Our Story Hosts
These are the group of people that put Our Story together, each believe in our community and are devoting their time and talent to make a difference.
Mike Foster
Almost Breaking News
Offering a unique look at events, when he arrives just a little early or a little late, Mike (Alias Mike Alert) is the reporter for the segment Our Story/Almost Breaking News. Also Mike guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). Mike is the MIS Director for the City of Fairmont, and has been employed there since 1988. His wife Debbie is the office manager at The Sentinel, and they have two children. Mike’s hobbies include computers, and he has his pilot’s license.
Dave Smith - A New View
Giving his quirky outlook of life around us, Dave is the host of the segment Our Story/a New View. Also Dave guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). Dave Smith is founding pastor of Fair Lakes Apostolic Fellowship in Fairmont, He is a former newspaper editor and columnist as well. Dave shares a home with his wife Tanya, who keeps his freewheeling sense of humor in check using a variety of methods ranging from "The Look" to administering electric shocks, two sons and a Himalayan cat named Inigo Montoya.
John Sorensen - Entertainment Detective
(Alias Johnny Happing) in a 1940s hat and coat, John is on the case for the next big event to come to our community, with the segment Our Story/Entertainment Detective. Also John guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). John is a project manager at Avery Weigh-Tronix and has been employed there since 1976. His wife Jennie is a Special Ed Aid at Fairmont High School. They have two children. John’s hobbies are guitar, song writing, golf and sailing.
Cathy Hounshell - Spirited Away
Cathy brings her warmth and passion to the segment Our Story/Spirited Away by reporting on churches & non-profit groups and how they are making a difference in our community. Also Cathy guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). Cathy is a physical therapist with Rehab Care which provides rehab services for many area Nursing Homes and Assistive Living Complexes. She has been married for 33 years to Chuck Hounshell who is the Podiatrist with the Fairmont Mayo Health Center. They have lived in Fairmont for 15 years. They share an interest in their family, church, reading, dance, films, travel and good friends.
Bill Busse - This Song's For You
Bringing his interest and knowledge of music Bill shares the music that has and will be coming to our area on the segment Our Story/This Song's For You. Also Bill guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). Bill worked for many years as a speech language pathologist in the Fairmont Area Schools. Prior to that he worked in radio in Litchfield and Mankato MN. Bill has 6 grandchildren ages 5 to 23 and is now so a Grand Grandparent as his step granddaughter Sarah is the mother of a two year old named Lucy. Bill enjoys all aspects of music: sings, attempts to play instruments, listens to and collects records and CDs, collects music sheets, books on music as well as collects and reads children's, series, mystery and books on religion.
Tom Dodge - Where's That Business?
Tom hosts the exciting and popular game show, “Where’s That Business,” which has taken Our Story country by storm. He is also a roving correspondent on segments of Our Story Today, as well as the voiceover for many commercials aired on Our Story. Tom returned last year to the family homestead near Truman, after 20 years of a vagabond existence working as an editor and freelance writer and photographer in various venues across the U.S. He now bases his writing and photography career from the farm in Truman. Tom says the best thing about coming back to Martin County after two decades is reconnecting with old friends
Doug Wollam - Designing Accents
Our resident interior designer Doug shows us how to repurposes items we already have in our home in the segment Our Story/Designing Accents Also Doug guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). Doug graduated with a degree in elementary education/early childhood education from Mankato State University (now Minnesota State at Mankato). He worked in elementary education and gifted education for 4 years before designing for an Iowa furniture store for 3 years. Doug then began his own interior
and garden design business in 1983 while working on his master's degree in design. Doug continues to work as an independent interior and garden designer. He collects many things, plans parties, enjoys films of all kinds as well as traveling to visit historic homes, design showcases and antique stores.
