January

1 — Daniel Jack Rech, son of Amy Becker and Dan Rech, became the first baby to be born at the Albert Lea Medical Center in 2008. He was born at 6:44 p.m.

3 — The Albert Lea Moose Lodge announced it would be moving from Main Court to the former food court area at the Skyline Plaza.

11 — A fire destroyed a mobile home at 2328 Clayton Ave.

13 — Albert Lea’s Pelican Breeze tour boat was for sale on eBay. This boat would be replaced by a boat from Gun Lake in Michigan which would become the Pelican Breeze II for tours on Albert Lea Lake.

15 — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty did not include the North Edgewater Park landfill cleanup in his bonding bill sent to the state legislature.

17 — None of the bridges on the highways in Freeborn County were in danger or in need of immediate repair, according to an article in the Tribune.

18 — Jose Gonzales, 27, of Austin, was arrested in Dodge Center on charges based on the stabbing of Javier Hernandez, 22, of Albert Lea, on Jan. 16.

25 — Larson Manufacturing Co. Inc. of Lake Mills, Iowa, completed the construction of its new warehouse in Albert Lea’s Habben Industrial Park.

25 — An 8-year-old child died in a vehicular rollover accident on Interstate Highway 35 two miles north of the Iowa line.

29 — A blizzard created hazardous driving conditions, the closing of Interstate Highways 35 and 90, and the early closings of area schools.

February

1 — This was the first day for the Minnesota State Spring Barrow Show at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

4 — A snowstorm resulted in the early closing of many area schools.

5 — Mitt Romney was the winner in the Republican Party caucus, and Barak Obama won the Democrat Farmer Labor (DFL) Party caucus in Freeborn County as part of the presidential candidate selection process. (A later recount gave the DFL endorsement to Hillary Clinton.)

11 — Ward Three Albert Lea City Council member George Marin said he would not be a candidate for reelection.

14 — James Elmore Nelson, 84, rural Austin, died from injuries sustained in a T-bone collision at the intersection of Freeborn County Roads 19 and 30 north of Myrtle near the Bohemian National Cemetery.

18 — There was some area concerns when Kosovo declared its independence because the Albert Lea unit of the Army National Guard was deployed to this former part of Serbia on a peacekeeping mission.

23 — Travis Colt Oliver, 18, of Albert Lea, and Ryan Jay Offerdahl, 20, also of Albert Lea, reportedly became involved in a fight. Oliver was listed by police as being stabbed and was treated and released at the Albert Lea Medical Center. Both men were arrested and jailed pending charges.

24 — The Tribune issued its annual Progress Edition.

24 — Damian Cardona, 36, was stabbed during an incident in the 500 block of Minnesota Avenue. He was listed in good condition at the Albert Lea Medical Center.

March

6 — Albert Lea’s 4 Seasons Vacations purchased All Continents Travel.

7 — Freeborn Lumber Co. announced it would be moving to Albert lea. The main building of this firm in Freeborn was destroyed by fire on Sept. 7, 2007. As a result, the decision was made to rebuild in Albert Lea, the source of 60 percent of the firm’s customer base.

8 — Faustino Moreno Jr., 40, of Albert Lea, was stabbed eight times, according to the Albert Lea Police Department, in a fight on East Fourth Street. Patricio Galvin, 35, of Albert Lea, was later arrested and charged with second-degree and third-degree assault.

10 — The Albert Lea City Council approved action to rename the Albert Lea Civic Theatre as the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

14 — SoyMor, located west of Glenville, suspended production of biodiesel as a result of higher prices for soybean oil.

15 — A fire damaged a home at 215 S. Pearl St. where three families lived. No one was injured. This fire was reportedly started by children playing with a cigarette lighter.

18 — Paul and Karen Hansen and their children, Kate, Jake, Ellen and Peter, of rural Myrtle were selected to be the Freeborn County Farm Family of the Year.

24 — About 100 to 200 gallons of gasoline spilled out of a tanker unloading at the Kwik Trip store near the corner of East Main Street and Garfield Avenue. No environmental damage was reported.

26 — Kraus Foods of Albert Lea sold 33 Dairy Queen stores in the region to Fourteen Foods of Bloomington.

29 — The First District convention for the Republican Party was held in Albert Lea. Dr. Brian Davis of Rochester was endorsed as the party’s candidate to run against incumbent Rep. Tim Walz for the First District seat in the U.S. Congress. U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty also attended this convention.

31 — Cargill announced it had acquired Willow Brook Foods of Springfield, Ill., and its Albert Lea operations – Schweigert Foods.

31 — Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services announced that James Krueger would be the new president and CEO.

