2019 Year in Review, part 1

A review of some of the events of the past year. 

January

January started with a new Polk County Sheriff. Sheriff Barb Erdman retired from law enforcement after serving Polk County for 31 years. Taking her place was her long-time Chief Deputy, Jim Tadman. 

Closer to home, the McIntosh City Council had an open seat on January 1st of last year, which was filled by current council member Jordan Gunafson. Our Mayor, Toby Strom was re-elected to his seat as was council member, Bernie Marshall.

Joan Lee was again elected as our areas Polk County Commissioner.

Utility rates in McIntosh rose in January of last year, remaining flat rates, based on the number of occupants in the household.

With Nicole Grande retiring from the First National Agency in McIntosh, Darlene Dierkes was the new face of the insurance agency. Darlene is a Mac High graduate.

The Quilts of Valor ladies met at the McIntosh Community Center for a full day of sewing quilt tops. Earlier in the year, the ladies met to cut of the pieces, so the day is spent sewing, visiting, with lots of coffee and snacks.

The McIntosh Friends of the Veteran’s Blood Drive that was scheduled for the end of January was cancelled, unfortunately due to a snow storm that hit the area.

Win-E-Mac School hosted a Robotics Tournament in the Arts and Event Center with all the Patriot teams competing. The Win-E-Mac One-Act Play cast took Second place in the subsection competition held in Bagley.

The winner of the 2019 Win-E-Mac Spelling Bee was Sydney Svalen from McIntosh who went on to compete in the regional Spelling Bee in Thief River Falls.

February

There were record breaking cold temperatures in East Polk County and around the region as the Polar Vortex dropped southward. Winger residents experienced a power outage for several hours during the cold temperatures while McIntosh only had a brief bout with no power. 

Lynn & Sara Lucken of Winger were featured on an episode of Common Ground, part of the local PBS programming.

Patriot Graduates, Brekken Lindberg and Kylie Brekke were the Triple A representatives from Win-E-Mac at the Region 8A Awards Banquet.

McIntosh Senior Living employees started a fundraising effort for the residents fund at the Nursing Home.

The Pinochle players who play regularly at Poplar Meadows saw the thrill of the perfect hand last February as Virgil Lerfald held a once in a lifetime hand of a “double run” after receiving a great pass from his partner Byron Kaupang.

Because of all the snow and cold, Win-E-Mac students and families were given a snow day make-up plan so that the kids could still be finished with school before Memorial Day weekend.

March

In March the Polar Beach Snowmobile Club hosted a Fun Run for the first year heading out of McIntosh and around the area.

The Win-E-Mac bys' basketball team won the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Team Academic Section Championship. The team's academic accomplishments were displayed at the Target Center during the State Touornament.

The Win-E-Mac Junior High presented the play, "Bedtime Stories, as told by our Dad, who messed them all up", that was fun and entertaining for all.