Thursday, May 3, 2012

Volume 96; Number 45

www.bladepublishing.net

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

75

Our Neck of the Woods opens Friday, May 4

By Rin Porter items and have an art gallery Peggy Carlson on her family farm Another new Main Street store upstairs, along with an upstairs for 29 years, until they sold the is opening in Browerville in May. room for quilting, scrapbooking, dairy in 2002. The three had been Our Neck of the Woods is a new and sewing. The upstairs room kicking around the idea of having a venture created by owner Doug can also be reserved for meetings. store, but until last fall, it was just Johnson and his friends Peggy The store opening is the realiza- an idea. Carlson and Peggy said, R h o d a Then Doug called Ostendorf. It me and said, I opens on bought a building. Friday, May 4 He bought it from at 10 AM. Mary Trelstad, Everyone is who owned it invited to come since 2004. and tour the D o u g store. explained, I was Our Neck working out of my of the Woods home, in the baseis in an historic ment, and I hated building at 521 to see that buildMain Street ing standing South in empty. You dont Browerville. see many buildThe brickings like that. I faced building want to keep Main has the words Street alive. And Hardware we want our kids Carlos, Patti, Doug and ClairAnn Johnson. Not pictured: Furniture to learn a work Ezequiel Johnson. cemented into ethic. Weve been its top front. It working on restoris believed to have stood on Main tion of a dream for the three ing the building for several Street for about 100 years, friends, who have known each months. although the exact date is other for years. Doug Johnson and Doug hired Becker Construction unknown. Rhoda Ostendorf have been in the to evaluate the soundness of the Our Neck of the Woods will real estate, title, and abstract busi- building with its two-story main primarily be an antique store, ness together elsewhere in Todd Continued on page 16. although it will also sell unique gift County. Doug milked cows for

Lions Club helps improve the community

Hazing is a term used to describe various rituals and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group. Hazing is seen in many different types of social groups, including in gangs, sports teams, schools, military units, workplaces and fraternities. In the United States and Canada, hazing is often associated with Greek-letter organizations (college fraternities and sororities). It is similar to the Indian phenomenon of ragging. Hazing is often prohibited by law and may comprise either physical (possibly violent) or psychological abuse. It may also include nudity or sexually oriented activities. Todd County Sheriffs Department/Browerville Public School acknowledges hazing investigation. On April 11, 2012, the Todd County Sheriffs Office received a report of a possible hazing incident that occurred involving boys athletic programs at the Browerville High School. In the initial investigation, possible witnesses to the incident were identified. Upon interviewing the possible witnesses, it was discovered there were other potential victims. A lengthy, thorough investigation is being conducted into the allegations, involving inappropriate physical contact that could be

Hazing incident under investigation

considered sexual in nature. Through the investigation, it has been determined there are multiple suspects and multiple victims. A press conference was held T u e s d a y, May 1, at the Main S t r e e t Governm e n t Center in L o n g Prairie. " T h e Browerville Public School is aware of a law enforcement investigation by the Todd County Sheriff's Depart-ment that involves Browerville students. The Browerville Public School is cooperating with law enforcement authorities and will continue to conduct our own investigation as well. It is our responsibility to insure that the students attending the Browerville Public School have a safe learning environment, and that we support all Tiger students and parents as we work through this situation. Based on Data Privacy guide lines we are not at liberty to share any specifics concerning the investigation. " Robert Schaefer Superintendent

Planning and Zoning Administrator resigns

By Tim King Following a special, closed, meeting of the Todd County Commissioners on Tuesday April 24, an attorney for Garry Johanson, Todd County Planning and Zoning Administrator, announced Johanson's resignation from his position. Johanson, who had held the position since 2009, had been on paid administrative leave for the last month. During that time an investigation into allegations against him had been conducted. An April 3 closed Todd County Commissioners meeting regarding him had been inconclusive. Johanson's resignation is a settlement between himself and Todd County. In return for his resignation the county has agreed to drop its investigation and not reveal any of its finding from the investigation. In an email, Johanson described it as a winwin situation. "His resignation was a standard resignation with no additional stipulations so he is entitled under policy to 100% of accrued vacation and 40% of accrued sick leave," County Administrator Burkett said. During the time Johanson was in his position he started a systematic review of lake shore septic systems. The project brought more than $300,000 in grants to Todd County. Johanson also worked to bring the Amish into compliance with zoning and septic system laws and ordinances. Both subjects were occasionally controversial.

Browerville Lions Club members volunteered their time to pour new sidewalks around the concessions building at Motzko Field last week. The Lions club was instrumental in funding much of the improvements that have been recently completed at the ball field.

WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Wed. May 2 Showers 73/53 Thur. May 3 Partly Cloudy 72/54 Fri. May 4 Showers 74/51 Sat. May 5 Partly Cloudy 71/48 Sun. May 6 Cloudy 64/46 Mon. May 7 Partly Cloudy 67/45