April

1 — A school bus from New Hampton, Iowa, with about 35 students went into the ditch near the Clarks Grove exit on Interstate 35. No one was injured.

7 — Helen L. Moltz, 81, of Austin, died when her car was struck by a dump truck driven by Bryan M. Bartness, 47, of Albert Lea, at the interchange of Interstate 90 and State Highway 13 northwest of the city.

7 — Gov. Tim Pawlenty approved a bonding bill authorizing $2.5 million to clean up the North Edgewater Park landfill. This appropriation was added to the $3.6 million approved by the state in 2006 for this project.

10 — Mower County Judge Donald Rysavy dismissed the eviction lawsuit brought by Susanne Crane against the Albert Lea Art Center.

12 — The Pelican Breeze II arrived in Albert Lea after a four-day trip from Gun Lake, Mich.

13 — Five people were injured in a car rollover on 800th Avenue about a mile west of Hayward.

14 — Demolition started on the building at 117 W. College St.

16 — This became the 2008 ice-out date for Fountain Lake.

16 — Mary Hinnenkamp was named as the 2008 School District 241 Teacher of the Year.

17 — Sue Berg and her daughter Tiffany Hagen were named to be the 2008 co-chairwomen of the United Way of Freeborn County campaign.

23 — Kraus Foods sold the two Korner Mart stores in Albert Lea to Kevin and Tami Weitzel, also of Albert Lea.

26 — The First District Democrat-Farmer Labor Party held its convention in Albert Lea. Congressman Tim Walz was endorsed as a candidate for reelection. Minneapolis Mayor RT. Rybak was one of the main speakers.

27 — Albert Lea High School held its annual Promenade.

29 — This was the last day of service for Freeborn County District Court Judge James E. Broberg. He was retiring after 10 1/2 years as a judge.

29 — Dick Hench, chairman of the Albert Lea Festival of Bands, announced that this event would be canceled because of costs and a lack of participating bands. Also, Albert Lea High School announced that the marching band would not be performing at any summer events.

29 — Albert Lea Select Foods said the firm would be adding a 7,200-square-foot addition and expanding employment with 50 to 100 new employees.

30 — Erik Larsen was endorsed as the Republican Party candidate for the District 27A seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

30 — The North American Hockey League confirmed that the Albert Lea Thunder would be their newest Tier II Junior A team.

May

2 — Ellen Kehr announced she would be a candidate for election to represent Ward 3 on the Albert Lea City Council.

2 — Poet Biorefining said it would not build a second ethanol plant west of Glenville.

3 — Because of the wind and cold conditions, the Freeborn County American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon cut the 100-mile ride down to a 20-mile route from Albert Lea to Glenville and back.

16 — David Montano Sr. announced he would be a candidate for the Ward 5 seat on the Albert Lea City Council.

18 — Albert Lea Township observed its sesquicentennial.

19 — Albert Lea’s new location for the Moose Lodge in the Skyline Plaza opened at noon.

19 — John Arndt, 36, of Chatfield, was trapped for a short time in the cab of his semi when it rolled over at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 35 northeast of Albert Lea. He received minor injuries.

20 — Herb Neale was selected to be the School District 241 Citizen of the Year.

23 — The five Albert Lea High School valedictorians of the 2008 class – Tyler Peterson, William Sturtz, Logan Ferrie, Jacob Winkels and Josh Klapperick – were pictured in this issue of the Tribune.

26 — Area residents observed Memorial day.

28 — The Albert Lea City Council approved a $1.25 million purchase agreement with George Dress for 124 acres west of St. John’s Lutheran Home to provide a second access to the City Arena and Lake Chapeau area.

28 — Dave Bonnerup announced his resignation as the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County.

June

3 — A report in the Tribune said wetland problems were delaying the construction of the Flying J Travel Plaza east of Albert Lea near the junction of County Road 46 and Interstate 35.

4— This was the last day of school in Albert Lea.

6 — Graduation ceremonies were held for 250 graduates of Albert Lea High School.

7 — The Albert Lea Civic Theatre officially became the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center and the television and stage star who grew up in the city was present for the dedication.

7 — A tornado caused damages to trees and some rural buildings near Lake Mills, Iowa.

12 — An intense storm system resulted in a washout on County Road 34 south of Oakland. The driver of a vehicle which accidentally went into this washout place was rescued. He told authorities another vehicle was also in the washout. This vehicle was retrieved and the driver, 52-year-old Dale Wangen of rural Albert Lea, drowned.

13 — William Boyenga, 47, of 25213 725th St., rural Albert Lea, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with three counts of third-degree controlled substance charges related to possessing, selling and manufacturing marijuana.

