Turkey Valley state champ in biggest battle yet

    The day Lawler’s Larry Bergmann stepped onto the podium to become Turkey Valley’s first-ever state champion wrestler was a day he’ll never forget. It was one for the highlight reel.    On the other end of the spectrum was the day his heart had to be shocked 26 times to get it out of a lethal rhythm. Luckily, he doesn’t remember much of that day.    Nine years after that major heart attack — after which the doctors told him his heart would last about 10 years — Bergmann’s heart function became so poor doctors installed a heart pump to buy him time until he was able to get a heart transplant, which he did in November of 2016.      At 52 when the major heart attack occurred, Bergmann’s ability to continue his employment at Kohlmeyer, Inc. was limited, and while he has insurance, the expenses are huge.    “How fortunate we are to live in small town Iowa where we look out for each other,” said a news release promoting the “Larry Bergmann’s got a GOOD heart” benefit.    The event — hopefully with Bergmann in attendance — will be held on Feb. 25 at the Starlite Ballroom in Lawler (formerly Chip’s).  A free-will donation meal will be served from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Other activities will include a silent auction, a live auction starting at 7 p.m., raffles, and more.    “It’s like putting a new furnace into an old house,” Bergmann quipped during his cardiac therapy Wednesday morning. But the new furnace was working well.  For the full story, please see the Jan. 13 Tribune.