March 2025
Neighbors helping neighbors
Hutchinson Theatre Company’s spring play ‘Population 485’ explores what it means to be a community
Assault on federal workforce not exactly smart budget cutting
It’s fair to say that these have been confusing and even traumatic times for U.S. public servants. They’ve been attacked as lazy and as ripoff artists — by a White House official. They’ve received a steady stream of “buyout” offers whose legality was initially questioned by the courts. They’ve watched as entire federal agencies — most notably the people responsible for providing life-saving foreign aid and the people charged with protecting American financial consumers — have been shut down or ordered to stop working. And, of course, the richest private citizen in the world has been busy installing his private-citizen colleagues in key command-and-control positions in the U.S. government.
Tigersharks collect state meet hardware
Team reaches medals podium with three relays, four individual swims
A place to escape to a new chapter
If you’re a lover of books and the written word, save March 15 for the grand opening of Hutchinson’s new independent bookstore — The Book Keepers
NANCY ALICE COLES
July 20, 1933- March 4, 2025 Nancy Alice Coles, 91, beloved mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on March 4, 2025, at Harbor Crossing in White Bear Lake. Nancy was born on July 20, 1933, in Blencoe, Iowa, to Thomas and Bessie (Anderson) McCrill. She grew up in Sheldon, Iowa, where she attended school and met the love of her life, Don Coles. They were married on June 30, 1953, in Sheldon and began their life together in Alaska, where Don was stationed in the Army. Eventually, they made their home in Minnesota, where they raised their three children - Donna, Mary, and Tom. Nancy was devoted to her family, balancing work at home with various jobs outside of the home. She worked at the Congregational Church preschool and The Village Shop in Hutchinson, and First Daisy gift shop in downtown St. Paul. In retirement, Nancy and Don enjoyed spending winters as “snowbirds” in Mesa, Ariz., and summers at their family cabin in Wisconsin, where she cherished time with family. Recently, Nancy found joy in life’s simple pleasures - coffee and conversation, keeping her family updated on the weather, sitting on her balcony, welcoming visitors, and cheering on the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. She was deeply loved and will be dearly missed. Her family takes comfort in knowing she is now reunited with Don and those who went before her. She is survived by children: Donna and Marvin Seller, Mary and Peter Bruss, Thomas and Natalie Coles; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Greg Bruss and Amy Helmueller - Colten Ogg and Annabelle Bruss, Kelly and Chris Little - Croix, Otto, and Rylan Little, Alex and Patti Coles - Brooks and William Coles, Kate and Charlie Maahs - Jett and Parker Maahs, Emily and Nathaniel Cook - Soren and Maren Cook; brother and sister-in-law: Thomas and LaVonne McCrill. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, brother Dennis McCrill, and husband, Don, in 2018. A private family burial will be held at Fort Snelling on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
LOOKING BACK
he has some Freeman seed potatoes for sale, which he says are the housewife’s favorite because they are so handsomely shaped and have such an excellent flavor. They are also good yielders.
55-PLUS LIVING
The following Hutchinson Senior Center schedule is for March 14-20: Friday, March 14: 9:15 a.m. Chair yoga; 10 a.m. Knot Just Knitting; 1 p.m. 500, bingo and Hutch Bowl.
2024 McLeod County crash data findings
• 426 crashes (the same number as the previous year), 110 involving injuries, were reported.