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Steve Helget started as the city administrator for Paynesville in January 2002. A native of Sleepy Eye with a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University and a master's degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato, Helget had previously been the city administrator for Tyler and for Eagle Lake.

Steve Moburg took the reins as CEO at the Paynesville Area Health Care System in September, replacing Willie LaCroix, who retired. Moburg, a native of Moline, Ill., spent 12 years in health care administration in Illinois and six years in Wisconsin before coming to PAHCS.

LaCroix retired after 20 years as the top administrator for PAHCS, which was a city hospital when he began. Under his guidance, PAHCS remodeled the hospital in 1983, started having outreach physicians come to PAHCs in the 1980s, added 700 Stearns Place in 1987, formed a hospital district in 1992, formed a partnership with a group of doctors in 1994, added a main clinic to hospital complex in 1995, and expanded the medical staff.

Also in 2002, superintendent Howard Caldwell announced his intention to retire from the Paynesville Area School District after the 2003-04 school year, meaning another public institution will have new leadership in 2004.

(Editor's Note: the Press has identified these 12 stories as the top news in the Paynesville area for 2002. For the top accomplishments in sports, see the 2002 sports review.)