Boyd Huppert

90-year-old high school basketball coach not ready to leave game he loves Harold Mulhern has been coaching in Minnesota and Wisconsin for 69 years.

At age 90, Harold Mulhern is still coaching high school basketball. The assistant coach at Wisconsin's Osseo-Fairchild is completing his 69th season. One of his secrets: dating back to high school, Harold has never missed attending church on a game day. #land10kstories
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5-year-old with autism finds support community at neighborhood grocery store Daily visits to Fareway grocery store are Odin Casanova's favorite thing.

When Odin Casanova's autism becomes challenging for his mom, she has a go-to. “We're going to Fareway,” Taylor Casanova says. The Faribault grocery store is 5-year-old Odin's favorite place - with his favorite people. #land10kstories

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School custodian spends off days creating winter wonderland for students Mark Olson spends his entire Thanksgiving break lighting up the elementary school for kids in Kensington, Minnesota.

While kids in Kensington, MN go out for Thanksgiving, their school custodian spends his entire break (Thanksgiving too) lighting up their school. Mark Olson, who has no kids of his own, lives for his students. #land10kstories

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From humble start, Nathan Bentley built nation's largest free walk-through light display in Duluth The Bentleyville Tour of Lights draws 300,000 annual visitors to Duluth's lakefront.

From a modest display at his home, Nathan Bentley built Duluth's Bentleyville into the nation's largest free walk-through holiday light display. "It's gotten out of control," Nathan says. "In a good way." #land10kstories

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Millennial saves century-old high-tech: player pianos Nate Otto is Minnesota's only full-time player piano restorer.

A century ago, player pianos were the pinnacle of high tech. Now, a Minnesota millennial is working full-time to save them from landfills. "I just love the sound of a player piano," Nate Otto says. #land10kstories
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Thank you!

9-year-old girl offering free compliments is doing brisk business Millie Benjamin operates from a stand in her front yard.

When 9-year-old Millie Benjamin decided to open a compliment stand, her parents wondered what people would think. Then people started coming. Lots of them. "It's just who she is," Millie's dad says. #land10kstories

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Teens who met in hospital after emerging from comas are getting married Zach Zarembinski surprised Isabelle Richard with a ring at Regions Hospital, where both arrived by ambulance in 2018 with brain injuries.

Days apart, two teens arrived at Regions Hospital with brain injuries & in comas. 7 years later, Zach brought Isabelle back to the hospital to surprise her with an engagement ring.

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Minnesota senior joined gym to lose weight; now she's breaking records lifting it 65-year-old powerlifter Kathy Casper competes at the world championships in South Africa.

A 65-year-old Minnesota woman is competing internationally & breaking state powerlifting records. Kathy Casper started lifting six years ago after her last kid left for college.
"It's never too late," she says. #land10kstories
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Legacy continues for backyard batting cage that sent neighborhood to college on scholarships The batting cage in a Minnetonka backyard continues to produce baseball and softball standouts.

A Minnesota backyard batting cage keeps producing scholarship athletes. We first told you about the unlikely string of college-bound hitters from a Minnetonka neighborhood 12 years ago. It hasn’t stopped. #land10kstories

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At 15, he was the world's youngest artificial heart recipient. At 54, he's still pulling. Chris Larson competes in tractor pulls with the help of a community of supporters.

When 15-year-old Chris Larson became the world's youngest artificial heart recipient, doctors gave him a year to live. 38 years later, Chris - and his beloved Allis-Chalmers tractor - are still pulling. #land10kstories

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Still teaching fitness at 84, Minnesotan sets Guinness record “Alright,” Fred Woolman shouts into his headset as 50, mostly seniors, lift their arms in unison. “Pick 'em up, put 'em down!” he barks.

A Rochester fitness instructor now owns a Guinness World Record. Fred Woolman certainly doesn't move like an 84-year-old. "Keep moving and don't think about that number," Fred says. #land10kstories

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Teen who pushed her brother in wheelchair at every high school cross country meet starts new chapter Susan and Jeffrey Bergeman of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, became an inspiring duo.

Susan Bergeman pushed her brother Jeffrey in every one of her high school cross country meets. Four years after we first shared their story, Susan says she's now running FOR her brother as she begins her college running career. #land10kstories

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17-year-old who saved a life now in a position to save more Ryley Pollock is now an EMT on two different ambulance services.

We first shared Ryley Pollock's story in 2018, after the 17-year-old saved a man's life. Seven years later, he's in a position to save many more. We love sharing updates like Ryley's.
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'Popsicle Lady' is daily stop for high school runners Sandy Bass' house is a popular stop for Blooming Prairie, Minnesota's cross-country runners.

Blooming Prairie's cross county runners all know the home of the "Popsicle Lady." Sandy Bass has the treats ready each day as runners pass by. When questioned at the store about her large popsicle purchases, Sandy simply says, "I have a lot of kids." #land10kstories

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Beatles strip for a sauna at Met Stadium & other 60th anniversary memories Sixty years ago this week, the Beatles played their only concert in Minnesota.

