Remembering 2009

Talk about it

Goodbyes

Newport’s economic development director and interim city administrator Bart Fischer quit Jan. 22 for a similar position in Chaska. His departure came three weeks after that of longtime city administrator Larry Bodahl.

Longtime directors of Park High School’s one-act plays, Denise Atkinson and Steve Estenson retired from teaching at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

District 833 assistant superintendent for elementary education Linda Rull retired at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

St. Paul Park Heritage Days Committee Chair Ruth Dinger, who has been on the committee for more than 20 years, stepped down following the 2009 Heritage Days festival.

Cottage Grove finance director Ron Hedberg was selected March 26 for the job of finance director in Apple Valley.

Newport Police Chief Veid Muiznieks announced in June he’d retire Dec. 1, after 34 years with the Newport Police Department.

Tom Nelson, District 833 superintendent for four years, retired in June.

Mainstreet Bank, which had a branch in Newport, was closed Aug. 28 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and then purchased by Stillwater-based Central Bank.

Hellos

Corb Hopkins, a semi-retired former salesman for 3M/Imation, was appointed Jan. 8 to fill the

Newport City Council seat vacated by Mayor Tim Geraghty.

Mark Porter was selected by the District 833 School Board in January to succeed Tom Nelson as superintendent of schools.

Justin Olsen and Jen Peterson were sworn in as Cottage Grove City Council members, and Myron Bailey was sworn in as the city’s mayor Jan. 7.

Roger Foote joined the St. Paul Park Public Works Commission Jan. 5.

Former Newport City Council candidate Steven Lanz Jr., took over in February as coordinator of the city’s Pioneer Day festival.

Tanya Foote and Phil French were sworn in as new members of the St. Paul Park Public Safety Commission April 20.

In June, Dave Bernhardson started as assistant superintendent of elementary education, and Denise Griffith took over as head of human resources in School District 833.

Brian Anderson became Newport’s city administrator in June.

Cottage Grove’s 2009-2010 royalty, selected in June, includes McKenzie Greeter, Janessa Hollie, Alyssa VanLandschoot, Danielle Olsen, Brittany Olsen, Angelina Brisno and Annie Schwartz.

Deonna Mitchem was sworn in to the St. Paul Park Planning Commission in June.

Jason Zachariason was sworn in Aug. 3 as a member of the St. Paul Park Parks and Recreation Commission.

The 2009 Heritage Days royalty, inducted in August, includes Nicole Osvold, Elizabeth LaValle, Ashley Schutz and Britni Nordman.

Greg Burtan was sworn is as the Newport Post Office’s new postmaster.

Farmington finance director Robin Roland took over as Cottage Grove’s finance director in late November.

Milestones

Jack Lavold, a charter member of the Cottage Grove Jaycees, was honored in April for 50 years of volunteerism.

St. Paul Park Heritage Days celebrated its 25th anniversary in August.

Zywiec’s held its 20th Haunting Experience this Halloween season.

Marathon Petroleum Co. celebrated its St. Paul Park refinery’s 70th year in business.

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Paul Park celebrated its 125th anniversary in a year-long series of events.

Tags: year in review, local news, news, 2009