17 — The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners denied a conditional-use permit for Adams Minnesota farms to build a total confinement hog barn in London Township.

20 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program presented a grant/loan of $795,000 to Conger for its sewer system.

24 — Oziel Valdez, 34, of 207 Pearl St., and Reinaldo Quesada, 32, of 1224 James Ave., were charged in Freeborn County District Court with multiple charges based on alleged cocaine sales.

25 — Danny James Morgan, 53, of Glenville, was arrested for making a bomb threat involving Albert Lea’s Green Mill Restaurant. No bomb was found.

25 — President Bush declared Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston and Mower Counties as major disaster areas because of recent flooding.. Freeborn County flood damages were estimated to be $675,500.

29 — A pickup reportedly driven by Charles Kenneth Dennison, 20, of Albert Lea, allegedly went around a barricade on County Road 34 and into the washout area. Also riding in the pickup were: Nathan James Buchli, 26, Albert Lea; Kelly John Pechumer, 37, Alden; Broc Marc Dempewolf, 22, Albert Lea; Langdon Brooks Bachtle, 26, Myrtle; and Kelly Jo Abrego, 25, Myrtle. The six people were taken to a Rochester hospital.

30 — Kelly Jo Abrego died in a Rochester hospital of injuries received in the accident on County Road 34 the previous day.

July

1— Two men wearing masks robbed the Super 8 Motel on East Main Street in Albert Lea.

3 — Kelly John Pechumer, 37, of Alden died in a Rochester hospital of injuries received in the accident at the washout on County Road 34 on June 29.

3 — Jason Robran, 30, of Hartland died when his motorcycle collided with a pickup driven by Gary Lee Johnson, 54, of New Richland on County Road 35.

10 — Members of Albert Lea’s Co. D, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry of the Minnesota National Guard, returned to Albert Lea after a year-long deployment in Kosovo.

14 — Armando Mora, 30, of Rochester, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with multiple counts based on allegedly running over three people with his vehicle and leaving the scene the previous day. Listed as injured were Jennifer Sue Reyerson, 24, Joshua Curtis Reyerson, 26, and Samantha Jo Avelar, 23. They were all treated at the Albert Lea Medical Center.

15 — Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Albert Lea City Attorney Steve Schwab to be the new Freeborn County District Court judge. (Schwab was sworn in on Aug. 29 and seated on the bench on Sept. 2.)

23 — Ann Austin was named as the new United Way of Freeborn County executive director. She replaced David Bonnerup who had retired.

25 — Rafael Gonzalez Montesinos, 23, and Cesar Alejandro Zuno, 24, both of Albert Lea, were arrested in Austin as part of a reverse sting operation by authorities. Both men were charged with first-degree cocaine possession.

26 — Robin Lilla, 33, of Winona, was stabbed several times during a fight near the corner of South First Avenue and West Main Street.

August

8 — Four people were listed as injured in a head-on collision on Interstate 35 near the Minnesota-Iowa line. Those injured were Andy J. Kubena, 35, of Maplewood, June M. Modlin, 54, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, Teagun J. Sunde, 11, of Iowa, and Tayla M. Sunde, 15, of Minnesota.

8 — Charles Allen Neve, 53, of Albert Lea, was injured in a collision between his pickup and a truck driven by Mark H. Honsey, 48, of Lake Mills, Iowa, on Interstate 90 near the Freeborn-Faribault County line west of Alden.

9 — An updated report from the Minnesota State Patrol said June M. Modlin died of injuries received in an accident the previous day.

11 — The Albert Lea City Council decided to not treat Fountain Lake with copper sulfate to control the algae problems.

12 — The Minnesota State Patrol reported that Andy J. Kubena, 35, of Maplewood, died of injuries received in the Aug. 8 accident.

21 — Pouch Philip Ruach, 24, of Albert Lea, was arrested by Albert Lea police officers a short time after he allegedly robbed the Kwik Trip, 906 W. Front St., about 6 a.m. Ruach was charged in Freeborn County District Court the following day with first-degree aggravated robbery.

21 — Ken Petersen, a member of the School District 241 Board of Education for nine years, announced he would not be a candidate for reelection.

25 — Former Albert Lea firefighter and part-time New Richland police officer Alan Nielsen was charged with third-degree burglary and fifth-degree possession of methamphetamine.

28 — The Minnesota Department of Health alleged that four teenage nursing assistants, and former employees, abused 15 residents at the Good Samaritan Center north of Albert Lea.

September

2 — Charles Kenneth Dennison, 20, of Albert Lea, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with 15 felony counts based on the June 29 accident at the washout on County Road 34 which later caused the death of two passengers in the pickup he was driving.

