TIPPING THE SCALES -- Ten members of the Racine Lions Club added their weight to a tractor-trailer at Racine Travel Plaza on Saturday morning, July 21. Laura Irlbeck of Racine won a $500 prize for coming closest to guessing the total weight of men and machine, which came to 33,300 pounds. The men weighed a total of 2,200 pounds.
COOKING THE CHICKEN -- Dennis Graff, far right, and Don Lyman, standing next to Graff, both of the Racine Lions Club, prepare to turn the chicken at the club's annual chicken feed at the new Racine City Hall on Saturday, July 21. Lions Club members prepared 700 chicken halves, Lyman said.
TRACTORS ON PARADE -- Trevor Wibben of High Forest enjoys tinkering with his 1936 F20 Farmall tractor. Wibben and scores of other area farmers brought their old machines to the 25th annual Root River Antique Historical Power Association Antique Engine and Tractor Show just off Highway 63 south of Racine last Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The event, which showcased International Harvester tractors, included fun activities for all ages, including a horse pull, hay bale toss contest, pinata-breaking contest and more.
Three contestants won top prizes for finding silver eggs at the Racine Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt at the Racine City Hall-Community Center on Saturday, March 30. Winners include, from left, Cole Underwood, 6, of Racine, who won a $50 Wal-Mart gift card; Shelby Beck, 9, of Spring Valley, who won a $75 Wal-Mart gift card; and Jackson Helget, 10, of Racine, who won a $100 gift card, also to Wal-Mart.
Allen Bredesen, 8, of Racine, visited the new community library at Racine United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 30. The small library has books available for children, teen-agers and adults.
Amalia Peterson, 2 1/2, of Racine, is one of scores of children who searched for eggs at the Racine Lions Club's annual Easter Egg Hunt in Racine on a cool Saturday morning, April 19. Children of kindergarten age and younger such as Amalia received 10 cents each for the eggs they found.
From left, Jackson Helget, 11; Jacob Higgins, 8; and Jesse Peterson, 5, all of Racine, won gift cards to Wal-Mart for finding the silver eggs at the Racine Lions Club's annual Easter Egg Hunt in Racine on Saturday, April 19. Jack-son's gift card was worth $100, Jacob's was good for $75 and Jesse's was worth $50.
The Racine Lions Club hosted its annual chicken feed near the Racine Community Center on Saturday, July 19. Joe Dee of the Racine Lions, left, displays several of the 578 chicken halves that were cooked for the event. Bill Hurley of Parties Made Simple, right, cooked the chicken. Proceeds from the event will pay for Lions Club projects, Dee said.
Jade Schmeling, left, a sophomore at Edina High School, and her cousin Gabe Nelson, an eighth grader at Stewartville Middle School, invited their friends to the third annual Spook City in the Woods near Racine on Friday and Saturday evenings, Oct. 17 and 18. A total of about 380 guests walked a sectioned-off path decorated with zombies, witches, skeletons, spiders and more. Proceeds from the event went to PACER, an anti-bullying organization.
Jade Schmeling, left, a sophomore at Edina High School, and her cousin Gabe Nelson, an eighth grader at Stewartville Middle School, invited their friends to the third annual Spook City in the Woods near Racine on Friday and Saturday evenings, Oct. 17 and 18. A total of about 380 guests walked a sectioned-off path decorated with zombies, witches, skeletons, spiders and more. Proceeds from the event went to PACER, an anti-bullying organization.
Scores of children took part in the annual Racine Lions Easter Egg Hunt in Racine on Saturday morning, April 4. Kids who won Wal-Mart gift cards for finding special silver eggs include, from left, Jesse Peterson, 6, of Racine, kindergarten and younger, who won a $50 gift card; Logan Vrieze, 8, of rural Racine, first through third grade, who won a $75 card; and Tessa Fox, 11, of rural Spring Valley, fourth through sixth grade, who won a card worth $100.
Joe Dee of the Racine Lions Club displays a few of the 500 chicken halves the Lions served at the 31st annual Racine Lions Club Chicken Barbecue and Dance at Racine City Hall on Saturday, July 18. Scott Hurley, owner of Parties Made Simple, in the background at left, cooked the chicken.
Scott Hurley of Parties Made Simple, left, shares a pan of chicken with Joe Dee, president of the Racine Lions Club, at the Lions Club's Chicken BBQ & Dance on July 16. Hurley cooked 600 chicken halves for the guests at the event. Proceeds from the event pay for Racine Lions Club projects.
Nate Goeldi and Karen Goldsmith, members of Racine United Methodist Church, left, serve pizza to Todd Mangels of Rochester, a seasonal employee for All-American Co-op, on Saturday, Oct. 16.
An early-morning fire destroyed a truck service center in Racine on Friday, May 26. More than a day later, the remains from the fire continued to smolder. As of last week, authorities weren't sure what caused the blaze.
Bill Hurley of Parties Made Simple, left, cooked 550 chicken halves for the Racine Lions Club's annual Chicken Feed and Dance at the Racine Community Center on Saturday, July 21. Doug Irlbeck, president of the Racine Lions Club, right, assists Hurley. Proceeds from the event will pay for Lions Club projects.
Bob Johnson of Racine stands near his 1958 John Deere 820, the largest of the five John Deere models he brought to the 36th annual Root River Antique Historical Power Association Antique Engine and Power Show south of Racine on July 20, 21 and 22.
