Featuring Our Own:
(Chamber A -Z) LONG PRAIRIE’S VERY OWN ICE SKATING RINK: HOT CHOCOLATE AND A WARMING HOUSE WELCOME SKATERS DURING THE WINTER SEASON!
Article written by Sowmya Subramaniam, Golden Shovel writer. The new, open-door ice skating rink and hockey arena that opened in Long Prairie in December 2021 is proving to be popular with the residents of the city.
With a capacity of around 150-200 skaters, the 80-feet by 155-feet rink was constructed last year and will increase in size next year to 100 -feet by 200 -feet. It saw skating enthusiasts of all ages enjoying the facility. The rink is proposed to be kept open between December through February of every year, …- just the right time for some ice skating. BEFORE
LONG PRAIRIE: A LEGACY OF ICE SKATING This is not the first skating rink that exists in Long Prairie. Jeff Lucas, a resident of the city and one of its keen historians states that Long Prairie did have a public skating rink during the late 30s. “There is an old WPA park in LP called Riverside park that was built in 1936 by the WPA administration. In a part of that park, there were 2 ponds; my grandmother told me she would swim in those ponds, and when they froze in winter, she would skate on those ponds. This was the earliest, open outdoor public skating rink in Long Prairie! Other people have said that from the 40s till about the middle 1970s there was a public skating rink in Soldier Field. This was where kids would go and on winter days they would skate - there was a warming house, and there was an attendant who would help them tie their skates. The kids would simply skate and skate!”, Jeff says. It was when people started sharing stories of how good it would be to have an outdoor rink again, with all the lights on, and people and kids skating there, that according to Jeff prompted Luan Brunkhorst, Director, Chamber of Commerce, and others to start thinking about an outdoor rink. Jeff says, “There was always a friendly competition between neighboring towns to have one. Lu just took that idea and ran with it.” AFTER
VOLUNTEERS HAVE HELPED TO SET UP THE ICE RINK
Luan Brunkhorst says that Harley VanRuler, the ice keeper for the rink has been the go-to guy for everything ice skating. “He has helped with everything - he created the Zamboni- an ice resurfacing machine that resurfaces the ice for a pristine skating surface for the players. He is also creating the blade that will shovel automatically so that he does not have to shovel next year”, she says VanRuler was an ice hockey coach before he retired. “When the rink came up I offered to help out, during the first year. We have kids as small as 3 years skating, we even had a guy who was 85 years old. There are no charges for using the rink. We have now bought 12 pairs of hockey skates. We have some finger skates and some hockey skates, totaling about 25 pairs. It's a great way to get kids introduced to the program,” he says. 
Les Levin, the electrician and water heater man for the rink, helps with the setting up and tearing down of the rink, whenever needed. He is also in charge of the electrical work there - warming etc. Involved with Long Prairie Hockey when his boys were growing up, he quickly jumped on board when Luan started talking about an outdoor skating rink and helps out with whatever is needed. “The rink is just what we needed”, Levin says. “It helps people of all ages outside, enjoying the rink, and the sport”.
Jeff Koehn, Midway Storage, and all-around helper is the manager of the Hockey Association’s ice rink at the Expo Arena. “When Lu came to us and asked us if the HA would be interested in having an outdoor rink started, I offered her my support. And so did the Hockey Association, “ he says. Koehn rents out separate units at the midway storage facility. He helps Luan to coordinate the setup of the boards set up, get in the water, etc. “I work hard to help the rink run smoothly,” Jeff says.
Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst admits that without the active participation of volunteers and the City, getting the ice rink to open up so quickly would not have been possible. “The City helped us get the rink in order and the Fire Department filled it with water. Its contribution was to help with shoveling snow from the parking lot and garbage disposal. The Public Works came to our help twice. When it snows, it has to be removed from the ice on the rink quickly. Or, it tends to get absorbed into it and sets off a reaction, causing a lot of bumpiness for the skaters. Our volunteers do an impeccable job each time, helping to shovel snow and preparing the rink for visitors every single day”, Luan says. “Once we had 5 inches of slush - we had to get it off right away. Then 12 inches of snow. If you skate on the rink it has to be scraped. But who wants to shovel after skating?” Luan laughs.
