Willmar woman, 76, has won several swim medals after recovering from near fatal accident It’s remarkable that Sandra Pierce of Willmar is still winning medals in swimming competitions at age 76, but what’s even more remarkable is that she returned to swimming only 10 months after a life-threatening car accident. Pierce with the gold medal she won at the State Senior Games in 2013 in Owatonna just 10 months after her life-threatening car accident. Contributed photo “The highwa

Spring Hill man left his mark on Minnesota rock and roll scene This 1963 photo was taken during Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tour of the East Coast in 1963. (L to R) Dick Clark, Jerry Haacke, Joel Shapiro, Myron Lee, Free Scott, Curt Powell and drummer Stu Perry (front). In 1963, a rock and roll band out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, called Myron Lee & the Caddies had the music world at its feet. Successful U.S. tours with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars, Canadian tours with B

Picture it, a family standing around their piano as mother, father, brother or sister sits down to play the instrument, while the rest of the family members gaze with pride and sing in harmony. Add to that…whoever is playing, is doing it with delight and merriment. Makes for a nice photo doesn’t it. Yeah, well, that wasn’t us. Mom and dad always said they knew exactly who was playing the piano even before entering the living room (later, the piano was moved to the den, but th

John and Gail Carpenter, known as The Singing Sweethearts, have been singing together for more than 50 years with opera companies, with symphonies and in concert. After moving from Colorado Springs to Mankato in August 2016 to be near their son Chris and his family, the Carpenters soon became active in the Mankato area music community. They have performed in two theater productions and participated in the choirs of two churches. In 2017, they took part in the Twin Rivers Arts

Those who have attended the shows in Medora, North Dakota, understand the “magic of Medora.” For the last few years, that magic has been brought on the road in the form of A Magical Medora Christmas, a traveling Christmas show that performs in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. The star-studded cast of A Magical Medora Christmas includes (L to R) Chad Willow, Jared Mason, Bill Sorensen, Emily Walter and Job Christenson. Thirty one shows are scheduled, includin

“I had a great aunt years ago who had a saying…people ask me how I’m doing and I say ‘I’m still kicking but I’m not raising much dust.’” Berge Johnson, of Spicer, plays a violin, one of the many instruments he plays on a regular basis. Johnson has been playing and teaching music since he was about 5. Photo by Bev Ahlquist Berge Johnson, of rural Spicer, said he feels kind of the same way. He recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and that’s not his only accomplishment. He’s a

Alexandria teacher started assembling community orchestra 10 years ago Ten years ago Brad Lambrecht had a “pipe dream” about starting a community orchestra that could offer symphonic music for all to enjoy, right in the middle of Minnesota in the west-central city of Alexandria. With the start of the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra’s 10th season, 2018-19, the dream is brilliantly resounding. It may have been a pipe dream to make this area the “Cultural Hub of Central Minneso

German singer who performed in New Ulm decides to move to the area a few years later Angela Jahr liked the area so much when she performed at Heritagefest in New Ulm, she and her husband moved to the area from Germany. Photo by Carlienne Frisch Fifteen years ago, when Angela Jahr came with a band from Germany to perform at festivals, such as Heritagefest in New Ulm, she wasn’t thinking of moving to southern Minnesota. Three years later, she and her husband, Klaus, immigrated

Long Prairie woman learns to play harp in retirement Susan Kroll, after a lifetime of providing health care around the world and delivering more babies than even she could count, has taken up playing the harp. Forget any connotations about harp playing and the pearly gates. For Susan, the harp is opening new doors during retirement. A small wood-clad room in her home on the Kroll farm east of Long Prairie provides just the right acoustics, and inspiration, for heavenly sound.

Johnnie and Ruth Sturgeon, of Clarkfield, fell in love with each other and music during their high school years when they both participated in the school band. Johnnie played the trombone, and Ruth played the French horn. Ruth and Johnnie Sturgeon, of Clarkfield, have spread the joy of music throughout their 72-year marriage. The two will celebrate their next anniversary on Oct. 24. Photo by Ida Kesteloot After graduation, Johnnie served his country during WWII, but even the

Brandon man has been playing since he was a little boy He’s putting those ideas to good use. Almost every week you will find Bob at the Lakes Area Theatre, providing background music for the old-time radio shows that are taped and performed every Friday evening to live audiences.  Finding music to go with the storyline seems to come pretty easy for this natural musician. “I love the new challenge each week. We have so much fun putting it all together, the radio show characte