16_20b-indd-4 - The Morrison County Record

Reindeer
Thanksgiving for family
members.
Sleigh Rides Over the years, the number
(Continued from Page 1B)
of events has grown
break the reindeer to pull a considerably. The Hemkers
sleigh,” Heidi said. “He really
— siblings Heidi and her
wanted to do reindeer husband, Chris and chil-
sleigh rides.”
dren, Ella, Aubrey and Leo;
Mark was diagnosed with Jackie and her husband,
kidney cancer in 1996, and Josh; Anne and her fiancé,
he and his wife, Joan, made Roger and Marcus — can
a career switch. The day after
do up to six events in one
his diagnosis, Mark left day.
his banking job to stay home “We have lots of reindeer,”
with the kids and Joan went
Heidi said with a grin.
back to work nursing. She All sleigh rides are done
also ran the business, doing on location, including
all the bookkeeping. Gerten’s Greenhouse in the
“Dad had decided that Twin Cities, Nights and
people shouldn’t have to Lights parade in St. Cloud,
drive all the way to Fargo the Melrose Public Library
or Minneapolis to go to and the Runestone Museum
the zoo,” Heidi said. “So he in Alexandria.
made it a full-time job and The Hemker family appeared
at the Morrison
built it up to what we have
today.”
County Fairgrounds in
Mark lost his fight with Little Falls in December
cancer in 2006, at age 50, 2011, giving reindeer rides
but the family unanimously to visitors at a Christmas
decided to continue the totally
event.
family-owned and op-
“We go to many family
erated enterprise.
holiday parties and a number
Joan still works in surgery
of corporate Christmas
at the St. Cloud Hospital. parties,” said Heidi.
“She is the official person Since the zoo is closed
who gets the last say in anything
from Nov. 1 to May 1, the
we do,” said Heidi. animals hunker down for
Sleigh rides are offered the winter. There are ostriches
and emus, zebras
on location for groups and
events. They were first held and camels, musk ox and
at Thomsens Nursery in three species of deer. Visitors
St. Joseph. Then the Hemkers
will find two species of
began a family sleigh monkeys, with kangaroos
ride tradition the day after and African porcupines.
There are three species of
sheep, antelope, parrots and
macaws, lemur, tamarins
and New Guinea singing
dogs.
Reptile fans will find a
house devoted entirely to
them.
“We do extensive research
before getting new animals,”
Heidi said. “We spend a lot
of time with curators of
other zoos in South Dakota,
North Dakota, Texas,
Canada and Japan.”
The Hemker family is
carrying on where their dad
left off. “He was a big kid at
heart,” Heidi said.
Anne remembers that
on Christmas Eve, her dad
would put the reindeer
away, out of sight. “He told
us that Santa had come to
pick them up.”
The Hemkers are elves
Submitted photo
Donner and Blitzen pull Santa’s sleigh every year. Mark Hemker’s love of animals filled the Hemker
Park and Zoo and developed into offering sleigh rides by actual reindeer every year. His first
passengers were his children, pictured (from left): Heidi, Anne, Marcus, Santa’s helper Mark and
Jackie.
working for Santa, and are
often asked if they have
pointed ears.
“I have to show the kids,”
said Heidi, “and I tell them
that I’m not a toy elf — I’m
a reindeer elf. We try to
bring the magic of Christmas
back for them.”
Lights of Christmas
from North Prairie
(Continued from Page 2B)
ery shelf, counter and table in
the room.
Just before exiting the
house, visitors stopped in the
back porch to view five scenes
depicting the five luminous
mysteries of the rosary. These
scenes were painted on 6-foothigh
panels by Royalton artist
James Daly.
“I was trying to capture
the likeness of stained glass
windows,” Daly said. “They
always look so nice when
there is light shining behind
them.”
“Between 400 and 500
people came through, and
we’re very happy with that,”
Borash said. “We had no idea
what to expect. Many people
said to please do it again.”
Upsala schools
lunch menu
Monday, Dec. 10 - Sausage links, pancakes,
veggies and fruit.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 - Breaded pork patty,
mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit and
dinner rolls.
Wednesday, Dec. 12 - Creamed chicken,
baking powder biscuits, veggies and
fruit.
Thursday, Dec. 13 - Cheese quesadilla,
salsa, veggies and fruit.
Friday, Dec. 14 - Ham and cheese subs,
veggies, fruit and multi grain chips.
• Choice of milk.
• Salad bar every day except Wednesday.
