Kinship offers thanks

To the Editor:

Much time has passed since our Kinship Industrial Commercial Sale, yet in the delay in saying thank you our gratitude has only grown greater. We were blessed with so many in our community.

The top businesses that donated goods were: Boekett Building Supply, Kahler Automation, JH Larson, Jeff Greischar, Lakeview Health Care, Hertzke Construction & Millworks, Last Touch LLC, HenWay Mfg., Fleet & Farm and Kahler Electric.

Helping to advertise were: First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Militello Motors, Hawkins Chevrolet, Jake’s Pizza, Day Plumbing, Heating & AC, Fairmont Ford, Richard’s Auto & Towing, Doolittle Carpet & Paint, State Bank of Fairmont, Sweet Financial, CCF Bank, Elizabeth Chevrolet, Profinium Financial, Burtis Chiropractic, Culligan Water, Dee’s Floral & Gifts, D & S Trophies and Bank Midwest, in addition to board members Kathy Smith, Mary Jo Manzey and Dennis Trushenski.

We couldn’t have unloaded and loaded items without the always-ready Miller Sellner and Kahler Automation’s forklifts. Volunteer Darrel Krahler was there every day for deliveries and the sale.

Other super helpers were: Chuck Anderson, John and Diane Larsen, Katy and Lyle Rippentrop, Lee Liljenquist and Mary Jo Moltzen, plus many Kinship board members, and mentors and Mentees. John McDonald with his Sentence to Serve crew cleaned up before and after the sale. Hometown Sanitation graciously did a final cleanup.

Hy-Vee allowed us to use its grocery carts for our customer’s convenience. Of course, we are so appreciative that the Martin County Fair board of directors has a spacious building that we can fill.

With all the help that Kinship receives from the caring folks in our community, we are able to provide our kids with a friend and guidance through volunteer adult mentors that spend time with their young mentees. It takes a “village” and all in Martin County are the best in helping our youth grow in healthy, positive ways.

Char Kahler on behalf of

Kinship of Martin County

board of directors

A vision came true

To the Editor:

Many of you know the history of the “Let’s Go Fishing with Seniors” program/organization but for those of you that don’t, in the early 2000s a guy by the name of Joe Holm from Willmar started “Let’s Go Fishing with Seniors” using his own fishing boat and it grew into a statewide organization using handicap-accessible pontoons.

At the time, Joe and John Welchlin (a Fairmont businessman) were business associates and, in February 2007, John made a personal commitment to bring “Let’s Go Fishing with Seniors” to the Fairmont community. With dedication, enthusiasm and a lot of hard work, John pulled together a leadership team and rallied together the entire community. In less than a year, John and his team were able to raise the funds needed to purchase the LGFWS program pontoon and launch the Fairmont chapter.

On June 7, 2008, about two months after John was diagnosed with cancer, the Fairmont Area Chapter of LGFWS hosted its inaugural voyage. Thanks to John’s vision, Fairmont Area Let’s Go Fishing is about to launch our 12th summer on the water.

It will be five years ago this summer that John lost his battle with cancer, but John your vision lives on. May you rest in peace knowing many lives have been touched and are still being touched because of your vision.

Roger Voss

Fairmont Area Let’s Go Fishing

Grant benefits kids

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Martin County Historical Society board of directors, I would like to acknowledge and thank the Martin County Youth Foundation for its grant of $500 to our organization.

This grant will enable us to continue our school visitation program at the Pioneer Museum and the Walking Tour conducted at Heritage Acres. As a result of these activities, students are provided the opportunity to actively learn and experience the rich and colorful history of Martin County.

Martin County is very fortunate to have an organization such as the Martin County Youth Foundation. It is a tremendous asset not only to the youth, but to all of the citizens of Martin County.

Lenny Tvedten,

executive director

Martin County Historical Society