Tribune staff writers share their favorite quotes from 2010

“You should not take for granted how beautiful this town is.” — Jo Dee Messina, talking to the crowd at the Freeborn County Fair Aug. 5.

“The landscape is changed forever.” — Terry Gjersvik in June on the Manchester area in the aftermath of the June 17 tornadoes.

“In the 23 years I’ve been with the department, morale is at all-time low. I’ve never seen it this way.” — Sheriff candidate Bob Kindler during a debate Oct. 14 with incumbent Mark Harig.

“My goal is to work another four years. I’ve still got a lot of goals. Come Nov. 3, with a little luck, we’ll congratulate each other and continue working together.” — Sheriff Mark Harig during a debate Oct. 14 with candidate Bob Kindler.

“She couldn’t move, and she couldn’t meow.” — Dr. Dan Smith of Albert Lea Veterinary Clinic in July on a kitten that survived the June 17 tornadoes.

“Honestly, the thing I’m most proud of is how well our staff and community pulled together. It’s been overwhelming how much support we’ve received. We have a good place here, and we’re working our butts off to get going again. We’re welcoming everyone back with open arms as soon as possible.” — New Richland Care Center Administrator Mikenzi Hebel said in October.

“All I had were the clothes on my back. I didn’t think this was what life was suppose to be like. I didn’t think that would be me when I picked up that first joint. All I cared about was getting high.” — Albert Lea High School senior Cole Heilig during a Truth in Prevention event at Southwest Middle School in October.

“If you don’t think that Albert Lea is a great community, you’ve been here too long and you’ve never been any place else.” — Del Stein, former principal of Halverson Elementary School, in June.

“You are a good person who made a very bad mistake. That’s as simply as I can put it.” — Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab during the sentencing of Charles Kenneth Dennison in May. Dennison was the driver of the sport-utility truck that crashed into a washout on Freeborn County Road 34 in June 2008, in which two people died.

“I understand the fear of moving eighth-graders to the high school. It’s something new and unchartered.” — Albert Lea School Board member Jill Marin said while discussing the district realignment Nov. 15.

“We’ll be here as your neighbor and as part of the community. The people here are very helpful.” — Bent Tree Wind Farm construction manager Tim Shugart to community leaders Aug. 24 during a tour of the site.

“Hail covered the ground. I’ve never seen hail like that.” — Hartland area farmer Chris Dahl said July 1 after a severe hailstorm.

“It’s becoming overwhelming. The corn’s gotten so tall we might have to walk every other row.” — Albert Lea Fire Department fire Chief Chuck Karl said while volunteering with tornado cleanup near Manchester in June.

“Within a minute or so we were hit. It only lasted 30 to 45 seconds.” — Clarks Grove area farmer Lisa Dunn, describing her experience during the June 17 tornado outbreak.

“Just be you today and be happy with who you are.” — Youth Frontiers staff member Kesiah Kolbow to Albert Lea eighth-graders at a courage retreat Dec. 2.

“I don’t know that we’ve ever had this warm of a welcome anywhere. It’s a helluva good cause.” — Senior Road Capt. Dick Woods, speaking on the Albert Lea welcome for the American Legion Legacy Riders on Aug. 24.

“Having a conversation about domestic violence as a community is the most valuable thing we can do.” — United Way Executive Director Ann Austin at a community discussion about domestic violence in July.

“Our dogs know what their job is when they come to school. They know their purpose.” — Halverson social worker Teri Nelson on the therapy dogs used in Albert Lea’s school district in September.

“This is a great time of friendship, fellowship and food.” — Salvation Army Capt. Lee Brickson to a crowd at a community Thanksgiving meal Nov. 24.

“Early on we envisioned we had a shot to get some of our sprint relays down to state. I don’t know if we ever thought about winning state.” — Northwood-Kensett track and field coach Dave Capitani after his 4 x 200-meter relay team won the state championship May 21.

“I fell apart. Jeff had warned me that there wasn’t much left.” — Beth Zeller, of Alden, on the night she came home to her house destroyed by the June 17 tornado outbreak June 17.

“Albert Lea gave me the opportunity to grow and develop not only as an athlete but as a person.” — Albert Lea High School 1972 graduate Vinny Cerrato at the ALHS Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet July 9.

“It’s just like a dream come true. It’s just unbelievable. I’m so happy for what these girls have done.” — Lake Mills head coach Jim Boehmer after his team advanced to the state tournament Nov. 2.

“They’re elated right now. There are smiles everywhere and the energy is crazy.” — Glenville-Emmons head football coach Jim Kelly on the area community after his team advanced to the section final for the first time in school history.

“If I’m dreaming don’t wake me up. Don’t call me, don’t pinch me, don’t text me — I want this baby to last.” — Lake Mills head volleyball coach Jim Boehmer after his volleyball team advanced to the state championship game Nov. 12.

“He’s won more games in less time than anybody. I look at him as the icon of Minnesota hockey — no doubt about it — and to be in the same league with him is a real treat.” — Albert Lea boys’ hockey head coach Roy Nystrom on passing Willard Ikola for fourth all-time nationally in high school hockey coaching wins Dec. 8.

“What we said all along is we’ll do the best we can with what we have. We just have to buckle down, and we’ll get through it.” — Ann Austin, director of the Freeborn County United Way, in January after coming up $30,000 short of its $645,000 Live United 2009 campaign goal.

“We’d hoped to avoid it. Nobody foresaw the collapse of last year, and we’re still feeling it. If things don’t turn around there’ll be more changes next year. We just hope we’ll survive it.” — Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels, after one Albert Lea police officer received his layoff notice in January.

“Every parent in this country wants their child to have a better life than we did. You won’t find anyone who will fight harder for what they believe in.” — Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer during a campaign stop at The Trumble’s Restaurant in January.

“Minnesota historically gets good looks. And with your position currently in the media, this city is going to get people interested in it, let’s put it that way. You have a great community, something people want to take a look at.” — Richard Fursman of The Brimeyer Group in January, as the Albert Lea City Council began a search for a new city manager after the resignation of Victoria Simonsen.

“I think ultimately we’ve been struggling to find a proper rate that best satisfies everybody …. But I’m at the point now where I don’t know what else we could do without shifting the cost somewhere onto something else.” — Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks at an Albert Lea City Council meeting in January, during which the council approved a new city sewer and water rate billing structure.

“This is far beyond anything we had ever expected. Everybody was kind of emotional really because to do something that you really had never planned on doing, it was really just great.” — Geneva Cancer Auction organizer Whitey Hagen in January, after the auction passed the $1 million mark.

“We’re just so appreciative that during these hard economic times people dug deep into their pockets to help the less fortunate. We will help as many people as we can in the best way we can.” — Salvation Army Capt. Lee Brickson in January, after the organization surpassed its 2009 Christmas campaign goal.