2025 Year in Review January – March

January Top stories…

New Years Day intruder
The Chad and Jackie Budden family discovered an intruder, Marshall Lee Bejarano, 38, in their basement on New Year’s morning after he had been hiding in their home overnight. Police responded within a minute, evacuated the family, and after a four-hour standoff using tactical teams, robots, and drones, found Bejarano hiding in a closet. He was charged with first-degree burglary, criminal damage, and illegal firearm possession. The homeowner praised law enforcement’s response and urged residents to stay vigilant and lock doors.

911 services continue without law enforcement contract
Pipestone County will continue providing 911 services to Holland despite the city declining a 2025 law enforcement contract. The county administrator confirmed no changes to 911 access or emergency response. However, it remains unclear what non-emergency law enforcement services the sheriff’s office will provide without a contract. The dispute arose after the county attorney initially stated 911 services wouldn’t be provided without a contract, but the city attorney cited state statutes requiring emergency dispatch regardless of law enforcement arrangements. Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety intervened, prompting the county’s clarification.
Following the determination in the Holland situation, there was additional concern that other communities within the county may follow suit and opt out of services. Pipestone Mayor Dan Delaney raised questions with county officials and both entities decided to re-visit the topic later in the year when the contract was due for negotiation.

Magellan pipeline permit rescinded
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission rescinded Magellan Pipeline Company’s permit for a refined petroleum pipeline near Pipestone after receiving approximately 200 reconsideration petitions and objections from 16 tribal governments within a month. Concerns centered on potential impacts to sacred pipestone quarried at Pipestone National Monument. The PUC required Magellan to conduct comprehensive cultural, archaeological, and historical surveys of two alternative routes in coordination with 15 tribal nations before reconsidering the permit. The company was ordered to complete inventories, consult with tribes, and submit results before a final routing decision.

PCMC welcomed 102 babies in 2024
The 102 babies born at Pipestone County Medical Center (PCMC) in 2024 were more than any year in recent history.
According to information provided by Director of Patient Care Services Laurie Bruns, that total was well above the 25-year average of about 77 and more than in any single year during that time. The next highest number of babies born in one year since the year 2000 was 91 in 2005. More recently, there were 89 babies born in 2021. That was followed by 71 and 72 in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Topping 100 babies born at PCMC in 2024 might not be a one-year fluke either. Bruns said PCMC was on track to have between 90 and 105 deliveries in 2025.
Elected officials sworn in
Pipestone swore into service Mayor Dan Delaney and councilors Verdeen Colbeck and Danielle Thompson. Chris Hollingsworth, Luke Johnson, and Dallas Roskamp all took positions as Pipestone County Commissioners. Tami Taubert joined the Board of Education at Pipestone Area Schools. In Jasper, Kim Lape was sworn in as mayor and Stacie Smith and Zack Kounkel were sworn in as council members.

New use planned for Main Street location

Rich and Theresa Stangle approached the Heritage Preservation Commission to discuss renovation plans for 209 West Main Street. The

couple who successfully renovated the adjacent building has plans to purchase and restore the

former West Main Trading property. They want to remove the deteriorating blue facade but are uncertain about restoration costs if original brick is exposed underneath. The HPC strongly supported removing the facade and indicated flexibility if brick restoration proves too expensive.

Stonewall Bar closes

Kyley Mills, owner of the Stonewall Bar & Grill in Jasper, set a date of January 31, 2025 to close the bar after declining to renew her liquor license. Mills cited lost income and a deteriorating relationship with the Jasper Development Corporation (JDC), which had purchased her building and later charged rent. The building had been in need of myriad repairs for some time. After failed relocation attempts, Mills said she felt unsupported by the community. The JDC cited various attempts to work with Mills on a relocation plan, but nothing was worked out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February Top stories…

Weather not the winter standard
After a couple days in mid-January when the high temperature didn’t even get above zero, Pipestone set a record high on Thursday, Jan. 30 when it reached 57 degrees, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The previous record of 54 degrees was set in 1989. Another record was almost set on Tuesday, Jan. 28 when the high reached 52 degrees in Pipestone. That was just two degrees shy of the record of 54 set in 1931.
The largest snowfall of the season finally took place on Feb. 7-8 when 3 inches accumulated overnight. That was followed by another 2 inches on Feb. 10. Then, on Feb. 18 an Extreme Cold Warning was issued as temps stayed below zero for a number days and windchills were forecast to hit 45 below.

PAS approves roof project
The PAS school board approved a contract with Black Hawk Roof Company to replace the roof on the middle and high school for $3,749,000. The school board had accepted a bid of that amount from the company in October, 2024.
The first phase of the project was set to begin in June and be completed before school started in the fall. Phase two is expected to begin in June of 2026 and be completed before school begins that fall. The school district had $2,788,429.03 in bond proceeds to pay for part of the project while other options would be pursued to pay for the rest.

Chandler Feeds changes cityscape
Chandler Feed began a major renovation at its Pipestone location following a grain bin collapse in the fall of 2024. The company removed the old wood elevator and other buildings and revealed plans to construct two new grain bins, a grain leg, dryer, and receiving pit—creating a larger, state-of-the-art facility.