Allie Fryer, rental manager and office assistant, left, and Cole Mullenbach, estimater at Racine Storage, stand near the company's new 16,000 square-foot building that will offer a total of 104 climate-controlled storage units in a variety of sizes.
Deri Nordsving, mayor of Racine, poses in front of the city's new 140-foot tall water tower, at right, which stands side-by-side with the city's old water tower, which was built in 1962. The new tower is scheduled to be up and running by next June.
Last week, workers disassembled and took down Racine's old water tower, left, which has served the city since 1962. Last October, a crew from Maguire Iron, Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D. built a new 140-foot tall water tower, right.
Swenke Ims of Kasson has started rebuilding Main Street in the city of Racine. Mayor Deri Nordsving has said the local costs for the project ($914,000), will be spread out evenly among all Racine property owners. "We don't assess property owners," he said.
Bobby and Angela Carr are the new owners of Carr's Bar N' Grill in Racine. Mike Ward, the previous owner for about two years, sold the business to the Carrs after deciding to move to Arizona to be closer to his family. The Carrs, who took over the business on Monday, Nov. 18, will retain the same staff along with the same menu, which includes sandwiches, wraps, beverages, burgers, salads and lots of appetizers. "Mike ran a heck of a business," Bobby Carr said. "We wouldn't have been able to do this without Mike, the way he set it up for us." Above, Bobby and Angela Carr, center and far right, pose with Katie Houkom, the front manager of the business. The Bar N' Grill, which will offer on-sale and off-sale beer, wine and liquor, will be open Monday through Friday from 11 am. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Spring Valley VFW will sponsor a meat raffle and bingo every Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. Monday will be Burger Night, Tuesday will be Taco and Bingo Night, Wednesday will be Wing Night, Thursday will be Thirsty Thursday, and Sunday will include an All Day Happy Hour. E-tabs and pull tabs will be available. The Bar N' Grill will employ 14 people, including Jesse Sidebottom, the cook-manager. The Carrs are excited about their new business. "The support of all our customers has been overwhelming," Bobby said. "We want to thank all our loyal customers who are sticking with us," Angela said.
Mike and Judy Suess of Suess Auction & Implement of Racine have announced they are stepping away from the consignment auction business. "We're staying in the used equipment business and getting out of consignment auctions," Mike said. "We're just happy we're going to be cutting our workload way back."
Deri Nordsving, mayor of Racine, said last week that the reconstruction of Main Street in the city is about 95 percent finished. "They're going to let it settle and come back in the spring to finish up," the mayor said. "They still have to do dirt work, seeding and overlay to the street." Swenke Ims Contracting of Kasson, the contractor for the project, did the city of Racine portion of the job for $764,872, Nordsving said.
Tracy Hoover, a member of Racine United Methodist Church, left, prepares to give away a package of hamburger donated by 2 Brothers BBQ of Stewartville to a resident who pulled up to the church's parking lot on Tuesday afternoon, March 31.
Joyce Johnson, seated at right, watches his many friends drive past his Racine home to wish him a happy 99th birthday on Sunday afternoon, July 19. Standing behind Johnson are his daughter, Vicki Hoover, left, and his son, Terry Johnson.
Scott Hurley of Parties Made Simple of Grand Meadow, left, cooked 512 chicken halves for the Racine Lions Club's 36th annual Chicken BBQ and Dance at Racine City Hall on July 18. The Racine Lions Club uses proceeds from the event to support the club's local projects. Doug Irlbeck, president of the Racine Lions Club, is at right.
Cody and Michelle Moe of Flowers & More, left and right respectively, pose with some of the many items local and area residents donated to the Stewartville flower shop, which passed the items on to Tracy Hoover, coordinator of the Racine United Methodist Church Food Shelf, center, on Sunday,  Nov. 15. The Moes are grateful to the people who donated items. "It was utterly overwhelming and unexpected," Michelle said.
Racine Mayor Deri Nordsving, left, who helped distribute iPads to Stewartville School District students from Racine on Saturday morning, Jan. 2, poses with the Passow family, including, from left, Owen, Ivan, Mom Jodi, and baby Etta.
George Dwight Knox, who served in Company C, the 3rd Minnesota Infantry, during the Civil War, was instrumental in bringing a Civil War-era cannon to Stewartville in the late 1890s. Knox is buried in Hamilton Cemetery in Racine. Jill Helget submitted this photo of Knox's gravesite.
Bill Hurley of Parties Made Simple of Grand Meadow, left, cooked 480 chicken halves for the Racine Lions Club's 37th annual Chicken BBQ and Dance at Racine City Hall on Saturday, July 17. The Racine Lions Club uses proceeds from the event to support the club's local projects. Doug Irlbeck, president of the Racine Lions, is at right. Also, Redemption Road performed at a free street dance that evening from 8 p.m. to midnight, and residents took part in a cash raffle, with proceeds designated for student scholarships.
After waiting for more than three quarters of a century, Racine's Joyce Johnson, left, has the medals he earned for flying the B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II. He got them on his 100th birthday at a ceremony honoring him for his military service at the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial in Rochester on Tuesday, July 20. Kent Larson of Stewartville, right, Johnson's former Racine neighbor, enjoyed a lively conversation with Johnson after the ceremony.
On July 20, after finally receiving the medals he earned for flying the B-17 Flying Fortress in World War II, Joyce Johnson, 100, left, speaks with former Racine neighbor Kent Larson.