Public Notices

Reindeer
Thanksgiving for family
members.
Sleigh Rides Over the years, the number
(Continued from Page 1B)
of events has grown
break the reindeer to pull a considerably. The Hemkers
sleigh,” Heidi said. “He really
— siblings Heidi and her
wanted to do reindeer husband, Chris and chil-
sleigh rides.”
dren, Ella, Aubrey and Leo;
Mark was diagnosed with Jackie and her husband,
kidney cancer in 1996, and Josh; Anne and her fiancé,
he and his wife, Joan, made Roger and Marcus — can
a career switch. The day after
do up to six events in one
his diagnosis, Mark left day.
his banking job to stay home “We have lots of reindeer,”
with the kids and Joan went
Heidi said with a grin.
back to work nursing. She All sleigh rides are done
also ran the business, doing on location, including
all the bookkeeping. Gerten’s Greenhouse in the
“Dad had decided that Twin Cities, Nights and
people shouldn’t have to Lights parade in St. Cloud,
drive all the way to Fargo the Melrose Public Library
or Minneapolis to go to and the Runestone Museum
the zoo,” Heidi said. “So he in Alexandria.
made it a full-time job and The Hemker family appeared
at the Morrison
built it up to what we have
today.”
County Fairgrounds in
Mark lost his fight with Little Falls in December
cancer in 2006, at age 50, 2011, giving reindeer rides
but the family unanimously to visitors at a Christmas
decided to continue the totally
event.
family-owned and op-
“We go to many family
erated enterprise.
holiday parties and a number
Joan still works in surgery
of corporate Christmas
at the St. Cloud Hospital. parties,” said Heidi.
“She is the official person Since the zoo is closed
who gets the last say in anything
from Nov. 1 to May 1, the
we do,” said Heidi. animals hunker down for
Sleigh rides are offered the winter. There are ostriches
and emus, zebras
on location for groups and
events. They were first held and camels, musk ox and
at Thomsens Nursery in three species of deer. Visitors
St. Joseph. Then the Hemkers
will find two species of
began a family sleigh monkeys, with kangaroos
ride tradition the day after and African porcupines.
There are three species of
sheep, antelope, parrots and
macaws, lemur, tamarins
and New Guinea singing
dogs.
Reptile fans will find a
house devoted entirely to
them.
“We do extensive research
before getting new animals,”
Heidi said. “We spend a lot
of time with curators of
other zoos in South Dakota,
North Dakota, Texas,
Canada and Japan.”
The Hemker family is
carrying on where their dad
left off. “He was a big kid at
heart,” Heidi said.
Anne remembers that
on Christmas Eve, her dad
would put the reindeer
away, out of sight. “He told
us that Santa had come to
pick them up.”
The Hemkers are elves
Submitted photo
Donner and Blitzen pull Santa’s sleigh every year. Mark Hemker’s love of animals filled the Hemker
Park and Zoo and developed into offering sleigh rides by actual reindeer every year. His first
passengers were his children, pictured (from left): Heidi, Anne, Marcus, Santa’s helper Mark and
Jackie.
working for Santa, and are
often asked if they have
pointed ears.
“I have to show the kids,”
said Heidi, “and I tell them
that I’m not a toy elf — I’m
a reindeer elf. We try to
bring the magic of Christmas
back for them.”
Lights of Christmas
from North Prairie
(Continued from Page 2B)
ery shelf, counter and table in
the room.
Just before exiting the
house, visitors stopped in the
back porch to view five scenes
depicting the five luminous
mysteries of the rosary. These
scenes were painted on 6-foothigh
panels by Royalton artist
James Daly.
“I was trying to capture
the likeness of stained glass
windows,” Daly said. “They
always look so nice when
there is light shining behind
them.”
“Between 400 and 500
people came through, and
we’re very happy with that,”
Borash said. “We had no idea
what to expect. Many people
said to please do it again.”
Upsala schools
lunch menu
Monday, Dec. 10 - Sausage links, pancakes,
veggies and fruit.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 - Breaded pork patty,
mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit and
dinner rolls.
Wednesday, Dec. 12 - Creamed chicken,
baking powder biscuits, veggies and
fruit.
Thursday, Dec. 13 - Cheese quesadilla,
salsa, veggies and fruit.
Friday, Dec. 14 - Ham and cheese subs,
veggies, fruit and multi grain chips.
• Choice of milk.
• Salad bar every day except Wednesday.