9 — Primary election results for the post of Albert Lea mayor resulted in Randy Erdman and Michael Murtaugh being the top vote recipients. Also on the ballot for this post were George Gillespie, Dave Reisewitz and A.E. Vollum.

9 — Jim Nelson and Dave Shoff were the top contenders for the post of county commissioner in District 3. Also on the ballot in the primary election were John Severtson and Keith Porter Sr.

9 — Primary election results for the District 5 county commissioner post showed Linda Tuttle and Mike Lee as the top vote recipients. Also on the ballot were Curtis Smith, Tony Pestorious and Chad Severtson.

10 — Charles Owen Miller of Freeborn was assaulted and robbed by two strangers about five miles west of Austin after his vehicle ran out of gas.

15 — Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson said the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office would be assisting with the charges regarding alleged abuse of residents at Albert Lea’s Good Samaritan Center.

15 — Roel Zuniga, 37, of Albert Lea, was sentenced in Freeborn County District Court to five years probation, 40 hours of community service, and $1,203 in fines for a stabbing incident in February.

19 — The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office would handle the part of the charges of alleged abuse of Good Samaritan Center residents by the two teenagers considered to be adults. The Freeborn County Attorney would handle the part of the case involving the two teenage girls considered to be juveniles.

30 — The ABC television program, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” selected the family of Dirk and Susan DeVries of rural Hayward as the recipients of a special project to have their old home replaced with an entirely now structure within a week.

October

1 — Mrs. Gerry’s announced it would be expanding the Albert Lea operations.

2 — Duane Giese, 51, of Wells, was badly injured when he tried to crawl under an Iowa, Chicago and Eastern train which was switching cars on the city’s north side.

7 — Dirk and Susan DeVries and their children, Derik, April and Hanna, returned from a vacation trip to Niagara Falls, N.Y., to be welcomed at their brand new home east of Hayward built by area volunteers within a week.

7 — The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to not build a new dam and bridge at the outlet of Albert Lea Lake.

8 — Charles Kenneth Dennison, 20, of Albert Lea, pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts in Freeborn County District Court which were based on the June 29 accident at the County Road 34 washout.

8 — David Montano Sr. decided to not be a candidate for the Ward 5 seat on the Albert Lea City Council.

9 — Rainbow Play Systems of Brookings, S.D., announced it would be moving into the former Larson Manufacturing Co. warehouse and Universal Tire Warehouse, both on East 14th Street. This firm hoped to soon be employing 100 people at this new location.

13 — The Albert Lea City Council approved a housing ordinance which would require landlords to have a license before renting property.

17 — Lee Bjorndal, 51, of Austin, was hired to become the new Albert

Lea City Attorney replacing Steve Schwab who became a Freeborn County District Court judge. Bjorndal would start his position on Nov. 6.

20 —David Prescott, superintendent of the Albert Lea Area Schools, announced he would be retiring in June.

27 — The Albert Lea City Council approved a purchase agreement with the Albert Lea Medical Center for 50 acres in the Sunset Street expansion area for a new Fountain Centers campus to be located west of the city.

23 — Farmers State Bank was named the large business of the year, and Hill Larson Walth and Benda (Certified Public Accountants) was named as the small business of the year by the Albert Lea- Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce at their annual meeting.

November

4 — Unofficial election results of the voting in Freeborn County resulted in 9,915 votes for Barack Obama, Joe Biden (DFL) and 6,955 votes for John McCain, Sarah Palin (R) in the race for president. There were 7,429 votes for Al Franken (DFL), 6,565 votes for Norm Coleman (R) and 2,920 votes for Dean Barkley (IP) in the race for U.S. Senator. Tim Walz (DFL) won reelection to represent the First District in the U.S. House of Representatives with 11,320 votes over the 5.004 votes for challenger Brian Davis (R). Robin Brown (DFL) won reelection to the District 27 A seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives with 9,531 votes, Her challenger, Erik Larsen received 7,361 votes.

4 — The constitutional amendment for clean water resulted in 9,531 yes votes and 7,136 no votes in Freeborn County.

4 — Glen Mathiason was reelected to the Freeborn County Commissioner District 1 with 2,152 votes. His challenger Neal Gjersvik received 1,393 votes. Jim Nelson was reelected to the Freeborn County Commissioner District 3 with 1,532 votes. David Shoff , the challenger for this post, received 1,331 votes. Linda Tuttle was elected to the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners with 1,752 votes to represent District 5. Michael Lee received 1,548 votes as her contender

4 — Challenger Michael Murtaugh became the new mayor of Albert Lea with 4,650 votes, defeating incumbent mayor Randall Erdman who received 4,213 votes. Vern Rasmussen was reelected to the city council with 1,803 votes to represent Ward 1. Ellen Kehr won the race to represent Ward 3 with 829 votes and challenger Ryan Sabinish had 781 votes. Larry Anderson won the race to represent Ward 5 with 665 votes and David Montano Sr. received 238 votes.

