Page 10 PIERCE COUNTY JOURNAL February 15, 2023

PRESCOTT Area News continued...

SV crash needed him. Masen was full of life and full
of love. He is cherished and missed by his
family and friends.”
from Page 1 Hillstead also described Powell as a pure
and natural athlete. She said he played bas-
has been organized for two passengers who
ketball and ran track his sophomore year for
rode in the backseat, Ryan and Alex So-
Spring Valley and played football and basket-
browsky of Somerset. Organizer and family
ball for Boyceville his freshman year.
friend Mike Kappers said both boys wore
In 2021, Powell, along with track team-
seatbelts, but sustained serious injuries. He
mates Colin Anderson, Nate Fesenmaier and
also said that the vehicle caught air, lost con-
Justin Rielly broke the Spring Valley High
trol and rolled.
School record for the 4x200 meter relay,
“Alex and the front seat passenger were in
which had stood for 40 years, with a time of
critical condition and both were airlifted to
1:35.4. According to the Sun-Argus, Powell
Regions Hospital in St. Paul,” Kappers said.
and his teammates broke that record three
“The driver and Ryan Sabrowksy were trans-
more times that year, with their best time be-
ported by ambulance to the Amery Hospital,
ing at the state meet.
and later transported by ambulance to Re-
Powell did not participate in sports this
gions Hospital as well.”
year, Hillstead said, after breaking his back
Kappers said Ryan Sabrowksy should
in a car crash in August in which he was a
make a full recovery but broke an arm and
passenger.
fractured his back and pelvis. He also said
Alex Sabrowksy has had several surgeries
School response
plus severe internal injuries and a shattered
Groh sent out a letter to SVSD families
pelvis. According to Kappers, he’s in critical
The Silver Ford Fusion on the left was driven by 95-year-old Cottage Grove resident Julia Ann Sunday, Feb. 12, to inform them of Powell’s
but stable condition.
Bild and the Silver Audi Q5 was driven by Charles Tentinger, age 66 of Prescott, along with his death and to provide reassurance that resourc-
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office news
wife, Carol, age 64 and another passenger, Tanya Mott, age 32 of Lakeville, Minn. as passen- es would be available for students grieving.
gers. Bild and Mott died at the scene and the Tentingers were taken to Regions Hospital where release said the occupants in the southbound
“The support that other districts have pro-
they were both listed in stable condition Sunday night. Photo by Bruce Karnick vehicles had minor to moderate injuries.
vided has been amazing,” Groh said Sunday
The crash remains under investigation by
night. “Our staff is preparing to help our stu-
the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin
dents. Masen had lots of connections in the
State Patrol, and the Polk County Medical
community, with his family in the commu-
examiner. Allied Fire and First responders,
nity, between our students. We know that he
New Richmond EMS, Northwestern Munici-
was loved by a lot of people.”
pal EMS, Life Link III air ambulance, Lakes
In the letter, Groh said, “Small towns are
Region EMS, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the
special for many reasons. The most obvious
Polk County Medical examiner all assisted
is that people know each other. In times like
Polk County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.
these, connections are vital.”
Powell, who attended Spring Valley High
SVSD brought in additional counselors
School until this fall and was enrolled in vir-
from Ellsworth Community School District
tual school, was a senior, said Spring Valley
to ensure students and staff received support.
Superintendent John Groh.
Counseling staff was also available to fami-
According to Hillstead, he was a young
lies 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
man full of energy and adventure.
“I’ve been in contact with both parents
“He was funny and witty, and always
and they are aware of what we are doing to
loved a good joke,” she said. “He carried an
support students,” Groh said. “Just love your
infectious smile and loved to see others laugh
kids … love your kids, that’s about all I can
and smile too.”
say right now.”
She said he was “so loved” by his many
A visitation will be held from noon to 4
older siblings. Masen is the son of Ron Pow-
p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 at Emmaus Church
ell and Sandy Vanderpoel.
(S200 Sabin Ave., Spring Valley). The funer-
“He loved being a brother, a son, and an
al service will follow the visitation.
uncle,” Hillstead said. “Being fun and charis-
People can donate to Powell’s family to
matic, the kids loved their uncle just as much.
help with funeral costs at https://gofund.
Masen was kind, always there for those that
me/5fc2dc7c

