Glencoe principal makes good on a snowy promise
First Evangelical Lutheran School students recently raised more than $10,000 in pledges for the school in the fall Marathon for Non-Public Education.
That meant principal Dean Scheele had to make good on his promise to sleep outside in a hollowed-out snow pile in the school parking lot Jan. 4. He stayed the night in his snowy bed in Glencoe.
— McLeod County Chronicle
Howard Lake man drops hundreds of pounds
If you’re not sure if you can make good on a New Year’s resolution, a story from Howard Lake may provide encouragement.
In May of 2017, Mark Pederson was diagnosed with prediabetes and decided it was time for a change. He cut out processed sugar, ate healthier and kept a food journal in addition to lifting weights. Over a period of 18 months he dropped from 450 to 220 pounds.
He said his success was due to a strict diet and exercise with no special programs. He advised those who might want to try their own weight loss journey to forget fads and build new habits.
— Herald Journal
Litchfield’s first baby arrived Jan. 2
Arriving 15 days ahead of schedule, Ryatt David Picard was the first baby of the new year at Meeker Memorial Hospital.
Litchfield natives Tiffany and Julian Picard, and their 2-year-old son Thor, welcomed the 8-pound baby at 6 a.m. on Jan. 2.
“I didn’t expect him to be the New Year baby at all,” Tiffany said. “I kind of feel like a local celebrity.”
So far, Ryatt has been quiet, and not a “riot.” Thor was similar when he was born, but quickly turned up the volume when he got home.
— Independent Review
Artist’s work may come to life again
Eva Newsom, mother of Cokato resident Mike Newsom, is most known for her art.
The 100-year-old woman created a theme park called Biblical Gardens in Wisconsin Dells, which featured statues from 13 scenes in the life of Christ. The gardens were placed in a canyon with layers of sandstone. Though they aren’t around today, Wisconsin Dells visitors still discuss the Biblical Gardens online.
On TripAdvisor, one commenter said, “I always liked Biblical Gardens. It was a cool, shady oasis — a place to unwind and see the Bible come to ‘life.’”
Eva will celebrate her 101st birthday this spring. Though she is legally blind, she still has an artistic touch. Her family has started a kickstarter campaign to help raise funds to create prints of her work. Find it at tinyurl.com/y8tsb26d.
— Enterprise Dispatch
