Farm crises heads up The Journal's list of 1999 top stories

NEW ULM -- In a year when (for once) natural disasters stayed away from the New Ulm area, a looming economic disaster in the farm economy was chosen as the top local news story of 1999.

The story was chosen from a list of local news events by a vote of employees of The Journal, including all departments, not just the Editorial Department.

Second on the list of top ten local stories of the year was the controversy surrounding the hiring, firing, rehiring and refiring of the Sleepy Eye Police Chief. Following, in order, were the robbery of the Citizens Bank branch in LaSalle; the half-cent sales tax proposal in New Ulm; bomb threats in the New Ulm School District; the closing of schools and creation of charter schools in Hanska and Lafayette; the controversy surrounding the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad's expansion plans; the opening of a Target store and its impact on the local economy; the dissolving of the Minnesota Valley Regional Library system; and dedication of the Brown County Veterans Memorial.

Farm Prices

It became evident early in the year that farmers were facing hard economic conditions, as commodity prices fell to their lowest levels in decades. Pork prices fell so low that it was possible for an individual to purchase a hog from a pork producer for $40, have it butchered, and fill a freezer for less than $100. With commodity prices so low, farm lenders warned that many farmers would be unable to make their operations cash flow.

The economic conditions led to strong debates in the Minnesota Legislature and in Congress over what could be done to help farmers. Some assistance came from the state, but most looked to Washington, where Democrats like Rep. David Minge and Sen. Paul Wellstone charged that the GOP-backed "Freedom to Farm" law was turning into the "Freedom to Fail" law.

While Congress voted several billions of dollars in emergency aid for farmers, politicians also called for investigations of large food processing companies and possible monopolistic practices.

Through the summer, prices improved somewhat, and the federal aid helped farmers, who had tightened their belts to keep expenses down. The issue of farm markets, consolidation of processing companies and their business practices promise to be issues of continuing discussion in Washington this coming year.

Sleepy Eye Police Chief

The Sleepy Eye City Council, on the recommendation of the city police commission, in January hired Elvin Braman, a police officer from Leeds, Utah, as its city police chief.

But in a shocking development in the council's April meeting, the council voted 3-2 to terminate Braman's contract after just three months. The council cited concerns raised in complaints by some of the officers in the department that Braman didn't have a Minnesota law enforcement license, a fact the council was well aware of when it hired Braman, and a condition allowed under Minnesota law as long as he was working to get his state license.

The vote earned the council a scathing scolding from Sleepy Eye Mayor Jim Broich. A week later, after learning that Braman could have a strong position in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit, the council voted to reinstate Braman for the rest of his probationary period, and revisit the issue of his employment then.

As his probationary period came to a close in September, Braman told local newspapers that he did not expect to keep his position, and the Sleepy Eye Police Commission members all resigned over their concerns in the matter. The council did vote in October to terminate Braman, citing his lack of skills in handling personnel.

LaSalle Bank Robbery

It was one of the hottest days of the spring, so LaSalle residents remembered the man who walked the streets wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. During the lunch hour, the man walked in to the LaSalle Branch of Citizens Bank, pulled a pistol and demanded money. He drove off, setting off a search on local highways that yielded nothing.

But three weeks later, FBI officers and airport police arrested Hanska resident Michael Stanoch as he got off a plane at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. Stanoch was returning from a honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean. Police had found a black hooded sweatshirt, air pistol and a blue bag similar to one used by the robber in Stanoch's garage.

Later in the year, Stanoch pled guilty to the robbery, the biggest crime news in the LaSalle area since the Younger gang had been captured nearby nearly a century earlier.

Half-cent Sales Tax

The New Ulm City Council and Park and Rec Commission had been counting on a half-cent city sales tax to finance the construction and improvements needed for the city park and recreation program, and they figured their toughest job would be convincing voters in a referendum vote.

But getting the approval from the Minnesota Legislature to put the issue to the voters turned into a difficult matter itself. Republicans in control of the House of Representatives had adopted a "no new taxes" mantra that boded ill for the proposal by New Ulm to seek a half-cent sales tax.

While the issue sailed through the Senate, it failed to make it past the House. Some arm-twisting in the Tax Conference Committee resulted in the measure being reinserted into legislation which was approved by both House and Senate, and signed by Governor Ventura.

The issue is now up to New Ulm voters, who will be asked this coming November to approve the sales tax after the city develops its plans for the money and explains what exactly it will do.

Bomb Threats

The death of 13 people in the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., had shocked and shaken the nation, so local school and police officials were quick to react when a custodian in New Ulm High School found a note on the floor of a restroom that warned that a bomb would explode in the building the next day.

Classes were cancelled and a team with a bomb-sniffing dog was brought in to search the high school. No bomb was found.

A week later, a bomb threat mailed to the school caused classes to be cancelled in all District 88 schools for another day. No bomb was found.

An investigation by school and police identified a suspect in the first threat, a senior at the school who, according to other students' statements, had claimed they would all have a day off from school and they would have him to thank for it.

Charges were filed against the student, but were dropped later when two students whose statements were essential to the prosecution's case recanted their statements.

School Closings and openings

After years of discussions and meetings, District 88 officially closed the elementary schools in Hanska and Lafayette when the school year ended in May. But in September, classes opened in those two communities in two brand new charter schools which had received approval the previous year.

The move brought to a conclusion a long and painful period of discussions, actions and delays in the school district.

While District 88 serves as the sponsor for both charter schools, each is an autonomous entity.

Hanska's music, arts, and technology school opened with 47 students, most coming from the community.

Lafayette's enrollment was just over 35 on opening day, including about 20 students from the Starland School near Gibbon.

DM&E Railroad

The Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad is considered by most to be an economic asset as its trains travel from Rapid City, S.D. to Winona, carrying freight, grain, kaolin and other goods. But plans by the railroad to extend its rail lines into coal fields in Wyoming and begin shipping coal to the east has many communities along the railroad's route wondering what the impact would be.

1999 saw the discussion mounting in many communities as concerns rose about increased rail traffic, noise and safety. Many communities along the rail route have signed agreements with DM&E, accepting their plans while setting forth terms that address safety and traffic concerns.

The City of New Ulm signed an agreement with the railroad late in December.

Target's arrival

Construction began last year on the new Target store in New Ulm, and the store celebrated its grand opening in July.

The arrival of the discount giant had a significant impact on the New Ulm retail community as the Pamida store in New Ulm closed earlier in the year, unwilling to face the increased competition.

But the overall impact of Target, business leaders hope, will be positive as it encourages more people in New Ulm and the region to shop in New Ulm rather than traveling to Mankato or other major retail centers.

Minnesota Valley

Regional Library

The Minnesota Valley Regional Library was the main source of library services for communities in Mankato and North Mankato, St. Peter and Nicollet and Sibley Counties. But disagreements among the cities and counties that make up the library system came to a head this past year, and the regional library collapsed as city councils and county boards voted to pull out of the system.

The move has left the counties and cities involved looking for ways to provide library service, especially in the rural areas and communities which do not have library buildings.

Brown County

Veterans Memorial

After two years of fundraising and planning, the Brown County Veterans Council, made up of veterans organizations in all the Brown County communities, constructed and dedicated the Brown County Veterans Memorial in front of the Brown County Courthouse in New Ulm.

The dedication ceremony took place on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, a day on which the weather smiled kindly on the outdoor ceremonies.

A host of dignitaries, led by retired Gen. John Vessey, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke in front of the memorial. Their speeches were accompanied by the performance of the Brown County Honors Band, made up of the top musicians from each high school band in the county.

The dedication continued with a second ceremony in the evening, held at Martin Luther College.