At first glance, the year 2009 in the Staples area may have seemed a quiet one, without major earthshaking stories. But hold on a minute, ....

There were some major developments. We lost some good people, as we do every year. This year one man’s loss is still being felt daily as a family - along with a concerned community - searched in vain for their loved one.

We survived a major wave of the new flu epidemic. Perhaps it was the last time, perhaps just the first of two or three waves of H1N1 flu. We won’t know for a while.

Many events took place in and around Staples in 2009. Life changed dramatically for some people, and that is what usually makes news.

What were the top ten stories of the year. Everyone can have their own ideas for the year’s major stories. Here are ten for starters:

1. Peter Achermann

disappearance

Life for one area family changed overnight July 24 when 82-year-old Peter Achermann, a 50-year plus resident of the Leader area, failed to return home from a trip to Motley and Staples in preparation for a granddaughter’s wedding. His horrified family’s emotions turned from joy to grief in minutes upon learning his car was found on a desolate stretch of road, but no sign of him.

That is the finding still today, five months and many, many search efforts later. Other than his car, not a single shred of evidence has turned up anywhere to give a clue to his whereabouts or what happened to the genial Swiss immigrant who carved a living out of the fields and woods of central Minnesota.

Family members, community volunteers and professional searchers, sheriff’s deputies, a National Guard unit plus many others have combed the woods and other areas where he might have either wandered or been left. Foul play, which initially was not considered very likely, has become more plausible as other possibilities and as time goes by.

A gigantic benefit event was held at the Bear’s Den in Leader in October, with some of the funds raised at that benefit now part of a $10,000 reward being offered for information about what happened to Peter. But for now, a family just waits.

2. H1N1 flu

Just as much of the United States experienced, the Staples area and Minne- sota had a major wave of H1N1 (Swine flu) pass through the area in late September and October, causing major absences from local school classes and some other businesses. This flu epidemic caused much more concern that the normal seasonal flu due to its potential seriousness and the lack of a vaccine.

Those who suffered through a spell of H1N1 may disagree, but the flu turned out to not be as deadly as once thought. It has claimed over 50 lives in Minnesota this fall, but that is a figure significantly smaller than once anticipated.

The H1N1 flu came as roughly the same time as seasonal flu also threatened, with some confusion concerning needing a separate vaccine for each of the two flu varieties.

3. City hall/Library construction

Staples residents have been watching through the summer as the construction of a new city hall got underway on the block that is bordered by Sixth Street and Second Avenue, with new Highway 10 on the south. The building, which will house both city offices and an expanded Great River Regional Library, was in the planning for several years. The city council gave a final approval of plans in March. Construction, which was aided by a $420,000 library grant from the state department of education, got started in mid-May with a ground breaking ceremony held May 28. Work by numerous contractors under the supervision of Northway Construction Services, the project manager, continued ahead of schedule through most of the year. City official expect to be moving in the last two weeks of January. A grand opening event is planned for Feb. 25, 26 and 27.

4. Flooding, heavy rains

Some local residents found just a little too much water on their hands (and property) this spring and summer as the Crow Wing River overflowed it’s banks in late March and the first few days of April. Low lying homes from Nimrod to Pillager along the river were threatened, with a few families forced to leave their homes for safety. Many homeowners sandbagged their homes to keep the rising water out, with a few losing the battle.

The homeowners were helped out by county Emergency Preparedness offices with sand and sandbags, but mostly by hundreds of friends and neighbors who turned out to shovel sand and haul bags.

As summer came, fears of a dry year were quickly drowned out by one rainfall after another. The heaviest came July 14 when about four inches were dumped on and around the city in a few hours on a Tuesday afternoon. A number of homes and residences had flooded basements, most in the area of Fifth Street near the city water tower.

5. Ernie’s Food store

Work on one of the largest private construction projects in recent memory got underway in early September when work began on the new Ernie’s Food Market building along new Highway 10 between 12th and 14th Streets N.E. The project at this location had been in the planning stages for over a year. Prior to that other plans had included a major renovation of the existing Ernie’s store, plans that ended when the city was unwilling to close Fifth Street to allow it to happen.

