By Tina Snell, Staff Writer

tina.snell@mcrecord.com

Lisa Kicker has been sewing since she can remember. She began at her mother’s knee when she was about 6 years old, taking scraps of material and making clothes for her Barbie dolls.

“My mother told me I needed to learn how to sew because someday it will feed me,” she said.

Today, she has opened L’A Rose Creations at 75 East Broadway Avenue in Little Falls where she is already busy doing alterations, repairs and sewing dresses and gowns for those special occasions.

Lisa Kicker has opened L’A Rose Creations on Broadway Avenue in Little Falls, an alterations and sewing shop. She is pictured with a flower girl’s dress she created and a gown she is altering.

“I create dresses for children and gowns for prom, bridesmaids and flower girls,” said Kicker. “I will put in zippers, take in and let out any piece of clothing. There isn’t any piece of clothing I can’t fix. If it’s been created, it can be altered or repaired.”

Kicker said that it is a throwaway society, but there are still many people who don’t want to pitch that $150 coat when it needs a zipper.

“Zippers are time consuming, but I have done so many, it’s easy for me,” she said.

While her mother was a huge influence and she took home economics in school, it wasn’t until she was about 24 years old that she got serious about learning the trade.

L’A Rose Creations is full of trimmings, buttons, threads, fabrics, beads and more. She has five machines for hemming jeans, regular alterations, a serger for hemming pants and putting in seams on gowns and one that is more decorative than useful.

“So far, business has been good,” Kicker said. “I have been adding patches and doing alterations to military uniforms. I’ve also had a lot of summer clothing to alter.”

Kicker began her professional career in sewing at Arlene’s Bridal in Brainerd. She then moved to Bemidji and worked at Formality’s Bridal. Her next job was in Black Duck at Anderson Fabrics’ retail store where she sewed bedding, drapes, valances and quilted. She also did custom creations for her customers.

From there, Kicker went to the Woolen Mills in Fari-bault. There she learned to sew blankets and add binding with industrial machines. She also worked with embroidery  and whippet machines plus learned to repair antique blankets by reweaving.

Kicker still does work for Arlene’s. She also works with Celebrations Bridal in Little Falls, doing alterations on wedding and bridesmaid dresses.

For more information, contact Kicker at (320) 632-1079.

By Tina Snell, Staff Writer

tina.snell@mcrecord.com

Shantel and Jennifer Koering, Fort Ripley, 18-year-old twins, are taking classes at Central Lakes College (CLC) in Brainerd. Jennifer, a four-year assistant dairy ambassador, is taking welding courses but is hoping for a future as an automotive and diesel technician.

Shantel, a Crow Wing County senior dairy princess for two years, a dairy ambassador for two years and an officer with FFA, is also taking work study in welding, but her major is working toward a degree in agriculture instruction.

Jennifer Koering, left, and her twin sister Shantel are attending Central Lakes College in Brainerd for welding and teaching, respectively.

“Our father welds aluminum molds for rotational plastics companies,” said Jennifer. “The family also races cars on ice and as the eldest of four girls, I have grown up with taking apart cars. Both of the fields come easy for me.”

Jennifer said that welding is an art form. It is forming one piece of metal from two or more separate pieces.

“People think it’s easy, but it isn’t,” she said. “It’s very technical and not many people know how to do it flawlessly. It’s also a male-dominated field that I’m breaking into.”

Shantel said that during World War II, women became welders for the war effort, only because there was a shortage of men. But before that time, and after, there have been very few women in the field.

“I had an uncle who would kiddingly tell us that girls can’t do this or that,” said Jennifer. “It pushed us to get more involved with all sorts of male-dominated fields.”

Jennifer said that her welding teacher, Mike Reeser, told her that girls have smaller and steadier hands, making them better candidates for the welding industry. He also told her that girls pay better attention in class.

Shantel, who has learned welding through Jennifer, is working toward an education degree in agriculture.

“I have always been shy. It was the American Dairy Association (ADA) that got me to come out of my shell,” said Shantel. “My first year as a dairy ambassador, I was required to talk to groups. I had to leave my comfort zone. In my second year as an ambassador, my speaking improved considerably.”

During the following year, Shantel became a Crow Wing County dairy princess and had to speak even more.

“But, I was talking about the dairy business and farming, something I love,” she said.

The Koering family, while not living on a working farm themselves, live next door to their grandfather Leonard Koering’s organic farm. The children have always helped him with his animals and other work.

“And, our family has been involved in FFA for three generations,” said Shantel. “We bleed FFA.”

She said her knowledge of farming had tunnel vision when she first joined the Brainerd chapter. All she knew was her grandfather’s farm and the animals she had on her parents’ place.

“I learned so much more through the ADA and FFA,” Shantel said. “Then, as a senior, I became very excited about agriculture and loved to talk about it.”

Up to that point, Shantel had always wanted to be a large-animal vet. But, she was becoming aware of how much she loved to teach others about agriculture. Her career choice then changed to becoming an ag instructor.

“As a teacher, I could reach more people, speak face-to-face with my students and get my point across. Much better than my other choice: ag communications,” she said. “I will be able to tell if I made a connection.”

Jennifer will be running for FFA state office in April 2013. If she is not elected, she will attend school in Chicago, Ill., to become an automotive and diesel technician.

Sharon Ballou

Sharon Ballou will seek election to the seat of the Morrison County Commissioner of District 1, which includes the townships of Rosing, Cushing, Green Prairie, Motley, Scandia Valley and Darling Township plus the cities of Randall, Motley and Ward 3 in Little Falls.

Ballou, who resides in Darling Township, is currently the vice chair of the Little Falls School Board and is involved on the Region Five Development Board, Camp Ripley Citizen Advisory Board, Mid-State Education District Board, the Community Services Advisory board in Little Falls and is treasurer of the Randall VFW Auxiliary #9073. Ballou has years of involvement with community groups including past board member of Morrison County Agricultural?County Fair Board and the Initiative Foundation.

Ballou has lived in Morrison County for more than 55 years and attended school in both Randall and Little Falls, and took college classes in St. Cloud and Brainerd. She and her husband, Duane, have raised four children and have 10 grandchildren.

“I wanted to apply for this job, and when I am hired by the residents of District 1 it will be my only job,” said Ballou. “I plan to remain in this county the rest of my life and it is my desire to continue to assist with building a better future for our county.”

Junior Dustin Herold shot a 43 in Tuesday’s meet at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (HLWW) to secure a second-place season finish and spot on the All-Central Minnesota Conference team.

Senior Kyle Fuhrman followed one stroke back of Herold at 44 as the Pioneers finished fourth at the meet and on the season in the conference.

Rounding out Pierz’ lineup were freshman Ethan Lochner (46), senior Michael Meyer (47) and sophomores Evan Woitalla (48) and Matt Athman (57).

Pierz plays at Mora, Wednesday.

HLWW CMC boys golf meet

Team (season score)—1. Rockford Area, 172 (1,235); 1. Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, 172 (1,246); 3. Osakis, 174 (1,228); 4. Pierz, 180 (1,291); 5. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, 181 (1,397); 6. Maple Lake, 185 (1,340); 7. Kimball Area/Eden Valley-Watkins, 187 (1,306).

Medalist—Tommy Wuertz, Kimball Area/Eden Valley-Watkins, 40.

Pierz—Dustin Herold, 43; Kyle Fuhrman, 44; Ethan Lochner, 46; Michael Meyer, 47; Evan Woitalla, 48; Matt Athman, 57.