Prescott The State Patrol report

noted alcohol was found in
the system of at least one
p.m. A Gofundme has been
set up for Allen’s end of life
expenses at http://gofund.
Traffic was backed up Sunday morning on northbound Highway 61 from Jamaica Avenue due
to a wrong way driver causing a head on collision before the 80th street exit. Photo by Bruce
Karnick
crash passenger, but has not been
deemed a cause of the crash.
The investigation is ongoing.
me/4ae59ae
A fund has also been set
up to help cover Hartman’s
from Page 1 Nelson’s grandfather, medical expenses at https://

Two die in head-on lighting up the sky with fire-

works always brought the
biggest smile to his face.”
Chuck Nelson, told a local
TV station that Ayden strug-
gled with alcohol and he was
gofund.me/48fd9333

School response

crash in Cottage Grove
Couple from Prescott injured
By Bruce Karnick
COTTAGE GROVE, Minn. – Two wom-
en died as the result of a second fatal crash
over the weekend, this time on US Highway
61 in Cottage Grove, Minn.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol,
the crash occurred around 8:15 a.m. Sunday,
Feb. 12 when Julia Ann Bild, age 95, Cottage
Grove, made a wrong turn onto Highway 61
at 80th Street, where she collided head-on
with an Audi Q5 driven by Charles Tentinger,
66, Prescott. Bild was driving a silver 2010
Ford Fusion, which was captured on the Mn-
DOT camera driving southbound in the left
northbound lane. Shortly after Bild passed
the camera, an SUV can be seen pulling over
and backing up to assist the motorists after
the crash. The camera then shifts to the scene
a few minutes later when emergency crews
were on the scene.
Tentinger had two passengers: wife Carol
Tentinger, 64, Prescott, and Tanya Ann Mott,
32, Lakeville, Minn. Officials pronounced
Bild and Mott dead at the scene. EMS trans-
ported the Tentingers to Regions Hospi-
tal with undisclosed injuries. As of Sunday
night, Charles was in serious condition and
Carol was in critical, but stable condition, ac-
cording to a spokesman at Regions Hospital.
MN State Patrol and Cottage Grove Emer-
gency Services were on the scene of the ac-
cident until around noon reconstructing and
cleaning up the scene with the assistance of
a tow company. Traffic was diverted onto the
inner shoulder during the majority of the time
that crews were on scene.
According to the report, the roadway was
dry at the time of the accident, alcohol was
not considered to be a factor in the crash and
all four people were wearing their seat belts.
Allen enjoyed playing
basketball, Pokemon and Mi-
necraft and listening to mu-
sic, especially the Deftones
and RKS.
Nelson is the son of Jen
Kabat and Nicholas Nelson.
According to his obituary, he
loved his siblings, pets, play-
ing with fire and the Army.
He attended Ellsworth Com-
munity School District where
he played football and in the
band; he later transferred to
Prescott.
“No matter the situation
or event, Ayden had a high
toleration for pain and adren-
aline, often times leading
him to push himself to the
edge,” the obituary reads.
He loved going to the
family cabin in Comstock,
four-wheeling, snowmobil-
ing, playing video games
and spending time with his
friends.
working on getting him help.
He asked that people make
good choices, including not
drinking or driving.
Nelson’s mother, Jennifer
Kabat, also told the TV sta-
tion that Ayden had his strug-
gles, but didn’t know how
much people loved him.
A celebration of Nelson’s
life will be held at 11 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 18 at Stark-
son Family Life Celebration
Chapel in Hastings. People
are asked to dress casually,
in memory of Nelson. A vis-
itation will be held 4-7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 17 in the same
location. People can donate
to Nelson’s family to help
cover end of life expenses at
https://gofund,me/52331ccc
A celebration of Allen’s
life will be held at 3 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 16 at Ptacek’s
Old Event Center (1449 Or-
rin Road, Prescott). A visi-
tation will follow from 4-7
“This truly is a tragic day
for our community, staff,
students and obviously, the
families involved,” Prescott
Superintendent Dr. Rick
Spicuzza said Saturday.
School and community
counselors, psychologists
and other support staff were
available at 1 p.m. Saturday
to meet with students and
staff. Additional support was
planned for Monday and
throughout the week.
“Open communication
between parents and children
is very important,” Spicuzza
wrote in a letter to parents.
“Listen, give reassurance,
and try to understand your
child’s feelings. If you think
your child is having a partic-
ularly difficult time dealing
with this situation, please
contact the school and we
will provide additional assis-
tance as needed.”