Instead the new location will house a 30,000 square foot building that includes groceries, meat and produce departments plus a deli section. Plans include a gas pump island and convenience store, with space also allocated for a tobacco shop and liquor store.

Possible rental spaces could house a bank office, pharmacy or other type of retail operation.

Plans call for the new store to be open by May 1. Hammers Construction of Perham is the general contractor.

6 & 7. Two major road projects

Planning for two major road projects, the Highway 10 Turnback and the North South Corridor and Overpass, one to be done in 2010, the other perhaps three years later, have consumed many hours of local government officials’ time in 2009.

The old Highway 10 turnback has been the subject of a May 7 public hearing and will be the topic for a third and final public hearing on Jan. 6, 2010. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is paying a substantial portion of the road work portion of the project, prior to turning the former state highway over to the city. The city of Staples will be picking up the tab for much of the underground water and sewer work. Todd County is also participating as portions of the road are or will be county roads.

When finished, Second Avenue in Staples will have a new look from the east end near the Dairy Queen and SuperAmerica to the west end near the Spot Cafe and Staples NAPA. Also included will be the south two blocks (downtown business area) of Fourth Street.

Plans currently include some amenities in the downtown area, with tree plantings and decorative lighting fixtures most likely. Also possibilities are bike racks, planters and decorative or stamped concrete.

The second major project on the drawing board is the North South Corridor roadway which includes a bridge over the Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad tracks and four lanes of Highway 10. This would provide a single road from the south to the north side of town without stoplights or obstacles to traffic flow.

The overpass project was the subject of an environmental assessment public hearing in late April. It was also a major concern for local officials during the 2009 state Legislature, where a bill sponsored by State Sen. Dan Skogen, worked its way through the legislative process. This bill included some additional state funding for a project that probably won’t happen until 2012 or later, depending on when full funding is achieved.

8. Historic Northern Pacific depot

A major repair and renovation project for the 1910 Staples Railroad depot took place in 2009, with a complete new roof and other work completed. This was possibly the most major work done on the depot since 1949, when another roof repair project was done.

When finished late this year, the roof had many major support beams replaced and new asphalt shingles installed. Soffit and fascia boards that were rotting or in poor shape were replaced and paint believed to be similar in color to the original depot paint was applied. Rain gutters and down spouts were the last of the project.

9. Dower Lake pier dedication

A full day celebration was held June 6 to dedicate the new Dower Lake pier, dedicated to the memory of the late Sen. Dallas Sams, who was instrumental in securing state funding for the project. His family members were present to take part, along with local and state officials who also had a part.

The new 600 foot long pier was constructed in the summer of 2008, and was completed late that fall. It is believed to be the longest fishing pier in Minnesota. Since completion, the new pier has been a busy place for fishermen, sight seers and anyone who just wants to go for a walk.

10. Food Shelf move

For the first time in more than 25 years, the Staples Area Food Shelf is not located in the Staples Government Center. Due to the pending closure of the government center building early in 2010, the food shelf began looking for new quarters this past year.

Constructing a new building was considered, but when the Staples Host Lions and Food Shelf board members put their heads together, they came up with renting space at the Staples Lions building (formerly Masonic Hall).

The Lions (and other groups) can continue to have their meetings in the north end of the building, while the Food Shelf has the south end, which was used by the Masons and the Lions for their respective meetings and other functions.

Plans for the move were firmed up in late summer, with some remodeling done by Lions members in September and October. Walls were built and storage shelves installed in a project supervised by Lion Don Dravis and a dedicated but small group of Lions. The Food Shelf was up and operating in their new quarters in December.

11. Many others

Many other possibilities could be included here, especially school and city elections, the oil pipeline leak in early December, two stops here (in July and October) of a steam locomotive on an excursion trip from the West Coast to Michigan; the total replacement of the Highway 210 crossing in Staples, which came none to early for many local folks.

And many others.