Latest news with #Haen
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Yahoo
Couple finds love at Aldi in Willmar, Minnesota
Jul. 21---- Aldi grocery stores are well-known for their low-priced groceries from private label brands, as well as their infamous "aisle of shame" — an aisle in the middle of the store where people find treasures they never knew they needed. But one local couple found one of the most important treasures at the Aldi in Willmar — love. It all began when Mark Haen decided he needed to do some grocery shopping and invited his granddaughter, Charlotte Kaufenberg, to go with him to Aldi. They went into the store, paid their quarter for a cart and walked into the produce aisle, where Haen accidentally banged into a cart being pushed by Julie Quackenbusch. Haen recalled looking at his granddaughter and saying, "That girl is cute." Quackenbusch commented, "You think in a store this big, we'd have enough room for both our carts," according to Haen's recollection. As Haen and his granddaughter continued to shop, he kept spotting Quackenbusch as they made their way through the aisles and they ended up checking out at the same time. Coincidentally, as they all made their way to the parking lot, their cars were parked right next to each other. As Haen tells it, Kaufenberg said to him, "There's that girl again," at which time Quackenbusch told Haen that she knew who he was through his music. "Now that got me interested, to have someone interested in me," Haen said during an interview with the West Central Tribune. "Because I was not — I don't do well alone, you know. I had been living alone for, I don't know, a year and a half at that time or something." Haen's wife of 47 years, Kathy, died in December of 2022 of lung cancer, leaving him alone to operate and manage Curiosity Cabin and the Airbnb vacation rental that he owns on Diamond Lake northwest of Haen did all he could to keep Quackenbusch talking to him in the Aldi parking lot, learning that she lived in and they had a mutual friend. Haen and his wife had lived in for years before moving to Diamond Lake. The two also found out they both liked to cook. "We talked for quite a while, because I didn't even want to let go of the conversation," Haen commented. "I just would keep talking, because I was so interested in her and she was standing right next to me, smiling." When the conversation eventually came to an end, Quackenbusch left without sharing her contact information. However, Haen found her number and called her up to ask her out. Unfortunately, the day he suggested was and she already had plans to be at her parents' home watching the parade. Haen decided that was not going to stop him. "I had a sports car, the MG, so I thought, 'I'll just get in the parade and see if I can find her,'" he said. He had not registered for the parade beforehand and drove up to the check-in table and asked if he could be part of the parade. The parade officials knew who he was and allowed him to sneak into the parade with other unique cars. "So now all of a sudden, I'm in this parade," Haen said, noting he scanned the crowds of people for Quackenbusch, waving to all his friends that he did know who were lining the parade route, but he did not know where her parents lived and never did spot her. Unknown to Haen at the time, Quackenbusch did see him in the parade, but decided not to make a big deal about it. When she learned that he had entered the parade for the sole purpose of seeing her, her response was, "Huh. It is a cute car," according to Haen. "It just was another crazy thing I did," Haen commented. Haen didn't give up and he and Quackenbusch finally connected and started to date. They learned they had different hobbies — she had her dogs and he had his guitars — which each came to embrace. They started introducing each other to their families — each of them have one adult son and one adult daughter and grandchildren — and spent the weekends with each other, hauling Quackenbusch's dogs, clothing and other necessities to Haen's home each time. Haen eventually suggested she move in with him at Diamond Lake and they both thought it was a good idea, but they should be married first. The couple were married in a small ceremony June 7 at the Saint Paul Hotel, with Haen's brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Terease Haen, serving as witnesses. "I think she's a really nice person and I think she really brought out one of the best parts of Grandpa," Kaufenberg told the West Central Tribune in an interview. "She's really good, because Grandpa was lonely." The happy couple will be celebrating their marriage with friends, family and anyone else who cares to join them on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, during this year's Curiosity Cabin Music Fest, located at 14991 49th Ave. N.E. in rural Atwater. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Port of Green Bay announces end of year tonnage totals from 2024, slight drop-off
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – As the shipping season for 2024 ends at the Port of Green Bay, officials have revealed the year-end totals of tonnage cargo, which experienced a slight decrease. According to the release, the Port of Green Bay handled a total of 1,696,097 tons of cargo this past season, a decrease of about 6% from the prior season which saw 1,813,996 tons. Wisconsin meat shop expands Voluntary Class II recall, includes 6 additional products While the Port of Green Bay saw 10 additional cargo carriers this year compared to the previous (181 to 171), shipments of multiple products decreased. Limestone, salt and petroleum shipments decreased, however cement and coal transports increased. The decrease in salt and overall decreases could be due to varying factors, including a strike and the mild winter 'Great Lakes ports experienced a brief pause during this season due to a strike, while last season's mild winter created lower demand for salt during 2024,' Director Dean Haen said. Cement totals increased 21% as liquid asphalt went up 10%, which indicates strong construction work in the area. While it may have been a decrease, officials are still pleased with their season overall, and how it ended. Special Report: Behind the stories we uncovered for Black History Month 'Despite being slightly down in tonnage this year, it was a good year for shipping, and we're pleased with how the season ended,' Haen said. 'We're proud, along with our private sector partners, to be critical link in a resilient supply chain that supports the regional and national economies.' For more information on historical and recent tonnage totals, visit this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