4 — Bill Villarreal, Bill Leland and Linda Laurie were elected to the three available seats on the Albert Lea Area Schools Board of Education.

5 — Adonis A, Dorman, 28, of Albert Lea, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with second-degree sale of meth and third-degree possession of meth.

8 — Oscar Altamirano-Davon, 37, of Minnesota, died and 10 other people were injured in a vehicle rollover near the Interstate 90 and 35 interchange northeast of Albert Lea.

11 — Juanita Olsen, 63, of Lake Mills, Iowa, died in a Rochester hospital after being injured in a collision on Interstate 35 at mile maker 8, the U.S. Highway 65 exit southeast of Albert Lea.

19 — The election recount for the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota resulted in a gain of two votes for Al Franken and one vote for Sen. Norm Coleman in Freeborn County.

21 — The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office announced it would not be assisting with the charges based on alleged abuse of residents at Albert Lea’s Good Samaritan Center by four former employees. Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson said his office would be issuing charges in the near future.

24 — Jason Patton of Albert Lea wasn’t injured when his home-made aircraft crashed near the airport in Boulder, Colo.

25 — Four people were arrested for drug law violations after authorities served search warrants at two Albert Lea locations.

26 — Stacia Lynn Beers, 25, of Albert Lea, and Anthony Lee Weber, 26, of Glenville, were charged in Freeborn County District Court with several drug related charges based on evidence reportedly obtained as a result of a search warrant issued the previous day. Angelita Maria Caballero, 24, and Algermi Martize Smith, 23, both of Albert Lea, were charged in Freeborn County District Court with alleged cocaine sales as a result of a second search warrant served the previous day at another address.

December

1— Brianna Marie Broitzman, 19, and Ashton Michelle Larson, 18, both of Albert Lea, and four juvenile females were charged in Freeborn County District Court with counts based on the alleged abuse of vulnerable adults who were residents at Albert Lea’s Good Samaritan Center.

2 — The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners approved salary adjustments for the county’s elected officials and nonunion employees effective in 2009.

3 — The two teenagers charged for alleged abuse at Albert Lea’s Good Samaritan Center are scheduled to appear in Freeborn County District Court on Jan. 21, 2009.

4 — Keith W. Pearson, 80, of Cozad, Neb., died when the pickup he was riding in slid on ice and struck a tree near the Geneva Exit on Interstate 35. The driver, Patricia Scheuffele, 52, of Lexington, Neb., was injured.

7 — “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” based on The Dirk and Susan DeVries family and their new home east of Hayward, was telecast on the ABC network.

9 — Three people were injured when a pickup rolled over on Interstate 35 just south of the Interstate 90 interchange.

11 — Wes Bledsoe, founder and president of a watchdog group called A Perfect Cause, held a meeting with about 50 people regarding alleged abuse of residents at the Good Samaritan Center. (On Dec. 12, Bledsoe met with Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson and members of his staff.)

12 — Delinear Concepts LLC of Minneapolis filed an official notice with the Freeborn County Recorder’s Office to redeem the 100-acre former Albert Lea Golf Club property. This property had been purchased by Scott LaFavre of Lakeville in April 2006 and involved in several legal matters since that time.

15 — Albert Lea Police Lt. Phil Bartusek died after a long battle with cancer.

16 — Faith Christine Kampa, 3, died after her mother, Shannon Kampa, accidentally backed over her with a car in Myrtle.

17 — Barbara Finch, 56, of Ames, Iowa, died in a three-vehicle collision about 8:40 a.m. near Exit 11 on Interstate 35 east of Albert Lea.

18 — Sue Ann Peterson, 53, of Hartland, was charged in Freeborn County District Court with one felony charge of aggravated forgery for allegedly writing prescriptions for pharmaceutical products.

19 — The funeral service for Albert Lea Police Department Lt. Phil Bartusek held at St. Theodore Catholic Church was attended by about 600 people.

19 — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty cut $400,000 from the City of Albert Lea and $300,000 from Freeborn County in state aid funds because of anticipated deficits.

22 — The Albert Lea City Council approved a new comprehensive plan for the community.

24 — A man claiming to have a gun attempted to rob the Korner Mart at the corner of West Main Street and South First Avenue on Christmas Eve. He didn’t get any money, however he reportedly punched the store employee.