60 years ago this week, the Beatles stripped for a sauna at Met Stadium. It happened in the Twins locker room while the lads spent 8 hours before their 1965 concert with Twins equipment manager Ray Crump. It's among the memories Ray and others shared. #land10kstories

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Fast food worker who walked miles to two full-time jobs gets gift of wheels Rodolfo Depaz walked daily to two full-time jobs to make life better for his family.

He walked more than 4 miles a day - traversing to two full-time jobs - all to make life better for his family. Now, thanks to some good people, Rodolfo Depaz is no longer walking. "Thank God, finally I got wheels." #land10kstories

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Teen workers save restaurant as owner spends months in hospital Without teen workers stepping up, owner of Hudson, Wisconsin's Urban Olive & Vine says he'd no longer have a restaurant.

When the owner of a Hudson, WI cafe was hospitalized for 8 months, Carol Trainor's teenage workers took over operations so her co-owner husband could stay by her side. If not for the teens, Chad Trainor says, "The restaurant would not exist."

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Mechanic finds in a Ford a wallet lost by assembly worker 11 years ago The owner of a Lake Crystal, Minnesota, auto repair shop found the wallet's owner, a retired autoworker, in Michigan.

When a Lake Crystal, MN mechanic found a wallet under the hood of an 11-yr-old Ford he also solved a mystery. Now, thanks to Chad Volk, a retired Ford plant worker from Michigan finally has his wallet back.
"The right guy found it," a grateful Richard Guilford says.
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A mechanic from Lake Crystal, MN found a wallet under the hood of an 11-year-old Ford. Puzzled, Chad Volk looked inside. He found the work ID of the Michigan autoworker who lost it at the Ford plant. Thanks to an honest mechanic, after 11 years he has his wallet back. KARE tonite@10 #land10kstories

Family of boy who loved to give creates library to share his books & toys The boy who craved children's books is going to be making sure his neighborhood never runs out of them.

Freddie Solum loved to explore his little libraries. Yet he was always disappointed when they contained no kid's books. Now a tribute stands in front of the 5-yr-old's home. A little library just for kids to honor a child deeply missed by his family. #land10kstories
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A Minnesota boy survived an arrow going though his brain. Gus Deterding's doctor can't explain why Gus is still functioning normally. His parents believe "it's a miracle." KARE tonight at 10p. #land10kstories

Boy who braved cancer with toy soldiers becomes a real one Axel Zirbes battled leukemia with toy soldiers by his side.

For three years, toy soldiers accompanied Axel Zirbes to chemo as he battled leukemia. Now Axel's story has come full circle. He's cancer free and has joined the army.

#land10kstories

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Diagnosed at age 3, a Minnesota boy battled cancer for three years with toy soldiers as his chemo companions. At 18, Axel Zirbes is cancer free - and just joined the army. KARE tonight at 10. #land10kstories

Tiny Minnesota town gives $108,000 to its graduating seniors Swanville, Minnesota, spends the entire year raising money to reward its high school graduates with scholarships.

A Minnesota town of 326 people has awarded its graduating seniors $108,000 in scholarships. Swanville spent all year fundraising to send off 21 grads with gifts averaging more than $5,000 each. And Swanville does it every year! #land10kstories

A tiny Minnesota town just gave $108,000 in scholarships to its graduating seniors. Swanville, population 326, spends all year doing fundraisers to reward its grads. This year's average scholarship: $5,142. KARE tonight at 10pm. #Land10kstories

Cooper band director finds solace in kids & music after parents' tragic deaths Cooper High School band director Markus Hahn followed his parents' footsteps into music.

Last fall, Cooper HS band director Markus Hahn lost his parents - both retired music teachers - in a car crash. As school comes to a close, Markus has found healing in music and his students. #land10kstories

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Brain injury survivor on mission, gives 22,000 bike helmets to kids Since suffering a massive head injury, Mike Heikes has devoted his life to giving bike helmets to children.

A Minnesota man has given to children more than 22,000 bike helmets. After surviving a brain injury, Fergus Falls' Mike Heikes wants no one else to experience what he did. #land10kstories

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At 18, Mike Heikes suffered a life-altering brain injury. In the years since, the Fergus Falls man has given away more than 22,000 bike helmets.
If you live through one, "you don't want anyone else to suffer a brain injury," Mike says.
KARE tonight at 10p. #land10kstories

At 23, she was the town's only female bus driver. At 80, she's outlasted the men Cheryl Barickman has been driving kids to school in Truman, Minnesota for 57 years.

Cheryl Barickman was 23 when she started driving bus for Truman, MN schools. At 80, she's still greeting kids with a smile as they board bus #5.
"Everything she does is for the kids,” Cheryl's daughter says.
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