Looking back at 2021: The year in review

September: September 11, 2021 marked the 20th Anniversary of the deadly attacks on American soil. That morning, hijackers took control of four airplanes, ultimately crashing two into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City and another into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth hijacked plane crashed in a field near the town of Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the plane from the hijackers. All passengers and crew on board all four flights died on September 11, and thousands of others on the ground lost their lives that day as well.

The Annual McIntosh Harvest Festival, sponsored by the McIntosh Community Club took place on Saturday, September 18th in downtown McIntosh. There was vendors set up at the Fire Hall, Community Center and along the sidewalks with many unique items and fun finds. There was pie and coffee in the Community Center, games on Main Street and lots of fun family times.

One hundred years ago, an American hero was laid to rest in a small cemetery near Winger. On September 21, 1921, 

remains of Nels T. Wold, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, were buried in Elim 

Cemetery. The Fengstad-Solie American Legion Post 200 of Winger held a rememberance service at the Winger Community Center for all to attend.

October: October began with friends and neighbors of Kevin Zahl, a farmer in Winger, helping out with the harvest of his corn and soybeans. Kevin was undergoing cancer treatment in Fargo. So in the tight knit community of Winger, his friends and neighbors took it up and helped out their friend. Sonny Balstad, Matt Balstad, Bill Kaupang, Kory Sonstelie, Gary Sonstelie, Dan Schow, Matt Schow, Tyler Schow, Dan Espeseth, Dick Larson, John Aason, and Shane Carlson.

Win-E-Mac held their fall teacher parent conferences by Zoom or phone call. 

The Win-E-Mac Quilt Guild gathered at the McIntosh Community Center to do some community sewing. The quilts that are sewn by the members are donated to area organizations like Project Linus and others.

Meet the Patriot Night was a huge success as the elementary and preschool kids were invited to the football field for fun activities with the Win-E-Mac football, volleyball and cheerleading teams last Monday night as a part of Homecoming Week.

Mick Evenson has created a lending library outside his home on NE 5th Street for our communities' adults and children to use at their leisure. There are books for everyone and you are welcome to take and read or leave a book or two for the enjoyment of another.

The Win-E-Mac School district breakfast and lunch menu saw constant changes in offerings due to the well-documented supply-chain shortages that are still being seen across the nation. The staff was able to develop well balanced meals with what they could aquire and have been very successful thus far.

Win-E-Mac hosted a blood drive on October 28th to help with the blood shortage seen across our region.

The Win-E-Mac High Schoolers hosted a Halloween party for the younger kids at the school gym again in 2021, where kids were able to get together with their friends to play games and collect candy.

National recording star known at Baby Bash was scheduled to perform at Little Bobby's Bar & Grill in McIntoshon October 30th, but due to the airline's back log and cancellation of flights, he did not make the show.

November: Starting Monday, November 1, 2021, the school day at Win-E-Mac was shortened by 15 minutes. Rather than dismissing students at 3:07, students were dismissed at 2:52. This is to accommodate the teachers who will continue to have students eating lunch in their classrooms. 

John Bachand and others have been diligently sorting through artifacts left owned by  the late Carol Anne Reese. One of the items they discovered was a First National Bank  calendar from 1938 in like-new condition. John donated it to the bank, which has had it framed. Executive Vice President Philip Lee said: “The condition and the detail of the calendar is something you simply don’t see these days. It is a snapshot of what the customer  was most concerned about at that time. The emphasis on FDIC insurance and conservative mantra brings you back to a time when bank failures were still fresh in customers’  minds. We’re thankful for a robust and strong banking system that First National Bank  of McIntosh can be a part of.” Pictured here are Philip Lee and John Bachand. You can see the calendar hanging to the left of the door when you enter the bank.

Veteran's Day programs were held virtually. The Win-E-Mac School honored the Veteran's with a virtual program. The Friends of McIntosh Veterans also aired a Veteran's Day program on Garden Valley Channel 30, with included an interview with Clifford Bartz, who at age 99 years old, spoke of his experience serving in World War II, and Kurt Ellefson, the Polk County Veteran's Officer who delivered a greeting. 

Long time local business owner Wayne Benbo of Fish’s Folding Ice Saw sold his business to Jordan Gunufson who will continue and expand the legacy of fine, hand-crafted ice saws into the future. The business will operate under the name Icesaw LLC.

Win-E-Mac physical education teacher Heather Burd won the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award in elementary physical education.

Mrs. Frisk's 6th Grade STEM class at Win-E-Mac school created Holiday and Thank You Cards and donated items for our US Soldiers that are stationed overseas. They collected gifts that made for 3 large boxes to be shipped.

Harriet Rolf celebrated her 100th Birthday on Saturday, November 27th at the McIntosh Community Center. Her six children, 11 of her 12 grandchildren and 16 of her 19 great grandchildren were present. A total of 59 family members shared a noon meal. On November 30th, the day of her 100th birthday, 4 children and 8 friends enjoyed morning cake, coffee, lefse and cookies with Harriet at the Pioneer Memorial Care Center.

December: McIntosh had its first ever Christmas parade on December 4th. The parade ran down Main Street and continued through town to visit McIntosh Senior Living and Poplar Meadows Assisted Living. The parade was the start of an evening event, A Very Merry McIntosh.

The Winger Lions hosted their Annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 11th at the Community Center in Winger with pancakes and a visit from Santa and his elf.

The McIntosh Fire Department along with Little Bobby sponsored an Angel Tree for area kids.

Saturday, December 18th, Santa made his way to McIntosh to visit the community kids and hand out some goodie bags for all who visited with him.