Public Notices

Reindeer
Thanksgiving for family
members.
Sleigh Rides Over the years, the number
(Continued from Page 1B)
of events has grown
break the reindeer to pull a considerably. The Hemkers
sleigh,” Heidi said. “He really
— siblings Heidi and her
wanted to do reindeer husband, Chris and chil-
sleigh rides.”
dren, Ella, Aubrey and Leo;
Mark was diagnosed with Jackie and her husband,
kidney cancer in 1996, and Josh; Anne and her fiancé,
he and his wife, Joan, made Roger and Marcus — can
a career switch. The day after
do up to six events in one
his diagnosis, Mark left day.
his banking job to stay home “We have lots of reindeer,”
with the kids and Joan went
Heidi said with a grin.
back to work nursing. She All sleigh rides are done
also ran the business, doing on location, including
all the bookkeeping. Gerten’s Greenhouse in the
“Dad had decided that Twin Cities, Nights and
people shouldn’t have to Lights parade in St. Cloud,
drive all the way to Fargo the Melrose Public Library
or Minneapolis to go to and the Runestone Museum
the zoo,” Heidi said. “So he in Alexandria.
made it a full-time job and The Hemker family appeared
at the Morrison
built it up to what we have
today.”
County Fairgrounds in
Mark lost his fight with Little Falls in December
cancer in 2006, at age 50, 2011, giving reindeer rides
but the family unanimously to visitors at a Christmas
decided to continue the totally
event.
family-owned and op-
“We go to many family
erated enterprise.
holiday parties and a number
Joan still works in surgery
of corporate Christmas
at the St. Cloud Hospital. parties,” said Heidi.
“She is the official person Since the zoo is closed
who gets the last say in anything
from Nov. 1 to May 1, the
we do,” said Heidi. animals hunker down for
Sleigh rides are offered the winter. There are ostriches
and emus, zebras
on location for groups and
events. They were first held and camels, musk ox and
at Thomsens Nursery in three species of deer. Visitors
St. Joseph. Then the Hemkers
will find two species of
began a family sleigh monkeys, with kangaroos
ride tradition the day after and African porcupines.
There are three species of
sheep, antelope, parrots and
macaws, lemur, tamarins
and New Guinea singing
dogs.
Reptile fans will find a
house devoted entirely to
them.
“We do extensive research
before getting new animals,”
Heidi said. “We spend a lot
of time with curators of
other zoos in South Dakota,
North Dakota, Texas,
Canada and Japan.”
The Hemker family is
carrying on where their dad
left off. “He was a big kid at
heart,” Heidi said.
Anne remembers that
on Christmas Eve, her dad
would put the reindeer
away, out of sight. “He told
us that Santa had come to
pick them up.”
The Hemkers are elves
Submitted photo
Donner and Blitzen pull Santa’s sleigh every year. Mark Hemker’s love of animals filled the Hemker
Park and Zoo and developed into offering sleigh rides by actual reindeer every year. His first
passengers were his children, pictured (from left): Heidi, Anne, Marcus, Santa’s helper Mark and
Jackie.
working for Santa, and are
often asked if they have
pointed ears.
“I have to show the kids,”
said Heidi, “and I tell them
that I’m not a toy elf — I’m
a reindeer elf. We try to
bring the magic of Christmas
back for them.”
Lights of Christmas
from North Prairie
(Continued from Page 2B)
ery shelf, counter and table in
the room.
Just before exiting the
house, visitors stopped in the
back porch to view five scenes
depicting the five luminous
mysteries of the rosary. These
scenes were painted on 6-foothigh
panels by Royalton artist
James Daly.
“I was trying to capture
the likeness of stained glass
windows,” Daly said. “They
always look so nice when
there is light shining behind
them.”
“Between 400 and 500
people came through, and
we’re very happy with that,”
Borash said. “We had no idea
what to expect. Many people
said to please do it again.”
Upsala schools
lunch menu
Monday, Dec. 10 - Sausage links, pancakes,
veggies and fruit.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 - Breaded pork patty,
mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit and
dinner rolls.
Wednesday, Dec. 12 - Creamed chicken,
baking powder biscuits, veggies and
fruit.
Thursday, Dec. 13 - Cheese quesadilla,
salsa, veggies and fruit.
Friday, Dec. 14 - Ham and cheese subs,
veggies, fruit and multi grain chips.
• Choice of milk.
• Salad bar every day except Wednesday.
