'Voices With Vision' packs 'em in at Grassroots Gathering

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- Four Sleepy Eye Public School seniors got the attention of a large number of music listeners when they sang at the 20th Annual Great Grassroots Gathering Sunday at Allison Park.

"Voices With Vision" -- Lindsay Morasch, Katie Petersen, Ali Lowther and Kaitlin Hutchins -- used three and four-part harmony to entertain Sunday on a semi trailer.

The girls sang the "Star Spangled Banner," "Boy From New York City," "Java Jive" by Manhattan Transfer, and "Leaving On A Jet Plane."

They have performed for Lions, Rotary clubs, church banquets and have a wedding performance on their schedule. They also foresee singing at corporate Christmas parties this winter.

Next fall, the girls plan to go their separate ways to college but have not ruled out reuniting for performances later.

Hutchins is considering attending Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. (near Chicago) to study theater and dance next fall. She is also thinking about Minnesota schools.

Lowther is thinking about college in the Boston area. Her older sister is attending Harvard.

Petersen is looking at the University of Minnesota and St. Ben's. She is interested in studying early childhood education and participating in college theater and choir.

Morasch is also partial to going to college in Minnesota. She would like to play college golf.

Meanwhile, Sleepy Eye Public School Board members passed out pamphlets and buttons asking school district voters to vote for an operating referendum.

The referendum would add $350 per pupil unit for the next 10 years. It would create $164,000 per year for 468 students.

The State of Minnesota would add an additional $110,000 in state funding each year if the referendum is approved, bringing the annual total to an additional $274,000 per year and $2.74 million over 10 years.

If the levy is disapproved, the state will give the district $7,000 in equity funding per year and $70,000 over 10 years, according to the pamphlet.

"Care about our community, care about our kids," the pamphlet read.

District 84 voters approved a referendum three years ago. It runs out at the end of this school year.

Board member Marcia Marti said he received an "overwhelmingly positive reaction from people about referendum."

"It's nice to hear," Marti said. "We always wonder if people are hearing the right information. It seems people may not really understand it. People's property taxes from the school district will go way, way down next year (due to state funding changes)."

Sponsored by the Sleepy Eye Area Historical Society, the Great Grassroots Gathering included crafts, food booths and a flea market.

Entertainment was also provided by the cast of "Hello Dolly," the Sleepy Eye High School musical production, Schell's Hobo Band, "Knightline," the St. Mary's High School dance line and "Blank," high school students that finished first 4-H competition at last year's state fair.