Outside Looking In
Things are going to be much different at the Minneota Public School with both the superintendent and high school principal leaving in the same school year.
Principal Jeremy Frie was named the new superintendent in the Dover-Eyota School District in the southeastern part of the state, while current Minneota superintendent Dan Deitte has been named the new superintendent for the Hutchinson School District.
As of this printing, Deitte's wife, Jen Mahan-Deitte, the current elementary principal here, has not resigned her position. Deitte's accepting of the position in Hutchinson is still pending contract negotiations, but likely that won't be a problem.
Frie's wife, Courtney, will resign from her position as Lakeview Elementary School principal and will be seeking employment in the Dover-Eyota area as soon as Jeremy's contract is official.
I am very familiar with both of these communities. I have relatives from Eyota and have been there many times. It's a very nice community and only a few miles from Rochester.
Hutchinson is just 45 miles from where I live in Willmar. I travel there often for stories for the Senior Perspective, which I also write for, or just to spend time there because it's such a clean community with plenty of things to do and places to eat for its size.
Both administrators were instrumental in getting things done at the school here, including the important Tech Levy that passed and will benefit the school immensely for years to come.
We wish both men and their families well in their new endeavors.
Guessing is free
The free Mascot jelly bean contest will continue until Sunday, April 17. As of this printing, we have only a few names that have made a guess on how many jelly beans are in the jar sitting in our front window.
Several prizes will be given to the winner, including four books written by local authors, a gift certificate to Brad's Market, and some treats.
We would like to add some more items to the Easter basket of prizes. If anyone would like to donate something toward the prize basket, email me at scott@thomabooks.com.
Rules are included in the front window beside the jelly bean jar.
Anyone is eligible to guess with the exception of Mascot employees. Only one guess per person, though.
Late papers
The Mascot papers were delivered to some area businesses late last week, or not at all, due to a mix-up with the driver on how many should be delivered to each location. It seems the sheets that normally are included on top of the bundles were missing, so the driver dropped all the papers off at Brad's Market, but failed to inform us.
When the businesses notified us that they were missing their papers, I had no idea where they were until I started making some calls.
We apologize for any inconvenience and hope this problem doesn't occur again.
Spring sports
Some spring sports are getting underway now despite winter doing its best to stick around. The Canby/Minneota boys and girls track teams have had two meets, the first in Redwood Falls last week and the other this past Monday in Brookings.
The Clay Target team has already begun its season out at the Sportsmen's Club, shooting Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the season.
The Minneota/Canby softball opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 7 against Adrian in Ellsworth, with the next game the following day in Tracy. The home opener is slated for Tuesday, April 12 against Lakeview.
The baseball team's opener will be Saturday, April 9 in the Edgerton Triangular. Minneota plays Southwest Christian at 10 a.m. and Wabasso at noon. The home opener is scheduled for Thursday, April 14 against Renville County West.
Barring inclement weather or poor course conditions, the boys golf team will open the season on Monday, April 11 in the Marshall Invitational with 16 other teams.
The following day, Tuesday, April 12, the girls golf team will compete in the Marshall Invite with 15 other teams.
The Minneota Mudhens amateur baseball team begins on Saturday, April 30 in Pipestone.