JDC reveals new cafe location
The Jasper Development Corporation (JDC) welcomed the public in to view two of its redevelopment projects located in Jasper. The locations were the former Brian’s 19th Hole BBQ Pit, which was renovated to create a space for a new cafe, and the former Jasper Clinic building that the JDC converted into a house.
JDC Vice President Jim Kneip said the nonprofit corporation had wanted to bring a café back to Jasper for quite a while. It purchased the building at 108 Wall St. W. and made electrical, plumbing and bathroom upgrades, put on a new roof, and made other improvements. Kneip said the JDC planned to lease the east side of the building to Angelica Rieck, who will operate the cafe there.

HRA board shaken up
The Pipestone City Council declared three HRA Board vacancies after discovering members Dustin Seiler, Emaleigh Rippentrop, and Linda Erickson didn’t live within city limits, violating state statute requiring board members be city residents. Pipestone Mayor Dan Delaney said replacements would be appointed with council approval. The move followed confusion over appointment procedures, with state statute giving appointment power to the mayor while HRA bylaws suggest the executive director recommends members. HRA Executive Director Tammy Manderscheid expressed disappointment, noting the HRA serves residents throughout the county with Section 8 housing assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March Top stories…

HRA board saga continued
HRA Executive Director Tammy Manderscheid spoke to the City Council and took issue with their February decision to declare board vacancies based on the out-of-city residencies of three board members, stating that the Pipestone HRA operates throughout Pipestone County and even into Rock County and that the City Council had appointed people who did not live in the city of Pipestone to the HRA Board in the past without issue.
At the following council meeting, City Attorney Jason Hill cited state statute that defines the area of operation of an HRA as “the area within the territorial boundaries of that city, county, or group of counties.” Because the Pipestone HRA was created in 1966 by the city of Pipestone, that would indicate that its area of operation would be the boundaries of the city.
Manderscheid had brought forth three candidates for consideration of appointment to the board. These candidates were approved by the council, bringing the board up to capacity. The HRA had not been able to conduct business earlier in March due to lack of a quorum.

Pipestone County Burger Battle
The Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Association announced the first-ever Pipestone County Burger Battle. Seven Pipestone county eateries each entered a specialty burger into the battle. Burgers were voted on by patrons in the categories of presentation, creativity and taste. The association’s goals with the burger battle included promoting beef in partnership with businesses in the county and encouraging people to support local businesses and enjoy what they have to offer. Staci’s Bar and Grill was named the winner in May for her burger called the “Dubliner.” It included a one-third pound burger with grilled corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, “pot of gold” sauce and coleslaw.

County approves cannabis ordinance
Pipestone County Commissioners approved a cannabis business ordinance after a public hearing with no community comments. The ordinance, developed with Southwest Health and Human Services, regulates cultivation, manufacturing, and transportation facilities. Commissioner Dan Wildermuth expressed opposition to adult-use cannabis but acknowledged the county had no choice considering cannabis’s legal status in Minnesota. Most cities in the county delegated registration authority to the county, though Pipestone and Woodstock created their own ordinances.

Protesters group for Rep. Fischbach event
About 30 protesters gathered outside Meinders Community Library during U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach’s mobile office hours. Protesters voiced concerns about DOGE funding cuts, lack of congressional oversight, Veterans Affairs issues, Social Security changes, and other federal matters. Library Director Jody Wacker reported a busy morning with no incidents as constituents met with Fischbach’s staff inside.

Community helps with Portrait of a Graduate
About 60 community members participated in Pipestone Area Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate program, to provide input on qualities PAS students should possess upon graduation. KnowledgeWorks Director Laura Hilger led attendees in answering questions about student success, community needs, and desired skills beyond academic content.
Hilger also conducted focus groups with students and staff and announced plans for an upcoming community survey. A steering committee will review collected data and develop a draft portrait to guide the district’s strategic plan, emphasizing cross-curricular skills and dispositions alongside content mastery.

Industrial Road project moves forward
The Pipestone City Council voted to proceed with the preparation of plans to pave Industrial Road.
The decision followed a public hearing during which three people who own property along Industrial Road told the City Council that they did not support proposed assessments that would help pay for a concrete surface on the street. The project was estimated to cost $261,000 and the city proposed paying for it with street department funds and assessments to benefiting property owners. A preliminary assessment roll showed that based on assessing 30 percent of the cost, the owners of six properties would be assessed a total of $78,292.20 with assessments ranging from $2,851.80 to $41,454 based on feet of frontage.

City orders Carnegie assessment
Pipestone City Council members voted to pay architectural firm LHB $42,400 to assess restoration needs for the former Carnegie Library building’s envelope and provide updated cost estimates.
The city received a $122,162 state grant for east wall repairs after Sioux quartzite stones fell in 2020, requiring a city match of up to $126,162. However, the State Historic Preservation Office required addressing the failing roof simultaneously. Previous estimates, from 2019, totaled $487,813 to $523,000 for repairs, though costs likely increased.
Council members requested interior cost estimates before deciding whether to renovate, sell, or demolish the building. No discussion was held as to an exact, or proposed, use of the building.