Public Notices

Reindeer
Thanksgiving for family
members.
Sleigh Rides Over the years, the number
(Continued from Page 1B)
of events has grown
break the reindeer to pull a considerably. The Hemkers
sleigh,” Heidi said. “He really
— siblings Heidi and her
wanted to do reindeer husband, Chris and chil-
sleigh rides.”
dren, Ella, Aubrey and Leo;
Mark was diagnosed with Jackie and her husband,
kidney cancer in 1996, and Josh; Anne and her fiancé,
he and his wife, Joan, made Roger and Marcus — can
a career switch. The day after
do up to six events in one
his diagnosis, Mark left day.
his banking job to stay home “We have lots of reindeer,”
with the kids and Joan went
Heidi said with a grin.
back to work nursing. She All sleigh rides are done
also ran the business, doing on location, including
all the bookkeeping. Gerten’s Greenhouse in the
“Dad had decided that Twin Cities, Nights and
people shouldn’t have to Lights parade in St. Cloud,
drive all the way to Fargo the Melrose Public Library
or Minneapolis to go to and the Runestone Museum
the zoo,” Heidi said. “So he in Alexandria.
made it a full-time job and The Hemker family appeared
at the Morrison
built it up to what we have
today.”
County Fairgrounds in
Mark lost his fight with Little Falls in December
cancer in 2006, at age 50, 2011, giving reindeer rides
but the family unanimously to visitors at a Christmas
decided to continue the totally
event.
family-owned and op-
“We go to many family
erated enterprise.
holiday parties and a number
Joan still works in surgery
of corporate Christmas
at the St. Cloud Hospital. parties,” said Heidi.
“She is the official person Since the zoo is closed
who gets the last say in anything
from Nov. 1 to May 1, the
we do,” said Heidi. animals hunker down for
Sleigh rides are offered the winter. There are ostriches
and emus, zebras
on location for groups and
events. They were first held and camels, musk ox and
at Thomsens Nursery in three species of deer. Visitors
St. Joseph. Then the Hemkers
will find two species of
began a family sleigh monkeys, with kangaroos
ride tradition the day after and African porcupines.
There are three species of
sheep, antelope, parrots and
macaws, lemur, tamarins
and New Guinea singing
dogs.
Reptile fans will find a
house devoted entirely to
them.
“We do extensive research
before getting new animals,”
Heidi said. “We spend a lot
of time with curators of
other zoos in South Dakota,
North Dakota, Texas,
Canada and Japan.”
The Hemker family is
carrying on where their dad
left off. “He was a big kid at
heart,” Heidi said.
Anne remembers that
on Christmas Eve, her dad
would put the reindeer
away, out of sight. “He told
us that Santa had come to
pick them up.”
The Hemkers are elves
Submitted photo
Donner and Blitzen pull Santa’s sleigh every year. Mark Hemker’s love of animals filled the Hemker
Park and Zoo and developed into offering sleigh rides by actual reindeer every year. His first
passengers were his children, pictured (from left): Heidi, Anne, Marcus, Santa’s helper Mark and
Jackie.
working for Santa, and are
often asked if they have
pointed ears.
“I have to show the kids,”
said Heidi, “and I tell them
that I’m not a toy elf — I’m
a reindeer elf. We try to
bring the magic of Christmas
back for them.”
Lights of Christmas
from North Prairie
(Continued from Page 2B)
ery shelf, counter and table in
the room.
Just before exiting the
house, visitors stopped in the
back porch to view five scenes
depicting the five luminous
mysteries of the rosary. These
scenes were painted on 6-foothigh
panels by Royalton artist
James Daly.
“I was trying to capture
the likeness of stained glass
windows,” Daly said. “They
always look so nice when
there is light shining behind
them.”
“Between 400 and 500
people came through, and
we’re very happy with that,”
Borash said. “We had no idea
what to expect. Many people
said to please do it again.”
Upsala schools
lunch menu
Monday, Dec. 10 - Sausage links, pancakes,
veggies and fruit.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 - Breaded pork patty,
mashed potatoes, green beans, fruit and
dinner rolls.
Wednesday, Dec. 12 - Creamed chicken,
baking powder biscuits, veggies and
fruit.
Thursday, Dec. 13 - Cheese quesadilla,
salsa, veggies and fruit.
Friday, Dec. 14 - Ham and cheese subs,
veggies, fruit and multi grain chips.
• Choice of milk.
• Salad bar every day except Wednesday.
Public Notices

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