Somber is the word that springs to mind in trying to describe 2015 for this year-ending review, with violence and uncertainty on the minds of many as the year mercifully draws to a close.  While these events have taken place far away, the global community is still touched everywhere when it is attacked anywhere.

 

But, and to our credit, we are not daunted by these events.  The NFL surges towards a playoff resolution, with my beloved New York Jets still in the hunt and the calendar almost reading January.  In-store, in-person shopping set records this Christmas season, and sporting events, Broadway shows and stadium-filling concerts have, pretty much, gone on as scheduled.

 

In the local environs, many of the traditional milestones of the year have been observed without disruption.  The 2015 Becker Business Expo, the Prom and the Spring Choir Show at Becker High School, graduation ceremonies, Freedom Days, the Santiago Family Fun Fest and Palmer Day, (on which it never rains), all went off without a hitch and were greatly enjoyed by all concerned.

 

And there were some new developments as well.  For example, the new Wellness Center opened at the start of the school year this fall at Becker High School.  Asst. Principal Mark Kolbinger said the goal of the new facility is to “assist staff and several co-located providers in providing quality programming and therapies to Becker students.”  With the facility located on-campus, Kolbinger also said it will “increase access for students, as well as decrease the wait time usually associated with many of these services.”

 

Becker Furniture World, the Clear Lake Lions Club and the Dylan’s Hope Foundation were all instrumental in making the site a reality. The facility also maintains a food shelf in partnership with the Backpack Buddies program.

 

Clearview Elementary School had some exciting moments as the summer drew to a close, as staff and teachers scrambled to have the facility open for the first day of school, which they managed after a monumental effort.

 

The school had benefitted from a multi-million dollar renovation project that saw new air quality and air conditioning equipment installed, as well as a host of new classrooms and a brand new gymnasium in a major construction project that began last winter.

 

Former Clearview PTA President Debra Erickson was appointed to fill a vacancy on the St. Cloud School Board in a term that expires in January, 2017.

 

Two of three questions in the Becker School Referendum election were approved by district voters, which will allow the district to maintain classes and programs for the next 10 years, and to re-call some programs that had been curtailed by budget cuts.

 

The Kragero one-room schoolhouse in Santiago Township was attacked by vandals in July, and sustained significant damage to blackboards and the almost-irreplaceable copper-tanked drinking fountain and porcelain sink.  Owner Tom Barthel and his wife Gail Wilkerson said that the intruders had broken doors and windows, and used hammers or other heavy tools to destroy newly restored blackboards.  The facility, which has offered classes in the summer months, has been broken into eight times in the past two years, Barthel said.

 

The ACT on Alzheimer’s – Becker group was active all year in providing information on the growing problem of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease that will continue to expand as the local population gets older.  Organizer Tami Kolbinger and staff from the Shepherd of Grace Community, faith-based groups like Faith in Action and volunteers from other groups like the Becker Area Senior Center (BASC) have conducted programs and shown films such as the Glen Campbell movie “I’ll Be Me”, which dealt with his ongoing struggle with dementia.

 

Two new chapters of the Sons of the American Legion were sworn in this year.  The Clear Lake chapter members sworn in by state American Legion officials at the Palmer Town Hall included Commander Dave Stimmler, Vice Commander Todd Engeldinger, Adjutant Bill Klatt, Finance Officer Jeff Waters, Sergeant at Arms Brayden Braun and members Keith Braun, Sean Strande, Tyler Strande, Aaron Strande, Lance Strande, Scott Braun, Donald Braun, Andrew Ristinen, Chad Elred, Tyler Marklowitz and Gary Doering.

 

A few weeks later, those same officers, including former SAL National Commander Doug Bible and Adjutant Bob Foss came to Becker to conduct the swearing-in ceremony for the Becker S.A.L. chapter.  Taking the oath at that time were Commander John Fischbach, Vice-Commander Sean Boll, Adjutant Mick Boll, Finance Officer Ken Gates, Chaplain Walter Eads, Jr., and Sergeant at Arms Andrew Lee.

 

Mike Garland reported he teared up when he got back to Becker after a 3,800 mile solo bicycle ride to raise funds for the Becker Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.  He completed his epic ride in time to take part in the Freedom Days parade in Becker the next day. He rode alone from his driveway in Clear Lake all the way to Oregon, and back, to raise funds for the charities close to his heart.

 

Police cars and fire engines with lights and sirens escorted him to the Becker Community Center, where the crowd at the Celebration of Freedom event anxiously awaited his arrival.  And none were more anxious than the group of family and friends wearing the bright yellow “Mike’s West Coast Ride” T-shirts.

 

Garland made the long ride, unescorted, and dealt with the problems of breakdowns, weather and fatigue along the way.  He also raised $11,000 at the conclusion of the ride, with more pledges to be counted later.

 

Garland said he did it to honor the memory of his father, grandfather, uncle and friends he has lost to cancer, and to promote research to help protect others in the years ahead.