In Thursday’s Leader: Never too old to hunt deer, H1N1 vaccine being shared, fighting the emerald ash borer

Here’s a preview of stories found in the print edition of the Thursday, Nov. 5 Leader:

• At 92, Leonard Erickson is heading north for another deer opener. When asked about his age, he likes to say, “It’s not how old you are. It’s how you are old.”

• Hutchinson Medical Center, selected by the Minnesota Department of Health to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine, will share its supply with area health care providers. According to McLeod County Public Health, the goal is to ensure area high-risk patients have access to the vaccine.

• The McLeod County Board Tuesday gave Hutchinson city forester Mark Schnobrich the go-ahead to help the county’s nine municipalities fight back against emerald ash borer.

• With a new leader at the helm, the local American Red Cross office is gearing up to attract new volunteers. Judy Beatty moved back to Hutchinson in August to take the position of Hutchinson Branch Office administrator after 20 years away.

• Northern Flickers are instrumental in providing nesting sites for other birds, squirrels, owls and weasels through the abandonment of their nesting holes. Bird columnist Jan Bergstrom has more on the Outdoors page.

• In Sports: The Tigers football team will take on Mankato West Friday. And the Tigers volleyball team, following Monday’s come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Watertown-Mayer, will attempt to clinch the school’s first section title this weekend.

• This weekend features the Historic Hutchinson Quilt Auction, museum events, a theater production and the upcoming Hutchinson High School Band Concert. Staff writer Kay Johnson has more about the play in Extra!

(Doug Hanneman is editor of the Hutchinson Leader. He may be reached at hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com)