Lorrie Krosch - Our of the Past (Faribault County)
Lorrie brings her own style with interviews with local residents about Faribault County’s rich history in the segment Our Story/Out of the Past. Also Lorrie guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). Lorrie works in the Faribault County Treasurers Office in Blue Earth, has two grown sons and raises yellow Labs with her farming husband Mike on an acreage outside of Elmore. She is currently helping to research a book on Elmore and Pilot Grove Township history and was a charter member and former president of the Elmore Area Historical Society. Her hobby is buying and restoring old houses.
Jenne Abitz - Now That’s a Movie
From the viewpoint of two movie fans, Jenne and Lynne Burgraff review films that are available on DVD on the Our Story/Now That’s a Movie segment! Also Jenne guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). After graduating college, Jenne began working with Gemini Studios to create her own TV segment called “Animal Tracks” for the local humane society She has several television commercials to her credit as well as her work as a field reporter for the Our Story Today segment. To pay the bills, Jenne works on the production team at Weigh-Tronix. Jenne enjoys her three cats, golf, geo caching and is, of course, an avid film buff.
Lenny Tvedten - Out of the Past (Martin County)
Lenny brings his vast knowledge of our past, interviews local residents about Martin County’s rich history in the segment Our Story/Out of the Past. Lenny also guest hosts Our Story/Today covering human interest stories and events as they happen. Lenny retired as a 5th grade teacher from the Fairmont Area Schools in 2001, the same year he began his position as the Executive Director of the Martin County Historical Society. His wife, Carol, is employed in the Manufacturing Engineering office at Avery Weigh-Tronix. They have lived in Fairmont since 1967. They share interests in traveling, local history, and walking with their Westie, Maisie. They have one daughter and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Fairmont.
Heidi Villeneuve-Schlomann - Our Humble Abode
With style and grace Heidi takes us inside homes and gardens that are being remodeled as the segment host of Our Story/Our Humble Abode. Heidi also guest hosts Our Story/Today covering human interest stories and events as they happen. She is currently a Reading Therapist at Five Lakes Elementary School, working with students who find reading difficult. She has a masters in Gifted Education from Mankato State University and a BA from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Along with Kay Wrucke, she was a past owner of the famous Interlaken Joe coffee shop. She has been married to Jeff Schlomann, Farm Bureau Agent, for 23 years. She has a 12 year old son named Payton Francis Roy Villeneuve-Schlomann. Daughter of Bev and the late Frank Villeneuve who are also our neighbors. Hobbies include anything that looks interesting, but mostly biking, reading, exercising, decorating, cooking and enjoying time with family and friends.
Jeff Rouse - Executive Producer & Host
In the Passenger Seat
Jeff introduces each episode as host of Our Story and interviews city or county officials while driving around town (in different modes of transportation) on the segment Our Story/In the Passenger Seat Also Jeff guest hosts Our Story/Today (covering human interest stories and events as they happen). Jeff & his wife Denise are founders of Fairmont Film Society, Denise owns Hollywood Babe, downtown Fairmont. They share five children and five grandchildren. Jeff hobbies are film history and building restoration.
Our Story Tv and Website
Bruce & Shelly Abitz
Gemini Studios
Bruce Abitz established Gemini Studios in 1999. Since that time he has focused on sports capture of area youth events and high school media production/education. In 2005, Shelly Abitz joined the production staff and expanded services to include graphic design, corporate and organizational DVD production and commercial advertising services. Every Our Story episode includes camera work by Bruce and production/editing by Shelly. Each segment is unique and presents an interesting variety of creative challenges. Bruce and Shelly are proud to be a part of the Our Story production team and play an integral part in the creative process that brings the various Our Story segments to life.
Nick Larsen
Nick Larsen Media
The Our Story website was created by Nick Larsen Media of Minneapolis, MN. As a prior resident of Fairmont, I am proud to be a part of the Our Story team. In addition to maintaining the website and producing high-quality commercials for sponsors of Our Story, Nick Larsen Media does a wide variety of other projects from event and wedding videography, to animation and graphic design.