registration at the St. Joseph trailhead center from 9 to 10 a.m. Preregistration can be done on the Lake Wobegon Trail Association
Order a tshirt as ride memorabilia. From St. Joseph, participants can peddle their way on to Avon's Cabin Cafe, Albany's shelter near city hall, and Holdingford's TK's Restaurant and Lounge with refreshments available at each stop. Shuttle buses will be available in each town. Bring your mom, son, best friend, and great aunt to this sweet event. And don't forget your helmet. Come bike where the women are strong, the men good looking, and the children above average! For more information call (320) 2556172 or e m a i I Megan.Huls@co.stearns.mn.us.
Tags: Holdingford Minnesota Stearns County small cities Lake Wobegon Trail

New Business Berkon Industries

Berkon Industries, is a new business in town, located at 470 Industrial Dr, in the Scepaniak Industrial Park in Holdingford. They manufacture and sell;
Alum. Frame Docks, Dock Accessories, Fish Houses, Game Cameras, All Cedar Docks, Fish House Trailers, RV/Fish House Parts.
Tags: Holdingford Minnesota Stearns County small cities Berkon Industries

Local Man Does Well

I liked this story in the Star Tribune today
By Jenna Ross, Star Tribune April 10, 2007
"Google the phrase "online marketing," and the search engine will give you 355 million options. The first is a Wikipedia entry. The second is Lee Odden. "Online Marketing Blog," his link reads. "A marketing blog about the intersection of new media PR, blog and search marketing with posts by Lee Odden of TopRank Online Marketing." read the whole story
Do you have stories about folks around here that have gone on to do well ? Let me know about them.
Tags: Holdingford Minnesota Stearns County small cities

Holdingford man Receives MOTSEA Teacher of the Year award

From Minnesota Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
The Minnesota Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association held its 40th Annual Conference on March 30 and 31, 2007 at the Kelly Inn in St. Cloud. On Friday Joe Christensen, Holdingford, was named MDTSEA!s 2007 Teacher of the Year. Christensen has taught driver education for over 35 years. From 1972 until 1993 he taught driver education at Holdingford High School. He also taught mathematics and computer science at HHS from 1970 to 1993. Between 1984 and 1988 he worked on driver education projects at St. Cloud State including creations of computer programs entitled "Computer Assisted Driver Education." For several years he assisted in student teacher supervision at SCSU.
In 1993 he became a member of the traffic safety staff at St. Cloud State University. During his time at SCSU he did over 450 presentations about driving under the influence in high schools across the State of Minnesota. For five years he taught driver education at SCSU's demonstration program at Princeton High School. Christensen also assisted in the development of curriculum units about decision making, traffic mix, sleep and driving under the influence. He taught teacher preparation classes for SCSU and Hamline. With the end of grant money in 2003 he retired from SCSU. During 2003-5 he served as coordinator of the Towards Zero Deaths program in Princeton.
Currently Christensen is teaching part time for the driver education program at Princeton, serving as MDTSEA:s workshop and conference coordinator, as webmaster and as a member of the legislative committee. He also teaches mathematics part time at the Minnesota School of Business in Waite Park. Christensen is secretary of the Holdingford Lions Club, board chair of the HelpingHands Outreach to Elders program, co-chair of the Holdingford, Economic Development Task Force, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of Education Minnesota-Retired and a member of NEA-Retired.
Tags: Holdingford Minnesota Stearns County small cities

SPRING CLEANUP ANNOUNCED

It must be spring , even if we are expecting another snowstorm. Because the City of Holdingford's SPRING CLEANUP has been set for Saturday JUNE 16th 8:am to 12:00 pm. This is a service provided by the City of Holdingford , for the residents of the City . It will be located by the lake Wobegon Trail Head as usual. Also some items may be disposed of for no charge and for some there is a nominal fee to cover the cost charged by the refuse company. Those prices are yet to be set.
Tags: Holdingford Minnesota Stearns County small cities

Second Grade Podcasters

With the help of Mrs. Disher, Mrs. Auer's Holdingford second graders are podcasting weather reports. Check it out Here
They presented their Podcasting project at the TIES Conference in Minneapolis on December 4, 2006 Podcasting is a popular way of presenting content on a subject that can be heard at any time on the net. Kind of a personal radio station. You can subcribe so when new podcasts are made you are aware of them.
Another new way of podcasting combines photos as well. Voicethread is a free service that allows you create scrapbooks or photo albums along with voice commentary.
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