PLANNING FOR THE COMING SEASON
Her goal for next year is to have a set of volunteers in place. “I already have a calendar set up for next year, and we hope to have many more to volunteer”, she says. “So even if there is no snowfall, the volunteer will have to shovel after every skating activity.” Luan is trying to get non-profit organizations to promote themselves at the rink. Organizations like churches, Lion’s Club, and the Rotary Club will be asked to sign up for a week - these entities will show up at the rink and help the kids tie their skates. Luan plans to promote the rink and the non-profits through social media posts. 
For Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst, there have been many hard moments while setting up the ice rink. “However, I do not want to give up. There has been so much work that has gone into setting up the rink, the volunteers have been so creative and helpful; we simply have to keep the ice rink ready for our skaters, each day and every day of the season!” Luan says.
You are welcome to experience the ice rink at Soldiers Field, Long Prairie. If you would like to volunteer on a part-time basis, working with the Zamboni and snow shoveling, please contact us here. . FINAL LIST OF DONORS:
We raised over $8500.00- that includes the Hockey Association donation of $2500, 2500 from the community and the matching gift of $2500 from an anonymous donor. We would like to thank all who bought raffle tickets. Your names are not mentioned on the list, but because of your generosity, we raised about $1,000 from the raffle. Donors - Marla Schnell - The Sellnow Family - Chuck & Nancy Eldred - Terri Jo Peery - Judy & Wallace Hedlund - David & Marilyn Bengtson - Kathy Rausch - Town & Country Homemakers - Roger & Lois Neumann - Doug and Bobbie Jo Freie - Les Levin - Ryan & Kelly Hanson - Deb & Dan Laumeyer - June Elmes - John & Jasmine Ecker - David & Lisa Wright - Jeff Lucas - Rosemary & Richard Robinson - Teresa Sorenson - Brenda & Mark Faust - Kali Christiansen - Dr. and Mrs. Richard Wagner - Sharon Werner - Michael Wagner - Al & Jane Lemke - Ruth Wingeier & John King - Billy Dinkel - Dawn Rasmussen-Graves - Terry & Linda Mentele Business & Individual $ donations, time & in-kind support *anonymous 15,000 donor - Harley Vanruler - Les Levin - Jeff Koehn - Midway Storage - STS- the benches and wall divider - Countryside Plumbing- in kind donation of services and material - Brandon Hudalla - repairs to lawn mower/Zamboni - Rohde's Midway Gas Bar & Grill (water heater) - Todd Wadena Electric Coop (water heater) - LP Packing (water heater) - Dragon Willow Winery - JCP Farms - Iten Funeral Home - John Petron JCP Farms - Northern Star Coop - Lennes Electric - Central MN Credit Union - Salon Serenity - Liberty Diversified International - Fleet supply - ACE Hardware - LP Lumber - Duane Towle- ECO Water 
Electronic Sign Use and Fees Schedule
Please click the link above to download our Sign Use Policy and Fee Schedule. If you would like to use the sign (either as a Chamber Member or as a non-member) please fill out the last page of the form and enclose any payment (non-member) for use of the sign and return to the Chamber office. Thank you. - Places to stay
- Places to eat -Specialty shops - Things to do 
History of Long Prairie
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Chamber Director: Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst Chamber Office Hours: IN & OUT OF THE OFFICE due to visits etc. Monday - Friday 9am - 3:00pm Please contact me at (320) 732-2514. chamber@longprairie.org Location: @ the LP Library 42 3rd Street North (click on red for google map) Don't respond to haters' taunts - even politely. Ignore them. If nobody takes their bait, most will grow bored and move on.
Andrew Shaffer SAVE THE DATES:
Education, Schools and Community Ed WebsitesSenior Center ActivitiesSENIOR NEWS
Long Prairie Senior Center - 320 732-2282 Manager: Jodi Dixon Email: lpseniorcenter@gmail.com
See calendar below 
CHURCH NEWS
FAITHNOTES
May 2022 The Newsletter for Communities of Faith/Peace United Parish, United Methodist Clarissa - Clotho - Eagle Bend – Long Prairie 
Announcements
PLAN FOR THE YEAR- Save the 2022 Good Morning Networking Breakfast dates (see attached document)NEXT: May 26, 2022 will be our next Good Morning Long Prairie Networking Breakfast.
Host: & Non-profit of Choice: Great River Regional Library in Long Prairie **Please join us at 7:30 for networking and at 8am for introductions. 
