Looking for something to do Labor Day weekend on the banks of the Mississippi River? If so, check out the 20th Annual Alma Music & Arts Festival at the Alma Beach and Recreation Area in Alma, Wis. The fun kicks off on Sunday, September 3 at 11 a.m. Thanks to community sponsors and volunteers the event is free. Event organizers promote the festivities as, “A day of art, … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past A Missing Horse, Wolves, Robberies and a Big Dog
Part two of a series Had it been stolen? A live animal was of tremendous value to the early pioneers in Minnesota. Soon after building a log cabin near Eitzen in Houston County, Henry Christian Bunge, Sr. (1821-1899) was missing his valuable horse he had with him when moving into Winnebago Township from Illinois in 1862. Had it strayed or been stolen? Frontier areas had their … [Read more...]
Houston County Fair Receives Rave Reviews
Commissioner Bob Schuldt commended the Houston County Fair Board for an outstanding fair and that people he talked with at the fair were impressed with the rodeo. Commissioners Eric Johnson and Robert (Bob) Burns added that they felt that the fair was well attended, noting there was a line at the rodeo. Chairperson Dewey Severson called the regularly scheduled meeting to order … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Fair Livestock 4-H Results
4-H Club Legend AHF - Arendahl Hi-Flyers, BC - Bloomfield Cloverleaves, CC - Carimona Cruisers, CW - Challenging Workers, HHH - Harmony Helping Hands, I- Independent, LL - Lanesboro Livewires, MBB - Mabel Busy Bees, NGG - Norway Go-Getters, Racine RR - Racine Rural Rookies, Root RR - Root River Rabbits Beef Senior Beef Interview Champion: Adia Evans, Root RR; Reserve … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Fair Non-livestock 4-H Results
4-H Club Legend AHF - Arendahl Hi-Flyers, BC - Bloomfield Cloverleaves, CC - Carimona Cruisers, CW - Challenging Workers, HHH - Harmony Helping Hands, I- Independent, LL - Lanesboro Livewires, MBB - Mabel Busy Bees, NGG - Norway Go-Getters, Racine RR - Racine Rural Rookies, Root RR - Root River Rabbits Agronomy Champion: Jeffrey Snyder, Racine RR Cake & Cookie … [Read more...]
Birth Announcement
Jackson John Serfoss Jackson John Serfoss was born July 10, 2023, weighing 5 lb, 1 oz. and was 18.5 inches long. Jackson is the son of Dallas and Karlee Serfoss of Canton, Minn., and brother of Lucas. Grandparents are Roger and Donna Oellrich of Harmony, Minn., Susan Dale of Preston, Minn., and Tracy Serfoss of Rochester, Minn. … [Read more...]
Mabel Firefighter Runs for Maddi
Since Madeline Kingsbury’s body was discovered several miles north of Mabel, Minn., Rick Aske has done his part to show support for the Kingsbury family during a very difficult time. Every week, Aske mows and trims the lawn of the memorial site dedicated to Maddi. And, he recently coordinated a fundraiser in tandem with the annual Run from the Sun event held in Mabel, … [Read more...]
Fall has Arrived in Howard County
The first fall festival of the year has arrived. Head over to Cresco, Iowa, to immerse yourself in the Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest Friday, August 25 through Sunday, August 27. Borlaug is only one of seven people in the world to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. “An unforgettable celebration paying homage to … [Read more...]
Police Stage ‘Chilling’ Raid on Marion County Newspaper, Seizing Computers, Records and Cellphones
By Sherman Smith, Sam Bailey, Rachel Mipro and Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector MARION, KANSAS, August 11, 2023 – In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the newspaper’s reporters, and the publisher’s home. Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the newspaper, said … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Pioneers Lived, Survived by Ingenuity
At night in bed, asthma sufferer Henry Christian Bunge, Sr. sought relief from severe coughing by taking hold of a rope that he had attached to an overhead beam and lifted himself into a sitting position. Life as a southeast Minnesota pioneer during the last half of the 1800s called for as much ingenuity as possible. Success depended on self-sufficiency. Doctors were scarce, … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback Forging Ahead: 165 Years of Preston’s Ironworking Heritage
By Joanne Hall Member of the Preston Historical Society In 1853 John Vail from Pennsylvania was the first man to locate a claim in what became the village of Preston. That same year William Douglass started the first blacksmith shop in Preston. In July of 1855, a blacksmith shop was operated by Charles Rappe, who bought out the forge and business of William Douglas. … [Read more...]
Preston Historical Society Annual Report
Debbie Thompson presented the annual report and funding request for the Preston Historical Society (PHS) at the Preston, Minn., city council August 7 meeting. The report was put together by Sheila Craig, president of PHS, and included numerous activities throughout the year. Most city council members are members of the historical society. Some of the activities of the PHS are … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past Stinky fish, chicken livers and nightcrawlers
Part two of a series About 1950, some Rushford students received permission to be a couple of hours late to school, so at the break of dawn, mostly men and boys could be at nearby streams, hoping to catch the first trout of the season. It was the fishing opener, the opening day of trout season. The Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener has been a time-honored tradition in … [Read more...]
Snoopy Collection on Exhibit During the Houston County Fair
Local Caledonia resident, Luan Hammel’s 30-year Snoopy collection will be on exhibit during the Houston County Fair. The fair runs from August 16-20, in Caledonia, Minn. Fairgoers can find the collection in the Houston County Historical Society agricultural building. Hammel started the collection when she was in college after purchasing a calendar. She was immediately hooked … [Read more...]
Culture & Community This Ex-Amish Life: Eddie Swartzentruber
I had the opportunity to sit down with Eddie Swartzentruber and his wife Karwyn for about three hours at Estelle’s Eatery & Bar in Harmony, Minn., to discuss his life’s story. For those of you who don’t know, Eddie has become a mega ex-Amish superstar, interviewed by major TV networks and media nationwide. He’s become a social media sensation. He told me he was offered a … [Read more...]