Whaley was always there to lend a helping hand in Prescott

By John McLoone
PRESCOTT – Prescott
needed something done,
Doug Whaley answered the
call.
As public works fore-
man for the City of Prescott,
his job and dedication to it
touched citizens, commu-
nity leaders and organiza-
tions. Whaley, 49, of Hager
City, was heading toward
Prescott to salt icy roads
Feb. 6 when he came upon a
woman whose car was in the
ditch on Highway 35 in Oak
Grove Township. She also
had a three-week-old infant
in the vehicle.
As he’d do, Whaley
stopped to help. A box truck
northbound on Highway 35
struck Whaley’s truck. He
died at Regions Hospital
from injuries suffered in the
accident.
The Prescott City Coun-
cil at a somber start to its
meeting Monday, Feb. 13
passed a resolution honoring
Whaley and will dedicate a
bench in his honor along the
Douglas Whaley
renovated river front.
The city issued a state-
ment the day after the tragic
crash.
“We as a city and es-
pecially our public works
department will be dealing
with Doug’s loss for a long
time to come. However,
more than anything we want
to thank Doug for his great
work ethic, outstanding
teamwork, and most impor-
tantly the friendship he pro-
vided to so many of us over
the years he was here.”
Mayor Rob Daugherty
said Whaley was always
there to lend a hand.
“He was an excellent em-
ployee. He was so dedicated
to his job and the communi-
ty,” he said. “He was very
skilled. He was able to do
multiple things. He was a
very valuable employee.
He was an asset to the city.
We’ll miss him very much.”
Daugherty said Whaley
could always be relied on.
“He was on his way into
Prescott to salt and stand.
He stopped to help some-
one, because that’s exactly
what he’d do. Out of the
goodness of his heart, he
stopped to give aid. It’s a
shame how that happened,”
said Daugherty.
Whaley’s memory will
also live on in the expand-
ed Magee Park, where the
trailhead of the new Cou-
lee River Trail system will
be located. Volunteers were
working to clear brush and
trees. Whaley got the call.
“He stepped in and
helped cut all the trails,”
said Daugherty. “He’s going
to be missed tremendously.
It’s a big shock anytime you
lose a city employee that
you knew and was well-re-
spected in town. It was a
very big shock.”
Daugherty ordered flags
of the city flown at half-staff
in Whaley’s memory from
Feb. 14-18.
A celebration of life for
Whaley was held Saturday,
Feb. 11 at The Bluffs in Hag-
er City, where people were
encouraged to wear Detroit
Lions gear in memory of the
Michigan native.
Whaley is survived by his
wife Celina and four chil-
dren, Tanner, Ethan, Tiana
and Courtney.
The proclamation read
into the official city record
in Whaley’s memory reads
as follows:
IN HONOR AND RE-
MEMBERANCE OF
PUBLIC WORKS FORE-
MAN DOUGLAS A.
WHALEY
THE CITY OF
PRESCOTT is greatly sad-
dened by the loss of Doug
Whaley our Public Works the years; and
Foreman who has served the WHEREAS, the City of
City of Prescott since June Prescott offers its prayers
18, 2018; and and condolences to his fami-
WHEREAS, Public ly, friends, the Public Works
Works Foreman Doug Wha- Department, and the com-
ley upon getting a call to munity.
serve the citizens of Prescott NOW THEREFORE, I,
to salt and sand the roads un- ROBERT DAUGHERTY,
der icy conditions, stopped Mayor of the City of Prescott
to help a vehicle stuck in do hereby proclaim that all
the ditch and was tragically flags of the City of Prescott
killed in a car accident; and shall be flown at half-staff
WHEREAS, the City February 14 through the 17
of Prescott will remember to honor the memory and
Doug Whaley for his great service of Douglas A. Wha-
work ethic, outstanding ley and a bench plaque be
teamwork, and most impor- dedicated to his memory
tantly the friendship he pro- along the riverfront.
vided to so many of us over
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