Upcoming Chamber & Community Events
ACTIVITIES & EVENTS MAY
POSTPONED POSTPONED POSTPONED
“Rural Resiliency & the Opioid Crisis in Rural America” - May 17 at 6:00 PM for Social Hour followed at 6:30 - 7:30 PM - FREE MEAL: delicious chicken & ham buffet. The Todd County Farm Bureau along with the Minnesota Farm Bureau would like to invite you to an educational & networking dinner to have conversations on the topic of “Rural Resiliency & the Opioid Crisis in Rural America”. During this event we hope to share resources and have real open and raw discussion on this mental health and opioid addictions in our rural/farming communities. This is a dinner event will be held on May 17 at 6:00 PM for Social Hour followed at 6:30 - 7:30 PM for a delicious chicken & ham buffet. The event will be held at the Clarissa Ballroom, Clarissa, MN. You must RSVP to Debra Durheim at (320) 766-8113 for meal counts. If you are unable to attend, please share with someone who may want to attend! This event is being sponsored by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation and the Todd County Farm Bureau. 
5th Annual Todd County Museum's Plant & Book Sale.
- @ the museum - Friday, May 27 from 8:30am - 4pm JUNE
OPEN MIC with Clif Cline
TUNE IN to KEYL/KXDL June 3, 2022 at 8:30 for Open Mic with Clif and Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst, director of the Long Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce. * every 1st Friday of the month 
Long Prairie Country Club upcoming 2022 events
(contact the club for more information and registration): 6/10/22 – Jodi’s Network of Hope 6/26 22 – 2 Person Stableford 7/9/22 – Chaplaincy Tournament 7/17/2022 – 2 Person Scramble (Cash pay out) 7/19/22 – CentraCare Health Tournament 8/5/22 – Save the Lake Tournament 8/7/22 – 3 Person Scramble (Cash pay out) 8/13/22 – Long Prairie Country Club Big Cup Scramble 8/19/22 – Long Prairie Packing Plant Tournament 8/20/22 & 8/21/22 – Club Championship 
JULY
The 25th Annual CentraCare – Long Prairie Golf Scramble - July 19, 2022 Get registered TODAY! Check out all the details online here: Long Prairie Golf Scramble | CentraCare, Central Minnesota To learn more about this event, contact Nicole Bjerke at BjerkeN@CentraCare.com or 320-732-7337. Registration is also available online here.
BUSINESS RESOURCES
Todd County Development Corporation - Business Resources during COVID 19 – Please do not hesitate to contact Rick Utech, Executive Director of Todd County Development Corporation, if you have any questions about business assistance during these difficult times. Todd County Development Corporation Small Business Development Center (SBDC) 320-732-2128 / rick.utech@co.todd.mn.us HEALTH INFORMATION
CENTRACARE UPDATE- click here
TODD COUNTY COUNTY UPDATES- click here
COMMUNITY FOOD & MEAL RESOURCES
Vaccine Information/Scheduling:
- Todd County Health & Human Services: Schedule an appointment - Coborn's Pharmacy is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Interested in receiving a first dose of a COVID vaccine visit www.Coborns.com/covid19 to schedule your appointment. Please note: Appointments are on a first come first serve basis and will be made based on eligibility and times available - CentraCare- Long Prairie: Call today to book an appointment – 320-200-3200 or you can conveniently book online via this link for COVID Vaccination Appointment Scheduling https://www.centracare.com/online.../covid-19-vaccination/ You do not have to be an existing CentraCare patient to be eligible **You must be 18 and older to receive the Moderna vaccine. COVID Testing Sites
CentraCare Long Prairie https://covid19.centracare.com/what-is-covid-19-/covid-19-testing/ Coborn's Pharmacy in Long Prairie: Free, contactless, drive-thru COVID testing now available at between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. by appointment only through November 30, 2020: https://www.coborns.com/pharmacy Other Testing sites in MN https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/testing-locations/index.jsp Do I need a COVID test? https://doineedacovid19test.com/ Welcome New 2022 Chamber Members!
Cans R Us (May) Nelson Sanitation (April) Eagle Bend & Clarissa United Methodist Churches (Feb) TruBlue of Central Minnesota - owner Justin Williams (Jan) Rohdes Midway Gas, Bar & Grill (Jan) Iten Funeral Home - owner Julie Stern (Jan) Northern Star Cooperative (January) 
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Community GardenWant More Information on Community Gardens? Call the Chamber of Commerce 320 732-2514 Follow this link for photos and more information about the Community Gardens.
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Click on the Made in Minnesota photo to learn more about products and suppliers who are right here in Minnesota!
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